Marisa Wojcik
Marisa's Recent Stories
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
Noon Wednesday: How 2019 Is A Window Into 2020
From divided government to election preparation to Foxconn, 2019 is the canary in the coalmine for what is yet to come for Wisconsin politics in 2020. Joining me to talk about what we’ve seen and what we can expect is Wisconsin Public Radio’s Capitol Bureau Reporter Laurel White.
Wednesday December 18, 2019
Fast Facts: Changes to Snap Explained
A segment of Fast Facts breaks down the changes to eligibility for food stamps, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which has been finalized by the Trump administration.
Friday December 13, 2019
Noon Wednesday: Wisconsin’s High Paying Jobs Growing
High paying jobs in Wisconsin are on the rise, according to a new report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum. We’re speaking with the report’s author, Joe Peterangelo, about the state’s overall trends, how the metro areas are growing and what’s happening with high- and low-wage jobs.
Wednesday December 11, 2019
Noon Wednesday: Wisconsin Project Aims To Raise Middle Class
Bridgit Van Bellegham talks about DreamUp Wisconsin setting a goal of raising the net income of 10,000 households by 10 percent by the end of 2022. The project has solicited requests for proposals aimed at achieving that goal, which could be funded up to $1 million, and include ideas centered around childcare, health, transportation, legal services, transportation, student loan debt and more.
Wednesday December 4, 2019
New Bill Aims to Curb Reckless Driving Habits
Last year, Wisconsin saw 60 fatal car accidents as a result of distracted driving. The story of a Hudson family's tragic experience reveals the damaging effects of a distracted driver. A bill at the Capitol regarding “driving while distracted” aims to crack down on the issue.
Wednesday December 4, 2019
New Study Says Foxconn Could Depress the State Economy
According to a new special study by economists at George Mason University in Virginia, Foxconn could depress the state economic activity by tens of billions of dollars over the next 15 years. Michael Farren, a George Mason University researcher, talks about the new study and the economic risks that it reveals.
Wednesday December 4, 2019
New Bill Aims to Curb Reckless Driving Habits
Last year, Wisconsin saw 60 fatal car accidents as a result of distracted driving. The story of a Hudson family's tragic experience reveals the damaging effects of a distracted driver. A bill at the Capitol regarding “driving while distracted” aims to crack down on the issue.
Friday November 29, 2019
Noon Wednesday: WI Cities Rank Worst For African Americans
Milwaukee and Racine have been ranked the first and second worst places for African Americans to live in the country, according to a recent report from 24/7 Wall St. However, this isn’t the first time these two cities have made similar lists. UW-Madison Associate Professor of Sociology John Eason joins us to help give context to these rankings.
Wednesday November 20, 2019
Noon Wednesday: Need Help Enrolling On The Marketplace?
Adam VanSpankeren from Covering Wisconsin talks about the ins-and-outs of enrolling on the federal health care exchange before the December 15 deadline, what’s new that you may need to know this year and how to avoid scams.
Wednesday November 13, 2019
Noon Wednesday: Are Domestic Violence Victims Locked Out?
87 percent of domestic violence victims' unmet needs in Wisconsin are for housing resources. Abby Swetz, policy and systems analyst at End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin, joins us to talk about the intersection of domestic violence and homelessness.
Wednesday November 6, 2019
Noon Wednesday: Controversial Video Sparks Change
Last month, a UW-Madison homecoming video sparked national outcry over the lack of diversity and representation of the student body. Since then, the Student Inclusion Coalition has formed, and they’ve presented a list of demands to the university. Today we speak with Kingsley-Reigne Pissang of the Student Inclusion Coalition about how they hope to help the campus move forward.
Wednesday October 30, 2019
Noon Wednesday: Wisconsin’s Right-To-Farm
Wisconsin has a law on its books making it difficult to bring nuisance lawsuits against farmers. But as farms expand in size, the conflicts amongst neighbors grow as well. We’re talking to Will Cushman from WisContext about Wisconsin’s “right-to-farm” laws and debates over how to regulate these growing farms.
