>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> A NATION SHOCKED AGAIN BY
THIS WEEK'S MASS MURDER OF
SCHOOL CHILDREN.
IN WISCONSIN, IT JUST GOT EASIER
FOR DOMESTIC ABUSERS TO CARRY A
GUN.
AND A MANUFACTURING ROLLER
COASTER OF SUPPLY CHAIN SNAGS
AND RISING COSTS.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
WISCONSIN REACTS TO THE MASS
MURDER OF SCHOOL CHILDREN IN
TEXAS.
VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE NOW
WORRY ABOUT WISCONSIN MAKING IT
EASIER FOR ABUSERS TO CARRY
GUNS.
THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR
GOVERNOR, IT'S ESTABLISHMENT
CANDIDATES AGAINST THE FIRE
BRANDS.
HOW THE CITY OF WAUSAU IS TAKING
ON PFAS CONTAMINATION IN ITS
WATER SUPPLY, AND AN INSIDE LOOK
AT SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES AT A
LOCAL MANUFACTURER.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MAY 27.
FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> THE NATION IS REELING AFTER
THE SCHOOL SHOOTING THIS WEEK IN
TEXAS THAT KILLED 19 FOURTH
GRADERS AND TWO TEACHERS.
WISCONSIN U.S. SENATOR, DEMOCRAT
TAMMY BALDWIN SAID, HER HEART
BREAKS AGAIN, AND, QUOTE, WE
CANNOT ACCEPT DOING NOTHING
EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENS.
I SUPPORT PASSING LEGISLATION IN
THE SENATE THAT PUTS IN PLACE
UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR
ALL GUN SALES.
REPUBLICAN U.S. SENATOR RON
JOHNSON CALLED ON THE SENATE TO
ENACT A DATA CLEARINGHOUSE ON
SCHOOL SAFETY AFTER HIS INITIAL
RESPONSE WHERE HE SAID, QUOTE,
THERE ARE NO ADEQUATE WORDS TO
EXPRESS THE HORROR AT ROBB
ELEMENTARY.
MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO THESE
FAMILIES.
SOMETHING THIS HORRIFIC,
CHILDREN BEING SLAUGHTERED IN
THEIR SCHOOL, IT DOES NOT GET
WORSE THAN THIS.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS THIS WEEK
RESPONDED TO THE MURDERS OF THE
CHILDREN AND THEIR TEACHERS IN
TEXAS, ASKING THAT WISCONSIN
WORK TOGETHER TO PROTECT AGAINST
GUN VIOLENCE.
>> ENOUGH IS ENOUGH FOR TOO DAMN
LONG.
WE CANNOT ACCEPT THAT GUN
VIOLENCE JUST HAPPENS.
WE CANNOT ACCEPT THAT KIDS MIGHT
GO TO SCHOOL AND NEVER COME
HOME.
OUR FAMILIES ARE LIVING IN FEAR,
OUR KIDS ARE LEARNING IN FEAR.
IN THIS STATE, WE CANNOT ACCEPT
POLICIES AND RHETORIC THAT WILL
MAKE THIS PROBLEM WORSE WHILE
COMMON SENSE MEASURES SUPPORTED
BY AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY GO
NOWHERE.
JUST LAST MONTH, THE LEGISLATURE
SENT ME A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE
ALLOWED CERTAIN PEOPLE TO
POSSESS LOADED GUNS ON SCHOOL
GROUNDS, A BILL THAT WOULD BE
LAW TODAY IF I HADN'T VETOED IT.
WE'VE CALLED THE LEGISLATURE
INTO SPECIAL SESSION ON
UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS AND
WE'VE CALLED FOR EXTREME RISK
PROTECTION ORDERS TO ALLOW LOVED
ONES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ASK
FOR FIREARMS BE REMOVED FROM
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE A DANGER TO
THEMSELVES OR OTHERS, TWO IDEAS
FRANKLY THAT 80% OF
WISCONSINITES INCLUDING A
MAJORITY OF GUN OWNERS
SUPPORTED.
I STILL REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT
WHEN OUR KIDS ARE MURDERED IN
THEIR DESKS AT SCHOOL, THAT
THERE IS ANY PARTING LINE THAT'S
NOT WORTH CROSSING.
>> EVERS LAMENTED INACTION ON
THE SPECIAL SESSION HE CALLED ON
BACKGROUND CHECKS AND RED-FLAG
LAWS.
CONVICTED DOMESTIC ABUSERS IN
WISCONSIN CAN NOW GET CONCEALED
CARRY GUN PERMITS.
THAT'S AFTER THE STATE SUPREME
COURT RULED THAT BECAUSE OF
FEDERAL LAW, MISDEMEANOR
DISORDERLY CONDUCT CONVICTIONS,
EVEN IF THEY INVOLVE DOMESTIC
ABUSE, DO NOT PREVENT LEGALLY
CARRYING A GUN.
