Wisconsin

Public Investigator answers reader questions on civic life, consumer issues in Wisconsin

Published

1 year ago

December 9, 2024

Public Investigator answers reader questions on civic life, consumer issues in Wisconsin

For more than a year, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Public Investigator team has fielded tips from Wisconsin residents about issues they see sprouting up in their communities.

Our consistent goal has been to help readers find ways to get their problems solved, resolve burdensome financial disputes and ensure residents’ safety throughout.

So far this year, Public Investigator has published 64 stories in response to reader tips and inquiries. Each piece has answered a variety of questions about workplace discrimination, mail scams, political disinformation, incorrect medical billing, contractor scams and more.

As our team continues to tackle stories into the new year, we want to hear what questions you have about the local policies and decisions impacting your neighborhood, workplace or local government. That includes helping you get answers to obscure or even quirky questions you might have about what’s happening where you live.

Are you wondering how many potholes have been reported in your neighborhood? Or getting a call from a suspicious company offering cheap home buying opportunities? Have you wondered whether your landlord can enter your unit without permission? Has a local development proposal been introduced in your city council, and you are curious how it might impact you?

To give you a better idea of how Public Investigator could help, here’s a glimpse at some of our recent stories where we found answers for readers.

Keep in mind our motto: No question is too big or too small.

Is it legal for my landlord to split the utility bills equally?

In an apartment building with more than 160 units, a reader wondered if it was legal for his landlord to split the water bill evenly, even if some units use more water than others. Public Investigator reporter Gina Castro went to city officials and local utility companies to get him the answer. (It’s perfectly legal, it turns out.)

Was this prize letter a scam?

In April, a Wisconsin woman received a $750,000 prize in the mail. The letter detailed that she had won a Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes, but she was unsure if it was real. The company confirmed to Public Investigator that the letter and check were fake. Our story explains what consumers should watch out for to identify mail scams.

What happened to the Milwaukee Breakwater Lighthouse?

Ten years ago, the Milwaukee Breakwater Lighthouse was acquired by a Brookfield nonprofit, which pledged to spend millions to restore it. A Madison resident was curious where that stood. Public Investigator reporter Quinn Clark reached out to the nonprofit for an update and spoke to the federal agencies that once owned the lighthouse to learn whether the nonprofit could lose ownership.

Is donating at the cash register a scam?

72-year-old Teresa Grimm makes a habit out of rounding up her grocery store bill at the register for charitable donations. In July, she asked Public Investigator, “Does the money really get where they’re telling me it’s going?” Public Investigator talked to tax experts about whether these donations are legitimate — and whether grocery chains are getting any benefits.

Who’s behind this political mailer?

Kris Miller, a resident of a West Bend senior living community, was skeptical of a political flyer that landed in her mailbox shortly before the election. The flyer accused the Biden administration of raising Medicare costs to fund its “liberal, green agenda.” Public Investigator reporters helped figure out the dark money funders behind the mailers, which also raised eyebrows in other states.

What can the city do about e-scooters blocking sidewalks?

When Lower East Side resident Nick Rozwadowski stumbled upon two Lime scooters blocking a sidewalk on Brady Street in June, he wondered if the issue was a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Public Investigator contacted Milwaukee’s two electric scooter companies and city officials for insight on fines the city can issue against the companies for badly parked scooters, and how residents can report them.

How can I check my city’s water quality?

In February, Public Investigator reported that residents in the small village of Cleveland in Manitowoc County frequently dealt with brown, fishy-smelling water flowing out of their faucets. The same month, Public Investigator published a guide detailing how communities that rely on public water systems can check if their water passed safety tests.

What do I need to know about the eviction process?

After residents at Sycamore Place Apartments in Milwaukee contacted Public Investigator about multiple residents who received unexplained five-day no cure eviction notices, Public Investigator published a guide to Wisconsin’s eviction process and tenants’ rights, alongside investigative stories about the apartment complex.

How to contact the Public Investigator team

Government corruption. Corporate wrongdoing. Consumer complaints. Medical scams. Public Investigator is a new initiative of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and its sister newsrooms across Wisconsin. Our team wants to hear your tips, chase the leads and uncover the truth. We’ll investigate anywhere in Wisconsin. Send your tips to watchdog@journalsentinel.com or call 414-319-9061. You can also submit tips at jsonline.com/tips.

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Wisconsin

When does Wisconsin volleyball play again? NCAA tournament next match

Published

8 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

When does Wisconsin volleyball play again? NCAA tournament next match

Start time yet to be announced for regional finals match

AUSTIN, Texas – Wisconsin volleyball will be spending two more days in Austin.

The Badgers ensured that with a four-set win over Stanford on Dec. 12 in the NCAA tournament regional semifinals. It was the eighth consecutive win in the regional semifinals for Kelly Sheffield’s group and its first-ever win over Stanford in program history.

Here’s what to know about Wisconsin’s next match:

Who will Wisconsin volleyball play next?

Wisconsin’s next match will be against top-seeded Texas in the NCAA tournament regional finals, with the winner advancing to the Final Four.

What time is Wisconsin volleyball’s next match?

