% >> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
% PBS WISCONSIN PRODUCTION.
% >> ACCELERATED SNOWMELT AND
% HEAVY RAINS PROPEL HISTORIC
% CRESTS ANTICIPATED ALONG THE
% MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
% THE FLOODING DANGER ACROSS
% WISCONSIN PRECIPITATES A STATE
% OF EMERGENCY FROM GOVERNOR TONY
% EVERS.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,", THE
% NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE%DISC
USSES WHAT TO EXPECT WITH
% IMPENDING MAJOR FLOODING.
% STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSH KAUL
% DETAILS OUTCOMES OF A NEW WAY
% SURVIVORS REPORT CLERGY ABUSE
% AND A WESTERN WISCONSIN AGENCY
% ILLUSTRATES THE FAILINGS OF
% CHILDCARE FUNDING.
% IT'S HERE AND NOW FOR APRIL 21.
% >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.
% >> FLOOD WARNINGS IN WISCONSIN,
% ESPECIALLY ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI%
RIVER HAVE SPHRAFO FORECASTERS T
% RECORD HIGH WATER.
% IT IS EXPECTED TO CREST BY 15
% FEET MONDAY EVENING.
% FLOOD STAGE IS 12 FEET.
% THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
% DESCRIBES THIS AS MAJOR FLOODING
% LIKELY TO INVOLVE EXTENSIVE
% INUNDATION OF ROADS, STRUCTURES,
% AND/OR SIGNIFICANT EVACUATION
% EFFORTS.%WITH THIS FLOODING F
ORECAST, THE
% CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT IS ASKING
% RESIDENTS TO PREPARE ALONG THE
% MISSISSIPPI, LACROSSE AND BLACK
% RIVERS.%STAND IS BEING GIVEN
OUT FOR
% FILLING SANDBAGS AND RESIDENTS
% ARE TOLD TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY
% PLAN.
% GOVERNOR'S STATE OF EMERGENCY
% ACTIVATES THE WISCONSIN NATIONAL
% GUARD WITH THE STATE PATROL
% RECOMMENDING AGAINST TRAVEL IN
% HIGH WATER AREAS.
% HERE TO DETAIL THE THREAT, MIKE
% WELVAERT WHO JOINS US.
% MIKE, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH%
US.
% >> IT'S MY PLEASURE.
% >> SO WHAT'S THE LATEST ALONG
% THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER FOR
% WISCONSIN CITIES AND TOWNS RIGHT
% NOW?
% >> ALL THE SNOW THAT WE HAD THIS
% WINTER RAPIDLY MELTED WHEN WE
% HAD THOSE WARM TEMPERATURES A
% WEEK OR SO AGO AND THEN WE'VE
% ADDED RAIN ON TOP OF THAT, SO
% ALL THAT WATER IS WORKING ITS
% WAY THROUGH THE TRIBUTE STORIESD
% DOWN INTO THE MAIN STEM OF THE
% MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND THAT WATER
% IS DOWNSTREAM.
% IT IS CLOSE TO CRESTING IN THE
% TWIN CITIES AND THEY'LL BE
% SENDING THAT DOWNSTREAM ALONG
% THE MINNESOTA-WISCONSIN BORDER
% BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK.
% >> AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING
% OVER THE WEEKEND IS THAT THE
% RIVER WILL BE RISING FARTHER
% TOWARD THAT CREST IN THE
% LACROSSE AND OTHER TOWNS AND
% CITIES ALONG THE WISCONSIN
% BORDER THERE?
% >> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.
% >> WHAT WILL THE FLOODING LOOK
% LIKE FOR HOMEOWNERS AND
% TRAVELERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS?
% >> WELL, THIS FLOODING THAT
% WE'RE SOMETHING THIS YEAR, THE
% MISSISSIPPI DOES EXPERIENCE
% FLOODING MANY YEARS, BUT THIS
% YEAR IN TICKER, WATER LEVELS ARE
% QUITE A BIT HIGHER THAN WE
% USUALLY SEE.
% IT'S LOOKING RIGHT NOW LIKE
% WE'RE GOING TO SEE CRESTS
% SOMEWHERE NEAR WHAT HAPPENED IN
% 2001, MAYBE 1969.
% SOME OF THE REALLY BIG FLOOD
% YEARS THAT WE HAD.
% SO IT'S LOOKING LIKE A TOP TWO
% OR TOP THREE CREST ALONG THE
% MISSISSIPPI RIVER THROUGHOUT
% THAT AREA.
% >> HOW DANGEROUS IS THIS, THEN?
% >> IT'S PRETTY DANGEROUS.
% IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE NEAR THE
% RIVER OR YOU HAVE ANY KIND OF
% ACTIVITIES THAT TAKE YOU NEAR
% THE RIVER, BE SURE TO HEED AND
% FOLLOW ANY DIRECTIONS REGARDING
% CLOSURES, WHAT LOCAL OFFICIALS
% MIGHT BE SAYING AS FAR AS
% WHETHER YOU SHOULD GO INTO THOSE
% AREAS OR NOT.
