Lake Effect Spotlight

Head Start provides free and low-cost early childcare for more than 12,000 kids across Wisconsin. That includes many immigrant families and families dealing with the impacts of poverty.  But new changes to the program proposed by the Trump administration may remove class size limits and require all instruction to be in English.  To learn more about the proposals, WUWM education reporter Katherine Kokal speaks with Jennie Mauer, the executive director of Wisconsin's Head Start Association. 

In Milwaukee, there's a program that blends federal money, city agencies, and private donors to provide free meals for kids during the summer. Across the country, feeding kids during the summer often falls to nonprofits or school districts when school lunches aren't an option. WUWM education reporter Katherine Kokal speaks with Brandis Stockman and Justin Chu of the National League of Cities. Their conversation about summer meal programs is part of our series, Seeking Solutions: Food Access in Milwaukee. They share how cities have approached hunger and why they believe it should be everyone's responsibility. 

When you think about archaeology, your mind probably went to a scene of an excavation site. Probably in a dry landscape, with hammers and dust and someone looking like Sam Neil in Jurassic Park.  While archeologists do uncover the ways people lived in the past below the surface through the places and artifacts they left behind — this is also done way below the surface, underwater.   Underwater archaeology, or the study of submerged landscapes, is a relatively new field. In fact, UW-Milwaukee is just one of two underwater archaeology programs in the U.S. It's led by associate professor Dr. Ashley Lemke, who's previous work includes researching prehistoric hunter-gatherer sites in the depths of Lake Huron. Now, she is helping students explore similar submerged sites in Lake Michigan for the first time. To learn more, Lemke joins me now and begins by sharing how she first discovered the world of underwater archaeology.

There was a big upset in the Democratic gubernatorial primary when Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley defeated State Representative Francesca Hong. Hong, a democratic socialist, went into election day with a big lead in the polls. But Crowley ended up taking the race by about three-thousand votes. Crowley will face Republican nominee Tom Tiffany in the general election in November. Crowley had left the race in July due to low support but reentered about a week later when Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez dropped out. The race looked extremely close Tuesday evening as results rolled in...demonstrating a high level of voter engagement, and a big divide in what Democratic voters are looking for. WUWM's Ann-Elise Henzl chats with UW-Madison politics professor Barry Burden about what's ahead in the general election. 

Last month, the seventh circuit court of appeals issued a decision on the ongoing battle over the Line 5 pipeline in northern Wisconsin. The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has been fighting to get a portion of the pipeline off tribal lands for over a decade. The court confirmed that Enbridge, which operates the pipeline, has been trespassing on those lands. Enbridge is in the process of rerouting the line outside of tribal lands, but the court wasn't clear about the next steps for removal. Stefanie Tsosie is a senior attorney with EarthJustice and represents the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. She talks with WUWM Environmental Reporter Susan Bence about the latest on Line 5. 

Homer Blow has held many titles throughout his 35-year career in Milwaukee radio. On-air personality, talk show host, program director & music director. He even has his own online radio station. His career and his work in the community recently garnered him recognition by the Common Council. Blow spoke with WUWM's Race & Ethnicity Reporter Teran Powell about what the recognition means to him. Of course, he began the conversation with his signature radio introduction. 

In some circles, music festivals happen on the coasts, the desert, or in big cities. Think Coachella, Burning Man and Lollapalooza.  But there's another big music event – with world renowned artists -- in Wisconsin. And it's not Summerfest. It's 250 miles away in a small city in northwest Wisconsin. WUWM's Eddie Morales and Maayan Silver went to Eaux Claires Fest in July, and put together this snapshot of the event. 

President Trump continues to tout a lie that he won the 2020 election, despite evidence that confirms that Joe Biden won. While Trump continues to focus on what happened in 2020 – these claims about election integrity matter in a midterm election year when voters are counting on the voting system to be safe and secure.  Edgar Lin is with Protect Democracy, a non-partisan, anti-authoritarian group that uses litigation, advocacy and research to protect elections. He says one thing that's different about Trump's election lies in 2026 is that they are backed by the federal government. Lin joins WUWM's Maayan Silver to break down the claims coming from the president and the facts about our election system this midterm election year. 