AS TO THAT, THIS QUOTE FROM END
DOMESTIC ABUSE WISCONSIN, QUOTE,
IT IS BEYOND A DOUBT THAT
WISCONSIN VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE WILL BE VIOLENTLY, AND
IN MANY CASES LETHALLY, IMPACTED
BY THE DECISION.
JENNA GORMAL IS CO-DIRECTOR OF
PREVENTION AND ENGAGEMENT AT THE
ORGANIZATION.
SHE JOINS US NOW.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS.
>> HOW WILL THIS DECISION
LETHALLY IMPACT VICTIMS OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?
>> SO THE LETHAL IMPACT OF THIS
DECISION IS VERY CLEAR.
EVERY YEAR WE CONDUCT A DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE HOMICIDE REPORT WHICH
DETAILS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BY
YEAR.
IN THAT REPORT, WE INCLUDE
DETAILED NARRATIVES OF THE
HOMICIDE ALONG WITH FACTORS AND
ONE OF THE PRECIPITATING FACTORS
WE SEE EVERY YEAR IS A CHARGE OF
DISORDERLY CONDUCT.
SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THE
ABUSIVE PARTNER WAS CHARGED WITH
A CRIME OF DISORDERLY CONDUCT
PRIOR TO MURDERERRING THEIR
PARTNER SO THE LINK BETWEEN
DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE IS VERY CLEAR, AND A
WOMAN IS FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY
TO BE MURDERED WHEN HER ABUSER
HAS ACCESS TO A GUN.
>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER
STATISTICS ON THE USE OF GUNS IN
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOMICIDES?
>> WELL, FIREARMS ARE THE MAIN
WEAPON USED IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
HOMICIDES IN WISCONSIN, AND OUR
LATEST DATA SHOWS THAT IN 2020,
FIREARMS WERE USED IN OVER HALF
OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOMICIDE.
>> HOW FRIED INNED ARE ADVOCATES
AND VICTIMS AS A RESULT OF THIS
RULING?
>> I WOULD SAY THAT THERE IS A
LOT CONCERN.
IT'S VERY FRIGHTENING.
THIS SPECIFIC TYPE OF CHARGE IS
ONE OF THE MOST COMMON CHARGES
IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES, AND
WHEN YOU ARE A VICTIM OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, IT IS
TERRIFYING, BUT THE KNOWLEDGE
THAT YOUR PARTNER IS UNABLE TO
ACCESS A WEAPON IS SOMEWHAT --
IT'S HELPFUL TO KNOW AND IT
MAKES YOU FEEL A LITTLE BIT MORE
AT EASE.
SO IT'S VERY, VERY SCARY.
>> IF THE STATE HIGH COURT HAS
TO FOLLOW THIS FEDERAL LAW
AROUND MISDEMEANOR DISORDERLY
CONDUCT CONVICTIONS NOT
PREVENTING THE CARRYING OF A
GUN, WOULDN'T THE ANSWER BE TO
HAVE A STANDALONE DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE STATUTE ON THE BOOKS IN
WISCONSIN?
>> YES, THAT WOULD BE, I THINK
THERE ARE A RANGE OF RESPONSES
AND WHAT WE DO NEED IS
LEGISLATION THAT BRINGS STATE
LAW IN LINE WITH FEDERAL LAW,
AND WE DO HAVE THAT LEGISLATION
AVAILABLE.
IT WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LAST
SESSION BUT IT DIDN'T GO TO
HEARING DESPITE BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT, SO WHAT WE NEED TO
RECOGNIZE NOW IS THAT THE LIVES
OF VICTIMS ARE AT STAKE AND THE
SAFETY OF VICTIMS ARE AT STAKE
AND IT'S NOT JUST THE LIVES OF
VICTIMS, IT'S THE LIVES OF THE
GENERAL PUBLIC.
WE ZOO SEE A LINK BETWEEN MASS
SHOOTINGS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
IN 60% OF CASES WITH MASS
SHOOTINGS, THERE IS A DIRECT
LINK WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SO
THIS IS REALLY A PUBLIC HEALTH
ISSUE, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT LEGISLATION MOVES FAST SO
WE CAN GET RESULTS.
>> FOR THE LEGISLATORS WHO DON'T
APPROVE OF KIND OF CLOSING THE
LOOPHOLE WITH A STANDALONE LAW,
WHAT DO THEY SAY TO YOU ABOUT
WHY NOT?
>> I GUESS THE REASON THAT WE
COME UP AGAINST THE LAW IS THAT
THERE'S A RIGHT TO OWN FIREARMS
AND THAT'S TAKING AWAY THE RIGHT
OF FOLKS TO OWN FIREARMS.
