Marisa Wojcik
Marisa's Recent Stories
Another Day of Anticipated Protest Remains Quiet
The event Monday at McPike Park on Madison’s near-east side, dubbed “Justice for Jacob Blake” and “antifascist mutual aid action,” was originally planned for Sunday on the square of the state Capitol but was changed over safety concerns.
Monday January 18, 2021
New Approaches to Address COVID Racial Health Disparities
Communities of color have been experiencing significantly higher amounts of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths. “Here & Now’s” Marisa Wojcik reports from Milwaukee, where they saw early warning signs and mobilized to address these inequalities.
Friday January 15, 2021
Noon Wednesday: Wisconsin Prepares for Possible Violence
The storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6 could cause ripple effects towards Wisconsin in the coming days and weeks. Katy Culver, director of the Center for Journalism Ethics, joins us to discuss what information to focus on and what to filter.
Wednesday January 13, 2021
Noon Wednesday: No Charges in Shooting of Jacob Blake
In the aftermath of news that no cimrinal charges will be brought against the Kenosha police officer responsible for shooting Jacob Blake, we speak with Tanya McLean, executive director of Leaders of Kenosha, about reactions and what comes next for Blake and Kenosha.
Wednesday January 6, 2021
Update: Wisconsin Reps React as Crowd Overtakes the Capitol
Wisconsin officials call for Trump's removal, after a crowd of Trump supporters broke into the U.S. Capitol, halting the process of counting the presidential electoral votes.
Wednesday January 6, 2021
Kenosha Braces for Charging Decision
A vigil Monday night focused on messages from Jacob Blake's family as Kenosha prepares for a charging decision for the police officer that shot Blake in August.
Tuesday January 5, 2021
Congress Passes COVID Bill Without Wisconsin GOP Support
Republican members of Wisconsin's congressional delegation voted against the coronavirus aid bill that passed Congress Monday night.
Tuesday December 22, 2020
Legislative Committee Removes PFAS Regulation
The vote by the legislative administrative rules committee removes parts of the DNR rule that identified target levels of PFAS and other definitions around treatment of contaminated foam.
Friday December 18, 2020
DHS to Launch Contact Tracing App, Vaccine Delivery Ramps Up
Gov. Tony Evers, along with the state Department of Health Services, announced Thursday a new smartphone app will be available starting next week to help COVID-19 contact tracing efforts. “The voluntary WI Exposure Notification app is another tool in our toolbox to stop the spread,” Evers said in a press ...
Thursday December 17, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Disability Rights in the Age of COVID-19
Democratic Representative Jimmy Anderson and Barbara Beckert from Disability Rights Wisconsin discuss different challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has placed on Wisconsinites with disabilities.
Wednesday December 16, 2020
State COVID Numbers Down, DHS Still Wary
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported an overall decline in the number of positive COVID-19 cases Thursday as the state hit the two-week mark after the Thanksgiving holiday. The decline in cases after the virus’s known incubation period could be a sign that people followed public health advice to ...
Thursday December 10, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Budget Deficit Presents New Challenges
Wisconsin lawmakers will face the largest funding gap in a decade as the state projects needs for a new budget cycle and the pandemic enters into a new year. Jason Stein, research director for the Wisconsin Policy Forum, discusses challenges ahead.
Thursday December 10, 2020
Task Force Addresses Violence Against Indigenous Women
The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force held its first meeting Friday to chart a course for the group to begin addressing the disappearances, murders, and systemic violence that targets Indigenous women and girls disproportionately. The launch of the task force was announced in July by Attorney General Josh ...
Saturday December 5, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Open Enrollment Deadline Approaches
More than 57,000 people in Wisconsin have signed up for health insurance through the federal marketplace, with less than two weeks left before open enrollment closes. Covering Wisconsin's Adam VanSpankeren discusses how the pandemic has impacted coverage.
Thursday December 3, 2020
Health Officials Implore People to Stay Home for Thanksgiving
In the days leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday, public health officials locally and nationally are still delivering the same message: stay home. What has changed is the urgency with which they are conveying it. “We’re seeing such a surge in cases with the holiday season among us. You really ...
