Preston Cole

Mayor Names New Department of Administration Director

Familiar face being given key city job.

Milwaukee Mayor’s Power in Decline?

Council grabbing more power, overriding nearly every veto by Mayor Johnson.

Entire Council Overrides Every Budget Veto by Mayor Johnson

Unanimous vote overrides all 7 vetoes, backs all alternations in mayor's budget.

Top City Official Resigns

Preston Cole rose to the unofficial title of 'deputy mayor,' then walked away.

Procell Has Sweeping Goals For Community Wellness and Safety

Is surprise appointee's plan to prevent violence too ambitious?

These City Employees Make More Than Mayor Cavalier Johnson

27 employees top the city's pay scale.

Mayor Skips Finalists, Picks Outsider For Key Violence Prevention Role

Johnson taps Adam Procell, who turned his life around after homicide conviction.

After Being Outsmarted, Council May Accept New Convention Center Deal

But the annual payment to city could be less than the salary for the center's CEO.

Council Could Kill Revised Baird Center Revenue-Sharing Agreement

Ald. Bauman says city should hold out for more than $500,000 per year.

City Official Double Dips to Earn $250,000

Department of Administration head Preston Cole awarded $73,700 raise.

Committee Marks Up Milwaukee Budget With Amendments, Footnotes

Council raids personnel accounts to pay for services it says constituents demand.

Mayor Pledges To Get Involved in Schools

Johnson vows to make Milwaukee a city that attracts people because of its schools.

Milwaukee’s Chief Building Inspector Takes New Job

Erica Roberts swaps building code for computer code.

Fight At City Hall Over Control of Board of Zoning Appeals

Council wants board to be independent of administration, but responsive to aldermanic input.

Council Might Hold Up Mayor’s Changes To Zoning Board

At issue is new chair, two new appointments and oversight by Department of Administration.

City Attorney Pumps Brakes On Council’s Lobbying Changes

Decision is on hold until at least after the August recess.

Council Demands Control of Lobbying, Despite Mayoral Pushback

Mayor and council president at impasse, council set to take more control.

Council, Mayor At Odds On City Lobbying

Council members feel they were left out of state revenue deal, want more control over city lobbyists.

Supreme Court Ruling Will Negatively Impact Wisconsin Wetlands

But perhaps not as much as other states.

Republicans Holding Confirmation Hearings For Gov. Evers’ New Appointees

Agriculture, DNR secretaries get hearings, a marked change from Evers' last term.

Preston Cole Will Lead Department of Administration

Former DNR Secretary and City Hall veteran returning to city government.

Water Quality Is The Priority For New DNR Secretary

Secretary-designee Adam Payne focused on addressing PFAS, other contamination

Evers Appoints New State DNR Leader

Sheboygan County Administrator Adam Payne to replace outgoing Department of Natural Resources Secretary Preston Cole.

DHS Leader Karen Timberlake Leaving Gov. Evers Administration

Timberlake has led Department of Health Services since January 2021.

DNR Secretary Preston Cole Retiring

Cole rose through ranks of Milwaukee's Department of Public Works before taking state job.

New DNR Program Promotes Climate Change

State agency help businesses, communities, nonprofits achieve their environmental goals.

Wisconsin Planted 9M Trees in 2021

Gov. Evers' pledged 75 million by 2030 as part of global initiative.

DNR Won’t Meet With Natural Resources Board in September

The Walker appointed chair of the board refuses to step down for Evers' appointee.

Kaul Lawsuit Seeks to Force Walker Appointee Off DNR Board

Fred Prehn’s six-year term expired May 1. AG argues governor can remove him.

Natural Resources Board Doubles Recommended Wolf Kill Quota

DNR recommended 130 wolves for fall hunt, board approved 300.

Sen. Carpenter Blasts DNR Over Wolf Hunt Plans

The Department of Natural Resources is planning a fall 2021 wolf harvest.

DNR Takes On Water Quality Issues Despite Opposition From GOP, Industry

The state regulator is launching a water quality awareness campaign.

Environmental Groups Seek to Intervene in PFAS Case

State’s largest business group challenges DNR’s authority to require testing for toxic pollutant.

DNR Secretary Says PFAS Efforts Need Funding

PFAS identification and cleanup and public land purchases are budget priorities for the agency.

First Female Chief Forester Sees Challenges

Chief State Forester Heather Berklund manages 17 million acres of forest.

State PFAS Plan Would Charge Polluters

Testing public water supplies for "forever chemicals,” then charging polluters to clean up contaminated sites.

State’s Largest Brownfield Now Clean

After years of remediation, a highly-contaminated site in the Menomonee Valley is certified as clean by the DNR.

