All five Democratic candidates for Wisconsin governor gathered at Turner Hall in Milwaukee Wednesday for a town hall centered on data centers, a topic that has sparked concern among Democrats, Republicans and independents alike.

A recent Marquette Law School poll found majorities across party lines say the costs of data centers outweigh the benefits. Another poll shows 34% of primary voters remain undecided.

Voter Molly Collins said the event came at the right time.

WATCH: Where Wisconsin's governor candidates stand on data centers as undecided voters head to the polls

"I think there are a lot of undecided voters. And I definitely have candidates I'm leaning towards but I really want to hear how they talk about this issue," Collins said.

With many voters still undecided, attendees said they came looking for clarity before the primary.

"I'd like to get to the point where I can feel real comfortable selecting one," voter Chris Rute said.

The candidates shared common ground on several issues. All called for stronger oversight of data centers, greater accountability for technology companies, protections for taxpayers and utility customers, and safeguards for Wisconsin's environment. But they differed on how those goals should be achieved.

State Rep. Francesca Hong called for the Legislature to pass a moratorium on new data center development, saying she would call a special session to take up the proposal. Hong said a pause is necessary to give lawmakers time to establish enforceable regulations, strengthen protections for natural resources and workers, bring union labor to the table and ensure polluters are held accountable. She also backed local control over projects and said data center development should create union jobs.

"The moratorium is so important because we have many steps we have to put into place in order to make sure we are holding polluters accountable," Hong said.

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley opposed a moratorium, arguing it would not address projects already underway. Instead, he called for a long-term regulatory framework that holds companies accountable, gives local governments meaningful authority over proposed developments and requires data centers to operate using energy that is as close to 100% renewable as possible.

"We have to make sure local municipalities or local leadership has the ability to actually say 'yay or nay' over what's happening," Crowley said.

Former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes opposed public subsidies for data centers and said companies should bear the full cost of construction, electricity and transmission infrastructure. Barnes also said projects should not move forward if a community rejects them, called for renewable energy requirements, stronger protections for natural resources and additional funding for the Department of Natural Resources to monitor compliance.

"One no public subsidies, two there will be no shared costs for every day rate payers. [Tech companies] have to cover all their electricity costs," Barnes said.

State Sen. Kelda Roys argued executive action could immediately strengthen oversight of existing projects while pushing for legislation to increase regulation. She said data centers should not receive state subsidies, proposed creating a public negotiating team to help communities evaluate projects, and said companiesnot taxpayersshould pay to build the necessary infrastructure.

"We have to stop rubber stamping permits and letting big polluters get away with polluting on the front end with absolutely no oversight," Roys said.

Democratic candidate Joel Brennan stopped short of supporting a full moratorium but said he would support a 100-day pause on new projects while lawmakers establish stronger standards. Brennan said his priorities include ensuring data center companies pay all construction, operational and transmission costs, enforcing environmental regulations with "real teeth," keeping Wisconsin on a path toward carbon neutrality, requiring union labor when possible and banning non-disclosure agreements tied to projects.

"We need to make sure they have the appropriate guard rails on them environmentally, around who builds it, around who pays for it which is none of us here, and that there will never be a situation where there are non disclosure agreements," Brennan said.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel organized the event. Organizers say Republican front-runner, Tom Tiffany, declined to attend but sent a statement outlining principles for future data centers:

"No new data centers without these standards to protect Wisconsin. First as governor, I would end all subsidies for data centers in Wisconsin, including those currently provided under Governor Evers. Taxpayers should not be subsidizing some of the wealthiest companies in the world. Second, I would ensure local communities have the final say on every proposed project. Third, I would protect productive Wisconsin farmland by ensuring it is not converted into industrial-scale data center developments, just as I've consistently opposed Democrats sacrificing it for subsidized wind and solar projects. Fourth, any costs created by data centers must be paid by the facilities themselves, not passed on to Wisconsin families and businesses through higher utility bills. Fifth, I would ban nondisclosure agreements that keep communities in the dark about proposed projects. If these principles are not met, and the local community does not support the project, it should not move forward. There need to be clear principles in place to protect Wisconsin's land, water, and taxpayers," said Tom Tiffany.

Republican candidate Andrew Manske, who also did not attend, says on his campaign website that he supports an outright ban on data centers. If a ban is not feasible, he says he would pursue strict regulations.

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An EF-3 tornado tore through Menasha, destroying homes and businesses, and for Dennis Fagg and Dave Kodet, a decade of hard work was gone in a matter of minutes.

The two share a building that houses Fagg's Dungeons and Dragons store, Studio 6D6, and Kodet's Engrave Situations, where customers can also gather to play games. The building's roof is gone, the back room is destroyed, and pieces of their lives were flung across Menasha.

WATCH: Menasha business owners vow to rebuild after EF-3 tornado destroys their building

"Hopes, dreams, lifestyles, uprooted, that's what I feel right now," Fagg said.

Kodet said he knew the tornado was close when he heard a nearby landmark had been hit.

"Manderfield's was gone, as soon as I heard that I was like, we are a block away from Manderfield's," Kodet said.

Just hundreds of feet away, large tankers at a nearby factory were also destroyed by the tornado.

Despite the devastation, Kodet said he considers himself fortunate.

"I feel I'm fortunate that I can go home at night and sleep; I have power. There's people here are literally feet away from us that have nothing," Kodet said.

A GoFundMe has been started by people who know Fagg and Kodet to help them get back on their feet.

Both men say they are committed to rebuilding.

"So Studio 6D6 and Engrave Situations will rise from these ashes also just like the phoenix," Kodet said.

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Vantage Data Centers' $15 billion hyperscale AI facility under construction in Port Washington is expected to bring 1,000 jobs.

Vantage North America President Dana Adams said the facility will support Oracle and its end user, OpenAI, running AI workloads out of the building.

"This is a data center that's planned to support Oracle and their end user OpenAI," Adams said.

Adams pushed back on a common perception about data centers.

"The biggest misconception, well, first of all, that these are buildings void of life, right, that these are just servers and that there are no people involved in the actual running of this equipment. That is not true," Adams said.

Vantage currently employs about 130 workers at a campus location in Virginia, with another 300 customers and vendors in office spaces at that site. The company expects a combined 1,000 employees with its two biggest customers once the Port Washington facility opens.

Watch: DraftWill Vantage live up to jobs expectations when AI facility opens in Port Washington?

"Both of us will have engineers, we'll have mechanical and electrical operators, we'll have technicians, we'll have IT network specialists, security specialists, -- so on and so forth manning that facility," Adams said.

Adams said the local jobs will come from hiring local people across a range of roles for the 24/7 facility.

Beyond jobs, Vantage points to its tax record in Virginia as a preview of what Ozaukee County can expect. The company has paid $65 million in property taxes in Virginia since 2019.

"That's a lot of teacher salaries. That's a lot of new fire trucks, community centers, road improvements, etc.," Adams said.

Vantage will pay property taxes in Port Washington over the next 20 years through a Tax Incremental District to cover $458 million in infrastructure costs for the project. Adams said the tax revenue will begin flowing predominantly when construction is complete.

"Absolutely, it will start predominantly when the construction is complete," Adams said.

Vantage and Open are also key sponsors for the first time this year at the Ozaukee County Fair

Vantage and facility operators Oracle and OpenAI are already hosting job fairs in the area to fill those 1,000 positions.

