Articles by Sonia Spitz

U.S. Army veteran, immigrant detention center employee and local podcast host Ruben Camarillo shares his thoughts on immigration in Eagle Pass, Texas. Ruben and his wife, a border patrol agent, are rich with knowledge on the subject. This project was created through a journalism class at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Journalism, Advertising and Media Studies […]

EAGLE PASS, Texas — The surge of migrants to the United States through Eagle Pass, Texas in December of 2023 yielded the deaths of thousands, many of whom are still being identified today. Men, women and children are dying from dehydration, drowning and fatal falls from the border wall on their journey to the U.S., […]

Laredo, Texas, although not the focus of mainstream immigration media, remains a port for immigrants from Mexico to the United States. A rich Mexican-influenced culture juxtaposes a struggling border town, where abandoned budlings and empty stores line the historic streets.   The media have thoroughly investigated Eagle Pass, Texas after the surge of migration in December […]

Seventy-seven-year-old Kay Rober, Co-Founder and Site Manager at Whitewater’s Community Space, is a small-town Mother Teresa. Soft spoken but passionate, Rober is the heart and soul of all that goes on at the Community Space. The collection of stories Rober told laid out her mission to serve the whole Whitewater community, especially those who are […]

Rick Rupprecht and Becky Ludeman from St. Patrick Catholic Church at Whitewater share their personal experiences with the migrant surge and how their parish is affected. Rupprecht is the Director of Faith Formation and Ludeman is the Parish Secretary. Samantha Calderon, Sonia Spitz and Elizabeth Lintonen have the story. This project was created through a […]

Whitewater’s 15,000 residents have seen between 800 and 1,000 South American immigrants land in the area since 2022, according to letters from Whitewater Police Chief Daniel Meyer and Senator Tammy Balwin. The migrants, in their numbers, are finding an increasingly limited selection of places to stay and accessible resources upon arrival. Many are finding homes […]

The Historic Preservation Committee of Milwaukee moves to hold the decision on a new build of a home at 2409 N. Terrace Ave. with some of the commentary surrounding the idea of incorporating modern architecture in a historic Milwaukee district. New owner of the property, Anna Goldman, plans to build a modern, 4,400 square foot […]

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Men’s basketball took home a win against Luther College at their homecoming game at the Panther arena this season on Friday, Nov. 17. The Panthers kept the lead for the whole game, finishing with a 29-point lead over the Luther College Norse.   “I think first of all you got to give […]

Students at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee are facing a competitive job market upon graduation, and the lack of jobs is not the issue. The unemployment rate is standing at 3.8 percent, which for the country is a sign of success. But for Zillennials, a micro-generation between Millennials and Gen Z, that 3.8 percent may […]

Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Fiserv Forum, and an NBA championship are just a few of the things that brought unity to the Milwaukee community. Sonia Spitz has the story.

Maddie Duhig is an Architecture major juggling the addition of another year to the program and her incoming student loans. While her passion for the career remains, Maddie explains why it can be difficult to maintain the major and get a job right out of college. Sonia Spitz: What issue concerns you most as a […]

Olivera Prpa and her daughter, Jelena, tell about Serbian celebrations and why tradition is an essential part of their culture. Sonia Spitz reports.