>> A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PART OF
OUR "HERE AND NOW" 2020 ELECTION
COVERAGE.
>> FOR THE SECOND WEEK IN A ROW,
KENOSHA GATHERED THE ATTENTION
OF OUR NATION.
ONGOING ACTIONS FOR RACIAL
JUSTICE, ACCOMPANIED BY VIS ITS
FROM THE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR
PRESIDENT.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP REVIEWED
PROPERTY DAMAGE AND EMPHASIZED
HIS PLATFORM OF LAW AND ORDER.
AT A SMALL GATHERING IN A SCHOOL
CAFETERIA.
THURSDAY, CHALLENGER JOE BIDEN
WALKED THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
STREET, MEETING WITH THE FAMILY
OF JACOB BLAKE, THE BLACK MAN
SHOT IN THE BACK SEVEN TIMES BY
A KENOSHA POLICE OFFICER.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," "HERE
AND NOW" REPORTER WILL KENNEALLY
TAKES US TO KENOSHA AND ANOTHER
WEEK IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS IS HERE TO
SPEAK TO WHAT HE CALLS THE
LEGISLATURE'S INACTION ON POLICE
REFORM.
ASSEMBLY MAJORITY LEADER JIM
STEINEKE IS ALSO HERE TO TALK UP
THE ROLE OF THE SPEAKER'S TASK
FORCE ON REFORM.
AND LATER AN INTERVIEW WITH A UW
PHYSICIAN SO SURE OF A NEW
CORONAVIRUS VACCINE THAT HE TOOK
THE VACCINE HIMSELF TO KICK OFF
THE TRIAL.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
SEPTEMBER 4.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> THE PROTESTS IN KENOSHA THIS
WEEK HAVE BEEN LARGELY PEACEFUL,
SO MUCH SO THAT OFFICIALS ENDED
THE 7:00 P.M. NIGHTLY CURFEW.
BUT ATTENTION TO THE CITY WAS
RENEWED AS PRESIDENT DONALD
TRUMP AND CANDIDATE JOE BIDEN
VISITED, TALKING RACIAL
DISPARITIES AND POLICING.
WILL KENNEALLY HAS THE STORY.
>> THE STREETS OF KENOSHA WERE
FILLED AGAIN THIS WEEK AS
PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS DESCENDED
ON THE CITY IN THE WAKE OF THE
JACOB BLAKE SHOOTING.
THE PRESIDENT WAS IN THE CITY
TUESDAY TOURING DAMAGE CAUSED BY
PROTESTS AND SPEAKING WITH LOCAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THE VISIT WAS CONTRASTED TWO
DAYS LATER WHEN DEMOCRATIC
CANDIDATE JOE BIDEN VISITED
KENOSHA TO SPEAK WITH THE BLAKE
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THE FAMILY, HOWEVER, WAS NOT
INCLINED TO SPEAK WITH THE
PRESIDENT.
>> WE DON'T HAVE ANY WORDS FOR
THE ORANGE MAN.
ALL I ASK IS THAT HE KEEP HIS
DISRESPECT, HIS FOUL LANGUAGE
FAR AWAY FROM OUR FAMILY.
WE NEED A PRESIDENT THAT'S GOING
TO UNITE OUR COUNTRY.
>> THE TWO MEN OFFERED DIFFERENT
VISIONS FOR A PATH FORWARD.
TRUMP OFFERED SUPPORT FOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND THOSE AFFECTED
BY THE VIOLENCE.
>> WE MUST GIVE FAR GREATER
SUPPORT TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
IT'S ALL ABOUT GIVING THEM
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.
THESE ARE GREAT PEOPLE.
THESE ARE GREAT, GREAT PEOPLE.
THESE ARE BRAVE PEOPLE.
THEY'RE FIGHTING TO SAVE PEOPLE
THEY NEVER MET BEFORE.
>> BITEN BIDEN TALKED ABOUT RACIAL
DISPARITY.
>> THERE WILL BE A NATIONAL
COLLISION ON POLICING OUT OF THE
WHITE HOUSE WHERE I'LL BRING
EVERYONE TO THE TABLE.
>> THE TWO VISITS CALL AMID A
CONTENTIOUS PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION.
DONALD TRUMP WON IN 2016 BY JUST
A FEW HUNDRED VOTES.
THE PRESIDENT HAS CHAMPIONED LAW
AND ORDER BUT NOW TRAILS BIDEN
IN HIS HANDLING OF CRIMINAL
JUSTICE.