OUR RESPONSE TO THAT IS THAT
SAFETY SHOULD ALWAYS BE
CENTERED, AND WHEN IT COMES TO
HAVING FIREARMS, COMMON SENSE
FIREARM LEGISLATION IS SOMETHING
THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC DO WANT,
AND I THINK THAT EVERYONE WANTS
TO MAKE SURE THAT FIREARMS ARE
IN THE HANDS OF SAFE PEOPLE THAT
WE DON'T HAVE FIREARMS IN THE
HANDS OF FOLKS WHO ARE DANGEROUS
AND WHO POSE A THREAT TO THE
PUBLIC.
>> YOU SPOKE A MOMENT AGO ABOUT
THE CORRELATION BETWEEN MASS
SHOOTINGS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
WHAT IS THAT CORRELATION?
>> SO AROUND TWO THIRDS OF MASS
SHOOTINGS IN THE U.S. INVOLVE A
HISTORY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SO
THAT CAN BE A THREAT, DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND MASS SHOOTINGS
INCIDENTS ARE PERPETRATED BY A
SHOOTER WITH A HISTORY OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WITH HIGHER
FATALITY RATES.
>> JENNA GORMAL, THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR WORK AND THANKS
FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> A LOT OF REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATES WANT TO BE THE NEXT
GOVERNOR OF WISCONSIN.
ONE OF THEM HAS TO WIN THE
AUGUST 9 PRIMARY TO TAKE ON
INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT TONY EVERS,
BUT THERE'S A PERCEPTIBLE SPLIT
AMONGST THE REPUBLICANS TO THE
EXTENT THAT NONE OF THE
CANDIDATES GOT THE ENDORSEMENT
OF DELEGATES.
REBECCA KLEEFISCH CAME CLOSE TO
THE 60% THRESHOLD, BUT TIM
RAMTHUN, KEVIN NICHOLSON AND TIM
MICHELS FELL WAY SHORT.
IS THE FRONTRUNNER CONSIDERED
THE ESTABLISHMENT CANDIDATE WITH
THE OTHERS LIKE TIM RAMTHUN WHO
WANTS TO DECERTIFY THE LAST LEK
SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FIRE
BRANDS?
WE CHECK IN WITH WISCONSIN
PUBLIC RADIO CAP T CAPITOL BUREU
CHIEF SHAWN JOHNSON WITH THE
GOINGS ON.
NICE TO SEE YOU, SHAWN.
>> HEY, FREDERICA.
>> IS THIS BREAKING DOWN THAT
REBECCA KLEEFISCH IS KIND OF THE
ESTABLISHMENT CANDIDATE AND THE
OTHERS ARE ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT?
>> I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE
POSITIONS THEY HOLD ON POLICIES,
THERE'S NOT A HUGE AMOUNT OF
DAYLIGHT BETWEEN THEM.
THEY'RE PRETTY SIMILAR.
I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT WHO IS BY
DEFINITION KIND OF THE
ESTABLISHMENT CANDIDATE IN TERMS
OF WHO'S SUPPORTING THEM, IT
WOULD HAVE TO BE REBECCA
KLEEFISCH.
I MEAN, SHE HAS THE SUPPORT OF,
FOR EXAMPLE, WISCONSIN
MANUFACTURERS IN COMMERCE,
STATE'S LARGEST BUSINESS LOBBY,
SCOTT WALKER, MIGHT REMEMBER
HIM, GOVERNOR FOR EIGHT YEARS,
ROBIN VOS, ASSEMBLY SPEAKER HAS
VOICED STRONG SUPPORT FOR
REBECCA KLEEFISCH, AND SHE'S
BEEN RUNNING FOR THIS THE
LONGEST.
SO KIND OF JUST BY THE
DEFINITION, SHE IS THE
ESTABLISHMENT CANDIDATE, EVEN IF
WHAT SHE SAYS AND BELIEVES
DOESN'T DIFFER GREATLY FROM THE
OTHERS.
>> SO WHAT'S THE EFFECT OF THE
DELEGATES AT THE CONVENTION
VOTING NOT TO ENDORSING THIS
RACE, INCLUDING REBECCA
KLEEFISCH?
>> I WOULD SAY IT'S NOT JUST A
POPULARITY CONTEST.
SO KLEEFISCH GOT CLOSE TO THE
60% THRESHOLD SHE WOULD HAVE
NEEDED TO WIN THE PARTY'S
ENDORSEMENT.
HAD SHE WON THAT, THE PARTY
COULD CAMPAIGN ON HER BEHALF,
YOU KNOW, THEY COULD PRESENT HER
AS THE ENDORSED CANDIDATE OF THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF WISCONSIN,
WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY WOULD HAVE
BEEN A GOOD THING FOR HER IN A
DIVIDED PRIMARY LIKE THIS,
ESPECIALLY ONE WHERE TIM MICHELS
CAN THROW SO MUCH OF HIS
PERSONAL WEALTH AT THE RACE AND
HE'S BEEN ON TV A LOT.
