WI State Rep. Sylvia N. Ortiz-Velez, 48, (D-Milw) Charged With Disorderly Conduct For Allegedly Threatening To Release Personal Information About State Rep. Priscilla Prado, 43, (D-Milw)

Wisconsin State Representative Ortiz-Velez was charged with disorderly conduct in connection with threats made to Wisconsin State Representative Prado over a Veteran's recognition legislation dispute in Madison.

By H. Nelson Goodson Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

February 25, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Wednesday, the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office filed a criminal misdemeanor charge against Wisconsin State Representative Sylvia N. Ortiz-Velez, 48, (D-Milw) for disorderly conduct in connection with alleged threats to Wisconsin State Representative Priscilla Prado, 42, over a dispute regarding a Hispanic Month Joint 2025 Resolution and a Veteran's Hispanic Heritage Month Resolution during last year's Hispanic Heritage Month in the State.

If convicted, Ortiz-Velez is facing 90 days in jail, and up to $1,000 in fines, or both. Rep. Ortiz-Velez is scheduled for an initial court appearance at Room 221 in the Safety Building on March 6 in Milwaukee.

Attempts by Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) to contact Ortiz-Velez were unsuccessful.

The recent misdemeanor charge stems from an incident (August 2025) that happened at the Wisconsin State Capitol where Rep. Prado proposed legislation to recognized Hispanic Veterans in the state during Hispanic Heritage Month. Apparently, Prado beat Rep. Ortiz-Velez in proposing the legislation, which Ortiz-Velez was accustomed to propose annually. Rep. Ortiz-Velez then proposed her own Hispanic Month Joint Resolution 2025 and Hispanic Month Veterans Resolution as well. (Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1bhpvFcKbg/)

Rep. Ortiz-Velez was excluded from the proposed Hispanic Month Joint resolution by Rep. Prado and the Democrat Caucus in the State Assembly. (Article link: http://hispanicnewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2025/08/wisconsin-latino-democrat-assembly.html)

Rep. Prado in the criminal complaint says that Ortiz-Velez had threatened her and that she would expose her and another male state

legislator for alleged certain personal information regarding them. The criminal complaint did not specifically identify those alleged personal attacks.

Then in September 2025, Rep. Ortiz-Velez was allegedly accused by multiple Democrats including State Assembly Representative Greta Neubauer (D-Racine) that Rep. Ortiz-Velez had made a gun threat against certain Democrats, but Ortiz-Velez denied the allegations and no criminal charges were ever filed against her by Capitol Police.

Rep. Ortiz-Velez claimed that Rep. Neubauer and others were targeting her because she was going to propose legislation in connection with Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley who exceeded his powers during the COVID-19 crisis in 2010, when Ortiz-Velez was a Southside Milwaukee County Supervisor. Rep. Ortiz-Velez was able to introduce legislation to limit the powers of County Executives and it passed into law. (Article and Facebook post links: http://hispanicnewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2025/09/wisconsin-state-rep-greta-neubauer-d.html and https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BvjthTz9r/)

Rep. Ortiz-Velez on Friday during the State Assembly floor address, she exposed Rep. Neubauer, the minority leader of prohibiting other Dems in the State Assembly from voting with Republicans on issues they favored.

Editor's note: Rep. Ortiz-Velez actively campaigned to elect Rep. Prado into office, and once Prado was elected, she later turned on Ortiz-Velez.

33-year-old Josue Ayala, A Milwaukee Police Officer Charged With Attempted Misconduct In Public Office For Tracking His Dating Partner On The Flock Camera System Surveillance

Ayala illegally used the Flock Camera System to track his dating partner and his partner's former dating partner, which was deemed an unauthorized use of the system. 

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

February 24, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Tuesday, Milwaukee Police Officer Josue Ayala, 33, was criminally charged with one misdemeanor count of attempted misconduct in office, which is a negotiated resignation from the police department agreement (condition) with the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office.

If convicted, Ayala id facing 9-months in jail and up to $10,000 in fines, or both for attempted misconduct in office.