July has been dry and hot, which aren't ideal conditions for farmers or their cows. This, combined with uncertainty about a future Farm Bill and a 'break-even year' for dairy farmers, 2026 has provided many challenges for America's Dairyland.Tom Oberhaus is the co-operator of Cozy Nook Farm in Waukesha County. Cozy Nook is primarily a dairy farm, and it supplements its business with seasonal pumpkin and Christmas tree sales. Lake Effect's Sam Woods last talked with Oberhaus at the beginning of the planting season and he checks back in with him now to see how the summer is going.This conversation is part of WUWM's commitment to covering issues our listeners say are top priorities, including the economy. As part of that coverage, we're exploring how the economy is impacting Wisconsinites with different financial needs and concerns. Previous check-ins have explored the impact of high fuel prices and a 'break-even' economic forecast for dairy, federal aid to farmers and the economics of seasonal pumpkin and Christmas tree sales for a dairy farm.

Air quality in Milwaukee reached historically hazardous levels last week. And while it's gotten better, there are still reasons to be cautious. Wildfires in Canada continue to burn across Ontario. Some health experts are advising people to stay vigilant, with the potential for more smoke spreading over the Midwest. Dr. Ben Weston is Milwaukee County's Chief Health Policy Advisor. He joins WUWM's Eddie Morales to talk about the effects of short- and long-term exposure to wildfire smoke. 

Thousands of airplane enthusiasts are in Oshkosh this week for the annual AirVenture celebration. The festival is put on by the Experimental Aircraft Association, based right here in Wisconsin. It's the largest festival of its kind, with people flying in from all corners of the world to attend.  That includes Jessica Cox, a pilot from Arizona who's in Oshkosh sharing her journey to becoming the world's first licensed pilot without arms. She'll also be showing off her Impossible Airplane - the first plane designed to be operated by feet. Cox joins Lake Effect's Joy Powers to share more. 

It's July 1952 in Oconto, Wisconsin. You wake up, stretch, pour some coffee, all while strange sounds filter in from outside. Some witnesses describe sounds like a combination of rubbing on a balloon, and distant rifle fire.Only it isn't distant rifles making these sounds - it's 175 million …. frogs. Tea Krulos is a contributing writer for Milwaukee Magazine, who wrote about the Great Oconto Frog Invasion for this month's issue. He sat down with Lake Effect's Sam Woods to discuss the phenomenon, and how little of it is remembered today. 

To mark the beginning of summer, WUWM's Maayan Silver is looking into the origins of the beloved and unmistakable song “Summertime.”  She's joined by Jason McKinney, an opera singer, educator and music director with Milwaukee roots. 

Beyond Our Senses is a new nature documentary that gives you a bird's-eye view of the world of Bank Swallows. The 30-minute film follows thousands of Bank Swallows as they migrate to Lake Michigan's bluffs in the spring. It explores how the small birds navigate the breeding season with their unique vision and flight abilities.  David Busse is the director behind the film and a Milwaukee native. He joins Lake Effect's Xcaret Nuñez for June's Chirp Chat to talk about Bank Swallows and the making of the film. 

Nicholas Hune-Brown is an editor at a nonprofit online magazine called The Local. It covers health and social issues in Toronto, Canada. Nick has shared how, as an editor, he loves to give new writers a platform. But everything changed when he received a suspicious pitch from a writer named Victoria Goldiee.   As Nick took a closer look, it turns out the writer wasn't who she seemed. Nick joins Lake Effect's Xcaret Nuñez to share his investigation into an AI freelancer — and what it reveals about the future of journalism. 

From our 'AI in the workplace' episode on Tuesday: we look at how artificial intelligence is impacting education. WUWM education reporter Katherine Kokal takes us on a trip to Ronald Reagan High School on the city's far south side.  

For the past 13 years, Giannis Antetokounmpo has been synonymous with the Bucks and the city of Milwaukee. Sadly, last week, he was traded. But even though the Giannis era has come to an end, his impact on the city won't be forgotten. WUWM's Jimmy Gutierrez shares this essay about the global superstar who put Milwaukee back on the map. 

