Regions


West Central Region

West Central Region

Wisconsin counties include: Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, La Crosse, Marathon, Monroe, Pepin, Pierce, Portage, St. Croix, Trempealeau, Wood


West Central Region

Latest Stories

A still image shows John Will seated at the 'Here & Now' set featuring wood paneling, with a graphic at bottom reading 'John Will' and 'Northwood Technical College President.'
A still image shows John Will seated at the 'Here & Now' set featuring wood paneling, with a graphic at bottom reading 'John Will' and 'Northwood Technical College President.'

Social Issues

John Will on growing food insecurity among college students

Northwood Technical College President John Will describes the factors that cause college students to experience hunger and how a food pantry project at its Rice Lake campus seeks to address the issue.

March 8, 2024

A still image shows someone holding a phone and pointing to the screen while standing and talking with someone across from them.
A still image shows someone holding a phone and pointing to the screen while standing and talking with someone across from them.

Social Issues

Divisions loom over refugee resettlement in Chippewa Valley

Matthew Soerens of the refugee agency World Relief and Rep. Karen Hurd, R-Fall Creek, weigh in on controversy over the process of resettling approximately 75 refugees in the Chippewa Valley region.

February 16, 2024

Rep. Karen Hurd on placement of refugees around Wisconsin
Rep. Karen Hurd on placement of refugees around Wisconsin

Policy

Rep. Karen Hurd on placement of refugees around Wisconsin

State Rep. Karen Hurd, R-Fall Creek, discusses a bill in the Wisconsin Legislature mandating involvement by elected officials at a regional level when refugee resettlement is planned in a community.

February 15, 2024

Matthew Soerens on plans to resettle refugees in Eau Claire
Matthew Soerens on plans to resettle refugees in Eau Claire

Social Issues

Matthew Soerens on plans to resettle refugees in Eau Claire

World Relief Vice President of Advocacy & Policy Matthew Soerens discusses the resettlement agency's work to help refugee families make new homes in Eau Claire as critics object to the process.

February 14, 2024

A still image shows John Eich seated at the 'Here & Now' set featuring wood paneling, with a graphic at bottom reading 'John Eich' and 'Wisconsin Office of Rural Health.'
A still image shows John Eich seated at the 'Here & Now' set featuring wood paneling, with a graphic at bottom reading 'John Eich' and 'Wisconsin Office of Rural Health.'

Health

John Eich on Wisconsin’s declining rural health care options

Wisconsin Office of Rural Health Director John Eich explains how hospital and clinic closures in the Chippewa Valley reflects a broader trend of reduced health care access for patients in rural areas.

February 9, 2024

Rep. Karen Hurd on health care access in the Chippewa Valley
Rep. Karen Hurd on health care access in the Chippewa Valley

Health

Rep. Karen Hurd on health care access in the Chippewa Valley

State Rep. Karen Hurd, R-Fall Creek, discusses concerns over health consequences of hospital and clinic closures in western Wisconsin and what options are being considered to provide access to care.

February 9, 2024

Mayor Greg Hoffman on HSHS hospital, Prevea clinic closures
Mayor Greg Hoffman on HSHS hospital, Prevea clinic closures

Economy

Mayor Greg Hoffman on HSHS hospital, Prevea clinic closures

Chippewa Falls Mayor Greg Hoffman considers how closures of two HSHS hospitals and 19 Prevea Health clinics with accompanying layoffs in west-central Wisconsin will impact patients and communities.

January 26, 2024

Mayor Katie Rosenberg on removing lead pipes in Wausau
Mayor Katie Rosenberg on removing lead pipes in Wausau

Policy

Mayor Katie Rosenberg on removing lead pipes in Wausau

Wausau Mayor Katie Rosenberg describes how the city is prioritizing resources and implementing its campaign to replace lead service lines connecting water mains to buildings over a five-year period.

December 20, 2023

The race to replace lead pipes across Wisconsin gets a boost
The race to replace lead pipes across Wisconsin gets a boost

Policy

The race to replace lead pipes across Wisconsin gets a boost

Lead pipes that deliver drinking water to homes remain commonplace in many communities around the state — in Wausau, the city is gearing up efforts to replace all of these lines within five years.

December 14, 2023

Multiple fish jump from the surface of a churning body of water, with a sandy beach in the background.
Multiple fish jump from the surface of a churning body of water, with a sandy beach in the background.

Environment

Minnesota, Wisconsin wildlife officials capture invasive carp in Mississippi River

Wildlife officials have captured hundreds of invasive carp from the Mississippi River near Trempealeau, part of efforts to keep these species out of the Great Lakes and protect the region's $7 billion fishing industry.

December 5, 2023

Kayla Stampfle stands in a flat-bottomed boat next to an array of solar panels connected to other equipment, in a body of water with tree-lined shores on either side and along the horizon.
Kayla Stampfle stands in a flat-bottomed boat next to an array of solar panels connected to other equipment, in a body of water with tree-lined shores on either side and along the horizon.

Science

Scientists tag and track invasive carp to slow their Great Lakes push

Wildlife agencies have worked to capture invasive carp in Lake Erie and the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, implanting them with transmitters and following their movements to aid in their removal.

