Many people attend Milwaukee’s Irish Fest for the music. And there’s certainly a lot of it. But music isn’t Ireland’s only rich heritage — it has a long and complex history with food.

If you’ve been to the country recently, you know there's a lot more food than the stereotypical potatoes and soda bread. But the history of famine and enforced shortages mixed with a deep appreciation of the land, the waters, and their bounty makes the history of food in Ireland a compelling one.

About 200 people packed into the Municipal Building in downtown Milwaukee Thursday night to give input on the 2020 city budget. Mayor Tom Barrett told the crowd the spending plan for next year poses some unique challenges.

He says 83% of the resources in 2020 will go to the police, public works and fire departments. Departments like libraries, neighborhoods and health will make up less than 10%.

The battle over stronger gun laws has resumed in Wisconsin. A Milwaukee state senator and other Democratic legislators have introduced a bill requiring background checks for more gun sales. But it's unclear if the Republican-controlled Legislature will allow the bill to move.   

Recent mass shootings in Texas, Ohio, and other states have again prompted calls for tighter controls on gun purchases.

Connla, a young band whose members hail from Armagh and Derry in Northern Ireland, combines traditional Irish music with rock and jazz influences. While its instrumentation is a pretty standard set up for an Irish band, the compositions and arrangements reflect its wide-ranging musical influences. The group came to Lake Effect's Studio C to perform ahead of appearances at Irish Fest this weekend.

Currently in Wisconsin, only doctors can prescribe hormonal birth control. But Republican lawmakers are trying to change that by advocating for a bill that broadens birth control access. The bill is causing some division in the GOP.

The Assembly health committee held a public hearing Wednesday to debate a Republican bill that would allow pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraceptive patches and birth control pills. First up to advocate for the measure was Rep. Joel Kitchens, R-Sturgeon Bay.

The potential impact of Asian carp on the Great Lakes has many people on edge. A new study draws attention to the threat Asian carp could pose to the Great Lakes.

While concern persists that the invasive fish could move from the Mississippi River Basin into Lake Michigan, questions remain whether the fish would find enough food to survive.

Three years ago, Milwaukee’s Sherman Park neighborhood erupted in protest. After the fatal police-shooting of 23-year-old Sylville Smith, tensions between police and the community culminated in the protests that made international headlines.

After the smoke cleared, the neighborhood came together and got to work. Promises were made by city officials to improve police-community relations and invest more resources in the community. But what has actually materialized?