>> PRESENTATION OF "HERE & NOW"
IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE
ANIMAL DENTISTRY AND ORAL
SURGERY SPECIALISTS OF MILWAUKEE
AND OSHKOSH, A VETERINARY TEAM
WORKING WITH PET OWNERS AND
FAMILY VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN, PROVIDING CARE FOR
ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL PROBLEMS
OF SMALL COMPANION ANIMALS.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR "HERE &
NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE LE
PHILLIPS FAMILY FOUNDATION.
>> SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT
THE PUBLIC MAKES THEMSELVES
AWARE OF THE DANGERS OF HEROIN
AND OPIATE EYE ABUSE.
>> THATABUSE
>> THAT IS THE MESSAGE ON HEROIN
IN WISCONSIN.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE & NOW," HOW
DIVERTED PRESCRIPTION OPIATES
CAN AND DO LEAD TO HEROIN ABUSE.
ALSO TONIGHT, FREE NEEDLE
EXCHANGES FOR HEROIN USERS AND
FREE ANTIDOSE MEDICATION.
SOME WORRY IT'S ENCOURAGING DRUG
USE WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING IT DOES
SAVE LIVES.
WE TALKED WITH THE COMMANDER OF
A WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD UNIT
SOON TO BE DEPLOYED TO
AFGHANISTAN BECAUSE ITS MEMBERS
HAVE FARM BACKGROUNDS.
PLUS A NEW STIMULUS-FUNDED
PROGRAM TO GIVE JOBLESS PEOPLE
IN WISCONSIN SOME WORK.
BUT FIRST HEROIN USE HAS SPIKED
NEARLY 400% OVER FIVE YEARS IN
WISCONSIN, LEAVING LAW
ENFORCEMENT ON THE RUN AND LIVES
SHATTERED.
AS WE FIND OUT, LEGAL DRUGS USED
ILLEGALLY ARE FUELING HEROIN
DEMAND.
TONIGHT WE TRAVEL TO ROCK
COUNTY, A GROWING GATEWAY TO
HEROIN COMING IN FROM CHICAGO
AND ROCKFORD.
>> SERGEANT JAY WOOD TRAVERSES
THE INTERSTATES ONE RECENT
SUMMER EVENING AS PART OF ROCK
COUNTY'S NEW INCLUSION IN A
FEDERALLY DESIGNATED, HIGH
INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREA.
OUT OF THE EFFORT TO STOP THE
MOVEMENT OF NARCOTICS,
PARTICULARLY HEROIN, INTO THE
AREA.
>> I THINK THE COMMUNITY NEEDS
REASSURANCE THAT WE'RE DOING
SOMETHING OUT THERE.
THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM, AND
WE'VE GOT DEPUTIES OUT HERE THAT
ARE CONCERNED ABOUT INTERDICTION
AS FAR AS WHAT WE CAN DO TO STOP
IT.
>> OFF THE HIGHWAY AND IN TOWN,
AGENTS SEARCH A CAR, FINDING
EVIDENCE OF HEROIN.
THE LOCATION?
A JANESVILLE TRAILER PARK WHERE
POLICE SAY A VACANT MOBILE HOME
IS USED AS A PLACE TO DO HEROIN.
>> BASICALLY WENT THERE AND SHOT
UP AT THE TRAILER.
>> THIS IS THE RECOMMEND REMNANTS OF A GEM
PACK.
SHE IS A KNOWN HEROIN USER.
>> AMONG THOSE ON THIS
INVESTIGATION, DEPUTY CHUCK
BEHM.
HE'S WORKED NARCOTICS FOR MORE
THAN 30 YEARS, BUT HAS SPECIAL
INSIGHT INTO THE GROWING PROBLEM
OF HEROIN.
>> I THINK I FIRST BECAME AWARE
OF IT FIVE YEARS AGO, WITH IT
BEING IN MY HOME.
MY STEPDAUGHTER STARTED USING,
STARTING OUT WITH OXYCONTIN,
SNORTING IT.
THAT PROGRESSED INTO HEROIN
USAGE.
>> BEHM SAYS THE DRUG HAS
INFILTRATED ALL WALKS FROM URBAN
AND RURAL TO PROFESSIONALS, EVEN
SCHOOL KIDS.
>> WE DON'T QUITE HAVE THE
MANPOWER.
HOW CAN YOU HAVE THE MANPOWER
WHEN JOBS ARE OUT OF THE COUNTY.
YOU DON'T HAVE THE TAX BASE.
WE'RE NOT KEEPING ABREAST.
IT'S BEYOND US RIGHT NOW.
>> I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR MANY
YEARS.
ONE THING IS PRETTY CLEAR TO ME,
IS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NOT
THE ANSWER.
WE HAVE TO BE VERY AGGRESSIVE TO
PUT THE BAD GUYS IN JAIL, BUT
THE REAL KEY TO STOP THIS IS
THERE'S A GENERATION THAT'S
LOST.
TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF HOW
DEVASTATING IT IS TO USE
NARCOTICS OF ANY TYPE.
>> I WAS SO SCARED OF NEEDLES
LIKE GROWING UP, AND I SNORTED
IT AND SNORT IT AND SNORT IT.
>> ADAM HAS BEEN CLEAN FOR
NEARLY THREE YEARS, BUT HE BEGAN
SNORTING HEROIN AFTER STARTING
WITH OXYCODONE PAIN
PRESCRIPTIONS PILFERED FROM
MEDICINE CABINETS.
HIS ADDICTION DOVETAILED WITH
THE ENTRY OF A NEW PURE HOEUR
ROW --MARROW WIN ON THE MARKET.
>> THEY MADE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT
TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF HEROIN
IN THE MARKET BY INCREASING THE
PURITY LEVELS.
BY DOING THAT, YOU'RE ABLE TO
SNORT THE AIR HOE HEROIN.
IT OPENED UP A WHOLE NEW USER
COMMUNITY.
>> AUTHORITIES SAY OFTEN USERS
START WITH PRESCRIPTION PILLS.
>> WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IS
THAT AS THE AVAILABILITY OF
THOSE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
DIMINISHES AND AS THEY HAVE A
MORE DIFFICULT TIME TO GET IT,
IT'S MUCH EASIER TO GET HEROIN.
HEROIN IS ACTUALLY FAIRLY
INEXPENSIVE.
>> AS CHEAP AS $10 A DOSE.
AND SO DRUG ENFORCERS ARE FACING
BATTLES ON TWO FRONTS, ILLEGAL
USE OF PRECURSOR PRESCRIPTION
DRUGS AND THE CHIEF AND
PLENTIFUL SUPPLY OF HEROIN.
>> WE HAVE FAR TOO MUCH
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS THAT ARE
BEING PASSED OUT AND WE HAVE FAR
TOO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE GETTING
PAIN MEDICATION THAT MAYBE COULD
USE SOMETHING ELSE.
AND WE AS CITIZENS NEED TO DO A
BETTER JOB OF CONTROLLING OUR
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
>> IT REALLY HURTS.
I JUST PICKED UP A NEW
PRESCRIPTION TODAY.
>> THE WISCONSIN ATTORNEY
GENERAL RECENTLY STARTED AIRING
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS
WARNING PARENTS ABOUT KEEPING
PRESCRIPTION OPIATES OUT OF
REACH.
>> AND THE FEDERAL DRUG
ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION IS
WORKING WITH THE MEDICAL
COMMUNITY.
>> WE DON'T TELL DOCTORS HOW TO
PRACTICE MEDICINE, BUT WE TRY TO
RAISE THEIR AWARENESS LEVEL OF
SOME OF THE PRESCRIPTION ABUSE
THAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE.
CURRENTLY THERE'S AN ESTIMATED 7
MILLION PRESCRIPTION DRUG
ABUSERS OUT THERE.
>> TO COMPASS THIS, COMBAT THIS, THERE'S A
BILL THAT TRACKS PRESCRIPTIONS
FOR OPIATE PAINKILLERS.
IT AIMS TO DETER DOCTORS FROM
OVER-PRESCRIBING AND PATIENTS
FROM DOCTOR SHOPPING TO GET THE
DRUGS.
BUT THE STREET PRICE OF PILLS IS
HIGHER THAN HEROIN, ENCOURAGING
THE DRUG'S SPREAD ACROSS THE
STATE.
>> THERE'S AN INCREASE IN
AVAILABILITY AND DEMAND BECAUSE
IT'S ECONOMICS, THAT COMPETITION
FORCES THE PRICE DOWN.
>> I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I
SNORTED HEROIN.
YOU KNOW, I KNEW THAT I WAS IN
TROUBLE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT
TOOK AWAY ALL THE PAIN THAT I
EVER KNEW IN MY LIFE.
>> AND YET ADAM WILL NEVER
FORGET THE PAIN HEROIN ITSELF
CAUSED.
>> I WAS IN AND OUT OF
CONSCIOUSNESS.
>> INCLUDING NEARLY DYING TWICE
OF AN OVERDOSE.
THAT PAIN, THAT HOLE, IS WHAT
KEEPS ENFORCERS LIKE DEPUTY
CHUCK BEHM WORKING AGAINST THE
ODDS TO STEM THE FLOW OF HEROIN
IN HIS COMMUNITY.
>> HE DIED AND WAS BROUGHT BY
MEDICAL TEAMS AND STILL GO BACK
AND USE.
THAT'S THE CONTROL THIS DRUG HAS
ON PEOPLE.
THAT'S WHY I HATE IT SO MUCH.
I HATE HEROIN.