November 20, 2023

A still image from a video shows Katie Rosenberg seated in front of a window sill lined with plants and decorations with a graphic at bottom reading 'Wausau,' 'Katie Rosenberg' and 'Wausau Mayor.'
A still image from a video shows Katie Rosenberg seated in front of a window sill lined with plants and decorations with a graphic at bottom reading 'Wausau,' 'Katie Rosenberg' and 'Wausau Mayor.'

Budgets

Mayor Katie Rosenberg on the shared revenue boost for Wausau

Wausau Mayor Katie Rosenberg discusses what a major increase in the amount of shared revenue funds provided by the state government and requirements for how the money is used means for city services.

October 6, 2023

Steve Frisque on the UAW strike and American labor movement
Steve Frisque on the UAW strike and American labor movement

Economy

Steve Frisque on the UAW strike and American labor movement

United Auto Workers Local 722 President Steve Frisque describes how a strike by the UAW reflects economic conditions that are motivating a wave of union organizing and labor actions across the nation.

October 4, 2023

Katrina Shankland sits and faces a microphone while listening to another speaker.
Katrina Shankland sits and faces a microphone while listening to another speaker.

Elections

State Rep. Katrina Shankland announces 2024 run for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District

State Rep. Katrina Shankland of Stevens Point has joined a crowded field of Democratic candidates in western Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden.

October 3, 2023

Protesters wear blue ponchos and hold pickets reading 'On Strike.'
Protesters wear blue ponchos and hold pickets reading 'On Strike.'

Economy

UAW strike of Big Three auto manufacturers expands

The United Auto Workers expanded a strike against three large auto manufacturers — General Motors, Ford and Stellantis (Chrysler) — with auto parts makers in Milwaukee and Hudson joining the action.

September 29, 2023

Tara Johnson poses for a portrait with out-of-focus foliage in the background.
Tara Johnson poses for a portrait with out-of-focus foliage in the background.

Elections

Tara Johnson launches 2024 bid for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District

Former La Crosse County Board Chair Tara Johnson announced a run for Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District, making her the third Democratic candidate seeking the seat in the 2024 primary.

September 6, 2023

Rebecca Cooke speaks into a microphone while sitting at a table, with a water bottle, clipboard and glasses in front of her, in a room with a brick wall and closed vertical blinds in a window, with graphics on the image reading 3rd District Democratic Debate and ABC News 19.
Rebecca Cooke speaks into a microphone while sitting at a table, with a water bottle, clipboard and glasses in front of her, in a room with a brick wall and closed vertical blinds in a window, with graphics on the image reading 3rd District Democratic Debate and ABC News 19.

Elections

Cooke announces 2024 candidacy to challenge Van Orden in Wisconsin’s 3rd District

Rebecca Cooke, who finished second in the 2022 Democratic primary for Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District seat, is running again in 2024 to challenge U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, the Republican incumbent.

July 10, 2023

A place for art in halting violence toward Indigenous people
A place for art in halting violence toward Indigenous people

Social Issues

A place for art in halting violence toward Indigenous people

Students, teachers and community members in Black River Falls are contributing to an art installation named Heart Spirits to build awareness about the tragedy of missing and murdered indigenous women.

May 5, 2023

A still image from a video shows a flooded park with benches and trees partially underwater.
A still image from a video shows a flooded park with benches and trees partially underwater.

Environment

Freight train derails as floods on Mississippi River crest

A BNSF freight train derailed near De Soto along the Mississippi River where soils are saturated due to ongoing flooding in La Crosse, Prairie du Chien and elsewhere in western Wisconsin.

April 28, 2023

La Crosse, Prairie du Chien brace as spring flooding spreads
La Crosse, Prairie du Chien brace as spring flooding spreads

Environment

La Crosse, Prairie du Chien brace as spring flooding spreads

Melting winter snowpack and springtime rains are causing major floods on the Mississippi River in western Wisconsin, with communities facing road closures and neighborhood evacuations as waters rise.

April 26, 2023

A still image from a video shows Mike Welvaert wearing headphones and sitting in an office in front of cabinets and a window, with a graphic at bottom reading 'Chanhassen, MN,' 'Mike Welvaert' and 'National Weather Service.'
A still image from a video shows Mike Welvaert wearing headphones and sitting in an office in front of cabinets and a window, with a graphic at bottom reading 'Chanhassen, MN,' 'Mike Welvaert' and 'National Weather Service.'

Science

Mike Welvaert on the spring 2023 Mississippi River flooding

National Weather Service hydrologist Mike Welvaert describes conditions on the Mississippi River and other Wisconsin waterways as forecasted floods crest in La Crosse and emergency responses activate.

April 21, 2023

Central, west-central Wisconsin experiences severe wildfires
Central, west-central Wisconsin experiences severe wildfires

Environment

Central, west-central Wisconsin experiences severe wildfires

Warm temperatures and gusty winds in central and west-central Wisconsin leads Gov. Tony Evers to declare a state of emergency in response to extreme fire danger.

April 14, 2023

A roadside sign reading Nelsonville Population 191 stands alongside a road next to another sign addressing ATV/UTV traffic, with multiple vehicles, trees and powerlines in the background.
A roadside sign reading Nelsonville Population 191 stands alongside a road next to another sign addressing ATV/UTV traffic, with multiple vehicles, trees and powerlines in the background.

