tamia fowlkes

In my latest for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a scam offering a free piano is targeting Wisconsin churches. www.jsonline.com/story/news/i...

In yesterday's issue of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, I wrote about crime victim advocates in Wisconsin fighting to save a legal lifeline for individuals with disabilities. After drastic federal funding cuts, critical advocacy roles are starting to disappear. bit.ly/3YeZUZ1

In my latest for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, I assessed the financial records of 125 organizations across the state of Wisconsin that are recipients of Victims of Crime Act funding. After a nearly 70% funding cut, many say they are unsure how programs will survive. bit.ly/4p9wF52

In my latest for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a Wisconsin man went on Family Medical leave to get cancer treatment. When he couldn't return to work, he was fired. Attorneys say the experience is unfortunate but common for people with disabilities. Read more:
www.jsonline.com/story/news/i...

An image that reads "Spin, Lies & Disappearing Data" and lists the speakers for a panel at the UW Journalism Ethics conference, "Journalism Ethics in a Fracturing World. Three photos of participating journalists are beneath the panel title. Speakers include David Fahrenthold, Tamia Fowlkes and Phoebe Petrovic. The date of the event is September 26, 2025.

I am looking forward to moderating the "Spin, Lies and Disappearing Data" panel at tomorrow's @uwethics.bsky.social conference. @phoebepetrovic.bsky.social, @fahrenthold.bsky.social, and I will discuss DOGE efforts to remove public data and how journalists can combat the spread of misinformation.

In my latest for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the City of Milwaukee spent $300K making accessible homes. Most went to buyers without disabilities. Advocates say it's a frustrating outcome given the national shortage of affordable housing for people with disabilities. bit.ly/4gu34jS

A group of troubled Milwaukee-area nursing homes will soon have new operators after financial strains and hundreds of resident complaints sent the facilities into receivership. Read the latest from my colleague @natalieeilbert.bsky.social and I with the link below. www.jsonline.com/story/news/h...

Four Wisconsin nursing homes put into receivership, have racked up 384 violations The state will appoint a receiver to take over four nursing homes in Wisconsin operated by Bedrock Healthcare due to financial strains.

Four Wisconsin nursing homes with a litany of health care quality concerns have been put in court-ordered receivership as of July 31, the result of dire financial strains. Here's what me and @tamiafowlkes.bsky.social learned in our investigation.

Headshots for David Fahrenthold, Tamia Fowlkes, Phoebe Petrovic

Come hear @fahrenthold.bsky.social and @phoebepetrovic.bsky.social discuss reporting in an era of spin, lies and disappearing data (w/ moderator @tamiafowlkes.bsky.social) at our 9/26 conference.

Registration: ethics.journalism.wisc.edu/2025-journal...

Head shots of Sewell Chan, Christa Westerberg and Timothy Karr, along with the text "The New Age of Censorship"

Join us 9/26 for our conference "Journalism Ethics in a Fracturing Word." Expert panelists, such as @sewell.bsky.social, @timkarr.bsky.social and @tamiafowlkes.bsky.social, taking on topics like "The New Age of Censorship." In person and online.

More info: ethics.journalism.wisc.edu/2025-journal...

Full conference program and registration: ethics.journalism.wisc.edu/2025-journal...

Looking forward to moderating the "Spin, Lies and Disappearing Data" panel at this year's @uwethics.bsky.social conference. I will be speaking with @phoebepetrovic.bsky.social and David Farenthold about DOGE efforts to remove public data and how journalists can combat the spread of misinformation.

Social Security paid $80,000 for her care. Yet this disabled Milwaukee woman slept on the street. Representative payees collect Social Security for disabled people and use it to help them secure housing. The arrangement is vulnerable to misuse.

In my latest for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a family's pleas for assistance go unanswered by a caregiver they accuse of misusing social security funds.
www.jsonline.com/story/news/i...

#medicare #scams #journalism #news #publicinvestigator | Tamia Fowlkes In my latest for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin residents told Public Investigator that a scam caller posing as a government agency official attempted to steal their personal information. Her...

Important information about avoiding #Medicare and #Medicaid scams from @nationalpress.bsky.social 2025 Widening the Pipeline fellowship @tamiafowlkes.bsky.social of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

www.linkedin.com/posts/tamiaf...

Wisconsin kidney donor wins paid leave benefits from the U.S. Postal Service With the help of reporters, a USPS clerk in Marshfield finally received her paid leave benefits a year after donating her kidney.

In my latest for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a Wisconsin kidney donor wins paid leave benefits from the U.S. Postal Service after Public Investigator wrote about her challenges.
www.jsonline.com/story/news/i...

Wisconsin counts on help from AmeriCorps. With new DOGE cuts, volunteers are no longer coming. The AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps appears to have been discontinued under cuts to the federal government led by Elon Musk.

Latest for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel with
@maryspicuzza.bsky.social and Madeline Heim, Wisconsin counts on help from AmeriCorps. With new DOGE cuts, volunteers are no longer coming.
www.jsonline.com/story/news/p...

After years of payments, she learned reburying her father will cost thousands more. Should she get a refund? After paying $7,500 to reserve burial space at Graceland Cemetery, Jazmin Waters's family found out about more fees that they say weren't disclosed.