>> WE'RE TOLD ABUSERS WHO SNORT
HEROIN VERY SUFRPB WIND OFTEN WIND UP
SHOOTING.
IT.
TO HELP PREVENT THIS, AGENCIES
LIKE THE AIDS RESOURCE CENTER OF
WISCONSIN TAKE TO THE STREETS,
HANDING OUT CLEAN NEEDLES AND
MEDICATION THAT REVERSES
OVERDOSE.
SCOTT STOKES IS DIRECTOR OF
PREVENTION SERVICES FOR THE AIDS
RESOURCE CENTER OF WISCONSIN.
THANKS A LOT FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WELL, YOU KIND OF HAVE YOUR
FINGER ON THE PULSE, AS IT WERE,
OF THE HEROIN USERS ACROSS THE
STATE BECAUSE OF YOUR NEEDLE
EXCHANGE PROGRAMS.
WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?
WHAT ARE THE TRENDS?
WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS?
>> WELL, FROM WHEN WE STARTED IN
1994, THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF HEROIN
USERS HAS CHANGED CONSIDERABLY.
IN '94 IT WAS MORE OF AN
AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALE 35 TO 40
YEARS OLD.
AND TODAY ALL OF OUR NEW
EXCHANGERS ARE CAUCASIAN,
FEMALE, PROBABLY THE MOST
ACCESSED PARTICIPANT AND USUALLY
THE AGE OF 18 TO 21 YEARS OLD.
AND THE STORY IS PRETTY MUCH THE
SAME WITH ALL OF THEM.
THEY START ON OXYCONTIN AND THEN
IN A VERY QUICK PERIOD OF TIME
SWITCH TO INJECTING HEROIN.
AND THE REASON BEHIND IT IS
BECAUSE THEY FIND IT MORE
READILY AVAILABLE AND A LOT
CHEAPER TO PURCHASE.
>> SO ARE YOU SEEING A LOT MORE
PEOPLE?
>> WE ARE SEEING MORE PEOPLE.
I BELIEVE IN 2009 WE HAD A 37%
INCREASE IN NEW INJECTORS OR NEW
PARTICIPANTS.
>> AND WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO
IS PREVENT PEOPLE FROM GETTING
EVEN SICKER.
>> CORRECT.
WHEN WE FIRST STARTED, WE REALLY
HAD TO SEPARATE THE ADDICTION
ISSUES FROM PUBLIC HEALTH
ISSUES.
AND WE WANTED TO TACKLE HIV AND
HEPATITIS C SO FOLKS DIDN'T
ACQUIRE THAT WHEN THEY WERE
DOING THE INJECTION DRUGS.
AND THEN WE ALSO WORK CLOSE WITH
FOLKS IN THE ADDICTION FIELD
BECAUSE OUR STAFF MANY TIMES ARE
THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT THESE
FOLKS GO TO WHEN THEY'RE IN
CRISIS AND THEY WILL WANT ACCESS
TREATMENT OR METHADONE TREATMENT
PROGRAMS AND OUR STAFF IS AWARE
OF ALL THE SERVICES AVAILABLE.
>> YOU GO LITERALLY TO THE
STREETS TO DO THESE EXCHANGES,
AND WHAT DO YOU DO?
YOU EXCHANGE THIS, A CLEAN
NEEDLE, WITH ONE THAT THEY'VE
JUST USED?
>> YEAH.
IT IS NEEDLE EXCHANGE, SO WE DO
GIVE CLEAN NEEDLES FOR DIRTIES.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY LIMITS ON THE
AMOUNT OF NEEDLES THAT PEOPLE
CAN GET.
IF THEY COME WITH 1,000, THEY
LEAVE WITH 1,000.
AND WE DO HAVE SOME EXCHANGERS
THAT DO HAVE THAT MANY NEEDLES.
AND A LOT OF THEM ARE DOING WHAT
IS CALLED SECONDARY EXCHANGE,
WHERE NOT ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT
THEY USE WITH ARE COMFORTABLE
GOING TO A NEEDLE EXCHANGE, BUT
THEY WILL EXCHANGE FOR THEM AND
THEN DISTRIBUTE AMONGST THEIR
GROUPS.
>> AND THEN YOU ALSO DISTRIBUTE
THIS.
IT'S CALLED TPHA LOCKS SEASON OR
TPHAR KAPBG.
>> NARCAN'S THE BRAND NAME.
IT'S AN OPIATE ANTAGONIST THAT
WILL DIRECTLY REVERSE THE
EFFECTS OF AN OVERDOSE FOR A
SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
>> AND HOW OFTEN ARE YOU TOLD
ARE PEOPLE HAVING TO USE THAT?
>> WE PILOTED THE PROGRAM IN
MADISON ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO,
AND DURING THAT PILOT PROJECT WE
TRAINED 88 INDIVIDUALS AND HAD
120 REVERSALS REPORTED THAT
FIRST YEAR.
