There’s always something going on in Wisconsin. Check out the biggest news stories in the state from 1981 to 1996.

The Midwest is ill-advisedly referred to as “flyover country,” as if there aren’t exciting things going on in the region worthy of a visit. But there’s always something going on in Midwestern states, like Wisconsin, including some pretty massive news stories.

We’ve tracked down some of the biggest news stories over a 16-year span, from 1981 to 1996. While some may argue over the exact years that each generation was born in, for the sake of this story, we’re writing about millennials, and the big events that happened each year that they were born. 

Some of the biggest events to occur in Wisconsin are tragic, such as tornadoes and other deadly outbreaks, while others are exciting, like historic sports victories. Whether millennials remember the events happening, or were a bit too young, here are the biggest Wisconsin news stories from each year they were born.

1981 – The West Bend Tornado kills three and injures 53

A deadly tornado that hit the town of West Bend, Wisc., wasn’t supposed to be as disastrous as it was. The unexpected storm didn’t display typical features seen in severe storms and tornadoes. Due to this, the National Weather Service only issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning, which meant that local law enforcement didn’t sound tornado sirens in time for West Bend residents to take shelter. On April 4, the storm touched down as a devastating F4 tornado and killed three people, injuring 53 more.  

1982 – The Brewers make the World Series for the first, and only, time

Professional athletes in Milwaukee aren’t slouches: The Milwaukee Bucks have won two championships, the Milwaukee Admirals ice hockey team has also won two, and the Milwaukee Wave indoor soccer team has won seven. But the city’s beloved Major League Baseball team, the Milwaukee Brewers, has yet to take the World Series home to Brew City. The closest the team has ever been was in 1982—their only appearance in the World Series—losing to the St. Louis Cardinals with a seven-game loss. 

1983 – The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s hockey team wins the NCAA Championship

Altogether, the Wisconsin Badgers men’s ice hockey team has won six national championships, making them one of the most decorated college men’s ice hockey teams in the country. On March 26, 1983, the team won its fourth NCAA championship, defeating Harvard University 6-2 in a game held at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D. The team also won the NCAA championship in 1973, 1977, 1981, 1990, and 2006.

1984 – An F5 tornado nearly destroys the Village of Barneveld

Tornadoes are measured on the Fujita scale—a scale that rates the storms based on their intensity. The highest rating on the scale is an F5, with speeds ranging from 261 to 318 miles per hour. Tornadoes that intense are extremely devastating, and that’s what hit the small Village of Barneveld, in southwestern Wisconsin, on June 8, 1984. At the time, Barneveld had 584 residents, and 200 of them were injured as a result of the tornado, while nine were killed. Most of the town’s businesses were destroyed, as well as all three of its churches.

1985 – Midwest Express Airlines Flight 105 crashes in Oak Creek, killing 31

Fatal plane crashes are pretty rare, but that doesn’t mean that they still don’t happen from time to time. On Sept. 6, 1985, Midwest Express Airlines Flight 105, which was scheduled to fly from Milwaukee to Atlanta, crashed just after takeoff, killing all 31 occupants on board. The plane crashed into an open field in Oak Creek due to uncontained engine failure and loss of control due to pilot error.

1986 – Amtrak train derails in Wisconsin, killing one and injuring 33

On average, the Empire Builder, an Amtrak train route that travels from Chicago to Seattle, takes about 46 hours. But the long ride ended abruptly on Oct. 9, 1986, when 12 of the train’s cars derailed, with five overturning. The derailment happened in Fall River, Wisc., and resulted in one death, Walter F. Day, of Waupun, Wisc. There were also 33 crew members and passengers injured in the derailment. Uninjured passengers were taken to Fall River High School and then bussed to Milwaukee.

1987 – Turboprop plane crashes in Fort Atkinson, killing all eight on board

There are big news stories in Wisconsin all the time, but that’s not always the case for Fort Atkinson, a sleepy city of just more than 12,000 residents in Jefferson County. But the city was the setting for one of Wisconsin’s biggest news stories in 1987, when a turboprop plane crashed, killing everyone on board. The plane, which had departed from Chicago, and was traveling to Baraboo, Wisc. 

1988 – Chrysler plant closes in Kenosha, more than 5,000 jobs lost

By now, it’s an all-too-common story that American car manufacturers have shut their doors, packed up, and left thousands of people without jobs. The United States auto industry started to see a decline in the 1970s, and that decline hit Kenosha, Wisc. in 1988, when a Chrysler plant closed. When it announced its closure, the plant employed 6,500 people, and more than 5,500 lost their jobs as a result. Only 1,000 workers remained, working on Chrysler Jeep utility vehicles and its Eagle Premier car line.

