Health
UW Researchers Work to Understand Novel Coronavirus
Scientists at the university have been working to get ahead of the virus and recently received a sample from Wisconsin's first confirmed case last week. Tom Friedrich, a researcher with the UW School of Vet Science, talks about his lab’s approach to virus studies as related to the Coronavirus outbreak.
February 15, 2020
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WisContext: The Novel Coronavirus, Face Masks and When to Use Them
The novel coronavirus sweeping through China and rippling across the globe is invisible to the naked eye, but one of its effects is increasingly conspicuous on sidewalks, public transit and doctors' offices around the world: the widespread use of face masks.
February 10, 2020
DHS Monitors 14 people for Coronavirus in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Epidemiologist Ryan Westergaard discusses the first case of the novel coronavirus in Dane County. Westergaard also talks about new pending investigations and if the virus could potentially spread in the region.
February 10, 2020 • South Central Region
WisContext: The Novel Coronavirus and How Isolation and Quarantine Authority Works in Wisconsin
In the arsenal of weapons available to public health officials for combating outbreaks of infectious disease, quarantines are among their most serious options. As a result, quarantines are usually reserved for the most serious — or potentially serious — public health threats.
February 5, 2020 • South Central Region
Health Officials Confirm First Case of Novel Coronavirus in Wisconsin
The first Wisconsin case of novel coronavirus was confirmed by health officials Wednesday, while two cases remain pending. Local officials confirmed that the infected person was a resident of Dane County but that risk of contracting the virus remained low for the general population. “The overall risk is low,” Dane ...
February 5, 2020 • South Central Region
WisContext: Wisconsin Public Health Officials Mobilize for the Novel Coronavirus Outbreak
State Tests Potential Cases Of Respiratory Illness, Coordinates With National And Local Authorities
February 4, 2020
State Updates on Novel Coronavirus
The widespread Novel Coronavirus originated in Wuhan, China but as anxieties rise around the world, communities are working to prevent local outbreaks. Wisconsin’s state epidemiologist Ryan Westergaard breaks down the status of the virus here in Wisconsin. Westergaard elaborates on pending cases that involve Wisconsin residents who met the requirements for coronavirus testing.
January 31, 2020
Farm Bills to Bring Mental Health Resources to Farmers
Executive Director of the Southwest Wisconsin Community Action Program (SWCAP) Wally Orzechowski talks about Gov. Evers' proposed bills to provide mental health outreach and coordination to Wisconsin farmers. Along with mental health services, the new bills would implement new positions at the Department of Agriculture to serve farmers regionally.
January 24, 2020
New Fish Advisory Warns of PFAS Contamination
The Departments of Natural Resources and Health Services are issuing an advisory for fish consumption in Madison’s Starkweather Creek and Lake Monona. The agencies recommend limiting carp, bass, pike, walleye and perch to no more than one meal per month and Bluegill to no more than once per week.
January 17, 2020 • South Central Region
Statistics Show Flu Season is Ramping Up In Wisconsin
This year’s flu season has led to over 600 hospitalizations and 15 deaths, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. DHS Flu Specialists Tom Haupt gives context to these numbers and the severity of this year’s flu.
January 10, 2020
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.
December 13, 2019
Wisconsin Doctors at the Forefront of Vaping Investigation
Dr. Michael Meyer, the head of the pediatric intensive care unit at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, describes the impact of vaping. Wisconsin has seen 48 lung disease cases in 21 counties, according to the Department of Health Services. The Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin were among the first to connect the deadly lung disease to vaping.
December 4, 2019 • Southeast Region
Breakthrough Drug Gives Hope to Cystic Fibrosis Patients
UW Health Pulmonary Care physician and Director of the UW Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program Andrew Braun talks about a promising new drug therapy for cystic fibrosis patients. Over 30,000 people nationwide are living with the disease. One patient from Eau Claire said that the new drug therapy has given her her life back.
December 4, 2019 • South Central Region
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.
December 4, 2019
Wisconsin Hunters on Chronic Wasting Disease
A look at Marquette poll numbers on the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease in the state. Four hunters explain differing reasons why some get their deer tested for CWD and the overwhelming reason why most do not. The poll shows that of the people who have heard of CWD, 64% feel it represents a threat to the future of deer hunting in Wisconsin.
November 22, 2019 • Northeast Region
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.
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.
November 13, 2019
Breakthrough Drug Gives Hope to Cystic Fibrosis Patients
UW Health Pulmonary Care physician and Director of the UW Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program Andrew Braun talks about a promising new drug therapy for cystic fibrosis patients. Over 30,000 people nationwide are living with the disease. One patient from Eau Claire said that the new drug therapy has given her her life back.
