Kristian Knutsen

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Kristian Knutsen is the senior digital editor with PBS Wisconsin's "Here & Now." He was previously managing editor of WisContext, an online service of PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio ...

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Kristian's Recent Stories

Three side-by-side photos show Robin Vos, Greta Neubauer and Dianne Hesselbein sitting in rooms with out-of-focus backgrounds.

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: Speaker Robin Vos, Rep. Greta Neubauer, Sen. Dianne Hesselbein

Here's what guests on the Dec. 13 and Dec. 20, 2024 episodes said about the Wisconsin Legislature's record over the previous year and expectations for state politics in 2025.

Monday December 30, 2024


An illustration shows the words HERE and NOW in large type and stacked, with 2024 HIGHLIGHTS in between them.

Politics

PBS Wisconsin reporters share their 2024 highlights

Here & Now journalists point to coverage that shared the stories of people affected by the uncertainties of life and the forces that are shaping politics over their past 12 months of reporting.

Thursday December 26, 2024


Frederica Freyberg sits at a desk on the Here & Now set and faces a video monitor showing an image of Zac Schultz.

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: Zac Schultz, Edgar Lin, Sec. David Casey

Here's what guests on the Sept. 20, 2024 episode said about a Harris rally in Madison, legal requirements to certify election results and a new online tax-filing option.

Monday September 23, 2024


Bill McCoshen and Scot Ross sit next to each other and across from Frederica Freyberg at a desk on the Here & Now set.

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: McCoshen & Ross, Steven Potter, Scott McDonell, Meagan Wolfe, Christy Remucal

Here's what guests on the July 12, 2024 episode said about the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, how election clerks are preparing to once again use absentee ballot drop boxes, and how foam on lakes and rivers can contain high levels of "forever chemicals."

Monday July 15, 2024


An illustration shows the words HERE and NOW in large type and stacked, with 2023 HIGHLIGHTS in between them.

Politics

PBS Wisconsin reporters share their 2023 highlights

Here & Now journalists point to coverage of a Wisconsin Supreme Court election, the state budget process, abortion, the impacts of racial disparities and more over their past 12 months of reporting.

Friday December 29, 2023


Frederica Freyberg and Zac Schultz sit facing each other on the Here & Now set.

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: Zac Schultz, Speaker Robin Vos, Carla Vigue, Secretary Missy Hughes

Here's what guests on the Dec. 22, 2023 episode said about the Wisconsin Supreme Court's redistricting lawsuit order, priorities for Assembly Republicans, UW-Madison scholarships for enrolled tribal members, and tech company jobs in Racine County.

Tuesday December 26, 2023


Dominic Zappia and Frederica Freyberg sit facing each other on the Here & Now set.

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: Dominic Zappia, Rep. Greta Neubauer, County Executive David Crowley

Here's what guests on the Dec. 15, 2023 episode said about student reactions to UW regents voting to scale back DEI efforts, what Assembly Democrats are anticipating in 2024, and the financial situation for Milwaukee County.

Monday December 18, 2023


An empty pool with multiple swim lanes, a deeper diving area, and a shallower play area with two water slides sits empty, as seen through a chain-link fence, with buildings and trees in the background.

Budgets

Brodhead gets shared revenue boost but continues to pursue budget relief

An increase in funding directed from the state government to local municipalities is helping a small community in southern Wisconsin maintain its services, but struggles continue to keep up with higher costs amid slower growth in new development.

Thursday September 7, 2023


Frederica Freyberg sits at a desk on the Here & Now set and faces a video monitor showing an image of Shawn Johnson.

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: Shawn Johnson, Bob Lang, Kathy Bernier, Craig Czarnecki

Here's what guests on the June 9, 2023 episode said about a deal on shared revenue and K-12 school funding, Wisconsin's larger budget process, combatting election misinformation and air quality alerts.

Monday June 12, 2023


A poster with a U.S. flag graphic and the words Vote Here is affixed to a sandwich board sign standing on a gravel driveway.

Elections

What you need to know about Wisconsin’s spring 2023 election

'Here & Now' has covered the contests for Wisconsin Supreme Court, Senate District 8 and mayor of Green Bay leading up to the April 4 vote — explore reporting about the candidates and races.

