Wisconsin
Lawmakers continue to push for missing and murdered Black women and girls task force in Wisconsin
MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – State legislators are once again pushing to create a task force focusing on missing and murdered African American women and girls in Wisconsin.
A bill to create this passed in the state Assembly back in February, but it failed to make it to the Senate floor despite bipartisan support.
Representative Shelia Stubbs is the author behind the bill. She and other lawmakers held a press conference at the State Capitol Thursday urging the Senate to reconvene and schedule a floor vote.
“How much longer must families of missing persons in our state wait for justice,” Rep. Stubbs said.
Among those waiting for their loved ones to come back home is Tanesha Howard. Howard’s daughter, Joniah Walker, has been missing from Milwaukee since June of 2022.
“I take it literally minute by minute,” Howard said. “It’s like a nightmare that never ends. She’s out there somewhere and somebody knows something. I have faith that she’s still alive, that she’s out there.”
As of 2020, Wisconsin had the highest homicide victimization rate for black women and girls in the United States at 20.2 out of every 100,000, according to The Guardian.
“I was shocked to discover that Wisconsin, a state that I love, the state that I’m raising my children in, the state where my husband and I are pastors in, the state where my mother brought me to be raised since the age of 5, had the worst numbers for black female homicide victimization in the nation,” Rep. Stubbs said.
The MMAAWG task force would aim to develop strategies to prevent violence, improve investigations and support families impacted by missing or murdered black women and girls in Wisconsin.
“I employ everyone to join me in this effort until something is done about this issue in the great state of Wisconsin,” Rep. Stubbs said.
The bill would require Attorney General Josh Kaul to establish the task force within 45 days of the proposal becoming law.
The task force is similar to the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s missing and murdered indigenous women task force created by Kaul in 2020. Kaul does have the ability to create the proposed MMAAWG task force without a Senate vote.
Rep. Stubbs said she spoke to Kaul about him taking this action, but Kaul told her funding for the task force would be a problem.
“I can say to you from many conversations, funding is an issue and at this point, I don’t care that funding is an issue,” Rep. Stubbs said. “I want something done now.”
State Senator Duey Stroebel, who is the GOP chair of the Senate Government Operations Committee, responded to Stubbs’ press conference Thursday. Sen. Stroebel said he would not give the bill a hearing.
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A Wisconsin man has been arrested in Colorado in connection with a fatal north suburban hit-and-run earlier this year that left a 50-year-old woman killed.
According to the Winthrop Harbor Police Department, Travis Kern, 35, of Pleasant Prairie, turned himself into police in Lakewood Colorado on an arrest warrant. Kern was charged with two felonies, police said, and remains in custody in Colorado pending extradition proceedings.
About 11:10 p.m. on February 26, a pedestrian was struck in the 1400 block of Sheridan Road in Winthrop Harbor by a driver of a vehicle heading northbound. The vehicle then fled the scene, police said.
The pedestrian, later identified as Shanna White, 50, of Waukegan, was transported to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead.
According to court documents, Kern’s next scheduled court date is set for July 22.
WHITEWATER, Wis. (WMTV) – The Kids from Wisconsin troupe is kicking off its 56th annual tour this week.
Kids from Wisconsin is a traveling show with 22 singer-dancers and 14 band members. The troupe performs across Wisconsin, hosting workshops for kids and helping fundraise for youth arts programs.
This year’s theme is “America’s Soundtrack: The Pulse of a Nation.” The theme honors the 250th anniversary of America and features music by all-American composers, bands and performers.
Kids from Wisconsin bassist and student leader Alex Coller said that range is what makes this year’s tour stand out.
“The theme is really just celebrating American music. And I think it’s definitely one of the most cohesive and like diverse shows I have played with this organization,” Coller said. “Even though its just American music it’s really cool to see. Anyone no matter who you are, or what your musical background is, or whether you like music or not, there is something here for everyone to enjoy.”
Kids from Wisconsin’s artistic and choral director, Taras Nahirniak, said audiences won’t want to miss it.
“Find a show near you, you are not going to want to miss this show. It’s just spectacular, the kids are so talented,” Nahirniak said. “We are just finishing up our camp right now, and they are just working their tails off. To really go around the state and show the state what they have.”
The tour premieres Thursday night at Young Auditorium in Whitewater. For tickets, tour dates or to find a show, visit kidsfromwi.org.
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Copyright 2026 WMTV. All rights reserved.
Marquette poll shows Wisconsin voters unfocused on governor race
A Marquette University Law School poll reveals Wisconsin voters lack focus on the governor’s race, with most undecided 5 months before the primary.
MADISON – Former Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. CEO Missy Hughes is dropping out of the Democratic primary race for governor and endorsing Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez.
Hughes, who was the most moderate candidate in the Democratic field for governor, suspended her campaign days after placing last in a straw poll of party delegates at the Democratic Party of Wisconsin state convention in Madison.
Her endorsement of Rodriguez comes as some Democrats are eyeing an alternative to state Rep. Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who leans further left than current Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. Hong and Barnes are considered frontrunners in the primary race.
In a statement, Hughes flicked at the approach of Hong and other candidates to her left who have proposed significant changes to state government.
“I believe there is great hope in these small efforts to find common ground. I wanted to make sure that Wisconsinites understand we have created something valuable and that investing in ourselves and our communities is well-deserved,” Hughes said. “We do not need to tear it all down, and there is real and important work to do to improve what we already have.”
Hughes suggested Rodriguez would make more reasonable decisions as governor than her primary opponents.
“This job is about running the state, and getting things done. As you consider what is important to you, I urge you to look beyond the talking points, social media posts, and gilded promises and consider what you think is essential to do the job,” she said. “Stop asking, ‘Who will win?’ and start asking who you trust to make big decisions that impact our families and the wellbeing of our loved ones, neighbors and communities.”
This developing story will be updated.
Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com.
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