SINCE THEN WE'VE ROLLED IT OUT
ACROSS ALL OF OUR SITES IN THE
STATE AND WE'VE TRAINED OVER 600
INDIVIDUALS AND HAD OVER 400
REVERSALS REPORTED.
>> WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY
AUTHORITIES THAT THE NUMBER OF
OVERDOSE DEATHS WOULD BE THROUGH
THE ROOF IF NOT FOR THE TRAINED
DMS AND FOR THE USE OF THIS
NARCAN DRUG.
>> I BELIEVE SO.
WE STARTED BECAUSE OF SOME BAD
HEROIN MANY YEARS AGO.
THERE WAS A WEEKEND WHERE MANY
OVERDOSE DEATHS OCCURRED IN
OTHER STATES IN THE COUNTRY.
100 PLUS OVER THE COURSE OF A
WEEKEND.
THAT'S WHETHER WE SAW WHEN WE SAW THE NEED TO
ROLL THIS OUT.
THE DRUG HAS NO ILL EFFECT.
IF A KID WAS TO INGEST IT, IT
WOULDN'T HARM THEM.
>> WHRAB THE WHAT ABOUT THE KIND OF
CONTROVERSY HERE THAT GIVING
PEOPLE CLEAN NEEDLES, GIVING
PEOPLE A DRUG THAT REVERSES THE
EFFECTS OF A POTENTIALLY FATAL
OVERDOSE, PROVIDING CLEAN
COOKERS AND THIS TO PREPARE
THEIR VEINS IS ACTUALLY
ENCOURAGING THE USE OF THESE
DRUGS?
>> AND AGAIN THAT'S WHERE YOU
GET INTO SEPARATING THE
ADDICTION ISSUES FROM THE PUBLIC
HEALTH ISSUES.
NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAM IS TO
HAVE A GOOD PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACT
ON DRUG USERS.
IF THEY COME TO TREATMENT AND
THEN THEY FIND OUT THEY HAVE HIV
AND HEPATITIS, THAT MAY BE A
GOOD TRIGGER TO SEND THEM OUT
USING AGAIN.
WE REALLY JUST TRY TO PROVIDE
THEM LOW ACCESS TO SERVICES,
NONJUDGMENTAL SERVICES AND THEN
BE A RESOURCE FOR THEM WHEN THEY
DECIDE THAT THEY'RE READY TO GET
TREATMENT AND THEN WE PULL OUT
ALL THE PLUGS AND DO WHATEVER WE
CAN TO MOVE THEM INTO A PROGRAM.
WE DO MAKE WELL OVER 150
TREATMENT REFERRALS EVERY YEAR
ACROSS THE STATE.
>> IT'S HARD TO KNOW, BUT WHAT
DO YOU KNOW ABOUT WHETHER YOU
HAVE PREVENTED HIV AND OTHER
TRANSMITABLE DISEASES FROM BEING
SPREAD THROUGH YOUR WORK?
>> WELL, WE KNOW THAT SINCE THE
INCEPTION OF NEEDLE EXCHANGE IN
WISCONSIN, 1994, THERE HAS BEEN
A 66% DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF
DRUG INJECTORS WHO ARE BECOMING
INFECTED IN THE STATE.
WE CAN'T SAY EXACTLY THAT THAT'S
FROM NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS,
BUT WE REALLY BELIEVE IT HAS A
HUGE IMPACT ON IT.
AND WE DO KNOW THAT MANY OF OUR
PARTICIPANTS REALLY DO BUY INTO
THE MINDSET OF ONE STERILE USE
PER INJECTION.
IF THEY DO THAT, THEY'RE NEVER
GOING TO TRANSMIT OR INFECT
ANYONE ELSE.
>> SCOTT STOKES, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HEROIN, OF COURSE, IS DERIVED
FROM POPPIES.
HEROIN COMING INTO WISCONSIN
COMES FROM MEXICO.
MUCH OF THE REST OF THE WORLD
SEES ITS HEROIN COME FROM
AFGHANISTAN.
THE U.S. MILITARY WANTS TO
DIMINISH THE APPEAL OF GROWING
OPIUM IN AFGHANISTAN AND SO IS
WORKING TO HELP FARMERS GROW
FOOD INSTEAD.
THE WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD
WILL BE PART OF THAT TRAINING
PROGRAM IN AN UPCOMING MISSION.
GUARD MEMBERS WITH FARM
BACKGROUNDS ARE BEING TAGGED FOR
THIS DEPLOYMENT.
COLONEL DARRELL FEUCHT WILL LEAD
ONE OF THE TEAMS IN AFGHANISTAN.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR THE INVITATION.
>> WHAT WILL BE THE TEAM'S ROLE?
