First-floor retail shows vitality, but not reality

MMSD to dump $16 million into pump stations

Published: November 22, 2010
Tags: blog, Hot Topics, laterals, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, MMSD, Rohde, sewage, tunnel

By Marie Rohde

staff writer

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District is planning to spend $16 million to build two pump stations that are capable of dumping untreated sewage, diluted by rain, into local water ways.

Hiawatha line sees record ridership as state says ‘sayonara’ to its rail

Published: November 15, 2010
Tags: Amtrak, blog, Hot Topics, Magliari, Rohde
Comments: 8

By Marie Rohde

staff writer

Although the high-speed rail connection between Milwaukee and Madison appears to have been derailed, the train connection between Chicago and Milwaukee seems to be zipping along.

Has competitive bidding been run over by high-speed rail?

Published: November 5, 2010
Tags: blog, Busalacchi, Doyle, Edward Kraemer & Sons, Hot Topics, Rohde, Scott Walker, Tom Barrett, WisDOT

By Marie Rohde

staff writer

The contractors who were supposed to be working on the high-speed rail line between Milwaukee and Madison have been awfully quiet about the work being put on hold in the post-election hullabaloo.

11th-hour politics in Milwaukee is ‘Red Hots’

Published: October 26, 2010
Tags: blog, Hot Topics, Muhammed Nasir Khan, Robert Bauman, Rohde
Comments: 2

By Marie Rohde

staff writer

Today, the Institute for Justice, a self-described libertarian law firm based in suburban Washington D.C., is releasing a lengthy report entitled “Unhappy Days for Milwaukee Entrepreneurs,” one of reports aimed at eight American cities that the institute says has bad-for-business policies.

Looking for a bright spot in manufacturing and construction? We found it

Published: October 11, 2010
Tags: blog, Business Outlook Survey, Hot Topics, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, MMAC, Rohde, survey

By Marie Rohde

staff writer

The forecast for business environment for the fourth quarter is lukewarm, and construction and manufacturing always lags the rest of the economy. But there could be good news ahead.

Fast tracked: High-speed trains making their way to Milwaukee

Published: October 8, 2010
Tags: blog, high-speed rail, Hot Topics, Jeff Fleming, Nora Friend, Rail, Rohde, Talgo, Tower Automotive

By Marie Rohde

staff writer

The trains are coming — not by rail, but by flatbed truck.

Milwaukee tragedy prompts new inspection policy

Published: September 28, 2010
Tags: blog, building inspections, façade, Hot Topics, Milwaukee County, O'Donnell Park, Rohde, Summerfest

By Marie Rohde

staff writer

Milwaukee County and the federal government buildings are exempt from the city’s facade inspection ordinance but follow it voluntarily. But the O’Donnell Park garage, the site of a fatal accident this summer, wasn’t covered under the policy.

Those are fighting words, Aldermen

Published: September 20, 2010
Tags: blog, Community and Economic Development Committee, Department of City Development, Hot Topics, Joe Davis, Marcoux, Milwaukee, Rohde, Tony Zielinski

By Marie Rohde

staff writer

Milwaukee City Hall was abuzz last week over an unseemly shouting match between two aldermen — Tony Zielinski and Joe Davis — at the end of a meeting of the Community and Economic Development Committee.

The good, bad, and ugly of Wisconsin highways

Published: September 13, 2010
Tags: blog, bridges, highways, Hot Topics, Reason Foundation Annual Highway Report, Rohde
Comments: 1

By Marie Rohde

staff writer

Wisconsin is losing ground in highway performance and cost-effectiveness, according to the most recent Reason Foundation Annual Highway Report.