AGP Executive Report

Missing Child Alert (Milwaukee): Police are asking for help finding 11-year-old Leo Pierce, last seen near 69th and Ruby on June 13 around 9:30 p.m., wearing a True Religion T-shirt, blue jeans, black socks, and black Nike slides. Call MPD District 7 at 414-935-7272. Youth Sports & College Pathways: More than 30 former Little Leaguers will compete in the 2026 NCAA Division I Softball Championship in Oklahoma City, including players from Wisconsin and across the country. Public Health & Food Safety: The FDA issued a Class I recall for Alfredo sauce (913 cases) tied to possible salmonella contamination from a dry milk powder ingredient. Outdoor & Community Life (Wisconsin): Wisconsin anglers and the DNR are dealing with fallout from fish hatchery closures and reduced stocking after funding disputes, with some stocking now partially restored. Culture & Pride (UW-Madison alum): Broadway star André de Shields, a UW-Madison graduate, talks about his “joy bomb” in a Pride Month–linked reimagined “CATS” revival rooted in ballroom culture. Local Sports (Milwaukee): The Bucks mourn minority owner Nancy Gruber, whose philanthropy and community presence were highlighted in team statements. Parenting & Health: A new report highlights how vaping—especially flavored products—still draws teens, even as national rates show slight declines. Politics & Hunger: Wisconsin-related coverage includes AGs urging the Senate to reverse SNAP cuts, warning of hunger and added state costs.

Milwaukee Public Safety: A Milwaukee woman convicted after a 4-year-old shot an 8-year-old was sentenced to two years’ probation, with conditions including absolute sobriety and no guns—another reminder of how quickly neglect can turn into tragedy. Community & Culture: The 50th Bellin Run in Green Bay drew more than 10,000 runners, with standout performances across the 10K and 5K. Tech, Energy & Politics: Wisconsin’s data-center boom is colliding with election season, as utilities and developers push regulators to loosen financial protections while critics warn families could carry the risk. Courts & Civic Life: The Wisconsin Supreme Court agreed to take up a second appeal tied to redrawing the congressional map, keeping the state’s political lines in flux. Local Lifestyle: Madison coffee shops are leaning into iced specialty drinks, with espresso lemonade and other seasonal favorites driving summer menus. Education & Opportunity: A new AI-powered counseling platform, Seedmap, is aiming to help immigrant and first-generation students map out school and career paths.

Community & Public Safety: Delafield will hold two public info sessions on a proposed Aug. 11 fire/EMS referendum that would raise the town levy by about $450,000 annually from 2027–2030 to support Lake Country Fire & Rescue staffing and response times. Courts & Local Life: A Milwaukee judge kept downtown food truck curfew changes on hold after a heated hearing, with a lawsuit arguing the new 10 p.m. cutoff would harm businesses and raise constitutional concerns. Education Watch: Milwaukee north-side schools face long-term decline, with Hi-Mount Community School singled out as a once-promising reform model now struggling with low enrollment and achievement. Culture & Faith: Wisconsin rabbis are calling for the release of Milwaukee Islamic Society president Salah Sarsour, detained by ICE amid claims of rights violations. Health & Justice: Wisconsin DOJ ICAC Task Force says a former Walworth County correctional officer, Samuel Pieper, was sentenced to 10 years initial confinement and 10 years supervision for trafficking a child. Local Flavor: Porterfield Country Music Festival returns June 18 in Marinette, celebrating 44 years of family-friendly country music. Sports & Community: Bucks guard Ryan Rollins received the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award for March, honoring his literacy push and work with justice-impacted youth in Milwaukee.

World Cup Spotlight: Wisconsin-born “Milwaukee Messi” Esmir Bajraktarević helped Bosnia and Herzegovina punch its ticket to the World Cup with a penalty shootout win over Italy—turning his hometown roots into a headline moment. Food Security & Politics: Nevada AG Aaron Ford joined a coalition urging Congress to restore SNAP benefits and protect food assistance in the Farm Bill, warning cuts are driving hunger and shifting costs to states. Road Safety: Madison’s Vision Zero report shows city-controlled roads saw traffic deaths drop 58% since 2020, while non-city controlled roads surged 166%—a reminder that safety gains depend on who controls the streets. Local Planning: St. Croix County’s Community Development Committee is set to discuss a data center moratorium next week as counties wrestle with zoning rules for AI-era power demands. Rural Health: SSM Health leader DeAnn Thurmer received the 2026 Rural Health Ambassador Award for decades of service across rural Wisconsin hospitals. Community & Culture: Bronzeville Cultural & Arts Festival is accepting main-stage entertainer applications for Aug. 1–8 in Milwaukee. Sports & Community: Bellin Run Day was declared in Green Bay and Allouez ahead of the 50th annual Bellin Run on June 13.