Apparently, one of the victims went to the website called www dot haveibeenflocked dot com and learned that Officer Ayala had been using the Flock Camera Systen, a license plate recognition platform to track his/her location, multiple times (55 times), and also became aware that his/her ex-partner who was now dating Officer Ayala was also tracked more than 124 times from March 26, 2025 to May 26, 2025 by Ayala, according to the criminal investigation.

Ayala was working at the Milwaukee Police Department District 2 Station in the Southside of Milwaukee when he began to track the personal license plates of his partner and ex-partner's vehicle as well to learned the whereabouts of both persons, according to the criminal complaint.

Ayala has been suspended pending the outcome of the criminal case and his resignation is also pending from the department.

MATC Board Of Trustees Continue Their Defiance To Adhere Communities Of Color Demands To Restore The Multicultural Student Services At The Technical College

The Milwaukee Area Technical College Board of Trustees seemed to continue their usual practice to defy and ignore the communities of colors demands to restore the Multicultural Student Services and to rehire 4 MATC employees related to the phased out Multicultural services and an additional employee.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

February 24, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Tuesday, February 24, 2026, both Anabel Chávez and Carlos Aranda made public comments during the Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) Board of Trustees meeting regarding multiple issues that haven't been resolved by MATC President Dr. Anthony Cruz and the full Board of Trustees since last August 2025. Chávez who is a part-time instructor at the technical college read a two-page letter from the Multicultural Coalition to Reclaim MATC composed of 14 local organizations, faith and labor leaders and community advocates. According to the released statement by the Coalition, it had three demands, 1. The reopening of the Multicultural center and the immediate reinstatement of the four terminated employees; and the librarian who was wrongfully terminated. 2. Full restitution of lost wages and benefits; and 3. An independent audit of MATC Human Resources practices, echoing previous community calls for transparency and accountability. (Board meeting dated 2/24/2026 video link: https://youtu.be/DHmEeiBK2uw)

The Coalition also says that recently, the Trump administration dropped their appeal to a federal court decision in August 2025 that ruled that it was a violation of free speech for the Trump administration to deny federal funds to colleges and universities that have Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs.

The decision to close MATC's Multicultural Center and terminate four employees of color that reflected and worked closely with our diverse student base (Black, Latine, Asian and indigenous) was directly tied to the intimidation tactics and threats by the Trump Administration. On August 19, 2025, these individuals received termination letters signed by President Cruz, citing recent changes in U.S. government policy as justification. (Article link: https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/department-of-education-backs-down-on-unlawful-directive-targeting-educational-equity)

Our coalition strongly disputes both the rationale and the process underlying these actions. Given recent court decisions, the rationale for closing the center and terminating these employees no longer exists.

We do not believe that the proposed services intended to replace the Multicultural Center sufficiently or appropriately meet the needs of MATC's diverse student body. The elimination of established multicultural services-without meaningful engagement with affected communities--represents a significant step backward in MATC's long-standing commitment to access, inclusion, and student success, the Coalition wrote in a statement read by Chávez at the Board of Trustees meeting.

Aranda, Ed. D., a Counselor at MATC in a statement said, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a public institution. It is funded by taxpayers and supported by donors who trust that their contributions advance education - not finance preventable lawsuits, settlements, or the consequences of unlawful employment practices. Public funds must never be used to defend actions that leadership knew were unjust. 

This concern is not new.

In December 2024, I addressed this Board regarding a female employee who had filed multiple formal complaints. While she was on approved FMLA leave, her position was eliminated -- effectively terminating her employment. That decision raised serious ethical and legal concerns.

In September 2025, a female librarian who had been performing full-time duties as a full-time LTE applied for the permanent position she was already effectively doing. Instead, HR hired an outside candidate with less experience. She was not offered a return to her prior full-time role and was left unemployed. This reflects not only poor judgment- but a failure of basic fairness and stewardship.

More recently, another female employee disclosed that she was ill and taking prescribed medication with known side effects. After being found asleep at work, she was brought into a "fact-finding" process that could have led to termination. Rather than first offering ADA accommodation information, engaging in the legally required interactive process, or responding with basic empathy, she was placed on a disciplinary track. The psychological distress became so significant that she ultimately requested early retirement.

