Fave 5: Reporter Emily Hamer picks the stories she most enjoyed writing in 2019
We are sharing Wisconsin State Journal staffers' favorite work from 2019. From reporter Emily Hamer: I didn't realize until after I picked my five favorite stories from this year what they all had in common. For each one, I really connected with the emotion I saw in the people I was covering. Their stories made me feel.Â
I was disheartened when now-pardoned Iraq War veteran Eric Pizer told me some people would tell him that he was "just a felon." I felt the warmth and love inside the walls of the white church and black church that formed an alliance. I witnessed the sheer joy of the Chabad of Madison as members of the synagogue and other Madison Jews welcomed a new Torah scroll. At the Fools' Flotilla, I ran alongside the river parade and took photos of children giggling and parents having just as much fun. At the remembrance ceremony making the one-year anniversary of the Sun Prairie explosion where firefighter Capt. Cory Barr was killed, I couldn't stop myself from crying. Each of these stories, and many others, left an impact on me this year.Â
(5) updates to this series since Updated
Five years ago, dozens wrote letters to former Gov. Scott Walker to issue decorated Iraq War veteran Eric Pizer a pardon. On Monday, Gov. Tony Evers will give Pizer that "second chance."Â
The two churches — one predominantly black, the other mostly white — will have services under the same roof on the East Side starting Sunday.
A "once in a generation" kind of event, a scribe completed the final letters of the Torah scroll at the celebration.Â
Well over 300 people participated in the river parade, and even more watched along the shore. River-goers wore gorilla, mermaid, jellyfish and pirate costumes.
More than 500 people attended the remembrance ceremony, many with tears in their eyes as the mayor, fire chief and the firefighter's wife spoke.Â
Gov. Tony Evers is on track to pardon more people in his first term than any governor in recent history.Â
We are sharing Wisconsin State Journal staffers' favorite work from 2019. From energy and environment reporter Chris Hubbuch:Â
We are sharing Wisconsin State Journal staffers' favorite work from 2019. From state government reporter Mitchell Schmidt: Having joined the S…
The meeting came to a standstill for 15 minutes after demonstrators yelled over Dane District Attorney Ismael Ozanne, telling him to "sit down."
We are sharing Wisconsin State Journal staffers' favorite work from 2019. From health reporter David Wahlberg: I spent much of this year doing…