Wednesday November 25, 2020
Evers Extends Emergency Orders as Hospitals Reach Capacity
Over one third of Wisconsin hospitals are experiencing critical staffing shortages as hospital official warns without steps taken, the health care crisis will turn into a catastrophe.
Friday November 20, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Planning a Safe Holiday Amidst COVID-19
Public health officials are bracing themselves for the coronavirus surge to get worse as people plan to gather for the holidays. Sara Lornson, a contact tracer and public health nurse, and Lisa Tutskey, a marriage and family therapist, talk about the impact of gathering and how to have difficult conversations with family and friends.
Wednesday November 18, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Women Hit Harder by Pandemic’s Economy
Hundreds of thousands of women left the workforce this fall, and research is showing that women are bearing a higher economic burden from the pandemic. Angela Russell, vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion at CUNA Mutual Group, joins us to talk about the social and economic factors that drive up these inequities.
Wednesday November 11, 2020
Breaking: Wisconsinites React to Joe Biden Winning the Presidency
The Associated Press has called Pennsylvania and the race for the White House for Democrat Joe Biden. Pennsylvania’s 20 electoral votes put the former vice president over the 270 votes he needed to win. Nevada, with its six electoral votes, added to the Democratic candidate’s win. “With the campaign over, ...
Saturday November 7, 2020
Breaking: Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Orders Investigation into Election
Without offering specifics, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said concerns about mail-in ballots and voter fraud warrant an investigation from the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections. The Wisconsin Elections Commission has said there were no irregularities in Tuesday's election.
Friday November 6, 2020
Noon Wednesday: The Day After the Election
Election officials have been urging for patience as votes are tallied for 2020 races, but there are some things we do know about Wisconsin's elections Tuesday. Angela Lang from Black Leaders Organizing for Communities, and UW-Green Bay political scientist Aaron Weinschenk unpack election outcomes and foreshadow potential unrest.
Wednesday November 4, 2020
November 2020 Election Results: Biden Wins Wisconsin
With 95% of Wisconsin's ballots counted and reported, a razor thin margin favors Biden in unofficial results.
Tuesday November 3, 2020
PBS Wisconsin live election updates from reporters around the state.
Tuesday November 3, 2020
I Was Going to Vote In-Person, Then I Caught COVID. Now What?
The country’s two major concerns will come together Tuesday, national elections and the COVID-19 pandemic. As of Monday, nearly 1.9 million absentee ballots have already been cast in Wisconsin. However, polling data indicates there are still plenty of voters planning on heading to the polls on Election Day. That comes ...
Monday November 2, 2020
Enthusiasm Grows Among Native Voters
Here and Now’s Marisa Wojcik reports from Menominee County on a tidal wave of enthusiasm among Native Voters.
Saturday October 31, 2020
Noon Wednesday: What You Need to Know for Election Day
Barry Burden of the UW Elections Research Center joins us to talk about the final battleground state poll before the Nov. 3 elections, as well as what you need to know about absentee ballots, voting on Election Day and when to expect results.
Wednesday October 28, 2020
Menominee County Reaches State’s Highest Rate of COVID-19
In the county with the second-lowest population in Wisconsin, Menominee has recently become the state’s largest COVID-19 case burden.
Tuesday October 27, 2020
Noon Wednesday: ICE Operations Not Targeting Wisconsin
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has announced plans to ramp up targeted arrests in “sanctuary cities” after putting business as usual on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic. Erin Barbato, director of the Immigrant Justice Clinic at the UW-Madison Law School, says Wisconsin is not on ICE’s list of targets, for now.
Friday October 23, 2020
Noon Wednesday: A Fair and Just Recovery
Last week, the Just Recovery Racial Equity initiative was launched, where $2.6 million will go toward addressing the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color in the state. Paula Tran Inzeo from the UW-Population Health Institute joins us to talk about how this initiative plans to target these inequities when helping communities fight the spread of the coronavirus.
Saturday October 10, 2020
Wauwatosa Officer Free of Charges
Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm has decided not to charge Wauwatosa police officer for the shooting and killing of 17-year old Alvin Cole outside Mayfair Mall in February. An independent investigator hired by the city says the officer should be fired.