These three cases involve white women. This demonstrates that the issue before us is not confined to race alone. Women-across race, age, and role - are being harmed under the current administration, on our watch.

This is not leadership. This is harmful.

The cases I have mentioned are not isolated incidents. They are examples. There are many more employees who have experienced retaliation, intimidation, marginalization, or procedural irregularities. What the public sees is only a fraction of what has occurred internally.

Therefore, l am asking you directly:

• Reinstate the five terminated employees. 

• Restore their lost wages and benefits. 

• Commit publicly to an independent review of employment practices. 

• Ensure that anti-retaliation protections are honored not only in written policy - but in daily practice. 

If this Board is unwilling to correct actions that have caused documented psychological and financial harm, then respectfully ask you to reflect on whether continued service aligns with your fiduciary and moral responsibilities.

Today, members from the communities of color in Milwaukee, Wisconsin are demanding for Dr. Cruz and the entire MATC Board of Trustees to resign for their disservice and negligence to eliminate the Multicultural Student Services at the technical college that served students from the communities of color for 50 years. (Facebook post link: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1XvDmmJ88U/)

MATC has not halted its continued elimination of other DEI related services and programs at the technical college.

The members of the MATC Board of Trustees are, Erica L. Case, Chairperson; Citlali Mendieta-Ramos, Vice-Chairperson; Dr. Waleed Najeeb, Secretary; Gail Pence, Treasurer; Lauren Baker; Mark F. Foley and Wisconsin State Representative Supreme Moore-Omokunde (D-Milw). (MATC Board of Directors | MATC https://share.google/JBtolZmTGaz4lo885)

Ediror's note: The communities of color should ensure that every school and higher education institution continues to apply DEI initiatives to ensure every student and instructor is protected under Diversity, Equity and Inclusion directives as previously provided.

31-year-old Da'Quan Johnson Shot In The Back Of The Head By Grand Rapids Cop, K-9 Police Dog Also Attacked Victim Mauling At His Neck

Johnson was facing to the ground when a Grand Rapids police officer had a grip on both his hands, then the officer takes out his handgun, pointed it behind Johnson's head and discharged it and fatally striking the victim.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

February 21, 2026

Grand Rapids, Michigan - On Wednesday, January 18, 2026, around 9:30 p.m. Grand Rapids police fatally shot Da'Quan Johnson, 31, in the back of the head, according to a cellphone video showing the fatal shots. Johnson riding a bicycle was being pursuit by police units, he rode into a multiple unit apartment parking lot near Eastern Avenue and Logan Street in Grand Rapids.

While getting off his bike, Johnson slipped in the ice and soon after a K-9 police dog jumped on him and began to maul him in his neck. Then a two police officers are seen restraining him, one officer had  both of Johnson's hands behind him, the officer is seen holding Johnson's hands with his right hand, then the officer with his left hand upholstered his handgun and pointed it at Johnson's back of the head and fired his weapon striking Johnson. Then multiple shots are fired at Johnson's torso. The officers move back after shooting him, then the K-9, which was not restrained attacked Johnson again mauling at his neck.

Johnson was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced deceased three hours later on early Thursday.

Johnson's family are calling for justice after viewing a cellphone video showing Johnson facing down on the ground and the officer shooting him in the back of the head and then the K-9 dog attacks Johnson and mauled his neck. The video shown at a family press conference, at the Boston Square Neighborhood Association contradicts the Grand Rapids police version of the fatal shooting.

The Grand Rapids police narrative is that Johnson had a handgun, he was ordered to drop the handgun, but when the K-9 dog first attacked Johnson, police told him not to move or he would be shot. How can Johnson not move when being mauled by a K-9 dog?

Witnesses say, that Johnson never pulled a handgun or aimed it at police. Johnson was shot three times by several police officers. He was recently parole after serving time in prison for a weapons violation. A handgun was recovered at the scene, according to Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstom.

