
Ben Handelman
It is a dream to be able to tell the stories of Milwaukee and southeast Wisconsin. Since joining the FOX6 News team in April 2011, I have traveled across the state and the country as an anchor/reporter for Wisconsin’s largest newsroom.
I am proud to call Milwaukee’s east side my home. My journey here brought me out of the woods of Connecticut, and through some of our country’s largest farm fields in Illinois before finding a home in the brew city!
I grew up in northwest Connecticut and graduated from Quinnipiac University (GO BOBCATS!). A desire to be a professional storyteller helped me land my first job at ABC affiliate WICS in Springfield, Illinois. I was promoted and sent to sister station WICD in Champaign, Illinois where I met my wife. At the time she was a reporter for the competition. I’m happy to say Ashley Sears and I found a way to be on the same team when we both moved to Milwaukee to work at FOX6! We enjoy working together a lot better than against each other.
Here in Milwaukee, I have anchored and reported on every newscast from morning to night. Currently, I can be found anchoring weekend evening newscasts and reporting for FOX6 news at nine and ten throughout the week. In my time here I’ve covered some of Wisconsin’s biggest stories from the Sikh Temple and Azana Salon shootings to the unrest in Sherman Park in 2016. I’ve walked with Brett Favre during his return to Lambeau Field and helped push cars stuck in the snow during several Wisconsin winters.
I’ve been sent across the country where I’ve seen the destruction of an F-5 tornado in Oklahoma and the heartbreak left behind following the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando. In Dallas, I saw the resilience of officers who had to head back to work after five of their coworkers were killed, and have stood feet away from Air Force One for two different presidents.
My work has received recognition from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association, Wisconsin Broadcasters Association, and the Milwaukee Press Club.
In Milwaukee, you can often find Ashley and me jogging along the lakefront or attending one of the million festivals in our great home city. In 2016, I started a goofy boat blog to share pictures of Milwaukee’s vibrant shipping industry (bigboatsmke.com). I am on a lifetime journey to sample as much Mexican food as I can find. I am always looking for story ideas or recommendations for my next adventure.
Feel free to reach out ben.handelman@fox.com. Let’s connect on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The latest from Ben Handelman
Wausau teen's cellphone fix-it business creating quite the stir
A Wausau teen's budding cellphone "fix-it" business has caught the eye of Junior Achievement.
Brookfield teen teaches chess, expands horizons for kids
A high school junior from Brookfield is teaching chess for free -- helping to expand the horizons of dozens of kids.
Wisconsin toy tractor builder; JA 'Young Entrepreneur Live' finalist
One of those in the running for a Junior Achievement honor is a high school senior from Oconto County – whose toy tractors are pulling in big bucks.
Fond du Lac teen's business soars after Junior Achievement program
If you are looking for a breath of fresh air, meet Ayden Fowler – a teen collecting dollars and "scents."
Appleton teen's Yum Yum Rolls make him JA 'Young Entrepreneur Live' finalist
One of those in the running for the top prize in the Junior Achievement 'Young Entrpreneur Live' competition is a 13-year-old from Appleton.
Snow drops on Wisconsin officer: captured on camera
The Viroqua Police Department shared video of a funny moment involving one of its officers.
Thiensville's traditional 'noon alarm' silenced, village president wants it back
The Thiensville "noon alarm" blared throughout the village to mark the middle of day for years. But village leaders have silenced the alarm after no one could answer why the tradition existed.
Milwaukee domestic violence commission chair resigns in protest
Jermaine Reed, the chairman of Milwaukee's domestic violence commission, resigned in protest Tuesday over the city's selection of Ashanti Hamilton to lead the Office of Violence Prevention. Reed pointed to Hamilton's criminal past as the reason he suddenly quit.
Gilbert Gottfried: FOX6's Gino Salomone remembers best friend
Gilbert Gottfried died at the age of 67. FOX6's Gino Salomone happened to be one of the comedian's best friends.
New book reveals Foxconn deal details in Mount Pleasant
A new book reveals fascinating details about the $10 billion Foxconn investment in an LCD plant in Racine County.