The project is already generating optimism at nearby Concordia University in Mequon, where students and faculty are watching the development closely.

"It's a very inspiring feeling to know the future is physically here now," Concordia sophomore Evan Delvaux said.

Delvaux said the proximity of the facility could shape the career paths of students at the school.

"It also then plants the seed of interest, so we can inspire many amazing people at this college to be more oriented toward technology and more innovation," Delvaux said.

"Which is very encouraging for me and my career, and then the careers of my peers as well," Delvaux said.

Concordia graduate and entrepreneur Jonathan Schotte said the facility signals a shift in what kinds of opportunities will be available locally.

"People are used to a certain opportunity. New, unique opportunities are going to arise," Schotte said.

Concordia Computer Science Chair Prof. Mike Litman said the pace of AI development is unlike anything he has seen before.

"I mean, we were already going 500 miles an hour. Now we're going 1,500 miles an hour," Litman said.

Litman said the technology's impact will be sweeping.

"My opinion is that it's going to be bigger than the internet. This is huge. This is going to change how we all live our lives. It's gonna create a bunch of new jobs. It's going to eliminate a whole bunch of old jobs," Litman said.

Litman said preparing students to use AI responsibly is central to the university's mission.

"We have to become ethical and moral wielders of these tools, because these tools are not going to have morality of their own," Litman said.

To that end, Concordia is adding new majors this fall and opening a new AI lab where students can develop skills using the latest tools. Litman said the university's location gives it a unique advantage.

"Concordia is uniquely located to have a close relationship with them, and administration is working hard to create those things," Litman said.

The goal is to create internship and job pipelines that keep Wisconsin graduates in the state rather than relocating to pursue tech careers elsewhere.

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Dozens of community members are coming together to sew fabric panels that will soon cover portions of the outside of the Racine Art Museum in downtown Racine.

The textile installation is the work of artist Amanda Browder, who has organized a series of Community Sewing Days, where residents help piece and sew together donated fabric that will ultimately be woven through the paneling on the museum's exterior when it goes up in September.

For Mary Siuta, Wednesday marked her second time attending a Community Sewing Day.

"I believe in the artwork of it, I believe in giving back to the community, I have a skill," Siuta said. "And I just think it's a great way to build community. It's an exciting project."

Siuta said seeing her donated fabric become part of the larger work has been a highlight of the experience.

"Both times I've come, I've seen fabric that I've donated go into a stretch of fabric, and that is very, very fun," Siuta said.

For Browder, the sewing days are about making art accessible to everyone.

"What's really awesome is the more people come and participate, the more they feel like they're owners of the piece," Browder said.

For participant Maggie Eastman, who usually sews alone, the sewing days are an opportunity to sew with others.

"My daughter was here with me, as well, last time I was here," Eastman said.

While some participants like Eastman and Siuta have been sewing for decades, Browder has made sure there are tasks available for people who don't sew.

"Like the pinning of all the pieces together, so people from all walks of life," Eastman said.

Watch: Racine-area residents help bring artist's vision to life for Racine Art Museum installation

And the inclusiveness of the events is reflected in the vision of the large-scale installation itself.

"The piece is about kind of shouting to the mountains and saying, 'People that make quilts, people that make anything, deserve a voice,'" Browder said.

As the piece will be installed on the art museum's exterior, it will be on display for free viewing at all times, starting September 18.

"This is also on the people that come and see it," Browder said. "It's your task to come and check this out. If you miss it, you've missed it, and all you can see is the photograph."

Browder encourages people to come see the installation in September, as sun and weather will cause the fabrics to change over time.

"See what it looks like vibrant, and watch as the earth kind of changes it over, say, a two-month period," she said.

The installation itself is shaping up to be a celebration of all the hands that helped make it happen.

"Let's just allow people to be a little bit creative and go a direction and see what happens," Browder said. "And that magic really shows as we put it up."

There are still several community sewing days scheduled through August 6. For more information, head to www.ramart.org/events.

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What started as a bottled water drive at an Oak Creek bar is now turning into a larger coordinated relief effort for families impacted by the devastating Fox Valley tornadoes.

South Bound Again Bar & Grill launched the donation drive earlier this week after tornadoes tore through Menasha, Appleton and surrounding communities, damaging homes, knocking out power and leaving some residents without basic supplies.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Oak Creek bar launches water drive for Fox Valley tornado victims

Since the original effort began, organizers say community support has been overwhelming.

The bar collected two truckloads of donated supplies in less than 24 hours. The trucks are scheduled to leave Monday morning from Watchpoint Logistics in Oak Creek.

Organizers say the response quickly filled the trucks with bottled water, but relief priorities have now shifted as recovery operations continue.

South Bound Again is now pausing bottled water donations and instead asking the community to donate high-priority relief supplies requested by aid organizations like the Red Cross.

Items currently needed include:

Non-perishable food

Sports drinks

Protein drinks

Disposable plates, cups and utensils

Garbage bags

Trash grabbers

Personal protective equipment, including work gloves and safety gear

Hygiene products

Organizers say cash donations will also go directly toward purchasing supplies identified by the Red Cross as immediate needs for victims and cleanup crews.

The effort continues to receive support from Watchpoint Logistics, which is helping coordinate storage, pallets, transportation and delivery logistics for the donations heading north.

South Bound Again manager Joy Paul said the mission remains focused on helping families across northeast Wisconsin recover from the storms.

Its community helping community, Paul said earlier this week. Its all about bringing people together and for a good cause.

The trucks are expected to depart from Watchpoint Logistics Monday mid-morning. The owner tells TMJ4's Mike Beiermeister that all supplies collected will be taken up north and distributed with help from the Red Cross.

South Bound Again Bar & Grill is located at 9504 S. Chicago Rd. in Oak Creek.

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After weeks of crashes, construction frustrations and safety concerns on Historic Mitchell Street, business owners, residents and city leaders walked the corridor Wednesday looking for solutions during a community walk organized by Historic Mitchell Street BID #4 with Alderman Jos Prez.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Heat-warped Mitchell Street crosswalk slows drivers, scrapes cars

The walk brought together business owners, police officers, city workers, nonprofit groups and residents to discuss the issues impacting one of Milwaukees busiest and most diverse business districts.

Watch: Key stakeholders walk Historic Mitchell Street, discuss growing concerns

Historic Mitchell Street is home to dozens of small businesses, resource providers, restaurants and shops serving many. But recent incidents have raised concerns about safety, traffic and the impact ongoing disruptions are having on businesses along the corridor.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Milwaukee DPW crews to remove heat-warped section of Mitchell Street crosswalk

Among those concerns: a deadly crash Monday night at 11th and Mitchell, a car earlier this month crashing into two beauty shops, ongoing reckless driving complaints and frustrations surrounding a raised crosswalk near 10th Street that grew higher than intended and is now being removed and replaced by the city.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Car crashes into Mitchell Street beauty shops, raising reckless driving concerns

As the group moved block by block along Mitchell Street Wednesday, participants pointed out traffic trouble spots, litter, deteriorating properties and areas where they say reckless driving and illegal activity have become recurring concerns.

Prez said code compliance issues, dumping complaints and concerns surrounding sex trafficking were among the biggest topics brought up during the walk.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Pedestrian struck, killed on Milwaukee's south side

We have properties that are not code compliant. We have even city parking lots that need to be addressed. We have some issues with dumping, even sex trafficking, Prez said.