% IT MAY NOT LOOK LIKE A BIG DEAL,
% BUT WITH THAT MUCH WATER REALLY
% IS MOVING AT A PRETTY GOOD CLIP,
% IT CAN SWEEP YOU OFF YOUR FEET
% AND YOU CAN BE DOWNSTREAM BEFORE
% YOU KNOW IT.
% YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF
% DEBRIS IS IN THE WATER.
% WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF REPORTS OF
% LARGE TREES AND THINGS LIKE THAT
% COMING DOWNRIVER.
% IN ADDITION TO, UNFORTUNATELY,
% PEOPLE'S DOCKS AND OTHER TYPES
% OF DEBRIS THAT HAVE FLOATED AWAY
% FROM THEM, SO THERE'S A LOT OF
% DEBRIS IN THE WATER, AND IF YOU
% WERE TO GET CAUGHT IN ANY OF
% THAT, IT COULD BE VERY
% DANGEROUS.
% >> THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE,
% AS WE MENTIONED, SUGGESTED THAT
% THIS FLOODING INVOLVES EXTENSIVE
% INUNDATION OF ROADS AND
% SIGNIFICANT EVACUATION EFFORTS.
% IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WAS SEEN
% WITH THESE KINDS OF RIVER LEVELS
% PREVIOUSLY?%>> YEAH.
% IN THE PAST WHERE WE'VE HAD
% THESSALONTHESE HIGHER LEVEL FLOE
% ARE RIVERS UP AND DOWN THE
% MISSISSIPPI AND ON BOTH SIDES,
% THE FOLKS WHO LIVE IN THAT AREA
% KNOW THAT THEY FLOOD FIRST, BUT
% NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE THOSE
% PRECAUTIONS.%WITH WATER LEVEL
S THIS HIGH, WE
% HAVEN'T SEEN THIS IN OVER 20
% YEARS FOR MANY OF THESE
% LOCATIONS, AT LEAST, SO TAKE
% THOSE PREPARATIONS AND GET THOSE
% DONE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
% IF YOU'RE IN AN AREA THAT
% HAPPENS TO GET STRANDED, SO
% YOU'LL BE LOCKED OUT, YOU SHOULD
% PROBABLY HAVE A PLAN TO KNOW
% WHAT YOU CAN DO IF YOU ARE
% ISOLATED DUE TO HIGH WATER.
% CONSIDER EVACUATIONS IF THEY'RE
% ORDERED BY YOUR LOCAL OFFICIALS.
% >> SO THE ENTIRE STATE OF
% WISCONSIN IS UNDER A STATE OF
% EMERGENCY FOR FLOODING.
% WHAT OTHER AREAS ARE OF GREATEST
% CONCERN?% >> RIGHT NOW, THE
WORST OF THE
% FLOODING IS REALLY EXPECTED
% ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
% ITSELF.
% HOWEVER, WITH ALL THE RECENT
% SNOW AND RAIN EVENTS THAT WE'VE
% HAD, A LOT OF THE RIVERS ARE
% RUNNING QUITE HIGH AT THE
% MOMENT.% I KNOW THE WISCONS
IN RIVER HAS
% BEEN QUITE HIGH FOR SEVERAL
% WEEKS NOW.
% I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME
% SIGNIFICANT FLOODING AROUND THE
% PORTAGE AREA, WORKING ITS WAY
% DOWN THE WISCONSIN RIVER.
% SO ANYWHERE WE SEE ANY
% ADDITIONAL PRECIPITATION OVER
% THE COMING WEEKS, WE NEED TO PAY
% ATTENTION.%GROUND IS PRETTY W
ET.
% ANY RAINFALL IS GOING TO ADD TO
% FLOOD RISK.
% >> WHAT KIND OF ADDITIONAL
% PRECIPITATION MIGHT YOU BE
% FORECASTING?
% >> RIGHT NOW, THANKFULLY, IT'S
% LOOKING LIKE WE'RE GOING TO SEE
% MAYBE SOME LIGHT PRECIPITATION
% OVER THE NEXT -- WELL, TODAY AND
% INTO TOMORROW, PERHAPS, BEFORE
% THIS STORM SYSTEM WE'RE
% CURRENTLY LOOKING AT PULLS OUT
% OF THE AREA, BUT BEYOND THAT,
% WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT ANYTHING
% REAL SIGNIFICANT FOR AT LEAST
% SEVEN OR EIGHT DAYS, SO THAT'S
% GOOD, WE NEED THE TIME TO ALLOW
% THIS WATER TO WORK ITS WAY
% THROUGH THE SYSTEM.
% >> I READ ON THE NATIONAL
% WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE THAT WE
% SHOULD EXPECT FLOODING TO LAST
% SEVERAL WEEKS, AND SO RIVERS
% DON'T CREST AND THEN RECEDE
% QUICKLY.
% HOW DOES THAT WORK ITSELF OUT?
% >> THE SMALLER TRIBUTARY RIVERS,
% THEY ONLY HAVE A SMALLER
% GEOGRAPHIC AREA THAT CONTRIBUTES
% TO WATER GOING UP AND DOWN IN A
% RIVER, SO SMALLER TRIBUTARIES,
% THEY GO UP AND THEY GO DOWN
% ANYWHERE FROM SIX, EIGHT HOURS
% TO MAYBE PERHAPS A DAY OR TWO,
% BUT THE LARGER RIVERS, LIKE THE
% MISSISSIPPI OR THE WORK, THEY'RE
% DRAINING A VERY, VERY LARGE
% GEOGRAPHIC AREA.
