% >> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
% PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
% PRODUCTION.
% >> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," NEW
% RULES AS MORE BUSINESSES AND
% STATE PARKS ARE ALLOWED TO
% REOPEN.
% WE WILL TALK ONE-ON-ONE WITH
% GOVERNOR TONY EVERS.
% PLUS, UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
% SECRETARY OF WORKFORCE
% DEVELOPMENT CALEB FROSTMAN JOINS
% US.
% AND A CLOSER LOOK AT FRONT LINE
% MEDICAL STAFF PROVIDING CRITICAL
% CARE TO WISCONSIN COVID-19
% PATIENTS.
% THAT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MAY 1.
% >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.
% ♪ ♪
% >> MOST WISCONSIN STATE PARKS
% REOPENED ON FRIDAY, DESPITE THE
% COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
% PARKS AND RECREATIONAL AREAS
% LIKE DEVILS LAKE HAD BEEN DEEMED
% OFF LIMITS TO PROTECT PUBLIC
% HEALTH AFTER OVERCROWDING,
% VANDALISM AND LITTERING.
% YOU MUST HAVE AN ANNUAL PARK
% STICKER IN ADVANCE.
% PLAYGROUNDS, BATHROOMS AND OTHER
% BUILDINGS REMAIN CLOSED.
% PARFREY'S GLEN, GIBRALTAR ROCK,
% PEWIT'S NEST ARE NOT REOPENING.
% ALL STATE PARKS WILL BE CLOSED
% ON WEDNESDAYS FOR MAINTENANCE.
% GOVERNOR EVERS THIS WEEK IS ALSO
% ALLOWING SOME NONESSENTIAL
% BUSINESSES TO REOPEN: SMALL
% BUSINESS REPAIR JOBS, JOB
% GROOMERS, SELF-SERVE CAR WASHES
% AND BUSINESSES WITH OUTDOOR
% RECREATIONAL RENTALS ARE ABLE
% OPERATE.
% STORES CAN OFFER CURBSIDE
% PICKUPS, BUT MUST PROVIDE ONLINE
% OR PHONE PAYMENTS AND PROPER
% DISINFECTING.
% GOLF COURSES, ARTS AND CRAFTS
% STORES, ALONG WITH LIBRARIES,
% ARE OFFERING CURBSIDE SERVICE.
% THEY WERE ABLE TO REOPEN LAST
% WEEK.
% ALL BUSINESSES MUST FOLLOW
% SOCIAL DISTANCING AND SAFETY
% PRACTICES REQUIRED UNDER THE
% "SAFER AT HOME" ORDER.
% THE REOPENINGS COME THE SAME
% WEEK WISCONSIN SAW ITS LARGEST
% ONE-DAY INCREASE IN CORONAVIRUS
% CASES.
% EARLIER I TALKED WITH GOVERNOR
% EVERS IN OUR WEEKLY ONE-ON-ONE
% INTERVIEW AND, GOVERNOR, THANK
% YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US
% AGAIN.
% IT'S THE SECOND DAY IN A ROW
% THAT WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN
% POSITIVE CASES.
% IT STANDS AT 460 MORE CASES
% REPORTED TODAY, FOR A TOTAL OF
% 7,314, WITH 327 PEOPLE WHO HAVE
% DIED.
% HOW DO THESE NUMBERS BODE FOR
% THAT 14-DAY DOWNWARD TRAJECTORY
% REQUIRED TO REOPEN THE STATE?
% >> WELL, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER
% THAT 14-DAY DOWNWARD TREND IS
% THE NUMBER OF POSITIVE CASES
% DIVIDED BY -- AS A PERCENTAGE OF
% THE TOTAL NUMBER OF TESTS.
% SO WE ARE TESTING A LOT MORE.
% NOW, THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT --
% SO ONE -- I THINK A COUPLE DAYS
% AGO, THE NUMBER -- THE
% PERCENTAGE OF POSITIVE TESTS
% WERE ABOUT 6% OR 7%.
% NOW THEY'RE 11% OR 12%.
% SO THAT IS AN INCREASE IN THAT
% PERCENTAGE.
% BUT THAT IS -- YOU KNOW, I'M NOT
% A MATHEMATICIAN HERE ON THOSE
% NUMBERS, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS
% WE WERE TESTING A LOT OF PEOPLE
% IN BROWN COUNTY THAT WORKED IN
% THOSE MEAT-PACKING PLANTS, AND
% SO THE LARGE NUMBER IS A LOT
% CONTRIBUTED TO THAT.
% I WON'T SAY ALL, BUT A LOT.
% BUT WE'RE SPENDING -- WE WANT TO
% MASSIVELY INCREASE SPENDING
% ACROSS THE STATE, BUT AT THIS
% POINT IN TIME, BECAUSE OF THAT
% SURGE THERE, WE ARE TESTING MANY
% PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE VIRUS.