>> SUPPORT FOR RACIAL JUSTICE
PROTESTS HAVE ALSO FALLEN IN
WISCONSIN AMONG THE MOST RECENT
MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL POLLS.
THE POLITICS OF THE EVENT STRUCK
A CHORD WITH WISCONSIN LEADERS
WHO ASKED THE CANDIDATES TO LET
KENOSHA HEAL.
>> I WOULD PREFER NO ONE BE
HERE.
>> AND COMES AS WISCONSIN
POLITICIANS WORK TO MOVE FORWARD
ON POLICING REFORM LEGISLATION.
THE STATE LEGISLATURE CONVENED A
GUBERNATORIAL-ORDERED SPECIAL
SESSION MONDAY, TAKING A
BIPARTISAN STEP TO NOT
IMMEDIATELY GAVEL OUT THE
SESSION.
THE BILLS PROPOSED WOULD CREATE
USE OF FORCE STANDARDS AND MORE
OVERSIGHT.
THE GOP HAS SOME OVERLAPS AND
WOULD ADD PENALTIES FOR VIOLENCE
AGAINST FIRST RESPONDERS.
DEMOCRATS WANT QUICK ACTION.
>> I APPRECIATE THE CONCEPT OF
NOT TRYING TO RUSH ANYTHING, BUT
I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S
AN URGENCY.
>> OH, YEAH.
>> IT'S A DIFFERENCE.
>> ALL THE WHILE, LEADERS CALL
FOR ACTION.
>> WE GOING TO MAKE SOME BIG
CHANGES THAT AFFECT ALL THE
LITTLE JAKES AROUND THIS NATION,
SO THEIR PARENTS CAN LET THEIR
CHILDREN PLAY IN THE YARD, GO
DOWN THE STREET, DRIVE THE
VEHICLE AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT POLICE OFFICERS THAT MIGHT
DO THEM IN, THAT MIGHT SHOOT
THEM IN THE BACK SEVEN TIMES.
>> REPORTING FROM KENOSHA, THIS
IS WILL KENNEALLY FOR "HERE AND
NOW."
>> THE POLICE SHOOTING OF JACOB
BLAKE NOT ONLY SET OFF A STORM
OF PROTESTS FOR RACIAL JUSTICE,
IT WAS THE SPARK THAT LED
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS TO ORDER A
SPECIAL SESSION OF THE
LEGISLATURE TO TAKE UP HIS
PROPOSALS ON POLICE REFORM.
HE CALLED THE SESSION TO ACT ON
A SLATE OF REFORM, INCLUDING A
BAN ON THE USE OF POLICE
CHOKEHOLDS, ELIMINATING THE USE
OF POLICE NO-KNOCK WARRANTS AND
THE CREATION OF STATEWIDE USE OF
FORCE STANDARDS.
THE SESSION WAS GAVELED IN BY
REPUBLICAN MAJORITIES IN BOTH
HOUSES ON MONDAY, BUT IN A
SKELETAL SESSION WHICH TOOK UP
NO DEBATE AND DELAYED ACTION.
THURSDAY REPUBLICAN LEADERS
EXTENDED THE SESSION INTO NEXT
WEEK.
LATER IN THE PROGRAM WE WILL
TALK WITH ASSEMBLY MAJORITY
LEADER JIM STEINEKE.
JOINING US NOW IS GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS.
>> BEFORE WE GET TO PROPOSALS
FOR POLICE REFORM, PRESIDENT
TRUMP SAYS HE ENDED THE VIOLENCE
IN KENOSHA.
WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?
>> WELL, I THINK THE PEOPLE OF
KENOSHA HAD A ROLE IN THAT.
I THINK THE PEOPLE THAT SERVE IN
LAW ENFORCEMENT HAD A ROLE IN
THAT.
FRANKLY, OUR NATIONAL GUARD.
I KNOW THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS
TRYING TO CLAIM THAT HE DID
THAT, BUT FRANKLY POSITIONING
THE NATIONAL GUARD IS A STATE
ISSUE.
IT'S NOT A NATIONAL ISSUE.
IT'S NEVER BEEN A NATIONAL
ISSUE.
EVERYTHING THE CITY OF KENOSHA
AND THE COUNTY OF KENOSHA ASKED
OF ME, WE DID, AND THAT INCLUDED
FROM 3:00 A.M. ON MONDAY MORNING
WE STARTED MOVING NATIONAL GUARD
MEMBERS INTO KENOSHA AND DOUBLED
THAT NUMBER EVERY SINGLE DAY.
