The Milwaukee Post

Crash part of slippery night for motorists The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office said more than 30 vehicles were involved in a crash Monday night. The accident happened around 10:35 p.m. on northbound Highway 45 at Mayfair Road in Wauwatosa. According to the sheriff's office, 30 vehicles were towed away, including two trucks and two buses. More vehicles were involved, but did not have to be towed. The sheriff's office said just one person was injured. The office said a total of 43 crashes were reported in Milwaukee County between 10 p.m. Monday and 2 a.m. Tuesday. Weather conditions in the area included light snow and temperatures in the upper 20s, according to the National Weather Service. The light snow caused slippery road conditions. Milwaukee County committee wants referendum on arena funding Voters in Milwaukee County will have an opportunity to weigh in on whether tax dollars should be used for a new downtown sports arena. The County Board's Judiciary, Safety and General Services Committee narrow- ly passed a resolution 4-3 to back an advi- sory referendum question on the Nov. 4 ballot. Milwaukee County Supervisor John Weishan Jr., said the committee approval was a "victory for the voice of the people of Milwaukee County." The resolution calls for an advisory ref- erendum on whether tax revenue should be used to help pay for the renovation or con- struction of a new sports and entertainment arena to replace the BMO Harris Bradley Center and to build a major expansion to the Wisconsin Center Convention Center. "I don't want people in southeast Wisconsin to think that the people of Milwaukee County always want to raise taxes," Weishan said. "The people need to be heard on an issue so central to our future." Weishan said that a task force on cultural and capital needs appointed by the Metropolitan Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce is using "window dressing" to build support for a new arena. He said that a 2008 county-wide referendum showed that resi- dents approved of a sales tax for parks and transit. The resolution, authored by Weishan, goes before the County Board for considera- tion April 24. Walker signs bill for MU police force Gov. Scott Walker signed Assembly Bill 768 that would increase public safety at Marquette University. The bill authorizes Marquette to create a police department and employ university police officers. University police officers will have the same powers as Milwaukee police officers. The Law Enforcement Standards Board will set training and certification standards for the officers. The Marquette Public Safety Officers currently do not have the authority to write tickets or make arrests. Under the bill, the police officers will have the same powers as Milwaukee police to maintain order, detect and prevent crime, enforce laws and ordi- nances, and make arrests for violations of laws and ordinances. Following the campus tragedy at Virginia Tech University in 2007, the Governor's Task Force on Campus Safety recommended Wisconsin join 21 other states and the District of Columbia to allow police forces on campuses at private colleges and uni- versities. State Rep. Dale Kooyenga, R-Brookfield, and state Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, co-authored the bill, which passed both the state Assembly and Senate on a voice vote. "Marquette University has a proven track record of deterring crime and ensuring the safety of students. This bill will allow for continued partnership between the uni- versity and the Milwaukee Police Department and is a great example of cooperation between the state, local government and the private sector," Walker said. 4 • Milwaukee Post • April 18, 2014 2 WEEK IN REVIEW STATE AND LOCAL STORIES OF INTEREST 1 5 Governor's re-election campaign underway Republican Gov. Scott Walker officially launched his re-election campaign Tuesday with a series of rallies across Wisconsin. Walker was joined by his running mate, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch. He began the day in Dane, a small town north of Madison, and concluded it with an appearance at State Fair Park in West Allis. Walker faces Democrat Mary Burke, a former Trek Bicycle Corp. executive and state commerce secretary, in the Nov. 4 election. Walker will try to win the governor's office for the third time in four years. He became the first governor in U.S. history to win a recall election in 2012, defeating Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. Walker has touted his nearly $2 billon in tax cuts over the past three years and the addition of more than 100,000 jobs. 3 County supervisor glad potholes will be fixed County Supervisor Russell Stamper II said he is happy the city of Milwaukee is moving forward with an initiative to fix potholes on its streets. "After a brutal winter, potholes have left streets in the City of Milwaukee crippled and quite hazardous," Stamper said in a county news release. "They are endangering citizens and their vehicles. The repair of city streets must be a priority not only because of the danger but because bad streets affect the perception of the city's diverse neighborhoods." According to a news release, Stamper asked for the city's help in offering creative and innovative solutions to address these potholes and deteriorating streets. He said the city took a bold step in developing a new plan to increase and improve repairs when Mayor Tom Barrett and members of the Common Council unveiled a proposal that calls for the hiring of 25 full-time people who have been in the criminal justice system or have had dif- ficulty finding a job. "This program will ensure job creation, job training for the unemployed and under- employed and, at the same time, provide street repair," Stamper said. Milwaukee plans to work with a nonprofit agency, United Migrant Opportunity Services, to provide workers with a six-month transitional job repairing pothole-ridden streets. Additionally, workers have the chance to be considered for openings for city jobs or perhaps with private contractors. UMOS will pay the workers $7.25 an hour, and the city will supplement that wage by $2.26 an hour. In addition to more than $240,000 channeled through UMOS, the city would appropriate up to $203,700 for wages, drug testing, safety supplies, tools and asphalt and stone for the repair work. The workers are expected to begin in May. Potholes can be reported through the city's Call Center at 286-2489. 4 Milwaukee police arrest 3 suspects Officers from Milwaukee Police Department District Four made three arrests, including that of a convicted felon, in two separate armed robbery incidents. According to the MPD Facebook page, both armed robberies occurred on April 11 within 40 minutes of each other. The first incident took place at approximately 6:10 p.m. at the Game Stop, 10400 W. Silver Spring Drive. Three suspects entered the store and ordered the employees to open the cash registers. One of the suspects displayed a gun during the robbery and the suspects fled by car with the stolen cash. A short time later, officers who responded to the incident noticed two males, both 16 years old and from Milwaukee, walking in the 5600 block of North 91st Street who matched the description of two of the suspects. Officers found a large amount of cash, a gun and marijuana on the males and took them into custody. The third suspect has not been located. As of press time, the case against the other two was referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office for charges. The second incident occurred at about 6:50 p.m. at Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen, 6120 W. Silver Spring Drive. According to the criminal complaint, an armed suspect entered the restaurant with a gun and demanded money from employees. The suspect was still in the restaurant when responding officers arrived at the scene. The suspect fled on foot but was arrested by officers a short time later in the 5600 block of North 61st Street. During the investigation, the suspect admitted not only to the Popeye's robbery but also to an armed robbery the previous day at the Burger King at 5812 W. Lisbon Ave. The suspect, a 26-year-old Milwaukee man, is a convicted felon and is on probation for five counts of armed robbery. His case was referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office. 6

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