Tuesday April 4, 2023


A still image from a video shows a sample ballot from Wisconsin's spring election on April 4, 2023.

Elections

Fast Facts: The questions on Wisconsin’s spring 2023 ballot

Along with the Wisconsin Supreme Court election, voters across the state have three questions on the 2023 ballot: two would amend the state's constitution and the other is a non-binding referendum.

Thursday March 30, 2023


Jeff Mandell and Frederica Freyberg sit facing each other on the Here & Now set.

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: Dr. Greg DeMuri, Michael Lazzeri, Jeff Mandell

Here's what guests on the March 10, 2023 episode said about vaccinating children for meningitis and chickenpox, rising child labor violations at state and national levels, and an ethics complaint filed against a former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice.

Monday March 13, 2023


A yard sign with the word Vote and an arrow stands next to a snow-covered shrub, with concrete and brick walls in the background.

Elections

What you need to know about Wisconsin’s 2023 spring primary election

'Here & Now' has covered the Wisconsin Supreme Court election along with primaries for a state Senate seat and Madison mayor leading up to the Feb. 21 vote — explore reporting about the candidates and races.

Tuesday February 21, 2023


Mark Born and Frederica Freyberg sit in chairs in an office with a Wisconsin flags, a bookcase with portraits, and a computer desk with keyboard and screen in the background, and a meeting table with more chairs in the foreground.

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: Rep. Mark Born

Here's what a guest on the Feb. 17, 2022 episode said about the 2023 state budget proposed by Gov. Tony Evers and how Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature plan to pass a different plan.

Monday February 20, 2023


Four side-by-side images show portraits of Robin Vos, Greta Neubauer, Devin LeMahieu and Melissa Agard.

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: Robin Vos, Greta Neubauer, Devin LeMahieu, Melissa Agard

Here's what the Republican and Democratic members of leadership in the Wisconsin Legislature said about the state's 2023 biennial budget process, spring elections and political outlook.

Tuesday January 3, 2023


An illustration shows letters spelling Here and Now with a background shaded from burgundy to yellow and with 2022 highlights in white type.

Politics

PBS Wisconsin reporters share their 2022 highlights

Looking back at their reporting over the previous 12 months, PBS Wisconsin Here & Now journalists point to their coverage of the election, economy, Ukraine, abortion and much more as standing out in another tumultuous year.

Friday December 23, 2022


A sandwich board sign with a U.S. flag and the words Vote Here stands next to a masonry wall alongside the walkway to a building entrance.

Here and Now 2022

What you need to know about Wisconsin’s 2022 midterm elections

'Here & Now' has closely followed candidates and issues leading up to the Nov. 8 vote — explore reporting about the state's political conditions and movement since the primary.

Tuesday November 8, 2022


Highway signs for U.S. Interstate 41 North as well as U.S. Highway 41 North and U.S. Highway 45 North stand next to a road in spring, with houses and leafless trees in the background.

Elections

Maps: Wisconsin’s 2022 Republican primaries for governor and attorney general

The victories by Tim Michels and Eric Toney in the partisan primaries for two statewide seats reflect long-standing geographic patterns among voters around the state.

Tuesday August 16, 2022


A split screen shows Frederica Freyberg and Tammy Baldwin in different locations.

Politics

Here & Now Highlights: US Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Ann Jacobs, Dr. Christopher Ford

Here's what guests on the July 29, 2022 episode said about efforts to enshrine same-sex marriage, election fraud activists who admitted to committing election fraud, and how ER doctors are preparing for more complications among pregnant patients as abortion access decreases.

Monday August 1, 2022


Fast Facts: Wisconsin’s record low unemployment

Economy

Fast Facts: Wisconsin’s record low unemployment

The number of unemployed people in Wisconsin has hit its lowest levels recorded for two consecutive months, an economic measure that has recovered following a brief pandemic spike even as inflation and other indicators trend in different directions.

Wednesday June 1, 2022


Fast Facts: Wisconsin’s rising housing costs

Economy

Fast Facts: Wisconsin’s rising housing costs

The price of a place to live is on the rise in Wisconsin, in terms of both real estate and rent, as changing demographics help drive high demand amid a limited housing supply, with each factor intensified in the wake of the pandemic.

