Author: Staff

Riding the BRT: A first day experience on Milwaukee County’s new East-West Bus Rapid Transit line

Riding the BRT: A first day experience on Milwaukee County’s new East-West Bus Rapid Transit line

Posted by | Jun 6, 2023

After years of planning and anticipation, Milwaukee inaugurated its highly anticipated East-West Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line on June 4. The new nine-mile BRT corridor, with a price tag of $55 million, aims to revolutionize public transportation in the city by providing faster, more reliable, and convenient travel options for commuters. On June 10, 2021, Federal, state, and local officials joined business leaders and members of the community at a special groundbreaking ceremony to kick off construction of the BRT project. Two years later it is a reality. The launch of the East-West BRT line marks a significant milestone...

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The bus is for all of us: Milwaukee County’s 2023 Pride Month kicks off with new MCTS Pride Bus design

The bus is for all of us: Milwaukee County’s 2023 Pride Month kicks off with new MCTS Pride Bus design

Posted by | Jun 1, 2023

County Executive David Crowley, Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson, and Supervisor Peter Burgelis, in partnership with the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS), hosted a special kick off celebration for 2023 Pride Month in Milwaukee County at Cathedral Square Park on May 31. Pride Month begins on June 1, but Milwaukee County held the special event a day early to unveil this year’s Pride Bus, designed by MCTS employee Brianne Mueller. The theme for 2023 is “the bus is for all of us,” with that message incorporated into the vibrant graphics on each side of the vehicle. “As we as we kick...

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Forgotten Civil War veterans buried in County’s Poor Farm Cemetery finally honored on Memorial Day 2023

Forgotten Civil War veterans buried in County’s Poor Farm Cemetery finally honored on Memorial Day 2023

Posted by | May 29, 2023

Memorial Day 2023 decorations at the Milwaukee County Poor Farm Cemetery #3 marks what is thought to be the first time three Civil War veterans buried in cemeteries on County Grounds were honorably recognized with a Memorial Day flag for their service to the nation. Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day was a tradition that began in the aftermath of the American Civil War. It was when citizens placed wreaths, flags, and flowers on the graves of those who had been killed in battle. “America’s history and the Memorial Day holiday forever go hand-in-hand, by providing recognition and...

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Acts of Hate: Local family faces lengthy legal battle with neighbors over alleged racial harassment

Acts of Hate: Local family faces lengthy legal battle with neighbors over alleged racial harassment

Posted by | May 23, 2023

A heated lawsuit is underway in the quiet suburban neighborhood of Mount Pleasant as Carlos J. Amaya and Laura V. Amaya filed a lawsuit against their neighbors, James I. Coots and Cindy J. Coots on May 23. The lawsuit also includes ABC Insurance Company, alleging liability for damages. The plaintiffs claim a series of incidents involving harassment, trespassing, and property disputes that have strained neighborly relations over the past few years. The Milwaukee-based Hispanic advocacy organization Forward Latino was contacted two years ago by the Amaya family, seeking legal assistance and protection from James and Cindy Coots. Over the...

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CONNECT 1 Service: MCTS launches summer route changes along with new BRT line on June 4

CONNECT 1 Service: MCTS launches summer route changes along with new BRT line on June 4

Posted by | May 22, 2023

Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) summer schedules go into effect on June 4, and include the launch of the new CONNECT 1. Wisconsin’s first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line, CONNECT 1, will deliver a premium level of transit service that improves mobility and ultimately increases ridership in a cost-effective manner. It will also feature several innovations new to Milwaukee County including the use of battery electric buses, real-time arrival signage at bus stations, and dedicated bus lanes. In addition to the introduction of CONNECT 1, summer schedule changes improve the reliability of service on adjacent bus routes, make the...

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From invasion to liberation: Sergi Mykhalchuk earns 2 Milwaukee Press Club awards for his images in Irpin

From invasion to liberation: Sergi Mykhalchuk earns 2 Milwaukee Press Club awards for his images in Irpin

Posted by | May 13, 2023

Somewhere in Ukraine, at an undisclosed location along the frontlines, Sergi Mykhalchuk received a Facebook message from Milwaukee that his work documenting Irpin’s evacuation and later liberation had won two journalism awards. On May 12, the Milwaukee Press Club awarded Milwaukee Independent’s Mykhalchuk for excellence in visual journalism in two categories, “Best Photo Essay or Series” and “Best Feature Photograph.” The images documented the early days of Russia’s brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the aftermath when those forces were driven from the Kyiv region and Milwaukee’s sister city. > READ: Images from the frontlines: Sergi Mykhalchuk photographs the...

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