The ups and downs and heres and theres and whys and hows of electoral politics were a constant in Wisconsin over the course of 2024. Examining the perennial pivotal role of the state’s voters was at the foundation of PBS Wisconsin’s Here & Now reporting throughout the year, with coverage that sought to make sense of ongoing shifts in economics, demographics and politics. Among hundreds of interviews and reports broadcast and published throughout the year, here’s a look at 15 stories reported by Here & Now that stood out to the journalists who covered them.

Jan. 11: What robotics means for the future of Wisconsin dairy farms
An industry that is central to Wisconsin’s identity has been transformed over the past half century from an abundance of local family businesses to an increasingly smaller constellation of larger operations that are based on volume. This report by Aditi Debnath examined how technology is playing a role in changes to the state’s dairy industry, and what motivates farmers to either embrace or reject robotic milking amid uncertainties in the pricing system and labor markets that increasingly rely on immigrant workers.

Feb. 2: Migrants from Nicaragua, Venezuela make a home in Whitewater
Immigration was one of the most significant issues over the past year, particularly in terms of migrants seeking asylum in the United States and the places where they have worked to make into a new home. A college town in southeast Wisconsin is one such community that has seen a significant number of newcomers in recent years, people fleeing violent political upheaval abroad. In this first of two reports about one local experience with the issue, Nathan Denzin examined the legal limbo of these new residents of Whitewater.

Feb. 8: Local officials, advocates seek help for Whitewater migrants
An influx of immigrants into Whitewater created challenges for local authorities and service providers, which was the focus of the second report by Nathan Denzin about the community and its response regarding a high-profile political issue. Reporting on Whitewater’s experience from a Wisconsin perspective was a motivator given increasing national coverage. “I thought it was extremely important to spend time there and hear from as many voices in the community as I could to get the most accurate and thoughtful piece possible,” Denzin said.

March 21: Federal, state, local government agencies navigate a fractured social media landscape
Social media is a source of power and force for change in both interpersonal communications and international politics, with business models and a worldwide base of users that is constantly shifting. The turmoil surrounding X, the platform formerly named Twitter, accelerated over the course of the year. This report by Jane McCauley explored the longstanding use of social media to communicate information about weather emergencies even as platforms increasingly become sources of misinformation and incubators of hatred.

At 3:09 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2023, the Dane County Regional Airport posted on “X” announcing that it would stop sharing updates on the social media platform. This action followed a message from Dane County Executive Joe Parisi in November asking county agencies to cease using “X.” (Source: Dane County Regional Airport / “X”)

April 19: How school districts use “defeasance” to pass referendums
Wisconsin school districts are holding more referendums in an effort to fund new investments and cover budget gaps, making for high-stakes votes at the local level in election after election. An accounting practice known as “defeasance” — prepaying debt to avoid interest costs — can be meaningful in terms of attracting support from voters, and was the focus of a report by Zac Schultz. Noting differences in the outcomes of votes between neighboring districts, Schultz said “it really highlighted the way defeasance can be used to sell a referendum.”

May 24: In Focus with Pete Souza: Photographing presidential history
At the beginning of the year, Here & Now launched a new and ongoing set of in-depth conversations with community and cultural leaders titled “In Focus with Murv Seymour.” Also presented as a podcast, these interviews are far reaching and funny, as Seymour gets to better know the person who is sharing their perspectives. Among these conversations so far, he points to one with presidential photographer Pete Souza. “I enjoyed seeing his historic images and learning firsthand about the backstory of some of his iconic pictures,” Seymour said.

July 19: Who did — or didn’t — watch the 2024 RNC around Wisconsin?
This report by Murv Seymour that sought to gauge the interest in and impact of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee through the eyes of patrons at a pair of taverns in La Crosse was a consensus favorite among multiple Here & Now staff. The story sought to offer a counterpoint “to the hoopla of the RNC that had everyone in political circles talking,” noted Frederica Freyberg, and succeeded in “highlighting just how toxic the political environment is for regular people,” observed Zac Schultz.

