AGP Executive Report

Museum & Travel Perk: Wisconsin Art Destinations’ “Visit 3, Get a T” campaign is back for fall, with 15 participating museums including Sheboygan’s John Michael Kohler Arts Center and Art Preserve—hit three spots by Nov. 15 to snag a limited-edition, artist-designed T-shirt via QR check-ins. Local Arts Legacy: Dennis Wolkowicz, the late silent-film organist tied to Milwaukee’s Portage Theater, is honored with a “Jay Warren Way” street sign at Milwaukee and Cuyler. Beer + Rivalry: Leinenkugel’s teamed up with the Minnesota Vikings for “Viktor’s Voyage,” an American red amber ale rolling out across Minnesota for the NFL season. Sports Spotlight: The Brewers open a Braves series with Jacob Misiorowski vs. Chris Sale at 3:10 p.m. CT, while Wisconsin volleyball kicks off at Fiserv Forum in the AVCA First Serve against Kentucky. Entertainment Buzz: GodsTV’s new demo brings in Helluva Boss talent for a satirical fame-culture roguelite, and Jason Universe returns as a Halloween immersive attraction. Food Safety: Recent recalls include jalapeños/guacamole/salsas tied to salmonella and other items with late “best if used by” dates. Quick Hits: A Madison man’s 1953 baseball stunt is featured in Apple TV+’s “Ted Lasso.”

Milwaukee & Wisconsin Arts Calendar: Arrow Broken Poetry Collective is hosting a free featured-artist reading and open mic with poet Michael Kleber-Diggs on Aug. 27 at Marine on St. Croix, with a positivity-themed prompt for performers. Local Sports Spotlight: De Pere rolled past Manitowoc Lincoln in a Thursday matchup, while Superior opened its season with a 58-28 win over Eau Claire North behind seven touchdowns from Maxton Luzaich. Brewers in the Spotlight: Milwaukee hosts the Atlanta Braves Friday at 4:10 p.m. at American Family Field, with the series setting up a big late-season test for the NL leaders. Health & Mental Wellness: UW–Madison researchers report mindfulness-based cognitive therapy doesn’t worsen symptoms for people with recurrent depression, offering reassurance for relapse prevention. Public Safety & Community Trust: West Allis residents say tornado sirens failed during Tuesday’s storms; Milwaukee County confirms an equipment failure and says replacements are underway.

Child Safety Lawsuit: Meta is back in court as 29 states argue Instagram/Facebook are engineered to hook kids, with Wisconsin among the broader policy fallout as the company defends its safeguards. Food Safety Alert: Minnesota and Wisconsin health officials warn against eating alfalfa sprouts from Calco and Everything Sprouts after STEC and Salmonella illnesses, with Wisconsin investigators already finding 18 cases. Breast Cancer Fundraising: Susan G. Komen rolls out its fall race calendar, including the Susan G. Komen 3-Day and MORE THAN PINK Walk, pushing for faster, fairer access to care. Local Housing Support: Three Milwaukee-area nonprofits split $350,000 each to expand homebuyer counseling and outreach for low-income and underserved families. Holiday Hype: Neenah is a Hallmark “America’s Merriest Christmas Town” Top 25 finalist, with daily public voting through Sept. 4. Brewers Baseball: Milwaukee closes out its series vs. Seattle at American Family Field with Robert Gasser vs. George Kirby, as the team keeps rolling at home. Arts & Community: “From Teeth to Toes” launches at Lambeau Field with Donald Driver as ambassador, urging Wisconsin residents to treat oral health as whole-body health.

Brewers Baseball Buzz: Milwaukee bounced back from Tuesday’s historic 22-0 shutout with a 7-5 loss to Seattle on Wednesday, after Dustin May struggled early as the Mariners jumped out to a seven-run lead. Dodgers Sweep Watch: In Denver, Mookie Betts homered and drove in the go-ahead run in the 10th as Los Angeles completed a three-game sweep of the Rockies. Local Health & Schools: UW Health Kids hosted a diabetes education day for Dane County school nurses, aiming to help kids manage rising Type 1 and Type 2 cases. Labor Law Shift: Wisconsin’s James R. Macy was sworn in to the NLRB, setting up a new Republican majority that could revisit major labor precedents. Community Sports Culture: Bloomer’s “Meet The Hawks” event brought the whole town into high school football season with big energy and community support. Arts & Faith: Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre announced its “Ring of Fire” cast for a Johnny Cash tribute opening Aug. 27, while La Crosse’s Shrine launched a new video series on Rome’s Seven Pilgrim Churches.

