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From the Article:

In what will now amount to a total $100 million investment, St. Augustine Preparatory Academy said Tuesday that it will demolish several buildings on the former Cardinal Stritch University campus and construct new buildings as it plans a fall 2026 opening of a north campus for the K4-12 Christian school.

The investment amount includes the $24 million price for acquiring the property, the school said in a press release. The 43.5-acre site in Glendale and Fox Point became available last spring after Cardinal Stritch announced that it would discontinue operations following its commencement ceremony in May.

The investment is twice the $50 million that was initially planned to rework the campus.

The school will be known as Aug Prep North and is expected to open in fall 2026 with just over 300 students in grades K4-6th and 9th. It will grow to serve 1,000-plus students in grades K4-12.

A second phase — beyond the $100 million investment — is envisioned for the future, which would eventually build capacity to reach 2,000-plus students.

St. Augustine Prep was founded by Gus and Becky Ramirez and has quickly grown to become one of the top-rated K4-12 schools in Wisconsin, according to the press release. The Ramirez family and Husco International, a lead benefactor of Aug Prep, have committed $75 million in the first phase at Aug Prep North. A fundraising campaign, initially targeting $15 million, has been increased to $25 million, with over $5.5 million already raised.

From the Article:

The Target store that opened at Bayshore in 2021 was listed for sale this month for almost $14.4 million, along with two other buildings at the Glendale mall.

The Target store's sale isn’t likely to affect its operations, as a buyer would want the property because the national retailer is leasing the building and paying rent. There are 11 years remaining on Target’s lease for the building, plus options to extend that for up to 50 more years, according to the marketing materials for the property.

That Target store is an anchor for the most recent redevelopment of Bayshore. Mall manager Cypress Equities, of Dallas, built the two-story Target on the footprint of the mall’s former Boston Store, which closed in 2018. Cypress also tore down portions of the enclosed mall at Bayshore, opening land for new apartments and other additions.

Bayshore, through a spokesperson, on Tuesday issued an emailed response to questions about the attempt to sell the Target. The listing to sell the building to an investor is a “standard course of operational business in the real estate industry,” according to Bayshore’s statement.

SRS Capital Markets’ Chicago office is listing the Target store for sale, along with two other standalone buildings at Bayshore. The marketing materials say Bayshore ranks in the 97th percentile among U.S. shopping centers with 5.5 million annual visits in 2023, according to data compiled by Placer.ai.

“The subject property affords an investor the rare opportunity to acquire a generational legacy asset leased to one of the premier retailers in the world, with unmatched underlying intangibles, while further mitigating risk with far-below market rent and an acquisition price substantially below replacement cost,” the materials state.

The property has 128,512 square feet of rentable building space on 3.57 acres.

Also for sale is the Bayshore building at 5600 N. Bayshore Drive that houses First Citizens Bank and Crumbl Cookies. Its asking price is $3.28 million. The U.S. Bank branch at Bayshore is also for sale, with a $4.67 million asking price.

From the Article:

The former chair of the Wisconsin Republican Party said Sunday he was “tricked” into signing documents alleging then-President Trump won the 2020 election as part of the state’s “fake elector” scheme.

Andrew Hitt told Anderson Cooper in a “60 Minutes” interview that he was advised by the state GOP’s legal counsel to sign the documents as a contingency, in case the Trump campaign’s legal case against Wisconsin’s election integrity succeeded.

Hitt said he “wasn’t comfortable with” Trump campaign attempts to toss out votes in Wisconsin, and that he didn’t believe the legal claims of widespread fraud.

“We got specific advice from our lawyers that these documents were meaningless, unless a court said they had meaning,” he said.

He added that he felt pressured into signing the document, fearful that he would be held responsible in the situation that Trump won the suit and the electors were not prepared.

“It was not a safe time,” he said. “If my lawyer is right, and the whole reason Trump loses Wisconsin is because of me, I will be scared to death.”