November 8, 2019
Secretary Designee Update, PFAS and F35 Jets in East Madison
The state Senate confirmed the first of Gov. Evers’ cabinet members this week. A report from the DNR found high-levels of unsafe chemicals known as PFAS in Madison's Starkweather Creek near the Truax national guard air-base. The Truax Field is also facing controversy due to a resolution passed by the state Senate in support of bringing new F-35 fighter jets to Madison.
October 11, 2019 • South Central Region
Controversy In The Air: Military F-35 May Land in Madison
In tonight’s closer look, the U.S. Air Force is deciding whether to choose Madison’s Truax Field as a location for its F-35 fighter jets. Truax is home to the Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing and its current complement of F-16 aircraft.
September 27, 2019 • South Central Region
Wisconsinites Owe Billions in Unpaid Medical Bills
ABC for Health Executive Director Bobby Peterson talks about the complexities of medical debt in Wisconsin. Currently there are $1.2 billion in unpaid medical bills, according to figures released by the Wisconsin Hospital Association.
September 20, 2019 • South Central Region
Wisconsin Doctors at the Forefront of Vaping Investigation
Dr. Michael Meyer, the head of the pediatric intensive care unit at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, describes the impact of vaping. Wisconsin has seen 48 lung disease cases in 21 counties, according to the Department of Health Services. The Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin were among the first to connect the deadly lung disease to vaping.
September 20, 2019 • South Central Region
Health Sec. Designee Palm on Strategies For Medicaid
Health Sec. Designee Andrea Palm discusses future Medicaid strategy for Wisconsin. The secretary says Medicaid expansion could bring the state federal money. She also breaks down immunization rates around the state as students head back to school for the year.
September 6, 2019 • South Central Region
Noon Wednesday: Is Wisconsin At Risk Of An Outbreak?
Rates of unvaccinated children are on the rise in Wisconsin as more parents seek personal waivers for their children. We’re speak with pediatric professor and infectious disease specialist Dr. James Conway about the risks this may pose and our chances of an outbreak.
September 4, 2019 • South Central Region
While the cost of insulin surges many diabetes patients are left to foot excessively high bills. A profile on a Wisconsin woman expands on her financial challenge to afford her own diabetes medicine. A spokesperson from the American Diabetes Association, Dr. LaShawn McIver, adds further context to the pressing matter.
August 30, 2019
What Can Wisconsin Do in the Wake of Mass Shootings?
In the wake of the mass shootings in Texas and Ohio, some officials in Wisconsin have been calling for stricter gun control. Attorney General Josh Kaul discusses what those measures might look like, especially a proposed “red flag law.” Wisconsin Carry President Nik Clark also weighs in, discussing the burden background checks would place on gun sales.
August 9, 2019
Post-Shooting Sentiments ‘As Intense As They Are Fleeting’
In the wake of events like a mass shooting, many turn to Twitter which a new study calls "an important window into the nature of public mourning and policy debates in the wake of these tragedies." The study's lead researcher, Yini Zhang of UW-Madison, discusses the longevity of certain sentiments online, saying for example 'thoughts and prayers' are "as intense as they are fleeting."
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.
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.
July 31, 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.
July 17, 2019
Efforts to Mandate CWD Testing in Parts of Wisconsin
An advisory group is pushing for mandatory CWD testing in parts of western Wisconsin.
July 12, 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.
June 26, 2019
Children’s Health Metrics Show Racial Disparities
Wisconsin fares well among other states in child wellness overall, but when the data is broken down by race, stark disparities emerge. Erica Nelson of Kids Forward discusses what the state can do to bridge the racial divide.
June 21, 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.
June 5, 2019 • South Central Region
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.
May 24, 2019 • South West Region
New Ways to Help Those with History of Trauma
The push to fund more trauma-informed programming in the state continues in Wisconsin. Here & Now shares children’s stories from the new documentary “Not Enough Apologies,” and CEO of the Fox Valley Boys and Girls Club Greg Lempke-Rochon discusses his efforts to bring trauma-informed programming to his community.
May 17, 2019 • Northeast Region
The expansion of Medicaid in the state has been a divisive issue, with Republican leaders calling it a non-starter and Gov. Tony Evers saying he will continue to fight for the coverage. Here & Now’s Zac Schultz delves into what expanding Medicaid would mean for some health care providers.
May 17, 2019
New Ways to Help Those with History of Trauma
The push to fund more trauma-informed programming in the state continues in Wisconsin. Here & Now shares children’s stories from the new documentary “Not Enough Apologies,” and CEO of the Fox Valley Boys and Girls Club Greg Lempke-Rochon discusses his efforts to bring trauma-informed programming to his community.