1989 – Large wildfire breaks out in White River Marsh State Wildlife Area

Taking up 12,000 acres across Green Lake and Marquette Counties, the White River Marsh State Wildlife Area offers plenty of recreational outdoor activities, including hiking, kayaking, and hunting. A hunter in the wildlife area had a dramatic day out on Nov. 20, 1989, when the hunter unintentionally started a wildfire that burned 4,261 acres of the wildlife, more than a third of its total area. The fire began after the hunter filled a metal coffee can with charcoal to keep warm. Strong winds knocked the can out of the three that the hunter was in, and dumped the charcoal, resulting in a fire. The wildlife area caught on fire again in March 2025, with 750 acres burning. The 2025 fire was contained after a day.

1990 – Late-season snowstorm dumps up to eight inches of snow in May

It’s expected to see wintry weather, well, in the winter. It’s a bit less expected to see a large snowstorm in mid-May. In 1990, Wisconsin experienced its latest-ever snowstorm on record when eight inches of snow fell in parts of Wisconsin on May 10. Because many trees had already grown leaves, which led to branches and trees coming down under the weight of the wet, heavy snow, leading to power lines snapping after trees fell onto them. Northern Wisconsin received the most snowfall, while Milwaukee received just over three inches. 

1991 – Wisconsin Butter Fire floods meat and dairy through Madison

In most cases, a flood indicates an overflow of water; however, in 1991, a flood of meat and dairy products occurred in Madison during the Wisconsin Butter Fire. On May 3, a fire broke out at the Central Storage and Warehouse Company, where many food companies stored their products, and continued for eight days. The fire ultimately spread to another factory building, which subsequently collapsed, resulting in a large wave of melted butter. City engineering crews had to create levees to hold back all of the melted butter and cheese that was running out of the factory building. The fire led to more than $7 million in property damage.

1992 – Jeffrey Dahmer sentenced to life in prison after two-week trial

One of the most infamous serial killers in the country, Jeffrey Dahmer killed 17 males in Ohio and Wisconsin over a 13-year span. He was caught in 1991, after 32-year-old Tracy Edwards escaped from Dahmer’s apartment while handcuffed and flagged down two Milwaukee police officers. Dahmer’s trial began in January 1992, and on Feb. 15, he was found guilty of 16 counts of first-degree murder, two counts of disorderly conduct, second-degree sexual assault, and enticing a child for immoral purposes. He was sentenced to 16 life sentences without the possibility of parole, or 941 years in prison, and was killed while serving his sentence in 1994.

1993 – Waterborne disease outbreak in Milwaukee kills 69, infects more than 400,000

It is still unknown what led to an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis, a waterborne disease epidemic in Milwaukee in April 1993. The leading theory is that the Howard Avenue Water Purification Plant became contaminated, resulting in pathogens in the city’s water supply. The pathogens can cause symptoms like diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, dehydration, vomiting, fever, and weight loss. More than 400,000 reported symptoms from the outbreak, while 69 people ultimately died as a result of it. The total cost of the outbreak, in terms of productivity loss and medical expenses, exceeded $96 million. Additionally, the City of Milwaukee incurred $510 million in repairs and upgrades to the plant, as well as expenses related to outreach to residents.

1994 – Governor Tommy Thompson reelected with historic popular vote percentage

For 15 years, Tommy Thompson served as Wisconsin’s Governor. The Republican was first elected to the office in 1986, after serving in the Wisconsin State Assembly for nearly 20 years. He won his first gubernatorial election with 53 percent of the vote. In 1990, he won a second term by securing an even wider margin—58 percent of the vote. He won by his widest-ever margin in the 1994 race, securing 67 percent of the vote, and winning every county in the state, with the exception of Menominee County. Thompson was elected to one more term in office in 1998, which he left early to take on the role of the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services in 2001.

1995 – Midwestern heat wave kills 141 in Wisconsin

The Midwest is known for its often frigid winters, but it can also get quite hot throughout the region, especially in 1995. That year, a heat wave hit the Midwest, killing hundreds of people, including 141 throughout Wisconsin. The heat wave occurred over a span of five days, from July 12 through July 16, and temperatures reached 106 degrees Fahrenheit. Named the Chicago Heat Wave, the heat wave had its most disastrous impact in Chicago, where 739 people died during those five days. A majority of the deaths were elderly and poor residents of the city, who did not have air conditioning, or did not utilize their air conditioning because of the cost. 

1996 – Category F5 tornado touches down in Oakfield, causes $40 million in damages

Tornado outbreaks in Wisconsin aren’t uncommon, but a category F5 tornado definitely is. F5 tornadoes, the most intense rating for a tornado on the Fujita scale, are infrequent in the state, but they have happened three times, including during an outbreak on July 18, 1996. The disastrous tornado was just one out of a series during the outbreak, which produced 12 tornadoes altogether. Thankfully, no one was killed during the outbreak, but 17 were injured. The storm caused $40 million in damages, destroying 47 homes, along with several businesses and churches. The tornado outbreak is the costliest tornado in Wisconsin’s history.