SURPRISING STUFF

The Prince Act.
A new missing child alert system named in memory of a Milwaukee boy is on the fast track in Madison. The bill, called the Prince Act, is named after Prince McCree, a 5-year-old Milwaukee boy who went missing in October and was later found dead. No Amber Alert was ever issued for Prince McCree. His family, along with the Milwaukee Police Department, searched for the boy. Milwaukee police said they requested an Amber Alert. However, the state didn’t issue it. An Amber Alert comes with specific criteria from the Department of Justice.

The child must be 17 or younger, must be in danger, and there must be a suspect or suspect vehicle description. When Prince’s parents reported him missing, his case did not qualify. That’s why some are now pushing for change. The Prince Act would work like the state’s Silver Alert system, which currently warns the public through cell phone messages and highway billboards about missing adults “with developmental disability … or dementia.”

It would also include children 10 and younger. Right now, the Silver Alert applies only to missing adults with a developmental disability or dementia or who don’t have access to needed medicine. The bipartisan bill introduced in the Wisconsin Legislature bears McCree’s first name: Protection and Recovery Involving Non-located Children Endangered. Wisconsin reports an average of 76 kids under eight go missing each year. Most don’t get an Amber Alert. The bill has support from lawmakers in both parties and if the bill becomes law, you might get more Silver Alerts on your phone and on digital highway signs.

Place of the Week

Great Eggs, located at 220 Cook Street, has delicious wraps for breakfast and lunch.