KEVIN NICHOLSON HAS THE BACKING
OF BILLIONAIRE RICHARD UIHLEIN,
SO IT'S NOT LIKE SHE CAN JUST
WALK AWAY WITH THIS. WOULD HAVEY
HELPFUL TO PROBABLY TONY EVERS
THAT SHE NOT GET IT, BUT IT'S
NOT LIKE IT'S A DEAL BREAKER FOR
HER CANDIDACY EITHER.
>> SO PLENTY CANDIDATES GAVE THE
SAME NOD TO OTHER CANDIDATE FOR
STATEWIDE OFFICE INCLUDING
ATTORNEY GENERAL.
I MEAN, THEY HAD THOSE KINDS OF
REBECCA KLEEFISCH NUMBERS.
>> YEAH, AND YOU SAW MANY, A
LITTLE BIT OF A THEME THERE.
ERIC TOMEY, THE DISTRICT
ATTORNEY WHO CAME CLOSEST TO THE
ENDORSEMENT IN THE PRIMARY FOR
ATTORNEY GENERAL, HE HAS THE
BACKING OF BRAD COURTNEY, THE
FORMER REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR
UNDER SCOTT WALKER.
SECRETARY OF STATE CANDIDATE FOR
REPUBLICANS HAS BEEN ON THE
LEGISLATURE'S BUDGET COMMITTEE
FOR SEVERAL YEARS, WORKED ON
SCOTT WALKER'S BUDGETS.
SO I'M NOT SAYING THEY'RE A TEAM
WHERE THEY PRESENTED THEMSELVES
AS A TICKET, BUT YOU SEE A
SIMILAR THREAD THERE WHERE THEY
HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE AT THIS
CONVENTION BUT THERE WAS A
SIZABLE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO SAID
WE DON'T WANT TO ENDORSE ANYONE
RIGHT NOW, LEAVE IT FOR THE
PRIMARY.
>> SO DOES ANY OF THIS KIND OF
SUGGEST A TRUMP EFFECT, WHEREBY
PEOPLE ARE MOVING EITHER FURTHER
TO THE RIGHT THAN THEY WERE?
>> POTENTIALLY.
I THINK ONE THING YOU CAN SAY
DEFINITIVELY IS THAT YOU HAVE
THIS PORTION, AN ACTIVE PORTION
OF THE REPUBLICAN BASE WHO IS
SAYING WE WANT YOU TO FOCUS ON
US.
IF THERE'S NO PRIMARY, THESE
CANDIDATES CAN KIND OF PIVOT TO
THE GENERAL ELECTION IF THEY
THINK THAT IT IS POLITICALLY
ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THEM.
BUT WHEN THERE'S A CONTESTED
PRIMARY, AND YOU KNOW, REBECCA
KLEEFISCH, TIM MICHELS, OTHERS
HAVE TO PURSUE THESE PRIMARY
VOTERS, THEY HAVE TO FOCUS ON
REPUBLICANS AND REPUBLICAN
POLICIES.
SO THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO DO.
BUT YOU COULD SEE MAYBE A TRUMP
EFFECT HERE TOO BECAUSE THERE
WAS A SIMILAR MARGIN OF VOTERS
WHO SAID LET'S DECERTIFY THE
ELECTION AT THIS CONVENTION,
AROUND 40%, SIMILAR TO THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO SAID LET'S
NOT ENDORSE.
>> SO WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE
WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION
RIGHT NOW?
>> PRETTY BIG SURPRISE THIS WEEK
WHEN A REPUBLICAN MEMBER OF THE
COMMISSION WAS APPOINTED BY
ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS
ANNOUNCED HE'S RESIGNING AT THE
MEETING.
THIS HAPPENS RIGHT BEFORE THIS
COMMISSION IS ABOUT TO VOTE ON
THE NEXT CHAIR.
HE'S ONE OF TWO CANDIDATE UNDER
THE COMMISSION'S RULES WHO IS
ELIGIBLE TO BE CHAIR.
THE OTHER CANDIDATE IS BOB SPINS
IS DEL, VOCAL CRITIC OF THE
AGENCY.
SO A BIG SHOCK TO I THINK PEOPLE
WHO WATCH THE ELECTIONS
COMMISSION CLOSELY AND NOW VOS
IS GOING TO APPOINT A
REPLACEMENT FOR KNUDSON AND THAT
PERSON COULD BE ELECTED CHAIR AT
THE NEXT MEETING IN JUNE.
>> WE'LL SEE WHO EL APPOINTS.
SHAWN JOHNSON, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANKS, FRED.