% ALL THE WATER FROM ALL OF THOSE
% SMALLER TRIBUTARIES, AS IT MOVES
% ITS WAY INTO THE LARGE RIVER,
% ALL THAT WATER HAS TO FROG AND
% WORK ITS WAY DOWNSTREAM SO IT
% TAKES A WHILE FOR THAT, AND SO
% THAT'S WHY WE'RE LOOKING AT THE
% MISSISSIPPI TO STAY ACTIVE.
% IT'S DRAINING FROM NORTHERN AND
% WESTERN MINNESOTA SO THERE'S A
% LOT OF WATER COMING, AND
% ACTUALLY, NORTHERN WISCONSIN AS
% WELL COMING DOWN THE SAINT
% CROIX.%ALL OF THOSE ARE BIG
% CONTRIBUTORS THIS YEAR.
% >> MIKE WELVAERT FROM THE
% NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, THANKS
% VERY MUCH.
% >> THANK YOU.
% >> DISTRICT ATTORNEY THIS WEEK
% CHARGED 92-YEAR OLD DEFROCKED
% FORMER CARDINAL THEODORE
% McCARRICK WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT.
% THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT SAYS
% McCARRICK REPEATEDLY SEXUALLY
% ABUSED THE VICTIM IN THE 1970s
% AT A GENEVA LAKE RESIDENCE.
% HE HAS CHARGES SPENDING AS WELL
% IN ANOTHER STATE AND IN 2019,
% POPE FRANCIS DEFROCKED HIM FOR
% SEXUALLY ABUSING MINORS AND
% ADULTS.
% McCARRICK IS THE ONLY U.S.
% CATHOLIC CARDINAL EVER TO BE
% CRIMINALLY CHARGED WITH CHILD
% SEX CRIMES.
% THE WISCONSIN CHARGES ARE THE
% RESULT OF A REPORT MADE TO THE
% ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CLERGY AND
% FAITH LEASHED ABUSE INITIATIVE.
% THAT TIP LINE AND ON-LINE
% REPORTING SYSTEM STARTED NEARLY
% TWO YEARS AGO, AND TO DATE HAS
% COMPLETED 248 REPORTS OF ABUSE.
% ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSH KAUL JOINS
% US NOW.
% THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
% >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
% >> SO HOW MEANINGFUL ARE
% WISCONSIN CHARGES AGAINST ONE OF
% THE MOST PROMINENT RELIGIOUS
% LEADERS IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH?
% >> I THINK IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF
% THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK THAT
% WE'RE DOING.
% WE HAVE ASKED SURVIVORS ACROSS
% THE STATE OF WISCONSIN TO MAKE
% REPORTS IF THERE'S INFORMATION
% THAT THEY HAVE CERTAINLY
% INVOLVING ABUSE OF WHICH THEY
% WERE VICTIMS, BUT ALSO IF
% ANYBODY HAS INFORMATION ABOUT
% INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSE TO ABUSE
% AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S
% BEEN SO ENCOURAGING IS THAT OVER
% 200 PEOPLE HAVE REACHED OUT AND
% MADE REPORTS.
% THAT SHOWS ME THAT WHAT WE'VE
% SET UP THROUGH THE TIP LINE IS A
% TRUSTED SAFE PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO
% REPORT, AND THAT'S GOING TO LEAD
% TO ACCOUNTABILITY IN A VARIETY
% OF WAYS.
% THERE ARE NOW THREE CASES THAT
% HAVE BEEN CRIMINALLY CHARGED,
% ONE OF WHICH HAS RESULTED IN A
% CONVICTION, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO
% MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONNECTING
% VICTIMS WITH SERVICES AND THAT
% WE'RE PROVIDING AS FULL AN
% ACCOUNTING AS POSSIBLE THROUGH
% OUR REVIEW HERE.
% >> THE McCARRICK CHARGES WERE
% MADE AFTER A REPORT TO THIS
% CLERGY ABUSE HOTLINE, SHOWING
% HOW PEOPLE ARE REPORTING AFTER
% DECADES OF NOT TELLING ANYONE.
% WHAT HAVE SURVIVORS TOLD YOUR
% VICTIM SERVICES SPECIALISTS
% ABOUT WHAT PROMPTED THEM TO
% REPORT?
% >> I THINK FOR A LOT OF
% SURVIVORS, HAVING A SAFE AND
% TRUSTED PLACE IS PART OF WHAT'S
% CAUSED THEM TO REPORT.
% AS YOU SAID, THERE ARE PEOPLE
% WHO, FOR DECADES, HAVE NOT
% PREVIOUSLY REPORTED ABUSE AND
% THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO DID
% REPORT THAT ABUSE TO TRUSTED
% PEOPLE AND SOMETIMES CHURCH
% OFFICIALS, SOMETIMES TO LAW
% ENFORCEMENT, AND DIDN'T GET THE
% KIND OF RESPONSE THAT THEY
% SHOULD HAVE.