Traffic safety remained a major focus throughout the walk and through discussions TMJ4's Mike Beiermeister has had over the past month.

Business owners discussed reckless driving, loud vehicles, ATVs and intersections where speeding remains common despite recent traffic calming efforts.

Prez acknowledged frustration surrounding the raised crosswalk project near 10th Street, saying the city is working to correct the issue while continuing to prioritize traffic calming measures in the area.

Wherever we can put raised crosswalks that force people to slow down, we will do it, Prez said.

For barber Ulysses Hunter, the disruptions have directly affected business.

Hunter works at Tasos on Mitchell Street and says he normally gives between eight and 16 haircuts a day. This month, he says, business has slowed significantly.

Business has dramatically declined for July because of all the incidents that has occurred, Hunter said.

Hunter says the construction and traffic changes tied to the raised crosswalk especially hurt foot traffic and customers driving through the area.

That actually cut down dramatically the foot traffic, Hunter said.

He also pointed to littering and cleanliness concerns along the corridor.

Litterings been an issue, and decline of business. It devalues the place where I work at, Hunter said.

Throughout the walk, Prez repeatedly emphasized the importance of residents reporting issues directly to the city, whether it involves reckless driving, dumping, nuisance properties or criminal activity.

We cant fix what we cant address, Prez said.

The alderman encouraged residents and business owners to continue using Milwaukees Click4Action reporting system and to contact his office directly when problems persist.

Despite the recent challenges, Prez said Mitchell Street remains a corridor people continue to invest in and believe in, pointing to community events, businesses and organizations that continue drawing people to the neighborhood.

For people like Hunter, the hope is that more attention, stronger communication and continued community involvement can help improve conditions moving forward.

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Packers tight end Tucker Kraft is nearing a return from ACL surgery and could be on the field as early as Week 1, with a contract extension also in the works before the season opens.

Kraft is about 8.5 months removed from ACL surgery. General Manager Brian Gutekunst said there is a lot of science around the nine-month mark, so the team will be cautious with his return but he said it is a possibility he is ready week one.

"Very much a possibility in fact I anticipate him being out there sooner rather than later," Gutekunst said.

Watch: Tucker Kraft nearing return from ACL injury as Packers await contract extension

Kraft was doing individual drills off to the side Wednesday and appeared to be moving well. He said he expects to come off the physically unable to perform list soon.

"It's right there. Ultimately, I'll probably come off the PUP here very soon, and that's Gutey's decision. But it'll be an acclimation period," Kraft said.

Kraft recorded 489 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns last season in 8 games before suffering the season-ending injury. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and both sides have said they would like to get an extension done before the season begins.

"My biggest thing, and always has been, I'm trying to be the best teammate I can be. So I first and foremost focused on my health, ultimately. I know that people up there on the second floor are very intelligent people. They're going to work their best to get this thing done. My agent as well. So I'm just going to focus on what I can focus on," Kraft said.

When asked if he wants a deal done before the season starts, Kraft was direct.

"I think it would be best if we got it done as soon as possible," Kraft said.

Kraft's return takes on added importance with the Packers thin at tight end. Luke Musgrave was placed on the PUP list with a neck injury suffered during OTAs. The team is still determining whether that injury could keep him out longer term.

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For years, the Wheeler family has dedicated itself to helping people get back on their feet.

Now, they're working to get back on theirs after an EF3 tornado destroyed their Menasha home.

"This down here is the baby and toddler room," Miracle Wheeler said, walking through what's left of the home.

Watch: Menasha family loses home that helped them heal after tornado

Half of the homes walls are missing and now covered in a blue tarp. Their clothes, furniture, and four children's belongings are scattered across the property.

"It's hard not to think of everything we lost and just think of everything we have," Wheeler said.

But their home meant more than just a place to live.

Three years ago, after the death of their 6-year-old son, Aaron, Wheeler said the community helped her family buy the house.

"Our son Aaron passed away, and the community came together and helped us buy our own home to help us rebuild not move on, but heal," she said.

The family later started a nonprofit sober living shelter in Aaron's honor, providing housing and support for people in recovery in the Appleton area.

Wheeler said her family understands what it means to struggle. While caring for Aaron during his illness, she said they experienced homelessness themselves.

"You're one situation away from being homeless, and here we are," she said.

"Weve been here before, but not like this where weve lost everything."

Now, the family is staying in a hotel while working through insurance and planning what comes next.

"You help so many people. You hear their stories, but when it's you, it hits differently," Wheeler said.

Even now, her thoughts aren't only on her own family.

"I'm not only worried about my family, but also worried about my clients," she said. We heal through helping. Thats how it was when we lost Aaron, and that's how its going to be with this.

Monday's tornado caused widespread damage across Menasha and neighboring communities, prompting Gov. Tony Evers to declare a state of emergency.

Officials continue to coordinate volunteers, restore power, and respond to residents' needs. No fatalities, serious injuries, or missing people have been reported.

A GoFundMe has been created to help the Wheeler family with temporary housing, replacing essential belongings, and rebuilding their home.

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A well-known community pub in Muskego is collecting donations through Saturday for families affected by the Menasha tornado.

Pop's Pub on Pioneer in Muskego has become a hub for community relief efforts, this time collecting supplies for families in Menasha recovering from tornado devastation.

The pub organized a grassroots volunteer effort last year during the August 2025 floods, sending volunteers out into the community to help neighbors in need. Now, that same community is turning its attention to others.

"So many people stepped up at that point and helped out," Cathy Wojtanowski said.

Watch: Muskego community rallies to send supplies to Menasha tornado victims

Residents are donating the same types of supplies that helped their own families during the floods water, heavy-duty contractor bags, gloves and tarps.

"People have been stopping by dropping off water, heavy duty contractor bags, gloves and tarps," Randy Middleton said.

Volunteers are also signing up to travel to Menasha to assist with cleanup efforts.

Mark Knudsen, owner of Pop's Pub, said the community felt compelled to act.

"Just kind of saw everything that happened in Menasha and was like, we have to do something again," Knudsen said.

Wojtanowski said the motivation is simple.

"You want to help out wherever you can," Wojtanowski said.

"You just know how devastating it is for their families and their children," Wojtanowski said.

Middleton described the spirit behind the effort.

"It is like a pay it forward type thing," Middleton said.

A truckload of supplies has already been delivered to Menasha. Pop's Pub is still collecting donations and will send another van up this weekend. Donations can be dropped off at the pub through Saturday.

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Hundreds of kids lined the path to Ray Nitschke Field Tuesday as the Green Bay Packers' bike tradition returned for its 81st year.

The tradition, one of the most cherished in the NFL, has kids waiting outside Lambeau Field with their bikes, hoping a player will choose to ride one to practice.

For 10-year-old Addison Layng, the day was never about her.

Addison had her own moment last summer when Edgerrin Cooper rode her bike to camp.

"I didn't really have a favorite Packer player back then and then suddenly I rode with him, and I'm like, 'Hey, this guy's awesome,'" Addison said.

This year, she was determined to make sure her little sister, Sophie, had that same experience.

Player after player passed by as Addison called out, waved, and pleaded on her sister's behalf. Free agent safety Mark Perry eventually heard her and walked Sophie's bike to practice.

Watch: Packers bike tradition returns for 81st year, and one big sister made sure her little sister had the moment

"It was her first time, and I remember when it was my first time, and I didn't get chosen and I didn't want her first time to be like that, so I made sure that she got picked," Addison said.