% >> I THINK I'M READING THESE
% NUMBERS CORRECTLY FROM THE
% DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES'
% DAILY KIND OF TRACKING OF THESE
% NUMBERS.
% IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE TESTING
% AROUND 3,000 A DAY, AND YET WE
% HAVE THIS CAPACITY NOW OF
% 11,000.
% >> RIGHT.
% >> WHY AREN'T WE ABLE TO GET UP
% TO THAT CAPACITY THAT WE HAVE?
% >> WELL, SEVERAL REASONS.
% ONE IS-- AND WE'RE ENCOURAGING
% HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO DO
% THIS.
% MY GOAL IS ANYBODY THAT NEEDS A
% TEST SHOULD HAVE A TEST.
% I KNOW THAT SOUNDS LIKE DONALD
% TRUMP, BUT THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE
% TO DO.
% WE DO HAVE ENOUGH TESTING
% MATERIALS.
% IT'S GETTING PEOPLE TESTED.
% AND WE HAVE ENOUGH LAB CAPACITY.
% SO WE -- YOU KNOW, I THINK WE
% HAVE -- I'M TRYING TO THINK,
% ALMOST 3500 TODAY.
% SO WE ARE RAMPING UP.
% WE'VE INCREASED TESTING.
% WE HAVE PLANS ALL ACROSS THE
% STATE.
% NORTHWEST WISCONSIN IS GOING TO
% HAVE LOTS IN THE NEXT COUPLE
% DAYS, BUT SO IS THE REST OF THE
% STATE.
% I BELIEVE WE CAN GET TO THAT
% 80,000 NUMBER IN A HURRY.
% FOCUSING ON GREEN BAY AND SOME
% OF THE OTHER AREAS WHERE THERE
% ARE SURGES AND ALL THOSE ARE
% DISCONCERTING, AND SO -- BUT
% IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE
% TESTING ALL ACROSS THE STATE.
% WE WILL DO THAT.
% THAT HAS TO BE OUR GOAL.
% >> IN FACT, YOU ANNOUNCED TODAY
% THAT YOU'RE KIND OF BRANCHING
% OUT AND DOING COMMUNITY TESTING.
% IS THAT PART OF YOUR EFFORT TO
% REACH THIS CAPACITY, TO DO MORE
% TESTING?
% >> ABSOLUTELY.
% FOR EXAMPLE, PEPIN AND -- I'M
% TRYING TO THINK WHICH OTHER
% COUNTY IN NORTHWEST WISCONSIN,
% PEPIN AND BUFFALO COUNTY ARE
% HAVING TESTS ON MAY 1.
% AND, YES, IT'S GOING TO BE
% COMMUNITY TESTING.
% IF PEOPLE FEEL THAT THEY WANT TO
% GET TESTED, THEY'LL GET TESTED.
% AND SO WE'RE DOING THAT ALL
% ACROSS THE STATE.
% WE'VE BEEN KIND OF REACTIVE.
% I'M ENCOURAGING -- AND I'VE SAID
% THIS A LOT.
% HEALTH OFFICIALS THAT ARE
% DEALING WITH PEOPLE, THEY SHOULD
% BE ORDERING THESE TESTS.
% THAT IS PART OF OUR JOBS, MAKE
% SURE WE GET AS MANY PEOPLE
% TESTED AS POSSIBLE.
% >> NOW, YOU OPENED UP MORE
% BUSINESSES TO THINGS LIKE
% CURBSIDE PICKUP AND OPENED MOST
% STATE PARKS THIS WEEK.
% WAS THIS IN RESPONSE TO
% CRITICISM, OR IS IT JUST TIME?
% >> YEAH.
% WE LOOK ALL THE TIME.
% I MEAN, WE ARE CONSTANTLY
% VIGILANT ON WHAT WE CAN DO NEXT.
% AND IT'S ALWAYS WEIGHING THE
% RISK AND THE TRANSMISSION OF A
% DISEASE VERSUS ECONOMICS.
% AND WE'RE ALWAYS DO THAT.
% SO WE FELT CONFIDENT IN THE
% CURBSIDE WORK.
% ACTUALLY, THE NIGHT -- FROM THE
% DAY WE ASKED IT, I SAW
% ADVERTISEMENTS ON TV FOR
% BUSINESSES ADVERTISING THEIR
% CURBSIDE TRANSACTIONS.
% SO WE'VE -- IN THAT CASE WE
% NARROWED IT DOWN TO ONE OR TWO
% CONSUMERS AND ONE PERSON FROM A
% STORE DOING THEIR WORK AT THE
% CURBSIDE.
% THAT SEEMS LOGICAL.
% WE CAN CONTROL VIRUS
% TRANSMISSION THAT WAY.
% SO WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR
% BETTER WAYS TO DO IT, AND WE'LL
% CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
% WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE A STAY-AT-HOME
% THING UNTIL THE END OF THE
% MONTH, BUT WE'LL ALSO BE LOOKING
% TO THE END OF THE MONTH.