Friday April 15, 2022


Fast Facts: Replacing Wisconsin’s juvenile detention centers

Policy

Fast Facts: Replacing Wisconsin’s juvenile detention centers

The city of Milwaukee is slated to be the site of a new state juvenile correctional facility, replacing the Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake institutions in north-central Wisconsin. The legislative path toward this replacement plan took years, though, interrupted by the pandemic and enmeshed in politics even amid bipartisan support. Here's a summary of how it happened.

Wednesday March 30, 2022


From left to right, a split screen with Frederica Freyberg and Barry Burden seated in different locations

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: Jake Baggott, Will Cushman, Karola Kreitmair, Barry Burden

Here's what guests on the Jan. 21, 2022 episode had to say about returning UW-Madison students in the midst of the Omicron surge, whether it has yet to peak in Wisconsin, medical ethics involved in treating COVID-19 patients and why the state figures so prominently in the national politics of election practices.

Monday January 24, 2022


An illustration shows letters spelling Here and Now with a background shaded from burgundy to yellow and with 2021 highlights in white type.

Politics

PBS Wisconsin reporters share their 2021 highlights

Looking back at their work over the course of the year, reporters point to their coverage of the wolf hunt, rural broadband expansion efforts, covid vaccination patterns, baseball history, the community climate in Kenosha, strained hospital capacity, the pardon process and special education funding as memorable.

Thursday December 30, 2021


An illustration shows blue and cream letters spelling Here and Now with 2021 stories in white type.

Politics

The most-read PBS Wisconsin news stories of 2021

During a busy and challenging year, online audiences gravitated toward stories covering the consequences of varying COVID-19 vaccination rates, government responses to the pandemic, a high-priced home building boom, the state's political geography, Afghan refugees and a worrisome worm.

Wednesday December 29, 2021


An illustration shows blue and red letters spelling Here and Now with 2021 interviews in white type.

Politics

The most-watched ‘Here & Now’ interviews of 2021

Discussions about COVID-19 variants and vaccines, education policy across Wisconsin and the Rittenhouse trial in Kenosha captured the attention of viewers over the course of another tumultuous year.

Tuesday December 28, 2021


An electron micrograph of COVID-19 viroids on a cellular surface is superimposed by a cutout graphic of an antique syringe with astrological gender symbols on its handle.

WisContext

What’s causing a gender gap in Wisconsin’s covid vaccinations?

More women are getting COVID-19 vaccinations than men around the state, and factors like age, job, politics and attitude toward health care each play a role in this persistent phenomenon.

Tuesday November 30, 2021


A sidewalk sign reading COVID-19 Vaccine Enter Here stands in front of a building entrance.

COVID-19

Wisconsin’s Covid Condition: The Delta Outbreak Declines Slowly, More Booster Shots Are Recommended

The state's numbers of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are starting to drop slowly from their early autumn highs, with more protection from the disease imminent as the FDA and CDC recommend more options for fully vaccinated people to get an additional dose and mix-and-match vaccine types.

Friday October 22, 2021


A nurse prepares a syringe in a storage room with theater costumes hanging in the background.

COVID-19

Wisconsin’s Covid Condition: The Delta Variant Prompts Fears of Pandemic Deja Vu

Health care professionals and officials are bracing for COVID-19 patient numbers to continue rising in the state’s largest wave of infections in nearly a year as students return to classes.

Friday September 3, 2021


Underwater photo of divers looking down at a shipwreck

Policy

How the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast Emerged From a Sharp Political Squall

A National Marine Sanctuary established off the shores of Lake Michigan to protect and promote dozens of sites where historic sunken ships sit at the bottom followed a years-long saga of local disputes and whiplash in support at the state and federal levels.

Tuesday July 13, 2021


Gloved hands holding syringe inject a COVID-19 vaccine into an upper arm.

COVID-19

Wisconsin’s Covid Condition: The Pandemic Recedes in its Second Summer

New COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths are all hitting their lowest reported levels in the state, but with only about half of Wisconsinites vaccinated for the coronavirus, public health authorities are urging more people to do so as the Delta variant looms.

Friday June 25, 2021


An illustration with two figures from the Wisconsin coat of arms leaning on a shield with a button reading COVID-19 vaccinated.