WE EVENTUALLY REACHED OUT TO
OTHER STATES.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS
WHO'S TAKING CREDIT, I THINK I
WOULD SAY CERTAINLY THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND NATIONAL GUARD,
BUT ALSO THE PEACEFUL PROTESTORS
OF KENOSHA AND, FRANKLY, THE
PARENTS OF THE GENTLEMAN THAT
WAS SHOT.
I MEAN, PEOPLE WERE CALLING OUT
FOR PEACE AND THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT HAPPENED.
I DON'T -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE
PRESIDENT'S ROLE PLAYED AT ALL.
>> ARE SOME OF THOSE NATIONAL
GUARD TROOPS STANDING DOWN
TODAY?
>> YES.
WE HAVE SENT BACK THE
OUT-OF-STATE MEMBERS AND HAVE
OUR MEMBERS -- WE STILL HAVE
PEOPLE ON THE GROUND THERE, BUT
WE DID STAND SOME DOWN.
>> SO YOU ASKED PRESIDENT TRUMP
NOT TO COME.
DO YOU THINK IN THE END HE DID
INFLAME TENSIONS?
>> WELL, I DON'T THINK HE
HELPED.
I MEAN, WHEN YOU -- FIRST OF
ALL, PEOPLE THERE WANT TO HEAL
AND THAT'S A REAL IMPORTANT
THING.
AND WHEN YOU'RE THERE AS A CHIEF
-- CHIEF PERSON OF THE UNITED
STATES, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES
TO HEALTH CARE, IN A ROOM WITH
PEOPLE WHERE NO ONE'S WEARING A
MASK, THAT SENDS A BAD MESSAGE.
I WOULD SAY THAT DOESN'T HELP
PEOPLE HEAL, WHEN YOU'RE
ABSOLUTELY NOT DOING WHAT YOU
SHOULD BE DOING.
ADDITIONALLY, HE WAS -- HE WAS
MAKING SOME STATEMENTS AROUND
THE SHOOTING OF THE GENTLEMAN
AND TALKED ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF
INSTEAD OF THE FACT THAT HE WAS
SHOT, JACOB WAS SHOT SEVEN TIMES
IN THE BACK, HE COMPARED IT TO
CHOKING ON A PUTT ON THE GOLF
COURSE.
TO ME, THAT'S AN IRRATIONAL
COMMENT.
>> YOU ALSO ASKED FORMER VICE
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN NOT TO COME
TO KENOSHA.
WHAT DID HE SAY IN RESPONSE TO
YOU WHEN YOU TALKED WITH HIM
ABOUT NOT COMING?
>> HE FELT CONFIDENT THAT HE
COULD PROVIDE EMPATHY AND THE
HEALING THAT THE PEOPLE NEEDED.
CLEARLY CANDIDATES CAN MAKE
THEIR OWN DECISIONS, WHETHER I
WANT THEM TO COME OR NOT, BUT HE
INDICATED, HE PROMISED ME THAT
HE WOULD BE EMPATHETIC AND HE
WOULD BE WORKING TO MAKE SURE
THAT PEOPLE ARE HEALING IN A
POSITIVE WAY.
>> AS TO YOUR SPECIAL SESSION ON
POLICE REFORM, IT WAS GAVELED
IN, BUT YOUR PROPOSALS WERE NOT
TAKEN UP.
WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE
LEGISLATURE'S ACTION ON THIS?
>> WELL, AND THAT GOES BACK TO
JACOB BLAKE AND HIS PARENTS,
TOO, THAT THEY ARE SAYING, YES,
WE'RE HURTING, WE WANT TO HEAL,
BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE POLICY
CHANGES AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHY
WE DID WHAT WE DID, IS WE NEEDED
POLICY CHANGES AS IT RELATES TO
POLICING, YOU KNOW, AS IT
RELATES TO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
THINGS.
BUT I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED, AND
NOT SURPRISED, BUT VERY
DISAPPOINTED.
BUT SO ARE THE PEOPLE IN THE
STATE.
WE HAVE OUR PROFESSIONAL
ATHLETES IN THIS STATE TALKING
ABOUT THIS.
AND SO AFTER THE INCIDENT IN
MINNEAPOLIS, PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN
WERE WELL AWARE OF WHAT THE
CHANGES SHOULD BE.
THEY'RE SUPPORTIVE OF IT.
