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Beer, brats and ballots: Native organizers register voters at Brewers tailgate

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Beer, brats and ballots: Native organizers register voters at Brewers tailgate


Native Americans from across Wisconsin attended a tailgate before the Milwaukee Brewers took on the Los Angeles Dodgers at American Family Field Thursday.

But this wasn’t any ordinary tailgate — next to a table holding brats, hot dogs and a tray of cookies was another table where people could register to vote.

The event, organized by Wisconsin Native Vote, had a simple goal: increase voter turnout among Native American voters in the upcoming fall election.

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“My message to you is: Sko Vote Den,” Anne Egan-Waukau, an organizer of the event, said during the tailgate.

“Sko Vote Den” is a playful, phonetic spelling of “Let’s go vote, then.”

Gloria Waabigwan Wiggins, the northern regional organizer for Wisconsin Native Vote, said the tailgate was a way to get people together to talk about the importance of voting.

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“If you don’t vote, I feel like you’re surrendering your voice,” Waabigiwan Wiggins said. “As Native people, our population is so low, it’s important for us to exercise our right and make sure our voices are heard.” 

Native Americans register to vote at a tailgate before the Milwaukee Brewers game on Aug. 15, 2024. Evan Casey/WPR

Organizers said around 1,000 people from Wisconsin’s 11 federally recognized tribes attended the tailgate and game. Several speakers talked about the importance of voting, while people could register to vote and sign up to learn more about the election during the tailgate.

Mark Denning, a member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, emceed the event.

“It’s (voting) so very important,” Denning said. “The least of us in number, is as important as the most of us in number in this country.” 

Wisconsin Native Vote, an initiative of Wisconsin Conservation Voices, is aimed at increasing voter turnout. Organizers with the group knock on doors and put billboards up. On Thursday, they took yet another approach to reach voters.

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The 2020 U.S. Census counted roughly 60,000 American Indians and Alaskan Natives living in Wisconsin. And in a state where elections are often decided by a small margin of votes, every vote counts.

The latest NPR/PBS News/Marist poll found Vice President Kamala Harris is leading former President Donald Trump 51 to 48 percent among registered voters.

Mark Denning speaks to Native Americans during a Milwaukee Brewers tailgate on Aug. 5, 2024. Evan Casey/WPR

Joseph DeCora, a member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, now lives in Milwaukee. He said it’s exciting that Indigenous voters could help swing the national election this fall. 

“If we all get out there and vote as one, we could make a change,” DeCora said. “Our voices, our opinions, stuff that we’re voting for, the person that we’re voting for — it all will be heard.” 

A report from Native Vote found roughly 1.2 million American Indians or Alaskan Natives who can vote are not registered.

DeCora, who was at the event with his family, said he votes in every election. This election season, he has signed up to receive text alerts. He said he sometimes hears from friends and family who don’t know how to register to vote or where to do so. 

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“I feel like voting is a way to get your voice out there and heard, without your voice actually being heard,” DeCora said. “That’s why I vote.” 

Organizers said issues that are important to tribal members include the opioid epidemic, cost of living, tribal sovereignty, climate change, clean water and reproductive rights. 

For Denning, he said he’s voting for his daughter Isabel, who died by suicide. He said access to mental health care is one of the most important issues he’s paying attention to this election.

“To me, when someone wants mental health(care)… whoever it is, that wants help, needs and deserves help,” Denning said.

“If politicians stand in the way of mental health and physical health of our people, all of us, we as voters need to stand and say, ‘That’s not right,’” he added.

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Texas man charged for producing child pornography using 3 juveniles from Wisconsin

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Texas man charged for producing child pornography using 3 juveniles from Wisconsin


(WLUK) — A Texas man is accused of sex crimes involving Wisconsin minors.

Last week, a federal grand jury indicted 21-year-old Axis Williams from Aransas Pass, Texas, on two counts of production of child pornography.

Court records indicate Williams connected online with three juveniles, all from the Eastern District of Wisconsin. He allegedly coerced the trio to engage in sexually explicit conduct, record it and send him the videos.

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If convicted of either charge, Williams faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and up to 30 years behind bars.