Wednesday October 23, 2019
Proposed Hog CAFO in Burnett County Receives Push Back
A proposed concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) in Burnett County is receiving push back from locals who say the large farm could have adverse effects on their communities. If approved, the $20 million proposed operation would be a 26,000-head hog facility. WisContext’s Will Cushman also shares insights on laws drafted by the Department of Agriculture to regulate a facility’s odor.
Friday October 18, 2019
Noon Wednesday: How We Got Off-Track
Building a high-speed rail line between Madison and Milwaukee was a proposal that reached the end of its line but the topic still divides people. Special projects reporter Bridgit Bowden is talking to us about “Derailed,” a new podcast from Wisconsin Public Radio that goes full-steam into the history of the line and what it says about our state.
Wednesday October 16, 2019
Noon Wednesday: Where’s the Disconnect?
A lack of internet connection still impacts more than 17% of households across Wisconsin, creating digital inequities that impact students and communities as a whole. Bill Herman, a broadband consultant for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction joins us to discuss these gaps and where schools are finding solutions.
Wednesday October 9, 2019
Noon Wednesday: Is a Healthy Climate a Human Right?
The head of Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources is calling climate change “one of the defining issues of our time” and urging a return to researching it. As farmers struggle to protect their crops, communities find themselves under water and livelihoods impacted, our guest Sumudu Atapattu says we should be looking at climate change as a human rights issue.
Wednesday October 2, 2019
Noon Wednesday: Setting The Record Straight
Heightened debate over immigration policy can translate to the humanity of migrants themselves getting lost in the narrative. Our guest, Nissa Rhee, is working to break the traditional news cycle around reporting on refugees, asylum seekers and immigration by challenging how these stories are gathered.
Wednesday September 25, 2019
Noon Wednesday: Should Wisconsin Inmates Pay-To-Stay?
There’s a price to pay when someone is sent to jail in Wisconsin, literally. We spoke with Dee Hall from the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism about their recent analysis increasing practice of charging inmates for their stay in jail. Are these fees necessary to pay to for the facilities that house inmates? Or, do they violate the rights of the incarcerated?
Wednesday September 18, 2019
Noon Wednesday: Keeping Public Records Public
Open records requests allow citizens to see what politicians are doing and saying out of the public eye. Bill Lueders, president of the Freedom of Information Council, joins us to talk about how this tool of transparency can turn murky.
Wednesday September 11, 2019
Noon Wednesday: Does Wisconsin Have Too Many Governments?
Wisconsin has an unusually high number of local governments, according to a new report from Wisconsin Policy Forum. Research director Jason Stein joins us today to talk about how the complicated network of governments in the state to can lead to redundancy and inefficiency when it comes to serving Wisconsin residents.
Wednesday August 28, 2019
Noon Wednesday: Can We Stay Ahead of Future Floods?
Repeated flood damage is bleeding budgets in northwest Wisconsin. And when repairs are made, they don’t factor in the future escalating weather destruction. WisContext’s Will Cushman joins us to talk about the cycle of storm damage and how communities in northwest Wisconsin are dealing with it.
Wednesday August 21, 2019
Noon Wednesday: The Untold Story of Women’s Suffrage
The 19th Amendment and women’s right to vote, but not all women. Wisconsin Rep. Shelia Stubbs joins us to today to talk about the lesser-known history of the women’s suffrage movement that excluded women of color and why this part of the story shouldn’t be forgotten.
Wednesday August 14, 2019
Economics of Tax Credits for Foxconn Jobs
A new economic study looks into the economic impact that Foxconn’s promised 13,000 jobs would bring to the state, suggesting Wisconsin could pay upwards of $290,000 in tax credits per job. The study’s author Tim Bartik, senior economist at the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, says that Wisconsin could still face high costs even if it re-negotiates the contract.
