Good morning!

If you’re looking for some high-octane excitement this weekend, the largest city in Wisconsin has just the ticket. The legendary Milwaukee Mile will roar back to life with the Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 Weekend, bringing INDYCAR racing to the Milwaukee State Fair Park on Saturday and Sunday.

This isn’t just any race—the Mile is the oldest operating motor speedway in the world, and its tight corners and modest banking have made it one of the most thrilling and technical tracks on the circuit for over a century.

Originally built in 1876 as a horse racing track, the Mile transitioned to auto racing in 1903, as cars began to emerge on the racing scene. Since then, it has hosted everything from NASCAR to stock car events, earning a reputation as the oldest operating motor speedway in the world. Generations of legendary drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr. have tested their skills on the deceptively tricky course, cementing the Milwaukee Mile as one of the sport’s most iconic venues.

Attendees can expect qualifying sessions on Saturday, along with other family-friendly activities before the main event on Sunday afternoon. At 1 p.m., drivers will take the green flag for 250 miles of action that could shape the outcome of the entire INDYCAR season, as championships still hang in the balance!

Whether you’re a racing fan or just curious about checking out a historic Wisconsin landmark with deep-rooted traditions, the Milwaukee Mile is a truly unique way to spend a summer weekend.

Henry Teckam

Intern, UpNorthNews

Wisconsin leads in specialty cheese

(Aaron Johnson)

By Salina Heller

Here’s what the free hamburger line looked like outside one of George Webb’s oldest downtown Milwaukee locations. The restaurant chain marked the Brewers’ 12th consecutive win by giving away free burgers at all 23 Wisconsin spots on Wednesday afternoon.

People say the line went fast, and it was fun to chat with other Brewers fans. Aaron Johnson, who took this photo, told us: “It’s been fun watching the Brewers this summer.”

Surprising stories behind 6 Wisconsin shipwrecks

Divers swim toward the bow of the Gallinipper. (Tamara Thomsen)

By Cassidy Grubusic

Did you know there are more than 700 known shipwrecks in the Wisconsin Great Lakes? And while some are beginning to disappear, many are remarkably well-preserved due to the fresh, frigid lake waters. Every year, people from all over the country and the world come to visit and scuba dive these wrecks. Some are infamous, like the Rouse Simmons, also known as the Christmas Tree Ship, while others are just as interesting but lesser known.

In order to rediscover some of these wrecks, we talked to Tamara Thomsen, a maritime archaeologist for the Wisconsin Historical Society. With more than 20 years of experience, she has encountered dozens of shipwrecks while working as a photographer, researcher, and research diver. To help us learn more about Wisconsin’s maritime history, she shared the stories of some of the shipwrecks she finds most fascinating, including:

⚓ Gallinipper

Built: 1833
Sank: 1851

⚓ Margaret A. Muir
Built: 1872
Sank: 1893

⚓ Pride
Built: 1866
Sank: 1898

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Wisconsin court commissioner resigns after immigration warrant dispute

A Walworth County court commissioner has resigned after clashing with immigration authorities in his courtroom, according to The Associated Press. Peter Navis objected to deputies detaining a man without seeing a valid federal warrant, saying, “In my courtroom, a person cannot be detained without lawful authority.”

Navis was presiding that day in the case of Enrrique Onan Zamora Castro, of Milwaukee, who faced a misdemeanor charge of operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s license for the second time in three years.

The incident, which took place last month, led county judges to tell Navis he could resign or be fired after he misstated their position on requiring warrants.

His resignation comes amid broader tensions between Wisconsin judges and the Trump administration over immigration enforcement.

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