>> IN ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS,
IMAGINE HAVING TO DRINK ONLY
BOTTLED WATER OR INSTALL A
FILTER SYSTEM TO SAFELY USE
WATER OUT OF THE TAP.
THIS IS THE REALITY FOR WAUSAU
RESIDENTS BECAUSE ALL THE CITY
WELLS HAVE HIGH LEVELS OF PFAS
CONTAMINATION.
PFAS ARE A GROUP OF HUMAN-MADE
CHEMICALS USED IN THINGS LIKE
NON-STICK COOKWARE, FIREFIGHTING
FOAM AND FAST FOOD WRAPPERS.
BECAUSE THEY DON'T BREAK DOWN,
THEY'RE KNOWN AS "FOREVER
CHEMICALS" THAT MAY CAUSE
CANCER, HEART ISSUES,
DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS AND
INFERTILITY.
THIS IS BAD STUFF.
AND CITIES ACROSS THE STATE ARE
DEALING WITH PFAS, BUT WAUSAU
STANDS ALONE, HAVING ALL SIX OF
ITS WELLS CONTAMINATED.
IT'S ALSO THE ONLY CITY IN THE
STATE THAT WILL TREAT ALL THE
WATER ENTERING ITS TREATMENT
SYSTEM.
THE CITY'S MAYOR, KATIE
ROSENBERG, JOINS US WITH THE
LATERS.
MAYOR, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
HAVING ME TODAY.
>> SO YOU HAVE TAKEN ON PFAS
CONTAMINATION OF YOUR CITY WATER
SUPPLY AND AS I JUST MENTIONED,
WILL TREAT ALL WATER ENTERING
THE SYSTEM, EVEN BUILDING A
WHOLE NEW WATER TREATMENT PLANT
TO DO SO.
THIS IS CLEARLY NO PIECEMEAL
RESPONSE.
WHY ARE YOU SO AGGRESSIVE ON
THIS?
>> THANK YOU.
SO WE HAD ALREADY PLANNED ON
BUILDING A NEW DRINKING WATER
FACILITY SO WE WERE TRYING TO
WORK ON THE FUTURE, MAKE SURE WE
FUTURE-PROOFED OUR NEXT 50 YEARS
OF DRINKING WATER, AND SO IN
PREPARATION FOR THAT, WE DID
SOME TESTING.
BOTH A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO BUT
AGAIN THIS YEAR, WHEN SOME OF
OUR NEIGHBORS DISCOVERED PFAS IN
THEIR WELLS.
SO IT'S KIND OF GOOD TIMING BUT
ALSO KIND OF SCARY TIMING THAT
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TREAT
ALL THE WATER STARTING IN
AUGUST, WHEN OUR NEW FACILITY
OPENS, WE'LL HAVE A NEW
TREATMENT OPPORTUNITY.
WE HAVE ALL THE SPACE FOR THIS
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL KINDS OF
DIFFERENT TREATMENT OPTIONS
RIGHT NOW FROM CARBON TO IONIC
EXCHANGE, SO WE'RE IN AN
EMERGING SITUATION RIGHT NOW.
>> HOW HIGH ARE THE LEVELS OF
PFAS CONTAMINATION IN WAUSAU'S
WATER?
>> SO ON AVERAGE, IT'S ABOUT 30
PARTS PER TRILLION, SO WE HAVE
SOME WELLS UNDER 30 BUT WE HAVE
SOME THAT ARE CLOSER TO 50 PARTS
PER TRILLION.
SO WE OBVIOUSLY WANT TO BE BELOW
THE DHS ADVISORY OF 20 PARTS PER
TRILLION, AND I WOULD REALLY
LIKE US TO BE EVEN BELOW THAT.
>> IS THERE AN IDENTIFIABLE
SOURCE?
>> WE DON'T HAVE THE SOURCE YET.
IT'S LIKELY THAT THERE ARE A
COUPLE DIFFERENT SOURCES.
YOU KNOW, LIKE A LOT OF CITIES
THAT ARE ORGANIZED ALONG THE
WISCONSIN RIVER, WE'VE HAD
INDUSTRIAL PAST, AND YOU KNOW,
THE MORE WE LEARN, THE MORE WE
KNOW WHAT WE SHU SHOULDN'T HAVEN
PUTTING IN THE GROUND SO WE'RE
WORKING WITH THE DNR TO
INVESTIGATE EXACTLY WHAT THAT
SOURCE IS.
>> YOU JUST SPOKE TO THE LEVELS
IN YOUR WATER BUT ARE THERE YET
ANY AGREED UPON STATE OR FEDERAL
SAFETY STANDARDS?
>> I WISH WE HAD ONE RIGHT NOW.
BUT FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF
YEARS, THE DN R AND D HS HAVE
BEEN WORKING TOGETHER.
