A.J. Bayatpour

@AJBayatpour • 9,987 subscribers

Reporter & Weekend Evening Anchor for @CBS58 Milwaukee. Direct storytelling? Yes. Dutiful stenography? Nah. Chicago-raised, #MizzouMade, but Wisconsin is home.

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A.J. Bayatpour

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Students from both Madison East and West high schools have walked out to protest against ICE at the state Capitol. I’d estimate there’s 200-300 students between the first floor rotunda and second floor bridges above

Karofsky left the event without answering question about whether she’ll recuse or if SCOWIS will issue an order before 6:30 today

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I asked Francesca Hong about the writing on her hat amid some right-wing claims it's a '666.' "Years ago, when my son was learning how to write his name, he was excited to write the letter 'G'...I don't think he was expecting writing on one of my hats to become a big issue"

Folks, we found her. Gigi grew up in Oshkosh and is now studying journalism at Arizona State. She doesn't regret shoving a pair of Bears who tried to Lambeau Leap into her Sunday. "One of them jumped straight into my mom, so I was like, 'That's my protective mode.'"

NOW: Cook County sheriff’s deputies just arrived at the Waukesha County Jail. We believe Morgan Geyser was in this squad, as her attorney, Tony Cotton, tells me he expected she’d be extradited back her this afternoon

Francesca Hong has recently said her "perfect world" is one without prisons. Until we get there, what should happen to repeat violent offenders? "There has to be accountability...moving toward a world where we are investing in public safety is going to take time."

NEW: Minocqua Brewing Co. owner Kirk Bangstad announced today he's running for governor. The FBI recently contacted Bangstad over his offer to give out free beer the day President Trump dies. "I'm not gonna stand for this anymore, and I'm gonna run for governor of Wisconsin"

Tiffany went on to say school funding, specifically raises for teachers, is a priority. If he wants to use the full $2.5B surplus on tax relief, where is the school money coming from? "Vote for me in November, and we will make sure you get more money in 2027"

The superintendents of Wisconsin's "Big 5" districts (Milwaukee, Madison, Racine, Kenosha, Green Bay) want the Legislature to reconvene and take up strictly the $300M in special education funding from the failed Evers-GOP surplus deal. "That's still real money to kids this year"

This event wrapped up a short time ago here at Brookfield Central. There was nothing partisan or ideological about the program, itself. These artifacts are from Glenn Beck’s American Journey Experience, but again, we didn’t see anything political about the display

About 40-50 mostly Iranian-American demonstrators celebrating Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death on Milwaukee’s lakefront

At Schimel's event, Sen. Ron Johnson said he didn't like these expensive races. I asked how to take money out of politics. Johnson's response: -compared campaign spending to what Americans spend on peanut butter -thanked Elon Musk for buying Twitter -called me "leftist media"

Mayor Cavalier Johnson on last night's flash flooding, which happened during what is already Milwaukee's wettest April on record: "Not just Milwaukee, but Wisconsin, our country and the world has to continue to prepare for the effects of a changing climate."

Gov. Evers hits back after his surplus deal has been criticized by Dem legislative leaders and candidates for governor. Asked about Dems calling it "irresponsible" or "payday loan," Evers says "that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard." He adds "we're gonna get this done today"

An emotional Carlos Gomez Four3rTeen (4:13) wanted to share how much Bob Uecker meant to him. Gomez says Uecker's encouragement helped him get through early struggles in Milwaukee. "At least I had the opportunity to share with him how important he was for me in my career."

Ald. Bob Bauman, who sponsored the food truck new restrictions, says MPD wanted them. I asked if this is scapegoating food trucks because others don't know how to act right. He says Milwaukee cannot risk having visitors afraid to come downtown

The Wisconsin Legislature is indeed now enforcing a rule that only approved people, including credentialed media, can record legislative hearings. Until now, we've never been asked to show a press pass before recording committee meetings. So, I wore a GoPro to them today:

NOW: The MPS board has approved a $1.6 billion budget for 2027. Teachers/Union folks very unhappy about it. FWIW, this budget increases personnel spending by $96 million, although there are cuts to staff elsewhere to boost teacher/paraprofessional hiring

NEW: Potawatomi Casino Hotel CEO Dominic Ortiz calls on Gov. Evers to sign a bill legalizing online sports betting. "Governor, pull all the tribes together and listen. Listen to what we're saying." Evers said last week he's concerned not all of the state's tribes are on board.

Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, who's running for governor, declines to say if last night's surplus vote was a good or bad outcome, instead looking to November. "We know this is hard on Wisconsin families, but we know when we have majorities...we're gonna put in long-term solutions"

The Milwaukee County Board is scrambling to approve a new healthcare contract today for county workers. The old one lapsed, and the HR director got fired. County Exec. David Crowley says they're working to prevent future issues. I asked what exactly went wrong but he walked away