FOR SOME REASON, THE REPUBLICANS
ARE NOT.
I DON'T GET IT.
>> AND YET DO YOU BELIEVE YOU
WILL BE ABLE TO WORK IN A
BIPARTISAN WAY ON THIS WITH THIS
SPEAKER'S TASK FORCE?
>> WELL, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE
TO WAIT FOR A TASK FORCE.
I'VE BEEN TALKING TO -- SOME OF
THESE BILLS ARE REPUBLICAN
BILLS.
AND SENATOR LANGE LANGARD HAS BEEN
WORKING ON THIS, TOO.
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, THANKS
FOR JOINING US.
THE CHAIR OF A NEW REPUBLICAN
TASK FORCE, ASSEMBLY MAJORITY
LEADER JIM STEINEKE, SAYS HE
EXPECTS THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS
WILL BE TAKEN UP WITH THE
LEGISLATURE CONVENES AFTER THE
FIRST OF THE YEAR.
REPRESENTATIVE STEIN STEINEKE JOINS US
NOW.
>> FIRST I WANT TO CORRECT IT'S
NOT A REPUBLICAN TASK FORCE.
IT'S A TASK FORCE THAT IS GOING
TO HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
WE EXPECT TO ANNOUNCE IN THE
COMING DAYS A CO-CHAIR THAT IS
GOING TO COME FROM THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE AISLE.
WE'LL BE MAKING DECISIONS ON THE
COMPOSITION OF THE TASK FORCE
TOGETHER AND SETTING AGENDAS AND
TALKING ABOUT HOW WE MOVE
FORWARD TOGETHER.
SO REALLY WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS
SHOW THE STATE AND THE NATION
THAT WHEN WE BRING PEOPLE
TOGETHER, DEMOCRATS,
REPUBLICANS, PEOPLE FROM
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, ALONG WITH
LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE CAN STILL
SOLVE THESE BIG ISSUES BUT DO IT
IN A WAY THAT, AGAIN, BRINGS
PEOPLE TOGETHER.
>> STILL, THE GOVERNOR DID NOT
RESPOND PARTICULARLY FAVORABLY
TO THIS, SAYING THAT THE PEOPLE
OF WISCONSIN DON'T WANT ANOTHER
TASK FORCE TO MULL THINGS OVER.
WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THAT?
>> YEAH.
IT'S KINDS OF FUNNY COMING FROM
A GUY THAT'S CREATED SOMEWHERE
AROUND A DOZEN TASK FORCES ON
HIS OWN OVER THE COURSE OF THE
FIRST TWO YEARS OF HIS
ADMINISTRATION.
SO HE'S RELIED HEAVILY ON TASK
FORCES HIMSELF TO LOOK AT
ISSUES.
BUT IT'S A LITTLE FRUSTRATING
BECAUSE THE ADMINISTRATION HAS
TYPICALLY THROWN THINGS OUT
THERE AND TOLD US TO PASS IT BY
STARTING SPECIAL SESSIONS.
YOU GUYS JUST PASS THIS.
WE WANT TO DO THINGS A LITTLE
DIFFERENTLY, AGAIN, BRINGING
TOGETHER DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS, PEOPLE OF COLOR AND
LAW ENFORCEMENT ALL TO WORK ON
ISSUE TOGETHER SO WE CAN HAVE
CONSENSUS AROUND THESE ISSUES.
>> I KNOW YOUR LEADERSHIP
DECIDED TO EXTEND THE SPECIAL
SESSION CALL UNTIL TUESDAY.
WHAT'S THAT ABOUT?
>> REALLY, AGAIN, IT'S KEEPING
IT OPEN SO THAT WE CAN EXAMINE
THESE ISSUES THROUGH THE USE OF
THE TASK FORCE SO THAT IF THE
TASK FORCE COMPLETES ITS WORK ON
TIME, WE HAVE THE SPECIAL
SESSION AVAILABLE TO US TO TAKE
UP THOSE BILLS.
IF WE RUN INTO THE END OF THE
YEAR OR EARLY NEXT YEAR, THEN WE
CAN GO BACK IN REGULAR SESSION.
BUT THERE'S NO REASON TO ADJOURN
THE SPECIAL SESSION RIGHT NOW.
>> SO, I MEAN, ARE YOU
SUGGESTING THAT YOU'D BE ABLE TO
TAKE SOMETHING UP AT THE START
OF NEXT WEEK?
>> NO.
NO.
BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO TAKE SOME
TIME AS FAR AS THE SETTING UP
THE TASK FORCE.