% I THINK -- I HOPE THE PEOPLE
% HAVE SEEN HOW COMMITTED WE ARE
% TO CONDUCTING A FULL AND
% THOROUGH REVIEW AND THE NUMBER
% OF REPORTS WE'VE RECEIVED AND
% SOME OF THE RESULTS THAT WE'VE
% GOTTEN FROM THOSE REPORTS I
% THINK SHOWS HOW COMMITTED WE ARE
% TO THIS.
% >> FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T REPORT
% EVER UNTIL NOW, WHAT HAVE THEY
% SAID ABOUT LIVING IN SILENCE ALL
% THOSE YEARS?
% >> ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANTED
% TO MAKE SURE WE WERE DOING
% THROUGH THIS PROCESS IS TO HAVE
% A VICTIM CENTRIC APPROACH.
% WE KNOW GOING IN THAT SOME OF
% THESE CASES WOULD INVOLVE
% INCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED DECADES
% AGO AND WOULD BE OUTSIDE THE
% STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS OR EVEN
% CASES WHERE THE PERPETRATOR HAS
% PASSED AWAY, BUT THAT DOESN'T
% MEAN THAT WE CAN'T DO IMPORTANT
% WORK BEHALF SURVIVORS, AND ONE
% OF THE THINGS IS THAT THE
% PROCESS OF TALKING WITH A VICTIM
% SERVICES SPECIALIST WHO IS
% TRAINED IN WORKING WITH
% SURVIVORS, THAT THAT HAS BEEN A
% HUGE BENEFIT TO THE SURVIVORS
% WHO HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
% REPORT AND WE'VE HEARD SOME
% REALLY COMPELLING STORIES ABOUT
% HOW MUCH THAT'S MEANT TO PEOPLE
% IN THE RECOVERY PROCESS.
% >> SOWFD ONE CONVICTION OPINION
% SO YOU HAVE HAD ONE CONVICTION
% IN WAUSHARA COUNTY AND THE
% INFORMATION IS STILL AVAILABLE?
% >> WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO MAKE
% REPORTS IF THEY HAVE INFORMATION
% BUT WE ARE CONTINUING TO REVIEW
% CASES THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO
% US.%WE HAVE MULTI-DISCIPLDIS
CIPLINAS
% AND THEY'RE REVIEWING EACH AND
% EVERY REPORT THAT WE RECEIVE AND
% FIGURING OUT WHAT FOLLOW-UP CAN
% HAPPEN AND IS APPROPRIATE AND
% THEN PURSUING THAT FOLLOW-UP.
% THAT PROCESS IS GOING TO
% CONTINUE AS LONG AS WE CONTINUE
% TO RECEIVE INFORMATION.
% >> CAN IT BE HARD TO MAKE
% CHARGES IN THESE CASES,
% PARTICULARLY THE ONES THAT ARE
% DECADES OLD?
% >> ABSOLUTELY.
% IN ANY ACE T CASE THAT GOES BACT
% FAR, YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER
% STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ISSUES
% AND ALSO YOU HAVE TO RECOGNIZE
% THE FACT THAT WITNESSES WHO MAY
% HAVE BEEN AROUND MAY HAVE MOVED
% TO A DIFFERENT STATE OR EVEN OUT
% OF THE COUNTRY.
% THAT CAN MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT.
% IT'S ALWAYS BETTER TO
% INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE CASES
% SOON AFTER THE INCIDENTS HAVE
% HAPPENED, BUT THAT DOESN'T MOONN
% THAT THERE'S NOT A LOT OF VALUE
% IN CONDUCTING THIS REVIEW AND
% WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE PURSUING
% CASES AS LONG AS WE GET
% INFORMATION.%>> GOING ALL THE
WAY BACK TO THE
% BEGINNING, WHY DID YOU START THE
% CLERGY AND FAITH LEADERS ABUSE
% INITIATIVE?%>> ONE OF MY PRI
ORITIES AS
% ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS BEEN TO
% STRENGTHEN WISCONSIN'S RESPONSE
% TO SEXUAL ASSAULT.
% IT'S A CRIME THAT HISTORICALLY
% HAS HAD VERY LOW PERCENTAGE OF
% REPORTS MADE AND I DON'T THINK
% OUR SYSTEMIC RESPONSE IS AS
% STRONG AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN
% OVER THE DECADES.
% WE WANT TO FIX THAT.
% WE'VE PRIORITIZED CASES WHERE
% THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN
% INVESTIGATED OR PROSECUTED
% PREVIOUSLY BUT WEREN'T AND SO
% WE'VE WORKED TO ENSURE THERE'S
% NEVER ANOTHER BACKLOG OF
% UNTESTED SEXUAL ASSAULT KITS
% THAT WE'VE PROSECUTED SOME CASES
% THAT D.N.A. RESULTS WERE FOUND
% THROUGH THE BACKLOG AND LIKEWISE
% WITH CLERGY AND FAITH LEADERS
% ABUSE, WE KNOW THERE ARE CASES
% THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PURSUED
% AND WEREN'T.