After a three-hour wait, Addison's mission was complete but the day wasn't over. Nazir Stackhouse also stopped and rode Addison's bike to practice.

"His helmet was also really heavy. I don't remember the last one being that heavy," Addison said.

Families who want their child's bike ridden to practice should plan to arrive a few hours early. The bike tradition is only held during public practices.

The 2026 Packers public training camp practice schedule is below. All practices begin at 10:30 a.m.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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One of the only places in the country to learn how to be a medium, connect with spirits, and talk with deceased loved ones on the other side is in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.

The Morris Pratt Institute is the only education center for the National Spiritualist Association of Churches, one of the largest and oldest Spiritualist organizations in the world. Spiritualism is the belief that life continues after death, or rather, we transition to the other side, and the living can communicate with those spirits.

Because even when I was younger, I would always listen to my family members in spirit, and I would talk to them and receive messages from them. And I didn't know there was a name to it," Nydia Tremblay, a student at the Morris Pratt Institute, said.

She looked for spiritual guidance at other Christian churches, but none connected with her. When she found Spiritualism, Tremblay felt like she discovered her home.

And what I found when I came to the Spiritualist church, what people would either frown upon about me working with spirit, for them it's an everyday thing, and it's a gift, and it's something so respected," Tremblay said.

The Morris Pratt Institute teaches the fundamentals of Spiritualism and mediumship. The focus is on the academic side of Spiritualism, before starting an apprenticeship or studying with a priest. The school also houses a library full of Spiritualist-related books thats open to the public upon request.

Opportunity to read lessons, learn about the history of it, learn about different ways of thinking, and then go from there," Charvonne Carlson, the former director of the Morris Pratt Institute, said.

For Carlson, the school helps dispel negative stereotypes about Spiritualism.

I think it's extremely important in terms of wanting to get away from the Hollywood belief system of what Spiritualism, what mediumship is, what healing practices are," Carlson said.

Think of bad actors like scammers trying to profit off others' grief, or how mediums could be depicted as occultists, or conjurers of spirits.

We're very focused on making sure it's evidential, that you know that the person we're bringing to you is your loved one," Carlson said.

The institute is named after Morris Pratt, who was born in New York state in 1820. He eventually moved to Whitewater, Wisconsin, and opened the Temple of Science, a spiritualist education center, in 1889. Later, the school was moved to its current location in Wauwatosa in 1946.

It's very unique to not only have the space, but also have that history tied to it," Carlson said.

For Nydia Tremblay, the Morris Pratt student, when she finishes classes, she will start practicing mediumship, become ordained, and her goal is to help as many people as she can.

"Letting people know, at the end of the day, even when their loved ones have passed to the other side, that they're still there. You can still conversate with them, she said.

Learn more about Spiritualism and the Morris Pratt Institute by going to the school's website.

Watch the story to see inside the Morris Pratt Institute...

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Tony Romo faces four traffic citations following his operating while intoxicated arrest last week in downtown Milwaukee.

Milwaukee County records show a deputy spotted an open bottle of alcohol on the passenger side of Romo's SUV after he was arrested. That led to one of four citations the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback received.

The four citations are:

Romo was pulled over on the Marquette Interchange last Thursday for unsafe passing on the right. Body camera video released Tuesday night shows the encounter with a deputy on the side of the road. Romo denied drinking and asked several times to speak with his lawyer.

The traffic stop was captured on body cam footage obtained by TMJ4.

OWI defense attorney Jillian Scheidegger said the sheriff's office followed proper protocol and explained why Romo's request to speak with an attorney could not be granted.

"Because it's just an ongoing investigation in that moment. You're technically not under arrest and because of that essentially stopping that investigation to allow counsel to kind of come in and intervene and number one, if someone called me and a police officer did allow them to contact a lawyer, there's really nothing a lawyer can do for you in that process other than to say, don't decline to make a statement, be cooperative, be polite, be courtious and don't give them any more information than you absolutely have to," Scheidegger said.

Romo was taken to the Milwaukee County Jail sally port, where a deputy wrote he performed poorly on field sobriety tests. Body camera footage shows Romo refusing a preliminary breathalyzer test. A warrant was then filed for a blood draw. Court documents do not list a blood alcohol content from that test.

Romo faces about $1,600 in fines and could lose his license for a year. A court hearing is scheduled for September, though Romo is not required to attend.

Romo's attorney declined to comment.

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A new community partnership is making a splash in Milwaukee this summer.

Milwaukee County Parks and the West Allis-West Milwaukee Recreation and Community Services Department teamed up to bring outdoor aqua Zumba to Cool Waters for the first time, and the program is already a hit in its debut year.

Watch: Community partnership brings first outdoor aqua Zumba classes to Cool Waters this summer

Kristen Schmalfeldt, program manager at the West Allis-West Milwaukee Recreation and Community Services Department, said the collaboration was inspired by her organization's director.

"Our director at West Allis-West Milwaukee Recreation always encouraged us to collaborate with other organizations, so she inspired me to reach out to Milwaukee County, and I reached out to Krystal and came up with this idea to bring this to life," Schmalfeldt said.

Classes are held at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The morning session draws around 30 participants, while the evening session attracts more than 50.

Schmalfeldt credited the program's instructors for its early success.

"Really have to credit our amazing instructors we have. We have Crystal this morning and Dina at night, and it's just really great opportunity to have out at Cool Waters. Just really have a great pool here. It's heated, and they just have so much fun with their different exercises and the music routine that they have," Schmalfeldt said.

Cool Waters is one of five outdoor pools Milwaukee County operates this summer. The facility is open most days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with two evening sessions per week from 5 to 7 p.m. The pool water is currently 82 degrees. Amenities include large water slides, kiddie slides, a zero-depth-entry area and lap lanes.

Krystal Ganz, aquatic manager at Milwaukee County Parks, said the pool's layout made it a natural fit for the new program.

Cool Waters will remain open through Labor Day. Other Milwaukee County pools are open through approximately mid-August.

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A new Marquette Law School poll shows increased support for state Rep. Francesca Hong as she continues to lead the Democratic primary field for the fifth consecutive time in the poll.

RELATED: Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial candidates face off in only debate before primary

The new poll marks the first look at the race since Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley rejoined the field and since Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez dropped out following discoveries of major inaccuracies related to financial reporting by her campaign manager.

Hong's support grew by 12 percentage points since the previous poll. She continues to draw her strongest support from younger voters who describe themselves as very liberal.

Watch: Francesca Hong widens lead in Democratic primary, new Marquette Law School poll shows

Former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes follows Hong with 16% support, a slight decrease of 1 percentage point. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who was not a candidate at the time of the earlier poll, comes in at 7%. Former Department of Administration Secretary Joel Brennan and state Sen. Kelda Roys each hold 2% support. Roys saw a 1-point increase, while Brennan's support remains steady.

Thirty-four percent of primary voters remain undecided, down from 45% in the previous poll.

Hong and Barnes both perform better with different voter segments. Barnes, like Crowley, does better with older and moderate voters.

Crowley is viewed favorably by 22% of those surveyed and unfavorably by 10%, while 67% say they haven't heard enough about him. The majority of those surveyed said they were aware of his endorsement from Gov. Tony Evers, who remains popular within the Democratic Party, with 36% saying the endorsement makes them more likely to support Crowley.