Environment

Nelsonville’s water woes: How nitrate contamination has consumed the community

Here & Now extra: Residents of a rural village in central Wisconsin are trying to ensure access to clean drinking water sources as they clamor for support from the state to address and mitigate the sources of nutrient pollution.

December 15, 2022

Jennifer McNelly on nitrate pollution sources in groundwater
Jennifer McNelly on nitrate pollution sources in groundwater

Environment

Jennifer McNelly on nitrate pollution sources in groundwater

Portage County water resource specialist Jennifer McNelly discusses testing well water in Nelsonville to assess how much agricultural and septic system waste contribute to contamination by nitrates.

December 13, 2022

Nelsonville’s water woes: A fight over sources of nitrate
Nelsonville’s water woes: A fight over sources of nitrate

Environment

Nelsonville’s water woes: A fight over sources of nitrate

Contamination of well waters by a chemical common in manure and septic systems has residents of a rural community in central Wisconsin arguing about its causes and finding appropriate solutions.

December 8, 2022

Tarion O’Carroll on working to obtain clean drinking water
Tarion O’Carroll on working to obtain clean drinking water

Health

Tarion O’Carroll on working to obtain clean drinking water

Nelsonville resident Tarion O'Carroll describes how nitrate contamination in the area compels him to regularly visit an artesian well in another community in order to supply household water needs.

December 6, 2022

Nelsonville’s water woes: Finding nitrate pollution in wells
Nelsonville’s water woes: Finding nitrate pollution in wells

Health

Nelsonville’s water woes: Finding nitrate pollution in wells

Residents of a central Wisconsin village are finding dangerous levels of a common agricultural pollutant in their drinking water and are left trying to filter their supplies or find new sources.

December 1, 2022

Three side-by-side images show Derrick Van Orden speaking into a microphone with seated audience members in the background.
Three side-by-side images show Derrick Van Orden speaking into a microphone with seated audience members in the background.

Politics

What’s next for Derrick Van Orden in Congress after winning Wisconsin’s 3rd

Here & Now extra: The winning Republican candidate for a U.S. House seat in western and central swaths of the state is getting ready to serve in the majority while Democratic candidate Brad Pfaff thinks his party can learn from the close margin in this 2022 race.

November 17, 2022

Anthony Chergosky on Van Orden’s win in Wisconsin’s 3rd
Anthony Chergosky on Van Orden’s win in Wisconsin’s 3rd

Elections

Anthony Chergosky on Van Orden’s win in Wisconsin’s 3rd

UW-La Crosse political science professor Anthony Chergosky examines Derrick Van Orden's victory over Brad Pfaff for a western Wisconsin U.S. House seat and the rural-urban split in partisan politics.

November 11, 2022

Derrick Van Orden stands behind a podium with a graphic reading Save America and speaks into a microphone while facing teleprompters, with an audience of people in the background, many wearing t-shirts for Tim Michels.
Derrick Van Orden stands behind a podium with a graphic reading Save America and speaks into a microphone while facing teleprompters, with an audience of people in the background, many wearing t-shirts for Tim Michels.

Elections

Van Orden defeats Pfaff to flip Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District seat to Republican

In a boost to Republican designs on taking control of the U.S. House, that party's candidate Derrick Van Orden defeated Democratic candidate Brad Pfaff in a western Wisconsin congressional district.

November 9, 2022

Anthony Chergosky on Pfaff, Van Orden and the 3rd District
Anthony Chergosky on Pfaff, Van Orden and the 3rd District

Elections

Anthony Chergosky on Pfaff, Van Orden and the 3rd District

UW-La Crosse political science professor Anthony Chergosky assesses the race between Brad Pfaff and Derrick Van Orden for Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District seat in the last weeks of the election.

October 21, 2022

A beachgoer sits on a folding chair and a dog stands in the water of a beach as a single-engine propeller aircraft flies overhead under a cloudy sky, with marsh grasses in the foreground and tree-lined shores and bluffs in the background.
A beachgoer sits on a folding chair and a dog stands in the water of a beach as a single-engine propeller aircraft flies overhead under a cloudy sky, with marsh grasses in the foreground and tree-lined shores and bluffs in the background.

Environment

Wisconsin’s French Island faces stark choices as PFAS water crisis lingers

A lifeline could disappear due to a pollution lawsuit that has implications for the 1.7 million Wisconsinites who rely on private wells.

September 21, 2022

Ron Kind stands in front of a marble wall with a filigree relief pattern.
Ron Kind stands in front of a marble wall with a filigree relief pattern.

Environment

U.S. Rep. Ron Kind among French Island residents grappling with PFAS

'There's nothing that hits you in the gut harder than the thought that you don't have safe drinking water,' the retiring member of Congress says.

September 21, 2022

Pfaff, Van Orden and Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District
Pfaff, Van Orden and Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District

Elections

Pfaff, Van Orden and Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District

A Republican promoting national political issues and a Democrat focusing on local economic desires are vying in a high-profile 2022 contest for a U.S. House seat in rural, western swaths of the state.