WisContext

The Peculiar Divergence In COVID Vaccinations Around Milwaukee’s Republican Hinterland

A link between partisan politics and coronavirus vaccinations at the national level has become increasingly recognized, but a slew of additional factors are playing a role in Wisconsin's largest metro area.

Thursday June 10, 2021


Cracks in dry soil on footpath surrounded by green grass and weeds

WisContext

A Wet Decade Shifts To Drought In Southern Wisconsin

Following the state's wettest decade on record, lower-than-normal precipitation in the spring of 2021 is leading drought conditions to emerge in agricultural areas reliant on steady rains.

Monday June 7, 2021


Electronic micrope image of novel coronavirus particles covering an infected cell

WisContext

The Difference Between Wisconsin’s ‘Confirmed’ and ‘Probable’ COVID-19 Data

Efforts to count coronavirus cases and deaths around the state indicate the varying degrees of certainty that can be attributed to individual circumstances as public health agencies keep up with day-to-day rhythms of the pandemic.

Thursday May 13, 2021


A screenshot of John Johnson, Sr. giving the 2021 State of the Tribes address in the Wisconsin Assembly chambers

Politics

History Is at the Heart of Wisconsin’s 2021 State of the Tribes Address

In a speech to the state Legislature, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa President John D. Johnson, Sr. connects the principles of tribal sovereignty to contemporary issues important to Native communities.

Tuesday May 11, 2021


COVID VACCINE sign with arrow and people standing in line outside buidling

COVID-19

How Does Hesitancy Fit Into Wisconsin’s COVID-19 Vaccination Trends?

Here & Now Extra: Differences by age, race, gender and politics in terms of who is getting coronavirus vaccines around the state align with national trends and polling, while pointing toward potential gaps going forward.

Friday April 23, 2021


Poster-style illustration of Jill Underly speaking at podium

Elections

Map: A Closer Look at Wisconsin’s 2021 State Superintendent Election Results

The vote for Jill Underly over Deborah Kerr in the election to lead the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction reflected the partisan nature of the race to some degree, but there were also several divergences from typical geographic patterns.

Wednesday April 7, 2021


Bumper stickers reading I got me COVID-19 vaccine #SavingLives shared by the Clark County Health Department

WisContext

Where Is Wisconsin’s COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery Lagging — And Why?

With universal eligibility starting April 5, the pace of coronavirus shots is speeding up everywhere in the state, but rates have been stubbornly lower in Clark, Rusk and Taylor counties.

Tuesday March 30, 2021


Patients stand in line to sign up for coronavirus vaccinations at a community clinic at Lambeau Field.

COVID-19

Northeast Wisconsin’s Coronavirus Vaccinations Get a Boost at Lambeau Field

Here & Now Extra: By the end of June, a community clinic at the home of the Green Bay Packers is gearing up to vaccinate tens of thousands of people from around the region.

Tuesday March 23, 2021


A transmission electron micrograph of a SARS-CoV-2 virus particle B.1.1.7 variant with the virus particle highlighted in yellow and its spike proteins in green against a blue background.

COVID-19

A Sprint Between Variants and Vaccinations Extends Wisconsin’s COVID-19 Marathon

Here & Now Extra: As newer and more virulent coronavirus strains gain a foothold in the state, public health researchers hope tracking efforts and vaccinations can keep pace.

Tuesday March 16, 2021


A WIAA 2017 Sectional stencil on the infield dirt of a softball field in Watertown

Politics

How Is Title IX Relevant to Wisconsin’s Transgender Student-Athlete Bills?

Here & Now Extra: Shifting federal policies on a landmark anti-discrimination law have played a role in a wave of state-level legislation restricting participation in school sports.

Tuesday March 9, 2021


COVID-19 Per Capita Wisconsin Counties Rank Screenshot

Politics

Wisconsin’s Spring, Summer And Fall COVID-19 Surges

To better understand the shifting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Wisconsin over time, a series of data visualizations depicts the number of confirmed cases reported in each county from early March 2020, when the coronavirus started spreading in the state, to the end of November.

Friday December 4, 2020


Illustration by Hayley Sperling

Politics

12 Top WisContext Stories Of 2019

WisContext is focused on the long haul. Examining how Wisconsin's history shapes its contemporary issues and looking forward at how these trends may develop was a consistent element of our coverage in 2019.