After paying $7,500 to reserve burial space at Graceland Cemetery, Jazmin Waters's family found out about thousands of dollars in extra fees that they say weren't disclosed.

Read my latest for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel with the link below.
www.jsonline.com/story/news/i...

Terminally ill Wisconsin man wins appeal for Social Security benefits shortly before death Michael Kraft, a Wisconsin man with pancreatic cancer, was approved for Social Security shortly after Public Investigator wrote about his case.

In March, I wrote about a Wisconsin man in a battle with the Social Security Administration to access his disability benefits before he died. His family said calls to senators and congressmen were unsuccessful. But, on Monday, April 7, he won his appeal.
www.jsonline.com/story/news/i...

Our Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Public Investigator team is working hard to address your questions about problems occurring in Milwaukee and across the state of Wisconsin.

Here’s some of our latest reporting that you should check out.

www.jsonline.com/watchdog/pub...

#localnews #journalism

Wisconsin 2025 spring election live updates: Voters go to polls in Supreme Court, DPI superintendent, Milwaukee area races It's Election Day and we'll have live updates on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and other state and local races.

Wisconsin voters head to the polls Tuesday in an election that will determine the state Supreme Court's partisan control, who'll lead the state's K-12 public schools and whether the voter ID law will become part of the state constitution.

www.jsonline.com/live-story/n...

What is SSA compassionate allowance and how can you get it? The Compassionate Allowances program grants individuals with rare or terminal disabilities to gain expedited access to their social security benefits.

In March 2025, Public Investigator reported on a Wisconsin man who paid into Social Security for years but after receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis was unable to get disability benefits.

Here's what you should know about the SSA Compassionate Allowances program.

www.jsonline.com/story/news/i...

Wisconsin family battles Social Security Administration to secure son's funds before he dies from cancer For months, Carole Kane has tried to find a way to expedite her son's social security payment before he dies of cancer. A complex rule got in the way.

For months, Carole Kane has tried to find a way to expedite her son's social security payment before he dies of cancer. A complex rule got in the way.
www.jsonline.com/story/news/i...

Behind the headlines: What to expect when you're interviewed by a journalist At the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, we produce dozens of stories every day. Here's a behind-the-scenes peek of our interview process.

Have you ever wondered what to expect when you're interviewed by a journalist?

We want to demystify the reporting process for our readers. If you are contacted or questioned by a reporter for a story, here are some things you can anticipate.

bit.ly/4hpqkOH

You ask, we answer: Is this Menards in West Milwaukee overcharging on sales tax? Peggy Schaff asked Public Investigator why she was seemingly double-taxed on a purchase at Menards in West Milwaukee. Here's the explanation.

In my latest for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a reader asked if Menards in West Milwaukee overcharging on sales tax. The new City of Milwaukee sales tax has left residents of nearby suburban cities with growing concerns about misapplied taxes. www.jsonline.com/story/news/i...

A visually impaired woman is suing Anodyne, Koss over their websites. Critics think it's a money grab. A Racine resident has sued around 30 Wisconsin businesses over accessibility issues on their websites, in what critics call "tester lawsuits."

Last month alone, more than 400 lawsuits were filed against businesses across the country alleging that their websites are not accessible to people with visual impairments and other disabilities. Critics say it's a money grab.
www.jsonline.com/story/news/i...

MPS fast-tracked hire of comptroller who worked for charter network once investigated for fraud Begmurad Nepesov was treasurer for Horizon Science Academy charter schools, part of a chain that has come under scrutiny for its financial dealings.

Latest for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: A financial administrator recently hired by Milwaukee Public Schools has ties to a charter school network that has come under scrutiny for its financial dealings and was raided by the FBI in 2014, records show.
www.jsonline.com/story/news/e...

Public Investigator reporter Gina Castro chases readers' tips, wherever they lead Gina Castro is one of the Journal Sentinel’s newest reporters, but her work has already made its mark on the city. Here's how she tackles the job.

Public Investigator reporter Gina Castro chases readers' tips, wherever they lead www.jsonline.com/story/news/i...

Milwaukee paid millions to clean up PCBs. Now, the city is suing the company that manufactured the chemicals. An ongoing lawsuit filed by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District against Monsanto claims the city spent millions to clean PCBs from waterways.

Milwaukee paid millions to clean up PCBs. Now, the city is suing the company that manufactured the chemicals.
www.jsonline.com/story/news/l...

How Climate Change Could Upend the American Dream Americans have long accumulated wealth by owning their homes, but a new study predicts that spiking insurance rates and climate disasters now herald an era of widespread losses.

“Climate change is upending the basic assumption that Americans can continue to build wealth and financial security by owning their own home. In a sense, it is upending the American dream.”

@abrahm.bsky.social

Milwaukee native Ira Madison III blends memoir and pop culture in debut novel 'Pure Innocent Fun' In a nostalgic collection of sixteen essays, Ira Madison III combines memoir and criticism to offer insights on his upbringing and life in Milwaukee.

In my latest for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, I speak with Ira Madison III about his debut novel "Pure Innocent Fun" — a memoir melding his coming-of-age as a young Black gay man in Milwaukee with iconic ’90s and 2000s cultural analysis.

bit.ly/3En9nXn