With the holidays around the corner, many Wisconsinites are purchasing a Christmas tree. But fewer trees are being grown. Statewide, Christmas tree harvests have dipped 60% in the last 20 years. This rate of decline in Wisconsin is about double the national average.

Possible reasons include the popularity of artificial trees, a dip in production after the Great Recession, and weather-related setbacks. Steven Potter is a freelance reporter for Milwaukee Magazine. In this month’s issue, he wrote about how Wisconsin’s Christmas tree suppliers are adjusting. He spoke with Lake Effect’s Sam Woods.

This holiday season, many of us are looking for things to do with the family -- including trying out new restaurants. And if you’re looking for a great new place to try, Lori Fredrich has you covered.

Fredrich is the dining editor for On Milwaukee, and she regularly joins us to talk about new Milwaukee-area restaurants and reminisce about old favorites that have recently closed. She joins Lake Effect’s Joy Powers to share more.

It’s difficult for many people to buy a home in Milwaukee, even if they have a stable job. WUWM is examining the systemic problems that contribute to this challenge – and some potential solutions – in our series called “Seeking Solutions: Keys to Homeownership.”

Today, we look at how redlining has created barriers to homeownership for people of color. Redlining was a discriminatory practice that labeled homes in Black and brown communities as too risky for loans. WUWM’s Eddie Morales spoke with Dr. Kirk Harris. Harris is a UW-Milwaukee professor and director of the Center for Equity Practice and Planning Justice.

On Wednesday morning, Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge Hannah Dugan will have her last hearing before her case potentially goes to trial. Dugan is accused of helping a defendant in her courtroom to evade immigration enforcement officers. The case against Dugan has become a flashpoint in President Donald Trump’s sweeping immigration crackdown.

Federal prosecutors have said they’re offering Dugan plea deals. Lawyers for Dugan say their client is innocent and will be going to trial next month. To find out more about what could happen next, WUWM’s Maayan Silver spoke with Wisconsin criminal defense attorney Tony Cotton – who is not involved in the case.

Despite community pushback, the Milwaukee Police Department has been considering expanding its use of facial recognition technology. Milwaukee’s Equal Rights Commission and the majority of the Milwaukee Common Council have come out in opposition to the use of facial recognition - citing concerns over misidentification, particularly of people of color.

Others, like Emilio De Torre from the Milwaukee Turners, have voiced concerns over how data collected from facial recognition technology could we weaponized against the community - especially as the Trump Administration continues its crusade against undocumented people.

De Torre is also a member of WUWM’s Advisory Board. He recently wrote an Op-Ed for the Shepherd Express, arguing that facial recognition data is bound to end up in the hands of federal authorities and he joins me now to talk about this issue. Emilio, thanks so much for being here.

Where are all of the city's street signs? WUWM's Jimmy Gutierrez finds out for Bubbler Talk.

Seeing a production of the Nutcracker is a holiday tradition for many Wisconsinites. For fans of the classical ballet – there's an opportunity to not just watch a performance of the Nutcracker but actually immerse yourself in the story.

You can do it on a visit to the Paine Art Center and Gardens in Oshkosh. That’s where we’re headed for this month’s Wandering Wisconsin. Lake Effect’s Becky Mortensen is joined by Aaron Sherer from the Paine Art Center and Amanda Weibel with Travel Wisconsin.

A massive data center campus is being constructed in Port Washington. Elected officials there say the project will be a boon for the community, but not all residents are on board. Some are concerned about the environmental impact, their bills and quality of life. WUWM has been exploring this data center debate, and today we look at buildings.

Vantage Data Centers is the company building this campus. It has purchased more than 100 properties in Port Washington – which means some buildings need to go. That’s where David DeVooght (duh-VOHT) comes in. He moves buildings for a living. He sees this land purchase as an opportunity to reuse existing structures rather than have them end up in a landfill. WUWM’s environmental reporter Susan Bence met with DeVooght to learn about his work.