Thursday December 26, 2019


Illustration by Will Cushman; images via Tom Thai (CC BY 2.0) and pxhere (CC0)

Politics

Another Special Elections Fracas And The Question Of Representation

For the second time in as many years, Wisconsin's gears of democracy have slipped and slowed on the questions of how and when a special election would be set by the governor's office.

Wednesday December 11, 2019


Illustration by Hayley Sperling and Kristian Knutsen

Politics

12 Top WisContext Stories Of 2018

WisContext's in-depth looks at a variety of demographic, economic, environmental and policymaking issues in 2018 spanned the state.

Wednesday December 26, 2018


Kristian Knutsen

Politics

A Series Of Unprecedented Events

Over the course of three months, a seemingly mundane state personnel matter snowballed into a string of inaction and action across all three branches of government that was unprecedented in Wisconsin's political landscape.

Thursday March 29, 2018


Illustration by Scott Gordon

Politics

12 Top WisContext Stories Of 2017

The past year at WisContext has been filled with looks at a variety of complex economic, environmental and demographic issues facing Wisconsin, along with a healthy side of bugs.

Tuesday December 26, 2017


Wisconsin Public Television

Politics

How Sculptors And Muralists Made Wisconsin’s Capitol Building Complete

The World's Columbian Exposition in 1893 made renowned contributions to American amusement park attractions, cheap beer branding and serial killer lore, but it likewise provided a profound influence on the Wisconsin State Capitol.

Wednesday December 6, 2017


Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs

Politics

10 Ways Wisconsin’s Wet Summer Of 2017 Continued To Touch The State

With the summer of 2017 in the record books, many parts of Wisconsin are still feeling the impact of the season's wet weather.

Friday October 20, 2017


Phil Roeder (CC BY 2.0)

Politics

The Overlapping Lines In The Wisconsin Redistricting Lawsuit

Where Wisconsin's voters live and which political parties they support is at the heart of a major lawsuit before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Friday October 6, 2017


National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan

Politics

Learning From A Flood Of The Past To Prepare For The Future

What would happen if a devastating rainstorm that hits an area and causes damaging floods instead struck somewhere else?

Monday October 2, 2017


Dome Poon (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Politics

Weighing the Environmental Risks Of Electronics Fabrication In Wisconsin

When it comes to the environmental impact of manufacturing electronics, there is an essential distinction between fabrication and assembly.

Wednesday September 13, 2017


Illustration by Scott Gordon; images via Matt Glaman (CC BY-SA 2.0), Karen Arnold (CC0) and LGuc804uc790 (CC BY 2.0)

Politics

The Connection Between Foxconn and Lake Michigan’s Water

Fresh water is an increasingly precious necessity around the planet, and Wisconsin has better access to it than most places.

Friday August 25, 2017


Illustration by Kristian Knutsen; pipes image via CMU Public Broadcasting

Politics

Lead Pipe Replacement Costs Are An Ongoing Issue For Wisconsin’s Local Governments

Local governments across Wisconsin face an open question of how they'll pay for ongoing lead pipe replacement efforts.

Thursday July 27, 2017


Chuck Quirmbach/Wisconsin Public Radio

Politics

10 Things To Know About Wisconsin’s Wet Summer In 2017

Between January and June 2017, more than 20 inches of rain fell in Wisconsin, enough to make the first-half of the year the second wettest on record.

Tuesday July 18, 2017


John James Audubon (via Wikimedia Commons)

Politics

Wisconsin And The Extinction Of The Passenger Pigeon

An avian blizzard in central Wisconsin in 1871 made for a spectacle the likes of which would never be seen again.

Tuesday July 11, 2017


Caitlin McKown/UW Applied Population Laboratory

Politics

The Multiple Ways Of Identifying Rural Wisconsin

While differences between rural and urban parts of the U.S. may be vast in many places, drawing those geographic distinctions is not always simple.

Wednesday July 5, 2017


Illustration by Scott Gordon and Kristian Knutsen; Elizabethkingia culture image via Wisconsin Department of Health Services and genetic code image via Stefano (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Politics

Exploring How The Common Elizabethkingia Bacteria Can Turn Deadly

An international group of geneticists, epidemiologists and public health researchers based in Australia, France and the U.S. teamed up to study a pathogen after it caused a small but deadly outbreak of illnesses in Wisconsin.