THE HEALTH ADVISORY IS TWEB
PARTS20 PARTSPER TRILLION OR ABE
DNR DECIDED ON 70 PARTS PER
TRILLION WHICH IS SOMEWHAT
SIMILAR TO THE FEDERAL SO WE'RE
KIND OF IN AN INTERESTING
SITUATION BUT WE'RE BELOW THAT
70 PARTS PER TRILLION BUT WE
KNOW THE HEALTH EXPERTS ARE
SAYING AND WE'RE LIKELY TO SEE
THAT COME DOWN AS WE LEARN MORE.
>> SO YOU FEEL AS THOUGH YOU MAY
AS WELL JUST BE AT THAT LOWER
LEVEL?
>> OH, YEAH, OF COURSE.
WE WANT TO BE AT THE BEST LEVEL
TO PROTECT HUMAN HEALTH.
>> HOW MUCH ARE YOUR MITIGATION
EFFORTS COSTING AND HOW ARE YOU
AFFORDING IT?
>> SO THIS IS AN INTERESTING
TIME RELATED TO ALL THE COVID
CARES FUNDING AND BIPARTISAN
INFRASTRUCTURE AND ALL OF THIS.
SO RIGHT NOW WE'VE SPENT A
COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS
ON FILTERS, PERSONAL FILTERS FOR
THE COMMUNITY SO THAT PEOPLE CAN
USE THE WATER FROM THEIR FAUCET,
BUT ALSO BE SURE THAT THE PFAS
ARE BEING FILTERED OUT.
SO THAT'S A COUPLE HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS.
WE DID SOME BOTTLED WATER FOR A
WHILE BUT THAT GETS EXPENSIVE
AND IT RUNS OUT PRETTY QUICKLY,
AND THEN WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT
OUR NEW FACILITY, THAT PFAS
REMEDIATION PLAN, THAT'S GOING
TO BE A COUPLE MILLION.
SO WE'RE HOPING WE CAN WORK
ALONGSIDE OUR FRIENDS IN
WASHINGTON, MAYBE GET SOME
BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE
DOLLARS.
I KNOW THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
SAID THEY WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS
PFAS IN DRINKING WATER, BUT
WE'RE ALSO WORKING CLOSELY WITH
OUR REPRESENTATIVES HERE.
>> HOW FRIGHTENING IS THIS
CONTAMINATION FOR YOUR RESIDE
RESIDENTS?
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT A
LITTLE BIT OF DR -- THERE'S A
LEARNING CURVE.
WE HAVEN'T BEEN TALKING A LOT
ABOUT IT SO HEARING YOUR WATER
IS CONTAMINATED WITH PFAS IS
ALARMING WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT IT IS, WITH THESE DUELING
LEVELS, EXPERTS SAY DIFFERENT
THINGS, AND OF COURSE
POLITICIANS SAY DIFFERENT
THINGS.
SO SOME PEOPLE ARE SCARED,
ESPECIALLY WITH THE HEALTH RISKS
HERE, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO DO OUR
BEST TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES
HAS TOLD US THE RISK IS EXPOSURE
OVER TIME, SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO
TO REDUCE OUR RISKS, AND THAT'S
INCLUDING THE DRINKING WATER,
BUT ALSO MAYBE OTHER THINGS LIKE
THE COATINGS ON FRYING PANS AND
THINGS LIKE THAT, SO REDUCING
OUR RISK ALL AROUND.
>> DO YOU EXPECT WAUSAU TO BE A
MODEL FOR OTHER MUNICIPALITIES
ACROSS THE STATE DEALING WITH
PFAS?
>> I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT WE CAN
HELP STEER FOLKS IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
I'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS
WITH OTHER MAYORS GOING THROUGH
SIMILAR PROBLEMS, AND THE BEST
THING I LEARNED IS IF WE CAN
HELP EACH OTHER OUT WITH THIS
INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND
SHARE IT, WE'LL DO IT.
>> BECAUSE IT REALLY SEEMS AS
THOUGH EVERY DAY, YOU READ ABOUT
ANOTHER CITY, ANOTHER
MUNICIPALITY THAT IS ALSO
FINDING THIS PFAS CONTAMINATION.
SO IT IS WIDESPREAD ACROSS
WISCONSIN.
>> IT'S WIDESPREAD ACROSS
WISCONSIN, ACROSS THE MIDWEST
AND ACROSS OUR NATION.
YOU KNOW, I TALKED TO FOLKS FROM
CALIFORNIA TOO, AND THEY'RE
ABOUT 10 YEARS AHEAD OF US AS
FAR AS TECHNOLOGY.
SO WE CAN ALL STAND TO LEARN
FROM EACH OTHER.
>> GREAT.