SO THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A COUPLE
OF WEEKS.
WE'LL START MEETING BY THE END
OF THE MONTH.
THE REASON TO RECESS THE SPECIAL
SESSION UNTIL NEXT WEEK IS WE
HAVE TO DO THAT ON A WEEKLY
BASIS.
SO WE HAVE TO COME IN, OPEN IT
UP AND THEN RECESS TO THE NEXT
WEEK JUST TO KEEP THE SPECIAL
SESSION OPEN.
>> THERE DOES SEEM TO BE SOME
OVERLAP BETWEEN REPUBLICAN
PROPOSALS AND THE GOVERNOR'S;
NAMELY, ON USE OF FORCE.
HE CALLS FOR STANDARDS.
THE SPEAKER WAS TALKING ABOUT
LOOKING AT A USE -- OR ACTUALLY
IT WAS SENATOR WANGARD.
DO YOU EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO COME
TOGETHER ON THIS AND POLICE
REFORM AND RACIAL INEQUITY?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.
MY INITIAL CONVERSATIONS WITH
MEMBERS OF THE BLACK CAUCUS AND
THE ASSEMBLY HAVE BEEN VERY
GOOD.
I THINK WE'RE KIND OF ON THE
SAME PAGE AS FAR AS WHAT WE WANT
TO SEE COME OUT OF THIS TASK
FORCE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY IN ORDER
TO GET ANYTHING SUBSTANTIVE
PASSED, WE HAVE TO HAVE BUY-IN
OF NOT ONLY DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS, BUT PEOPLE IN
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT ALL COMING TOGETHER.
SO I EXPECT WE'LL TAKE UP AND
LOOK AT THE DEMOCRATIC
PROPOSALS.
WE'LL LOOK AT REPUBLICAN
PROPOSALS.
BUT THEN WE'LL ALSO LOOK AT THE
WPPA PROPOSALS THAT THEY PUT OUT
THIS WEEK.
>> THAT'S PROFESSIONAL POLICE
ASSOCIATION?
>> YES, MA'AM.
>> SO MOVING ON TO THE VISITS BY
THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES THIS
WEEK, FORMER GOVERNOR WALKER
SAID THAT JOE BIDEN WAS USING
KENOSHA AS A POLITICAL PROP.
WHY CAN'T THE SAME BE SAID OF
DONALD TRUMP?
>> YEAH.
I MEAN, FOR ME, I WELCOME ANY
TYPE OF ATTENTION THAT THESE
VISITS BRING TO THE STATE
BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN SUCH A PAIN
POINT FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY
OF KENOSHA, AND HOPEFULLY THESE
VISITS, BOTH FROM THE PRESIDENT
AND FROM JOE BIDEN, WILL BEGIN
THE HEALING PROCESS.
IT WOULD BE FRUSTRATING IF THEY
WERE USING IT AS CAMPAIGN PLOYS.
HOPEFULLY THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT THE
PRESIDENT DID IN ALLOCATING
RESOURCES TO THE STATE TO HELP
REBUILD THE COMMUNITY AND HELP
HEAL THAT AREA, BECAUSE IT'S
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
>> WERE YOU SURPRISED TO LEARN
THAT GOVERNOR EVERS ACTUALLY
ALSO ASKED JOE BIDEN NOT TO
COME, AS HE HAD THE PRESIDENT?
>> YEAH.
THAT'S WHAT GOVERNOR EVERS SAYS
THAT HE DID.
YOU KNOW, HE MADE IT VERY PUBLIC
ANNOUNCEMENT, THAT HE DIDN'T
WANT PRESIDENT TRUMP TO COME.
IF HE DID SAY THAT TO CANDIDATE
BIDEN, HE DID IT A LITTLE
QUIETER AND NOT IN A PUBLIC
LETTER.
BUT I'LL TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD
THAT HE ASKED BOTH CANDIDATES
NOT TO COME.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE OUR CONVERSATION HERE,
BUT THANKS VERY MUCH AND WE WILL
BE FOLLOWING THE WORK OF THE
TASK FORCE AS WELL AS THE FULL
LEGISLATURE AS IT MOVES AHEAD ON
POLICE REFORM.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
ME.
APPRECIATE IT.
>> SCHOOL, BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN
PERSON, IS BACK IN SESSION FOR
THE UW SYSTEM THIS WEEK.