Friday October 9, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Transformative Justice in Domestic Violence
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. A recent report from End Abuse Wisconsin analyzes 20 years of domestic violence homicide data, shows where progress has been made and looks at what change still needs to happen. Sara Krall and Jenna Gormal of End Abuse Wisconsin and contributors to the report join us to talk about the findings.
Thursday October 1, 2020
Voting Event Collected Nearly 11,000 Absentee Ballots
The Saturday event called "Democracy in the Park" was put on by the City of Madison and will repeat this coming Saturday, Oct. 3.
Monday September 28, 2020
Wisconsin COVID-19 Cases at Unprecedented ‘Near Exponential Growth’
The governor's media briefing comes a few days after he declared a third public health emergency due to rising cases among young people.
Thursday September 24, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Who Tells the Story Part 3
The Peoples Revolution has been marching every day since May, fighting for racial justice and police reform. Khalil Coleman discusses what the movement has gone through since they began marching and how it has been represented in the media.
Wednesday September 23, 2020
DWD Secretary Resigns, COVID-19 Cases Hit New Records
Despite attempts to decrease the state's unemployment backlog, almost 11% of weekly claims, 713,508, have yet to be processed.
Friday September 18, 2020
Big Ten Announces Football Season Return
Plans to move forward with the football season will require daily antigen testing of student-athletes, coaches, trainers and anyone else present during practices or games.
Wednesday September 16, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Who Tells the Story Part 2
Daniel Thompson is aware of his recent fame as the "unemployed editor" who quit the Kenosha News, but he refuses to quit journalism. Now that national attention on Kenosha has waned, Thompson is getting to work building his own media organization and seeking to authentically serve the community he calls his home.
Wednesday September 16, 2020
Wisconsin COVID-19 Cases Spike in People Age 18-24
The state’s seven-day positive case average has reached its highest peak since the beginning of the pandemic in March.
Tuesday September 15, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Wisconsin Arts and Culture in Peril
A new report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum says the pandemic has created an existential threat to arts and culture in Wisconsin as the sector being the hardest hit. Joe Peterangelo, the report's lead researcher, and Deanna Tillisch, president and CEO of the United Performing Arts Fund in Milwaukee, talk about what's at stake if the arts economy and community continues to decline.
Wednesday August 12, 2020
Noon Wednesday: The Power of the Youth Vote
Young people are showing up in abundance right now, both for the ballot box and for protests. Maya Neal of Leaders Igniting Transformation, out of Milwaukee joins us to talk about engaging and training youth of color to become leaders and organizers for their communities and why this is significant for this election cycle.
Thursday August 6, 2020
Tribal Nations Took Early COVID-19 Precautions
Here & Now reporter Marisa Wojcik spoke with the Tribal Nations about their response to coronavirus. Tribal Nations took action before the State of Wisconsin in part due to health risks within their population and a higher population of elderly.
Friday July 31, 2020
Noon Wednesday: A Growing Hunger
Since the start of the pandemic, the needs of the most vulnerable populations, such as the food insecure, have grown. But the continued strain on resources is entering us into new territory, where those who have never needed food assistance are now relying on foodbanks across the state and the need is going to grow. Stephanie Jung Dorfman of Feeding Wisconsin talks about the state of hunger.
Wednesday July 29, 2020
Noon Wednesday: COVID and Conspiracy Theories
As COVID-19 rapidly spread across the globe, conspiracy theories and misinformation about the novel coronavirus spread just as fast. Ajay Sethi, Associate Professor of Population Health Sciences, is teaching students how to combat an infodemic.
Wednesday July 22, 2020
Noon Wednesday: History is Present in All That We Do
Two UW-Milwaukee professors are bringing meaning to the words "Black Lives Matter" in their own way. For Dr. David Pate, it includes a personal journey and action in the classroom. For Dr. Margaret Noodin, it involves listening, solidarity and healing with action and tradition.