WELL, MAYOR KATIE ROSENBERG,
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> IN OTHER NEWS, SUPPLY CHAIN
DYSFUNCTION, WHICH BEGAN WITH
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND GOT
WORSE WITH THE RUSSIAN
INNOVATION OF UKRAINE CONTINUES
TO CHALLENGE WISCONSIN
MANUFACTURERS.
UNPREDICTABLE DEMAND, MATERIALS
SHORTAGES AND DISAPPOINTING CROP
HARVESTS HAVE ALL PLAYED A ROLE
IN SENDING PRICES SOARING.
"HERE AND NOW" REPORTER WILL
CUSHMAN HAS THE STORY OF ONE
WISCONSIN BUSINESS IN DANE
COUNTY.
>> THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN --
WHAT'S THE RIGHT WORD, LIKE VERY
INTERESTING AND VERY VOLATILE IN
OUR BUSINESS.
>> WHEN ISACC SHOWAKI OPENED
OCTOPI BREWING IN WAUNAKEE IN
2014, HE EXPECTED SOME
CHALLENGES.
HE NEVER IMAGINED THE DIZZYING
BUSINESS DISRUPTIONS THAT
ACCOMPANY A LONG, DEADLY
PANDEMIC.
THE TROUBLE BEGAN IN EARLY 2020.
>> WHEN IT HIT IN MARCH, ALL OF
US WITHIN 48 HOURS, ABOUT 60% OF
OUR ORDERS GOT CANCELED.
>> OCTOPI'S CORE BUSINESS IS
PRODUCING DRINKS ON CONTRACTS.
PRIMARILY FOR BRANDS THAT SELL
IN SUPERMARKETS.
AFTER ONLY A COUPLE WEEKS OF
LOCKDOWNS, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT
DEMAND FOR SUPERMARKET PRODUCTS
WAS ABOUT TO GO INTO OVERDRIVE.
>> ORDERS STARTED COMING IN FAST
AND FURIOUS AND WE GOT REALLY
BUSY REALLY FAST BECAUSE THE
DEMAND FOR JUST CONSUMER PRODUCT
GOODS, ESPECIALLY IN THE OFF
PREMISE AND SUPERMARKET CHAINS
WENT THROUGH THE ROOF.
SO 2020 WAS A VERY SCARY TIME,
BUT THEN IT WAS LIKE A REALLY
GOOD TIME FOR US.
>> THOSE GOOD TIMES RELIED ON A
GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN THAT HAD
NEVER BEEN SUBJECTED TO A STRESS
TEST LIKE A MULTIYEAR PANDEMIC.
OCTOPI'S SUPPLY CHAIN FATHERED
RELATIVELY WELL IN 2020.
>> AT THAT POINT I DIDN'T THINK
THERE WERE ANY ISSUES KEEPING UP
WITH DEMAND, BUT THAT BEGAN TO
CHANGE.
AT THE END OF 2020, BEGINNING OF
2021, I STARTED SEEING --
TARIFFS ON ALUMINUM SENT THE
PRICE OF CANS HIGHER.
WE CAN'T SUPPLY ALL THE ITEMS,
ALL THE CANS THAT YOU NEED.
THEN IT WAS GLASS.
BY THE END OF 2021, SUPPLY CHAIN
SNAGS SNOWBALLED INTO A GLOBAL
MESS.
A FALL 2021 SURVEY OF WISCONSIN
MANUFACTURERS FOUND THE TWO MOST
PRESSING ISSUES THEY FACED WERE
UNRELIABLE SUPPLY AND
SKYROCKETING PRICES OF
MATERIALS.
SHOWAKI SAYS THIS YEAR IS
SHAPING UP TO BE EVEN MORE
CHALLENGING.
>> IT WAS JUST NOT ONE THING, IT
WAS EVERYTHING STARTED GETTING
AFFECTED.
EVERY SINGLE PIECE IN THE SUPPLY
CHAIN FROM RAW MATERIALS TO
PACKAGING MATERIALS, WE STARTED
HAVING ISSUES LIKE NOT BEING
ABLE TO GET THE PRODUCT OR
SIGNIFICANT PRICE INCREASES THAT
WERE UNPRECEDENTED, YOU KNOW,
LIKE I THINK THE SMALLEST PRICE
INCREASE WAS ABOUT 15%, BUT ON
AVERAGE, IT'S BEEN BETWEEN 20
AND 25% OVER THE LAST SIX
MONTHS.
>> WE BUILT A SUPPLY CHAIN
SYSTEM THAT INCLUDED FACTORIES,
TRANSPORTATION METHODS, ALL THAT
STUFF.
WE BUILT THAT TO HANDLE A
CERTAIN CAPACITY THAT WE THOUGHT
WAS COMING AT US.
>> JAKE DEAN STUDIES HOW SUPPLY
CHAINS WORK OR IN THE LAST
COUPLE YEARS, MORE LIKE HOW THEY
COME APART.
