Pedro Colón

Judge Ronnie Murray Will Run For Full Term

Former federal public defender seeks full term after appointment to Circuit Court in July.

State Rep. Marisabel Cabrera Running for Circuit Court

Incumbent Judge Marshall Murray plans to retire at the end of his term.

Judicial Rotation Explained By An Insider

Judges face an annual court house shuffle on August 1.

Gov. Evers Appoints Judge Pedro Colón to the Court of Appeals – District I

Gas Station Porn Video Spurs Revamp of City’s Licensing Process

It's a strange tale, with three suits against the city forcing council to change its process.

Ana Berrios-Schroeder Announces First Round of Judicial Endorsements

Discrimination Lawsuit Will Cost City $400,000

Council grumbles but okays settlement. 'A very bitter pill to swallow,' says Ald. Murphy.

Judge Reverses $1.4 Million Verdict Against Bauman, City

Lawsuit over Bauman's criticism of demolished housing facility dates back to 2007.

The Rise of José Pérez

How high school dropout rose to become first Latino Common Council president in Milwaukee history.

$1.4 Million Verdict Against Alderman, City

No immediate payment expected for Bauman's comments in 2007. Case involving controversial housing facility could take several more years to settle.

Nidhi Kashyap Announces Judicial and Commissioner Endorsements

Milwaukee’s ‘Food Fairy’ Keeps Giving

Laura Manriquez volunteers at food banks, delivers food to needy people.

Katie Kegel Announces Judicial Endorsements

Governor Evers Blocks Evictions, Foreclosures During Pandemic

Emergency order in effect for 60 days.

Contribution to Jason Fields of $50

Grant Langley Will Run for Reelection

City attorney's decision sets up race against his old friend, attorney Vince Bobot.

Contribution to José G. Pérez of $20

City Attorney Grant Langley Retiring?

Vince Bobot announces for job, leading to speculation Langley may retire after 36 years.

Contribution to JoCasta Zamarripa of $150

Komatsu Deal Includes Commuter Rail Station

City would have option to buy site for Walker's Point station for a KRM line.

Judges Rally Behind Danielle Shelton in Race for Milwaukee Circuit Court Judge

"It’s an honor to have the support of so many renowned leaders from across Milwaukee County who know what it takes to serve the court."

4th Street Rededicated Vel R. Phillips Ave.

A who's who ceremony of politicians and candidates turns out to honor legacy of Vel Phillips.

7 Election Winners and Losers

Unions, Hmong community and county infighters were among the winners.

Justice Ziegler, 37 Judges Unopposed

Just 11 of 48 Circuit Court judges face opponents in April Election

Colón appointment completes Greater Milwaukee Foundation Board expansion

The growth in board leadership was implemented to expand its governance capacity.

Contribution to José G. Pérez of $100

Inside Jury Duty in Milwaukee

A day in the life of a Milwaukee County juror.

Contribution to Josh Zepnick of $200

Judge Paul Rifelj launches campaign with support of majority of fellow judges

Public safety organizations also support Rifelj at launch of campaign to win a full term on Milwaukee County Circuit Court

Chris Larson’s War Against Abele

State senator running for county executive blasts Abele with personal attacks, will divide Democrats.

Judges rally behind Gwen Connolly in race for Circuit Court Judge

“The campaign has been energizing, and it’s a privilege to have the support of these distinguished leaders,” said Connolly.

Bicycle Shop Invests in Lincoln Avenue

Ben's Cycle owner also bought an old movie theater, and next will redevelop former bakery into mixed-use building.

Amtrak to Chicago Will Go Wireless

Finally, the line will get Wi-Fi (we hope), but Milwaukee's Amtrak station still lacks it.

Voting Underway for Courthouse Christmas Tree

Voting runs until noon on November 18th.

City Wants Changes for Old Pizza Man Site

Proposed building is "too boxy" and "monolithic," Ald. Kovac and others on review board say.

Local Artist’s Gift to Obama Gets Complicated

Tim Meyerring's present to the president gets caught up in the law on gifts and consultations with the White House assessor.

Doyle’s Decision Could Send Ripples Through Milwaukee’s Political Landscape

Governor Doyle's announcement that he will not be seeking a third term could send ripples through Milwaukee's political landscape. The most commonly mentioned named Democratic Party members that may run for Governor include, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, State Sen. Jon Erpenbach, Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, and Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk.