% >> HOW OPEN ARE YOU TO PLANS
% LIKE THOSE FROM THE WISCONSIN
% MANUFACTURERS AND COMMERCE,
% WHICH KIND OF ASSIGN RISKS TO
% INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES AND WHERE
% THEY ARE AND HOW MANY CASES
% THERE ARE IN THOSE PLACES?
% HOW OPEN ARE YOU TO THAT PLAN?
% >> WELL, THEY HAVE SOME THAT ARE
% -- PARTS OF THE PLAN THAT SEEM
% REASONABLE, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE
% -- THEY DID NOT INCLUDE THE
% PUBLIC HEALTH SIDE OF THINGS AND
% THAT IS WE NEED TO HAVE -- WE
% NEED TO DRIVE DOWN THE NUMBER OF
% VIRUSES IN THE STATE.
% AND THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DO THAT
% IS TESTING, TRACING AND HAVING
% THE APPROPRIATE EQUIPMENT.
% THAT'S WHAT DONALD TRUMP LAID
% OUT FOR US, FRANKLY, ALONG WITH
% THE CDC.
% SO WE'RE STILL FOLLOWING THAT.
% BUT I DON'T DISMISS WHAT THEY'RE
% DOING.
% I'M JUST SAYING THAT THERE HAS
% TO BE A PUBLIC HEALTH CONNECTION
% THERE.
% >> ARE YOU NOW WORKING WITH
% REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE LEADERS,
% THE VERY SAME ONES WHO TOOK YOU
% TO THE SUPREME COURT TO SUE THE
% ADMINISTRATION OVER ON THE
% EXTENSION OF THE "STAY AT HOME"
% ORDERS?
% BUT ARE YOU WORKING WITH THEM TO
% KIND OF WORK SOMETHING OUT HERE?
% >> WELL, I WOULD SAY WE'RE NOT
% IN THAT POSITION.
% CLEARLY, WE HAD A PLAN, AND
% THEIR RESPONSE TO IT WAS TAKING
% ME TO COURT, THE SUPREME COURT.
% SO NOW THAT'S PLAYING OUT IN --
% YOU KNOW, WHO KNOWS HOW THAT'S
% GOING TO WORK OUT.
% BUT I'D SAY IF WE RELY ON THE
% FACTS AND THE LAW AND PRECEDENT,
% WE SHOULD WIN.
% BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF
% THEY HAVE A PLAN, LET'S TALK
% ABOUT IT.
% AND WE KEEP THEM INFORMED.
% MY STAFF MEET WITH HIS STAFF
% REGULARLY.
% WE'VE ENCOURAGED THEIR STAFF TO
% BE PART OF OUR -- TO WATCH OUR
% -- BE PART OF THE CENTER OF --
% AT TRUAX FIELD THAT WE HAVE WITH
% OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
% SO THERE'S NOT THAT THERE'S NOT
% COMMUNICATION GOING ON.
% THEY HAVE A PLAN, I'LL BE GLAD
% TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, THANK YOU
% VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
% >> THANKS, FREDERICA.
% HAVE A GOOD DAY.
% STAY WELL.
% >> MEANWHILE, THE STATE SUPREME
% COURT IS NOW REVIEWING A LAWSUIT
% BROUGHT BY LEGISLATIVE
% REPUBLICANS OVER EXTENDING THE
% "SAFER AT HOME" ORDER.
% SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER ZAC
% SCHULTZ HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE
% CASE AND HE JOINS US NOW.
% AND, ZAC, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
% DOING SO.
% >> MY PLEASURE, FRED.
% >> SO THE BASIC PREMISE OF THIS
% LAWSUIT IS THAT WHAT THE
% REPUBLICAN LEADERS CALL AN
% UNELECTED BUREAUCRAT, NAMELY,
% SECRETARY-DESIGNEE OF HEALTH
% SERVICES, SHOULD NOT HAVE THE
% AUTHORITY TO EXTEND THIS "SAFER
% AT HOME" ORDER UNTIL MAY 26.
% WHY IS THAT?
% >> WELL, THE QUESTION THAT THE
% LEGISLATURE WANTS THE SUPREME
% COURT TO STEP IN AND SOLVE IS AT
% WHAT POINT DURING THIS HEALTH
% EMERGENCY DOES THE LEGISLATURE
% HAVE A SAY IN HOW THE STATE
% RESPONDS TO IT?
% SO FAR, GOVERNOR EVERS HAS BEEN
% IN COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE
% STATE'S RESPONSE UNDER HIS
% EMERGENCY ORDER.
% THAT 60-DAY ORDER WILL EXPIRE ON
% MAY 11.
% AND WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW
% IS THE DHS SECRETARY IS SAYING
% SHE CAN EXTEND MOST OF THE
% PARAMETERS OF THAT "SAFER AT
% HOME" ORDER UNDER HER AUTHORITY.
