..TEST...
...TEST...
..TEST...
TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST
TEST TEST
UNDERLY PRESENTED HER
EDUCATION BUDGET PRIORITIES TO A
PANEL OF STUDENTS AT MOUNT HOREB
HIGH SCHOOL WHO THEN PRESENTED
HER WITH QUESTIONS 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, YOU KNOW,
SITTING HERE WITH ME, WAS
TELLING ME A STORY ABOUT HOW
THEY 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 DYSFUNCTIONAL.
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 TASK IS
REQUESTING A BASE AMOUNT
>> 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
DISCUSSES 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 SPHRAFORTS FORECASTERS LOOK AT
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 FORECAST, 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 STORIES TRIBUTARIES AND
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
THESSALONIANSTHESE HIGHER LEVEL FLOODS, THERE
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 LEVELS 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 WISCONSIN 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 WET.
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-DISCIPLINEDISCIPLINARY TEAMS
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 THAT CASE THAT GOES BACK THAT
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 MOON MEAN
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 PRIORITIES 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 COUPLE 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 FUNDAMENTALLY
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, CHILDCARE
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, RENÉE ERNSTING, DIRECTORS
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
ABLE TO SUSTAIN THAT KIND OF
BILL.
YEAH.
WE HAVE A PROGRAM RIGHT 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 AID A MAJOR TURNOVER OF TEACHERS
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 INJURIOUS
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 ON 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.