Governor Doyle Vetoes Milwaukee County Sales Tax for Transit

When the budget finally made it to his desk, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle used his extensive veto powers in a lot of ways. The most significant of which was arguably the line-item veto of the Milwaukee Transit Authority and the proposed 0.65% sales tax increase for Milwaukee County. Doyle did not veto SERTA, the authority which is to run the KRM commuter rail line, and the $18 rental car tax. This veto puts back on the drawing board Doyle's proposal for a three-county sales tax to fund the KRM and bus service in Kenosha, Racine, and Milwaukee Counties, while at the same time not delaying the KRM development process.

KRM and RTA Update

The Wisconsin state budget is now at a point where it will go to a conference committee after the Senate approved their version of the budget yesterday. The conference committee will reconcile the difference between the Assembly and Senate versions, and send the budget off to Governor Doyle. Doyle will then use his line-item veto power on certain language he doesn't like, and Wisconsin have a budget.

RTA Passes Joint Finance Committee

The Regional Transit Authority passed the Joint Finance Committee this morning at 2:17 a.m., but not in a very regional way.

Make a Difference, Help the RTA

The Regional Transit Authority, a solution to Milwaukee’s transit woes that we’ve advocated before, is coming down to the wire in the halls of the state capitol.  For the plan to move forward it needs to be included in the state budget, and for that to happen it needs to be approved by the Joint Finance Committee.  The Joint Finance Committee will vote on the matter on Thursday. The matter is anything but a done deal, and your support is turning a few votes. Please make a call Wednesday if you have the chance.  Even if it’s just a one second “vote for the RTA on Thursday”, it’ll make a difference. Please call, your city needs you. Senator John Lehman (Racine) especially needs to hear from you! (608) 266-1832 (866) 615-7510, Fax (608) 267-6793, Sen.Lehman@legis.wisconsin.gov PO Box 7882, Madison, 53707 Representative Cory Mason (Racine) (608) 266-0634, Rep.Mason@legis.wisconsin.gov PO Box 8953, Madison, 53708 Representative Robin Vos (Racine) 888 534-0063, 608 282-3663 fax, rep.vos@legis.wisconsin.gov PO Box 8953, Madison, 53708 Representative Pedro Colon (Milwaukee) 888 534-0008, 608 282-3608 fax, rep.colon@legis.wisconsin.gov PO Box 8952, Madison, 53708 Representative Tamara Grigsby (Milwaukee) 888 534-0018, 608 282-3618 fax, rep.grigsby@legis.wisconsin.gov PO Box 8952, Madison, 53708 Senator Lena Taylor (Milwaukee) 608 266-5810, 608 267-2353 fax, sen.taylor@legis.wisconsin.gov PO Box 7882, Madison, 53707 Senator Alberta Darling (Milwaukee) 608 266-5830, 608 267-0588 fax, sen.darling@legis.wisconsin.gov PO Box 7882, Madison, 53707 [Full disclosure, Jeramey is a member of the RTA Steering Committee and a passionate advocate for the efficiencies of mass transit.]

The Governor’s Party

Governor Jim Doyle was the guest of honor at a fundraiser at Mocean's on September 16.

Buffett Tour on Hold

“Spirit – The Seventh Fire” has been put on hiatus.

State Elections Board Responds to Complaint Against Walker

John Weishan and Gerry Broderick filed an official complaint today with the Wisconsin State Elections Board against Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker.

At it Again

Alderman asked to make big money decision on 24 hour notice.

Race For Governor is On!