When asked for their second choice in the primary, 20% pick Barnes, 13% choose Crowley, 12% prefer Roys, with Hong receiving 8% of second choices and Brennan 7%. The remaining 40% say they havent decided on a second choice.

The primary election is Aug. 11. The general election is Nov. 3.

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Early voting, also called in-person absentee voting, is underway in Wisconsin for the Aug. 11 primary election. It began July 28 and runs through Aug. 9.

RELATED: Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial candidates face off in only debate before primary

Each municipality has its own polling places. To find your polling place, visit MyVote by clicking here.

Your ballot and election location information are based on where you live. To see what will be on your ballot, visit MyVote by clicking here.

The partisan primary in Wisconsin is on Tuesday, Aug. 11. It allows voters to determine which candidates compete in the general election, which is on Nov. 3.

The biggest race we are following is the governors race. The candidates running in the Democratic primary are Mandela Barnes, Joel Brennan, David Crowley, Francesca Hong and Kelda Roys.

The winner will advance to the general election to take on Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany.

Early voting centers are available to all City of Milwaukee residents, opening the Tuesday two weeks prior to an election and closing the Sunday before Election Day.

You can find the full below.

The deadline to register at your municipal clerks office is Aug. 7 at 5 p.m. To find your municipal clerks contact information, click here. You can also register to vote at your polling place on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

To register to vote, you'll need to bring a proof-of-residence document that shows your current address. You can show a hard copy or electronic version on your phone. Proof-of-residence documents include:

For more information, visit MyVote.

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The Jackson community is rallying around a police lieutenant and his father, both of whom remain in critical condition after a shed explosion at their home.

WATCH: Jackson community rallies around police lieutenant, father after shed explosion

Mike and Karl Foeger sustained critical burns in the explosion on Saturday in Cedarburg. Mike is a lieutenant with the Jackson Police Department.

Residents turned out for a benefit at the Jackson Culver's to help raise funds to offset medical costs for the two men. An online fundraiser is also available for those who could not attend.

Tommy Kraus, a friend of the injured lieutenant, said the outpouring of support reflects how much Mike means to the community.

"This has been pretty hard with Mike," he said. "Mike is a huge spotlight in Jackson. So many people love Mike, from his brothers and sisters on the police force, to the chief and to us."

Kraus said seeing his friend in this condition has been heartbreaking. Twenty-six years ago, Mike responded to Kraus' home when his son passed away.

"Mike holds a very special spot in my heart," Kraus said. "And to see what he's going through now with Karl is devastating and it breaks my heart."

Jackson resident Krista Johnson said the community's response reflects their values.

"Supporting each other," Johnson said. "Friendliness, family, support and always coming together."

Brian Emmrich, another friend of the lieutenant and village trustee, said those close to Mike feel helpless.

"It's been a rough couple of days," Emmrich said. "We got in to see him and it kills me seeing the condition that he's in. He's a good friend and we can't do anything for him."

The Jackson Police Department has also felt the weight of the tragedy. Sergeant Justin Brinks said the department is accustomed to danger, but not the kind of crisis where they respond to help one of their own.

"We expect the hazards of the job," Brinks said. "But you just don't think about the crises that we respond to."

Mike was not on-the-job during the explosion, it occurred at his home in Cedarburg. The police chief said the cause is under investigation, but they believe it was an accident.

Detective Jennifer Gerke described the toll the situation has taken on the department.

"We're grieving, struggling and we help people. That's what we do. We help people," Gerke said. "Right now there is nothing we can do except for wait and pray. The love from the community has been great."

Both officers said the department plans to support Mike in any way possible. They believe Mike will want to return to work as soon as he is able.

"He doesn't seek the spotlight, the glory or attention on him," Brinks said. "He just wants to [do] the job, do it well and he does."

People can donate to a GoFundMe for Mike and Karl here.

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The Racine County Fair returns to Union Grove, bringing together agriculture, community, and a tradition that spans more than a century.

WATCH: Organizers, participants prepare for the return of the Racine County Fair

Abby Nelson, the 2026 Racine County Fairest of the Fair, said the event is a celebration of everything the county has to offer.

"We're celebrating Racine County. We're celebrating Racine County youth and Racine County agriculture all together," she said.

Nelson said the sense of community is what makes the fair stand out.

"I think the sense of community is what makes it very special," Nelson said.

Final preparations were made Tuesday at the fairgrounds ahead of the fair's official opening Wednesday, with livestock being brought in and readied for show.

Now 17, exhibitor Lorelei Nelson has been showing livestock at the fair since she was 5 years old. This year, she is showing Apricot, a Holstein cow.

Nelson said the experience is rewarding, even when it comes with challenges.

"She's kind of feisty at times," Nelson said. "You just have to learn to really cooperate and work as a team with her when that happens."

Nelson said while the fair is about agriculture, she's also learning life skills, including "stepping up to the plate" and "cooperation" as she works alongside her family to show animals.

While most livestock is shown by Racine County youth, the fair offers opportunities for participants of all ages.

As of Tuesday, Louise Bailey is a two-time Most Excellent Chocolate Chip Cookie winner.

"The winner that takes first place in the cookie competition in the chocolate chip recipe gets the banner and to have that for a year and their name put on it," she said, wearing this year's sash.

Bailey won the competition last year as well, meaning her name will soon appear twice.

Jennifer Hock, the Racine County Fair Office Coordinator, said the fair's multigenerational appeal keeps people coming back year after year.

"The amazing Racine County Fair has brought in families for many, many generations, so it's become a tradition," she said. "So many parents were growing up in 4-H and FFA, showing here at the fair, and now they're bringing their kids and their grandkids back to experience all that the fair has to offer."

For Fairest of the Fair Abby Nelson, it's a sentiment she relates to, growing up showing livestock and now participating in a role that holds personal significance.

"My mom also served as Racine County Fairest of the Fair in 1999," she said.

In addition to livestock shows and competitions, the fair features classic Wisconsin fair foods, rides, tractors, and live music.

Jeff Bush, President of the Racine County Agricultural Society, said this year also brings a new addition to the rodeo.

"New to this year is, in our rodeo, we are having mutton busting, which is little kids riding sheep," he explained.

And while preparations were still underway Tuesday, Bush said the fair's impact will extend well beyond the fairgrounds when it's over.

"The positive influence we have on the kids growing up through this program turns them into good adults that are very active in the community," he said.

The Racine County Fair runs through Sunday at the Racine County Fairgrounds, 19805 Durand Ave., Union Grove.

For more information, including schedules and tickets, head to racinecountyfair.com.

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It's been a fantastic summer day, and we'll keep it rolling tomorrow! Along with continued sunshine, it will be a little warmer tomorrow with high temperatures climbing into the 80s. It'll also feel a little more humid with dew points creeping back into the 60s.

WATCH: When the heat and humidity return

The start to the upcoming weekend looks wet. Rain is likely by Friday evening and likely continues at least into Saturday morning. There may be a few rumbles of thunder, but no severe weather is expected. Up to .50" of rain is possible.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly Sunny & Less Humid

High: 80

Wind: NE 5 mph

TONIGHT: Mostly Clear

Low: 64

Wind: E 5 mph

THURSDAY: Partly Cloudy; Warm & Humid

High: 86

Wind: S 5-10 mph

FRIDAY: Scattered Showers Likely; Cloudy

High: 80

SATURDAY: Early Showers; Mostly Cloudy

High: 75

SUNDAY: Mostly Sunny

High: 75

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Outdoor movie nights are back this summer, and Lake Country Family Fun has updated its guide to help families find screenings near them.