Brewers on a historic roll: Milwaukee matched the modern-era record with a 22-0 shutout over the Seattle Mariners, powered by homers from Christian Yelich, David Hamilton and Luis Lara. Local sports buzz: The rematch is set for Wednesday at American Family Field, with TV/streaming options and injury updates driving the matchup chatter. Arts & community in Milwaukee: A new public art moment is landing at Firefly Grove Park in Wauwatosa—“Sacred Rhythm Mother,” an eco-themed sculpture project with a planned Aug. 28 dedication featuring Wisconsin poet laureate Brenda Cárdenas. Film Wisconsin funding: Wisconsin’s film office announced tax credits for six productions, including the state’s first awards under its new program. Education spotlight: The U.S. Department of Education is investigating Milwaukee Public Schools over whether race is being used in discipline decisions. Tech & privacy: Flock Safety is tightening rules on its license-plate reader network as cities and lawmakers push back. Sports media/tech: A fake polling company admitted it created fake surveys as a “social experiment,” including a Wisconsin-related claim.

Brewers’ Historic Night: Milwaukee absolutely crushed the Seattle Mariners 22-0, matching MLB’s modern-era record for the biggest shutout and tying a franchise mark for runs, with homers from Christian Yelich, David Hamilton, Luis Lara and Jake Bauers plus a nine-run eighth. Storms & Power: Severe weather swept through southeast Wisconsin, triggering tornado warnings that later expired, but leaving more than 40,000 We Energies customers without power. Health Watch: New CDC data shows childhood vaccination rates slipping and exemptions rising for the fourth straight year, including across the Midwest. Tech & Books: An investigation alleges Amazon bought rare books, then destroyed them after scanning pages for AI training—sparking fury from historians and book lovers. Local Arts & Community: Rock Falls’ Art in the Park returns Aug. 29 with a sculpture walk, outdoor art gallery, live music, food, and new wine-tasting. Sports Media: Little League Baseball World Series coverage kicks off in Williamsport, with TV and streaming options listed for the full tournament.

Milwaukee Hospitality: The Iron Horse Hotel is leaning harder into its Milwaukee boutique identity, spotlighting The Yard’s live-fire dining, craft cocktails, and event programming. Genre Film Buzz: Fantastic Fest 2026 announced its full lineup, headlined by Resident Evil and opening with Beware Boiúna, with a big focus on new filmmakers. Social Media in the Spotlight: A coalition of 29 states is pushing a landmark trial against Meta over alleged addictive design features on Facebook and Instagram for teens, seeking major damages and feature changes. Local Community Development: Metcalfe Park Community Bridges is advancing plans for the “Metcalfe Park Liberation Hub,” aiming to add a cafe, bookstore, community kitchen, and more. Sports Media Shakeup: ESPN co-founder Bill Rasmussen has died at 93, and Wisconsin sports fans are also watching CBS’s Tony Romo situation as his Milwaukee OWI case clouds his booth future.

NBA & Local Sports: Former Gonzaga guard Malachi Smith has signed with the Toronto Raptors after a brief NBA run with the Brooklyn Nets, adding another Wisconsin-tied name to the pro pipeline. Public Health: Wisconsin measles concerns are rising as confirmed cases reach 15 with additional probable cases, with officials urging vaccinations as school season approaches. Milwaukee Community Development: Metcalfe Park momentum continues—City Plan Commission approved a Neighborhood Improvement District plan and also cleared rezoning for the Metcalfe Park Liberation Hub, aiming to bring new community spaces like a café, bookstore, and other services. Arts & Neighborhood Pride: The Milwaukee Brewers mural in Fitchburg is now complete, celebrating ballpark community moments. Safety & Streets: Milwaukee is considering roundabouts for three Holton Street intersections after a spike in crashes, including fatal ones. Family Fun: Milwaukee Recreation’s free Rec ’N Roll Summer Bash rolls through city playfields this week with games and activities.

