WISCONSIN — This has been a year unlike any other.
While 2024 brought many twists and turns, we can't help but smile at the highs in-between the lows. We feel honored to tell your stories, and keep Wisconsin informed.
We rounded up our favorite stories that Spectrum News 1 Wisconsin published this year:
Fading Away: Dementia's Devastating Impact by Abbey Taylor
Dementia is a devastating and debilitating condition that affects millions of people across the country and in Wisconsin.
There are several causes for dementia, but all have one thing in common: Memory loss and other thinking abilities that interfere with daily life.
Best-selling thriller author Ruth Ware visits Milwaukee's Boswell Book Company by Aly Prouty
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Ruth Ware, an international number one best-selling author who has penned thrillers such as “The Woman in Cabin 10” and “The It Girl,” remembered her mother asking her what she wanted to be when she grew up when she was a little girl.
“If you go back to when I really started thinking about wanting to be an author, I was really very little. I was five or six when I learned that being an author was an actual job that real people did,” she said.
Racine-based reading program helps kids around the world by Alyson Bruner
The Cops 'n Kids Reading Center in Racine aims to help young children build reading skills early.
The program was created by Julia M. Witherspoon. The former Racine police officer was known for handing out books to kids from her squad car. She took it a step farther by starting Cops 'n Kids in 1998.
Witherspoon said her mission started with her own love for books as a child.
Wisconsin’s battle over boundaries: How a years-in-the-making challenge to political maps finally succeeded by Anthony DaBruzzi
The battle over Wisconsin’s political boundaries has been years in the making. Republicans drew the lines in 2011, and several lawsuits by Democrats were unsuccessful until this year.
Challenges over what Democrats had long insisted were gerrymandered lines started to culminate in 2021 when Gov. Tony Evers vetoed the latest Republican-drawn maps and insisted the legislation amounted to “gerrymandering 2.0.” That move led to even more lawsuits. Two years ago, the Wisconsin Supreme Court had sided with Evers only to reverse their decision after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the lines based on the Voting Rights Act.
At the time, it was a victory for Republicans, who had a decent chance at winning a veto-proof majority in the Legislature. However, just a year after all that unfolded, Democrats would get their victory by flipping the ideological balance of the state Supreme Court for the first time in 15 years.
Congressman, retired Navy SEAL cherishes Wisconsin-made motorcycle by Charlotte Scott
U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, often turns heads on Capitol Hill when he rolls up to work each day.
The freshman Republican is believed to be the only member of Congress who commutes by motorcycle. When he first won his seat two years ago, he rode his Harley from Wisconsin to Washington.
'This is a huge financial burden for many families': Rehabilitation costs, a barrier to sobriety from some by Cody Taylor
According to the American Addiction Centers, in 2023, there were 48.5 million people struggling with addiction in the U.S. For residents in Richland, Green, Iowa, Lafayette and Grant counties, Opportunity House is the only affordable option for rehabilitation.
Soccer club focuses on athletes giving back to the community by Courtny Gerrish
Learning to volunteer and give back is an important value that will help shape young players’ lives.
FC Wisconsin makes sure its players learn valuable skills on and off the field. The club makes it a priority to give back. Each team, starting at around 12-years-old, hosts a donation drive once a year. An invaluable life lesson for these players.
‘It’s definitely a blessing’: Love talks about extension deal with Packers by Dennis Krause
Quarterback Jordan Love signed his four-year, $220 million contract extension with the Green Bay Packers. Love said the big money won’t change who he is as a player or person.
'We will be family forever': Neighbor becomes a living donor to help save her friend's life by Edna Garcia-Mendez
In 2023, Sam Zimmermann was getting progressively sicker from polycystic kidney disease. Polycystic kidney disease is an inherited disease that causes clusters of cysts to develop on the kidneys, causing them to enlarge and lose function.
Nicole Knoblock, Zimmermann’s closest neighbor, separated by a mile of road in central Wisconsin, first learned about Zimmermann’s struggle with the disease in Jan. 2023. Knoblock felt compelled to find a solution to end her friend’s struggle so she decided to see if she would be a match.
Birkebeiner goes on without a hitch despite warmer than normal conditions by Geno Perez
The annual Birkebeiner is normally a winter wonderland, but this year snow had to be artificially made.
PHOTOS: Brewers celebrate NL Central division title by Hailey Kunz
The Brewers clinched their second straight division title and third in the last four years when the Chicago Cubs lost to the Oakland Athletics. Milwaukee was the first team to clinch a postseason berth this season.
Sherman Phoenix, entrepreneurial hub for Black-owned businesses, celebrates 6 years by Haley Kosik
In 2018, Sherman Phoenix was born out the ashes of a former bank that burned down in 2016. It came amid civil unrest in the Sherman Park neighborhood after a former Milwaukee police officer shot and killed 23-year-old Sylville Smith.
The state-of-the-art hub offers space for Black-owned businesses. Since its inception, Sherman Phoenix has helped more than 50 businesses find success.
In Focus: Rep. Considine talks farming, Wisconsin fairs by Jason Fechner
State Rep. Dave Considine is a Democrat from Baraboo.
From being a farmer and a teacher, to his time spent serving in the state legislature, he joined In Focus to talk about the past, present and future of family farms in Wisconsin, and how the State Fair and county fairs help to put the hard work of our state's farmers into the spotlight.