Erin Guenterberg with Lake Country Family Fun said families can use the guide to find options across the area, including a weekly event close to home.

"We just updated our outdoor movie guide, and you can come right here to the Corners of Brookfield every Tuesday night in August," Guenterberg said.

The event is more than just a movie. Guenterberg said families should plan to arrive early to take advantage of everything on offer.

"You want to bring some chairs and blankets, come down before they will have princess visits, balloon art, and face painting," Guenterberg said.

Movies at the Corners of Brookfield start at 6:30. Guenterberg said the location makes it easy to turn the outing into a full evening.

"Absolutely, grab dinner or a snack at one of the restaurants, stroll through a store, and then come down here for those fun activities," Guenterberg said.

The Corners of Brookfield is one of several options available this summer. Local parks and community venues are also hosting outdoor screenings throughout the season.

To find more outdoor movies happening this summer, click here for the Lake Country Family Fun outdoor movie guide.

And here are some tips for outdoor movie watching from LCFF:

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City leaders and residents met at 3rd St. Market Hall for a town hall to discuss neighborhood safety issues including traffic calming, reckless driving and Lime scooter regulations.

Mayor Cavalier Johnson addressed housing, economic growth and support for the elevated construction project for I-794. Deedee Walla, a downtown resident, said he was frustrated by the mayor's stance on the project.

WATCH: Downtown Milwaukee residents fill town hall on traffic safety, reckless driving and Lime scooter rules

"He talked during the entire meeting about his vision for like better transit, better other modes of transportation like the scooters, like biking, like walking, and building a freeway in the middle of downtown goes directly against all of those things, including his plan of housing, his year of housing for this year," Walla said.

Lime scooter restrictions were another major topic of discussion. District Four Alder Bob Bauman spoke about two different proposals. One would limit scooter speed to a maximum of 5 miles per hour. The second would raise fines for sidewalk riding from $10-$20 to $100-$200.

"I think that those are actually working against each other because if you are driving at five miles per hour in the middle of the street, I feel unsafe. I think the solution, the long-term solution, is to build more bike lanes," Walla said.

The proposals for Lime scooters are still in committee.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified Alder Bob Bauman as representing District One. Bauman represents District Four. The story has been corrected.

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Donations are stacking up on the former campus of UW Oshkosh at Fox Cities, where literally tons of water bottles have been collected and are on their way to the other side of Menasha, where people need them most.

Volunteer Fox Cities is leading the effort to coordinate volunteers and supplies as the recovery begins.

Carolyn Desrosiers, with Volunteer Fox Cities, said the organization had already seen more than 100 people volunteer in just the first half of Tuesday, with several hundred more signed up for days to come along with a healthy amount of donations.

"But then you realize, this is real. You see people you know that have been impacted, lost roofs, that have damage, it's just terrible," Desrosiers said.

Watch: Volunteer Fox Cities leads recovery effort in Menasha as donations and volunteers pour in

Despite the devastation, Desrosiers said the community response has given her hope.

"What gives me hope and inspiration is because of the work that we do I get to see all the people that want to help," Desrosiers said.

Victor Palacios, of Neenah, was among those who showed up to help, unloading more than a dozen cases of water to donate.

"It's devastating for sure, and even last night we were trying to see ways to help out. So far this is the only way we've found. I know they're not letting too many people in the city so, once we can, we're definitely going to be out there too," Palacios said.

Also on hand was a familiar face to those in southeast Wisconsin. Fire Wise BBQ, a food truck from West Allis, made the trip to Menasha Tuesday morning to hand out meals to those in need.

Alex Obradovich, with Fire Wise BBQ, said the decision to come was an easy one.

"I just think people need to help each other, especially when there's things like this that happen. I would hope somebody would do it for us down home if we had a similar situation. We had some flooding last year that was pretty bad in West Allis, so people tend to come together when it's needed, and that's what we're trying to do is help out," Obradovich said.

Desrosiers said the organization is still working on logistics for the rest of the week but will no doubt need continued help as the region recovers.

Those who want to volunteer are encouraged to follow Volunteer Fox Cities on social media for the most up-to-date information.

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A former Milwaukee Public Schools student teacher is facing a felony charge after prosecutors say he tried to coordinate a child sex crime.

Jon Watts, 33, was charged on July 23 with using a computer to facilitate a child sex crime.

A Milwaukee Public Schools spokesperson sent TMJ4 a statement about Watts.

"This individual is not an employee of the district and will not be in our schools for the upcoming school year. The individual was previously a student teacher and it is important to note that the incident did not involve any student. The safety of our schools remains our highest priority."

Watch: Former MPS student teacher charged with trying to coordinate child sex crime

MPS would not confirm which school Watts previously worked at.

A criminal complaint details a sting operation in which a Franklin Police Department officer pretended to be a 15-year-old boy and messaged Watts on an app called Sniffies and on Snapchat.

The complaint details graphic messages in which Watts allegedly planned to meet up for sex acts with someone he believed to be a young boy. Watts sent messages including:

"Honestly I'm terrified of being outed too."

And:

"I mean I could get in a lot of trouble because of our ages."

Prosecutors say Watts also sent a selfie photo.

According to the complaint, Watts was arrested when he arrived at the planned meeting location, where he found a Franklin undercover officer instead.

TMJ4 tried knocking on Watts' door. His roommate answered and said he did not know about the charge and did not know where Watts is. TMJ4 also tried to call Watts but did not get an answer.

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Five Democratic candidates vying to become Wisconsin's next governor faced off in their one-and-only debate Tuesday, exactly two weeks before Election Day and on the same day in-person absentee voting began across the state.

The debate came after a significant shake-up in the race when Sara Rodriguez dropped out, prompting Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley to re-enter the contest.

The Democratic field now includes Crowley, former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, businessman Joel Brennan, State Representative Francesca Hong and State Senator Kelda Roys.

Related: Ballot lawsuit adds new twist to Wisconsin's crowded governor primary:

The most recent Marquette polls showed that nearly half of all Democratic voters were still undecided earlier this month, meaning all 5 candidates still had the chance to win over lots of last-minute voters.

Hong, a Democratic socialist, has been the consistent frontrunner in many polls as she tries to make the move from state representative to governor. She pushed back on claims she would defund police after previous suggestions she would.

"The governor cannot defund police, and I'm not here to govern by slogan. I'm here to make sure that I am the governor that is most serious about public safety, and that means investing in the things that we know prevent crime," Hong said.

David Crowley picked up Governor Evers's endorsement after restarting his campaign. The county executive made his case to voters on the debate stage.

"I grew up in the 53206 zip code where I had to work extremely hard for everything that I have, and so I'm not here to protect the establishment. I'm here to deliver real results for Wisconsinites all over our state," Crowley said.

Mandela Barnes is attempting a political comeback. The former lieutenant governor argued the state's income tax structure needs to change.

"The way we give more money back to people, the way we actually return money to folks, is by taxing the wealthy, taxing the billionaires, taxing these corporations that have been getting over on us, making money hand over fist while communities continue to starve for resources," Barnes said.

Joel Brennan leaned on his executive roles in government and a nonprofit, suggesting his budget surplus priorities would focus on childcare.

"The first thing that I would spend the first $100 million, which I will do in January, will go into childcare and early childhood education. It is a system that is broken," Brennan said.

