On Nov. 4, Milwaukee County voters will have the opportunity to advise their elected officials on a proposal to shift the tax burden for parks, recreational and cultural functions,emergency services and transit from the property tax rolls and onto the sales tax with a penny increase in the sales tax. Proponents...

Mark Weisbrot, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, D.C., is considered to be one of the leading experts on the Venezuelan economy and the reforms of President Hugo Chavez. Weisbrot was in Milwaukee last week to discuss American media’s coverage of progressive changes in Latin America, coverage that Weisbrot claims is misleading.

Republican Congressman Paul Ryan has put together a “Roadmap for America’s Future” that addresses the pressing issues facing the United States. The Journal Sentinel applauded it and reported that Republican insiders say it “represents the kind of fresh thinking the party needs.”

Talk to someone who has recently moved to Milwaukee from a larger place like New York, Boston or San Francisco, and ask what they think of our town. Invariably you'll hear, "I didn't expect to be saying this.." or "I was totally surprised..." followed by, "This is a great city!" The Shepherd Express City Guide is an annual celebration of some of the factors that make Milwaukee special. With descriptions of hundreds of restaurants and festivals, the City Guide is a close look at the places that add flavor and color to Milwaukee.

The Milwaukee International Film Festival (MIFF) finished its fifth season last year with another round of record-breaking ticket sales. Rarely have I ever seen consensus on any issue, but there seems to be a virtually unanimous opinion that the Milwaukee International Film Festival has been a great addition to the city and is an institution that’s here to stay. We certainly hope it’s here to stay. But MIFF is at a crossroads. There are going to be changes that we all hope will help the festival grow and not spin out of control and crash and burn. Here, I want to lay out the history of the festival and then explain the crossroads it is facing.

Mayor Tom Barrett is making the case that voters should re-elect him on April 1 because he has added 10,000 jobs to the city while helping to reduce crime and the tax burden on homeowners.

Wink wink, nod nod. There was a convenient understanding between a few rogue cops in the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) and state Republicans who continue to push unnecessary legislation. The agreement worked something like this:

The Shepherd Express is proud to announce the launch of our new, very reader oriented website, ExpressMilwaukee.com. As you might know, the Shepherd is in its 26th year in business serving Milwaukee. We are committed to being an independent and alternative voice for news, events, and culture, as well as for all the views of our readers.