Federal District Court Final Ruling Ensures Elimination Of DEI Directive By Trump Is Dead And Can No Longer Be Revived

The latest final federal district court ruling has permanently killed Trump's elimination of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion directive following the U.S. Department of Education's announcement in mid-January that it dropped its legal appeal challenge and no longer sought to enforce the restriction of DEI at schools and higher education institutions.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

February 20, 2026

Concord, N. H. - On Wednesday, the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) reported that a final U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire ruling has ensured that Trump's directive to eliminate or restrict Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs in schools and higher education institutions can longer be enforced by the U.S. Department of Education and can not be revived, according to the federal court's final ruling. (Article link: https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/department-of-education-backs-down-on-unlawful-directive-targeting-educational-equity)

The ACLU says that, in an earlier ruling in the case, District Court Judge Landya McCafferty previously found that the directive's "isolated characterizations of unlawful DEI" conflicted with the term's meaning, stating that DEI is generally understood as fostering "a group culture of equitable and inclusive treatment." The court further held that plaintiffs were likely to succeed in showing that the directive was vague, viewpoint discriminatory, and unlawfully imposed new legal obligations for educators and schools.

"This ruling ensures that educators can engage in scholarship and teach history, literature, and other subjects where race, gender, and the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion appear, without fear of arbitrary or discriminatory enforcement, said Sarah Hinger, deputy director of the ACLU Racial Justice Program. "It affirms that educators must be free to teach and that students have a right to a full and honest education that reflects the diversity of their communities and prepares them to participate in our democracy."

ACLU complaint filed on March 5, 2025 at link: https://www.aclu.org/cases/national-education-association-et-al-v-us-department-of-education-et-al?document=Complaint

The adverse affect of Trump's directive in Wisconsin allowed Dr. Anthony Cruz, the President of the Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) to eliminate the Office of Multicultural Student Services and and unjustly terminate 4 student services specialists to comply with Trump's directive without legally challenging the unlawful directive, which advertently affected the students of color from the Latino/Hispanic, African-American, Asian-American and Native-American communities.

Dr. Cruz and the Milwaukee Area Technical College Board of Trustees have failed to restore the Multicultural Student Services and rehire the 4 student specialists after they learned that Cruz erred in deciding to eliminate the Multicultural Student Services in order to comply with Trump's illegal directive.

Today, members from the communities of color in Milwaukee, Wisconsin are demanding for Dr. Cruz and the entire MATC Board of Trustees to resign for their disservice and negligence to eliminate the Multicultural Student Services at the technical college that served students from the communities of color for 50 years. (Facebook post link: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1XvDmmJ88U/)

MATC has not halted its continued elimination of other DEI related services and programs at the technical college.

Ediror's note: The communities of color should ensure that every school and higher education institution continues to apply DEI initiatives to ensure every student and instructor is protected under Diversity, Equity and Inclusion directives as previously provided.

Felony Count Dismissed By Walworth County Deputy D.A. James T. Sempf Against Julie Valadez, In Custody Interference Criminal Case

The Walworth County District Attorney's Office moved to dismiss one felony count against Valadez for interfering with custody after custody order.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

February 19, 2026

Elkhorn, Wisconsin - On Tuesday, Walworth County Deputy District Attorney James T. Sempf moved to dismiss one felony count for interfering with custody after custody order including party to a crime against Julie C. Valadez, 41, which the court so ordered. So far, Valadez court proceedings continue with one felony count for interfering with custody of other parent including party to a crime. She was recently charged with one felony count for bail jumping in regards to making contact with a family member, which violated the conditions of her cash bail, but her $500,000 cash bail was not forfeited, according to Walworth County court records.

The Walworth County criminal case against Valadez seems to be falling apart for the Walworth County District Attorney's Office and Delavan Police Department Detective Trevor G.  Hinman who filed criminal charges against Valadez. On Tuesday's court hearing, Det. Hinman confirmed that most of the alleged criminal case discovery reports of evidence in the investigation regarding phone call recordings and other documents are no longer filed on record and can't produce them for the defense.