Aug. 14: The cost of child care has Wisconsinites seeking solutions
High child care costs an increasingly significant financial burden on families and have significant impact on the broader economy. Aditi Debnath explored this trend in a story about actions taken in a suburb of Madison. “Waunakee’s decision to subsidize child care locally was an innovative way to solve a problem the entire state experiences,” Debnath said. “The story was also personally engaging for me, because I grew up in Waunakee and learned the preschool that I had attended closed like many others in the state because it couldn’t afford to keep doors open.”

Sept. 6: Black, Latino turnout is pivotal in Wisconsin’s 2024 vote
Political coalitions are constantly shifting, and one growing focus of political campaigns is the stances of voters in Black and Latino communities. Murv Seymour reported on efforts by Republicans to attract more support from these longstanding Democratic constituencies in a state where razor-thin margins can turn an election. “I enjoyed this story because it involved a bilingual approach,” Seymour said. “The story took us to a Spanish-speaking community, which led to us producing content that featured Spanish and English.”

Sept. 13: How threats are escalating for Wisconsin’s public officials
“Politics have always been heated and contentious. But in recent years, things have taken an aggressive, angry and threatening turn,” said Steven Potter about this report that underscored how much outrage is part of the political environment. “The increasingly nasty rhetoric driving government policy, campaign advertising and election efforts has crossed a line and now elected officials at all levels – and election workers – are facing threats of violence. Those who receive the threats say they aren’t surprised by this but worry it will continue and escalate.”

Sept. 20: Charles Franklin on conducting political polling in 2024
Polls are a constant presence over the course of presidential races, and even as many polling operations seek to gauge political opinions in the perennial swing state that is Wisconsin, one that stands out is the Marquette Law School Poll. Marisa Wojcik conducted a long-form interview with its director, Charles Franklin, who discussed the status of polling in the current moment, as well its level of accuracy, how polls can affect public opinion, and the declining relevance of policy to candidates and campaigns, all presented in a podcast about the practice.

Sept. 27: An immigrant from Cameroon finds asylum, safety in Wisconsin
Immigrants as a term encompasses a wide variety of people who are in different circumstances and have a variety of motivations and goals, but each and every person has their own story, their own paths, and their own hopes and fears. Jane McCauley shared the story and perspective of Ngwa Augustine, a man from Cameroon who experienced oppression on account of the language he speaks, subsequently fled thousands of miles, sought and received asylum status in the United States, and has since made a new home with his family in Wisconsin.

Oct. 17: Redistricting and control of Wisconsin’s Legislature in 2024
“Every election cycle. I like to pick a few key races and follow candidates as they do doors and campaign. I feel like it gives viewers a better sense of what the political mood is like,” said Zac Schultz about this report on several state legislative districts where the election outcome was up in the air after new maps were approved in the wake of a Wisconsin Supreme Court order. “This year, I spent a week plus in Green Bay covering three key races and really got a sense of how the candidates were trying to introduce themselves to voters and win.”

Nov. 1: A photographic look at 2024 campaign rallies in Wisconsin
The four major party presidential and vice-presidential candidates criss-crossed Wisconsin again and again between during the months leading up to the election, and Here & Now reported from campaign stops across the state. “Covering a presidential race is one of the highlights of my career,” said Murv Seymour. “In 2024, I covered each presidential candidate a half-dozen times. I documented four of their visits by taking still pictures, and we paired the photos with audio from the campaign trail.”

Dec. 11: How many fresh-cut Christmas trees are being harvested in Wisconsin?
Holiday traditions may feel timeless, but the people and economies that sustain them can and do change year after year. Federal data about the business of Christmas tree farming and its long-term trends informed this report by Steven Potter, who tracked a decades-long decrease in the number of farms and trees harvested nationally and in Wisconsin. The forces that have shaped this trend bear similarities to those in other agricultural industries, with the potential for new growth to take root.

Fresh-cut Christmas trees are displayed inside and outside of a shed at Hann’s Christmas Tree Farm on Dec. 10, 2024, in the town of Oregon in south-central Wisconsin. The owner of the farm explained that the typical price for live trees has increased by roughly one-third since the late 2010s. (Credit: Steven Potter / PBS Wisconsin)