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70s to storm chances in SE Wisconsin

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70s to storm chances in SE Wisconsin


70s to storm chances in SE Wisconsin

Showers and storms possible this week in SE Wisconsin

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100 YEARS YOUNG. HOW EXCITING. FANTASTIC. WELL, THIS WEEK WE ARE WARMING. TODAY AGAIN SEEING THE 70S, BUT WE’RE STILL KEEPING OUR EYE ON STORM CHANCES THIS WEEK. IT IS GOING TO BE REALLY BUSY NEXT FEW DAYS WITH WEATHERWATCH 12 BETWEEN NOW AND SATURDAY. EVERY SINGLE DAY HAS A CHANCE FOR SOME STORMS AND THERE WILL BE SEVERE CHANCES ON AND OFF AS WE HEAD THROUGH THIS WEEK AS WELL. BUT IF YOU LIKE YESTERDAY, THE GOOD NEWS IS WE DO HAVE MORE 70S IN THE FORECAST. MOST OF THE SEVEN DAY IS WELL ABOVE AVERAGE, BUT LET’S DIVE INTO EXACTLY WHAT WE CAN EXPECT HERE AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE NEXT FEW DAYS. BECAUSE TODAY, TOMORROW, AND WEDNESDAY ARE ALL BRINGING A CHANCE FOR STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS. THIS IS A LOOK AT THE SEVERE RISK FOR THE DAY AHEAD. MOST OF SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN, OUR CENTRAL AND NORTHERN COUNTIES ARE IN THE YELLOW. AND NOTICE NORTHWEST FOND DU LAC COUNTY IS IN THE ORANGE. THAT’S A RISK. THREE OUT OF FIVE. MOST OF US ARE IN A RISK. TWO OUT OF FIVE. FARTHER SOUTH, IT’S A LITTLE BIT LOWER. THE BOTTOM LINE IS MOST OF TODAY WILL BE DRY. WE’RE GOING TO BE WARM BREEZY, ESPECIALLY THIS MORNING. WINDS WILL BE LIGHTER THIS AFTERNOON. MY BIGGEST PIECE OF UNCERTAINTY IN THE FORECAST RIGHT NOW IS WE HAVE WHAT’S CALLED A CAP WHICH KEEPS STORMS AT BAY. BUT THERE IS A CHANCE THAT WE COULD SEE MAYBE A STRAY STORM GET THROUGH THAT THIS AFTERNOON. AND ANY STORM THAT DOES DEVELOP HAS THE CHANCE TO BE STRONG TO SEVERE. THE RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER THAT YOU SAW IN THAT LAST GRAPHIC, THOUGH, IS PREDOMINANTLY FOR OVERNIGHT STORM CHANCES. THOSE STORMS WILL DEVELOP OFF TO OUR NORTH AND THEN POSSIBLY DRIFT THIS WAY AND BRING US THE POTENTIAL FOR MAINLY SOME GUSTY WINDS. WE COULD SEE AN EMBEDDED TORNADO IF WE SEE ALL OF THE PIECES OF THAT COME TOGETHER. THERE’S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY WITH HOW THIS PLAYS OUT. TOMORROW’S RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER IS A LOT MORE CERTAIN AND A LOT MORE WIDESPREAD. NOTICE RISK THREE OUT OF FIVE FOR ALL OF SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN TOMORROW. STORMS ARE LIKELY DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING, AND THE RISK FOR STORMS TOMORROW AFTERNOON IS MUCH HIGHER THAN WHAT WE HAVE FOR TODAY. ALL KINDS OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE POSSIBLE. HAIL AND WIND ARE THE BIGGEST CONCERNS, BUT TORNADIC ACTIVITY IS POSSIBLE TOMORROW. THE TIMING MAY ADJUST AND CHANGE. IT MAY BE A LITTLE BIT LATER, BUT TOMORROW IS THE DAY WHERE YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE WAYS TO GET WATCHES AND WARNINGS TO YOU BEFORE THOSE STORMS. WE’RE GOING TO SEE OUR TEMPERATURES SOAR BACK INTO THE 70S. HERE’S FUTURECAST. THIS IS GOING TO GET US THROUGH TODAY AND TOMORROW. NOTICE AT 1:00 WE’RE DRY AND WE’RE CLOUDY. BUT STORMS TRY TO MOVE IN. THEY STRUGGLE BECAUSE WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH ENERGY TO GET THROUGH WHAT WE CALL THE KAT. BUT NOTICE OFF TO OUR NORTH BY 6:00 THERE ARE SOME WIDESPREAD STORMS. THOSE THEN TURN INTO A LINE AND TRY TO DRIFT SOUTH DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. SO THAT’S WHY THERE’S A BETTER CHANCE FOR STORMS AND SEVERE STORMS OVERNIGHT. TONIGHT. TOMORROW WE’RE DRY UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING AND THEN WE SEE A CHANCE FOR STORMS ACROSS ALL OF SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS AND INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING. IN TERMS OF SEVERE WEATHER LATER THIS AFTERNOON, BUT PREDOMINANTLY OVERNIGHT TONIGHT. HAIL AND MAINLY WIND ARE GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST CONCERN. BUT WITH A REALLY WET FORECAST THAT WE’VE HAD ALREADY THIS MONTH AND A LOT MORE RAIN INTO THE FORECAST, FLOODING IS GOING TO BECOME A CONCERN AS WE SEE MORE ROUNDS OF RAIN AND STORMS ON THE WAY. AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE NEXT WEEK, KEEPING AN EYE ON A CHANCE FOR A FEW SPOTTY STORMS THIS AFTERNOON. A BETTER CHANCE FOR STORMS OVERNIGHT TONIGHT. YOU CAN SEE THOSE DAILY CHANCES FOR RAIN AND STORMS IN THE FORECAST THROUGH SATURDAY. TEMPERATURES ON THE MILD SIDE EVERY DAY WILL HAVE SOME DRY TIME WHERE YOU CAN GET OUTSIDE AND ENJOY THE 70S. WE FINALLY DRY OUT AND COOL DOWN JUST A TOUCH AS WE HEAD TOWARDS SUNDAY. WOW. DEFINITELY THAT INTERESTING TIME OF YEAR. WE HAVE NO 40S OUT THERE. 130 ROGUE. IT’S GOING TO BE WARM. INTERESTING.

