Don Walker
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Milwaukee, WI, United States
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Past articles by Don:
Uecker to have new heart surgery
The Milwaukee Brewers announced today that Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Uecker will undergo a second heart surgery next Tuesday at Froedtert Hospital. → Read More
Would arena create pool of new jobs — or is that a mirage?
On one side are economists who say publicly financed sports arenas do not increase jobs beyond short-term construction work. On the other side are arena proponents who expect a wave of new work. → Read More
Chris Abele, Bucks express optimism on arena deal
Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele and Milwaukee Bucks President Peter Feigin expressed renewed confidence on Wednesday that an arena financing deal will be delivered to state legislators soon. → Read More
Milwaukee wants separate development agreement with Bucks
Getting a separate agreement with the Bucks is part of the city’s strategy to ensure the franchise lives up to promises that the proposed arena could generate $500 million in ancillary development. → Read More
Will arena be 50-50 public-private deal? Details will tell
From the very beginning, the plan for a $500 million downtown Milwaukee arena has been sold as a 50-50 public-private partnership. But the key is how that breakdown is measured. → Read More
Kansas City arena district offers a model — but at a cost
The good news? The Power & Light District in downtown Kansas City is exactly the kind of downtown magnet that the Bucks have in mind. The bad news? Tax revenue isn’t enough to pay the debt service. → Read More
Another arena meeting, another day without financing deal
Gov. Scott Walker, Mayor Tom Barrett, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) and others met Thursday in Milwaukee but concluded they are still weeks off from a final plan. → Read More
Walker, expressing optimism, stepping in on arena talks
Expressing a measure of optimism, Gov. Scott Walker said Wednesday he would step into negotiations personally with the intent of getting a deal done fairly quickly to finance a new Milwaukee arena. → Read More
Supporters tout benefits of downtown arena at MMAC forum
More than 150 people gathered Tuesday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center for a discussion of the economic development possibilities surrounding a new arena for downtown Milwaukee. → Read More
Business group's poll finds public support for downtown arena
The new poll is an attempt to rebut the results of an April 16 Marquette University Law School poll that found that 79% statewide opposed borrowing about $150 million to support a new arena. → Read More
Bucks president: Arena funding plan must be finalized in 10 days
Perter Feigin injected a new sense of urgency on the financing issue one day before local and state officials are to meet in Madison to see if a deal can be hammered out. → Read More
Ted Kellner named chair of BMO Harris Bradley Center board
Ted Kellner, who holds a minority stake in the Milwaukee Bucks, replaces lawyer and community leader Marc Marotta, who died unexpectedly last Wednesday of a brain aneurysm at the age of 52. → Read More
Bucks arena financing deal faces tight timetable, political maze
The Bucks have to persuade legislators to approve some form of arena financing by summer, and in the process win the hearts and minds of the Milwaukee County Board and the Milwaukee Common Council. → Read More
Scott Fitzgerald expresses optimism for arena deal
The Senate majority leader and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) reiterated their support for a $150 million bonding plan through the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands to help fund the project. → Read More
Bucks co-owner Edens to invest in arena-related development
But to the question of whether he, or Marc Lasry, or Jamie Dinan, the wealthiest members of the Bucks’ ownership group, will commit more of their personal fortunes to close a gap in arena financing, Wes Edens was more circumspect. → Read More
Bucks to unveil game-changing $1 billion arena package
The Milwaukee Bucks are unveiling plans for a $500 million arena north of the BMO Harris Bradley Center, and use that to spark an additional $500 million in development, transforming downtown. → Read More
Barrett, Fitzgerald at odds over new arena funding proposal
The Milwaukee mayor said Thursday that he continues to support Gov. Scott Walker’s plan for $220 million in state funding vs. the Senate majority leader’s new plan that comes up short of that by $70 million. → Read More
State, city, county and Bucks officials meet to get arena on track
The Tuesday meeting was the first time the various stakeholders in the arena debate had sat down to discuss the project, which had hit roadblocks in recent weeks. → Read More
Report: Arena bond costs could be as high as $488 million
The new Legislative Fiscal Burean numbers examining different scenarios on repaying the interest and principal on $220 million in bonds are sure to raise eyebrows in the arena debate. → Read More
Excited about potential impact, Realtors behind new arena
The Commercial Association of Realtors Wisconsin has made construction of a new arena in downtown Milwaukee its main legislative priority this year. → Read More