>> THE TEAM'S ROLE WILL BE TO
MENTOR AND SUPPORT CURRENT
PROJECTS THAT ARE ONGOING WITHIN
AFGHANISTAN THAT ARE SUPPORTED
BY THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE
AND LIVESTOCK WITHIN EACH
PROVINCE.
OUR ROLE IS TO HELP SUPPORT THE
USDA AND THE USAID WITH THOSE
PROGRAMS AND ALSO, LIKE I SAID,
TO MENTOR AND COACH THE AFGHAN
PEOPLE INTO PRODUCING LEGITIMATE
CROPS.
>> SO APART FROM ACTUALLY
TEACHING THEM HOW TO GROW CROPS
AND FOOD, WHAT IS KIND OF THE
ULTIMATE PURPOSE OF THE MISSION
IN ADDITION TO THAT?
>> WELL, I THINK WE WANT TO
DEVELOP WISCONSIN BEING ASKED TO
DO THIS AND BEING AN AGRICULTURE
PRODUCING STATE, I BELIEVE IT'S
OUR INTENT TO GROW A PARTNERSHIP
AND A LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE COUNTRY.
AND TO HAVE WHAT WE CALL A
REACH-BACK CAPABILITY TO THE
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, TO
OTHER FARM ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN
THE STATE THAT WE'VE ALREADY
BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THAT ARE
VERY INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING
THIS MISSION.
AND IN A SENSE TO ESTABLISH THE
PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE AND TO
CONTINUE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE
THERE AND MAKE THAT A LONG-TERM
RELATIONSHIP.
>> HOW PRIMITIVE REALLY IS
FARMING IN AFGHANISTAN RIGHT
NOW?
>> I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT IT
IS RURAL AMERICAN 1900s
TECHNOLOGY.
THERE'S REALLY -- IT'S VERY
PRIMITIVE.
IT'S OXEN.
YOU MAY BE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO
HAVE A TRACTOR OR AN IMPLEMENT
OF SOME KIND IN SOME OF THE
PROVINCES, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS
YOU RUN INTO IS THE ISSUE THAT
IT MAY BREAK DOWN, TRYING TO GET
PARTS.
BUT I THINK, LIKE I SAID, IT'S
OUR INTENT TO TRY TO -- WHAT
THEY HAVE IS TRY TO ADVANCE THEM
AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND TEACH THEM
HOW TO BE MORE PRODUCTIVE.
>> WHAT IS AFGHANISTAN LIKE, TO
YOUR KNOWLEDGE, FOR GROWING
CROPS?
>> IT'S VERY FERTILE.
PRIOR TO MOST OF THE CONFLICTS
IN THE COUNTRY, IT IS MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT THE COUNTRY
WAS ONE -- VERY RICH IN THE
REGION FOR LEGITIMATE CROP
PRODUCTION.
ONCE AGAIN, IT'S OUR INTENT TO
TRY TO STEER THEM BACK TO MAKING
SOME OF THAT LAND TILLABLE, MORE
PRODUCTIVE AND ALLOWING IN A
SENSE TO TRAIN THE LOCAL
POPULACE TO HAVE LEGITIMATE
CROPS THAT THEY CAN BRING TO
MARKET SO THEY CAN FEED THEIR
OWN FAMILIES AND REAP SOME
REWARD BY HAVING LEGITIMATE
CROPS ON AN OPEN MARKET.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE OVERWHELMING
PROBLEM, THOUGH, THAT OPIUM
PRODUCTION PAYS REALLY WELL,
POTENTIALLY MUCH BETTER THAN
GROWING WHEAT, FOR EXAMPLE?
>> WELL, I WOULD -- IT WOULD BE
THE INTENT OF THE TEAM TO TRAIN
THEM ON THE -- TO PRODUCE
LEGITIMATE CROPS AND, LIKE I
SAID, IF THEY'RE ON THE OPEN
MARKET AND THEY CAN MAKE MORE
THAN ANY OF THE NONLEGITIMATE
CROPS, THEN THE THOUGHT IS THAT
THEY CAN BE MORE PRODUCTIVE FOR
THEIR FAMILIES, THEY CAN
PROVIDE -- YOU COULD GROW WHEAT.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THERE ARE
SOME FIELDS THAT THEY'VE
CONVERTED TO WHEAT AND CORN AND
ON THE OPEN MARKET, IF THAT IS
MORE VALUABLE TO -- OR YOU CAN
GET MORE MONEY OFF OF THAT THAN
YOU CAN THE ILLEGITIMATE CROPS,
THEN TO ME THEY CAN MAKE MONEY
AND BE MORE PRODUCTIVE AND FEED
THEIR FAMILIAR WHREUS.
>>FAMILIAR -- FAMILIES.
>> I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE HAVE
BEEN 18 OF THESE TEAMS IN
AFGHANISTAN.
WHAT KIND OF PROGRESS WILL YOU
BE BUILDING ON?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
IT'S TWO YEARS OLD.