Education & Workforce: Wisconsin DWD awarded $1M in teacher training grants to four groups to train 84 educators, aiming to fill shortages where they’re most urgent. Public Schools & Policy: Reps. Gwen Moore and Mark Pocan joined a push to repeal a national voucher-style tax credit scheme, arguing it diverts money from accountable public schools. Charter Schools: DPI announced $18.5M in federal subgrants for 27 charter schools statewide, including multiple Northeast Wisconsin recipients. Health & Aging: Health Dimensions Group says several Wisconsin senior living communities earned AHCA/NCAL 2026 Bronze—Commitment to Quality recognition. Community & Culture: Medford’s school district plans a “Wall of Honor” for alumni veterans, and Sauk County released an age-progression image for a teen missing since 2023. Local Business & Family Life: Kunes Auto Group’s “Trade in Hunger” campaign will pack 250,000 meals, with Wisconsin dealerships joining the effort. Sports & Pride: Wisconsin track standout Kolton Peters set a Division 3 state record in the 110 hurdles at the WIAA state meet.

Local Culture: Madison beer historian Robin Shepard is launching “A Keg of Their Best,” tracing Dane County brewing history from the 1800s to today, with an official July 10 Wisconsin Historical Society Press launch. Community & Youth Sports: Hartland is moving forward with a proposed ordinance for e-bikes and e-scooters, including safety and where riders can operate. Outdoor Life & Safety: The Town of Merton approved wake-boat restrictions on Moose Lake and Lake Keesus, targeting artificial wake-enhancing equipment over shoreline and public-safety concerns. Wisconsin Pride & Events: Madison’s Pride Month calendar is in full swing, highlighted by the Big Gay PRIDE Market (June 19–21) and Live on Queen (June 26). Education & Care: Milwaukee Public Schools is rolling out 50 electric buses this fall, with plans to add 100 more over the next three years. Health & Aging: Health Dimensions Group says nine Wisconsin senior living communities earned AHCA/NCAL 2026 Bronze—Commitment to Quality Awards. Agriculture & Learning: Wisconsin FFA announced new staff roles to expand ag education and chapter programming statewide. Local Government Watch: Two Democrats are seeking to challenge Treasurer John Leiber in November.

Politics & Voting Access: The Wisconsin Elections Commission rejected ballot-access challenges for several candidates, including keeping key names on the 7th CD primary ballot, while also denying Minocqua Brewing owner Kirk Bangstad after signature shortfalls. Reproductive Rights: Wisconsin Democrats and advocates marked Griswold’s 60th anniversary by calling for state birth control protections amid fears of federal and Supreme Court rollbacks. Community Safety: Milwaukee City Attorney Evan Goyke says a tougher reckless-driving approach is boosting convictions and cutting fatalities. Culture & Education: Verona Area High School students earned Jerry Awards recognition for “Hadestown: Teen Edition,” and the Wisconsin FFA Center named Jennifer Russell as managing director for chapter and member programming. Health & Outdoors: DHS reports rising young deer tick activity statewide, and Wisconsin’s tourism hit a fourth straight record year with 117M visits and $27B impact. Local Lifestyle Spotlight: A Sister Bay tradition returns—goats get their own parade before heading to the rooftop at Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant. Hate & Accountability: Wisconsin’s antisemitism audit found confirmed incidents jumped 83% in 2025, and federal prosecutors unsealed charges tied to a violent anti-Israel intimidation plot involving people connected to UMich. Work & Immigration: Wisconsin DOJ and partners won a court ruling blocking an unlawful $100,000 H-1B fee policy. Sports: WIAA track highlights include Landerud’s final-medal run for McFarland and state titles for Deerfield’s Drobac and Berryman.

Agritourism & Education: Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center in Manitowoc is turning agriculture into hands-on learning, using “fun” to get kids and families to actually absorb how food is made. STEM for Wisconsin youth: The Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover is enrolling students for summer camps mixing cooking, greenhouse science, engineering, and food chemistry. Workforce & culture: Carl Sandburg College joins a Midwest maritime training consortium, while UW-Stevens Point earns national College of Distinction recognition for experiential learning. Health & safety: A rare Lyme-related bacterium has been found in New York ticks, and a Salmonella outbreak tied to moringa supplements has expanded to 119 cases across 36 states, including Wisconsin. Community & arts: Wisconsin Public Radio lands a grant to expand Classical Music Day statewide, and Milwaukee’s Polish Fest/Les Paul/Gorge & Gracie coverage spotlights local culture. Civic life: Birth control protections are back in the spotlight at the Capitol as Democrats and advocates push state action. Immigration & families: A Sheboygan mom’s ICE detention story continues to draw attention, and a legal win overturned a historical drug charge for Everlee Wihongi’s case. Sports: Top Chef crowns Filipina Rhoda Magbitang, and Big Ten women’s basketball opponents for Wisconsin are set.

