>> A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PART OF
OUR "HERE AND NOW" 2020 ELECTION
COVERAGE.
>> UW-MADISON CONTINUES TO SEE
DAY-OVER-DAY TRIPLE DIGIT
NUMBERS OF POSITIVE CROW
INDIVIDUAL COVID CASES
AT THE END OF THE FIRST WEEK OF
INSTRUCTION, NUMBERS THAT
CONTRIBUTE TO RECORD NUMBERS
STATEWIDE.
THE BIG 10 CONFERENCE ANNOUNCED
IT WILL KICK OFF A FALL SEASON
OF FOOTBALL STARTING IN OCTOBER,
A DECISION THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP
TOOK PARTIAL CREDIT FOR WHEN HE
VISITED MOSINEE THIS WEEK, WHILE
MIKE PENCE RALLIED THE VOTE IN
JANESVILLE.
>> FOUR MORE YEARS IN THE WHITE
HOUSE.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT, COMING IN HOT TO THE
NOVEMBER ELECTION WITH MORE THAN
A MILLION ABSENTEE BALLOTS BEING
MAILED OUT THIS WEEK.
WE'LL HEAR FROM THE HEAD OF THE
STATE ELECTIONS COMMISSION.
A UW EPIDEMIOLOGIST ON COVID-19
NUMBERS AND WHAT THIS MEANS FOR
SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES.
STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT
CAROLYN TAYLOR TAYLOR IS HERE.
AND A NEW REPORT SHOWS THE TOLL
THE VIRUS IS TAKING ON THE
WISCONSIN WORKFORCE.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
SEPTEMBER 18.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> WHAT ARE THE CONTINUED HEALTH
RISKS IN WISCONSIN'S PUBLIC
SCHOOL AND COLLEGE CLASSROOMS?
AND WHAT ABOUT THE COMMUNITIES
THAT SURROUND THOSE SCHOOLS?
WE TAKE THESE QUESTIONS TO MALIA
JONES, AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE
EPIDEMIOLOGIST AND UW-MADISON.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> AS YOU KNOW, WISCONSIN JUST
SAW AN ALARMING UPTICK OF CASES
THIS WEEK WHICH COINCIDE WITH
THE START OF SCHOOL, K-12 AND ON
COLLEGE CAMPUSES.
ARE YOU SURPRISED BY THESE KINDS
OF NUMBERS?
>> WELL, THEY CERTAINLY ARE
DISAPPOINTING, BUT I'M NOT
PRECISELY SURPRISED.
THE CONCERN WITH HAVING BOTH
K-12 KIDS AND COLLEGE CAMPUSES
RETURN TO CLASSES IN PERSON IS
THAT CLASSROOMS ARE VERY HIGH
DENSITY, INDOOR SETTING AND
THERE'S A LOT OF RISK FOR
COVID-19 TO SPREAD IN THOSE
KINDS OF SETTINGS.
>> AND SO THE RISK SPREADING IN
THOSE SETTINGS, WHAT ABOUT THE
RISK SPREADING BEYOND THOSE
SETTINGS INTO THEIR LARGER
COMMUNITIES?
>> YEAH.
AND I THINK THAT'S A GREAT
QUESTION, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE
THINKING ABOUT COLLEGE CAMPUSES.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THE WAY
INFECTIOUS DISEASES WORK IS THEY
SPREAD FROM PERSON TO PERSON
THROUGH CLOSE CONTACT.
AND ONE OF THE FEATURES OF THIS
DISEASE IS IT'S MOSTLY SPREAD
THROUGH INDOOR AIR ENVIRONMENTS,
AS IT TURNS OUT, AND
OCCASIONALLY OUTDOOR AIR
ENVIRONMENTS AS WELL.
SO WHAT WE THINK ABOUT WHAT WE
-- YOU KNOW, A SCHOOL IS NOT A
BUBBLE.
PEOPLE GO TO SCHOOL AND THEN
THEY GO HOME AGAIN AND THEY
BREATHE THE SAME AIR AS THE
OTHER PEOPLE IN THEIR HOUSEHOLDS
AND THEN THOSE OTHER PEOPLE MAY
GO TO A DIFFERENT SCHOOL THE
NEXT DAY OR TO A WORKPLACE.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL
FOR DISEASE TO BE TRANSMITTED
FROM A SCHOOL SETTING TO OTHER
SETTINGS IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT
THE TWO-WEEK QUARANTINE WILL
SEND THE NUMBERS BACK DOWN
AGAIN?
>> I DO HOPE THAT WILL ALLOW
THIS HUGE SURGE IN CASES THAT WE
HAVE SEEN TO SUBSIDE AND CURB
THAT EXPONENTIAL SPREAD.
