Wisconsin
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg highlights Great Lakes ports in Wisconsin trip
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg explains Great Lakes ports value
Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg was in Manitowoc, Wis. to see Navy Cranes built at Konecranes to grains of barley made into malt at Briess Malt.
MANITOWOC – In the port cities that line Wisconsin’s eastern coast, access to Lake Michigan supports a broad swath of industries including cargo transportation, heavy machinery manufacturing, agricultural exports and the malt supply for some of Wisconsin’s iconic craft brewing operations.
In a recent visit to three of those ports, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was traveling in his official capacity, despite reports indicating he is likely in consideration as a potential running mate for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris is expected to meet this weekend with several candidates as she takes the helm of the Democratic presidential ticket, following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race late last month.
While Buttigieg — a former mayor of South Bend, Ind., and 2020 presidential candidate — adhered to the constraints of traveling as a representative of the federal government rather than a campaign, his message was clear: the investments he was highlighting exist in the context of an administration that enacted the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, $17 billion of which was directed to ports and waterways.
“The last administration (under Republican former President Donald Trump) talked a good game about infrastructure but failed to get a package through,” Buttigieg told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel during a Tuesday stop at Briess Malt & Ingredients Co. “This is different. This is a season of infrastructure, not just a so-called Infrastructure Week, which was getting to be a bit of a joke in Washington in the last administration. This is an infrastructure decade, and we’re in the middle of it.”
The $1.2 trillion package, which Biden signed into law in 2021, addresses nearly every facet of American infrastructure, including public transportation, roads, bridges, ports, railways, power grids, broadband internet, as well as water and sewage systems. It marked the largest investment in the country’s infrastructure in decades and, Buttigieg said, will make streets safer, improve the climate and save lives.
“Everything about this excites me. And it’s just so powerful to look at the difference between talking and doing,” he said.
Buttigieg had made his way down to Manitowoc from Menominee, Mich., and visited Milwaukee the following day.
The Menominee Harbor port received $21 million in federal funding in June to reconstruct deteriorating port infrastructure and boost rail capacity.
In Manitowoc, Buttigieg toured Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, which processes more than 100,000 tons of steel each year, enabling the production of a variety of components and machinery including large cranes used by the U.S. Navy, mining equipment and wind turbines.
He then visited Briess, a family-owned business of more than 100 years that produces malts, or malted barley, used by breweries including New Glarus, Central Waters, Great Dane and Milwaukee Brewing Company.
“Our real goal here is to look at another side of America’s supply chains. Container shipping at the coast is important, but that’s only part of the story. Another very important part of the story is our Great Lakes ports, and the economy that connects into them,” Buttigieg said.
In the Marinette, Wisconsin and Menominee, Michigan area, Buttigieg said, he saw how much the port has grown and noted the influence of the wind industry and pulp movement on the supply chain and the creation of good-paying jobs.
“Here (in Manitowoc), we saw these enormous, colossal cranes that are such an important part of America’s defense system, and the range of products from that, to the barley that we’re looking at as part of this malting process, that they’re all only possible because of goods movement,” he told the Journal Sentinel. “And that’s why we’re investing in the ports as well as the railroad improvements, the roads and bridges and highways and everything else. That’s part of the Biden-Harris infrastructure package.”
Asked what, as transportation secretary, he would like to see from Congress to further support infrastructure funding, Buttigieg noted the government is “smack in the middle of the life of this five year bill, (so) we’re already starting to talk about what will happen in 2026.”
“We need sustained support for meaningful infrastructure investments,” he said. “Some of these, including the port infrastructure development programs, are funded with year-to-year appropriations. So it’s not just the Biden-Harris infrastructure package; we need support every single year to keep these programs going, to make investments like the ones we’re making in Wisconsin.”
Buttigieg said it’s also important for lawmakers to stay engaged with the federal government to ensure local projects are receiving the support they need.
“This is something that we talk to (Wisconsin Democratic Sen.) Tammy Baldwin a lot about,” he said. “She was there for us when we were trying to get the (infrastructure) bill passed. She’s also very focused on things like ‘made in America’ and project delivery that are going to help make sure the projects are successful.”
As Harris and Trump face off for the presidency, Baldwin faces a challenge from Republican businessman Eric Hovde as she seeks a third Senate term.
In a call with reporters ahead of his Wisconsin visits, state Republican officials called Buttigieg’s events a “taxpayer-funded trip for the secretary to come out and audition for vice president.”
“What he’s not going to do is talk to voters, show up at a grocery store checkout counter and understand the frustration that people have with the Biden-Harris administration,” U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil said.
Asked about federal grants for infrastructure that Buttigieg is highlighting in Wisconsin, Steil said “logical investments in our state infrastructure is a positive thing.”