Kelda Roys finished third in her 2018 run for governor. The state senator called for fully funding public schools while phasing out the state's private school vouchers program.

"I believe that public dollars belong in public schools, and if you take even $1 of public money, you need to be subject to accountability. And yes, over time I am going to bring the private voucher scheme to an end," Roys said.

The winner of the Democratic primary will likely face Republican Representative Tom Tiffany, who has been endorsed by President Trump. Following the debate, Tiffany responded, saying in part: "While Democrats offer chaos, I'm offering common sense. Lower taxes, safer communities, stronger schools and a government that lets the people of Wisconsin keep more of their hard-earned money."

108,000 voters in Wisconsin have already cast their ballots through mail-in absentee voting. 30% of those numbers come from the state's two biggest Democratic counties, Dane and Milwaukee.

The debate was held on the campus of Marquette University by WISN 12 News.

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Milwaukee County Deputy Sheriff S. Mindel and his K-9 partner were injured on Monday morning on I-41 in Oak Creek after a driver slammed into their squad, claiming they felt fatigued at the end of a long road trip.

The squad had its emergency lights flashing, blocked lanes to redirect traffic, and protected those involved in a separate crash.

Mindel is currently recovering; however, his K-9, a 6-year-old Shepherd-Malinois, Ryker, is still fighting to recover, the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office said in a social media post on Tuesday evening.

MCSO reminded drivers that if they are too fatigued to drive or see emergency lights ahead, they should pull over and rest.

They are also asking for positive thoughts or prayers for Ryker at this time.

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Menasha football head coach Jeramie Korth spent the day surveying the damage left behind by Monday's storms at Calder Stadium.

"I didn't think any storm would ever, ever take down Calder Stadium to be honest with you," Korth said.

The most significant damage came to the bleachers, with half of the stadium seats destroyed.

"With what people do with AI, you know I am thinking maybe that is not really our stadium. I just said no way," Korth said.

The damage extends far beyond Calder Stadium. The homes in the Calder community are heavily damaged or destroyed.

"I just worry about the people. The Johnny Smolinskis and guys around town, and I can see how their houses are off," Korth said.

Johnny Smolinski, a former linebacker for Menasha who recently moved into his home, described the scene.

"It's shocking. I can't believe nobody got killed during this. This is unbelievable. Now we have a long road to recovery. That's for sure," Smolinski said.

Next door, Randy Boden's son Bryce was home during the storm.

"He looked out and saw everything whirling around, grabbed the dog, went to the basement, and he said it exploded then," Boden said.

Watch: Menasha football community rallies after Monday storms destroy Calder Stadium bleachers

Boden reflected on the support pouring in from the tight-knit community.

"I am glad everybody is helping," Boden said.

Coaches from the area have already offered their fields for the season. De Pere head coach Ben Strickland was at the stadium lending a hand.

"It is hard. Just the homes. Everything all over the place," Strickland said.

As the community looks ahead, Boden remained hopeful.

"It's alright. It will get all better. It has got to get better right," Boden said.

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The constant buzz of helicopters and roar of chainsaws now fill the air on Doty Island, where residents are beginning the long cleanup after an EF3 tornado tore through Menasha Monday afternoon.

For Michael Brunn, the sounds are a reminder of what was lost.

"I've been in this house 44 years," Brunn said. One of the reasons I moved here was the lots and lots and lots of trees.

Watch: 'It'll never be the same': Doty Island neighbors begin cleanup after EF3 tornado

Now, many of those trees are strewn across homes, vehicles, and yards on the northern part of the island in Menasha.

"It looks like a bomb went off," Brunn said. "I'm totally sad."

Just down the street, Susan Skrzypczak surveyed the remains of a home that has been in her family for generations.

"My grandfather built it in 1937," Skrzypczak said. "We've been keeping it in the family. I raised my kids here. My grandparents lived here. My father was raised here."

Now, one side of the home has been ripped away, revealing what was a living room.

"Devastation. It's gone," she said. "It'll never be the same. There won't be trees for many, many years. The community is devastated.

Neighbors spent Tuesday surveying the damage and beginning cleanup, making trips in and around homes, and lugging branches and debris to the curb.

The city said more than 11 outside communities have joined power restoration efforts. Still, officials expect it will take several more days to restore power because of what they called "unprecedented" damage.

Neighbors said the cleanup will likely take days, if not weeks or months.

My grandmother always said the island wouldnt be hit because were surrounded by water. And in all my years here, it was never hit until this one, Skrzypczak said.

The City of Menasha declared a local state of disaster Monday, saying the tornado caused widespread damage and hazardous conditions.

The Menasha Police Department has also issued a City-wide curfew from 10:00 PM 5:00 AM, effective July 27, until further notice.

City officials said a boil water order remains in effect for portions of Menasha and Fox Crossing because low water pressure may have allowed contamination into the water system. Residents should boil water for at least one minute before drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, or preparing infant formula until the order is lifted.

"We're just praying," Brunn said. "Pray for all the people here. A lot of good people."

A volunteer reception center and donation drop-off site is now open at the old UW-Oshkosh Fox Cities Campus on Midway Road in Menasha.

United Way Fox Cities has also started a Community Response Fund for tornado recovery alongside the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region and the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation.

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The Menasha Water Filtration plant was in the direct path of the EF-3 tornado that ripped through parts of the Fox Valley Monday. It sustained catastrophic damage, forcing the city to outsource its water supply.

Plant manager, Adam Smith, and seven other employees survived the storm without a scratch after taking cover in the facility's severe weather shelter as the tornado made a direct hit.

"We heard the tornado sirens go off, got notifications on all of our phones," Smith said. "Went down into our severe weather shelter and took cover from there."

From the shelter, Smith and his staff watched the destruction unfold in real time through the plant's security camera footage.

Watch: Water plant employees describe terrifying moments an EF-3 tornado hit Menasha

"We actually watched the tree across the street land on my truck," Smith explained.

When the plant lost power, conditions inside the shelter became alarming.

"All of our ears really started popping and plugging up because of the pressure differential," Smith said. "The most frightening thing was when the roof started collapsing and hearing all the beams come down. Being inside of our severe weather shelter just hoping nothing would fall on top of that and crush it," Smith added.

The plant typically draws water from Lake Winnebago, treats it, and distributes it to customers. That process is now entirely offline.

"Even our backup generator is damaged at this point. All the electric conduits are damaged, gas mains throughout, communications, the west side of the building is a complete teardown at this point," Smith said.

The city has outsourced its water supply to Neenah, which is now distributing water to Menasha customers. Smith said there should be no disruption for those residents.

Parts of the Fox Valley are under a boil water advisory. Smith said residents should check their water bill to confirm who their distributor is before taking precautions.

There is no timeline for when the plant will be back in operation. It remains unclear whether the building can be restored or will need to be torn down and rebuilt from scratch.

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Port Washington neighbors are raising questions about water use and environmental oversight surrounding the $15 billion "Lighthouse" AI data center campus being developed by Vantage in what was once rural farmland.

READ ALSO | TMJ4 gets rare look inside a Vantage data center amid debate over $15 billion Wisconsin project

Residents say they want more transparency about how energy and water usage will be measured and what legal protections will be in place as the hyper-scale facility takes shape.

"I think there's a lot of confusion," said Port Washington neighbor Anna Seidl. "I'm certainly confused. I don't know what's happening anymore."

