AGP Executive Report

AI Surveillance Probe: Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley is widening his investigation into AI-assisted surveillance, sending letters to Axon, Motorola Solutions, and Verkada after starting with Flock Safety—demanding details on data collection and retention. Local Arts & Culture: Ripon College’s Caestecker Gallery opens “Mixed Signals (New Paintings +)” with Derrick Buisch’s abstract, everyday-symbol-inspired work, plus an artist talk and reception. Live Music (Ripon): Rebel Grace closes the Horicon Bank Ripon Summer Concert Series Saturday, Sept. 12 on the Village Green (free, 7–10 p.m.). Milwaukee Farewell Party: Café Corazón’s Bay View location will close Oct. 2, with a farewell party and taco bar, DJ, and auction on Oct. 3. Public Art/Travel: A new rotating wildlife gallery at the Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport spotlights Northern Wisconsin artist Caleb Metrich. Community Mobility: Riverwest’s Bublr Bash block party raises funds for Bublr Bikes’ nonprofit bike-sharing mission. Sports & Community: Lodi’s Aubrey Schoenemann wins the Poynette Invitational, continuing an undefeated early season.

Local Arts Calendar: The 14 South Artists Regional Art Tour is back for 2026, with 33 artists at 15 studio stops across Blanchardville, Brooklyn, Fitchburg, Madison, Oregon and Stoughton. Community Sports Culture: A Watertown baseball feature spotlights how mentorship and hometown pride keep the town’s program thriving across generations. Legal & Safety: Two men pleaded not guilty in Dane County court after an attempted sexual assault of a transgender woman at Goodspeed Family Pier. Milwaukee Entertainment/Arts: The Milwaukee International Short Film Festival has a spotlight moment this week, with listings pointing viewers to what to watch next. Music & Film: The Hamptons International Film Festival announced its Closing Night pick, “Wicker,” starring Olivia Colman and Peter Dinklage. Wisconsin Sports Streaming: Brewers vs. Reds on Sept. 11 streams on Apple TV+ at 7:45 p.m. ET from American Family Field. Sports Rivalry: Perham and East Grand Forks renew a heated football rivalry Friday at Ted Meinhover Field.

Milwaukee Black Media: 101.7 The Truth is adding Vivian King to its lineup, launching “Viv’s View” weekdays 2–4 p.m. starting mid-October, with King spotlighting Milwaukee news and culture alongside guests. Arts & Community: Make Art MKE returns Sunday, Sept. 13 (10 a.m.–4 p.m.) at Mount Mary University, bringing 100+ makers and artists for a long-running Milwaukee tradition. Performing Arts: Opera Philadelphia’s opening-night Mozart “Mitridate” got a last-minute lead-soprano swap, with Brenda Rae stepping in for Lauren Snouffer. Local Sports: Edgewood University will add a women’s flag football team starting spring 2028, joining the growing NCAA Emerging Sports for Women push. Wisconsin Entertainment Calendar: Northeast and West Central Wisconsin weekend picks include family-friendly events like Monarch Butterfly Tagging and the Twilight Tour. Music Spotlight: Ganser drops “Futuretripping,” with Milwaukee dates lined up around the release. Business/Media: Artisan Partners reports preliminary August AUM of $183.5B.

Film & TV Politics: A new push for Hollywood tax credits is back in the spotlight after Donald Trump publicly backed film production subsidies, reviving the long-running debate over whether incentives pull projects to the U.S. Community Wellness: Johnson Creek’s “Wellness in the Creek” returns Sept. 19 with a new Kids Fishing Day at Fireman’s Pond, plus DNR activities, first-responder vehicles, and free family fun. Wisconsin Sports (Women’s Hockey): Wisconsin women’s hockey is entering a “new chapter” as it opens the season with a younger roster after first-round PWHL Draft picks. Local Arts & Public Art: Verona installed “Tai Chi Animal Frolics,” a reclaimed-ash wood sculpture in Century School Park celebrating traditional Tai Chi-inspired animal forms. Milwaukee Entertainment: Bucks Beats auditions at Fiserv Forum are underway as the team builds its next drumline lineup for the season. Music Calendar: Ripon’s Horicon Bank Ripon Summer Concert Series wraps Sept. 12 with free country cover band Rebel Grace. Sports (MLB): The Brewers keep rolling, sweeping the Cubs with late heroics and big bats.