Thursday June 8, 2017


Macroscopic Solutions (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Politics

Deer Ticks In Wisconsin And The Diseases They Carry

One enduring myth about ticks is that these little bloodsucking creatures hang around on tree branches and leaves, waiting to drop down on an unsuspecting feast. Ticks don't dive-bomb their intended meals, but they do engage in behavior called "questing."

Friday May 26, 2017


Scott Gordon

Politics

Occupational Risks To People Encountering Opioids While Working

Law enforcement officers, emergency medical workers and lab technicians are trained to minimize their exposure to dangerous substances. The increasing use of powerful opioids — which are dangerous to inhale or even touch in very small amounts — is adding unpredictability to these risks.

Thursday May 18, 2017


Illustration by Scott Gordon; molecular structural formulas via Wikmedia Commons (public domain)

Politics

Synthetic Opioids Have Public Health And Medical Investigators Playing Catch-Up

A diverse array of potent synthetic drugs are becoming more prominent in the opioid crisis, creating difficulties for medical investigators and public health officials.

Thursday May 4, 2017


Wisconsin Public Television

Politics

When Dairy Farms Don’t Have Milk Buyers

Spring has brought gut-wrenching uncertainty to scores of dairy farms around Wisconsin. On April 1 a Clark County-based processor dropped their contracts, leaving them without a place to sell their milk.

Monday April 24, 2017


Wisconsin Public Television

Politics

Farm To School Success Depends On Shared Knowledge

The concept of farm to school — improving nutritional options and expanding educational opportunities for students through agriculture — has an inherently local character.

Thursday April 20, 2017


Maureen McCollum/Wisconsin Public Radio

Politics

Connecting Farms With Schools Requires Resourceful Logistics

Farm to school is simple in concept but complex in execution.

Friday April 14, 2017


Scott Gordon

Politics

Focus On The Waukesha Diversion Deal Turning Towards Infrastructure

An effort by the city of Waukesha to source its drinking water from Lake Michigan is well over a decade in the making.

Thursday March 16, 2017


Illustration by Scott Gordon; molecular structural formulas via Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Politics

The Role Of Medication-Assisted Treatment In Opioid Addiction

Medication-assisted treatment tackles substance use disorders by combining behavioral therapy like counseling with a prescription medicine.

Tuesday March 14, 2017


Illustration by Scott Gordon; images via Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Politics

What’s At Stake For Wisconsin As Refugee Policy Shifts

Between 2002 and 2016, nearly 14,000 refugees fleeing violence and persecution around the world resettled in Wisconsin. Of this group, more than 5,000 were from a single nation in southeast Asia: Burma.

Tuesday February 28, 2017


beautifulcataya (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Politics

Clean Hop Program Seeks To Beat Disease And Better Bitter Beer

The flowering of craft beer over the past decade was accompanied and aided by an arms race to scale new heights of bitter flavors.

Wednesday February 22, 2017


Wisconsin Public Television

Politics

A Syrian Refugee Family Seeks To Rebuild Their Lives In Middleton

Every single refugee among multitudes around the world has their own individual story, their own experience of fleeing danger and seeking a better life elsewhere. One family that escaped Syria and moved to Wisconsin offers an example of the personal scope of this vast crisis.

Thursday February 2, 2017


Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Politics

Wisconsin’s Place In The Global Refugee Crisis

Refugees and their resettlement in the United States have taken on a higher profile in recent years, owing in large part to ongoing war in Syria and the subsequent displacement of millions of people.

Wednesday February 1, 2017


Margaret Franchino/University of Wisconsin-Extension

Politics

One Season In With A Youth Farmers’ Market In Green Bay

Kids who may not be interested in eating vegetables are more willing to take a risk and try new flavors when they grow produce themselves. That's one of the ideas behind a youth farmers' market that launched in Green Bay in 2016.

Monday January 30, 2017


Kristian Knutsen

Politics

A Challenge To The Good Name Of Milk

Over the past several years, a pair of trends have been putting pressure on the dairy industry in the United States.