We look at the tenure of Milwaukee's last Socialist mayor, Frank Zeidler, and his aggressive campaign to expand the size of the city. We also explore what socialism looks like in Milwaukee today.

Milwaukee Mayor Daniel Hoan became the longest-serving socialist mayor in U.S. history, and redefined life in the city by creating parks, publicly-funded housing and the first modern sewage treatment facility. But it was a tumultuous time for the socialists, who faced local and global pressure over their ideology. 

The legacy of the Milwaukee Socialists looms large in the city. But the rise of the Social Democratic Party was anything but inevitable. It was a struggle against monied interests, powerful political parties, and a fight for the rights of those whose labor had made others rich.

Milwaukee is known for its summer festivals but none is as anticipated as the Big Gig. Crowds will flock to the lakefront as Summerfest gets underway tomorrow. To help you plan your first weekend of Summerfest, our friends at Radio Milwaukee are here to share their recommendations. They'll be joining us throughout the run of the festival to talk about the music and what sets Summerfest apart from other music festivals. Carolann Grzybowski and Anthony Foster join Lake Effect's Audrey Nowakowski in studio.

June 19th, or Juneteenth, commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas learned they had been freed from bondage. It was two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, and a city of Milwaukee holiday one year later. But Milwaukee has been celebrating Juneteenth for much longer -- 55 years. It's thanks, in large part, to community leader Margaret Henningson and Northcott Neighborhood House, which put on the first Juneteenth celebration in 1971. Henningson says she learned about Juneteenth in a conversation with her grandmother, during a family trip to Georgia when she was a teenager. Henningson tells WUWM Race & Ethnicity Reporter Teran Powell that message came full circle for her when she began working for Northcott in the 1970s. 

American Science & Surplus is a Milwaukee staple for many science enthusiasts and DIYers. While its online store has closed, its brick-and-mortar locations in Milwaukee and Illinois, remain open under new employee ownership. The previous owner, Pat Meyer, started a GoFundMe last year to try and keep the stores open. But when efforts failed to reduce inventory and relocate its warehouse, Meyer stepped down as owner. Now, former store manager Kim Stenglein owns the Milwaukee location. Stenglein spoke with WUWM's Eddie Morales last December about how a challenging economy is shaping the store's inventory and future. As part of WUWM's Economic Check-in series, Stenglein shares some of the ongoing and new economic challenges the store is facing. 

Recent reporting from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel looked into Walgreens leases throughout the city.  The reporting found that leases contain terms that restrict pharmacies and other businesses from moving into the stores – even if it has closed. And those leases can last for decades – so long as the company continues to pay rent.  One of the closed down Walgreens locations on North King Drive and West Hadley Street has a lease that was signed in 2009 that lasts until 2084 – preventing new business from moving in. WUWM's Race & Ethnicity Reporter Teran Powell is joined by Chad Venne, a real estate expert, to learn more about these types of leases and their provisions. 

If you're a frequent listener to WUWM, chances are you're familiar with the voice of Paula Poundstone. She's a regular panelist on NPR's Wait! Wait!...Don't Tell Me, and also hosts the podcast, “Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone." Poundstone's career spans stand-up comedy, radio and voice acting. She'll be performing her stand-up in Lake Geneva this weekend. Lake Effect's Audrey Noawkowski talked to her ahead of the show. 

As the midterms approach both Republicans and Democrats are trying to court prospective voters. But a new book by Glendale Mayor Bryan Kennedy argues that both parties have become disconnected from the communities they hope to represent. His book called It's All Local explores how independent political candidates have attempted to redirect politics in favor of what voters need, and how political leaders of all stripes can incorporate a bottom-up approach to their priorities.  

Milwaukee is known for its deep ties to Socialism. It was the first city to elect a Socialist mayor and was the first place to elect a Socialist to Congress. But their rise to power was rocky - and their status as a third party often made progress an uphill battle.   Last week, we kicked off our four-part series on the Milwaukee socialists. We're exploring the accomplishments of the city's three Socialist mayors, where we see their legacy today, and how the party has evolved. Today, we'll explore what happened after the monumental election of 1910, which propelled the city's first Socialist mayor into office. 