Driftless Power Line Pushback: Wisconsin Driftless-area lawmakers are asking developers of the $1.2B, high-voltage BECI transmission line to delay their Public Service Commission filing until at least May 2027, saying residents were blindsided and overwhelmed by the fast timeline. Internet Safety for Families: DeForest Area School District will host a Sept. 30 public presentation on sextortion and “digital red flags,” featuring law enforcement and a Wisconsin mother whose son died after being targeted. Arts in Sheboygan: Wayside Days returns Sept. 18-19 at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center and Art Preserve, culminating in a community procession moving 79 rocks for “Rock Fade (≈ 45 Billion Years)” with music, talks, and hands-on activities. Milwaukee Theater: Milwaukee Rep kicks off its season with “Footloose,” running Sept. 22 through Nov. 1. Local Music Spotlight: Grammy-winning Angélique Kidjo headlines Sept. 17 at UW–Memorial Union’s Shannon Hall as part of the Wisconsin Union Theater season. Community Wellness: Johnson Creek’s “Wellness in the Creek” adds a Kids Fishing Day on Sept. 19 with free fishing for kids 15 and under. Sports & Entertainment Note: Milwaukee’s Badger Bash tailgate returns for UW home games at Union South, starting 3:45 p.m. Saturday.

Lake Superior Algae Alarm: Scientists say cyanobacteria blooms are becoming more common in cold Lake Superior, with experts meeting at UW-Superior to map next steps against harmful algae. Milwaukee Sports Spotlight: Jackson Chourio’s ninth-inning homer and Luis Lara’s late heroics helped the Brewers rally past the Cubs 4-3, extending Milwaukee’s NL Central lead. Wisconsin Arts & Community: The Milwaukee Rep’s Artistic Director Mark Clements lays out a mission-driven season kickoff with “Footloose,” aiming to entertain, provoke, and inspire. Local Culture & Fun: A viral Beloit Dollar Tree proposal has Wisconsin internet buzzing, proving romance can happen in the most unexpected aisle. Accessibility Travel Data: A new national study finds 17% of U.S. travel parties include someone needing accessibility services—good news for travelers and a wake-up call for the industry. Sports Business Watch: LeBron James is partnering with Polymarket, raising fresh ethical questions about athletes promoting prediction markets.

Wisconsin Arts & Culture: Next Act Theatre is kicking off its season with “Trayf,” a Wisconsin premiere about Orthodox Jewish teens in 1991 New York, running Sept. 16–Oct. 4 in Milwaukee. Music & Museums: The Haggerty Museum of Art hosts a free fall opening reception Sept. 10 (6–7 p.m.) featuring three new exhibitions exploring identity and reclamation across Africa’s diasporas. Theater & Community: Skylight Music Theatre previews its new season, including “Gypsy” and “Big,” as it leans into both legacy and fresh audiences. Local Entertainment Calendar: Silver City Fest returns for its 15th year Sept. 12, moving one block north due to construction, with 100+ vendors and community partners. Filmgoing: Marcus Theatres says it hit record revenue for the summer movie season. Public Life & Media: The WBA Foundation cancels its Oct. 9 televised Wisconsin gubernatorial debate; WISN-TV will air the Tiffany vs. Crowley debate Oct. 21. Food & Fun: Johnsonville’s “Dinner 2026” campaign leans into political overload making meal planning harder, while Johnson Creek’s “Wellness in the Creek” brings health and safety activities Sept. 20.

Milwaukee Arts & Culture: Bronzeville Center for the Arts launches “From The Ground Up,” a new national speaker series with Milwaukee Art Museum and Chipstone Foundation partners, kicking off Sept. 16 with Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III as the Black Arts and Culture Museum project moves forward. Local Food & Dining: The former Cheel restaurant building in Thiensville has been sold to the owners of Milwaukee’s Saffron and Aya, setting up a new restaurant concept after the site’s 2020 fire and rebuild. Public Safety & Tech: Flock Safety is facing contract pullbacks as Wisconsin agencies question license-plate camera data use and out-of-state access concerns. Community Outdoors: Urban Ecology Center and Prairie Future Seed Company host a free Washington Park native plant sale Sept. 12 to support local habitat work. Sports Spotlight: Thomas Pannone throws a rare nine-inning perfect game in Triple-A, while Wisconsin’s season opener vs. Notre Dame gets a full breakdown on the Badger Red Zone Podcast. City Life: Yellowjacket swarms are peaking across Milwaukee, with pest calls spiking as residents report “millions” outdoors.

