alisonphotoO’Brien Fellow Alison Dirr researched Milwaukee’s long-standing struggle with lead contamination, examining systemic failures in the city’s lead program alongside efforts to rebuild it. Through interviews with affected families, and analysis of policy and historical context, her reporting highlights both the urgent human toll and the broader public health implications. The series underscores how reforms could reshape outcomes for vulnerable children while confronting decades of inadequate response.

Photo by Dale Guldan/ Milwaukee Journal Sentinal

Works published to date: 

May 6, 2026

6 takeaways from our investigation into Milwaukee's lead program

Moms helped me understand the urgency of lead poisoning in Milwaukee

Inside the rebuilding of Milwaukee’s lead program – and how it could change lives

Lead in Milwaukee: A decades-long fight against the toxic metal

July 1, 2026

A timeline of how Milwaukee's lead program was built up, then fell apart

Kids should be tested for lead regularly. In Milwaukee, that’s not happening

Lead testing fell in Milwaukee's Black, Latino neighborhoods. See the data

Septmeber 24, 2026

Milwaukee landlords were told to remove lead hazards. Many homes remain unsafe

Does your Milwaukee home have a lead order? Here's how to check

What to know about the 200-plus Milwaukee landlords ordered to fix lead hazards

Here's how you spot lead paint hazards in your home

Milwaukee alderman explains new residential rental inspection pilot