A bitter cold snap is gripping southeast Wisconsin. Many of us are under an extreme cold warning or watch with temperatures creeping into the negative teens. Weather-related emergencies can happen at any time. That’s why it’s especially important to be prepared.

Katie Rousonelos is the public information officer with Wisconsin Emergency Management. She joins Lake Effect’s Sam Woods to share how to prepare for winter emergencies and how to stay safe during this cold snap.

We now have a snapshot of the health and well-being of Milwaukee residents.

The Milwaukee Health Department has released its 2025 Community Health Assessment, the first since 2022 when the pandemic was still looming large as a public health concern. This new report finds that violence, drug abuse and housing all play a role in whether we can live healthy lives.

Ali Tahler-Reed and Dominique Hyatt-Oates of the health department join WUWM’s Katherine Kokal to look at what’s in the report and how it’ll be used.

Milwaukee Public School leaders learned last week that the state was releasing the final portion of money it withheld in 2024. The money has been held up after the district missed financial reporting deadlines. The financial woes led to the resignation of former Superintendent Keith Posely.

Now, Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction has released eight million dollars to the district after it submitted all its late financial reports. It marks another major turn for the state’s largest school district as it tries to earn back the trust of the public and state regulators. WUWM education reporter Katherine Kokal catches up with MPS’ Superintendent Dr. Brenda Cassellius.