Milwaukee Homicides Update, Alzheimer’s Choir, How The State Budget Affects Education

Air Date:
Heard On Central Time

While topics like road funding and prevailing wage dominated headlines on the state budget, there are also a number of measures that affect Wisconsin schools. Our guest breaks down the changes, and what they mean for students. We also get the latest on the number of homicides so far in Milwaukee this year, and get the story behind a choir made up of people with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

Featured in this Show

  • Crime Reporter Says Shootings Have Become Common In Some Milwaukee Neighborhoods

    The number of homicides in Milwaukee so far this year reached 85 over the weekend — only one shy of the total number of killing for all of 2014. Last week alone, 10 people were killed in the city.

    Ashley Luthren, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s breaking news and crime reporter, said that tied to the deaths is how common violence is in parts of the city.

    “I think there is no doubt that in some Milwaukee neighborhoods gunfire is very common,” said Luthren.

    Homicides are up more than 100 percent over the past year and recent killings have included alarmingly young victims and suspects. On July 8, a 13-year-old Milwaukee boy was shot dead on the same day charges were filed in a killing of a 14-year-old.

    Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn has blamed weak gun laws and told USA Today that the sound of gunfire is so commonplace in the city that about 80 percent of gunshots detected by ShotSpotter sensors aren’t reported to police.

    Luthren said she believes that there has been a degree of normalized violence in some city neighborhoods. She also suspects that residents are failing to report shootings becaue they don’t trust police will properly respond to handle the situation.

    Major metropolitan areas across the country are dealing with increased violence during the summer months.

    “I think it’s important to keep in mind that these are not just numbers. It’s people and families and neighborhoods,” Luthren said.

  • Milwaukee 2015 Homicides Nearly Match Total For All Of Last Year

    The total number of homicides in Milwaukee so far this year reached 85 this weekend with the shooting death of a 35 year-old man. That number, 85, is only one homicide shy of the total number for all of 2014. Last week alone, 10 people were killed.

    With homicides up more than 100 percent over last year and recent killings including alarmingly young victims and suspects, like the shooting of one 13 year-old by another 13 year-old, the national media has taken notice. Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn has blamed weak gun laws and told USA Today that the sound of gunfire is so commonplace in Milwaukee that about 80 percent of gunshots detected by ShotSpotter sensors aren’t even called into police by residents.

  • Wisconsin Life: Memory Choir

    In today’s Wisconsin Life we talk about the Amazing Grace Chorus, a Milwaukee choir whose members suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

  • Walker Signs Budget, Making Significant Changes To K-12 Education

    Governor Walker signed the state budget Sunday, establishing as law significant changes to K-12 education in the state. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel education reporter Erin Richards discusses.

Episode Credits

  • Rob Ferrett Host
  • Veronica Rueckert Host
  • Galen Druke Producer
  • Karl Christenson Producer
  • Ashley Luthern Guest
  • Stephanie Houston Guest
  • Erin Richards Guest