Thursday January 26, 2017


Wisconsin Public Television

Politics

Gauging The Value Of ShotSpotter In Milwaukee

Limited data about how the ShotSpotter alerts in Milwaukee between 2013 and 2015 shed some light on how this gunfire audio detection system is used by police.

Wednesday January 11, 2017


Chesapeake Bay Program (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Politics

Sizing Up Manure Digesters As A Water Quality Solution

As the state calls for ideas that use manure digesters to help improve drinking-water quality in Wisconsin, it's helpful to better understand how the actual functions of digesters align with the problem at hand.

Thursday December 1, 2016


Caitlin McKown/UW Applied Population Laboratory

Politics

The Political Geography Of Wisconsin: Partisanship And Population Density

Wisconsin has been a battleground state in presidential elections for decades, but over time, the political landscape has shifted. Voting patterns are increasingly becoming defined by geography, with population density serving as a marker of partisan preference.

Monday November 7, 2016


longyoung (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Politics

The Past, Present And Future Of Phelps, Wisconsin

Spanning the border between Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is a smallish lake, located right where the state line hooks south. Named Lac Vieux Desert, it's the headwaters of the Wisconsin River.

Friday October 28, 2016


Joe Shlabotnik (CC BY 2.0)

Politics

Wisconsin Faces Workforce Decline Despite Being ‘State Of Stayers’

As in many other places in the U.S. and around the world, Wisconsin is getting older, enough so that its aging population will have profound economic consequences.

Tuesday October 25, 2016


Watershed Sustainability and Climate Project, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Politics

Four Visions Of Change For The Yahara Watershed

The year 2070 may sound like an impossibly distant date from the vantage point of 2016, but it's as near into the future as John Glenn's first orbit of the Earth is in the past.

Thursday September 1, 2016


Wisconsin Public Television

Politics

Sylville Smith, Violence And Racial Divides In Milwaukee

In the time since a Milwaukee Police Department officer shot and killed 23-year-old Sylville Smith on Saturday, August 13, 2016, Wisconsin has played host to a fractured yet familiar story.

Monday August 22, 2016


Wisconsin Public Television

Politics

Seed To Kitchen Collaborative Seeks More Flavors For Local Produce

While local food can be viewed as both an eternal and contemporary concept, a basic way-of-life present throughout humanity's history and a fashionable type of grocery purchase, the science behind what it is and means is still taking shape.

Thursday July 7, 2016


John Obermeyer/Purdue University

Politics

More Information About The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Though the brown marmorated stink bug has only been spotted in Wisconsin over the last seven years, entomologists tracking the species suggest that it may become a prominent problem for farmers and gardeners. Links to resources and more information about it follow.

Wednesday May 25, 2016


Stephen Ausmus/U.S. Department of Agriculture

Politics

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Challenges Pest-Control Strategies

As growers and agriculture researchers have learned during the brown marmorated stink bug's 20-year migration across the U.S., managing the pest is difficult.

Wednesday May 25, 2016


Rutgers University

Politics

Extensive Research Devoted To Understanding Brown Marmorated Stink Bug’s Behavior

As an invasive species in North America, the brown marmorated stink bug is the subject of ongoing scientific study, particularly by researchers in regions the species colonized.

Wednesday May 25, 2016


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Special Bacteriology Reference Lab

Politics

Understanding The Elizabethkingia Outbreak In Wisconsin

A species of bacteria called Elizabethkingia anophelis has caused serious blood infections in dozens of Wisconsinites since November 2015. As of April 8, 2016, 18 of those patients have died, according to state health officials.

Wednesday May 25, 2016


University of Wisconsin Digital Collections

Politics

4 Historic Presidential Primaries in Wisconsin History

As Wisconsin heads into a hotly contested presidential primary election for both major parties, WPR has looked back at years when the state's voters played an important role in selecting parties' nominees.

Wednesday May 25, 2016


U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Politics

More Information About Elizabethkingia And The Wisconsin Outbreak

Given the general infrequency of Elizabethkingia infections, the winter 2015-16 outbreak in Wisconsin is presenting a novel challenge for state and federal health authorities, as well as to providers working directly with patients. Despite the rarity of this health issue, multiple health organizations are providing information for the public about the bacteria. The emergent nature of these infections is also prompting coverage from a variety of regional and national media outlets.