September 9, 2022

Lance Bagstad on rural schools facing teacher shortages
Lance Bagstad on rural schools facing teacher shortages

Education

Lance Bagstad on rural schools facing teacher shortages

School District of Arcadia Superintendent Lance Bagstad describes the shortages of teachers and staff in rural schools and what is being done to recruit and retain more people in these positions.

August 19, 2022

Anthony Chergosky on Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District
Anthony Chergosky on Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District

Elections

Anthony Chergosky on Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District

UW-La Crosse political science professor Anthony Chergosky explains why a race between Brad Pfaff and Derrick Van Orden for a western Wisconsin U.S. House seat is in the national political spotlight.

August 12, 2022

Wisconsin DAs and prosecuting abortion cases
Wisconsin DAs and prosecuting abortion cases

Politics

Wisconsin DAs and prosecuting abortion cases

La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke, a Democrat who opposes the reversal of Roe v. Wade, explains why he would enforce Wisconsin's abortion laws and remains open to pursuing prosecutions.

July 1, 2022

Why young adults stay in their small Wisconsin town
Why young adults stay in their small Wisconsin town

Rural Voices

Why young adults stay in their small Wisconsin town

Four residents of the Black River Falls area share the reasons why they continue to live in the community where they grew up rather than moving to a larger city.

June 9, 2022

What it’s like for kids to live in small-town Wisconsin
What it’s like for kids to live in small-town Wisconsin

Rural Voices

What it’s like for kids to live in small-town Wisconsin

Five teenagers who attend Black River Falls High School – who grew up in the area or moved there after living elsewhere – share how their perspectives and future plans are shaped by living in a rural community.

June 2, 2022

What Wausau is doing about PFAS in its water
What Wausau is doing about PFAS in its water

Environment

What Wausau is doing about PFAS in its water

Wausau Mayor Katie Rosenberg describes how the city is addressing contamination by PFAS chemicals in its municipal water wells and why some residents are using bottled water or filtration systems.

May 27, 2022

Wisconsin’s spike in new small businesses
Wisconsin’s spike in new small businesses

Economy

Wisconsin’s spike in new small businesses

Anne Hlavacka, director of the Wisconsin Small Business Development Center at UW-La Crosse, shares how more entrepreneurs have launched new businesses in western Wisconsin since the pandemic started.

May 13, 2022

An aerial photo of a brick building with multiple levels and sections shows rows of solar panels on top of its roof, which is white.
An aerial photo of a brick building with multiple levels and sections shows rows of solar panels on top of its roof, which is white.

Environment

La Crosse finds solar path despite ownership hurdle

The city of La Crosse used an energy savings performance contract with Johnson Controls to work around Wisconsin's legal uncertainty over solar installations owned by third parties.

May 3, 2022

Clerks face time crunch after redistricting decision
Clerks face time crunch after redistricting decision

Elections

Clerks face time crunch after redistricting decision

La Crosse County Clerk Ginny Dankmeyer describes the work ahead for election clerks across the state. Following the Wisconsin Supreme Court's last-minute ruling to use Republican legislative redistricting maps, clerks are crunched for time to readjust boundaries so candidates can seek signatures for their nomination papers.

April 22, 2022

WPR’s ‘Central Time’: Afghan refugees find new homes
WPR’s ‘Central Time’: Afghan refugees find new homes

WisContext

WPR’s ‘Central Time’: Afghan refugees find new homes

Many Afghans who fled Taliban rule in August 2021 are making new homes in Wisconsin. On Jan. 31, 2022, Wisconsin Public Radio's "Central Time" interviewed journalists from PBS Wisconsin and WPR who shared the stories of refugees and the legal experts helping them navigate resettling in the United States. The show also interviewed the director of an Appleton resettlement agency about its work.

February 1, 2022

‘I feel like I’m dreaming’: Afghan refugees embark upon new lives in Wisconsin
‘I feel like I’m dreaming’: Afghan refugees embark upon new lives in Wisconsin

WisContext

‘I feel like I’m dreaming’: Afghan refugees embark upon new lives in Wisconsin

Whether they fled to the U.S. after the fall of Kabul or in previous years, Afghans hoping to build new lives in an unfamiliar place rely on the help of lawyers and resettlement agencies even as they strive to overcome the trauma of departing their original homes.

January 31, 2022

Legal complexities of resettling Afghan refugees
Legal complexities of resettling Afghan refugees

WisContext

Legal complexities of resettling Afghan refugees

Erin Barbato, director of the Immigrant Justice Clinic at the UW Law School, explains the legal processes refugees from Afghanistan must follow in order to make new homes in the United States.

January 31, 2022

Matiullah Matie sits in a room with two beds.
Matiullah Matie sits in a room with two beds.

WisContext

Afghan families face culture shock, uncertainty about immigration status as they resettle in Wisconsin

Afghan refugees in Wisconsin reflect on what they have left behind, challenges ahead as they start new life in the US

January 31, 2022

Multiple adults and children walk toward an exit door while inside a steel building with a concrete floor.
Multiple adults and children walk toward an exit door while inside a steel building with a concrete floor.

