Author: Correspondent

Michael O’Hear, a Marquette Law School professor and author of a new book that examines mass іncаrcеrаtіоn, will be the featured guest in an upcoming “On the Issues with Mike Gousha” on January 26. O’Hear is a nationally recognized authority on criminal punishment. His book, Wisconsin Sentencing in the Tough-on-Crime Era: How Judges Retained Power and Why Mass Іncаrcеrаtіоn Happened Anyway, was released on January 17 and examines the explosion in the state’s prison population. Since the 1970s, Wisconsin’s sentencing system has become unusually judge-dominated. Over the same time period, Wisconsin’s prison population has risen dramatically, even by comparison...

Marquette University alumni Ray and Kay Eckstein have issued a $10 million challenge toward the construction of the university’s new residence hall facility. The Ecksteins have challenged the university to raise $10 million; once the challenge is met, the Ecksteins will match the $10 million and the overall complex will be named for longtime Marquette President Rev. Robert A. Wild, S.J., in appreciation and honor of his exceptional service and dedication to the university. This marks the third significant gift the alumni couple have made to Marquette. The Ecksteins in 2007 made a landmark $51 million gift toward Eckstein...

“Come where the grown folk work and the children play; Welcome to Bronzeville, U.S.A!” — From the song “Welcome to Bronzeville” As playwright, director, and actor, Sheri Williams Pannell delivers a new dramatic opus for First Stage, performing at the Marcus Center’s Todd Wehr Theater from January 13 to February 5. Her work invites the audience to take a stroll down Dr. Martin Luther King Drive in Milwaukee and see the juxtaposition of past and the present. On display is the renaissance of a neighborhood that features the modern King Drive Commons Apartments and Business Center, a brand new Pete’s Market and...

Revitalize Milwaukee reached out to over 200 community leaders in the fall of 2016 to submit a block for consideration of the 2017 Block Build MKE. The judging panel was impressed by the quality of submissions and narrowed the submissions down to four finalists: The Clark Square Neighborhood Initiative, The Near West Side Partners, Riverworks Development Corporation and Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers. Revitalize Milwaukee is thrilled to announce that Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative will be the 2017 recipient of the Block Build MKE which will take place on May 19-20, 2017. The selected area is on South 17th...

SDC and HeartLove Place are expanding job training to address pressing needs in the community. The need for viable, livable wage jobs continues to be a critical issue for low-income residents in Milwaukee County which ranks among the top five cities in the nation with the highest poverty levels. The Social Development Commission (SDC) is working to address the need for job training by partnering with HeartLove Place, to offer the ProStart Culinary and Job Readiness Program. The culinary arts and food service portion of the program is accredited and modeled after the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation ProStart...

Bublr Bikes “Challenge” to encourage Bublr biking as a way to stay in shape during the winter season. Bublr Bikes on Thursday announced its Bublr Winter Bike Challenge 2017, which encourages Milwaukee residents to keep biking and stay active over the winter with prizes to hardy riders who ride Bublr bikes during February. “Prove you’re a true Wisconsinite and a hardcore Milwaukeean by riding throughout February, and win some great prizes,” said James Davies, acting executive director of Bublr Bikes, a Milwaukee-based non-profit. Davies said that outdoor winter biking in Milwaukee is on the upswing, and that Bublr has...