PRESIDENT TOMMY THOMPSON SAYS A
DASHBOARD THAT HAS DETAILS ON
COVID-19 ON ALL CAMPUSES IS
FORTHCOMING.
UW-MADISON'S DASHBOARD IS UP AND
RUNNING AND GETS UPDATED EACH
DAY.
AS OF THIS AFTER, MADISON
REPORTS 440 STUDENTS ARE
COVID-19 POSITIVE.
22 STAFF MEMBERS ARE POSITIVE
FOR THE VIRUS.
TESTING BEGAN LATE LAST MONTH
WITH THE ARRIVAL OF STUDENTS TO
CAMPUS.
"HERE AND NOW" REPORTER TREVOR
KELLER TALKED WITH SOME OF THEM.
>> IT'S THE FIRST WEEK OF THE
FALL SEMESTER AT UW-MADISON AND
SIGNS POINT TO PLENTY OF NEW
PRECAUTIONS.
>> ANYTIME WE'RE OUT OF OUR
ROOM, WE HAVE TO WEAR MASKS.
I'M ALWAYS WASHING MY HANDS.
WE ONLY ARE ALLOWED FOUR PEOPLE
IN A ROOM.
>> THEY HOPE TO LIMIT ACCESS TO
DORMS AND DINING AREAS.
>> FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, EVERYONE
HAS BEEN WEARING MASKS, TAKING
PRECAUTIONS, SO I'M NOT REALLY
WORRIED.
>> THE PLAN IS TO HOLD VIRTUAL
AND IN-PERSON CLASSES THROUGH
THANKSGIVING.
>> IT IS DEEPLY IMPORTANT FOR
OUR STUDENTS WHERE THERE ARE
SMALL CLASSES THAT WE CAN SAFELY
HOLD TO ENGAGE IN FACE-TO-FACE
DISCUSSION WITH FACULTY AND WITH
EACH OTHER.
>> STUDENTS LIVING ON CAMPUS
WILL BE TESTED AT LEAST ONCE
EVERY TWO WEEKS.
THE QUESTION IS WILL THESE
PRECAUTIONS WORK?
>> WHAT DO WE WANT?
>> NOT EVERYONE THINKS SO.
A GROUP OF FACULTY AND STAFF
HELD A RALLY IN MID-AUGUST
CALLING FOR A MORAL RESTART WITH
ALL-VIRTUAL LEARNING.
>> THERE ARE MANY CLASSES THAT
ARE PLANNING TO BE HELD IN
PERSON THAT DON'T NEED TO BE.
THERE ARE WORKERS WHO HAVE
CONCERNS ABOUT BEING FORCED TO
-- IN ORDER TO KEEP THEIR JOBS,
PUT THEIR LIVES AT RISK,
ESPECIALLY WORKERS WHO ARE
IMMUNOCOMPROMISED.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LONG-TERM
CONSEQUENCES OF COVID ARE.
>> HOW MANY CASES WILL IT TAKE
TO GO ALL VIRTUAL?
OFFICIALS WON'T SAY.
>> THERE'S NO MAGIC NUMBER.
WE DO EXPECT THAT THERE ARE
GOING TO BE MORE POSITIVE TESTS
WHEN WE START SURVEYING AND
TESTING THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS.
>> THE UNIVERSITY SAYS THEY'LL
EVALUATE CASE NUMBERS DAILY AND
MAKE DECISIONS ACCORDINGLY.
NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, ONE
THING IS CERTAIN TO BE ON THE
SYLLABUS THIS SEMESTER IS AN
EMPHASIS ON SAFETY.
>> I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO
FOOTBALL GAMES AND ALL OF THAT
STUFF.
BUT MAYBE IN THE SPRING.
>> REPORTING IN MADISON FOR
"HERE AND NOW," I'M TREVOR
KELLER.
>> AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, UW
SYSTEM PRESIDENT TOMMY THOMPSON
SAID A SYSTEM-WIDE DASHBOARD ON
COVID-19 DATA WILL BE AVAILABLE
SOON.
MEANWHILE, ONE UW HEALTH FIS HAN
PHYSICIAN IS ON SO CONFIDENT IN
THE VACCINE FOR COVID-19 THAT HE
WAS FIRST IN LEARN TO
PARTICIPATE IN A NEW TRIAL THIS
WEEK.
DR. JEFF POTHOF IS NOT CONNECTED
TO THE STUDY BUT HE IS THE UW
HEALTH CHIEF QUALITY OFFICER.