WisContext

Warm welcomes, legal hurdles for Wisconsin’s new Afghan refugees

The experiences of every person who has fled from Afghanistan to the United States is different, but all must acclimate to new surroundings while navigating a complicated immigration system.

January 31, 2022

A teachers sits in an officer chair facing a screen for a virtual classroom in a gym filled with stacked chairs and other items.
A teachers sits in an officer chair facing a screen for a virtual classroom in a gym filled with stacked chairs and other items.

Education

Wisconsin schools struggle with finding substitute teachers for a third year

District administrators in Green Bay, La Crosse and elsewhere around the state are digging deep to find temporary staff to cover for employees who are out sick as the Omicron variant of COVID-19 rages.

January 20, 2022

McGrath on 3rd Congressional District run
McGrath on 3rd Congressional District run

Elections

McGrath on 3rd Congressional District run

Retired CIA officer Deb McGrath of Menominee discusses her run as a Democratic candidate for Wisconsin's open 3rd Congressional District seat and the issues she plans to prioritize in the campaign.

January 14, 2022

Covid returns to crisis levels in the Northwoods
Covid returns to crisis levels in the Northwoods

Coronavirus

Covid returns to crisis levels in the Northwoods

Laura Scudiere, health officer for Marathon County, describes the situation in north-central Wisconsin as the burgeoning year-end wave of new COVID-19 cases pushes hospital capacities to their limits.

December 17, 2021

Cooke on 3rd Congressional District run
Cooke on 3rd Congressional District run

Elections

Cooke on 3rd Congressional District run

Eau Claire business owner Rebecca Cooke discusses her run as a Democratic candidate for Wisconsin's open 3rd Congressional District seat and the issues she plans to prioritize in her campaign.

November 19, 2021

A scientist wearing a white coat and nitrile exam globes pipettes liquid from a plastic bottle.
A scientist wearing a white coat and nitrile exam globes pipettes liquid from a plastic bottle.

Science

The cost, complexity and very local scope of Eau Claire’s PFAS response

After testing found "forever chemicals" in multiple municipal drinking water wells used by Eau Claire, the city has taken steps to mitigate this contamination, but it's an expensive and time-consuming problem faced by communities around Wisconsin.

November 16, 2021

The covid backlash in rural health care
The covid backlash in rural health care

Coronavirus

The covid backlash in rural health care

Dr. Susan Turney, CEO of the Marshfield Clinic Health System, discusses difficulties rural health care providers face as COVID-19 fills hospitals and more patients oppose pandemic response measures.

November 12, 2021

Eau Claire takes action on a PFAS problem in its well water
Eau Claire takes action on a PFAS problem in its well water

Environment

Eau Claire takes action on a PFAS problem in its well water

After detecting elevated levels of per- and polyflouroalkyl substances, called PFAS, in its drinking water supplies, city of Eau Claire utility staff moved to test more samples, shut off wells where contamination was identified and cut off the flow of these "forever chemicals."

November 12, 2021

A water point labeled Stevens Point stands over buildings and trees.
A water point labeled Stevens Point stands over buildings and trees.

Politics

Central Wisconsin’s Central Role in Wisconsin’s Redistricting Calculations

After being shifted from the 7th Congressional District to the 3rd in 2011, Portage County is set to switch representation once again in 2021, with the Republican plan splitting Stevens Point and Plover between the 7th and 8th districts, while the People's Map Commission moves it entirely into the 6th.

November 4, 2021

An illustration showing satellites pointed toward an upside-down Earth surrounded by a dot-and-spoke matrix.
An illustration showing satellites pointed toward an upside-down Earth surrounded by a dot-and-spoke matrix.

Education

A Rural Wisconsin Educator Sees Life Speed Up and Simplify with Broadband

Struggling to juggle remote work needs and family entertainment demands with a DSL connection, an English teacher in Black River Falls found daily life transformed after subscribing to satellite internet service.

October 26, 2021

Pfaff on 2022 3rd Congressional District Run
Pfaff on 2022 3rd Congressional District Run

Elections

Pfaff on 2022 3rd Congressional District Run

State Senator Brad Pfaff discusses his run as a Democratic candidate for Wisconsin's open 3rd Congressional District seat and the issues he plans to prioritize in the campaign.

October 8, 2021

Impacts of Fighting COVID-19 on Frontline Health Workers
Impacts of Fighting COVID-19 on Frontline Health Workers

Coronavirus

Impacts of Fighting COVID-19 on Frontline Health Workers

Reporter Marisa Wojcik investigates an intensive care unit at Marshfield Clinic as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Wisconsin, exploring severe stains on ICU space in hospitals and the perspectives of the frontline health workers who continue to fight the pandemic.

September 24, 2021

Legal Aid for Afghan Refugees
Legal Aid for Afghan Refugees

Social Issues

Legal Aid for Afghan Refugees

Erin Barbato, director of the Immigrant Justice Clinic at the UW Law School, describes legal assistance the group is providing to Afghan refugees at Fort McCoy as they prepare for resettlement.

September 17, 2021

A stone gate marks the entrance to the U.S. Army installation Fort McCoy.
A stone gate marks the entrance to the U.S. Army installation Fort McCoy.

