Author: Staff

The future USS St. Louis was christened and launched into the Menominee River at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine Shipyard in Wisconsin on December 15, making it the 19th Freedom-class littoral combat ship (LCS-19) of the United States Navy. the USS Milwaukee (LCS-5) was similarly launched five years ago in December 2013. Launched by the Lockheed Martin-led shipbuilding team, the as yet uncommissioned ship will operate independently on missions around the world. Ship sponsor Barbara Broadhurst Taylor, the daughter of a decorated World War II aviator, christened LCS 19 just prior to launch. “LCS 19 is the second ship we’ve...

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin wrote to the CEO of Pfizer on December 11, calling on them to provide an explanation after the pharmaceutical company announced that they intended to increase the costs of 41 prescription drugs starting in January. Major drug companies have drastically raised prices for top-selling drugs over the past five years, in some cases more than doubling prices. This is despite increased sales and company profits. “I am disappointed that your company has decided to continue playing political games and to raise prices once again in January instead of making a commitment to permanently reduce prescription...

The MLK Steering Committee for Milwaukee recently announced that the 35th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration will be held on Sunday, January 20, 2019 at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. Details have not been released yet, but the program will include a memorial tribute to Sandra Parks. The 13-year-old was fatally struck by a bullet in her home on November 19. Parks placed third in the 33rd annual MLK Day writing contest. The theme that year was “We Shall Overcome,” and 6th grader wrote about overcoming the violence in her neighborhood. Her essay spoke...

“White Privilege,” a play written by Marquette Theatre student Malaina Moore, has been selected to be performed next month at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Region III Festival in Madison. KCACTF is a national theatre program involving 18,000 students from colleges and universities nationwide that has served as a catalyst in improving the quality of college theatre in the United States. The Region III festival will include plays from schools in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. The Marquette Theatre cast will present a public performance on January 8, at 7:00 pm. The show will be held in the...

Women won in 7 of the 12 categories of the Radio Milwaukee Music Awards on Thursday, and rapper Lorde Fredd33 won twice for his “NORF: The Legend of Hotboy Ronald” album. Leading the pack of women winning awards was singer and composer Amanda Huff, who was named Best Solo Artist and won for Music Video for the song “Gravetalking” and Album Artwork for “Hemiptera.” Singer Abby Jeanne won Song of the Year for “Be In The Sun.” Other female winners were Rapper Shle Berry, who won for best Independent Release for “Parallels,” Cactus Club general manager and events coordinator...

Downtown Milwaukee turned a corner at one of its most historic intersections: 3rd Street and Wisconsin Avenue, with its latest reincarnation. New plans were unveiled on December 6 to transform the former Shops of the Grand Avenue into an array of reimagined spaces, from a food hall to refurbished offices and apartments, to engaging new retail concepts. Known as the Shops of Grand Avenue, the site will be rebranded simply as The Avenue, a refocus on its central location and recognition of its role in downtown. 3rd Street Market Hall At its heart will be 3rd Street Market Hall,...