THE STUDY, ADMINISTERED BY UW
HEALTH AND THE SCHOOL OF
MEDICINE, IS OPEN FOR
ENROLLMENT.
INVESTIGATORS HOPE TO VACCINATE
1600 VOLUNTEERS OVER THE NEXT
EIGHT WEEKS AT UNIVERSITY
HOSPITAL.
DR. JEFF POTHOF JOINS US NOW AND
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO BE THE
FIRST IN LINE TO RECEIVE THE
VACCINE IN THIS TRIAL HERE?
>> YOU KNOW, THE MAIN REASON IS,
IS I THINK THE MAJORITY OF US
ARE JUST REALLY TIRED OF THIS
WHOLE CORONAVIRUS/COVID-19
PANDEMIC.
WE'RE TIRED OF HOW MANY PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN MADE SICK.
WE'RE TIRED OF HOW MANY PEOPLE
HAVE DIED.
WE'RE TIRED OF NOT BEING ABLE TO
DO A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE
WANT TO DO.
OUR KIDS AREN'T GOING TO SCHOOL.
WE CAN'T SEE OUR SPORTS TEAMS
PLAY.
AND A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE VACCINE
IS GOING TO BE OUR MOST POWERFUL
TOOL TO CLOSE THE BOOK ON THIS
PANDEMIC.
I REVIEWED THE SAFETY PROFILE OF
THIS VACCINE.
I'VE TALKED TO THE RESEARCHERS.
AND FOR ME, THAT TREMENDOUS
BENEFIT OF GETTING US CLOSER TO
NORMAL FAR OUTWEIGHED THE SMALL
RISK IN THIS TRIAL.
THAT'S JUST SOMETHING I WANTED
TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.
>> DID YOU HAVE ANY AFTEREFFECTS
FROM IT?
>> A LITTLE TENDERNESS OVER THE
INJECTION SITE.
YESTERDAY I HAD A SMALL
HEADACHE.
HARD TO TELL IF THEY WERE
RELATED TO THE INJECTION.
TODAY I FEEL GREAT.
>> THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID THAT
HE HOPES AND EXPECTS A VACCINE
WILL BE AVAILABLE BY EARLY
NOVEMBER.
HOW REALISTIC DO YOU THINK THAT
IS?
>> YOU KNOW, EARLY
NOVEMBER SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE
BIT SOONER THAN WHAT I THINK
WE'LL BE READY TO HAVE THE DATA
AVAILABLE.
THE ONLY REASON TO APPROVE IS A
VACCINE IS IF WE KNOW IT'S SAFE
AND EFFECTIVE FOR HUNDREDS OF
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE TO GET IT.
THERE'S NO OTHER REASON TO
APPROVE A VKS VACCINE.
>> WITH UW SCHOOLS OPENING THIS
WEEK AS WELL AS K-12 SCHOOLS,
WHAT CONCERNS DO YOU HAVE THAT
YOUNG PEOPLE, AGAIN, WHO ARE
AMONG KIND OF THE HIGHEST SUBSET
OF PEOPLE SEEING POSITIVE COVID
CASES, CAN CONFORM THEIR
BEHAVIOR TO LIMIT THE SPREAD?
>> YEAH.
AS I LOOK AT THESE COLLEGE
REOPENING PLANS, THE PLANS THAT
THEY HAVE ON PAPER ARE REALLY
PRETTY OKAY, THEY'RE PRETTY
GOOD.
THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS IT
REALLY -- THE BULK OF THE
RESPONSIBILITY RESTS ON THOSE
STUDENTS, AND AS WE'VE HAD MORE
EXPERIENCES WITH COLLEGES
OPENING, I'D SAY THAT OUR
EXPERIENCE HASN'T BEEN ALL THAT
GREAT.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF COLLEGE
CAMPUSES REPORT HIGH LEVELS OF
COVID-19 TRANSMISSION THROUGH
ACTIVITIES THAT AREN'T
NECESSARILY HAPPENING DURING THE
SCHOOL DAY, BUT WHEN THE SCHOOL
DAY IS OVER.
SO IF WE CONTINUE TO SEE THAT
TREND, I THINK WHAT YOU'LL FIND
IS HIGH LEVELS OF COVID-19
TRANSMITTING BETWEEN THAT AGE
DEMOGRAPHIC.
COLLEGE CAMPUSES HAVING TO THINK
ABOUT SHUTTING DOWN.