Politics

Wisconsin Lawmakers Visit Fort McCoy, Focus on the Vetting of Afghan Refugees

Over the course of two weeks, Republican and Democratic lawmakers from Wisconsin stopped by a U.S. Army base near La Crosse to check out how thousands of new immigrants from Afghanistan are being housed before resettlement around the country.

September 13, 2021

Wisconsin’s Pandemic Alcohol Surge
Wisconsin’s Pandemic Alcohol Surge

Health

Wisconsin’s Pandemic Alcohol Surge

Luke Fedie, a mental health specialist and substance abuse counselor with Eau Claire County, describes what a spike in alcohol sales in Wisconsin during the pandemic means in human terms.

September 10, 2021

Workers hold a blue replacement water pipe surrounded by metal netting.
Workers hold a blue replacement water pipe surrounded by metal netting.

Health

Spurred by Flint Crisis, Eau Claire Aims to Eliminate Lead Pipelines

Eau Claire homeowners typically pay nothing under a grant-funded program to replace lead service lines, and the city is finding success in canvassing neighborhoods to identify homes where work is needed.

September 9, 2021

An illustration showing silhouettes of four figures walking toward an moon-style outline of Wisconsin.
An illustration showing silhouettes of four figures walking toward an moon-style outline of Wisconsin.

Social Issues

The Resettlement Story for Afghan Refugees in Wisconsin Is Just Beginning

Here & Now extra: Thousands of Afghans seeking to make a new home in the United States are being temporarily housed at Fort McCoy, which played a similar role four decades earlier.

August 31, 2021

Wisconsin Lawmakers on Afghan Refugees at Fort McCoy
Wisconsin Lawmakers on Afghan Refugees at Fort McCoy

Politics

Wisconsin Lawmakers on Afghan Refugees at Fort McCoy

U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson comment about refugees from Afghanistan being brought to Fort McCoy in western Wisconsin.

August 27, 2021

Noon Wednesday: What We Can Learn from 1980 Cuban Refugees
Noon Wednesday: What We Can Learn from 1980 Cuban Refugees

Social Issues

Noon Wednesday: What We Can Learn from 1980 Cuban Refugees

As Afghan refugees begin to arrive at Fort McCoy, many are remembering the 1980 relocation of thousands of Cubans who arrived at the very same Western Wisconsin military installation. Omar Granados, an associate professor of Latin American and Latino studies at UW-La Crosse discusses his work studying this point in Wisconsin’s history.

August 25, 2021

A map of Chippewa County supervisory districts sits on a table.
A map of Chippewa County supervisory districts sits on a table.

Elections

How Could the Delta Surge Affect Wisconsin’s Redistricting Process?

Facing a November deadline to complete the mapping of county-level wards, local clerks are confident that another wave in the COVID-19 pandemic won't derail their work.

August 23, 2021

Afghanistan Refugees Coming to Fort McCoy
Afghanistan Refugees Coming to Fort McCoy

Social Issues

Afghanistan Refugees Coming to Fort McCoy

Governor Tony Evers and U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher respond to the announcement that refugees from Afghanistan will be temporarily housed at Fort McCoy in western Wisconsin.

August 20, 2021

The Rush to Redistrict Wisconsin’s Most Local Offices
The Rush to Redistrict Wisconsin’s Most Local Offices

Elections

The Rush to Redistrict Wisconsin’s Most Local Offices

Counties around the state are hustling to meet a November 2021 deadline for redistricting to be ready for the spring 2022 elections.

August 19, 2021

Noon Wednesday: Wisconsin Prepares for Afghan Refugees
Noon Wednesday: Wisconsin Prepares for Afghan Refugees

Social Issues

Noon Wednesday: Wisconsin Prepares for Afghan Refugees

As Afghans who worked with the U.S. flee their home under Taliban rule, the military is preparing to temporarily house some at Fort McCoy. Dawn Berney, executive director of resettlement nonprofit Jewish Social Services of Madison, explains how local agencies are preparing for a potential influx of refugees.

August 18, 2021

Whither Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District?
Whither Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District?

Politics

Whither Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District?

Charles Franklin, Director of the Marquette Law School Poll, considers the future of Wisconsin’s Congressional Delegation in the wake of a high profile retirement and release of 2020 Census data.

August 13, 2021

Donald Greengrass Jr. sits on a chair at a restaurant counter
Donald Greengrass Jr. sits on a chair at a restaurant counter

Economy

How Could ‘Baby Bonds’ Address Wisconsin’s Racial Wealth Gap?

Setting aside government money at birth for all children has been tried both inside and outside of the United States — and even in Wisconsin. Not everyone is a fan.

August 5, 2021

Noon Wednesday: ‘A Community For All’
Noon Wednesday: ‘A Community For All’

Social Issues

Noon Wednesday: ‘A Community For All’

Residents in a north central Wisconsin community have become divided on passing a resolution proclaiming Marathon County “A Community For All.” Marathon County Board Supervisor and Wausau attorney William Harris explains why consensus cannot be found in this yearlong debate.

May 19, 2021

A vaccinator wearing gloves and mask gives a shot to another person wearing a mask.
A vaccinator wearing gloves and mask gives a shot to another person wearing a mask.