Wednesday May 25, 2016


U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Politics

State, Federal Officials Collaborate To Handle Elizabethkingia Infections

State and local governments in the U.S. take the lead on organizing medical responses to disease outbreaks. Each state has its own system for reporting and containing infectious diseases.

Wednesday May 25, 2016


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Special Bacteriology Reference Lab

Politics

Wisconsin’s Elizabethkingia Outbreak Is Unusual In Scale, Uncertainty

Over the winter of 2015-16, public health officials identified an outbreak of blood infections in Wisconsin caused by the bacteria Elizabethkingia anophelis.

Wednesday May 25, 2016


William Heath/Wellcome Images

Politics

9 Ways For Wisconsin Well Owners To Improve Their Drinking Water Quality

For those Wisconsinites whouse a well, here are nine tips for making sure their drinking water is as safe as possible.

Monday May 23, 2016


National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Politics

Considering El Niño And Its Potential Effect On Wisconsin’s Winter

One major factor behind the warm Wisconsin autumn is the emergence of an El Niño that is shaping up to be the biggest in nearly two decades.

Monday May 23, 2016


Illustration by John Wilson/background image by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Politics

El Niño, ENSO Cycle, Climate Research And Wisconsin: More Information

The following reports and resources are excellent starting points for grasping the fundamental aspects of ENSO, and opportunities to delve deeper into specific facets of this important and fascinating phenomenon.

Monday May 23, 2016


Rayandbee on Flickr (CC-BY)

Politics

Research Only Beginning On Relationship Between El Niño, Climate Change

El Niño and anthropogenic climate change aren't the same thing, and climatologists stress each phenomenon’s individual effects on weather patterns and occurrences shouldn't be conflated.

Monday May 23, 2016


National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Politics

El Niño Fizzled In 2014

The El Niño Southern Oscillation is an irregular cycle in which changing temperatures of surface waters in the tropical Pacific Ocean can result in major impacts on global weather patterns.

Monday May 23, 2016


NASA

Politics

Comparing 2015 El Niño To The Record-Setters

The El Niño of 1997-98 was historic, but no two ENSO events are alike, nor are their weather effects in any given location, thanks to differences in how Pacific Ocean waters warm.

Monday May 23, 2016


National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Politics

1997-1998 El Niño Set Records, Including In Wisconsin

The 1997-98 El Niño event stands out both for its intensity and how it brought the ENSO phenomenon to public attention.

Monday May 23, 2016


Richard Hurd on Flickr (CC-BY)

Politics

Wisconsin’s Temperatures, Precipitation Vary With El Niño

Each El Niño event has a different effect on weather conditions on both global and local scales. These differences in large part depend on how a given El Niño develops.

Monday May 23, 2016


goodfreephotos.com

Politics

El Niño ‘Loads The Dice’ For A Warmer Wisconsin Winter

Much of Wisconsin is experiencing a very warm autumn so far, with temperatures higher than average in both September and October. One factor that might be influencing these balmy conditions is El Niño, a recurring global weather pattern that can result in warmer winters for Wisconsin.

Monday May 23, 2016


Wisconsin Public Television

Politics

Tracking Climate Change’s Impact On Wisconsin With Satellites

Wisconsin's climate is gradually warming and is forecast to get warmer by the mid-21st century. Climatologists track this regional reflection of a planetary trend in large part through a series of satellites that gather data about Earth's lands, seas and air, and subsequently, use this information to help model long-term climate projections.

Monday May 23, 2016


United States Department of Agriculture

Politics

Understanding The 2015 Wisconsin Avian Flu Epidemic: More Information

Many state and federal agencies deal with avian influenza and its effect on agriculture, the economy and human health, and have developed a series of resources and guides addressing the disease and both the latest news and research about it. Additionally, the 2015 epidemic was the subject of coverage by trade and public media outlets in the affected states and elsewhere.

Friday May 20, 2016


United States Department of Agriculture

Politics

Understanding The 2015 Wisconsin Avian Flu Epidemic: Preparing For The Future

While many in the poultry industry have defended their existing biosecurity practices in the wake of the epidemic, many also say it has highlighted some crucial weaknesses. Most of them have to do with the opportunities humans unwittingly create for the virus to spread from farm to farm.

Friday May 20, 2016


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