% AND THE LEGISLATURE IS SAYING WE
% DON'T THINK YOUR POWERS ARE THAT
% BROAD.
% >> AND ALSO, TONY EVERS CALLS
% THIS A "BLATANT POWER GRAB" ON
% THE PART OF REPUBLICANS.
% BUT DON'T THE LEADERS THINK THE
% SAME THING OF HIS EXTENSION
% DECISION?
% >> YEAH.
% I MEAN, YOU CAN LOOK AT THIS AS
% ROUND TWO OF THE LAME DUCK
% LAWSUITS IN THE SENSE OF THE
% LEGISLATURE IS SAYING WE WOULD
% LIKE TO HAVE MORE OF A SAY IN
% HOW THE GOVERNMENT'S REACTING.
% WE WANT MORE CONTROL OVER THE
% EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
% AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH SAYING,
% NO, THE STATE LAW SAYS WE GET TO
% DECIDE HOW WE RESPOND HERE.
% >> ONE OF THE THINGS I KNOW THAT
% THE LEGISLATURE, THE LEGISLATIVE
% REPUBLICAN LEADERS HAVE BEEN
% TALKING ABOUT IS THIS IDEA THAT
% THIS IS "ONE SIZE FITS ALL"
% APPROACH ON THE PART OF TONY
% EVERS AND THAT IT OUGHT TO --
% THE "SAFER-AT-HOME" OR ISOLATION
% ORDERS OUGHT TO BE LOOKED AT IN
% A REGIONAL WAY.
% >> YEAH.
% THAT'S ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS THEY
% PUT INTO THEIR SUPREME COURT
% BRIEFING.
% THEY WANT THE SUPREME COURT TO
% TAKE IN THE ECONOMIC FACTORS AND
% THE DAMAGE STATEWIDE TO THE
% ECONOMY AND TO WORKERS WHEN
% CONSIDERING WHETHER THE DHS
% SECRETARY'S EXTENSION OF THIS
% ORDER UNDER HER AUTHORITY IS
% BEYOND WHAT STATE LAW GIVES HER
% IN HER POWERS.
% THERE'S KIND OF THAT BROAD
% OVERVIEW ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS
% AND THE REPUBLICANS' LEGAL
% ARGUMENT UNDERNEATH IT IS TO
% SWAY WHY THE SUPREME COURT
% SHOULD WEIGH IN.
% >> SHOULD REPUBLICANS PREVAIL,
% WHAT ARE THEY PROPOSING TO DO?
% >> WELL, THE WISCONSIN
% MANUFACTURERS AND COMMERCE HAS
% INTRODUCED THEIR OWN PLAN.
% THEY ACTUALLY HAD A HEARING ON
% IT IN THE ASSEMBLY JUST THIS
% WEEK.
% THAT'S LIKELY WHAT THE
% REPUBLICANS WOULD LIKE TO SEE,
% WHICH IS KIND OF A REGIONAL
% REOPENING WITH THIS FACTORS AND
% SOME TESTS.
% IT DOESN'T INCLUDE CONTACT
% TRACING.
% IT DOESN'T INCLUDE ENOUGH
% TESTING STATEWIDE.
% AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING,
% WELL, YEAH, YOU CAN OPEN UP
% MARATHON COUNTY, BUT WHAT'S TO
% PREVENT PEOPLE FROM DRIVING THE
% VIRUS THERE AND BACK TO
% MILWAUKEE EVERY DAY.
% GOVERNOR EVERS AS PART OF THAT
% REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP SHOULD BE
% THE DECIDERS.
% >> IS THERE ANY SENSE ALL OF
% THIS WILL ENCOURAGE MORE
% COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE
% LEADERSHIP AND THE GOVERNOR?
% >> WELL, IF THE SUPREME COURT
% SIDES WITH THE LEGISLATURE, THEN
% DHS WILL HAVE TO CREATE
% EMERGENCY RULES AND WORK WITH
% THE LEGISLATURE TO DO SO BECAUSE
% THEY'LL HAVE THE ABILITY TO DENY
% THOSE RULES ALTOGETHER.
% IT WON'T BE PLEASANT
% CONVERSATIONS, I'M SURE, BUT
% THEY WILL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER
% ON RULES IF THEY WILL HAVE RULES
% AFTER THIS.
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% ZAC SCHULTZ, THANKS VERY MUCH
% FOR JOINING US.
% >> MY PLEASURE.
% >> AS THE DEBATE ON REOPENING
% WISCONSIN TAKES THE SPOTLIGHT,
% DOCTORS AND NURSES ARE FOCUSED
% ON SAVING LIVES.
% TREVOR KELLER CHECKED IN WITH
% WORKERS ON THE FRONT LINES.
% >> COVID-19 UNIT ON THE FRONT
% LINES.
