Marisa Wojcik
Marisa's Recent Stories
During national Black Maternal Health Week, Wisconsin researchers and advocates shed light on the “crisis” of Black maternal and infant mortality and return to solutions that have historically been a part of the birthing process in the Black community.
Thursday April 15, 2021
Noon Wednesday: Bettering Black Maternal Health
The National Institutes of Health has recognized this week to be Black Maternal Health Week. In Wisconsin infant deaths are three times higher for Black babies than for white, according to most recent health data, and state health professionals are working hard to combat negative outcomes for Black mothers and newborns. Joining us to talk about her work in this field is Dr. Jasmine Zapata.
Wednesday April 14, 2021
What to Do When A Coronavirus Vaccinator Doesn’t Offer a Second Dose
After having an appointment for a second shot canceled, a Madison resident had to go on the hunt to complete her vaccination — the Wisconsin Department of Health Services notes this type of lapse is happening but shouldn't be, and encourages people to sign up via the state's registry.
Thursday April 8, 2021
Noon Wednesday: State Could Lose Millions in FoodShare
Nearly $69 million in monthly emergency food assistance from the federal government is in jeopardy following last week's Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling that the governor cannot extend a public health emergency past the 60-day limit. Matt King of the Hunger Task Force explains what losing these benefits could mean for Wisconsinites and how to restore them.
Wednesday April 7, 2021
Kerr, Underly Campaigns for Schools Chief in Final Stretch
The race for Wisconsin's next superintendent of public schools is coming to the final push for candidates Jill Underly and Deborah Kerr. Key issues include reopening schools, achievement gaps, and the contentious nature of this race.
Friday April 2, 2021
Noon Wednesday: Averting Evictions
A federal moratorium on evictions was extended to June shortly before it was about to expire. In the meantime, the state is working with local agencies to distribute $322 million to help Wisconsinites catch up on rent. Brad Paul of the Wisconsin Community Action Program Association discusses how the program works.
Thursday April 1, 2021
Noon Wednesday: Digging Into Discrimination
A mass shooting in Atlanta Georgia last week has sent waves of fear into the Asian-American community – drawing criticism of ignored discrimination perpetuated by policies and culture. Will Hsu joins us to talk about how to understand the prejudices that have existed against Asian-Americans in Wisconsin.
Thursday March 25, 2021
Noon Wednesday: The Hunt for a Vaccine
Wisconsin has climbed to the top as one of the country’s leading vaccinators, but many residents are still struggling to find a vaccine despite being eligible. Investigative reporter Bram Sable-Smith from Wisconsin Public Radio and Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism discusses new groups that are crowd-sourcing information on where to track down a vaccine.
Friday March 19, 2021
What An Expanded Child Tax Credit Means For Two Madison Mothers
Here & Now Extra: One element of the American Rescue Plan will provide additional financial support to families in an effort to reduce poverty rates among children.
Wednesday March 17, 2021
COVID Relief Bill Could Reduce Child Poverty in the U.S.
One of the significant provisions of the COVID relief bill is the child tax credit, which experts say could reduce child poverty in the U.S. by nearly 50%. Here & Now reporter Marisa Wojcik shares the story of Tineshia Campbell, a mother of two working a low-wage job, who talks about how the extra aid will impact her family.
Friday March 12, 2021
Noon Wednesday: Lifting Children Out Of Poverty
An historic $1.9 trillion COVID relief package, passed by Congress Wednesday, includes additional benefits for families with children. Tim Smeeding, a UW-Madison professor of Public Affairs and Economics, and Tamarine Cornelius, a research analyst at Kids Forward, discuss these measures and their impacts on children in Wisconsin.
Thursday March 11, 2021
Wisconsin’s COVID-19 Vaccine Plan Hopes to Keep Up with More Contagious Variants
As health officials prepare for the rollout of a new single-dose coronavirus vaccine, a second and more-contagious variant of the virus has been identified in the state.
Monday March 8, 2021
The Pandemic Pushes New Appeals for Rural Broadband Investment Across Wisconsin
State and local efforts to expand equitable internet access across the state grow in priority as both education and the economy moved more online in the wake of the coronavirus.
Friday March 5, 2021
Noon Wednesday: The Digital Divide
Despite a year of many people moving their lives online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still areas of Wisconsin that get little to no internet access. Assistant State Superintendent Kurt Kiefer joins us to talk about how schools and communities are faring across the state amidst this digital divide.
Thursday March 4, 2021
Decline in New COVID Cases Continues as Wisconsin Expands Vaccine Eligibility
Teachers, Child Care Providers and Other Workers Can Start Getting Vaccinated
Monday March 1, 2021
Vaccine Inequality in Milwaukee
Earlier this month, DHS partnered with Walgreens to speed up the distribution of vaccines to underserved communities. However, people can travel into areas outside their own seeking vaccinations. Rep. Moore has seen this in her district. “Here & Now’s” Marisa Wojcik spoke with Gwen Moore to get the story on vaccine inequality in Milwaukee.
Friday February 26, 2021
Noon Wednesday: Equitably Distributing the COVID-19 Vaccine
Despite an early intentional focus of equity in distributing the COVID-19 vaccine, there are daily challenges health officials face toward this goal. Dr. Zeno Franco, associate professor of Family and Community Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin, joins us to talk about what this looks like on the ground.
Wednesday February 24, 2021
Noon Wednesday: Genetically Sequencing the Coronavirus
Scientists are genetically sequencing coronavirus test samples to better understand how it is moving through the community and detect new variants emerging. Dr. Paraic Kenny, who has sequenced 1,400 samples at a Gundersen Health System lab in La Crosse, discusses what these samples can teach us about the coronavirus.
Wednesday February 17, 2021
Noon Wednesday: A Town Torn by Racism
Over the last year, the Burlington community has had to reckon with racial discrimination and equity, and the debate has divided many in the community. Darnisha Garbade, president of the Burlington Coalition for Dismantling Racism, talks about her push to bring acts of prejudice to light.
Wednesday February 10, 2021
Noon Wednesday: A Guaranteed Income Pilot Program
As income inequality gaps widen, Mayors for a Guaranteed Income are looking to address this systemic issue by launching pilot programs that will provide monthly payments to struggling families and studying the impacts. Wausau Mayor Katie Rosenberg joins us to talk about with this will look like in her city.
Wednesday February 3, 2021
Noon Wednesday: COVID-19 in Wisconsin Prisons
Wisconsin inmates are finally seeing the number of positive COVID-19 cases go down, but more than half of Wisconsin’s prison population has contracted the disease. Department of Corrections Sec. Kevin Carr joins us to talk about COVID-19 in the state’s prisons.
Wednesday January 27, 2021
Noon Wednesday: Wisconsin’s COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout
The COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been up and running for about a month, but there’s still a lot of confusion over how that process is going in the state. Will Cushman of WisContext discusses the latest in vaccine news and how to interpret the data.
Wednesday January 20, 2021
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
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