% >> THE U.S. SUPREME COURT HAD
% UNDER CONSIDERATION THE CASE OF
% WHETHER TO BLOCK OR ALLOW THE
% ABORTION PILL.
% WHY DID YOU SIGN ON TO PROTECT
% ITS USE WHEN, AS IT STANDS NOW,
% ABORTION IS ILLEGAL IN
% WISCONSIN?% >> THERE ARE A C
OUPLE REASONS.
% FIRST, WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING
% WE CAN TO PROTECT REPRODUCTIVE
% FREEDOM IN THE STATE OF
% WISCONSIN AND WE'RE PURSUING
% EFFORTS ON MULTIPLE FRONTS TO
% RESTORE ACCESS TO SAFE AND LEGAL
% ABORTION.
% BUT MIFEPRISTONE IS NOT ONLY
% USED IN ABORTIONS, BUT
% MISCARRIAGE MANAGEMENT.
% WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANY
% OPTIONS AWAY FROM WOMEN THAT ARE
% LEGALLY VALID IN THE STATE OF
% WISCONSIN IF WE CAN PROTECT
% THEM, SO PROTECTING ACCESS TO
% MIFEPRISTONE HELPS THERE, BUT
% ALSO WE ARE ALSO ADVOCATING IN
% COURT THAT THE ABORTION BAN IS
% NOT ENFORCEABLE AND IF WE WIN
% THAT CASE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
% THAT ACCESS TO CARE IS AS WIDELY
% AVAILABLE AS POSSIBLE AND
% WINNING THIS CASE WOULD HELP
% WITH THAT.
% >> DO YOU FEEL AS THOUGH YOU
% HAVE A GOOD CASE IN THE
% OVERTURNING THE CURRENT ABORTION
% LAW?
% >> I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT OUR
% CASE.%THERE WERE A SERIES OF
LAWS THAT
% WERE PASSED FOLLOWING ROE VERSUS
% WADE THAT REGULATE LAWFUL
% ABORTION.%THEY ARE FUNDAMENT
ALLY
% INCONSISTENT WITH THE IDEA OF
% THE BROAD 1849 BAN AND I'M VERY
% HOSPITAL MISS THAT THE COURTS --
% OPTIMISTIC THAT THE COURTS WILL
% FIND THAT THE LAW WAS REPEALED
% WHICH WOULD MEAN IT'S NOT
% ENFORCEABLE AND THAT WE GO BACK
% TO BASICALLY WHERE WE WERE PRIOR
% ROE VERSUS WADE BEING
% OVERTURNED.
% >> JOSH KAUL, THANKS VERY MUCH.
% >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
% >> IN LIEU OF INVITATION TO
% SPEAK TO BUDGET WRITERS OF THE
% JOINT FINANCE COMMENCEMENT,
% STATE PUBLIC INSTRUCTION JILL
% UNDERLY PRESENTED HER EDUCATION
% BUDGET PRIORITIES TO A PANEL OF
% STUDENTS AT MOUNT HOREB HIGH
% SCHOOL WHO THEN PRESENTED HER
% WITH QUESTIONS FROM THE STUDENT
% PERSPECTIVE.
% >> ON THE TOPIC OF MENTAL
% HEALTH, I CAN SAY FROM OUR
% SCHOOL THAT THERE'S VERY FEW
% RESOURCES AVAILABLE.
% ESSENTIALLY WHAT IT CONSISTS OF
% HERE IS CALL THIS PHONE NUMBER
% IF YOU'RE HAVING SUICIDAL
% THOUGHTS OR TALK TO ONE OF TWO
% PEOPLE IN THE OFFICE.
% AND ACTUALLY, IN FACT, ONE OF
% THE PEOPLE ON THIS -- SITTING
% HERE WITH ME WAS TELLING ME A
% LITTLE STORY ABOUT HOW WE WERE
% HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS
% AND THEY WENT TO ONE OF THE
% COUNSELORS AND THEY WERE TOLD TO
% COME BACK WHEN THEY HAD AN
% APPOINTMENT.
% SO PRETTY DISFUNCTIONAL, AND SO
% I'M VERY CURIOUS TO SEE HOW THIS
% $235 MILLION, I GUESS, MENTAL
% HEALTH GRANT IS GOING TO HELP TO
% BUILD THOSE SERVICES.
% >> WE'RE NOT ONLY SHORT STAFFED
% IN MENTAL HEALTH, IT'S JUST
% PROBLEMS ARE ALSO MORE
% DIFFICULT, AND TAKE MORE TIME
% AND SO THE BUDGET ASK IS
% REQUESTING A BASE AMOUNT FOR
% EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF
% $100,000, PLUS AN ADDITIONAL
% $100 PER STUDENT.
% SO YOU'D HAVE $200,000 TO HIRE
% ADDITIONAL STAFF, POSSIBLY BRING
% IN CONTRACTORS IN MENTAL HEALTH.
% I KNOW THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER
% OF THEM PARTICULARLY IN THIS
% AREA.