AND THEN WE'RE LEFT WITH THE
ISSUE OF DO WE NEED TO COHORT
THOSE STUDENTS ON CAMPUS IN THE
CITY THEY'RE IN SO THEY DON'T GO
BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES ACROSS
THE UNITED STATES AND INCREASE
THE COVID-19 TRANCE TRANSMITABILITY
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
>> WHEN YOU SEE NUMBERS IN THE
HUNDREDS ON UW CAMPUS WITH
SOMETHING OVER 300 CASES IN
MADISON, SHOULD THAT BE OF
CONCERN?
>> I THINK IT'S CERTAINLY OF
CONCERN.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT THOSE CASES
AND FIGURE OUT WHERE ARE THEY
AT.
ARE WE ABLE TO KEEP UP ON
CONTACT TRACING AND KEEP AHEAD
OF IT SO THOSE CASES CAN'T
INCREASE WITH THE NEXT ROUND.
IF WE FIND OURSELVES IN A
SITUATION WHERE WE CAN'T KEEP UP
ON IT, THEN WE NEED TO MAKE
HARDER DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT TO
DO WITH OUR CAMPUSES.
IF WE HAVE ROBUST CONTACT
TRACING, SOME OF THOSE
INDIVIDUALS CAN BE ISOLATED.
WE'VE GOT A FIGHTING CHANCE.
BUT TO SAY THAT THERE ISN'T
CONCERN, THERE IS CONCERN ABOUT
HOW THE COLLEGE CAMPUSES ARE
GOING TO WORK OUT THIS FALL.
>> YOU TOUCHED ON THIS BRIEFLY,
BUT FOR THOSE STUDENTS NOT IN
RESIDENCE HALLS WHO ARE GETTING
KIND OF REGULAR TESTING, SHOULD
THE STUDENTS OUTSIDE RESIDENCE
HALLS TAKE IT ON THEMSELVES TO
GET TESTS EITHER THROUGH THEIR
SCHOOL OR COMMUNITY OR CLINICS?
>> YEAH.
I THINK ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE IN
CONGREGATE LIVING OR CLOSE TO
OTHER PEOPLE OR IF YOU WERE
UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO ABIDE BY
SOCIAL DISTANCING AND MASK
GUIDELINES, IT'S CRUCIAL WE
IDENTIFY THOSE, ESPECIALLY IN
THOSE ASYMPTOMATIC PATIENTS.
WE WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO GET
TEST SAID.
>> WHAT ARE HEALTH CARE WORKERS
STEELING FOR?
>> A BIT OF APPREHENSION.
IF WE HAVE HIGH LEVELS OF
COVID-19 AND HIGH LEVELS OF
INFLUENZA, WE COULD OUT-STRIP
OUR PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND THE
NUMBER OF ROOMS WE HAVE TO TAKE
CARE OF PEOPLE.
THE SILVER LINING IS WITH MASK
MANDATES AND PHYSICAL DISTANCING
IN PLACE, THOSE ARE ALSO
EFFECTIVE AGAINST THE FLU.
SO WE'RE HOPEFUL THE FLU SEASON
IS TAMED DOWN THIS YEAR.
>> GOOD POINT.
DR. JEFF POTHOF, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> YOU BET.
THANK YOU.
>> IN EFFORTS TO STEM FURTHER
SPREAD OF COVID-19 ON CAMPUS,
THIS AFTERNOON PUBLIC HEALTH
OFFICIALS IN UW-MADISON DIRECTED
420 STUDENTS LIVING IN NINE
FRATERNITY AND SORORITY HOUSES
TO QUARANTINE FOR 14 DAYS.
THIS IS BECAUSE AS OF MIDWEEK 38
OF THE STUDENTS HAD TESTED
POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS.
ACCORDING TO PUBLIC HEALTH
OFFICIALS, VIOLATION OF
QUARANTINE OR ISOLATION ORDERS
COULD RESULT IN A COURT ORDER
FOR INVOLUNTARY QUARANTINE OR A
FINE OF UP TO $10,000.
FOR MORE COVERAGE OF COVID-19 AS
WELL AS THE LATEST WISCONSIN
POLITICAL NEWS, GO TO OUR
WEBSITE AT pbswisconsin.org
AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS PAGE.
ADDITIONAL COVERAGE OF THE
COVID-19 IN WISCONSIN CAN BE
FOUND AT wiscontext.org.
THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY
WEEKEND.
>> FOR MORE "HERE AND NOW" 2020
ELECTION COVERAGE, GO TO
pbs.org AND CLICK ON NEWS.
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