THERE HAVE BEEN NINE TEAMS ON
THE GROUND.
THERE'S NINE MORE GOING IN.
THERE'S ANOTHER WAVE, WHICH IS
GOING TO BE US.
THE BENEFIT WE HAVE IS THAT THE
AREA WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO
WE'LL BE THE FOURTH TEAM.
THE THIRD TEAM IS GOING TO BE
HEADING OUT FOR THEIR TRAINING
WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS
AND THEN WE WILL FALL IN ON
THEIR PROJECTS.
THE WHOLE IDEA IS TO CONTINUE
PROJECTS THAT THEY HAVE WITH THE
LOCAL POPULACE AND TO ESTABLISH
OR UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE
DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE IS TO
WHATEVER THEY PRIORITIZE FOR
THEIR PROJECTS AND START THOSE
PROJECTS AND GET THOSE UNDERWAY.
AND, I MEAN, LIKE I -- I THINK I
SAID IT.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE
PROSPECT OF NOT JUST US DOING
THE PROJECTS, BUT SUPPORTING
THEM AND THE REACH-BACK
CAPABILITY THAT WE HAVE BACK TO
WISCONSIN IN ESTABLISHING A
LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP.
>> THE WISCONSIN IDEA IN A
GLOBAL WAY.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> WE MOVE BACK INTO STATE
POLITICAL NEWS.
A NEW BADGER POLL REVEALS THAT
MOST PEOPLE AREN'T EVEN THINKING
ABOUT THIS FALL'S ELECTION.
THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE SURVEYED
SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHO THEY
WOULD VOTE FOR IN THE U.S.
SENATE AND GUBERNATORIAL RACES.
BUT HERE'S HOW THE POLL BREAKS
DOWN AMONG THOSE WHO SAY THEY
HAVE MADE UP THEIR MINDS.
IN THE U.S. SENATE RACE 55% OF
VOTERS WERE UNDECIDED.
THE POLL SHOWS THE MARGIN
BETWEEN RUSS FEINGOLD AND HIS
REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER RON
JOHNSON WITH THE MARGIN OF ERROR
WITH FEINGOLD NETTING 33% TO
JOHNSON'S 28%.
REPUBLICAN DAVE WEST LAKE IS
ALSO IN THE PRIMARY.
AS IN THE SENATE CONTEST, OVER
HALF OF THOSE POLLED IN THE
GUBERNATORIAL RACE WERE
UNDECIDED.
SUPPORT FOR REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
CANDIDATES WAS STRONG, WITH 43%
SUPPORTING EITHER SCOTT WALKER
OR MARK NEUMANN AND 19%
SUPPORTING DEMOCRAT TOM BARRETT.
THE MARGIN OF ERROR FOR THAT
SAMPLE WAS 5.7 PERCENTAGE
POINTS.
FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDING GOES
TOWARD ANOTHER JOB CREATION
EFFORT IN WISCONSIN.
THIS WEEK JIM DOYLE ANNOUNCED
THE $34 MILLION TRANSITIONAL
JOBS PROJECT PILOT PROGRAM
DESIGNED TO PUT PEOPLE TO WORK
AND DEVELOP NEW SKILLS.
IT BEGINS IN 38 COUNTIES AND IS
ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
SECRETARY REGGIE BICHA IS HERE
WITH DETAILS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE 17
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE
STATE LIKE GOODWILL INDUSTRIES
AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
BOARDS, BUT WILL THESE ENTITIES
GIVE THESE JOBS SPECIFICALLY TO
PEOPLE?
>> THE TRANSITIONAL JOBS PILOT
PROGRAM THAT GOVERNOR DOYLE
PROPOSED AND WE NOW ARE ROLLING
OUT WILL USE $34 MILLION FROM
THE FEDERAL STIMULUS ACT TO
CREATE UP TO 4 THROURBGS -- 4,000
OPPORTUNITIES FOR WISCONSIN
RESIDENTS TO GET BACK TO WORK.
THESE WILL CREATE REAL JOBS THAT
REAL WISCONSIN CITIZENS WILL BE
ABLE TO USE TO PULL DOWN AND
EARN A REAL WAGE THAT THEY CAN
USE TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES
AND SUPPORT THEMSELVES.
>> WELL, FOR EXAMPLE, WOULD
SOMEONE WHO WAS JOBLESS AND
MIGHT BE TAKING PART IN THIS
PROGRAM, WOULD THEY WORK FOR
GOODWILL INDUSTRIES?
>> YOU KNOW, EACH OF THE 17
ORGANIZATIONS WHO RESPONDED TO
THE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
PROPOSAL HAVE VARIATIONS.
SO I WAS IN LA CROSSE EARLIER
THIS WEEK AND MET WITH FOLKS
THERE.