% >> DURING THE SUMMER, I WORK
% WITH THE SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
% HERE AT MOUNT HOREB AND I HELP
% STUDENTS IN MATH AND READINGS
% AND OTHER SUBJECTS THAT ARE
% STRUGGLING AND I WOULD SAY
% THERE'S A GOOD PORTION OF
% STUDENTS THAT ARE SPECIAL
% EDUCATION IN THOSE CLASSES THAT
% NEED THE HELP DURING THE SUMMER
% AND THERE'S MAYBE ONE
% PROFESSIONAL PER TWO TO THREE
% STUDENTS SO I'VE HELPED OUT A
% LOT OF THESE STUDENTS TRYING TO
% HELP THEM LEARN DURING THE
% SUMMER, BUT I'M NOT A TRAINED
% PROFESSION AND THESE STUDENTS
% NEED MORE ACCESS AND SUPPORT IN
% ORDER TO UNLOCK THEIR POTENTIAL,
% SO HOW DO YOU ALLOCATE THE
% BUDGET SO THAT SPECIAL EDUCATION
% PROGRAMS ARE PRIORITIZED AND
% PARRA PROFESSIONAL PATHWAYS ARE
% MADE EASIER?
% >> SO RIGHT NOW, WISCONSIN
% REIMBURSES, AS A SHARED EARLIER,
% ON SPECIAL EDUCATION COSTS, 30%,
% ROUGHLY.
% THE BUDGET THAT WE'RE PROPOSING
% AT THE DEPARTMENT WOULD INCREASE
% THAT AMOUNT TO 45 FERRIES AND
% THEN -- 45% AND THEN 60%.
% YOUR SCHOOL WOULD BE CLOSER TO
% $2 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL
% REIMBURSEMENT SO THAT HAPPEN
% FUNDING COULD GO TOWARDS HIRING
% ADDITIONAL STAFF, IT COULD GO
% TOWARDS TRAINING, IT COULD GO
% TOWARDS RAISING SALARIES.
% NOT JUST IN SPECIAL EDUCATION,
% BUT IN ALL PROGRAMS, BECAUSE, AS
% I SAID, THAT FUNDING IS BEING
% TRANSFERRED FROM OTHER PROGRAMS
% IN ORDER TO MEET THAT.
% SO, REALLY, WHAT YOU'VE
% ILLUSTRATED IS THAT SCHOOLS NEED
% THAT SPENDABLE REVENUE.
% >> AS THE STATE BUDGET IS BEING
% HAMMERED OUT, ANOTHER AREA OF
% NEED HAS TO DO WITH CHILDCARE,
% BECAUSE ACROSS WISCONSIN,
% PARENTS ARE STRUGGLING TO AFFORD
% CHILDCARE WITH THE AVERAGE COST
% OF INFANT CARE TOPPING $12,000 A
% YEAR.%AT THE SAME TIME, CHIL
DCARE
% PROVIDERS ARE STRUGGLING TO KEEP
% THEIR DOORS OPEN DUE TO A
% SHORTAGE OF STAFF, BECAUSE
% RETAINING EARLY LEARNING
% TEACHERS WITH MORE PAY ONLY
% MAKES THE CARE MORE EXPENSIVE
% FOR ALREADY STRAPPED PARENTS.
% WHAT A MESS, AND ONE THAT
% IMPACTS OUR ECONOMY ALREADY
% SHORT ON WORKERS.
% THE BUSINESS MODEL OF CHILDCARE
% IS BROKEN, ACCORDING TO OUR NEXT
% GUEST, REN ÉE ERNSTING, DIRECTOR
S
% OF THE CHILDCARE PARTNERSHIP
% PROGRAM WHICH REPRESENTS
% COUNTIES IN WESTERN WISCONSIN.
% RENEE, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
% BEING HERE.
% >> THANK YOU.
% >> HOW CRITICAL IS THE SHORTAGE
% OF CHILDCARE TEACHERS IN WESTERN
% WISCONSIN?
% >> IT IS INCREDIBLY -- I'VE
% NEVER SEEN IT QUITE AS BAD AS IT
% IS.%I'VE WORKED IN CHILDCARE
IN THIS
% AGENCY FOR 20 YEARS, AND WE
% REGULARLY REPORT, WE DO SURVEYS
% AND REPORT THAT DATA ON WHAT
% WE'RE SEEING IN THE AREA AND
% THAT'S DECEMBER, WE DID A
% CAPACITY SURVEY AND WE HAD
% PEOPLE THAT WERE HIRING IN THE
% PAST 12 MONTHS HAD HIRED 600
% TIMES, YET THEY STILL HAD 300
% TEACHING POSITIONS OPEN, AND
% IT'S JUST SO INCREDIBLY
% DIFFICULT TO FILL THESE
% POSITIONS, THE LOW WAGES, THE NO
% BENEFITS, THOSE KIND OF
% PROBLEMS.%WE JUST CAN'T KEEP
A TEACHER IN
% SOME OF THESE CLASSROOMS AND
% THAT LEADS US TO THE CHILDCARE
% DESERTS THAT WE'RE SEEING
% BECAUSE WE HAVE ENOUGH
% BUILDINGS, PERHAPS, IN WESTERN
% WISCONSIN FOR CHILDCARE.