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70s to storm chances in SE Wisconsin

Showers and storms possible this week in SE Wisconsin

Updated: 6:19 AM CDT Apr 13, 2026

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Milwaukee will see an on-and-off threat of showers and thunderstorms through much of the workweek. Monday looks mostly dry, with highs reaching the middle to upper 70s. There is a very small chance for storms this afternoon, but any storms that do develop could be strong to severe. Storms are more likely just north of our viewing area this afternoon. They are expected to form into a line which may drift south and impact SE Wisconsin overnight. The line could be strong, with damaging wind being the biggest concern. Temperatures climb back into the 70s Tuesday afternoon, and storms are likely by the late afternoon and evening. Severe storms are possible tomorrow, with all kinds of severe weather possible. Large hail is the biggest concern, but damaging winds and a few tornadoes will also be possible. Storm chances continue into Wednesday, but there is more uncertainty with Wednesday’s severe storm chance. Storm chances stay in the forecast through Saturday, with highs hanging out in the 70s Thursday and Friday. Cooler air moves in for Saturday, bringing highs in the low 60s along with another chance for storms. Conditions should begin drying out by Sunday, with highs in the upper 50s.

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Milwaukee will see an on-and-off threat of showers and thunderstorms through much of the workweek. Monday looks mostly dry, with highs reaching the middle to upper 70s. There is a very small chance for storms this afternoon, but any storms that do develop could be strong to severe. Storms are more likely just north of our viewing area this afternoon. They are expected to form into a line which may drift south and impact SE Wisconsin overnight. The line could be strong, with damaging wind being the biggest concern.

Temperatures climb back into the 70s Tuesday afternoon, and storms are likely by the late afternoon and evening. Severe storms are possible tomorrow, with all kinds of severe weather possible. Large hail is the biggest concern, but damaging winds and a few tornadoes will also be possible.

Storm chances continue into Wednesday, but there is more uncertainty with Wednesday’s severe storm chance.

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Storm chances stay in the forecast through Saturday, with highs hanging out in the 70s Thursday and Friday. Cooler air moves in for Saturday, bringing highs in the low 60s along with another chance for storms. Conditions should begin drying out by Sunday, with highs in the upper 50s.



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Miami RedHawks sign guard Stevie Elam, Wisconsin-Milwaukee transfer

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Miami RedHawks sign guard Stevie Elam, Wisconsin-Milwaukee transfer


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The Miami RedHawks announced April 12 they’ve signed guard Stevie Elam, who played as a freshman during the 2025-26 season at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

The 6-foot-3 Elam averaged 10.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in the 25 games in which he played for the Panthers, making 12 starts. He shot 35 percent from 3-point range.

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He was named to the Horizon League all-freshman team.

The Michigan native played four seasons at Adrian High School, earning Michigan high school first-team all-state honors while averaging 24.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game as a senior.



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