Yeah! Growing Power’s Will Allen is slated to appear with First Lady Michelle Obama tomorrow as she kicks off her campaign to fight childhood obesity. Michelle couldn’t have picked a better guy to help her out. Will’s bee

Heard about the Republican senator who’s trying to extort the federal government for money? Sorry. Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby is stamping his feet and holding his breath until he gets some pet projects for his home state. When Democrats a

At the same time Republican Rep. Paul Ryan is getting a valentine from the JS editorial board, Democrats in Congress are practically gleeful that the Janesville congressman is pushing his Roadmap for America’s Future 2.0. Why?

Milwaukee Congresswoman Gwen Moore, who has consistently been a voice of reason in the MPS takeover debate, just sent off a stern letter to state Superintendent Tony Evers, who has threatened to cut off $175 million in federal funds for MPS’s needie

State Superintendent Tony Evers’ warning that he would withhold federal funds from Milwaukee Public Schools—or maybe just threaten to withhold funds from MPS—is a real head-scratcher. I can only understand it within the politi

The news just keeps getting worse for Madison developer Terrence Wall, one of the Republican candidates vying to unseat Sen. Russ Feingold in November. First came news that the multimillionaire didn’t pay state income taxes in four of the

If Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan wasn’t a huge fan of a tough payday loan bill, he may be now. Sheridan has admitted to dating a payday loan lobbyist at the same time multiple bills seeking to rein in the controversial industry are pending

It’s fascinating to watch the reaction of local leaders to the news that the state Assembly has voted to end the governor’s special session on MPS days after the MPS board voted to hire Gregory Thornton as the next superintendent. This is pret

Sen. Russ Feingold’s office just sent out a fact sheet on today’s Supreme Court decision on corporate contributions to campaigns. I rarely post press releases in full, but I want you to read all of his thoughts on the decision, unfiltered.

The Miramar Theatre will host two benefit concerts to benefit Youthaiti, a Milwaukee-based nonprofit that helps grassroots groups in Haiti. Youthaiti was formed by Milwaukeean Gigi Pomerantz, a nurse practitioner who is working to improve the health

Just a reminder—Sen. Russ Feingold is holding his annual Milwaukee County listening session at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 19, at Washington High School, 2525 N. Sherman Blvd. 

“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.”—Martin Luther King Jr.

Have you taken time out to help Haiti? Some options: Text HAITI to 90999 to make a $10 donation to the American Red Cross Text HAITI to 20222 to make a $10 donation to

State Rep. Tamara Grigsby and state Sen. Spencer Coggs called Mayor Barrett’s new “compromise” MPS reform offer “window dressing.” And now that I’ve seen the details I’ve got to say that I agree

What’s really behind the mayoral takeover of MPS? Money and power. And, weirdly, New York hedge funds. As I detail in this week’s Shepherd, Joe Williams, a former Milwaukee Journal Sentinel education reporter, has become a major

A dire warning from state Rep. Tamara Grigsby and state Sen. Spencer Coggs: a “window-dressing” compromise MPS reform bill is being pushed by the mayoral takeover advocates. They two “expressed disappointment in the lack of willingn

I almost did a spit-take when reading the Journal Sentinel’s write-up of Tuesday’s public hearing called by the Senate Education Committee on the proposed takeover of MPS. Here’s the laff line: Like the Milwaukee legislators

The attempt to restore the paid sick days ordinance in Milwaukee just took a big step forward. As explained in the Shepherd’s cover story this week, 9to5: The Association for Working Women is appealing Circuit Court Judge Cooper’s ruling la

A fish auction? You read that right. Bay View urban fish farm Sweetwater Organics is holding a fundraiser tonight, where up to a thousand perch will be auctioned off (and available for pick up in February). It starts at five. Howard Lewis

The state Legislature isn’t rushing to enact the Sen. Lena Taylor and Rep. Pedro Colon-authored Milwaukee TEACH Act, which would vastly enhance executive power in Milwaukee. It would turn over the power to run the Milwaukee Public Schools to a super

A public hearing is being held at the state capitol today on the latest proposal to allow a medical marijuana program in the state. Since Democrats control both houses of the state Legislature, and Gov. Jim Doyle has indicated he’d suppo

The indispensable Cory Liebmann over at Eye on Wisconsin continues to scratch his head over mailings from the CRG, which I reported on in last week’s Shepherd. First he wondered if the fact that one of the CRG heads, Orville Seymer, is a landl

Young Catholics for Choice want Catholic women to know that they can be faithful and make their reproductive health decisions based on their own conscience, not doctrine. Two representatives from the Washington, D.C.-based YCFC—Jessic

Failed political advisor Karl Rove will speak at the UW-Milwaukee Union Wisconsin Room at 7:30 tonight, courtesy of the UWM College Republicans. Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Neumann will reportedly be there as well. But before old Turd

He’s baaaack! George W. Bush's political advisor Karl Rove is returning to Milwaukee, this time to speak at the UW-Milwaukee Union Wisconsin Room at 7:30 on Dec. 3. Matt Capristo of the UWM College Republicans said his group invited