Friday August 9, 2019
Noon Wednesday: Health Professionals Can Better Serve Hmong
Peng Her from The Hmong Institute says we need more resources for health care professionals to be more culturally competent in serving their Hmong patients. He joins us today to talk about the different needs that health providers might not be aware of for Hmong patients and the annual Hmong Health Summit that aims to help them do better.
Wednesday August 7, 2019
Noon Wednesday: Taking Politics Out Of Farmer Mental Health
Over the last week, Wisconsin politicians have sparred over how to provide mental health resources to our state’s farmers. Our guest John Shutske, a UW-Extension Agriculture and Health Safety Specialist, has spoken to thousands of farmers and sees the groundwork needed to get resources to struggling farmers.
Wednesday July 31, 2019
How Wisconsin Grapples With PFAS
Polyfluoroalkyl chemicals, better known as PFAS, can pose health risks to humans if they enter the groundwater. Here & Now reporter Marisa Wojcik delves into how municipalities deal with PFAS pollution and DNR Sec.-Designee Preston Cole discusses the state’s response to the chemical.
Friday July 26, 2019
Noon Wednesday: Can’t We Just Talk About It?
The rise of polarized and contentious politics is fracturing civic discourse, according to a group of researchers including our guest, UW-Madison professor of journalism Mike Wagner. The team of researchers are working to bridge that gap with the establishment of the Center for Communication and Civic Renewal by researching the intersection of media, technology and Wisconsin politics.
Wednesday July 24, 2019
Noon Wednesday: E-cigarettes Creating a Clouds of Debate
Lawmakers are considering hikes on e-cigarette and vaping taxes as Wisconsin’s traditional tobacco tax revenues decline, according to a new report by the Wisconsin Policy Forum. The report’s author, Mark Sommerhauser, joins us to talk about new vaping taxes and how they may influence politics and public health.
Wednesday July 17, 2019
Noon Wednesday: Could Latino vote be a tipping point?
Four Democratic presidential candidates will make their presence known in Wisconsin tomorrow during a League of United Latin American Citizens town hall. UW-Madison political science professor Ben Marquez talks about how the role the Latinx vote will play a role in the 2020 presidential elections.
Wednesday July 10, 2019
Noon Wednesday: Climate Change Impacting Mercury Levels
Research from the UW-Madison Center for Limnology collecting 30 years of data from lakes points to the long-term impacts of climate change on mercury levels in lakes and fish in Wisconsin. Investigative reporter Sarah Whites-Koditschek describes how scientists, surprised by this data, came across these findings.
Wednesday July 3, 2019
Noon Wednesday: Outside Factors Impacting Health
Every year, the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps delivers detailed data state by state, county by county, how a myriad of factors contribute to health and health equity. Dr. Sheri Johnson says this year's rankings emphasize housing and communities to explain the interconnectedness of inequality and health.
Wednesday June 26, 2019
Noon Wednesday: Emerging Water Contaminant Raising Alarms
The City of Madison put a target on it's water quality manager, Joe Grande, voluntarily tested for chemicals in public water wells that aren't even regulated. Grande discusses what is known and still unknown about PFAS chemicals in water, air and food, as well as where the science still needs to catch up.
Wednesday June 5, 2019
The issue of contaminated drinking water in Wisconsin has drawn the attention of both sides of the aisle. Gov. Tony Evers declared 2019 the year of clean drinking water and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos created the Speaker's Task Force on Water Quality. Here & Now’s Marisa Wojcik reports on the efforts to improve water quality in the state.
Friday May 24, 2019
Recent Here & Now Segments
Click Youth Media
Click is PBS Wisconsin Education’s youth media initiative.
We provide media production professional development for educators, support student journalism, and offer PBS Media Literacy Educator Certification to help teachers as they critically consume and create media with their students.
Follow Us