Wednesday July 15, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Why Latinos Show Up for Black Lives Matter
Amid the protests and the pandemic, the Latino community is fighting for equality and justice. But what does that look like within a movement called Black Lives Matter? Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera, joins us today to talk about the significance of what some are calling Black and Brown Lives Matter.
Thursday July 9, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
Kozee Decorah, a 22-year-old Ho-Chunk woman was found murdered in May before she could make it home to Wisconsin. Lead organizer for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Kristen Welch joins us today to talk about the disproportionately high rates of violence against Indigenous women and the need to address it in Wisconsin.
Thursday July 2, 2020
Supreme Court Strikes Down Abortion Law
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana law requiring abortion providers have admitting privileges to hospitals, which mirrors a Wisconsin law passed in 2013.
Monday June 29, 2020
FBI Joins Investigation Into Possible Madison Hate Crime
Althea Bernstein was attacked when lighter fluid was thrown and ignited on her face last week. The FBI and Madison police are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.
Monday June 29, 2020
Schalk: What Sparked Protest to Turn Violent
Associate professor in the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dr. Sami Schalk's specialty is the intersection of race, gender and disability. She provides her perspective on what likely sparked the protest turning violent and the long-term change she believes should be the outcome of the protest.
Friday June 26, 2020
2020 DNC in Milwaukee Dramatically Downsized
In light of the continued spread of COVID-19, the upcoming 2020 Democratic convention will largely be held virtually.
Thursday June 25, 2020
Uprising in Madison Protests Cause Strong Reaction
Protesters responded to one of their own being forcefully arrested by toppling two statues at the state's Capitol building.
Wednesday June 24, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Pride for Black Lives
As conversations about systemic racism continue, some are driving the message that inequities leading the Black Lives Matter movement intersect with those of the LGBTQ community. Dr. Sami Schalk talks about her research on race, queerness and disability, and her experience on how these communities combine with the protests.
Wednesday June 24, 2020
New DHS Data Shows Localized Outbreak Trajectories
Health officials are hoping a new dashboard categorizing counties into low, medium and high activity levels will help individuals better understand what the spread of the virus looks like in their community.
Tuesday June 23, 2020
State Guidance Released for K-12 Schools to Reopen
As schools across Wisconsin prepare to open their doors to students this fall, the Department of Public Instruction has released detailed recommendations for how to do so safely and mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Monday June 22, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Mentorship Over Protest
For some, taking to the streets in protest is how to be heard when it comes to race equity. For Dennis Beale, it's about mentorship and relationship building. He recently founded Power of Perception, partnering with the Eau Claire Area School District to create opportunities for African-American and biracial youth.
Wednesday June 17, 2020
UW-Madison Releases Plan to Reopen Campus in Fall
The University of Wisconsin-Madison announced plans Wednesday to reopen campus to students and staff for the Fall 2020 semester. Under the plan called “Smart Restart,” officials say instruction taking place under a hybrid model of in-person and virtual sessions, increased guidelines around gatherings, and multiple forms of testing for COVID-19 ...
Wednesday June 17, 2020
Taking A Hard Look at What is Being Funded at What Level
Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes joined reporter Marisa Wojcik this week on her online "Noon Wednesday" program to talk about police reform, racism and re-allocating police budgets.
Friday June 12, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Communities Chart Course to Address Racism
As protests over police brutality and systemic racism continue across the country, state and local leaders are grappling with how to address the needs of their own communities. Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes joins us to talk about his vision for Wisconsin.
Wednesday June 10, 2020
Brandi Grayson, founder of Urban Triage and an organizer of the protests in the state's Capitol, talks about what peace means in this movement, what protesters are asking for and what protests look and sound like on the ground.
Friday June 5, 2020
Noon Wednesday: How a Protester Defines Peace
Many words have been used to describe the demonstrations of protest that have been happening across the country and across Wisconsin. Today, we speak with Brandi Grayson, an organizer of the protests in our state's Capitol, about what peace means in this movement and what protesters are asking for.
Wednesday June 3, 2020
Contact Tracing Efforts Ramp Up
As Wisconsin begins to open back up, contact tracing and aggressive testing of COVID-19 will be the state’s best line of defense against the continued spread of the disease. Contact tracing follows where an infected person has been and who else they may have infected, but it requires extensive time and resources that many local public health departments severely lack.