Local Accountability: A Milwaukee County Transit System audit says key MCTS contracts weren’t reviewed or approved by the county board, raising questions about oversight for millions in spending. Public Safety & Weather: With more flooding possible this week, Milwaukee-area officials are being pressed on how prepared they are for severe storms. Education & Workforce: Arcadia schools won a $25,000 WEDC Fab Lab Grant to expand automotive fabrication labs, while Carthage College launched an MSN Nurse Educator program aimed at easing the nursing shortage. Health & Access: Wisconsin DHS rolled out info on a new federal Medicaid work requirement coming in 2027, and advocates warn it could disrupt coverage. Reproductive Rights: Wisconsin leaders marked the 61st anniversary of Griswold v. Connecticut, urging action to protect contraception access. Community & Culture: Milwaukee’s tourism hit a record $4.431B economic impact in 2025, and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center celebrated 50 years. Immigration & Care: Attorneys say Milwaukee mosque leader Salah Sarsour is deteriorating in ICE custody due to denied diabetes care. Civic Life: A new “Green Bay Blueprint” campaign targets clearer property tax transparency, including voucher-related disclosures.

Community & Culture: Wisconsin Watch’s “Public Square” photo project is bringing community storytelling to Green Bay with a short outdoor exhibit and panel discussion. Arts & Heritage: Cedarburg Art Museum adopted new mission and vision statements to deepen its role as a regional arts hub. Local Business & Lifestyle: Schmidt & Bartelt is moving its Oconomowoc office next to its closing location, and a new dog-friendly cafe, Brody’s Coffee, is opening in the area. Sports & Youth: Verona’s Aaron Yarbro surged to a state podium finish in the 3,200, while Wisconsin’s summer sports calendar keeps rolling with WIAA lacrosse championships set for Sun Prairie. Health & Aging: Brookfield’s Enjoy Life Active Aging Symposium returns Wednesday with fitness, food, and pet-adoption fun. Environment & Science: Researchers say invasive bloody red shrimp are now established across all five Great Lakes. Politics & Rights: Lawyers say Milwaukee Islamic Society leader Salah Sarsour is losing weight, denied diabetes care, and blocked from religious practice in ICE detention. Tourism: Gov. Evers and the tourism department announced a record 2025 run—117.9 million visits and $27B in economic impact.

Summerfest 2026: Common will replace The Roots at the BMO Pavilion on June 25 after a scheduling conflict forced The Roots to cancel. Milwaukee Education: The Milwaukee Reading Coalition says DPI reneged on promised support for an early literacy teacher training push, leaving the initiative in jeopardy. Community Loss: Michael Johnson, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County, died at 50; he was known for youth advocacy and community rebuilding after the Tony Robinson shooting. Public Health: Wisconsin pediatricians mark 20 years of the HPV vaccine, but state data shows nearly half of teens still aren’t getting the shots. Health & Safety: UW doctors highlight firearm education in medical schools as a harm-reduction approach, noting Wisconsin’s high share of firearm deaths tied to suicide. Family Budget Pressure: A new study finds many Wisconsin families can’t afford summer learning programs, with cost the biggest barrier. Local Business & Pride: Bay View businesses plan grand openings, and Milwaukee Pride events keep drawing community groups into the spotlight. Sports (Big Ten): Big Ten released Wisconsin women’s basketball home/away matchups for 2026-27. Science & Culture: Taliesin Preservation announces an America 250 lecture series exploring Frank Lloyd Wright’s ideas.

Wisconsin Politics & Community: Wisconsin’s lieutenant governor race is heating up with Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski set for the general election and two Republicans battling in the Aug. 11 primary. Local Education: Oregon School District selected Edustaff as its official substitute staffing partner, aiming to keep classrooms covered with screened, prepared substitutes. Culture & Outdoors: Riveredge Nature Center is stepping into a more accessible era, expanding programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, memory loss communities, and mobility needs. Nature & Public Safety: Xcel Energy is using AI-powered wildfire cameras across Wisconsin, with more locations being considered for the next phase. Heritage & Art: La Crosse installed a new Ho-Chunk healer sculpture, replacing a controversial earlier work and tying the art to indigenous plants and river history. Lifestyle & Food: You-pick strawberry season is nearly here, with growers bracing for a short, weather-driven window. Sports & Youth: Camp of Champs returns to Kingsford with basketball sessions for grades 3–12, plus attitude-focused awards. Business & Workwear: Brady Corporation announced a CEO transition, and Duluth Trading reported improved first-quarter results.