“If I knew what I knew now, I wouldn’t have done it,” he continued. “It was kept from us that there was this alternate scheme, alternate motive.”

The 10 Wisconsin GOP electors met at the state Capitol on Dec. 14 to sign the document under supervision of Kenneth Chesebro, the Trump campaign lawyer whom federal special counsel Jack Smith described as the “architect” of the fake elector scheme.

From the Article:

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers signed new legislative district maps into law on Monday that he proposed and that the Republicans who control the Legislature passed to avoid having the liberal-controlled state Supreme Court draw the lines.

Democrats hailed the signing as a major political victory in the swing state where the Legislature has been firmly under Republican control for more than a decade, even as Democrats have won 14 of the past 17 statewide elections.

“When I promised I wanted fair maps — not maps that are better for one party or another, including my own — I damn well meant it,” Evers said prior to signing the maps into law at the state Capitol. "Wisconsin is not a red state or a blue state — we're a purple state, and I believe our maps should reflect that basic fact.

Democrats are almost certain to gain seats in the state Assembly and state Senate under the new maps, which will be in place for the November election. Republicans have been operating since 2011 under maps they drew that were recognized as among the most gerrymandered in the country.

Democrats tried unsuccessfully for more than a decade to overturn the Republican-drawn maps. But it wasn’t until control of the state Supreme Court flipped in August after the election of liberal Justice Janet Protasiewicz that Democrats found a winning formula.

From the Article:

It’s time to grab your ID and head to the polls. There is an election Tuesday.

Though all eyes are on Wisconsin’s role in the November presidential election, Milwaukee voters can go to the polls this spring to reshape who leads city and county government.

Tuesday’s primary election will narrow the field to two candidates in four races, with many more winner-take-all contests between two candidates to follow on April 2. Only races with three or more candidates appear on the primary ballot.

All city of Milwaukee voters will find a three-way race for mayor on the ballot. Incumbent Cavalier Johnson is vying for a full four-year term against two challengers.

But voters in three select areas of Milwaukee will also find a legislative race on their ballot. On the southwest side, there is a three-way race to replace retiring alderman Mark Borkowski. In the north-central portion of the city, there is a four-way race to replace alderman Khalif Rainey, who opted not to run for reelection after two terms.

The final race will appear on the ballot for residents of the city’s far northwest side. Incumbent Deanna Alexander faces two challengers to retain her seat on the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors.

From the Article:

Kehr’s Candies made an announcement last Friday that was as bittersweet as its hand-dipped chocolates.

The confectionery will leave its longtime post at the Milwaukee Public Market at the end of the month, but will continue to offer its products for deliveries, curbside pickup and, eventually, pop-ups.

Owners Katey and Paul Martinka announced the news in a social media post, noting that the transition will allow them to step away from “the demands that come with a brick-and-mortar detail candy business.” The pair also shared their gratitude for the Milwaukee Public Market and the Historic Third Ward Association.

Kehr’s Candies joined the then-new Public Market in 2006, occupying a prime spot at the center of the bustling food hall, 400 N. Water St. The business’s history, however, stretches back much further. Pearl and B.D. Kehr first launched Kehr’s in 1930, offering homemade caramel corn and potato chips. They later expanded to sell chocolate fudge and other candies, slowly adding additional products as they acquired new recipes.

The store occupied several Milwaukee buildings before settling in at 3533 W. Lisbon Ave. in the mid-1950s. More than 75 years later, the space is still in use as a production kitchen for Kehr’s.

Paul joined the business at the age of 18, working as a stock boy under the Kehr’s son, Bill. After spending 12 years learning the ins and outs of the candy-making trade, Paul took over as owner in 1995. Today, Kehr’s chocolatiers continue to reference B.D. Kehr’s original recipes and use many of the same tools as the founder.

From the Article:

After an almost four-year closure, the Rosebud Cinema on North Avenue in Wauwatosa has officially reopened.

The nearly 100-year-old, single-screen movie theater opened in 1931 at 6823 W. North Ave. It is operated by the Neighborhood Theater Group.