May 17, 2019
Republican lawmakers have introduced a slate of abortion-related bills including a ‘born alive’ bill that creates criminal penalties for doctors who do not care for fetuses still alive after an abortion. Weighing in on the new legislation are Rep. Barbara Dittrich, R-Oconomowoc, and Mel Barnes, the Legal and Policy Director at Planned Parenthood Wisconsin.
May 10, 2019
WPR’s Shawn Johnson discusses a new WPR series on alcohol in Wisconsin, delving into the state’s three-tier system for manufacturing, distributing and selling alcohol.
May 10, 2019
How Vulnerable is Wisconsin to Measles?
With a national outbreak of measles causing concern among the medical community, UW-Madison medical professor Dr. James Conway talks about how vulnerable Wisconsin is for a measles outbreak. He also discusses who would be most affected by measles cropping up in the state.
May 3, 2019
Noon Wednesday: Private Well Water Quality
Ken Bradbury of the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey discusses a comprehensive study his group conducted in collaboration with local county conservationists. The study found that 40 percent of private wells in southwest Wisconsin are contaminated beyond safe limits. Bradbury discusses next steps as the Legislature prepares to find solutions during the budgeting process.
May 1, 2019 • South West Region
State Rep Grows Hair to Push for Legislation
Rep. Jonathan Brostoff, D-Milwaukee, has traditionally had close-cropped hair, but is now growing it out to raise awareness for legislation addressing a shortage in skilled sign language interpreters. He says he is doing so to “let them know I’m with them, that I’m and ally.” He adds that he wants to make sure people in sensitive situations like hospitals “are getting appropriate care.”
April 26, 2019
Noon Wednesday: Cannabis in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin is not following the national trend to legalize any form of marijuana, even though 33 states have passed laws for legal medicinal use and 10 states have laws for legal recreational use. Suzie Kazar, a student journalist with the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalist, talks about how Wisconsin compares with the rest of the country on the question of legalization.
April 24, 2019
Noon Wednesday: The Rise in Mental Health Service Needs
Student mental health advocate Manasi Mohan is raising awareness about the rise in mental health service needs, especially for students of color and underrepresented populations. In the last five years, the UW System schools have seen the need grow 35 percent. And nationwide studies show minority college students are at highest risk of not receiving services based their needs.
April 10, 2019
UW Set to Resume Controversial Flu Research
UW-Madison is at the center of controversial biomedical research in their study of avian flu that involves making the virus more dangerous for humans. WisContext reporter Will Cushman has been following the research and discusses what it would mean for the university to have the research resume.
March 15, 2019 • South Central Region
Noon Wednesday: George Quinn on the State’s Shortfall of Physicians
Wisconsin is expected to be short at least 700 primary care providers by the year 2035. George Quinn, executive director of the Wisconsin Council on Medical Education and Workforce, joins us to talk about how the state is working to bridge the impending shortfall of physicians.
March 13, 2019
The issue of chronic wasting disease has been prevalent among the deer population in Wisconsin, but could the disease spread to humans? U. of Minn. Professor Michael Osterholm says it might, similar to mad cow disease in the UK. He says 30-35 percent of the deer population might be afflicted with CWD, spurred by what he says is lax security in preventing herds from moving across state lines.
February 22, 2019
How Marijuana and Race Impact the Criminal Justice System
One of the points of Gov. Tony Evers’s marijuana proposal is that those with criminal marijuana convictions would have their records expunged. Discussing the criminal justice side of the plan is Rep. David Crowley, D-Milwaukee. He breaks down how racial minorities feel the impact of the criminal justice system more than white drug users and how expungement helps those convicted move forward.
February 22, 2019
Stroebel: “Decriminalization is Legalization”
Republicans have voiced opposition to the governor’s plan to decriminalize marijuana. Sen. Duey Stroebel, R-Cedarburg, says there are enough issues with substance abuse in Wisconsin now, and does not want to see marijuana decriminalized. He discusses his opposition to CBD oil, saying he did not want to mislead people to the benefits of the product without adequate tests.
February 22, 2019
What’s Next for Preexisting Condition Coverage?
Donna Friedsam of UW-Madison’s Population Health Institute discusses a proposal to create protections for preexisting conditions at the state level. She says coverage for a recipient’s family may be different if the federal law is overturned and the state law comes into effect.
January 25, 2019
Will Wisconsin Expand Medicaid?
Here & Now’s Zac Schultz reports on bipartisanship in Wisconsin’s newly divided government, and how that might impact Medicaid expansion in the state.
January 18, 2019
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