Kaul Backs DNR On High Capacity Wells

Reverses opinion by former AG Brad Schimel; Supreme Court to rule on whether DNR can weigh environmental impact of wells.

Wisconsin Closes State Parks, Including Lakeshore in Milwaukee

Havenwoods State Forest on city's north side also closed.

How to Enjoy State Parks Safely

Visit parks and natural areas, DNR Secretary says, but keep your distance.

$29 Million Partnership to Clean Up Harbor

DNR, city, county, MMSD want to take harbor off the list of polluted waterways.

Where Have All The Hunters Gone?

Millennials less likely to hunt. To counter decline state looks to women and children.

Why PFAS Pollution Is So Scary

The chemicals are all over and very toxic. Evers has created two teams to target problem.

Gasp, It’s a Holiday Tree!

So says Gov. Evers about Capitol tree, with the added theme, “Celebrate Science.”

State Board Okays Rules on PFAS Pollution

Wisconsin Natural Resources Board will create stricter rule making process for PFAS levels in water.

DNR to Back Pro-Climate Policies

Unlike the previous administration, Evers Administration pledges to address climate change.

Evers Respects His Agency Leaders

Walker at times ignored cabinet, made decisions for his political career.

New DNR Head Has Agenda of Change

Climate change, lead laterals and CAFO-polluted private wells are top concerns.

New DNR Staff Will Probe Pollution

Added scientists will look at impact of “forever chemicals” contamination by Tyco company.

Washington Nominated To City Plan Board

Town Bank VP Ranell Washington would replace his former coworker on commission.

Sas-Pérez Appointed to City Plan Commission

Mayor appoints south side leader to design and zoning oversight board.

About That Climate Change Report

2011 report by 200 state scientists and experts made predictions Republicans are still ignoring.

Fishing and Fun at the Washington Park Pond

Dozens of Milwaukee children learned about the joys of fishing and the great outdoors at a how-to event at Washington Park.

DNR Won’t Back Frac Sand Wetland Permit

Reverses stand, supports judge’s ruling invalidating Meteor Timber’s DNR permit to fill high-quality wetland.

Trump Policies on Great Lakes Opposed

Conservation groups resist proposed changes in wetland, stream protections, note impact on Great Lakes.

Good News for State’s Environment

Evers administration is turning around the decline in DNR staff morale and mission under Walker.

Legislators Resist Many Evers Proposals

GOP push back on minimum wage, water quality, corrections worker wages, unemployment compensation and more.

Judge Rules Against Kohler Golf Course

Concludes DNR permit to fill wetland invalid, significant environmental damage could be caused.

Summit Credit Union Coming to Walker’s Point

New branch of growing credit union will be located along S. 1st St. at Freshwater Plaza.

12 Reasons The Foxconn Deal Is Dying

The company is cutting back plans. Will it walk away entirely?

Karen Dettmer Will Lead Water Works

Committee puts veteran engineer through the ringer before endorsing her appointment.

8 GOP Laws Evers Could Target

There’s much new governor opposes. But which issues will he take on?

Evers Embraces Expertise

Hiring talented people, appointing expert advisors, who knew you could govern that way?

Coalition Pushes Efforts to Prevent Evictions

I in 10 renters evicted in city's worst census tracks, study found.

Wangard, City Again at Odds on Freshwater Plaza

Size of sign at issue. Meanwhile developer planning two more developments at the plaza.

Will South Korea Partner With City?

Daegu, South Korea wants to be a water tech sister city. City panel says yes.

Bucks Unveil New Signs for Arena

Two huge signs will add life to arena, but will trees grow on concrete plaza?

City Department Paints the Town

Painted curbs will denote no-parkng areas. And new parking checkers will ride bikes.

Behold The ECO Mayor

Barrett touts green efforts, changes name of environmental sustainability office to ECO.

All Hail Our Business Improvement Districts

City party celebrates work of 35 BIDs, which have helped improve many city neighborhoods.

Barrett’s Birthday Party

The mayor's celebration is 11 days late. And Lakefront Brewery shatters its record for annual barrels manufactured.

Entrants & Winners for Wisconsin Avenue Placemaking

The "Tournavation" event at City Hall included an expert panel and audience, which selected two winners from among 12 finalists.

Citizens, Cut Your Grass!

Common Council is considering a proposal by Ald. Davis with tougher restrictions against overgrown lawns.

McGee’s Folly

If you want to get a chuckle and a “no comment” out of a Milwaukee alderman these days, just tell him that Ald. Michael McGee, Jr. “certainly has a way with words.”

“Groundbreaking” for Bridge