The Wisconsin-Texas match will be on Sunday, Dec. 14. A time has not yet been announced, but it will either be at 2 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. CT.

How to watch Wisconsin-Texas NCAA tournament regional finals match?

NCAA volleyball tournament bracket for regional finals

Creighton vs. Kentucky on Dec. 13 at 5 p.m. in Lexington, Kentucky
Purdue vs. Pittsburgh on Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. in Pittsburgh
Wisconsin vs. Texas on Dec. 14 in Austin
Winner of Nebraska/Kansas vs. winner of Louisville/Texas A&M on Dec. 14 in Lincoln, Nebraska

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Wisconsin

How tariffs are affecting Wisconsin’s real and artificial Christmas trees

Published

20 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

How tariffs are affecting Wisconsin’s real and artificial Christmas trees

Nearly all artificial Christmas trees in the world today are made in China. And with that comes an up to 30 percent tariff rate on imported Christmas products — including artificial trees.

Kris Reisdorf is co-president of the Racine- and Sturtevant-based home and garden store Milaeger’s. On WPR’s “Wisconsin Today,” Reisdorf said tariffs are affecting their prices on artificial trees, but she’s mitigating most of the rate hike through negotiations with manufacturers and by taking on lower profit margins herself.

“We are doing our fair share in making Christmas affordable,” Reisdorf said. “When the average person is thinking 30 percent (tariffs), that’s not by any means what they’re really paying.”

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Milaeger’s “almost real” trees range from under $100 to well over $3,000. Reisdorff said she’s raised prices for all artificial trees by only around $20 compared to last year.

Residorf said tree sales are largely stable despite the uptick in tariff pricing.

An ABC News/Washington Post poll last year found that 58 percent of Americans were buying artificial trees instead of real ones. That’s up from 40 percent in 2010.

Greg Hann owns Hann’s Christmas Farm in Oregon. Hann also sits on the Wisconsin Christmas Tree Producers Association Board and is president-elect of the National Christmas Tree Association.

Hann told “Wisconsin Today” the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 created a surge in business for real evergreen trees and that demand has been holding relatively steady ever since. That said, Hann acknowledged real Christmas tree sales are up for him and fellow growers this year. He attributed the increase in sales to the tariffs and the fact that farmers’ supplies are finally catching up to the higher demand brought on by COVID-19. Nearly all real trees come from the United States or Canada, according to Hann.

Hann said a recent survey by the National Christmas Tree Association found 84 percent of Christmas tree growers nationwide have kept prices the same over the last two years, and that includes his own farm. Being grown locally in Wisconsin, Hann said his business is largely unaffected by tariffs.

“It’s kind of nice to have a good supply with a stable price in this economy,” he said.

Reisdorf said that some artificial tree manufacturers are moving operations outside of China to places like Cambodia. But most other countries in the east are also facing tariff threats.

Instead, Reisdorf said artificial tree importers are lobbying President Donald Trump to lower his 30 percent tariffs on Christmas products like trees and ornaments, because those kinds of goods aren’t coming back to be made in the U.S.

Meanwhile, Hann said his organization is lobbying to have tariffs on artificial trees increased to 300 percent. He said the added tariff costs help create an “even playing field” between real and artificial trees, since farmers have to pay farm staff and cover fertilizer costs.

But it isn’t always about the cost. Reisdorf said artificial trees have the benefit of lasting “forever,” essentially.

Hann said many of his customers come to the farm looking to keep up the Christmas tradition of picking out their own family tree.

“They’re looking for that fragrance of a real tree,” he said. “They want to start that tradition of the family together. They pick the tree, they take it into their house.”

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin loses starting offensive lineman to the transfer portal

Published

1 day ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Wisconsin loses starting offensive lineman to the transfer portal

In a bit of a surprise, Wisconsin Badgers starting center Jake Renfro is using a medical hardship year and entering the transfer portal for his final season of eligibility.

Renfro, a sixth-year senior in 2024, battled numerous injuries this season, limiting him to only four games after having season-ending surgery. He was a full-time starter for Wisconsin in 2024 after missing the entire 2023 season except for the team’s bowl game due to injury.

Prior to his time at Wisconsin, Renfro had played for head coach Luke Fickell at Cincinnati for three seasons. He played in seven games as a freshman in 2020, making six starts at center. He then was the full-time starter as a sophomore in 2021, earning All-AAC honors before missing the entire 2022 season due to injury.

Now, he’s set to come back to college football for a seventh year, rather than turn pro, and will look to do so at another school.

“I want to thank Coach Fickell, the entire coaching and training staff, my teammates, and the University of Wisconsin for everything over the past three seasons,” Renfro wrote. “I am grateful for the support, development, friendships, and memories I have made during my time in Madison. After much prayer and consideration, I have decided to enter the transfer portal and use a medical hardship year to continue my college football journey. I will always appreciate my time as a Badger.”

Renfro was one of the biggest supporters of Fickell publicly, being a vocal leader on the team as the starting center.

With his departure, Wisconsin could need a new starting left tackle, left guard, and center next season, depending on whether Joe Brunner heads to the NFL or returns for another season.

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