The Neighborhood Theater Group owns three movie theaters in Wisconsin. Along with the Rosebud, the company owns and operates the Avalon Theater on South Kinnickinnic Avenue and Times Cinema on West Vliet Street.

The Times Cinema recently shared on social media that it would be transitioning away from regularly scheduled film programming to special public or private events. The only movie screenings currently listed on The Times Cinema's website are its Friday Night Freak Show series presented by WMSE-FM (91.7), which include screenings on Feb. 16, March 15 and April 19.

Back in late November of 2023, the Rosebud Cinema announced its reopening, which was then slated for Jan. 8.

The Rosebud Cinema is screening its first movies on Feb. 14. The theater currently lists showtimes through Feb. 29 on its website.

Milwaukee's movie theater scene experienced many changes in 2023.

In early September 2023, Marcus Theatres closed down three of its Milwaukee-area cinemas, Marcus Southgate Cinema, Marcus Showtime Cinema and Marcus Saukville Cinema. In late September, the Downer Theatre, which was the city's oldest operating theater, unexpectedly closed its doors. It had been open at 2589 N. Downer Ave. since December 1915.

Milwaukee Film Festival organizer Milwaukee Film had previously expressed an interest in acquiring the Downer Theatre but has not made any recent comments about progress.

From the Article:

A Wisconsin bill would require an ignition interlock device to be placed in the vehicle of all drunken driving offenders in the state.

That device requires a driver to pass a breath alcohol test before their vehicle starts. The legislation’s sponsor, Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, said it’s aimed at changing behavior for what he called a “toxic culture” of drinking and driving that exists across the state.

“It’s time that we do more to curb the culture of drinking and driving in Wisconsin, while mitigating fatalities, injuries and property loss caused by drunk drivers,” Larson said during a press conference in Milwaukee Thursday.

Current state law requires the device for people with two or more charges for operating while intoxicated, or OWI. It’s also mandatory for first-time offenders with a blood alcohol content above 0.15, according to an analysis from the Legislative Reference Bureau. The bill expands the ignition interlock requirement to all OWI offenses that involve the use of alcohol.

This isn’t the first time Larson has introduced a similar version of the bill. He’s introduced the measure every legislative session that he’s been in office since 2011 — a total of seven times.

Larson said the measure has received some bipartisan support in the past, but with the Republican-controlled state Legislature, the bill has only gotten one hearing in the past 13 years.

“I would hope that as there’s more pressure, that people realize, ‘Hey, this is something that we can change,’” Larson said after the press conference.

Larson said he’s open to discussion on amendments to the bill to help move it along. Rep. Deb Andraca, D-Whitefish Bay, is also a co-sponsor of the bill.

“We want to get something passed, we would like to see this happen,” Larson said.

The device would be in the vehicle for one year under Larson’s measure. The driver would also need to blow under a .02 during the breath alcohol test.

Erin Payton, the regional executive director for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, also spoke in favor of the bill Thursday. Payton said since 2019, drunken driving deaths have increased 31 percent across the nation.

From the Article:

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A constitutional amendment supported by Republicans that attempts to limit diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in Wisconsin won approval Thursday in the state Assembly.

The measure is the latest effort targeting DEI efforts nationwide, but it is a long way from becoming law in Wisconsin. It must also pass the Senate this year and then the full Legislature next session before it would go to a statewide vote to be added to the Wisconsin Constitution.

The Senate is only expected to be in session a couple more days before ending its work for the year in March.

Wisconsin Republicans have been proposing more constitutional amendments because they don’t require a sign off from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. He has vetoed more bills than any other governor in state history, serving as a block on the agenda of Republicans who have strong majorities in the Legislature.

From the Article:

MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin Department of Transportation says it will start sending out new license plate stickers to drivers who own electric and hybrid vehicles due to a new law.