Coronavirus

Wisconsin’s COVID Condition: Diverging Geographies of Vaccinations and Variants

In St. Croix County, a jump in cases among teenagers and a plateauing of demand for the coronavirus vaccine illustrates how the second year of the pandemic is shifting in different places around the state.

April 30, 2021

Bumper stickers reading I got me COVID-19 vaccine #SavingLives shared by the Clark County Health Department
Bumper stickers reading I got me COVID-19 vaccine #SavingLives shared by the Clark County Health Department

WisContext

Where Is Wisconsin’s COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery Lagging — And Why?

With universal eligibility starting April 5, the pace of coronavirus shots is speeding up everywhere in the state, but rates have been stubbornly lower in Clark, Rusk and Taylor counties.

March 30, 2021

Map of water well sampling areas for PFAS contamination near the La Crosse airport
Map of water well sampling areas for PFAS contamination near the La Crosse airport

Environment

Wisconsin Issues Drinking Water Advisory After Well Testing on French Island Identifies PFAS Contamination

The state is providing drinking water to thousands of residents living near the La Crosse airport after the widespread presence of PFAS chemicals is found in private well testing around the area.

March 26, 2021

How Eau Claire Plans to Use American Stimulus Dollars
How Eau Claire Plans to Use American Stimulus Dollars

Coronavirus

How Eau Claire Plans to Use American Stimulus Dollars

Kathryn Schauf, Eau Claire Couty administrator, discusses how much COVID stimulus relief funding she expects and where those dollars will be spent in the area.

March 19, 2021

Illustration of outline Wisconsin with connect the dots networks.
Illustration of outline Wisconsin with connect the dots networks.

Education

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.

March 5, 2021

COVID-19 and Schools
COVID-19 and Schools

Coronavirus

COVID-19 and Schools

Dr. Amy Falk, a Wisconsin Rapids pediatrician, discusses the study she co-authored for the CDC showing schools as unlikely vectors of transmission for the coronavirus.

February 5, 2021

Mike Pence
Mike Pence

Here and Now 2020

Pence Talks Jobs, Law Enforcement at Eau Claire Event

The Thursday speech marks the third consecutive week the vice president has visited Wisconsin.

September 24, 2020

What Racial Justice Movement Looks Like in Central Wisconsin
What Racial Justice Movement Looks Like in Central Wisconsin

Social Issues

What Racial Justice Movement Looks Like in Central Wisconsin

Darrell Keaton is a community activist in Wausau and discusses how his community is working toward greater racial justice. Keaton founded Men & Women 4 Change Social Club to promote diversity and awareness of minority owned businesses and organizations in Central Wisconsin. Wausau will celebrate Juneteenth next year as a result of Keaton's work with the Wausau mayor and chief of police.

July 10, 2020

La Crosse County Sees Sharp Uptick in COVID-19 Cases
La Crosse County Sees Sharp Uptick in COVID-19 Cases

Coronavirus

La Crosse County Sees Sharp Uptick in COVID-19 Cases

A "Severe Risk" red alert has been issued in La Crosse area. Public was notified of possible exposure if they visited any of seven bars and restaurants in the downtown La Crosse area. Residents are being advised to stay at home and reduce gatherings to no more than 10 people. Jennifer Rombalski, director of La Crosse County Health Department says to "take this seriously as a community altogether."

June 19, 2020

Noon Wednesday: Mentorship Over Protest
Noon Wednesday: Mentorship Over Protest

Social Issues

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.

June 17, 2020

Image of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden
Image of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden

Politics

Biden Makes Two Virtual Stops in Wisconsin

The Democratic presidential candidate made virtual stops in La Crosse and Milwaukee, discussing plans for rural Wisconsin and criticizing the president's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

May 20, 2020

Tom Tiffany
Tom Tiffany

Elections

Tiffany Wins Special Election

Republican Tom Tiffany wins the special election to replace Sean Duffy in the state's 7th Congressional District.

May 13, 2020

Three Wisconsin National Guard Soldiers and Airmen and one local medical professional help facilitate mobile testing in Buffalo County, Wis., May 1, 2020. Wisconsin National Guard Soldiers and Airmen provide COVID-19 testing alongside county Emergency Management and County Health Officials in support of the Department of Health Services request in Buffalo County, Wisconsin.  (Courtesy: Spc. Emma Anderson / Wisconsin National Guard)
Three Wisconsin National Guard Soldiers and Airmen and one local medical professional help facilitate mobile testing in Buffalo County, Wis., May 1, 2020. Wisconsin National Guard Soldiers and Airmen provide COVID-19 testing alongside county Emergency Management and County Health Officials in support of the Department of Health Services request in Buffalo County, Wisconsin.  (Courtesy: Spc. Emma Anderson / Wisconsin National Guard)

Health

Community Testing Begins in Northwestern Wisconsin

National Guard deployed to support county and tribal health efforts.

