Brookfield resident Ed Miklavcic, one of the last living survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack, turned 106 years old on Thursday. According to the Associated Press, as of December, there were only 12 Pearl Harbor survivors still alive, and none were younger than 100 years old. For decades, Miklavcic has represented the survivors of the attack.

Miklavcic enlisted in the military in 1940 at 20 years old. He found himself stationed at the Wheeler Army Airfield at Pearl Harbor just days before the attack happened.

Watch: One of the last remaining Pearl Harbor survivors and Brookfield resident turns 106

"The enlistment was for Wisconsin and Illinois personnel and 1,500 of us went," Miklavcic said.

When the attack began, Miklavcic was heading to breakfast.

"The first bomb hit the second barrack which was directly behind us. So there was probably a couple hundred that died in the hallway," Miklavcic said. "From then on it was strafing up and down the street.

He and others survived by hiding in a home while Japanese aircraft used machine guns to shoot at people and planes.

"We had no guns issued or anything and all the planes were disarmed," Miklavcic said.

After Pearl Harbor, Miklavcic spent the war stationed in the Pacific, serving for five years. He spent nine months on Iwo Jima during what is considered the bloodiest fighting in the Pacific, where nearly 7,000 people died and 20,000 others were wounded.

"I was at the beginning of the war. I left Iwo Jima the day before we dropped the first atomic bomb," Miklavcic said.

Today, Miklavcic still keeps a photo of the flag raised on Iwo Jima on his dresser. He regularly shares his memories of Pearl Harbor and World War II, noting that while it is important, it is also difficult.

"It is very hard on me because it brings back memories I dont want to remember," Miklavcic said. "The world should be at peace. The way it is now is not right.

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Doctors and patients in Pewaukee are reacting after Gails Law was signed earlier this month, expanding insurance coverage for additional breast cancer screenings.

The law, known as Gails Law, is named after Wisconsin mother Gail Zemear, who died two years ago after being diagnosed with advanced breast cancer in 2016.

She was diligent about getting her yearly screenings, but she did not know at the time that she was at a higher risk and needed additional screening.

The new law requires insurance companies to cover medically necessary supplemental breast cancer screenings for women with dense breast tissue or other high-risk factors.

Watch: New law will expand life-saving breast cancer screenings:

Doctors at ProHealth Pewaukee Cancer Center say the change could impact about 14,000 women in the ProHealth network who are eligible for supplemental screening.

For Pewaukee resident Carey Zigler, additional screening made a life-changing difference.

Zigler said she went in for a routine mammogram in 2019 and was later asked to get an ultrasound.

Both tests came back normal, but because of her family history and because she knew she had dense breast tissue, she asked for a screening MRI and paid for it herself.

With a normal mammogram and a normal ultrasound, it was just caught on the screening MRI, and I was very lucky it was stage zero, Zigler said.

Years later, in 2025, another screening MRI found breast cancer again, this time at stage one.

Right now, going through the treatments, Im stage one, so it really saved me from more advanced chemotherapy. Still very tough, but Im going to be okay, she said.

Zigler said the additional screening which she paid for out of pocket may have made the difference, and hopes the new law will help other women avoid the same financial barriers.

So many women dont know these screenings are out there. Yes, theyre expensive, but they can make such a huge difference, she said.

Everyone should know their breast tissue.

Doctors say the issue is especially important for women with dense breast tissue.

Dense breast tissue can both increase the risk of breast cancer and make tumors harder to detect on a traditional mammogram.

The mammogram can hide or mask cancer behind dense tissue, and just by having dense tissue, it increases your risk of cancer, said Dr. Jennifer Bergin, a radiologist with ProHealth Care.

Because of that, some women are recommended to get additional screening, such as an MRI or automated breast ultrasound, to detect cancer earlier.

ProHealth Care uses supplemental screening technology, including automated breast ultrasound systems developed by GE HealthCare, which are designed to help detect cancers that may not appear on a mammogram in women with dense breast tissue, according to information provided about the technology.

Until now, those additional screenings often came with significant out-of-pocket costs, sometimes several hundred dollars per exam, which created a barrier for many patients.

Weve always been conflicted giving recommendations because we know they create stress and anxiety, because theyre being asked to choose between an expensive extra test or spending that money on family needs, Bergin said.

She said the new law will help remove that barrier and expand access to screening.

This will alleviate that and broaden access to women who need it, Bergin said.

Supporters say Gails Law is ultimately about early detection and saving lives.

For Zigler, the law is personal, and she hopes it will help other women catch cancer earlier.

Thats why this law is so important because it would have made such a difference for so many women, she said.

Insurance plans will have until Jan. 1, 2027, to comply with the new coverage requirements under Gails Law.

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As homeowners work to get their lawns in shape this season, the cost to maintain green grass is growing due to rising fertilizer prices.

Most fertilizers rely on natural gas for production. With global tensions involving countries like Iran, which holds some of the world's largest natural gas reserves, prices can increase quickly.

Francisco Chavez, owner of C&L Lawn Services, said he noticed pricing going up from his suppliers, and prices at the pump are impacting the machinery he works on.

"Right now, its our busiest time of the year for all companies of landscape," Chavez said.

Chavez is currently busy treating lawns with fertilizer to kill dandelions and provide nutrients to the grass. Despite the rising costs, he remains calm to prevent price hikes from trickling down to his customers.

"We've been here before," Chavez said.

For homeowners looking for alternatives to traditional fast-acting nitrogen fertilizers, Milorganite is one option. Made in Wisconsin using treated wastewater byproducts, the product is less tied to global markets.