% WE DON'T HAVE THE TEACHERS IN
% THOSE CLASSROOMS, AND THAT'S THE
% SHORTAGE THAT WE'RE SEEING.
% >> SO TO THAT, THE LACK OF
% TEACHER LEAVES MILE-LONG KIND OF
% WAIT LISTS, I UNDERSTAND, FOR
% SOME PARENTS SEEKING CHILDCARE.
% IS THAT THE CASE THERE?
% >> WE HAVE WAIT LISTS THAT START
% WHEN YOU ARE JUST THINKING ABOUT
% HAVING A CHILD.
% WE'RE RECOMMENDING PEOPLE START
% TO CALL AND GET ON WAIT LISTS
% BEFORE THEY'RE EVEN PREGNANT,
% AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S
% REALLY BEEN HAPPENING PROBABLY
% FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS,
% ALMOST, IN OUR AREA.
% RIGHT NOW, WE SURVEYED BACK IN
% DECEMBER, AND WE HAD 4,000
% CHILDREN IN OUR 10 COUNTIES ON
% WAIT LISTS.
% >> WOW.
% >> IT'S JUST REALLY A TOUGH
% SITUATION.%>> YOU SPOKE -- GO
AHEAD.
% >> GO AHEAD.
% >> YOU SPOKE TO THE WAGES FOR
% CHILDCARE TEACHERS ACROSS THE
% STATE THE AVERAGE IS LIKE 11 TO
% $13 AN HOUR, BUT MEANWHILE,
% PROVIDERS DON'T DARE PAY MORE
% BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE TO PASS
% THAT ALONG TO THE PARENTS.
% IS THAT RIGHT?
% >> THAT'S THE EXACT ISSUE WITH
% THE BROKEN BUSINESS MODEL.
% IT'S ALREADY UNAFFORDABLE FOR
% FAMILIES AND IT'S JUST TOO
% DIFFICULT TO RAISE RATES BECAUSE
% YOU KNOW YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE
% ABLE TO KEEP THOSE -- THOSE
% FAMILIES ARE NOT GOING TO BE
% AB TO SUSTAIN THAT KIND OF
% BILL.
% YEAH.%WE HAVE A PROGRAM RIGH
T NOW THAT
% WE'RE HELPING PEOPLE THAT HAVE
% FALLEN BEHIND.
% WE COULD HAVE GIVEN OUT OVER
% $97,000 IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD
% OF TIME, YET SO MANY PEOPLE
% APPLYING FOR THAT KIND OF
% ASSISTANCE, WE HAD.
% >> IN MAY, FEDERAL MONEY THAT
% WAS CREDITED WITH KEEPING SOME
% 3,000 CHILDCARE BUSINESSES OPEN
% IS BEING REDUCED.
% WHAT THEN?
% >> WELL, WE'RE REALLY CONCERNED
% ABOUT THAT.
% WE HAVE PEOPLE REPORTING THAT
% THEIR PRICES FOR CHILDCARE WILL
% GO UP BETWEEN 20 AND 40%.
% I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT PARENTS
% WILL NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD THAT.
% IT WILL COME DOWN TO, AND WHAT
% WE'RE HEARING FROM A LOT OF
% FAMILIES THAT WE'RE TALKING TO,
% IS THAT ONE OF THE PEOPLE WILL
% NOT BE WORKING ANYMORE, AND WE
% ALREADY HAVE A WORKFORCE CRISIS
% IN EVERY OTHER INDUSTRY.
% I'M TALKING TO EMPLOYERS ON A
% REGULAR BASIS IN WORKFORCE
% DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES AND THINGS
% LIKE THAT, SO THAT IS A REAL
% WALL TO HIT HERE IN WESTERN
% WISCONSIN, WHERE WE WILL JUST
% NOT HAVE WORKERS IF MOMS OR DADS
% ARE STAYING HOME TO CARE FOR
% CHILDREN.
% >> MEANWHILE, ON THE GROUND IN
% DAYCARE BUSINESSES, THERE'S KIND
% OF AI A MAJOR TURNOVER OF TEACHS
% ALL THE TIME.
% IS THAT RIGHT?
% >> THAT IS THE SITUATION AND
% THAT IS THE OTHER PIECE OF THIS
% THAT'S VERY SCARY TO ME AS AN
% EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONAL,
% THE AMOUNT OF TRANSITIONS THAT
% HAPPEN IN CHILDREN'S LIVES,
% THAT'S ENOUGH, JUST GOING TO
% CHILDCARE AND TRANSITIONING TO
% KINDERGARTEN AND THOSE TYPES OF
% THINGS.
% WE DON'T NEED TRANSITIONS OF
% TEACHERS ON A DAILY, WEEKLY,
% MONTHLY BASIS.
% THAT IS SO HARD ON THE CHILD,
% AND SO HARD ON THE FAMILY.
% SO WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT
% THE MENTAL HEALTH RAMIFICATIONS
% OF ALL OF THESE TRANSITIONS.