THEY HAVE A FANTASTIC APPROACH
WHERE THE CITY IS BUYING
PROPERTIESPROPERTIES IN CHALLENGED
NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEY'LL BE
USING THESE DOLLARS TO EMPLOY
FOLKS THROUGH THE TRANSITIONAL
JOBS TO TEACH THEM HOW TO REHAB
THESE HOUSES AND THEY'LL BE
TAKING MONEY FROM WHEDA TO
PURCHASE NEW DRYWALL AND OTHER
THINGS FOR THE HOUSE REHABBING
THESE HOUSES.
AS THE FOLKS IN THE TRANSITIONAL
JOBS PROGRAM ARE DEVELOPING WORK
SKILLS THAT THEY CAN TAKE WITH
THEM TO UNSUBSIDIZED EMPLOYMENT
AS THIS ECONOMY RETURNS, THESE
HOUSES WILL THEN BE AVAILABLE IN
THESE COMMUNITIES FOR LOW-INCOME
FAMILIES TO PURCHASE AT
REASONABLE RATES AND IT'S REALLY
REHABBING THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT'S THE SORT OF COMMITMENT WE
WANT TO MAKE AND USE THESE
DOLLARS TO GET PEOPLE JOBS, EARN
REAL WAGES AS THEY'RE DOING VERY
IMPORTANT WORK FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES.
>> WHAT KIND OF WAGES?
>> IT'S ALL UP TO THE EMPLOYER.
SO THE WAGE IS THE -- THE
TRANSITIONAL JOBS PROGRAM
GUARANTEES AT LEAST MINIMUM WAGE
FOR UP TO A SIX-MONTH PERIOD OF
TIME.
EMPLOYERS MAY CHOOSE TO
SUBSIDIZE WAGES BEYOND THAT IF
THEY'D LIKE TO DO SO.
I MET WITH AN EMPLOYER IN
EAU CLAIRE EARLIER THIS WEEK, A
CEO OF A COMPANY CALLED SOURCE
CO, WHO IS DOING IT WORK FOR THE
MEDICAL INDUSTRY.
HE WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE
PROGRAM AND WHAT IT WOULD MEAN
TO HIS BUSINESS AS HE'S TRYING
TO GET PEOPLE WHO ARE READY TO
WORK QUICKLY SO THAT HE CAN MEET
THE DEMANDS OF HIS CONTRACT WITH
THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY.
AND HE'S MADE A COMMITMENT THAT
AS WE GET THESE FOLKS TRAINED
AND READY TO WORK WITH THE
SUBSIDIZED EMPLOYMENT, HE WANTS
TO CONTINUE THEM ON PRIVATELY IN
HIS CORPORATION, BECAUSE HE'LL
KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOOD
EMPLOYEES, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT
SKILLS AND HE'S TAKING A CHANCE
AND HAS GIVEN THEM AN
OPPORTUNITY THAT WILL CONTINUE
AFTER THE SUB SA DERUNS OUT.
>> WHO'S ELIGIBLE?
>> THIS PROGRAM IS ELIGIBLE TO
FOLKS WHO ARE TRANSITIONING FROM
AGE 18 TO 24, SO ANYBODY BETWEEN
THE AGES OF 18 AND 24 WOULD BE
ELIGIBLE AS LONG AS THEY ARE
CURRENTLY UNEMPLOYED AND HAVE
BEEN UNEMPLOYED FOR UP TO FOUR
WEEKS AND ARE BELOW 150% OF THE
FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL.
THE OTHER CATEGORY WE'RE LOOKING
AT ARE INDIVIDUALS BETWEEN THE
AGE OF 25 TO 64, PARENTS, WHO DO
NOT HAVE CUSTODY OF THEIR
CHILDREN.
PARENTS WHO HAVE CUSTODY OF
THEIR CHILDREN ARE AVAILABLE TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE W-2 PROGRAM,
WISCONSIN WORKS.
THE TRANSITIONAL JOBS PROGRAM
WILL BE AVAILABLE TO PARENTS WHO
ARE CARING FOR -- WHO DO NOT
HAVE PRIMARY CUSTODY OF THEIR
CHILDREN, BUT STILL ARE PAYING
CHILD SUPPORT, STILL HAVE VERY
FREQUENT INTERACTIONS WITH THEIR
CHILDREN.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY'RE EMPLOYED AND ARE WORKING
HARD SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE A
SAFE HOME FOR THEIR KIDS.
>> AND YOU SAID THAT THE TOTAL
NUMBER EXPECTED TO BE EMPLOYED
THROUGH THIS PROGRAM IS 4,000?
>> UP TO 4,000 WISCONSIN
RESIDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE TRANSITIONAL
JOBS PILOT PROGRAM.
>> AND WHAT WOULD MARK SUCCESS
OF THIS PROGRAM?
