A look back at the people and events that made news the past week. Week-ends is a regular weekly feature of This Just In…

HEROES OF THE WEEK

President Trump

Chris Salvatore

VILLAINS OF THE WEEK

These journalists

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didn’t these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly.”
Tweet by Donald Trump

“You had profanity-laced, vulgar comments coming from celebrities. Donald Trump in his inaugural address talked about the forgotten man, now these forgotten celebrities came to Washington to deliver really negative messages.”
Trump top aide Kellyanne Conway

“Give me a shovel. Put me to dig the trench. I would be happy to do that. Rain or shine, 100 degrees, 120, I don’t care. I will be honored to do it.”
Agnes Gibboney, 62, lost her son Ronald da Silva in 2002 when he was shot dead in El Monte, California by Luis Gonzalez, an illegal immigrant from Mexico. Gonzales, a known gang member, was jailed over the fatal shooting after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter. Gibboney said her son’s death destroyed her family and for that reason applauds Donald Trump’s stance on immigration, including his plans to construct the controversial wall he has long said Mexico will pay for.

“I am, to a large extent, an environmentalist. But it’s out of control, and we’re going to make a very short process, and we’re going to either give you your permits or we’re not going to give you your permits. But you’re going to know very quickly.”
President Donald Trump, as he signed executive memos that could revive the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipeline projects

“Oh, there’s Jim, he’s become more famous than me.”
President Donald Trump, after noticing FBI director James Comey in the audience at an event to honor law enforcement officers

“I’ve got to say, I was impressed. I was meeting with a CEO. It was obvious. And the president had a very specific agenda in terms of what he thought was critical and that was tax reform and regulatory reform. …I left with a degree of optimism that this could actually be pulled off this year.”
AT&T Chief Executive Officer Randall Stephenson, telling analysts on an earnings call that he is optimistic about the company’s outlook under the Trump administration

“Mary Tyler Moore deserves a spot in the pantheon of great comic actresses like Gracie Allen, Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett, and it is for this that she will be most remembered.”
TV historian Robert Thompson of Syracuse University, on the death of Mary Tyler Moore, a television cultural and feminist pioneer

OUTRAGE OF THE WEEK

SNL writer’s tweet

MOST UNDER-REPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK

March For Life

MOST OVER-HYPED STORY OF THE WEEK

Alternative facts

STRANGEST, MOST UNUSUAL STORY OF THE WEEK

Rent a girlfriend

There is no voter fraud.

That’s been the cry of members of the Democratic Party (along with the news media, a wholly owned subsidiary of said party).

Okay. If they’re so sure, then why are they so terrified by President Trump’s intention to probe voter fraud?

“Liberals should smile and egg Trump on.”

So writes Deroy Murdock, a columnist with the Scripps Howard News Service and a media fellow with the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace at Stanford University.

Murdock insightfully understands why Democrats want no part of an investigation into voter fraud, making this a highly interesting read.

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Here in Franklin we’re extremely proud of Kyla’s Playground, voted the best park in the Milwaukee area.

The city of Franklin and Kayla’s Playground was the recipient of a 2016 Salute Award by the Public Policy Forum in the category of “Public-Private Cooperation.”

Kayla’s Krew/Kayla’s Playground was also nominated for a 2016 Gladfelter Award. Even though Kayla’s Krew/Kayla’s Playground didn’t win in this competition, its consideration demonstrates how vital the playground is to Franklin and its visitor.

The Gladfelter award is given to non-elected municipal, county, state, or federal employees who, through their careers or through a specific innovation, have helped solve a problem for Wisconsin residents and improved public service.

The city of Franklin via Mayor Steve Olson nominated Kayla’s Krew/Kayla’s Playground. Here is the required narrative that was submitted with the nomination:

KAYLA’S KREW/KAYLA’S PLAYGROUND NARRATIVE

Kayla’s Krew focused on building a playground in Franklin featuring inclusion for all abilities. The project was unique. Playgrounds in Franklin and surrounding areas have almost no inclusive components. Kayla’s Krew committed to obtaining the most inclusive equipment on the market to include all abilities in play activities.

Kayla’s Krew teamed with many public and private sector partners including local businesses, schools, groups, organizations, and churches.

Kayla’s Playground was built by the community in 9 days with almost 2,000 citizen and business volunteers (many from outside Franklin, coming from as far away as Hawaii) who worked with paid and volunteer Department of Public Works employees.  Citizens worked in three shifts per day alongside the mayor, elected officials, fire and police chief, DPW, planners, secretaries, police officers and fire fighters.

The 12,000 square foot all-accessible, all-inclusive playground was completed on September 27^th, 2015 with a ribbon cutting on October 9, 2015. More than 1,000 citizens, children and public officials attended.  Now children in wheelchairs regularly line up to use the only wheelchair accessible swing, the Liberty Swing, offered in Milwaukee and Waukesha County that does not require the user to get out of the wheelchair to swing.  Visitors come even in the winter. Volunteers routinely take time to make sure the area is neat and clean.

This community building program provided facilities that teach, treat and offer safe, fun recreation environment for everyone, regardless of physical ability. This effort certainly would not have been generated by a municipality on its’ own.

A team of public employees in Washington and Ozaukee counties along with two co-workers at the Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) will receive 2016 Lloyd D. Gladfelter Awards for Government Innovation on Thursday, February 2. Kirsten Johnson, Thomas Meaux, and Joshua Schoemann will be honored for their efforts to combine the Health Departments in Washington and Ozaukee counties, while ETF employees Tarna Hunter and Shelly Schueller will be recognized for developing a statewide campaign to raise awareness about the retirement savings gap facing women.
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