KENOSHA ⏤ I remember my first day covering any government meeting in any community. In October 2012, I walked into the Kimball County Courthouse in Kimball, Neb., a 23-year-old recent college grad wearing a black fedora and whatever the hell business casual is supposed to be. I sat down, and City Clerk Cathleen Sibal, a […]
Today, I had a moment that has led me down a rabbit hole of sorts. I serve as a part-time elementary literacy tutor in the mornings now, and one of my students has had a tough week. And though he missed our session, I saw him standing in the doorway of the office looking at […]
Editor’s Note: This column is about Observer Founder Daniel Thompson’s subjective experiences getting a COVID-19 single-dose vaccination. Therefore, this piece is his opinion. This is not a news article. That does not mean that it does not contain facts; however, the main focus is to relay experience. Hello everyone. I’m writing this because I think […]
Lately, when I think about the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood project near Uptown Kenosha, I return to the same thought: The wrong people are excited about this. See, I’ve obviously been following developments on it, and recently, I attended the public input session on the project at the old Brown Bank Building. Now, I acknowledge the […]
“Now is the time to come together.” There is no doubt in my mind that you’ve heard those words a lot in 2021. I’m also fairly certain that they have hit with different degrees of sincerity based on who has said them to you. As I walk around Kenosha, I know that the city fractured […]
When I returned to this city a few years ago, I had no intention of being a leader in it or the county. If my personality type was based heavily on any type of character, it was always the antiheroes. This included Han Solo, the Green Power Ranger and Batman (aka rich man with mental […]
KENOSHA ⏤ Since I’ve taken on the role of a community, independent journalist, I have known much encouraging and, frankly, needed support ⏤ both for the Observer and “Inside the Mind of Daniel Thompson”. However, people have also pressured me to put down other independents, like Koerri Elijah, and treat them as competition. While I […]
It’s taken me a long time to appreciate and understand my grandfather, Arzell “Flukie” Thompson, and how his kindness is the most important trait he imparted on my family. Bessie Green gave birth to Arzell on Feb 23, 1917, in Nelton, Miss. Growing up a Black man in the Jim Crow South, my grandfather’s opportunities […]
KENOSHA ⏤ I decided to record my initial thoughts following the guilty verdicts returned against Derek Chauvin for murdering George Floyd. Because I feel like maybe some people are feeling a little in shock by the Chauvin verdict as, historically, this is just the fairytale ending for people of color. Not the one we actually […]
KENOSHA ⏤ Sometimes, the written word falls short of expressing the emotion and thoughts we have inside after experiencing trauma. I, Daniel Thompson, am not immune to experiencing this. Sure, written words are convenient if you plan to return to them. But they are cold and distant at their core. Therefore, I’m starting an ongoing […]
KENOSHA ⏤ Since August, a good number of people have heard the name “Daniel Thompson”, some have come to know the journalist, and few have glimpsed my mind and thoughts. However, over time, I’ve realized that this leaves a lot left to be colored in. As a result, I’ve seen some argue points on my […]
Daniel Thompson has worked in journalism for the last nine years, starting at The Western Nebraska Observer ⏤ from which the Uptown Observer gets part of its name ⏤ in 2012.
Born and raised in the Racine/Kenosha area, Thompson is glad to be home again after living years away. He’s also glad to be working for and serving his neighbors.
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