Earlier this month the Wisconsin Humane Society welcomed the first beagles rescued from Ridglan Farms. That's a dog breeding facility in Blue Mound, Wisconsin that gained national attention after activists broke in. So far, the WHS has taken in 132 beagles from the rescue, which is one of the largest efforts for them in the last decade.    Most of these dogs have gone to foster homes since they'll need some extra care and attention before they'll be ready for adoption. So, what do you need to know or consider if you're thinking about welcoming one of these beagles into your home?  To learn more, Lake Effect's Audrey Nowakowski is joined by Angela Speed from the Wisconsin Humane Society VP of Marketing & Communications. She starts by explaining the coordination efforts that helped to support these rescued beagles. 

If you're trying to live a more plastic-free life, Milwaukee's new “refillery” might be for you. At ECO MKE Refillery, you can bring in a reusable container, like a mason jar or glass jug, and buy refills of dish soap, detergent, body wash and more.  Kayla Bouma is the owner and founder of ECO MKE. She says her new brick-and-mortar in the Third Ward also sells sustainable home goods like bamboo utensils, dryer balls and toothpaste tablets.  Bouma joins Lake Effect's Xcaret Nuñez to share more about her business and how people can implement eco-friendly habits in their everyday lives. 

Earlier this spring, conservationists marked the return of sturgeon to the Milwaukee River for the first time in more than one hundred years. This past weekend, people gathered to celebrate that return and acknowledge the significance of the restoration for the Indigenous community. A traditional game of lacrosse was held at Kletzsch Park – one of the most important sturgeon restoration sites. That's where WUWM environmental reporter Susan Bence met Mark Denning, a member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. He speaks about the cultural significance of the sturgeon and the game of lacrosse. 

An eviction can follow a person for years. Even if the case is dismissed or if the renter was not at fault – experts say it can have a long-lasting impact.  A record of eviction can prevent someone from finding stable housing and deepen barriers to ever becoming a homeowner. WUWM Eric Von Fellow Maria Peralta-Arellano explores a possible way to remove that blemish from someone's record...as part of our series, Seeking Solutions: Keys to Homeownership. 

Last month, Milwaukee's Common Council passed a curfew for food trucks operating downtown.  Alderman Robert Bauman says a 10 P-M closing time will curb violence and loitering, especially around Water Street. The curfew would affect a two-square mile area encompassing downtown.   One food truck owner has filed a lawsuit against the city, and a judge has put the curfew on pause at least until June 10th.   But for food truck businesses that rely heavily on late-night customers, this new curfew could threaten their entire livelihood.   WUWM's Katherine Kokal spent some time with Vanessa Gonzalez – owner of the Mr. Taco food truck parked on Water Street.

When you think of maritime music, you might imagine pirates or sailors exploring the ocean on an old, masted ship.  But what if I told you the Maritime Music Directory International is not based in a sea-faring, fishing village - but on the shores of Lake Michigan, in Racine, Wisconsin?  That's where founder Dean Calin manages the directory of international musicians and festivals with a singular devotion to maritime music. He joins Lake Effect's Joy Powers to talk about the directory and the maritime music scene.

Tom Oberhaus is the co-operator of Cozy Nook Farm in Waukesha County. Cozy Nook is primarily a dairy farm, and it supplements its business with seasonal pumpkin and Christmas tree sales. When Lake Effect's Sam Woods spoke with Oberhaus in January, Christmas tree sales were down, and the farm was planning for 2026. Sam checked back in with Oberhaus to see how things are going on the farm ahead of planting season. The conversation is part of WUWM's commitment to covering issues our listeners say are top priorities, including the economy. As part of that coverage, we're exploring how the economy is impacting Wisconsinites with different financial needs and concerns.  

