Hot Topics

The debates: Voters weigh candidates’ demeanor and ‘likability’

After two of the four debates of the 2012 presidential season, what is most striking is how much of the response, as expressed in mainstream news coverage and social media, focuses on body language, demeanor, matters of etiquette, and whether a candidate was likable.

The mild winter: 2012’s economic powerhouse

What has had the biggest influence on business so far in 2012? One strong contender was the mild winter.

Realtors hope $25B foreclosure settlement will spark housing revival

With the residential real estate industry shell-shocked from years of a moribund market, its spokespeople can be forgiven for taking a cautious attitude toward Thursday’s announcement of a $25 billion settlement with five of the nation’s biggest mortgage lende[...]

Fracking debate begins to draw heat

The spectacle of protesters descending on New York’s capitol to pressure Gov. Andrew Cuomo to support a ban on fracking earlier this week has prompted various interested parties to revisit the question of what lies ahead for the controversial natural gas drilling technique.

A new tool in the fight against pothole-pallooza

By Joe Yovino

Web editor

Meet the Pothole Killer -- it can fill a hole in 60 seconds with a much smaller crew.

Local rail focus a streetcar to nowhere

By Joe Yovino

Web editor

This week's scorecard: Streetcar 1, common sense 0 (regional rail forfeited).

‘Open for business’ doesn’t cut it for Milwaukee developer

By Marie Rohde

staff writer

Milwaukee developer William Orenstein would like to see policy makers move past catch phrases like “Open for Business” and have a meaningful discussion of what it takes to make Wisconsin attractive to business[...]

Some brats, a couple six packs and White House admission

By Marie Rohde

staff writer

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett says jokingly that when he got his invitation to a Super Bowl party from the White House, he asked, “What should I bring? Some brats? A couple of six packs?”

SnO-M-G: State weathers snowmageddon

By Joe Yovino

Web editor

As one of apparently only eight people working Wednesday in Milwaukee, the trip into work on the morning of snowmaggedon (or the Ground Hog Day blizzard or snowpocalypse, or SnO-M-G or any other cool name a TV produ[...]

Are urban areas at a development disadvantage?

By Marie Rohde

staff writer

Eaton Corp., now located in one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods, is being wooed to move to the Milwaukee County Research Park in Wauwatosa using both tax incremental financing and $20 million in federal New [...]

What to do with O’Donnell Park?

By Joe Lanane

staff writer

Proposals to demolish O’Donnell Park came and went last year. Milwaukee County officials initially praised the suggestion to redevelop the valuable lakefront property, but once budget season came, the focus i[...]

Contractor quick pay: Will it compute?

By Marie Rohde

staff writer

Everybody wants to be paid promptly. For some subcontractors, especially smaller businesses, it can be a life or death issue.