May 4, 2020

A visit to Wheelhouse Studios in the Memorial Union at UW-Madison, as seen in this photo from 2014, is the kind of activity that was supported by the bridge builders of Living Our Visions (LOV Inc) before the COVID 19 crisis. (Courtesy Jeff Miller / UW-Madison)
A visit to Wheelhouse Studios in the Memorial Union at UW-Madison, as seen in this photo from 2014, is the kind of activity that was supported by the bridge builders of Living Our Visions (LOV Inc) before the COVID 19 crisis. (Courtesy Jeff Miller / UW-Madison)

Social Issues

Nonprofit Sector to Be Challenged and Changed by COVID-19

Non-profit organizations face new challenges as the COVID-19 outbreak affects their daily operations and bottom line.

April 14, 2020

scientist's hands pipette liquid into viles
scientist's hands pipette liquid into viles

Health

In-House Test Shows Promise to Increase Capacity

Gundersen Health System in La Crosse has developed their own in-house test for COVID-19. They say patients no longer need to wait days to get results, which might be the case if tests were sent to an outside lab. “If a test is required from the health system, we can ...

March 27, 2020

Former Sec. Designee Pfaff Stays on Evers Administration
Former Sec. Designee Pfaff Stays on Evers Administration

Politics

Former Sec. Designee Pfaff Stays on Evers Administration

Former DATCP Secretary Designee-Brad Pfaff found is back on the Evers administration. Pfaff will now serve as the Director of business and rural development in the Department of Administration. He will not need Senate confirmation in his new position.

December 4, 2019

The Economic State of Farming
The Economic State of Farming

Agriculture

The Economic State of Farming

U.S. and State Department of Agriculture Secretaries Sonny Perdue and Brad Pfaff both give their perspectives on the state of small dairy farmers and the industry as a whole. With extreme weather, low prices and uncertainty in foreign trade, Pfaff explains that Wisconsin farmers have been hit with a “triple whammy” of unfortunate events.

December 4, 2019

New Bill Aims to Curb Reckless Driving Habits
New Bill Aims to Curb Reckless Driving Habits

Policy

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.

November 29, 2019

Chinese Trade Disputes Impact Wisconsin Ginseng
Chinese Trade Disputes Impact Wisconsin Ginseng

Agriculture

Chinese Trade Disputes Impact Wisconsin Ginseng

Ongoing trade disputes with China impact many Wisconsin industries, including ginseng producers. Wausau area farm owner Will Hsu describes how he’s navigating the turmoil in the market, and talks about his optimism for this year’s crop.

October 25, 2019

Portage County DA on the Impact of 60 Plus New Prosecutors
Portage County DA on the Impact of 60 Plus New Prosecutors

Politics

Portage County DA on the Impact of 60 Plus New Prosecutors

President of the Wisconsin District Attorneys Association, Louis Molepske, speaks to the Evers’ administration’s decision to provide funds for additional county Assistant DAs. More than 60 assistant DAs will be placed at 56 counties around the state. Molepske says that the additional prosecutors will help people stay out of prison and make sure that justice is served for victims.

September 20, 2019

‘Our Farms, Our Future’ Bills offer Resources To Family Farm
‘Our Farms, Our Future’ Bills offer Resources To Family Farm

Agriculture

‘Our Farms, Our Future’ Bills offer Resources To Family Farm

A new bill by Senator Patrick Testin, R-Stevens Point, aims to make it easier for families to pass down farms to future generations. The bill is apart of the “Our Farms, Our Future” bill package which will tackle a number of issues that Wisconsin farmers face. Other bills in the package will address student loan debt and a diversity grant program.

September 6, 2019

PSC to Weigh Need vs. Environmental Impact of Power Line
PSC to Weigh Need vs. Environmental Impact of Power Line

Environment

PSC to Weigh Need vs. Environmental Impact of Power Line

Residents of southwestern Wisconsin voice concerns over a proposed high-voltage power line that would stretch from Iowa to just west of Madison. Student journalist Will Kenneally reports on the Public Service Commission’s upcoming decision on whether the line is necessary for Wisconsin’s energy infrastructure.

July 19, 2019

Noon Wednesday: The New Normal for Rural Schools
Noon Wednesday: The New Normal for Rural Schools

Education

Noon Wednesday: The New Normal for Rural Schools

Declining enrollments and complicated funding streams are making it harder and harder for rural schools to keep the lights on. Kim Kaukl, director if the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance, joins us to talk about this seemingly inescapable pattern and talk about his own story in Spring Valley.

June 12, 2019

Noon Wednesday: UW-Stevens Point Majors
Noon Wednesday: UW-Stevens Point Majors

Education

Noon Wednesday: UW-Stevens Point Majors

After a year and a half of turbulence, UW-Stevens Point has pulled back from a plan to cut liberal arts majors and tenured faculty positions. But professor and librarian Nerissa Nelson is cautious about celebrating this fact too quickly. She argues that the process has caused distrust and the solution came at too great a great cost.

May 15, 2019

Child Welfare Crisis La Crosse County
Child Welfare Crisis La Crosse County

Social Issues

Child Welfare Crisis La Crosse County

Explaining the state's child welfare crisis is Dir. of La Crosse Co. Division of Health Serv. Jason Witt. He says the state’s meth and drug problem contribute to more children needing to be on welfare. “It really has been a flood, and this really is a crisis,” Witt says. Also a preview of a WPT documentary on trauma informed care among children: "Not Enough Apologies."

May 10, 2019

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