>> 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.