10 Most Popular Stories of 2020
Marches in the street, a spitting attorney and a global pandemic dominate the list.
Urban Milwaukee office after the fire. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
It’s been a busy year for Urban Milwaukee. Our office was destroyed in a fire and the pandemic has altered virtually everything we do, but through it all our readership is up over 70%.
What were most readers clicking on? Plenty of articles about the pandemic. But beyond that, our readers also were highly engaged with our coverage of the racial justice protest movement and the election.
The most popular article was on a topic that still has as many questions as answers, the burning of an alleged sex trafficking house on N. 40th St.
Here are the 10 most popular articles written by the Urban Milwaukee team.
10. “Shorewood Spitter” Taken To Jail After Second Incident
Attorney Stephanie Rapkin is accused of spitting on teenager, shoving college student and kneeing police officer in groin. – Jeramey Jannene, June 7th
Stephanie Rapkin. Left – video still from Caress Gonazalez Ramirez, right – video still from Payton Hanrahan.
9. What Happened At Comet Cafe?
Former employees say it was closed because of union organizing effort. Owners say it was simply financial. – Graham Kilmer, August 3rd
Former employees of Comet Cafe protest in front of Bel Air Cantina. Photo by Graham Kilmer.
8. Milwaukee County Releases Interactive Map of COVID-19 Outbreak
64 cases confirmed in Milwaukee County. Tracker allows public to better monitor outbreak. – Graham Kilmer, March 19th
Milwaukee County COVID-19 Dashboard
7. Burned Home Had 27 Police Service Calls
Police visited alleged sex trafficking house, burned last night, 27 times in four years. – Jeramey Jannene, June 24th
2120 N. 40th St. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
6. Nine Businesses Receive Warnings For Violating Milwaukee Mask Mandate
Bars and restaurants generating the largest number of complaints. Fines coming next. – Jeramey Jannene, August 4th
Milwaukee Health Commissioner Jeanette Kowalik at the mask mandate signing ceremony. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
5. WI Daily: Milwaukee Now Has Worst COVID-19 Outbreak in Wisconsin
For the first time since April, Milwaukee County has highest per-capita rate and greatest number of cases. – Jeramey Jannene, June 20th
COVID-19. Credit: U.S. Army.
4. More States Want to Sue Wisconsin, Three Other States
Pro-Trump attorneys general allege “fraud” in states that went for Biden. – Jeramey Jannene, December 8th
Observers watch workers at Milwaukee County’s presidential recount. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
3. Thousands March While Attorney In Custody For Spitting In Protester’s Face
Giannis and other Bucks players show up at one of seven marches. – Jeramey Jannene, June 7th
Giannis Antetokounmpo, marches in Shorewood and Milwaukee, and Stephanie Rapkin spitting. Images from Frank Nitty (video still), Jeramey Jannene and Caress Gonzalez Rodriguez (video still).
2. Wisconsin Has Fastest COVID-19 Spread In U.S.
New study has alarming figures, with spread coming since state shutdown ended. – Jeramey Jannene, July 7th
2019 Novel Coronavirus. Image by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
1. Suspected Sex Trafficking House Burned
Crowd surrounds house at 40th and Lloyd believed to be connected to missing children. – Jeramey Jannene, June 23rd
House and van fire on north 40th St. Images from Frank Nitty Facebook live stream video.
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