% THE LONG HOURS AND STRESSFUL
% DAYS ADD UP.
% >> I THINK WE'RE HOLDING UP AS
% BEST WE CAN.
% BUT IT IS MORE STRESSFUL BECAUSE
% WE DON'T KNOW, THERE'S A LOT
% MORE UNKNOWNS IN THIS DISEASE
% PROCESS THAN THERE IS IN A USUAL
% DAY OF WORK FOR US.
% >> THESE DOCTORS AND NURSES ARE
% ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE
% PANDEMIC, FIGHTING A VIRUS
% PRODUCING MORE QUESTIONS THAN
% ANSWERS.
% >> WHY SOME PATIENTS GET ILL
% REALLY QUICKLY, WHEREAS SOME
% SORT OF STAY STABLE AND RECOVER.
% TRYING TO PREDICT THAT HAS BEEN
% REALLY DIFFICULT.
% >> CHRISTINA BRAHOS IS A
% FIRST-YEAR NURSE.
% SHE DIDN'T EXPECT HER CAREER TO
% START LIKE THIS.
% >> WE HAD HEALTHY YOUNG PEOPLE
% COME IN WHO HAVE NEVER HAD ANY
% TYPE OF SERIOUS ILLNESS BEFORE
% AND NOW THEY ARE INTUBATED IN
% THE ICU.
% >> WITH NO VISITORS ALLOWED, THE
% ONLY FACE-TO-FACE INTERACTION
% PATIENTS HAVE ARE WITH HEALTH
% CARE WORKERS.
% >> ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS IS
% SEEING PATIENTS WHO ARE
% UNDERSTANDABLY VERY SCARED.
% >> SHE SAYS IT'S TOUGH TO
% PROVIDE SUPPORT WHILE LIMITING
% EXPOSURE TO THE VIRUS.
% >> YES.
% ON BOTH ENDS WE'RE REALLY
% STRUGGLING EMOTIONALLY.
% >> THEY KNOW THEY AREN'T THE
% ONLY ONES STRUGGLING, ESPECIALLY
% AS THE DEBATE ON REOPENING
% WISCONSIN RAMPS UP.
% >> WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE IN THE
% COMMUNITY HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED
% A LOT OF LOSS IN THEIR INCOME,
% THEIR LIVELIHOOD, THEIR NORMAL
% ROUTINE.
% >> USA, USA, USA!
% >> BUT HERE ON THE FRONT LINES
% OF THE PANDEMIC DOCTORS AND
% NURSES SAY SOCIAL DISTANCING IS
% WORKING AND STILL NECESSARY.
% >> WE ARE IN A PANDEMIC AND
% THINGS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE
% FUN OR NORMAL.
% THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO FOR US
% RIGHT NOW IS PLEASE STAY HOME
% AND PLEASE TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.
% >> REPORTING IN MADISON FOR
% "HERE AND NOW," I'M TREVOR
% KELLER.
% >> A NEW UW-MILWAUKEE REPORT
% CALLS OUT THE RACIAL DIVIDE OF
% COVID-19 IN MILWAUKEE SAYING,
% QUOTE, "THE DATA THAT WE DO HAVE
% HAS REVEALED DISTURBING PATTERNS
% SHOWING THAT AFRICAN-AMERICAN
% RESIDENTS WERE TWICE AS LIKELY
% AS WHITE RESIDENTS TO CONTRACT
% THE DISEASE."
% MARISA WOJCIK BRINGS US THE
% STORY BEHIND THE NUMBERS.
% >> SOME ARE SAYING COVID-19
% ISN'T RACIST, BUT IT IS
% OPPORTUNIST, AND A NEW REPORT
% OUT OF UW-MILWAUKEE BRINGS
% CONTEXT TO THAT STATEMENT.
% >> WE HAD SOME DATA THAT WAS
% ALREADY SHOWING THAT THERE WERE
% THESE RACIAL DISPARITIES.
% >> THE REPORT'S AUTHOR, JOEL
% RAST, SAYS THE DATA SHOWS THE
% RACIAL DIVIDE OF THE DISEASE IN
% MILWAUKEE, LOOKING AT NUMBERS ON
% A GEOGRAPHIC LEVEL.
% >> SO THESE ARE AREAS THAT ARE
% VERY MUCH SEGREGATED
% NEIGHBORHOODS.
% AND SO BY LOOKING AT THE
% GEOGRAPHY, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE
% CASES ARE CLUSTERING, WE CAN SEE
% VERY QUICKLY WHETHER THOSE CASES
% ARE, YOU KNOW, LOCATED IN BLACK
% AREAS OF THE CITY OR THE COUNTY
% OR IN MOSTLY WHITE AREAS.
% >> MANY OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS
% ARE ON MILWAUKEE'S NORTH SIDE.
% STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAVID BOWEN
% SERVES MANY OF THESE
% NEIGHBORHOODS.