In parts one and two, we learned about out-of-state landlord David Tomblin. He owns over 200 rental properties in Milwaukee and is fighting lawsuits that threaten to cut him off from rental income. We also learned about how his tenants united against him, and the city's case for declaring his business model a public nuisance. Today, we examine how the city has tried similar strategies for dealing with negligent landlords in the past, and we finally speak with the man himself - David Tomblin. This is the third and final part of “How to Evict Your Landlord," a series produced by WUWM's Jimmy Gutierrez and Lake Effect's Sam Woods.  

In part one, we learned about David Tomblin, who owns over 200 rental properties in Milwaukee. But lawsuits brought by the city and major lenders could ultimately take those properties away. These lawsuits follow a long campaign by Common Ground, a nonpartisan advocacy organization, that united Tomblin's tenants against him. Today, we look at how Common Ground organized Tomblin's tenants, and how the Milwaukee City Attorney used his legal power to bring Tomblin to court. This is part two of “How to Evict Your Landlord,” produced by WUWM's Jimmy Gutierrez and Lake Effect's Sam Woods 

You may have heard that one of Milwaukee's largest landlords is in big legal trouble. David Tomblin, founder of Highgrove Holdings Management LLC, owns over 200 rental properties in Milwaukee. But lawsuits brought by the city and major lenders could ultimately take those properties away. These lawsuits are not the beginning of this story. They follow a years-long campaign by Common Ground, a nonpartisan advocacy organization, that united Tomblin's tenants against him. WUWM's Jimmy Gutierrez and Sam Woods spent a few months with Common Ground and some of Tomblin's tenants to learn about him, what he represents and how tenants took back their power. This is part one of, “How to Evict Your Landlord.”

Since the dawn of the internet, online spaces have been rapidly changing and eating up more of our time. Social media and attention-driven apps are shaping how young people think and feel and how they learn. A new documentary, “Your Attention Please,” highlights the real-world consequences of social media and how it reshapes all of us. It also shows how a new generation of parents and teens are fighting back against Big Tech's agenda to keep us scrolling. The film is showing at the Milwaukee Film Festival. To learn more Lake Effect's Audrey Nowakowski is joined by director Sara Robin, writer & co-creator Jack LeMay, and film participant Kristin Bride. A warning to listeners, this conversation does include the topic of suicide.  

The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund will likely come to an end this June. Earlier this year, the state senate failed to reauthorize funding for the program. The stewardship fund has helped protect 750-thousand acres of land statewide by investing roughly one-point-three billion dollars to protect Wisconsin's natural landscape.  The stewardship fund has been working with government and nonprofits since 1989, but in recent years its faced more politicization. WUWM's Eric Von Fellow, Maria Peralta-Arellano is joined by DNR facilities and lands bureau director, Terry Bay to learn more. 

If you go to a natural history museum almost anywhere in the world, you can expect to see dioramas displaying how animals live in the wild. Dioramas have become integral to museums, transporting visitors to unfamiliar landscapes through art and science. But did you know that it started right here in Milwaukee?  The Milwaukee-style diorama revolutionized how museums curated their exhibits, and the original diorama lives on at the Milwaukee Public Museum. Dr. Ellen Censky is the president and CEO of the museum, and she joins Lake Effect's Joy Powers to talk about the museum's long history with dioramas. 

A new documentary looks at what students with different faith backgrounds can learn from each other. The film focuses on an ambitious teacher and his students in a World Religions class at Prospect High School in Mount Prospect, Illinois.  It's showing at the Milwaukee Film Fest and ahead of that WUWM's Maayan Silver speaks with filmmaker Allison Walsh and producer Lily Qi about the project, and what it's all about. 

We all know about Smokey Bear — the iconic mascot for wildfire prevention. But do you know about Torchy Timberloss? He's Wisconsin's very own fire mascot who recently came out of retirement. Torchy is a devilish looking flame that dates back to the 1950s.  The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says Torchy's image has evolved over the years. Nowadays, he's focused on spreading the message that not all fires are bad. Catherine Koele is a wildfire prevention specialist, and Michele Witecha is a prescribed fire specialist, with the Wisconsin DNR.  They join Lake Effect's Xcaret Nuñez to share Torchy's story and the benefits of prescribed fires.