Music & Pop Culture: Bryan Adams and Pat Benatar teamed up with Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” during their tour stop in Milwaukee, giving fans a rare onstage Motown moment. Live Music & Community: Oshkosh’s 01 Vintage got a celebrity double-take as Ed Sheeran and Tyrese Haliburton both stopped in during the same weekend. Sports Media: AMP Sports’ “The Tundra” Packers podcast adds “Ha Ha” Clinton-Dix as co-host alongside John Kuhn, with Ryan Wing joining for local Wisconsin coverage. Local Arts & Events: WRAP’s State Art exhibit keeps running until September, and Milwaukee’s Bay View Brewery is closing its taproom. Outdoor Fun: The “Wander Wisconsin Challenge” is back for late-summer activity with a limited-edition sticker for finishers. Policy Watch (Wisconsin): Lawmakers advanced bills touching FoodShare limits on candy/soft drinks and new rules for social media and app age verification for minors.

Wisconsin State Fair’s Final Day: West Allis crowds packed the grounds Sunday, with fairgoers leaning into food favorites like the Sporkies—after last year’s flood chaos left many scrambling. Local Arts & Culture: Kirkwood’s National Museum of Transportation is getting a spotlight through William Matteson Schaberg’s book “Origins,” tracing how a 1940s dream became a major rail-and-transport collection. Sports (Milwaukee-area): A Milwaukee volleyball transfer story is in the mix as Texas A&M beat Baylor in an exhibition, while the Brewers kept rolling over the Dodgers 6-2 with Logan Henderson’s strong start and Milwaukee’s defense doing the damage. Entertainment & Media: Adult Swim’s “President Curtis” digs into a “Louisiana Purchase” receipt mystery in Season 1, Episode 4, and a new wave of serial-killer exhibition coverage is drawing attention for how it frames queer victims and killers. Community & Events: A Northeast Wisconsin entertainment roundup is set for Aug. 16-22, plus a Native Plant Sale/fundraiser lands Aug. 22 at Stone Silo Prairie Gardens. Sports Business/Policy: Wisconsin’s prediction-market fight escalates as Novig sues the state over whether sports prediction markets should be treated like federal derivatives or state gambling.

Community Milestone: Community Lutheran Church in McAllister is marking its 100th anniversary, tracing roots to 1923 and a community-built church shaped by English- and Swedish-speaking families. Entertainment & Sports: The Dodgers’ legendary Tommy John—whose elbow surgery revolutionized baseball—has died at 83. Wisconsin College Hoops: UW will open the 2026 Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off at Fiserv Forum on Dec. 29, facing Northern Michigan, with the full schedule now set. Local Arts/History: “Drawn to Combat: Bill Mauldin and the Art of War” continues at the National WWII Museum through April 18, 2027, spotlighting the cartoonist’s wartime work. Policy Watch (Food & Media): Wisconsin lawmakers advanced bills tied to FoodShare restrictions (candy/soft drinks) and explicit-content warning labels, while also moving forward on PFAS programs and battery recycling funding. Milwaukee Crime & Youth: Sixteen teens were arrested after police shut down an unsanctioned rave at the Congress Theater.

Brewers vs. Dodgers: Jacob Misiorowski struck out Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman in a key jam and Milwaukee won 4-1, with Joey Ortiz and William Contreras going deep as the Brewers evened the season series. MLB Spotlight: Misiorowski’s slider work earned praise even from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, while Kyle Tucker sat again due to brutal home-road splits. Brewers Moves: Milwaukee acquired infield depth Jonathan Ornelas from the Athletics and placed reliever Abner Uribe on the 15-day injured list, recalling Grant Anderson. Local Sports Culture: Yeonjun of Tomorrow X Together threw the ceremonial first pitch at Dodger Stadium during Korean Heritage Night. Wisconsin Arts: A Picasso “Torero” print stolen from a Milwaukee gallery in 2018 was found in a vacant apartment and returned to its owner. Community & Heritage: LogJam Fest in Mosinee celebrated the town’s logging history with hands-on crafts, music, and competitions. Wildlife Science: Boone and Crockett backed a new UW-Stevens Point wildlife professorship focused on black bear research and outreach. Golf Fun: Pine to Palm’s Legends division saw a new champion set up after Saturday’s semifinal shakeups.

