Wisconsin
Airbnb is blocking some Wisconsin rentals on summer holiday weekends to address partying
Peek inside MetalLark Tower
The two-story house, which is available for rent on Airbnb, features floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides and overlooks a prairie, woodlands and a small lake.
Chelsey Lewis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
With summer weekend getaways fast approaching in Wisconsin, short-term rental company Airbnb is blocking some reservations to prevent homes from being used for partying.
Airbnb said in a press release that it blocked about 67,500 people over the Memorial Day and July 4 weekends last year, with about 500 of those blocked in Wisconsin. The company is blocking some one-night and two-night reservations over both holidays and using technology that they say identifies “higher-risk” rentals.
“This is really about respecting hosts and respecting neighborhoods,” said Christopher Nulty, Airbnb spokesperson and global director of corporate and policy communications, in an interview with the Journal Sentinel. “What we’re really talking about here is unauthorized, large-scale problematic parties.”
An Airbnb spokesperson said in an email the company wouldn’t have data on this year’s blocked reservations until after the holiday season. But Nulty said that the company sees this effort becoming especially important in Wisconsin during the summer months.
“We’re particularly focused on this in Wisconsin during the (summer) because it’s when people from Chicago go up to Door County. The business is strongest here in the summer,” Nulty said.
Nulty said the company is using machine learning to automatically flag some reservations.
He said its reservation system looks at a number of factors, like when a reservation is booked, how far away it is from where someone lives and whether someone has made similar bookings without challenges.
He said the technology has reduced reports of partying by half in the last year and that .035% of its reservations resulted in a party report to them in 2023.
The company is requiring guests to agree that they understand the ban on partying when making reservations. In turn, if a guest is blocked from booking an entire home, the company will give them the option of booking a hotel room or private room.
The party bans started in 2022, according to a USA TODAY report from that year, as the COVID-19 pandemic led some to use the rentals for partying, with bars and clubs closed.
Nulty said Airbnb began the effort to reduce partying on reservations as a way to respect the hosts, rather than responding to a widespread issue. He said Airbnb still allows homes to be used for things like weddings, birthday parties and other small-scale events.
The company heard from hosts and law enforcement in the past about the need for this emphasis, he said.
“People don’t want to share their homes if they’re worried about what’s going to happen to them,” Nulty said.
The company’s other anti-partying efforts include its Neighborhood Support Line, which lets neighborhood residents report issues at rentals to the company; a 24-hour safety line; noise sensors for hosts; and a law enforcement support channel.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Weekend: Art in Bloom, Milwaukee Film Festival, Wee Whiskey Fest and more
There are several events happening across the area this weekend, including festivals, sports, and art exhibits.
Art in Bloom transforms the Milwaukee Art Museum with floral installations inspired by artwork in the museum. The annual event runs through Sunday, and timed tickets are needed.
It is the opening weekend of the 18th annual Milwaukee Film Festival. Screenings are taking place at the Downer and Oriental theaters. Several local films are being screened along with national and international films.
WATCH: Art in Bloom, Milwaukee Film Festival and more. What are you doing this weekend?
Wisconsin Weekend in a Minute
Wee Whiskey Fest returns to Lake Geneva with a full weekend of tastings, entertainment, and events. Saturday’s Grand Tasting features more than 150 premium bourbons and whiskies, with more festivities happening all weekend long.
At the Milwaukee Admirals game tonight, it is Fair Deal Friday. Fans who grab an Admirals ticket will get a free Fair ticket. It is also Fan Appreciation Night with plenty of giveaways, and the first 2,500 fans will get a one-of-a-kind Admirals and Brewers t-shirt.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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Wisconsin
Flooding closes state highways around Northeast Wisconsin
(WLUK) — Many roads remain closed as Northeast Wisconsin continues to deal with the effects of heavy rain and flooding.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation released this list of road closures Thursday for state highways in the area:
Highway 147 is closed at Church Street in Mishicot due to flooding.
- A detour route is posted using County V, WIS 42 and County VV.
Highway 54 is closed in both directions from near N. Maple Street/Highway 47 in Black Creek to Hooyman Road/County M west of Shiocton due to flooding on roadway.
- Alternate route for southbound: Take Highway 47 to County S to County M.
- Reverse for northbound.
Highway 76 is closed in both directions from East Avenue in Shiocton to Oak Crest Drive in Stephensville due to flooding on roadway.
- No detour is available with all other county roadways flooded in this area as well. Planned to be closed indefinitely.
Highway 76 is closed in both directions from County D in Bear Creek to Highway 54 in Shiocton because of flooding on roadway.
- No detour is available with all other county roadways flooded in this area as well. Planned to be closed indefinitely.
Highway 54 is closed in both directions from Gorges Road in Northport to Jeanne Street in New London due to flooding on roadway. NOTE: Highway 45 north and south of New London is closed for an ongoing construction project.
- Alternate Route for eastbound traffic: Traffic will exit Highway 54 at Highway 110/22, north on Highway 110/22 to County BB, east on County BB to County B, north on County B to Highway 22, east on Highway 22 to US 45, north on US 45 to Highway 22, North on Highway 22 to Highway 156, East on Highway 156 to Highway 47, south on Highway 47 back to Highway 54.
- Reverse for westbound.
Highway 187 from Highway 156 in Shawano County to Highway 54 in Outagamie County is closed in both directions due to flooding.
- Alternate route for southbound: Highway 156 to Highway 47 to Highway 54.
- Reverse for northbound.
Highway 110 is closed in both directions south of Manawa from County B in Manawa to County BB due to flooding on roadway.
- Alternate route for northbound: Northbound traffic will exit WIS 110 at County BB, east on County BB to County B, north on County B back to Highway 110.
- Reverse for southbound.
If you can safely take a photo or video of conditions where you are, share it with us here:
The DOT also gave these tips for safe driving during flood conditions:
- Please make sure you have the flooding tab clicked on the 511 map to view all locations of flooding.
- Never attempt to cross a water-covered road. Just 12 inches of moving water can sweep a vehicle off the road.
- Do not ignore barricades or road closure signs.
Flash flooding can occur suddenly anywhere in the area.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION (1)
- Always check current road conditions before traveling:
- Visit the 511 Wisconsin website for the latest weather and road alerts.
- Motorists should plan extra time for travel, use designated alternate routes, and exercise extreme caution in low-lying areas. Conditions may change rapidly.
- For the latest updates, monitor the 511 Wisconsin website. Stay safe and drive smart when in doubt, turn around and find another way.
- For real-time information, please check the 511 Wisconsin website or call 511.
Wisconsin
Next Weathermaker to bring more thunderstorms to already flooded Northeast Wisconsin
(WLUK) — More rain is on the way for Northeast Wisconsin.
Flood warnings are currently in effect for many area rivers and streams as recent rainfall has pushed some to reach flood level.
This morning, there’s a dense fog advisory in place.
Visibility could drop to a quarter mile in some places.
Today there’s a chance for showers and a few thunderstorms.
It will then become mostly sunny with a high near 66.
Tomorrow will be partly cloudy with a high of 70 before our Next Weathermaker brings showers and thunderstorms late in the day and into the evening.
Some of those storms could become severe with damaging wind, large hail and a few tornadoes.
Our area is in a level 2 and 3 out of 5 for severe weather risk.
If you see severe weather in your area and can safely take a photo or video, Chime In here:
After the rain tomorrow night, we should have a string of dry days, which will help with dropping high river levels.
Saturday we’ll see a mix of sun and clouds.
It will be windy with a high near 48.
Winds could gust to 35 mph out of the northwest.
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Click here for Director of Meteorology Pete Petoniak’s full forecast.
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