The High Cost of Hemp and High-Tech

With Steve out, Kristin Brey takes the mic solo for a lively, wide-ranging day of headlines, heart, and humor. Kristin kicks things off with a recap of last night’s Trivia Showdown and one of the biggest stories she missed — the federal government shutdown finally ending (for now). But the temporary deal came with a surprise: a ban on hemp growing in the U.S. She plays audio from Senator Rand Paul voicing his anger over the move and then welcomes the CEO of Batch, a Wisconsin hemp company, to explain how this ban affects local farmers and small businesses. Later, State Senator Jodi Habush Sinykin joins to discuss her new bill regulating data centers as the industry expands across Wisconsin. Kristin asks how lawmakers are balancing energy use, development, and community impact. In the 11 a.m. hour, Urban Milwaukee’s Jeramey Jannene drops in for a city update — from the closed STI clinic and the future of Milwaukee’s “Beer District”, to the latest debates over I-794, the stalled timber tower project, and the city’s wheel tax. They end on a lighter note, celebrating two brand-new festivals coming to Milwaukee in 2026.