>> IF WE COULD GET UP TO 4,000
PEOPLE IN OUR STATE A REAL WAGE,
A REAL JOB, AT THE SAME TIME
THAT WE'RE TEACHING THEM SKILLS,
GETTING THEM A WORK HISTORY,
GETTING THEM WORK EXPERIENCE,
GETTING THEM A REFERENCE FOR AN
EMPLOYER, THAT AT THE SAME TIME
WE'RE HELPING FOLKS GET THESE
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES, THIS
ECONOMY CONTINUES TO RECOVER.
AND WE CAN OVER THE NEXT COUPLE
OF YEARS TRANSITION THESE YOUNG
PEOPLE AND THESE PARENTS INTO
UNSUBSIDIZED EMPLOYMENT OVER THE
NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.
>> BECAUSE IT'S A PILOT AND IT'S
IN 38 COUNTIES AND WHEN OR HOW
WOULD IT EXPAND?
>> WELL, THESE ARE $34 MILLION
MADE AVAILABLE BY THE AMERICAN
RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT SO
WE'RE ABLE TO DO THIS WITHOUT
ASKING FOR ONE ADDITIONAL DOLLAR
FROM THE STATE.
OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS WE'LL BE
ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE ITS SUCCESS.
AS WE'RE LOOKING AT VARIATIONS
IN DIFFERENT SITES ACROSS
WISCONSIN, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE
WHICH ONES HAVE BEEN MOST
SUCCESSFUL AND HOPEFULLY
POSITION OURSELVES AS MANY OTHER
STATES HAVE DONE TO EXPAND THIS
AND CONTINUE THE PROGRAM IN
FUTURE YEARS.
>> CLEARLY THERE ARE VERY MANY
PEOPLE LUKING FORPEOPLE LOOKING FOR WORK.
HOW DO THEY HOOK INTO THIS
PROGRAM?
>> THEY CAN LOOK AT WWW.DC
F.WISCONSIN.GOVERN OR CONTACT
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARDS,
ALL LOCATIONS THAT FOLKS CAN GO
TO IN THEIR COMMUNITY TO FIND
OUT IF THE PROGRAM IS IN THEIR
COMMUNITY.
>> WE LAST WEEK TALKED WITH
SOMEONE FROM ROCK COUNTY WHO
SAID THAT THERE ARE 8,000 PEOPLE
THERE IN NEED OF A JOB.
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE
TRAVELING THERE AS PART OF THE
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THIS
TRANSITIONAL JOBS PROGRAM.
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO
TELL THAT POPULATION?
>> WELL, JANESVILLE IS MY HOME.
IT'S WHERE MY WIFE AND I AND OUR
FAMILY LIVE.
AND WE KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT HAS
BEEN FOR OUR COMMUNITY OVER THE
LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AS GM AND
SEVERAL OTHER BUSINESSES HAVE
LEFT THAT COMMUNITY AND THERE THERE
AREN'T MANY JOBS.
UNEMPLOYMENT REMAINS HIGH.
GOVERNOR DOYLE, PRESIDENT OBAMA
AND OTHER LEADERS HAVE WORKED
HARD TO TRY TO STABILIZE THIS
ECONOMY AND GET FOLKS BACK TO
WORK.
IN ADDITION TO THE PILOT PROGRAM
THAT WE'RE DOING, GOVERNOR DOYLE
ANNOUNCED THE GREEN AND GOLD
FUND.
IT'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY.
HE'S EXPANDED ENTERPRISE WORK
ZONES TO GET MORE PEOPLE IN
WISCONSIN BACK TO WORK.
WE WANT THE PILOT PROGRAM IN
ROCK COUNTY AND OTHER COUNTIES
ACROSS THE STATE TO BE ONE MORE
TOOL TO HELP DRIVE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, TO SUPPORT
EMPLOYERS WHO ARE WILLING TO
TAKE A RISK TO HIRE SOMEBODY NEW
AND TO GIVE FOLKS THE EMPLOYMENT
HISTORY THAT THEY NEED AND THE
SKILLS AND TRAINING THAT THEY
NEED TO CONTINUE INTO
UNSUBSIDIZED EMPLOYMENT AS THIS
ECONOMY RECOVERIES.
>> SECRETARY BICHA, GOOD LUCK.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THAT IS ALL FOR TONIGHT'S
PROGRAM.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> PRESENTATION OF "HERE & NOW"
IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE
ANIMAL DENTISTRY AND ORAL
SURGERY SPECIALISTS OF MILWAUKEE
AND OSHKOSH, A VETERINARY TEAM
WORKING WITH PET OWNERS AND
FAMILY VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN, PROVIDING CARE FOR
ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL PROBLEMS
OF SMALL COMPANION ANIMALS.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR "HERE &
NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE LE
PHILLIPS FAMILY FOUNDATION.
CAPTIONS PRODUCED BY
RIVERSIDE CAPTIONING COMPANY
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