Arts & Culture: Antigo is turning downtown light poles into a rotating public art gallery, with local artists hand-painting one-of-a-kind banners—including a memorial for longtime publisher Fred Berner. Music & Nightlife: ARC Music Festival brought an EDM-heavy mix of international DJs and local up-and-comers to Milwaukee’s Union Park, with Virago (Sarah Tigges) drawing a big early crowd. Performing Arts: AEW is coming to Green Bay for the first time, with Collision set for Nov. 21 at the Resch Center. Community & Sports: Labor Day at American Family Field delivered big Brewers–Cubs energy, plus a feel-good fan moment as one couple announced an April baby on live TV. Local Governance: Wisconsin Rapids will hold a public hearing Sept. 16 on a conditional use permit for a data center at the former Rapids mill site. Arts Education: Kris Tjornehoj of St. Croix Sounds has joined the Wisconsin Arts Board, bringing decades of music teaching and performance experience.

Shamrock Series Spotlight: No. 4 Notre Dame pulled away in the second half to beat Wisconsin 41-13 at Lambeau Field, turning a 13-10 halftime game into a 28-3 run after the break. Injury Watch: Notre Dame ruled out linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa before kickoff, then lost safety Brauntae Johnson and tackle Jason Onye late in the first half. Local Arts & Education: UW-Whitewater music students are adapting to Center of the Arts renovations, using temporary practice rooms in the University Center. Campus Safety: UW-Whitewater issued a “threat to life safety” alert on the first day, later clarifying police found no weapon and the “umbrella” incident ended without harm. Film Pick: Webster University’s Film Series will host “Winter Hymns” (Sept. 10) with director Nathan Deming in attendance for a Q&A. Sports Biz/Pop Culture: Wrigley Field’s first-ever volleyball match drew huge crowds but was suspended due to a slippery, overly moist court. Baseball Note: Brewers open a critical NL Central series vs. Cubs with Robert Gasser set to start.

Lambeau Lights Up: Wisconsin and No. 4 Notre Dame kick off the 2026 season Sunday night at Lambeau Field, with the Irish favored by 20.5 points and the game airing on NBC and streaming on Peacock (7:30 p.m. ET). Local Sports Buzz: The Brewers wrap a road trip in Cincinnati, but Kyle Harrison’s rough outing and a 12-8 loss keep Milwaukee from finishing strong. Arts & Culture: UW-Stevens Point Theatre and Dance unveils its 2026-27 season lineup, “Defiant Hearts,” mixing drama and dance themes of resistance and resilience. Music Watch: Mouse on Mars’ Jan St. Werner taps Justin Vernon and Sufjan Stevens for a new solo album, Squares Will Fall, arriving Nov. 13. Pop Culture Throwback: A look back at Laverne & Shirley and its cast, 50 years after the premiere. Community Calendar: Southern Wisconsin family and kids events run Sept. 6-12, with library programming and hands-on activities leading the way.

Green Bay Game-Day Buzz: Notre Dame fans poured into Titletown and downtown as Wisconsin’s Lambeau opener against the Fighting Irish turned the city into a sea of red and green, with Badger Bash North festivities and road closures starting early. Brewers on the Road: Milwaukee’s bats couldn’t finish the job in Cincinnati; after a long rain delay, the Reds edged the Brewers 5-3, with Matt McLain’s go-ahead homer and a late rally falling short. LSU Spotlight (National College Football): Lane Kiffin’s debut at LSU lived up to the hype—lightning delay and all—as the Tigers crushed Clemson 51-10, a reminder of how fast college football storylines can swing. Local Music Moment: Kane Brown drew thousands of UW-Madison students to a free concert on Library Mall, part of Amazon Music’s “Off to College” push with performances and livestream options. Milwaukee Nightlife Policy: City leaders are weighing a reversal of the downtown 10 p.m. food truck curfew, after legal challenges and pushback from vendors. Sports TV Guide: Sunday’s Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame matchup headlines the schedule, with NBC carrying the game.