The law passed last year requires all hybrids and EVs to have license plate stickers as a safety precaution for first responders, letting them know when they approach the scene of a crash whether the vehicle is electric or a traditional combustion engine so they can use the appropriate equipment.

The bill proposal introduced last year referenced a report published in 2013 by the National Fire Protection Alliance noted that EV fires are less likely to include explosions than combustion engine vehicle fires, but EV fires may burn more intensely due to the chemicals used in batteries. Hybrids and EVs may also have a higher risk of electric shocks to first responders, according to a 2020 report from the National Transportation Safety Board.

Anyone who already owns a hybrid or EV will automatically be sent the stickers in the mail, and they should receive them by June. Anyone who buys a hybrid or EV starting this summer will get the stickers with their new license plates. The DOT says there is no need to contact the DMV to get the stickers.

The DOT says the sticker should be placed in the upper right corner of each standard-sized license plate.

State records show there were nearly 146,000 hybrids and EVs on Wisconsin roads last year.

From the Article:

A Milwaukee County-backed affordable housing project in Whitefish Bay is back on track after it was blocked by a village commission in January. On Tuesday, the Village’s Board of Appeals overturned an architectural review board decision.

Spoerl Development LLC is planning to build a three-story, 17-unit affordable apartment building, called The Hampton, at 4800-4818 N. Santa Monica Blvd. The site is located at the intersection of N. Santa Monica Boulevard and E. Hampton Road, near the border of Whitefish Bay and Shorewood. The intersection is considered one of the gateways to the village.

The project was designed to be in compliance with village zoning, and only needed approval for permitting. It went before the village Architectural Review Commission (ARC) twice, and during the second meeting, in December, the project was denied.

The denial proved controversial, as the Milwaukee County Housing Division had just awarded the project $3.2 million, with authorization from the county Board of Supervisors, to support the creation of affordable housing. “It just so happens that the same day this project went to the ARC that the county announced their grant for us, for an affordable housing development,” the developer Brian Spoerl, told Urban Milwaukee in January.

Expanding affordable housing, with a special attention to housing options in the suburbs, has been a policy priority of the county’s Housing Division under County Executive David Crowley.

According to a “Finding of Facts” produced by the commission, the project was rejected based upon a handful of considerations including concerns about local property values, parking; a subjective notion that one of the walls was “cold” and “not residential feeling”; and that it “still doesn’t feel like Whitefish Bay.”

From the Article:

Concordia University in suburban Milwaukee will likely cut staff in the face of “financial instability” according to a spokesperson for the university.

University President Erik Ankerberg sent an email to students and staff Feb. 13 saying the university’s campuses in Mequon and in Ann Arbor, Michigan must reduce costs to operate sustainably.

“Concordia University is taking these necessary steps to continue to fulfill its mission,” a statement from the university said.

According to the university, property, facilities and equipment on the campus in Michigan will likely be sold. The statement did not detail how many jobs would be cut.

Both universities are a part of the Concordia University System, a nationwide network of colleges and universities that are run independently but are all affiliated with The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The two campuses merged in 2013 when Ann Arbor “could not obtain needed cash flow.”

Enrollment has grown on average over the last decade. The suburban Milwaukee campus enrolled 6,274 students during the 2022-23 school year, compared to 1,359 students in Ann Arbor. Since 2013, enrollment at the Michigan campus has more than doubled.

The announcement comes after university staff completed a financial review on Feb. 1. Concordia’s tax forms show the school has run a deficit in five of the last six years, ranging from $2 million to $6.3 million.

Benjamin Brenckle is a senior at Concordia University Wisconsin, studying music education. He said when he first heard the news, he was worried.

“I just kind of get concerned that because we don’t have as many people in the degree that we might lose the program or we might lose our staff,” Brenckle said.

Brenckle said his professors have assured him that the Wisconsin campus will not be hit as hard by cuts as the Michigan location.

The university has ambitious goals for its future. In a synopsis of the 2024-2028 strategic plan, the university aims to build enrollment to 8,500 students and increase donations to the university’s annual fund.