% >> AND UNDERSTANDING WITHIN A
% SEVEN-DAY TIME FRAME THE NUMBERS
% OF CONTRACTIONS WENT UP
% THREEFOLD.
% >> THE VIRUS TAKES ADVANTAGE OF
% SITUATIONS THAT DON'T ALLOW FOR
% SOCIAL DISTANCING, LIKE WORKING
% IN THE SERVICE SECTOR OR LIVING
% IN HOUSEHOLDS WITH MULTIPLE
% PEOPLE.
% >> ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY, ACCESS
% TO GOOD HEALTH CARE.
% >> FOLKS IN MY COMMUNITY DEAL
% WITH THESE OTHER PREEXISTING
% CONDITIONS ARE HAVING A MUCH
% TOUGHER TIME.
% >> THE RELATIONSHIP I HAVE WITH
% MY DOCTOR WAS EXTREMELY
% IMPORTANT AND VERY HELPFUL
% BECAUSE HE WAS RIGHT ON TOP OF
% THINGS, GETTING ME TESTED,
% GETTING ME ADMITTED TO THE
% HOSPITAL.
% SO THAT WAS A BIG PLUS.
% AND I SEE IN OUR COMMUNITY, OUR
% BLACK COMMUNITY, WE DON'T HAVE A
% LOT OF THAT.
% >> ARE THERE THINGS THAT WE CAN
% BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT DIFFERENTLY
% NOW AS A RESULT OF THIS ILLNESS
% TO BEGIN ADDRESSING SOME OF
% THESE INEQUALITIES.
% >> THIS DOES NOT END THE STORY
% ABOUT US.
% THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF JUST
% HOW MUCH THAT WE HAVE BEEN
% THROUGH.
% >> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M
% MARISA WOJCIK.
% >> IF WE END UP GETTING THE
% SUPPORT AND THE HELP, OR WE HAVE
% TO DO IT ON OUR OWN, WE WILL GET
% IT DONE.
% >> LAST WEEK 11 UW SYSTEM
% SCHOOLS ANNOUNCED FURLOUGH
% PLANS.
% THIS WEEK, THE UNIVERSITY OF
% WISCONSIN-MADISON ORDERED
% FURLOUGHS FOR NEARLY 16,000
% EMPLOYEES IN THE WAKE OF THE
% COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
% RIGHT NOW, ALL CLASSES ARE
% ONLINE AND ALL SUMMER PROGRAMS
% ARE CANCELLED.
% >> THE CAMPUS HAS BEEN NEARLY
% SHUTTERED SINCE MID-MARCH, WHEN
% THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK FIRST
% ARRIVED AND MANY STUDENTS STAYED
% HOME.
% TO MAKE UP A BUDGET SHORTFALL,
% FACULTY AND STAFF ARE REQUIRED
% TO TAKE THREE TO SIX UNPAID
% FURLOUGH DAYS DURING THE NEXT
% SIX MONTHS.
% CHANCELLOR REBECCA BLANK, THE
% PROVOST AND OTHERS WILL TAKE A
% 15% PAY CUT, AMOUNTING TO
% APPROXIMATELY $30 MILLION.
% UW-MADISON SAYS IT HAS
% CONSERVATIVELY ESTIMATED LOSSES
% FROM THE PANDEMIC TO BE $100
% MILLION AND WILL MAKE UP THE
% DIFFERENCE BY REDUCING TRAVEL,
% BUDGET CUTS AND A PARTIAL HIRING
% FREEZE.
% THE CHANCELLOR SAYS FURTHER
% EXPENSE REDUCTIONS COULD BE
% CONSIDERED AS EARLY AS THIS
% FALL.
% BY WAY OF DISCLAIMER, PBS
% WISCONSIN IS PART OF THE
% UW-MADISON.
% >> THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS LED
% TO LAYOFFS AND FURLOUGHS AS
% BUSINESSES CLOSE OR SEE A DROP
% IN SALES.
% A RECORD NUMBER OF WISCONSIN
% RESIDENTS ARE APPLYING FOR
% UNEMPLOYMENT, CAUSING DELAYS IN
% THE REQUEST TO HIRE MORE STAFF.
% SECRETARY CALEB FROSTMAN HEADS
% THE DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE
% DEVELOPMENT AND HE JOINED US
% EARLIER.
% SECRETARY, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
% TALKING WITH US ABOUT THIS.
% >> YOU BET, FREDERICA.
% THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
% >> NOW, ONE IMPORTANT THING
% UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMANTS SHOULD
% KNOW RIGHT NOW IS THAT THE EXTRA
% $600 A WEEK STARTED THIS WEEK.
% DESCRIBE HOW THAT WORKS FOR
% PEOPLE GETTING UNEMPLOYMENT
% BENEFITS.
% >> SURE.