"Its a good feed. It helps the soil out very much," Chavez said.

WATCH: Eagle lawn care specialists handling costs as global tensions drive up fertilizer prices

While faster nitrogen fertilizers can green a lawn quickly and often cost less when supply chains are steady, Milorganite offers a naturally safe product. However, it comes with a tradeoff.

"Our product is faster for absorbing, so its faster to get into the soil. But Milorganite goes very slow," Chavez said.

The slower release requires more patience from homeowners. Still, Chavez said consistency is key for lawn care.

"We just have to keep it going. We know it's going to get better," Chavez said.

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With early voting underway and Election Day one week away, Brookfield voters say development, housing, and the citys finances are top issues in the race for mayor.

Voters casting early ballots at Brookfield City Hall said the mayors race is one they are paying close attention to.

I think it's important to have a say, one voter said after casting a ballot.

The race for mayor features incumbent Steve Ponto, who has served as mayor since 2010, and challenger Mike Hallquist, a Brookfield alderman.

Watch: Brookfield voters weigh housing, development ahead of mayoral election

Ponto previously served as an alderman and worked as a corporate attorney, while Hallquist works in information technology and has served on the Common Council since 2020.

Both candidates say the election will help determine how the city addresses development, housing, and its budget in the coming years.

Hallquist said the city should expand housing options so more people can live in Brookfield, including seniors and people on fixed incomes, and said cities should make an effort to address housing needs and remove barriers to building different types of housing.

We need to diversify our housing supply, Hallquist said. We right now price out all kinds of people, that is, people with disabilities, that is, fixed income seniors, people who may want to downsize.

Ponto said housing decisions often come down to balancing affordability with maintaining property values and the character of the community, and said the issue can be controversial among residents.

I think affordable housing is really a difficult issue, Ponto said. It has to be managed very carefully.

He said many residents are concerned about maintaining Brookfields current housing values and overall quality of life.

Whoever is elected mayor will also help address a roughly $4 million budget gap and make decisions about how the city funds services moving forward.

Hallquist said rising costs and limited revenue are making it harder for cities to maintain services without changes to how they operate, and said Brookfield will need to look at operations, staffing, and partnerships with other levels of government to remain financially sustainable.

The biggest concern is definitely the citys finances and the growing deficit that we have, he said. The ability to continue to provide the services that weve been able to provide for the last two to three decades has grown much harder.

Ponto said the deficit is manageable but will require careful decisions about spending and services, and said the challenge will be balancing cuts while still maintaining services residents expect.

Im modest. I mean, its $4 million, Ponto said. If we really wanted to, we could come in with a cleaver and cut back substantially.

I think theres a certain artistry toward cutting back enough so that it isnt a real burden on the city, but not so much that it substantially impairs the city, he said.

Both candidates said development and redevelopment will play a major role in Brookfields future, particularly as the city focuses more on redeveloping existing properties and commercial areas.

Hallquist said attracting new businesses and investment will be important for the citys long-term financial health and economic growth, and said the city should focus on revitalizing commercial areas and encouraging new investment.

We also need to find new ways to attract new development, new businesses, to our community, he said.

Ponto said Brookfield has seen significant development over the years, but is now entering a phase where redevelopment will be more common and often more expensive and time-consuming.

I think development is really important, and Brookfield has had a lot of development, but were at the point now where its mainly redevelopment, and thats more expensive, and its slower, Ponto said.

Both candidates said the election is ultimately about the future direction of the city and how Brookfield adapts to changes in the coming years.

Hallquist said his campaign is focused on preparing the city for future changes and improving how the city operates.

My campaign is about looking forward, he said. Issues dont solve themselves.

Leaders solve problems and find ways to move the city forward.

Ponto said his experience in government and knowledge of city operations will help guide Brookfield moving forward.

I look at Brookfield with a lot of confidence in its future, he said. I think experience in government is a really good thing when youre facing issues in government.

Early voting continues through early April, and Brookfield voters will choose their next mayor on April 7.

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A Waukesha man accused of randomly shooting at homes and getting into a shootout with Brookfield Police was wheeled back into court to learn his criminal complaint has been amended. There are now a total of 15 victims associated with his case.

Joseph Fliss faces attempted homicide charges among a dozen other crimes. During his recent court appearance Tuesday, Fliss learned more victims were added to his case.

"If he is convicted, I believe he is a danger to our community, and Im looking for a very long incarceration," Waukesha County District Attorney Lesli Boese said.

The first series of crimes began on Jan. 24 and was caught on surveillance video. Fliss is accused of driving through a Waukesha neighborhood near Waukesha West High School and shooting at homes. At least three different homes were hit while people were inside.

"The children that we did charge for were in houses that were shot into," Boese said.

Some of the 15 victims have reached out to the court to express how the shootings have affected them.

"Knowing those rounds are piercing those walls, nearly striking people, nearly killing people," Waukesha County Court Commissioner Daniel Rieck said.

Watch: Waukesha man accused of shooting at homes and Brookfield Police back in court

"One of the victims discussed how it has impacted their home lives, their personal lives, their sense of security in their home is gone," Rieck said.

Court records say Fliss was involved in another series of crimes on Jan. 31, a week after the random shootings. He is accused of driving drunk at speeds exceeding 120 mph and crashing his vehicle into two others. Fliss then ran away from the crash and Brookfield police officers.

"Then he ends up shooting at police officers. It is our belief that flashlights were on him and was just about to call him out when the defendant started firing shots," Boese said.

Fliss has yet to enter a plea. He will do that at his preliminary hearing on Wednesday, April 8.

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