Everyday Hero: Green Bay man makes affordable car repairs by Jon Fuller
The morning after working an overnight shift, after joining his son for an early school function, with snowflakes falling and the temps in the mid-teens, Philip Kirk set to work on repairing a set of brakes.
There’s no heated garage for Kirk, who works out of the back of his truck and travels to his customers.
“I just figured, ‘Hey, I know I have the ability to help as much as I can. So it’s either I help them or I don’t. There’s no reason not to,’” Kirk said.
98-year-old war hero makes inspiring contribution to USS Beloit by Kathryn Larson
A 98-year-old World War II veteran from Beloit has shown that his service to the nation didn’t end with the war.
George Olson, a survivor of the USS Twiggs attack in 1945, recently donated $5,000 to support the crew of the USS Beloit, continuing his legacy of patriotism and resilience.
Facing vision loss, an acclaimed Wisconsin artist hosts her final showcase by Kelly Milan
Tucked away in the small town of Sharon — near the Wisconsin-Illinois border in Walworth County — Martha Hayden has spent decades perfecting her craft. At 89-years-old, she still works in her Queen Anne-style historic home.
Nakia Triplett keeps her mom's legacy alive with her own beauty business by Kristin Parisi
Nakia Triplett has been an entrepreneur ever since she can remember.
Her first business was running a lemonade stand when she was a kid. Now, she’s 20 years old and running her own beauty business, Prima Beauty Organics.
Job cuts loom for hundreds of UW Oshkosh employees in the new year by Megan Carpenter
On Jan. 20, 216 employees at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh no longer had a job. A total of 140 people were laid off. Another 76 took voluntary retirement. The remaining 35 positions are ones the administration chose to leave unfilled.
Belleville Police Department swears in 'purr-fect' new addition to the force by Megan Marshall
A tiny police department in south central Wisconsin has a unique new lieutenant on the force.
We’ve all heard of police K9s, but what about police felines? A cat, known as Lieutenant Jax, is the newest member of the Belleville Police Department.
Four UW-Madison Women's Rowing alumnae competing in Olympics by Natalie Sopyla
For the first time in over 30 years, four University of Wisconsin-Madison Women’s Rowing alumnae competed in the Olympics.
Lauren O’Connor, Grace Joyce, Maddie Wanamaker and Sophia Vitas all competed in this year's games. That makes 21 UW Women rowers who have competed in the Olympics.
'I was not born to fly': Armless pilot aims to inspire other aviators at EAA AirVenture by Nathan Phelps
Ask Jessica Cox about how comfortable she is in the cockpit and the answer is still a little fearful.
But it’s a fear that keeps her sharp in the air. It’s also a fear that launched her journey to become a pilot.
Citizen Lake Monitoring Network helps Wisconsinites take more active role in health of lakes by Phillip Boudreaux
Citizen Lake Monitoring Network empowers residents to take a more active role in the health of their lakes.
Volunteers, such as Mark Curcio, collect water samples and record dissolved oxygen levels and the temperatures from the lakes to be sent to the DNR. The DNR then sends the results back to give these volunteers more information about what’s going on with their local lakes.
All the home’s a stage for Wisconsin’s John Dolphin by Rachel Ryan
When a passerby pulls up to 3240 S. Hickory Road in New Berlin, they’d have no idea of the extravagance inside the seemingly simple ranch home.
The home’s owner, John Dolphin, said that “wild factor” is what gets him the most when people first walk in.
Inside the 2,514-square-foot home, there isn’t a space left untouched by a theatre or Broadway influence, with everything from “Les Misérables” to old “Dracula” and “Mame” show posters, and an entirely finished theatre in the basement.
It’s a collection Dolphin spent decades creating in the midst of a thriving theatre career.
Elijah Vue honored this holiday season with new initiative: Operation Elijah by Rhonda Foxx
Elijah Vue went missing from Two Rivers in February. After months of searching, the 3-year-old’s skeletal remains were found in September.
His short life is being honored this Christmas through a toy drive, Operation Elijah, named in his honor. His family and the wider community hope to bring cheer to other children this holiday season.
Man shot after 9/11 shares story of forgiveness, understanding in Milwaukee by Ryan Burk
When Rais Bhuiyan arrived at his job at a Texas convenience store on Sept. 21, 2001, he could have never imagined how much his life would change.
Bhuiyan was behind the register when a man came inside and pointed a shotgun at his face. Bhuiyan said he assumed it was a robbery attempt, but he then realized it was something else.
“He mumbled a question, ‘Where are you from?’” Bhuiyan said, describing his encounter.
Bhuiyan said before he could answer, he was shot.
A Sun Prairie Swiftie's enchanted evening at the Grammy's by Sachelle Saunders
A local Taylor Swift fan’s wildest dreams have come true.
Back in October, Katelyn McLaughlin created a sc-Eras-themed display based on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. She based it off Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do” performance at the Eras Tour — her favorite number from the concert.
She handed out friendship bracelets on Halloween and met tons of fellow Swifties.
HAWS’ new executive director determined to carry legacy forward by Wendy Strong
Lynne Olenik, the longtime leader of the organization, announced her retirement at the end of July. She had served as executive director for 20 years.
“It was hard walking out the door,” Olenik said. “We accomplished a lot, but it is time for others who are more mobile and more energetic to take the torch and run.”
Before joining HAWS in 2004, Olenik’s experience was at very small animal shelters. She remembers being hit with the scope of what HAWS does on her very first day.
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