Brewers Buzz: Milwaukee made a sudden lineup move with Christian Yelich scratched for Saturday’s game vs. the Reds, while rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt keeps heating up—over his last eight games he’s been a run-producing machine. Badgers vs. Notre Dame: Wisconsin opens its 2026 season at Lambeau Field on Sunday night, and the matchup is already driving big national attention, from odds talk to national picks. Local Arts Spotlight: The BoDeans are bringing their 40th-anniversary “Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams” celebration to Milwaukee’s Grand Theatre on Sept. 20, with a long set and a video retrospective. Community Culture: UW-Stout is hosting 9/11: Lessons After 25 Years events in Menomonie, including a Philosophers’ Cafe discussion and a panel at the Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts. History on Stage: Castlerock Museum in Alma will run a Civil War artillery program with reenactors and non-firing cannon drills on Sept. 12. Privacy Fight: Wisconsin’s U.S. senators are raising bipartisan concerns about Flock cameras, pushing for stronger safeguards on how data is accessed and used.

Milwaukee Arts & Community: The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra is set to return to Ripon College for its 52nd free concert on Sept. 20, led by associate conductor Ryan Tani and featuring works by Hensel, Schubert, Still and Beethoven. Local Music & Craft Beer: UW–Whitewater and Duesterbeck’s Brewing Company are teaming up for Warhawks Light Ale at Perkins Stadium, with a UW senior designing the can from scratch. Public Safety & Privacy: More Wisconsin communities are pausing or ending Flock camera use over concerns about data access and trust, with Racine, Fond du Lac and Winnebago counties among the latest. Campus Safety: UW–Madison Police are investigating three recent sexual assault reports, prompting a campus crime warning and urging anyone with info to contact UWPD. Sports Spotlight (Wisconsin): Wisconsin and Notre Dame meet at Lambeau Field Sunday in a high-stakes opener for the Badgers under Luke Fickell. Food & Nightlife: Milwaukee leaders are moving to repeal the blocked 10 p.m. Water Street food truck curfew, pointing to a judge’s halt and police staffing concerns.

Medicaid Fight: Twenty-one states (including Wisconsin) and D.C. are suing the Trump administration over a rule that would block federal Medicaid dollars for youth gender-affirming care, with the change set to take effect Oct. 13. Wisconsin Politics: Attorney General Josh Kaul and Fond du Lac DA Eric Toney are trading claims over violent-crime trends, as statewide violence falls but Fond du Lac rises. Milwaukee Housing: Ascension Wisconsin is exploring converting the former St. Mary’s Hospital on Milwaukee’s east side into affordable apartments, pending zoning and historic review. Local Music: Sunny Lou’s “DJ Takeover” spotlights Milwaukee’s underground hip-hop scene and the city’s signature clapping sound. Sports TV (Wisconsin fans): College football kicks off with Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame at Lambeau Field (NBC/Peacock, 6:30 p.m.). Food & Drink: Milwaukee’s “Best Of Food and Drink” winners include standout local picks like Thai-namite and Blakesville goat cheese. Community Safety: Lincoln County agencies are handing out free gun locks and safety info through September.

Milwaukee Music Scene: The Milwaukee Central Library turned into a free, high-energy hub for local talent during The Library Show, with underground artists packing the rotunda and even drawing attention amid worries after The Garage’s closure. Community Arts & Family Fun: Rondele Ranch in Harshaw is trying something new with a family-friendly laser light show this weekend, pairing multi-colored lasers with live music. Local Art News: A Milwaukee landlord helped return a Picasso Torero print stolen in 2018—identified after a resident recognized it and turned it in to police. Weather & Safety: Severe thunderstorms and flash-flood risk hit southern Wisconsin, with thousands of utility customers losing power. Sports (UW): Wisconsin volleyball kept rolling, sweeping Auburn in the Big Ten-SEC Challenge finale. Politics/Tech Backdrop: Flock license-plate cameras remain a flashpoint in Wisconsin’s governor race, with candidates debating limits and funding.