Friday May 29, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Outlook for Wisconsin Hospitals
Wisconsin hospitals never saw the surge of COVID-19 patients that many other parts of the country did. But as the state begins to open, how are hospitals preparing for the changes? Dr. Mark Kaufman, chief medical officer of the Wisconsin Hospital Association, joins us to talk about the healthcare community is drafting plans going forward.
Wednesday May 27, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Who’s Supposed to Stay Home?
Over the last week there has been a whirlwind of changes for Wisconsin's "Safer at Home" orders after the state Supreme Court struck down a statewide extension of the emergency rule. Laurel White, Wisconsin Public Radio Capitol bureau reporter, joins us to talk through what stay at home rules look like today.
Wednesday May 20, 2020
Noon Wednesday: The Future of K-12 Schools
The end of a pre-empted school year is approaching and many students, teachers and parents across the state have been navigating learning at home since schools closed in March. Deputy State Superintendent Michael Thompson joins us to explain how districts are coping, as well as what the future holds for Wisconsin K-12 schools.
Wednesday May 13, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Tracking Safer at Home
As Wisconsin's stay-at-home order drags on, are people continuing to shelter in place? Location data tracking people's movement shows trends in how the pandemic has impacted where people go over time and if the state's public health order is working.
Wednesday May 6, 2020
New Report Highlights Racial Divide in COVID-19 Outbreak
A new report from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee shows how coronavirus is spreading along lines of segregation in north Milwaukee, and African-Americans are being disproportionately impacted. Rep. David Bowen, D-Milwaukee, says, “This does not end the story about us. This is a continuation of just how much we have been through and how much farther we have to go.”
Friday May 1, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Milwaukee’s Coronavirus Racial Divide
To date, Milwaukee has been hit the hardest by COVID-19 over other areas of the state. A new study from UW-Milwaukee highlights the racial divid of the virus's spread, particularly on the city's north side. Rep. David Bowen represents much of the impacted area in Assembly District 10 and joins us to talk about the full picture of the impact of the virus.
Thursday April 30, 2020
Testing and Tracing to Help Combat Brown County Outbreak
Thousands of test kits from the state help officials track the spread of the disease among outbreaks in three meatpacking plants, as the president encourages meatpacking plants to stay open as essential businesses.
Tuesday April 28, 2020
Brown County Officials Grapple with COVID-19 Spike
Meatpacking plants are essential parts of food infrastructure, especially during a pandemic, but a recent outbreak of COVID-19 in Brown County facilities is causing a full-court press to ensure workers and the community are safe.
Monday April 27, 2020
Wisconsinites Protest ‘Safer at Home’ Order
More than 1,000 Wisconsinites protested at the state Capitol, urging Gov. Tony Evers to loosen the state's stay-at-home order. Here & Now reporter Marisa Wojcik shares these images from the scene.
Friday April 24, 2020
Noon Wednesday: COVID-19 and Wisconsin’s Economy
The Department of Workforce Development announced this week it will be sending unemployment benefits to more than 154,000 people as Wisconsin's jobs take a huge hit due to conditions from COVID-19. Joe Peterangelo, a senior researcher from the Wisconsin Policy Forum, joins us to talk about what this means for the state's economy.
Thursday April 23, 2020
Recovered COVID-19 Patients Donate Plasma
Here & Now’s Marisa Wojcik reports on how UW Hospital is using donor plasma to treat other seriously ill patients. Gary Dalgaard of Sun Prairie survived COVID-19 and is one of the first to offer his plasma in hopes of saving lives.
Friday April 17, 2020
Recoverees Help Others by Donating Plasma
Plasma transfusion can be a promising technique for a recovered patient to share antibodies with someone currently suffering from COVID-19.
Thursday April 16, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Lessons Learned from Milwaukee
Some have already moved on from last week's election, but its impacts linger. Health officials are looking into the effect in-person voting had on the spread of the coronavirus and state lawmakers are debating how elections should be administered in the future. Neil Albrecht, executive director of City of Milwaukee Election Commission joins us to talk about the lessons learned from Milwaukee.