Local Housing Finance: Wisconsin lawmakers advanced SB480, expanding how cities and villages can set up residential tax incremental districts with a tighter 3% property-value cap tied to owner-occupied single- and two-family homes. Small-Town Development: AB839 clears the way for the Town of Three Lakes to create a tax incremental district under city/village rules, easing thresholds that usually apply to towns. Family & Health Privacy: SB799 would change when parents can access minors’ health, mental health, and court treatment records, including removing a rule that let some developmentally disabled minors block access. School Transparency: AB1004 would bar education employers from hiding or erasing alleged “immoral conduct” records and adds civil immunity for information shared with prospective employers. Food Assistance Restrictions: AB180 would require DHS to seek a federal waiver to block FoodShare purchases of candy and soft drinks. Digital Safety for Kids: AB963 and AB962 push age verification and parental consent rules for minors on social media and app stores. Public Safety Funding: SB181 creates a levy-limit exemption for regional EMS systems. PFAS Policy: AB130 and AB131 move PFAS enforcement and program requirements, including exemptions tied to DNR-led remediation.

Brewers vs. Dodgers: Andy Pages and Tommy Edman homered as Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out nine in six, but Milwaukee’s Edwin Díaz had a rough ninth before the Dodgers held on for a 3-1 win—keeping the Brewers right in the NL race. Milwaukee Art Mystery Solved: A Picasso “Torero” etching stolen from a downtown gallery in 2018 was found in a dusty vacant apartment after a landlord cleaned it out, bringing a long-running case to a full-circle return. Local Arts & Community: Viroqua’s Viroqua Mural Walk launched with nine outdoor murals, each with a QR code sharing the artist story—part of a downtown arts push. Sports & Entertainment Calendar: Phoenix Con rolled into Appleton with gamers of all ages, while Watertown Players debuted Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town” to strong early reviews. Wisconsin Sports Prep: The Badgers volleyball team swept Butler in a final exhibition before opening regular season in Milwaukee vs. Kentucky. Outdoor Fun: DeerFest in Stevens Point aims to hook the next generation of hunters with youth activities and hands-on seminars.

Local Arts & Culture: A stolen Pablo Picasso etching (“Torero”) from a Milwaukee gallery in 2018 was found by a landlord cleaning out a vacant apartment, bringing the artwork “full circle” as police investigate. Entertainment & Community: WMT radio says goodbye to its local voices after iHeartMedia cuts staff and swaps in syndicated programming, raising concerns about losing neighborhood-specific coverage. Youth Media Policy: Wisconsin lawmakers advanced AB961, requiring warning labels on explicit sexual content sold or published for profit, and AB963, tightening social media rules for minors with age checks, parental consent, and limits on addictive features. Food & Safety Policy: AB1027 would require FoodShare data reporting to the USDA, while AB180 targets candy and soft drinks purchases with FoodShare benefits. Sports & Pop Culture: A Waukesha shop auctioned off rare, untouched Nintendo cartridges after a collector found a hidden stash—plus Cop on a Rooftop returns with law enforcement and Special Olympics Wisconsin teaming up at Dunkin’.

Tech & Health: Epic (Verona) rolled out “Care Everywhere Diagnostic Image Exchange,” letting hospitals share CTs, X-rays, MRIs and more with a one-click pull—no CDs needed. Entertainment & Collectibles: A Waukesha shop found nearly 100 ultra-rare Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt cartridges in storage; an online auction via Goldin Auctions starts Aug. 14. Sports (Milwaukee): The Brewers jumped on the Dodgers early and rallied late for a 5-4 win in the series opener, setting up a big four-game matchup. Local Fun: Tomahawk’s Main Street Mania kicks off Aug. 13-15 with sales, live music, and a Friday cookout. New Madison Attraction: Topgolf opened its first Wisconsin location in Monona with climate-controlled bays, a full bar-and-grill, and a music-and-light show. Anime Pop Culture: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Café opened in Chicago with themed food, drinks, and merch. Community Sports: Ethan James headlines the Price County Fair Aug. 22.