>> IT'S BEEN A REALLY FUN JOB TO
BE IN OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS
AS AN OBSERVER OF SUPPLY CHAIN
RATHER THAN AS A PRACTITIONER OF
SUPPLY CHAIN.
>> PRACTITIONERS HAVE FACED A
WHIRLWIND OF CHALLENGES.
MATERIAL ALCOHOL ENGS, RISING
LABOR COSTS, SHIPPING INDUSTRY
IN DISARRAY.
PERHAPS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE
HAS BEEN UNPREDICTABLE AND
HIGHLY VARIABLE DEMAND.
>> WE INVESTED A LOT IN SUPPLY
CHAINS OVER THE YEARS, FIGURING
OUT WHERE DEMAND IS, WHAT WE
NEED TO SATISFY AND THOSE SORTS
OF THINGS.
PART OF THOSE THINGS BEING
ACCURATE REQUIRES SOME BRAIN
POWER, COMPUTATIONAL POWER ON,
TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, PAST
BEHAVIOR.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE NO PAST
BEHAVIOR TO MODEL, YOU DON'T
KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE WORLD
ECONOMY GOES SCREWY.
>> ADAPTABILITY OVERALL HAS BEEN
KIND OF THE THEME OF COVID.
>> JOEL YAEGER IS OCTOPI'S CFO.
OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, A
BIG PART OF HIS JOB HAS BEEN
ADAPTING THE GROWING BUSINESS TO
WEATHER SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS.
THIS MEANS FINDING AS MANY
BACKUP SUPPLIERS AS POSSIBLE FOR
KEY MATERIALS.
IT'S NOT ONLY THE PANDEMIC AND
TARIFFS DISRUPTING OCTOPI'S
SUPPLY CHAIN.
MALT IS A KEY BREWING INGREEPPED
YENT DERIVED FROM BARLEY, AND
THE OUTBREAK OF WAR IN EUROPE
HAS AFFECTED ITS SUPPLY.
>> EUROPE IS A HUGE PRODUCER OF
MALT.
NOT SO MUCH OF WHAT GOES INTO
BEER BUT EVEN FOR LIVESTOCK.
>> THE WAR IS COMPOUNDING AN
ALREADY DIFFICULT SITUATION.
THEY HAD A HORRIBLE CROP YEAR
LAST YEAR, SO ABOUT 25, 30% OF
THE CROP WAS LOST SO THEN THERE
WAS A SMALL SUPPLY OF MALT AND
THE PRICE WENT UP 25%,
UNPRECEDENTED.
WE USED TO GET 2, 3% PRICE
CHANGES.
>> THE PANDEMIC ECONOMY HAS ALSO
SCRAMBLED OCTOPI'S EXPANSION
PLANS.
THE PROBLEM, A SEMICONDUCTOR
SHORTAGE MEANT THE HIGH-TECH
CONTROLS WEREN'T READY.
>> IT MIGHT BE TWO PARTS THAT
ARE WAITING TO FINISH THE
MACHINE, BUT WITHOUT THOSE TWO
PARTS, YOU CAN'T MAKE THE
MACHINE.
>> OCTOPI'S SUPPLIER SAID THE
CANNING LINE SHOULD BE READY BY
EARLY FALL.
THAT'S AROUND WHEN SHOWAKI
EXPECTS CONSUMERS WILL FEEL THE
FULL WEIGHT OF PRICE INCREASES
HIS BUSINESS HAS ENCOUNTERED.
>> WE'RE JUST GIVING OUR PRICE
INCREASES TO OUR CLIENTS, WHICH
IS GOING TO TAKE A FEW MONTHS TO
GET TO THE RETAILER WHICH MIGHT
TAKE A FEW MONTHS TO GO TO THE
END CONSUMER.
>> THESE PRICE INCREASES ON
EVERYTHING ARE LIKELY TO
CONTINUE FUELING INFLATION.
THIS SPRING, THE FEDERAL RESERVE
HAS STARTED RATCHETING UP
INTEREST RATES IN A BID TO
TACKLE SOARING PRICES BY COOLING
CONSUMER DEMAND.
>> AS LONG AS CONSUMER BEHAVIOR
IS UNPREDICTABLE, SUPPLY CHAINS
ARE GOING TO BE UNPREDICTABLE.
>> WHILE THERE ARE SIGNS DEMAND
MAY BE NORMALIZING, IT'S NO
SHORT BET.
FOR THE NEAR TERM, GLOBAL
TURMOIL WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO
KEEP CONSUMERS AND MANUFACTURERS
ON THEIR TOES.
REPORTING FROM WAUNAKEE, I'M
WILL CUSHMAN FOR "HERE AND NOW."
>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG
AND CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.