Thursday April 16, 2020
State Increases Contact Tracing After In-Person Voting
In-person voting could have exposed more Wisconsinites to COVID-19, as health officials become concerned about the disease's disproportionate impact on the state's African-American population.
Friday April 10, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Holding an Election During a Pandemic
Wisconsin held an election yesterday in the midst of a statewide order from Gov. Tony Evers to stay at home to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. Neenah Mayor Dean Kaufert was part of a group of mayors pushing to delay the April 7 elections. He joins to talk about what in-person voting looked like in his community and what he's hearing from his constituents.
Thursday April 9, 2020
Latest Marquette Law School Poll Surveys Voters on Coronavirus, Elections
Results of the latest Marquette University Law School Poll show the majority of registered voters in Wisconsin think measures to close schools and non-essential businesses and ask people to stay home are appropriate responses to the coronavirus outbreak. The poll, released Wednesday, asked public opinion around the coronavirus, including how ...
Wednesday April 1, 2020
Update: Polling Locations Consolidate Amid Poll Worker Shortage
During a meeting discussing preparations for the election now one week away, the Wisconsin Elections Commission discussed the shortage of poll workers, the record number of absentee ballots that have been requested, and the special health considerations necessary to conduct in-person voting while minimizing the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Tuesday March 31, 2020
Lack of Protective Equipment May Threaten Healthcare Workers
Wisconsin is beginning to see an urgent need for personal protective equipment, including masks, gloves and gowns to prevent exposure to COVID-19. The lack of supplies creates a stark reality for healthcare workers and first responders on the frontline of the growing pandemic.
Friday March 27, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Flattening the Curve
New measures announced by Gov. Tony Evers and top state health officials to close non-essential businesses and remain at home are part of sweeping efforts to keep the health care system from becoming overwhelmed. Will Cushman of WisContext joins us to talk about new their latest report, "The Urgent Battle To Flatten Wisconsin's COVID-19 Curve."
Wednesday March 25, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Hospitals Gear Up for COVID-19
As the number of confirmed coronavirus cases increase in the state, hospitals are preparing for a surge of patients. Kate Walton, an emergency room nurse at the University of Wisconsin Hospital, joins us remotely to discuss how health care workers are gearing up.
Wednesday March 18, 2020
Personal Protective Equipment Could Face Shortage in Hospital Surge
Hospitals are monitoring inventories as they prepare for an influx of COVID cases.
Wednesday March 18, 2020
COVID Reaches Community Spread Phase in Wisconsin Counties
Dane, Milwaukee and Kenosha Counties all have community spread of the novel coronavirus, as the number of Wisconsin cases increases to 72. Gov. Tony Evers issued a statewide ban of gatherings of more than 10 people and closed schools "until further notice" amid concerns of the spread of the virus.
Tuesday March 17, 2020
‘It’s Going to Be Difficult’ Parents Say as Schools Close
Parents and districts troubleshoot how to continue education while schools are closed due to coronavirus.
Monday March 16, 2020
New Dane County Restrictions, Fond du Lac Numbers, Voting in Milwaukee
With new state numbers, Wisconsin has 33 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus. In response, Dane County announces new restrictions on public gatherings.
Sunday March 15, 2020
Update: Evers Closes K-12 Schools in Wisconsin
New cases of novel coronavirus are announced Saturday in Wisconsin, bringing the number of positive active cases to 26. Gov. Tony Evers announced Friday that schools would be closed starting March 18, through at least April 6.
Saturday March 14, 2020
Nursing Homes Limit Visitors to Protect Against Coronavirus
Nursing homes and assisted living facilities across the state are clamping down on outside visitors in order to prevent coronavirus from entering its doors. John Vander Meer, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Health Association and the Wisconsin Center for Assisted Living discusses new guidelines including screening all individuals before they would be allowed to enter facilities.
Saturday March 14, 2020
Wisconsin K-12 Schools Largely Remain Open Thursday in Wake of Public Health Emergency
UPDATE: Gov. Tony Evers directs the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm to mandate all K-12 schools close statewide. The doors of Wisconsin’s K-12 schools will remain open, even with Gov. Tony Evers declaring a public health emergency Thursday due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. As ...