“(The) concern that all of us have with the Biden-Harris administration is the overall amount of reckless spending,” he said. “When you see the secretary come in, he’s going to cherry-pick key investments. What he’s not going to do is highlight the number of flawed investments that his administration is trying to shove through, in particular electric vehicle charging stations, the inability of the FAA to operate efficiently.”
Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Brian Schimming referred to Buttigieg’s visit as “the Democrat vice presidential Olympics” making an appearance in Wisconsin.
Asked what kind of role he’d like to hold in a potential Harris administration, Buttigieg said, “All I’ll say is I’m proud to be doing the work that I’m doing.”
Buttigieg said he’s honored the Biden-Harris administration trusted him with the opportunity “because there’s never been a more dynamic or exciting time to be the Secretary of Transportation.”
Hope Karnopp of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contributed.
Jessie Opoien can be reached at jessie.opoien@jrn.com.
Wisconsin
Former Kentucky OLB Tyreese Fearbry announces transfer to Wisconsin
Former Kentucky OLB Tyreese Fearbry announces transfer to Wisconsin
Wisconsin is now up to 16 transfer portal commitments this month.
The latest to join the Badgers: Tyreese Fearbry, a projected outside linebacker who played the last three seasons at Kentucky.
A former four-star recruit in the 2022 recruiting class, Fearbry chose the Wildcats over offers Auburn, Penn State, Pittsburgh and Miami, among many others, coming out of high school.
Over three seasons, Fearbry had 21 total tackles. This fall, the Pennsylvania native played in 11 of Kentucky’s 12 games and had 14 tackles.
Fearbry is the latest portal commit for the Badgers up front. The staff has already landed defensive linemen Micheal Garner, Parker Petersen, Corey Walker and Charles Perkins, as well as edge Mason Reiger and linebacker Antarron Turner.
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Wisconsin
Preview: Wisconsin Closes Nonconference Schedule Hosting Detroit Mercy
Preview: Wisconsin Closes Nonconference Schedule Hosting Detroit Mercy
Detroit Mercy (5-8, 1-2 Horizon League) vs. Wisconsin (9-3, 0-2 Big Ten)
Date/Time – Sunday, December 22, 1 p.m.
Arena – Kohl Center (16,838)
Watch – Big Ten Network (Jeff Levering and Brian Butch)
Radio – Badgers Radio Network (Matt Lepay and Charlie Wills), Sirius 119 or 195, stream online on iHeartRadio.
Series – Wisconsin leads 3-0 (Wisconsin leads 3-0 in Madison)
Last Meeting – Wisconsin won, 68-42, on December 6, 2003, in Madison
Follow Online: The Badgers’ Den
Twitter: @Badger_Blitz
Betting line: Wisconsin -29.5
Projected Starting Five (Wisconsin)
Player to Watch: After averaging 2.4 points per game last season, Winter has improved to 10.6 ppg this year after scoring a career-high 20 vs. Butler. He leads UW in rebounds (5.6), offensive rebounds (23) and field goal percentage (.598).
Projected Starting Five (Detroit Mercy)
Player to watch: Leading the Titans with 16 points in Wednesday’s loss at Northern Kentucky, Lovejoy has been in double figures in nine of UDM’s 13 games. He leads the team in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals (1.9).
Series Notes
Wisconsin’s average margin of victory in its three prior meetings with UDM is 18.3 points.
The last time Wisconsin and Detroit Mercy met was Dec. 6, 2003, when UW claimed a 68-42 win. Devin Harris and Freddie Owens led the Badgers with 13 points, with Harris adding nine assists.
Wisconsin is 72-4 all-time against teams in the Horizon League. Under head coach Greg Gard, the Badgers hold a 9-0 all-time mark vs. Horizon teams.
The Titans are 30-123 all-time against the Big Ten Conference – 12-81 on the road – and have dropped 18 in a row against the league. The last win was at Michigan State, 68-65, on Dec. 13, 1997.
Wisconsin Notes
Wisconsin is 79-23 (.775) in regular season, non-conference games under Gard.
Wisconsin is 9-1 in non-conference play this season and has the chance to post double-digit out of conference wins for the first time since going 11-2 in 2016-17. The Badgers have tallied four non-conference wins over Power 5 teams, their most since 2018-19.
Wisconsin ranks 11th in the nation with an adjusted offensive efficiency of 120.1 per KenPom – through games played Dec. 18. This year’s adjusted offensive efficiency rating of 120.1 ranks as the school’s third-highest mark since KenPom began tracking in 1999.
UW is averaging 15.2 assists per game, its most since 1993-94, while turning the ball over 9.6 times per game. UW has never had a season in which it has averaged 15+ assists per game while remaining below 10 turnovers per contest.