% >> ANOTHER THING OF INTEREST
% THAT I'VE LEARNED WHILE LOOKING
% AT THIS ISSUE WAS THAT 4-K
% OPPORTUNITIES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
% REALLY ENDED UP BEEPING BEING IS
% TO THE PRESCHOOL POPULATION AND
% THOSE BUSINESSES.
% HOW SO?
% >> AND I HATE TO SAY THAT
% BECAUSE I'M A SUPPORTER OF 4-K,
% BUT WHAT HAPPENED PRIOR TO THE
% PANDEMIC WHEN 4-K REALLY STARTED
% TO OPEN UP IN ALL OF THE
% COMMUNITIES, THOSE 4-K FAMILIES
% THEN GO TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
% INSTEAD OF GOING TO CHILDCARE,
% AND THAT'S THAT BUSINESS MODEL
% THAT'S BROKEN, UNFORTUNATELY,
% BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT MAKING ANY
% MONEY WITH INFANT AND TODDLER
% CARE.% THE RATIOS, WHICH I
DON'T WANT
% CHANGED, ARE 4:1, AND SO FOUR
% INFANTS TO ONE ADULT.
% SO YOU'RE SUSTAINING YOUR
% BUSINESS BUT YOU'RE NOT MAKING
% ANY MONEY.
% YOU'RE REALLY LOOKING AT THE
% AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S COMING IN
% ON FOUR-YEAR-OLDS OR THREE OR
% FOUR-YEAR-OLDS BECAUSE YOU CAN
% HAVE OVER 20s OF THEM PER
% TEACHER, AND SO THAT'S REALLY
% THE SITUATION, IS THAT IT WAS
% KIND OF AN UNINTENDED
% CONSEQUENCE, IN MY OPINION.
% >> SO THE STATE IS LAUNCHING A
% GRANT PROGRAM THAT PARTNERS WITH
% BUSINESSES WHOSE EMPLOYEES NEED
% CHILDCARE.
% HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT AS SOME
% KIND OF A FIX HERE?
% >> I FEEL THAT IT'S INCREDIBLY
% IMPORTANT, AND IT'S BASED ON NOT
% JUST HELPING THE FAMILY AND
% HELPING THE EMPLOYER GET THE
% EMPLOYEE TO BE ABLE TO STAY AND
% RETAIN THEM AND BE PRODUCTIVE.
% THAT'S THE FIRST PIECE OF IT.
% BUT THE OTHER PEELS OF IT IS
% THAT PROGRAM, IT'S CALLED
% PARTNER UP, AND IT PAYS WHAT'S
% CALLED THE TRUE COST OF CARE
% INSTEAD OF MARKET RATE.
% SO YOU MENTIONED MARKET RATE
% EARLIER AS ABOUT A THOUSAND
% DOLLARS A MONTH FOR AN INFANT.
% TRUE COST OF CARE IS CLOSER TO
% $1,800 IN MY AREA.
% AND SO THE PARTNER UP PROGRAM
% PUTS THE BUSINESS BUYING THE
% SLOT AND THEN SOME GRANT MONEY
% TOGETHER ALONG WITH, IN THIS NEW
% ROUND OF PARTNER UP, SOME OF THE
% FAMILY PAYING FOR THE CARE AND
% THE THREE OF THEM THEN CAN
% AFFORD THE COST OF CARE INSTEAD
% OF THE MARKET RATE.
% >> MEANWHILE, WITH ABOUT HALF A
% MINUTE LEFT, WHAT ADVICE TENS OF
% THOUSANDS OF FOR STATE BUDGET
% WRITERS WHEN IT COMES TO HELPING
% THE CHILDCARE CRISIS HERE IN
% WISCONSIN?%>> I THINK THAT I'
D LIKE TO SAY
% THAT THIS MARKET IS NOT GOING TO
% FIX ITSELF.
% IT IS NOT ONE OF THOSE MARKETS
% WHERE WE CAN JUST CHARGE MORE.
% AND SO REALLY LOOKING AT SOME
% SUSTAINABLE HEALTH THAT WILL
% REALLY HELP NOT JUST THE ECONOMY
% IN THE SENSE OF THE CHILDCARE
% BUSINESSES, BUT THE ACTUAL
% BUSINESSES OUT THERE THAT ARE
% JUST TRYING TO RETRAIN AND
% ATTRACT NEW WORKERS.
% AND SO, PLEASE, LOOK INTO THE
% PARTNER UP PROGRAM AND THE
% FUNDING, INCREASED FUNDING WOULD
% BE SUPER TO WESTERN WISCONSIN.
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% RENEE ERNSTING, THANK YOU SO
% MUCH.
% >> THANK YOU.%>> NEXT WEEK O
N OUR PROGRAM, ZAC
% SCHULTZ REPORTS ON THE
% EVER-OPPRESSIVE IMPACT OF THE
% OPIOID CRISIS, WHERE, DESPITE
% ALL THE RESOURCES BEING DEPLOYED
% TO TACKLE THE HEALTH EMERGENCY,
% PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION
% AND DRUG ABUSE ARE STILL DYING
% AT HIGHER RATES FROM OVERDOSES
% THAN EVER BEFORE.
% FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
% ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
% OUR WEBSITE AT PBS WISCONSIN
% DOT-ORG, AND THEN 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.