Thursday March 12, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Mainstays Vulnerable to Climate Change
What happens when the state's most iconic food products are in danger from an increasingly warmer, wetter and variable climate? Mary Kate McCoy of Wisconsin Public Radio explored this question in a six-part series called "On the Table." McCoy looks at climate change impacts and mitigation for Wisconsin's production of dairy, beer, cranberries, wild rice, walleye and potatoes.
Wednesday March 4, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Polling the Battleground States
A new poll surveying three battleground states shows Bernie Sanders has the biggest lead in the Democratic primary, particularly in Wisconsin, according to UW-Madison's Election Research Center. Ellie Powell, a political scientist from the center joins us to discuss the results.
Friday February 28, 2020
Assembly Makes Last-Minute Move on PFAS
At the end of the session, Assembly Republicans added new legislation to address contamination by so-called 'forever chemicals' PFAS. The amendment to an existing bill creates new testing standards, but must clear the Senate before heading to Evers's desk.
Friday February 21, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Bill to Change Livestock Standards
A bill abruptly heading through the state Legislature would change how standards for livestock facilities are written and applied to farms. Kara O’Connor from the Wisconsin Farmers Union, who opposes the bill, and Debi Towns from the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, who approves of the bill, join us to talk about the proposed legislation.
Friday February 21, 2020
A January report from the UW-Extension Center for Community and Economic Development identifies a correlation between student debt trends having a negative impact on local economies, using the corresponding rise in student debt with declining rates of homeownership and business start-ups.
Thursday February 13, 2020
Noon Wednesday: The Growing Student Debt Dilemma
The rapid growth of student loan debt has grabbed the attention of state lawmakers saying it could impact Wisconsin's economy. Nick Hillman, director of the Student Success Through Applied Research Lab says a serious lack of data will make it difficult to tackle the issue.
Wednesday February 12, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Abating PFAS Pollution
As statewide awareness of a class of chemicals known as PFAS has raised alarm over contamination concerns, lawmakers are looking to speed up regulation and abatement in the absence of federal rules. Carly Michiels, director of government relations at Clean Wisconsin, joins us to talk about the impact and response of these “forever chemicals.”
Wednesday February 5, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Public Charge Rule Creating Confusion
Immigrants using public benefits are under greater scrutiny due to the expansion of the federal public charge law. However, advocates say confusion over who it actually impacts is more of problem for local immigrant communities deciding not to health and food benefits. Caroline Gomez-Tom from Milwaukee’s Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers joins us to talk about the real-world impact.
Wednesday January 29, 2020
Homelessness Bill Passed the Senate with Bipartisan Support
Homelessness legislation in the state Senate is set to provide a total of $1 million to homeless shelters in Wisconsin. Despite bipartisan support, lawmakers on the Senate floor debated for two hours before passing the bill. Here & Now reporter Marisa Wojcik breaks down both sides of the aisle and where they stand now. Plus an update on Impeachment affairs at the Nation's capital.
Friday January 24, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Homeless Funding Stuck in Senate
The Wisconsin Senate passed one of eight proposals to increase funding towards homeless services and prevention. Joe Volk, executive director of the Wisconsin Coalition Against Homelessness, joins us to talk about what the rest of the package of proposals aims to do, where it came from and why it’s caught up in the Senate.
Wednesday January 22, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Success and Shortcomings in Green Bay Equity
The non-white population in Green Bay is projected to double or triple by 2040. Mohammed Bey, director of diversity and inclusion at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, discusses what diversity and equity looks like in the greater Green Bay area and how the event will examine the community’s “successes and shortcomings.”
Wednesday January 15, 2020
Foxconn Contract to be Renegotiated?
State Secretary of Administration Joel Brennan breaks down the current status of Wisconsin's Foxconn contract. Newly released correspondence between Foxconn, Gov. Evers’ Administration and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation show growing conflict over the Taiwanese company’s ability to collect public tax subsidies.
Friday December 20, 2019
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