Obituaries & Public Life: Pulitzer-winning psychiatrist Robert Coles, who helped reshape how the U.S. thinks about children, health, and civic policy, has died at 97. Milwaukee Community & Culture: Lincoln Creek Week returns with a full week of free, family-friendly nature events—paddling, biking, hiking, and more—aimed at reimagining the greenway. Latino Heritage: Rep. Sylvia Ortiz-Velez is named grand marshal for the 2026 Fiesta Puerto Rico Parade & Festival, celebrating Puerto Rican history and community leadership on Milwaukee’s south side. Pride in Milwaukee: Hundreds marched in Walker’s Point for Milwaukee’s annual Pride Parade, capping a weekend of LGBTQ+ celebrations. Youth & Health Pathways: A new K-12 Medical Assistant pathway is helping Milwaukee students graduate with medical certification through a partnership with MedCerts, Boys & Girls Clubs, and Froedtert Hospital. Local Arts & Community Spaces: A Green Lake pottery studio, built from a family dream, is turning a storefront into a handmade hub for art and connection. Religion & Relationships: The Presbyterian Church (USA) faces internal backlash over a proposed rule requiring clergy to be in monogamous sexual relationships. Food & Family Summer Tips: Milwaukee-area experts share quick, affordable meal ideas for families during summer break, with guidance on serving size, added sugar, sodium, and hydration. National Parks & History: A federal request to flag “un-American” signage in national parks backfired, drawing praise for rangers and calls for a fuller, honest history. Politics & Media: President Trump abruptly walked out of an NBC “Meet the Press” interview after Kristen Welker pressed him on election claims and his “weaponization” fund.

Wisconsin Politics & Community: UW–Madison is investigating a student animal-rights group over a flyer tied to the April 18 beagle breeding facility raid, sparking debate over free speech and animal welfare. Local Culture & Family Fun: “Cows on the Concourse” returned to Madison’s Capitol Square for National Dairy Month, with petting, farm talks, grilled cheese, and hands-on learning. Arts & Neighborhood Events: Wauwatosa’s Art 64 brings a live bracket-style live painting tournament plus screen-printing pop-ups from Milwaukee streetwear brand Unfinished Legacy. Health & Safety: A national CDC-linked salmonella outbreak tied to backyard chicken flocks has reached Wisconsin, with young children hit hardest. Sports & Wisconsin Pride: Marathon repeated as Division 3 boys track state champions, while Stevens Point’s Curt Clausen returned home as a race-walking legend. Education & Child Care: Wisconsin’s child care “bridge payments” are set to expire, and providers warn tuition hikes and closures could follow. Sports Business (Wisconsin angle): At TPC Wisconsin, Packers legends Donald Driver and Jordy Nelson joined Caroline Harvey for a celebrity foursome benefiting American Family Children’s Hospital.

Capitol Square Dairy Kickoff: “Cows on the Concourse” brought live cows and grilled cheese to Madison as a family-friendly start to June Dairy Month. LGBTQ+ Community Life: Milwaukee’s Corner House, a Lutheran campus ministry at UW-Milwaukee, is highlighting its LGBTQ+ affirming mission under a transgender pastor; in La Crosse, Chances R hosted a Pride Fest with drag and live music. Education & Costs: UW System regents approved a 2% tuition increase for 2026-27 and elected a new regent president, keeping student access and affordability front and center. Civic Milestones: The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center marked 50 years on Vliet Street with music, food, and kids’ activities. Public Health Watch: West Allis Medicaid dental claims jumped 76% in 2024, signaling shifting local demand for care. Safety & Tragedy: A bicyclist killed in Chicago’s Bridgeport crash was identified as a CDOT employee devoted to bike infrastructure. Voting Rights Tension: Postal workers criticized a new USPS rule tied to restricting mail-in voting, calling it unconstitutional.

Teen Takeovers: A new wave of “teen takeovers” is spreading nationwide, with social media helping large groups of teens converge fast—sometimes turning violent or chaotic, including recent incidents tied to Milwaukee. Pediatric Care Honor: Dr. Simon S. Rabinowitz was named IAOTP “Top Pediatric Gastroenterologist of the Year,” spotlighting Wisconsin-area medical leadership. Local Health Policy: Dane County supervisors urged UW Health and Children’s Wisconsin to restart gender-affirming care for transgender youth after a January pause. College Affordability: UW System regents approved a 2% in-state tuition increase for 2026-27, citing rising costs after years of freezes. Workforce Training: NWTC Aurora added a path to earn a Wisconsin Class B commercial driver’s license locally. Sports & Community Pride: PWHL Detroit announced its first player, Canadian star Daryl Watts, a Wisconsin Badgers alum. Arts Impact: Madison’s Overture Center projects nearly $67M in economic impact for the 2025-26 season. Food Justice & Literacy: Milwaukee Reading Coalition says DPI won’t route state literacy funds to its planned commission. Politics in the Dairyland: Trump visited western Wisconsin to court farmers, while a federal judge blocked new SNAP restrictions.