Civilian water council: Milwaukee in ‘undeclared state of emergency’

An unofficial civilian council has called on the City of Milwaukee to remove all remaining lead lateral service lines, of which at least 70,000 still exist in Milwaukee homes. The Freshwater for Life Action Coalition (FLAC), comprised of community members including Milwaukee NAACP President Fred Royal and MICAH President Willie Brisco, said high levels of lead disproportionately affect poor and minority children, and have for years.

“Milwaukee … has been in an undeclared state of emergency,” Brisco said at a recent town hall meeting.

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Democratic district attorney candidate finds support on the right

Verona Swanigan speaks to reporters in front of the Federal Courthouse in August 2014.  (Photo by Mike De Sisti, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

Verona Swanigan, a Democratic candidate for Milwaukee County district attorney, has received personal support from right-wing political activists and has appealed to Republican voters in her bid to unseat current District Attorney John Chisholm, also a Democrat.

A number of speculative pieces have been written by local media tying Swanigan to Eric O’Keefe, director of the Wisconsin Club for Growth, and Craig Peterson, a local political operative with well-documented ties to O’Keefe and a growing interest in local politics. O’Keefe and his organization are key players in an ongoing battle over a secret John Doe investigation launched by Chisholm in 2012.

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