Seidl said she wants the developers to make information publicly available.

"Show me on paper. Have a website. Let's see it. Everything's been, to me, kind of hush-hush," Seidl said.

The Wisconsin chapter of the Sierra Club is suing the Department of Natural Resources over the absence of an environmental impact statement for the project. Elizabeth Ward, director of the Wisconsin chapter of the Sierra Club, said the lawsuit is about holding developers accountable.

"Some of our members live, unfortunately, right across the street," Ward said.

Ward questioned what the DNR's decision means for future enforcement.

"If the DNR reversed course on simply doing a review on the environmental impacts, which is what happened here, what does that mean about the level of enforcement they plan to ensure going forward?" Ward said.

Ward said the path to transparency remains unclear.

"So I'm not sure I can speak exactly to what it looks like. Whether it's a website that Vantage owns and runs, whether it's something the city puts up, or the water utility," Ward said.

When asked what long-term transparency looks like beyond the environmental impact statement itself, Ward said the concerns extend further than just reporting data.

"I think the concerns go beyond reporting what the impacts are, but also ensuring they minimize the impacts as much as possible," Ward said.

The Port Washington water utility superintendent said the city is installing two new water meters this week that will track exactly how much water the data center facility uses, and the facility will be billed accordingly.

Seidl said she wants to see those numbers.

"I would love to see the bills. My water bill has gone up significantly, but it's not because of that right now, but is it gonna go up any more?" Seidl said.

The city water utility declined a request to view the meters and how they work, citing security concerns. The utility also said it cannot release exact usage numbers without the customer's consent.

Vantage Data Centers says its sprawling multi-building facility in Port Washington will use 22,000 gallons of water daily for kitchens and bathrooms, plus a one-time use of about 12 million gallons equivalent to 18 Olympic-sized swimming pools for a key component in its data centers.

Signage inside a Vantage facility in Virginia says the company's goal is to build "sustainable data centers that minimize environmental impacts." But questions remain about whether those promises will be kept.

Watch: Vantage North America says it has been open about the project from the start

Vantage North America President Dana Adams said the company has been open about the project from the start.

"We've been very transparent with the project from the beginning. We do have information that's publicly available on our, on our website about the details of the project," Adams said.

The website details for its Lighthouse Port Washington project include information about power, cooling, and sustainability. Vantage uses a closed-loop water cooling system to reduce water consumption and containment areas to reduce energy needs in data halls with computer servers running 24/7.

Environmental groups are suing the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, claiming environmental impact statements for the Port Washington site were not completed.

Adams said the company went through a rigorous review with state regulators.

"I think what we can say very clearly is that we worked very closely with DNR to go through a very thorough vetting process on this project, and they were very diligent in that process in making sure that they got all of the information from us," Adams said.

Vantage says it will comply with state regulations on air and noise emissions and will conduct its own monitoring. When asked whether air quality monitoring results could be made public, Adams said it "depends."

"It depends on the circumstances. I think we want to be transparent and we understand that we need to be accountable for complying with what the regulations are and for complying with the information we've given so that we can obtain permits and move ahead with the project," Adams said.

Vantage is also pointing to a $3 million commitment to fund a watershed restoration project in Port Washington to make the Valley Creek Corridor more sustainable as part of its environmental pledge.

This is part of an ongoing series on AI data centers. Wednesday's report looks at employment numbers, and Thursday's report examines energy needs and costs.

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The Milwaukee School of Languages girls flag football team won the Southeastern Summer League Championship, capping off a dominant two-season run that has the program dreaming of a Wisconsin state title.

The Hawks defeated DSHA 28-6 in the championship game after shutting out Franklin 30-0 to punch their ticket to the title game. The program has now compiled a 44-win record over the past two seasons.

Head coach Priyan Cabraal said the program came together a little over a year ago, fueled by the growing girls flag football movement.

"We have a lot of talent in the system and everything, all the parts put together I have four girls that played middle school football with me for so I haven't been coaching in seven years, five years, four years so they [are] really successful and then when we heard about the girls flag football movement growing we got really excited and put this together a little over a year ago," Cabraal said.

Earlier this season, the Hawks won a regional tournament in Green Bay in May, which earned the program sponsorship from the Green Bay Packers.

Watch: Milwaukee School of Languages Hawks win Southeastern Summer League Championship in dominant season

Quarterback Savanna Davis said the team's success is a product of the talent around her.

"It's amazing. We work very hard to be where we are, and it makes my job easy working with all these amazing wide receivers and linemen; they can all do something on the field. It makes my job really easy," Davis said.

Wide receiver Audrey Vogt said being part of the sport's growth makes the run even more meaningful.

"I mean, it's so cool how fast this sport is going, and to be part of the group that is paving the way is really cool. Our chemistry feels like we've been playing forever," Vogt said.

The team's ultimate goal is competing for an official Wisconsin State Championship, which would require the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association to sanction girls flag football.

Cabraal said that sanctioning would mean everything to him and his players.

"It's a dream. My dream is to win the state championship in 2027. That's what I'm working towards, and I have a lot of girls that play multiple sports and football; they love it, and I love it. It would mean the world to me to get this sanctioned," Cabraal said.

A local Oak Creek bar and grill is collecting bottled water donations to help families impacted by the devastating tornadoes that tore through Menasha, Appleton, and other Fox Valley communities.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Gov. Tony Evers declares state of emergency after storms cause widespread damage in eastern Wisconsin

South Bound Again Bar & Grill launched a week-long water drive after severe storms destroyed homes, knocked out power and left some residents without water service.

The business is matching every case of water donated by the community as part of the effort.

Manager Joy Paul said the goal is simple: get clean drinking water to people who need it most.

Were collecting water to help those in need, Paul said.

Paul said the donations are intended for anyone impacted by the storms, not one specific community, and organizers are working with the Red Cross disaster team to determine where the need is greatest.

Its community helping community, Paul said. This wont be the first time, and this definitely wont be the last time. Its all about bringing people together and for a good cause.

Paul described the destruction caused by the tornadoes as devastating and said helping during difficult times is part of the culture at South Bound Again.

The goal is so they have water, she said. They dont have water right now, so getting them as much water as we can get them helps them.

Watch: Oak Creek bar launches water drive for Fox Valley tornado victims

The effort has already drawn support from community members and local businesses.

One of the first people to donate was Dustin Emond, who said he felt compelled to help after seeing videos and livestreams showing the tornado damage.

I couldnt experience losing everything at just a blink of a second, Emond said. Its the least I could do, at least to get some people some water.

Emond said watching the tornado rapidly grow and tear through neighborhoods was difficult to process.

It was crazy just to see how fast the tornado formed and just how massive it got, very fast, he said.

He encouraged others to donate if they are able.

Peoples houses are completely gone and destroyed, Emond said. Donating just some water to get donated up there is just a lot to do. Itll help out tremendously.

The donation drive has also received logistical support from Watchpoint Logistics, according to the owner, who offered pallets, transportation and storage assistance after seeing the effort online. Organizers say pallets will be picked up nightly, stored and later delivered to affected communities with donated trucks, fuel and labor.

South Bound Again is accepting bottled water donations during regular business hours throughout the drive. They plan to deliver the water next Tuesday but will keep making trips if donations keep coming in. Organizers say they hope the community response continues to grow as recovery efforts continue in northeast Wisconsin.

South Bound Again is located at 9504 S Chicago Rd. in Oak Creek.

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