Wisconsin leads the NCAA in free throw percentage, 84.8% FT (234-for-276) at the line. UW has nearly made more FTs (234) than its foes have attempted (237) this season.
Detroit Mercy Notes
With 11 new players on the 15-man roster, the Titans returned just 14.2 percent of their scoring, 12.9 percent of their rebounding, and 18.0 percent of their minutes played from last season.
The Titans snapped a 22-game road slide with a win at Ball State on November 20.
UDM posted four wins in November, the most in the month since going 4-3 at the start of the 2017-18 season
Detroit Mercy has owned the glass this year, outrebounding its opponents in nine of its 13 games. The Titans are 52nd in the country with 13.2 offensive boards and 74th in DI with a +5.4 rebounding average.
UDM has a 173-107 margin on second-chance points on the season.
Prediction
Calling out a play that involves Crowl getting an early shot attempt in the low post is nothing new for Gard. Off the top of his head, he estimates that getting the ball to Crowl in the low post within Wisconsin’s first three offensive possessions happens 90 percent of the time.
But after being publicly called out by his coach and pushed to be more aggressive by his teammates, Wisconsin intentionally made a call to get Crowl the ball near the low block on the first possession. Seeing him convert by being physical with his back to the basket, unleashing a spin move for an easy bucket was the positive response the staff was looking for.
Crowl’s season-high 18 points against Butler were a catalyst in breaking a three-game losing skid. He did it playing aggressively and in short spurts, playing in just 17 minutes (second-fewest of the season) and going 7-for-10 from the floor (second-most attempts of the year).
“It’s a credit to him,” Gard said. “The 17 minutes that he had, he took full advantage of those.”
The renewed play of Crowl and the growth of Nolan Winter could give Wisconsin a punch to the offense it hasn’t had through the first two months of the season. Crowl and Winter had only reached double figures in the same game once until last Saturday. The duo combined for 38 points and their play helped Wisconsin outscore Butler, 40-to-24, in the paint, its third-highest total for the season and the second-highest paint-scoring differential.
“They play and have pride in playing for what’s on the front of the jersey, knowing that the back of the jersey will get taken care of,” Gard said. “You really get individual accolades through team success. I don’t see a lot of MVP awards being handed out to an 8-25 team.”
Getting to 8-25 would be a huge step forward for Detroit Mercy, which opened last season with a 26-game losing streak and finished 1-31, the worst record in Division-1. Hiring Michigan State assistant Mark Montgomery, who has coached with Tom Izzo on two different occasions, the Titans run some patterns similar to the Spartans in addition to executing three-quarters court pressure and zone.
The Titans also have a good player in Lovejoy, as the transfer from Eastern Michigan is one of 10 Division 1 players who averages 13.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. Detroit ranks 54th nationally in rebounding, averaging just under 40 per game. The problem the Titans are facing is health, as the Titans have three rotation players averaging at least 8.9 ppg out with injuries. The Titans played 10 student-athletes at NKU, six of those were freshmen who accounted for 101 of the 200 minutes as well as 38 of the 60 points and 22 of the 34 boards.
Wisconsin should handle an undermanned unit, as long as the Badgers aren’t overly rusty from finals week.
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Wisconsin
Wisconsin former four-star quarterback Mabrey Mettauer appears headed for transfer portal
MADISON – It appears that the Wisconsin football team will have almost a completely new quarterback room next season.
Mabrey Mettauer, the last scholarship player left at the position on the roster from this season, is expected to enter the transfer portal, according to 247sports. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound true freshman from The Woodlands, Texas, was a consensus four-star recruit coming out of high school.
This season he served as the top backup to Braedyn Locke after Tyler Van Dyke suffered a season-ending knee injury against Alabama. Mettauer appeared in one game and completed his only pass attempt.
He maintained his redshirt status and will have four years of eligibility remaining.
Mabrey’s departure was the last domino to fall from the firing of Phil Longo as offensive coordinator. Like Van Dyke and Locke, Mettauer came to Wisconsin with the idea that he would play in Longo’s pass-friendly offense.
Locke’s brother, Landyn, a member of the 2025 recruiting class, was also recruited by Longo. Landyn Locke has been released from his letter of intent and has re-opened his recruitment.
After 247sports broken the news of Mettauer’s expected departure he reposted the post on his X and Instagram accounts.
The loss of Mettauer means Wisconsin has three scholarship quarterbacks plus walk-on Milos Spasojevic on the roster for next season:
* Billy Edwards Jr., who started this season at Maryland and threw for 2,800 yards. He has one year of eligibility left.
* Danny O’Neil, who started at San Diego State as a true freshman and threw for 2,000 yards this season. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
* Carter Smith, a four-star prospect from Florida, will enroll early and participate in spring practice.
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