Valadez's attorney Amanda K. Reik has called for her case to be dismissed, and her case has been pulled from the trial docket. A motion hearing was set for Valadez on March 19, 2026, according to the Walworth County court records.

The lack of discovery evidence and phone call recordings including certain police reports, statements from individuals for the state have disappeared and no longer accessible for trial. It sounds like a cover-up of the alleged illegal investigation that was conducted by Det. Hinman, which if any of the discovery of evidence and recorded phone calls do reappear, it could shed light that indeed Det. Hinman engaged in alleged illegal activity during the Valadez investigation. 

In one particular case, Det. Hinman filed an alleged fraudulent police report that included criminal charges against Valadez and Kathryn Alamea-Xian for kidnap minor for sexual assault dated January 10, 2023. Hinman's police report was later removed, but kept on file and later shared with Canadian immigration authorities in an attempt to hold Valadez and Alamea-Xian in custody in Canada who sought asylum.  (Article: http://hispanicnewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2023/06/julie-valadez-ordered-released-from.html)

In the Valadez criminal case, Alamea-Xian and Kimberlee Coronado were also criminally charged in separate cases for interfering with custody of other parent and party to crime, after Valadez's son Ethan Valadez, then 15 (today 18) ran away from his abusive father Ricardo Valadez in early January 2023 and crossed into Canada. (Article link: http://hispanicnewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2025/05/500k-cash-bond-set-for-40-year-old.html)

Attorney Reik who represents Valadez on Tuesday also raised the question of the missing discovery from Ricardo Valadez and prior convictions. Attorney Reik also discussed the placement and custody orders from the Waukesha County family court divorce case of Julie Valadez v. Ricardo Valadez, which the Wisconsin Court of Appeals ruled that Waukesha County family Court Judge Michael Aprahamian erred in placing the four Valadez children with the abusive father, instead with their mother, and ordered Aprahamian to correct it, which Judge Ralph Ramirez, who took over the case failed to correct Judge Aprahamian's error as well, and then Judge Jennifer Dorow, who took over the divorce case from Ramirez has also failed to correct Judge Aprahamian's error in the placement and custody of the four Valadez children,  which two of the children today have become adults. 

Tiffany For Wisconsin Governor Campaign 2026 Outed For Allegedly Defaulting On More Than $2K Involving Photo Ops And Video Ad Promotion Work From Milwaukee Local Contractor

A local contractor has outed the Republican Tiffany For Wisconsin campaign after they failed to pay more than $2,000 for the total cost of rendered photo ops, social media video, and local community business promotions with U.S. Congressman Thomas P. Tiffany (R-WI), who is a candidate for Wisconsin Governor.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

February 17, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Tuesday, Veronica Diaz, who provided the Tiffany For Wisconsin political campaign on January 28, 2026 with more than $2,000 worth of campaign promotions that included photo ops, and a social media video, and personal meets with Milwaukee Latino business owners and other services in the metropolitan area in Milwaukee County told Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) that Landis Holdorf, the campaign manager for Tiffany For Wisconsin has to date failed and neglected to pay in full, all the promotional services provided to the Tiffany campaign by Diaz. (Diaz's Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1LKTNyVEed/)

Currently, Diaz has attempted to collect on her Tiffany for Wisconsin contract billing, with no success.

U.S. Congressman Thomas "Tom" P. Tiffany (R-WI) who is a Republican candidate for Governor in Wisconsin was recently endorsed by Donald J. Trump. It seems, that the Tiffany For Wisconsin can't even pay a mere $2,000 contractor promotional advertising bill today, eventhough the Tiffany campaign has generated thousands of campaign donations. (Tiffany's Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Au2qhHsgZ/)

Diaz says, "that it's disheartening that someone who missed time away from work to support a campaign that I believed in, shouldn't treat someone this way."

Diaz told HNNUSA, that she is looking forward to get her promotional services paid in full, which were rendered to the Tiffany For Wisconsin.

Update: On February 21, 2026, Veronica Diaz confirmed that after the HNNUSA article was published, the Tiffany For Wisconsin campaign made a partial payment of $500 to her, which a balance of $1,500 is still due.