Well, it is official

Plale Recall Drive Begins

Can a group of south side political activists pull themselves together enough to acquire 13,212 signatures to force a recall election against Sen. Jeff Plale? Rep. Jon Richards said he doubts it. “This thing is going nowhere,” says Rep. Josh Zepnick. “These people are so lazy! They’ve taken out a newspaper ad asking people to come by and sign a recall petition. Who is going to do that?” True enough. To win an election, you’ve got to knock on doors, post signs in windows and do all kinds of grass-rooted activities. There is scant evidence of this in the Plale recall attempt, and absolutely no evidence of it in the northern fringes of Plale’s district, including Brady Street and the East Side. That hasn’t stopped Plale from printing up thousands of football schedules that he is handing out at every turn. The South Milwaukeean made the journey to St. Rita’s Church last week to attend the Brady Street Association monthly meeting where he was asked about the recall. “They’ve got until September 7th to get the signatures to recall me,” Plale told the audience. When told there seemed to be no effort on the East Side to circulate petitions, Plale said, “well, these people wouldn’t know how to find Brady Street.” Plale was also in the Brady Street area for what the neighborhood hopes is an annual Artisinal Food Festival. The gig was held Sunday, July 25th, and Plale was there along with his schedules. The recall effort against him stemmed from his crucial vote to uphold Governor Doyle’s veto of a republican-sponsored measure to limit property tax increases. Plale says the upcoming plans to sponsor a constitutional amendment known as the Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights, (TABOR) is similarly flawed, and a potential recipe for disaster. He cites Colorado, a state that has enacted similar provisions into its laws and is now in the midst of its worst fiscal crisis ever. Amendment on the Run The legislature republicans spent the last unedifying session promoting the agenda of Gays, Guns and Gambling. The Madison gang came up with loads of goofy legislation, none of which could sustain a veto by the governor. Leave it to this group to be able to reconvene and pass a constitutional amendment, no less, in just one week. This was the decision of Sen. Mary Panzer, the republican leader who had earlier been criticized for not rushing a Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights law through the Solomonic deliberations of the nation’s most august lawmakers. But, as soon as she faced a primary challenge from Rep.Glenn Grothman, an ambitious fellow republican who covets her senate seat, Panzer decided to schedule a vote for this week. Then, the legislature can go home and come back next year to vote again. Then, finally, the matter will be put to public vote in a referendum, if it is still alive. But, if the legislature does not act by August 5th, the whole procedure would have to be repeated in yet one […]

Lautenschlager’s Mess

Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager’s drunk driving arrest last week removes her from behind the wheel of her state-owned vehicle for a year, and puts Governor Jim Doyle in the driver’s seat. The two had squabbled, privately, over terms of the Governor’s jobs bill, with Lautenschlager threatening to use her authority to see that the law comply with the state’s environmental regulations, which she intimated it did not. This sort of independent action by an attorney general is not new in Wisconsin. Doyle was the chief practitioner of it, but then again, he was a Democrat, and the Governor at the time was a Republican. The press has made note that Doyle suggests Lautenschlager forgo some of her pay as a sort of penance for her indiscretion, a matter that remains unresolved at this time. Doyle also suggested that Lautenschlager consider entering a program to treat problem drinkers. He said that he had a number of friends who had been in a similar situation and that the treatment had helped them. In fact, the public admission of guilt and responsibility (which Lautenschlager made) is usually accompanied these days with a prompt acknowledgement that a problem exists. The subject then usually promptly enters a treatment program and completes it, after which the matter is forgotten. Lautenschlager has not made that admission thus far, which leaves her in the position of either not having a “problem” or being “in denial” of it. It does leave Doyle high and dry, however, and much less likely to face interference in his plans from that peskiest of all politicians – an ambitious Attorney General. Walker at the War Memorial County Executive Scott Walker welcomed about 100 well-clad guests to a fundraiser February 26th at the War Memorial Center. The strictly upper-crust affair was a Republican-type fundraiser, which meant that hard liquor was consumed (in moderation) and beer, for the most part, was ignored. For those fans of the frothy stuff, Walker offered Miller products and Heineken. Food was by Ellen’s Prestige Catering, and included strolling waiters, another classy touch. Menu items included spinach somethings, meat and melted cheese on sandwich rounds, wrapped up little salmon tidbits, an entirely unsuccessful raspberry-brie tart, platters of some kind of 21st century sandwich product along with perfectly delicious fruit. The event was unmarred by public oratory, but was enhanced by an A-list of locals practicing up for the next time Bush is in town. Among the exalted: George Dalton, Dennis Kuester (on crutches), Michael Cudahy, mourning the recent death of Daniel Urban Kiley, creator of the $4 million Cudahy garden outside the adjacent Milwaukee Art Museum, Fred Luber, Tim Hoeksma, Carol Skornicka, John Finerty, Jim Weichmann, Joe Rice, Mary Buestrin, Corey Hoze and developer Mark Irgens. Hoze has secured speaker Dennis Hastert to appear at a $2000 fundraiser on his hopeless behalf in his upcoming congressional campaign. That’s rich. Marvin Pratt popped in and worked the crowd for about 20 minutes before his cop told him it was time to […]

Who’s on Fifth?

An $89 billion bank is muscling its way into the Milwaukee market, and you read about it here first.

Krug Scores Joint Finance Seat

Rep. Shirley Krug was chosen Monday to take a seat on the influential Joint Committee on Finance

Superintendent Burmaster Slaps The Governor Around

My, how times have changed.

Did Marilyn Want Millions From The Mayor?

Marilyn Figueroa never wanted money from the mayor