% FOR ANYONE RECEIVING EVEN $1 IN
% UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE OR
% PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT
% ASSISTANCE, THEY ARE ELIGIBLE
% FOR WHAT'S CALLED FEDERAL
% PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT
% COMPENSATION AND THAT'S $600 A
% WEEK THAT WILL SHOW UP THE SAME
% WAY YOU GET YOUR UI PAYMENTS, SO
% NO OTHER STEPS ARE NEEDED,
% BACKDATED TO EARLY APRIL.
% FOLKS HAVE ALREADY SEEN SOME OF
% THOSE BACK PAYMENTS AND IT WILL
% CONTINUE GOING FORWARD THROUGH
% THE REST OF THIS PANDEMIC,
% THROUGH THE END OF JULY.
% >> OKAY.
% SO IF A PERSON IS ELIGIBLE FOR
% UNEMPLOYMENT, SAY AS OF THIS
% WEEK, BUT DOESN'T END UP GETTING
% IT JUST YET, IS THAT $600 AS YOU
% WERE SAYING RETROACTIVE?
% >> IT IS.
% SO IT'S RETROACTIVE TO THE
% PASSAGE OF THE CARES ACT, WHICH
% WILL BACKDATE IT TO EARLY APRIL.
% FOLKS HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE
% WEEKS OF PAYMENTS HERE, WHICH
% HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT SUM FOR
% THOSE FAMILIES WAITING FOR THOSE
% DOLLARS.
% >> WHAT DO THE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE
% RIGHT NOW?
% HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE FILED DUE
% TO JOB LOSS BECAUSE OF COVID-19?
% >> SURE.
% SO WE'VE HAD OVER 400,000 PEOPLE
% APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT, AT LEAST
% CHECKING THE BOX THAT IT'S DUE
% TO COVID-19, AND A METRIC WE
% LOOK AT CLOSELY.
% THE WEEKLY CLAIMS THAT WERE
% FILED BEFORE COVID-19 WERE
% AROUND 25,000.
% THE WEEK ENDING LAST SATURDAY
% WAS OVER 340,000, SO IT'S BEEN A
% REALLY RAPID INCREASE OVER THE
% COURSE OF THE LAST SIX WEEKS.
% >> DESCRIBE HOW THIS OVERWHELMED
% YOUR AGENCY.
% >> SURE.
% WELL, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE BIG
% PIECE THAT MOST FOLKS HAVE
% PROBABLY SEEN IN THE PUBLIC AND
% IF THEY HAVE INTERACTED WITH OUR
% SYSTEM, OUR CALL CENTER HAS BEEN
% OVERWHELMED.
% WE'VE MADE SOME SIGNIFICANT
% IMPROVEMENTS.
% THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE
% INTERACTING WITH THE
% UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM FOR THE
% FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIVES.
% WE'VE VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE OUR
% WEBSITE IS FRIENDLY AND WE HAVE
% FAQs FOR CLAIMANTS.
% JUST THE VOLUME OF CLAIMS IN ANY
% ECONOMY, A NUMBER OF CLAIMS NEED
% TO BE ADJUDICATED TO DETERMINE
% ELIGIBILITY AND SO WE'RE SEEING
% VOLUMES LIKE 400,000 NEW
% CLAIMANTS.
% EVEN IF THAT PERCENTAGE STAYS
% THE SAME AND IS LIKELY GONE UP
% BECAUSE OF THE NEW FOLKS, THAT'S
% A SIGNIFICANT BACKLOG FOR US AS
% WELL, TRYING TO DETERMINE
% ELIGIBILITY FOR CLAIMANTS HERE
% IN THE STATE.
% >> WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR
% PEOPLE TO APPLY?
% HOW CAN THEY HOPE TO KIND OF
% SPEED UP THIS PROCESS OR CUT
% THROUGH, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THESE
% OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THERE
% TRYING TO APPLY AND YOUR STAFF
% AND PEOPLE YOU'VE HIRED UP
% TRYING TO HELP THEM?
% WHAT'S THE BEST WAY FOR PEOPLE
% TO APPLY AND GET UNEMPLOYMENT
% BENEFITS?
% >> SURE.
% THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
% I'M REALLY GLAD YOU'VE ASKED IT.
% ANYTIME I GET A CHANCE TO BE ON
% A TELECONFERENCE OR INTERVIEW ON
% TV I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I
% REALLY EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE
% OF APPLYING ONLINE.
% SO FOLKS HAVE ACCESS TO INTERNET
% OR A SMARTPHONE WITH A CELL
% SIGNAL, FOLKS CAN APPLY ONLINE.
% WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PROCESS AS
% MANY AS 25,000 CLAIMS IN ONE
% DAY.
% 99% OF THOSE ARE DONE ONLINE.
% IF FOLKS HAVE ACCESS TO A
% COMPUTER AND INTERNET, THAT IS
% THE BEST WAY TO GET YOUR CLAIM
% PROCESSED QUICKLY AND ACCURATE.
% IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, WE
% CAN SEE APPROVAL AND
% DETERMINATIONS WITHIN TWO TO
% THREE DAYS.
% SO THAT'S THE VERY BEST WAY THAT
% NEW CLAIMANTS CAN GET THEIR
% CLAIM IN THE HOPPER QUICKLY.
% >> DO YOU EXPECT THE DEPARTMENT
% OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TO ALSO
% HAVE TO TAKE A 5% AGENCY CUT
% THAT THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THIS
% WEEK?
% >> YES.
% SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT
% SINCE THE DECISION WAS MADE
% EARLIER THIS WEEK, AND WE WILL
% LIKELY HAVE TO IDENTIFY 5% TO
% LAPSE BEFORE THE END OF THE
% FISCAL YEAR ON JUNE 30 OF 2020.
% SO WE'RE WORKING HARD TO
% IDENTIFY AREAS WHERE WE CAN MAKE
% THAT HAPPEN BEFORE THE END OF
% THE YEAR.
% >> MEANWHILE, THOUGH, THAT COMES
% AT THE SAME TIME THAT YOUR
% SYSTEM IS CRUSHED, YOU KNOW, BY
% THESE NUMBERS OF CLAIMANTS.
% HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO THAT?
% >> SURE.
% WELL, I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO BE
% AS CREATIVE AS POSSIBLE.
% WE HAVE SIX DIFFERENT DIVISIONS.
% UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE IS
% GETTING THE LION'S SHARE OF OUR
% EFFORTS.
% BUT WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT EITHER BY
% HOLDING BACK ON MAYBE SOME
% PLANNED EXPENSES OR OTHER AREAS
% WHERE WE CAN LAPSE FUNDS VERSUS
% MAKE PROACTIVE CUTS, THAT WE CAN
% CREATIVELY MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
% BUT I THINK THERE'S AN
% UNDERSTANDING OF COURSE ACROSS
% THE ADMINISTRATION THAT OUR
% AGENCY IS ONE OF THE VERY MOST
% AFFECTED.
% AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO BE AS
% SMART AND STRATEGIC AS POSSIBLE
% ON HOW WE CAN MAKE THAT METRIC
% WORK WHILE STILL SERVING
% WISCONSIN CLAIMANTS.
% >> SECRETARY FROSTMAN, THANKS
% VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US AND
% GOOD LUCK.
% >> APPRECIATE IT.
% >> THERE IS POSITIVE NEWS TO END
% THE WEEK.
% APPROXIMATELY 150 MEMBERS OF THE
% WISCONSIN ARMY NATIONAL GUARD
% RED ARROW BRIGADE RETURNED HOME
% FROM AFGHANISTAN.
% FAMILIES AWAITED THEIR ARRIVALS
% IN EAU CLAIRE, MENOMONIE,
% ABBOTSFORD, NEW RICHMOND,
% RICE LAKE, ARCADIA,
% ONALASKA, RIVER FALLS
% AND MADISON.
% THIS WEEK PRESIDENT TRUMP TOLD
% ADVISERS HE WANTS ALL TROOPS OUT
% OF WAR-TORN AFGHANISTAN AS THE
% COVID-19 OUTBREAK LOOMS.
% MORE THAN 500 WISCONSIN
% NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS REMAIN
% DEPLOYED OVERSEAS IN UKRAINE,
% AFGHANISTAN, KUWAIT AND AFRICA.
% THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR THIS
% WEEK.
% FOR CONTINUING COVID-19
% COVERAGE, JOIN US ONLINE AT
% pbswisconsin.org AND CLICK ON
% THE NEWS TAB.
% THIS WEEK, SEE WHAT IMPACT THE
% CRONE IS HAVING ON RELIGIOUS
% SERVICES.
% ALSO FOR ANALYSIS AND IN-DEPTH
% COVERAGE OF THE CORONAVIRUS,
% VISIT OUR PARTNER NEWS SITE AT
% WISCONTEXT.ORG.
% YOU CAN FIND OUT HOW TECHNOLOGY
% IS HELPING TRACK WHERE PEOPLE
% HAVE BEEN DURING THE PANDEMIC.
% THAT STORY IS AT
% WisContext.org.
% AND, FINALLY, WE WANT TO GIVE A
% SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR STUDENT
% PRODUCTION ASSISTANT, KYNALA
% PHILLIPS, WHO IS WORKING OUR
% LAST DAY WITH "HERE AND NOW."
% SHE'S GRADUATING FROM UW-MADISON
% AND TAKING A JOB WITH THE WALL
% STREET JOURNAL MAGAZINE THIS
% SUMMER BEFORE HEADING TO
% GRADUATE SCHOOL.
% BEST OF LUCK TO KYNALA AND,
% AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
% EXCELLENT WORK.
% STAY WELL, WISCONSIN, AND WE
% WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
% >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.