BUT THE WAY THAT THE DYNAMICS OF
INFECTIOUS DISEASE WORK, IT'S
UNLIKELY TO COMPLETELY ELIMINATE
ALL THE DISEASE ON THOSE
CAMPUSES.
JUST BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE -- THE
DISEASE CAN INCUBATE FOR UP TO
14 DAYS AND ON RARE OCCASIONS
EVEN LONGER.
SO THE TWO-WEEK QUARANTINE
SHOULD GET MOST OF US THROUGH
THAT BIG SURGE, BUT, YOU KNOW,
IF PEOPLE HAVE INFECTED THEIR
ROOMMATES, WE WON'T SEE THOSE
CASES EVEN EMERGING FOR PROBABLY
THE SECOND WEEK OF THE
QUARANTINE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT
WILL HELP, BUT IT'S UNLIKELY TO
REALLY COMPLETELY RESOLVE THE
PROBLEM.
>> SOME STUDENTS MEANWHILE HAVE
RETURNED HOME BECAUSE OF THIS
QUARANTINE, WHETHER IN STATE OR
OUT-OF-STATE.
PRESUMABLY WE RUN THE RISK THEN
OF FURTHER SPREAD?
>> YEAH.
SENDING THE COLLEGE STUDENTS
BACK HOME AT THIS TIME I THINK
IS A REALLY RISKY PROPOSITION.
AND IN FACT WE HAVE SOME GOOD
EVIDENCE THAT SENDING COLLEGE
STUDENTS HOME IN THE SPRING
CONTRIBUTED TO OUTBREAKS OF
DISEASE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AS
THEY RETURNED BACK HOME TO THEIR
FAMILIES.
AND SO I DO THINK IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT STUDENTS REMAIN
IN PLACE AND IN PARTICULAR IF
THEIR PARENTS -- IF THEY'RE
GOING BACK TO LIVE WITH THEIR
PARENTS WHO MAY BE OLDER OR
HIGHER RISK, THEY SHOULD NOT
EXPOSE THEMSELVES TO THOSE
PEOPLE.
>> AS FOR K-12 SCHOOLS WHICH ARE
ALSO DRIVING THE NUMBERS,
SEVERAL HAVE GONE FROM IN-PERSON
LEARNING BACK TO VIRTUAL.
>> YEAH.
>> WAS THAT EXPECTED AS WELL?
>> YES.
MOST EPIDEMIOLOGISTS INCLUDING
MYSELF DID EXPECT THAT TO
HAPPEN.
EARLY ON THERE WAS A LOT OF HOPE
THAT KIDS WOULD JUST SOMEHOW NOT
BE VERY GOOD AT SPREADING THIS
DISEASE.
BUT THERE WASN'T A LOT OF HARD
EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT WAS
REALLY THE CASE.
AND SO I'M NOT SURPRISED.
BUT I AM OF COURSE REALLY
DISAPPOINTED.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AND NOW WE LEARN THAT A
47-YEAR-OLD TEACHER DIED AFTER
BEING HOSPITALIZED WITH THIS
VIRUS.
>> YEAH.
>> HOW REAL DOES THIS MAKE THE
RISKS?
>> YEAH.
I THINK THOSE OF US WHO HAVE
BEEN PAYING REALLY CLOSE
ATTENTION WERE UNFORTUNATELY
EXPECTING THAT NEWS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT DOESN'T MAKE
IT ANY EASIER TO SWALLOW.
IT'S REALLY A TRAGIC SITUATION.
>> IN A PERFECT WORLD FOR
INFECTIOUS -- INFECTION CONTROL,
HOW WOULD WE MANAGE GOING TO
SCHOOL?
>> WELL, LET'S SEE.
IN A PERFECT WORLD FOR INFECTION
CONTROL, I THINK WE WOULD REWIND
THE CLOCK AND DO A TRUE SIX-WEEK
SHUTDOWN AND ELIMINATE ALL OF
THE CIRCULATING COVID-19 IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN AND
NATIONALLY.
AND THEN WE WOULD NOT HAVE ANY
COVID-19.
IT WOULD REQUIRE INTERNATIONAL,
NATIONAL AND STATE COOPERATION
IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THAT.
AND THAT JUST DIDN'T HAPPEN.
WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE
IS CIRCULATING DISEASE AND
THERE'S NOT A GOOD WAY TO
CONTROL THAT IN A SCHOOL
SETTING.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR EXPERTISE.
MALIA JONES, THANK YOU.
>> YEAH.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.
>> 280 OUT OF THE STATE'S 421
SCHOOL DISTRICT REPORTED PLANS
TO BEGIN THE TERM WITH SOME FORM
OF IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION.
THINGS ARE CHANGING.
MANY SCHOOLS NOW REVERTING TO
ONLINE, AT LEAST TEMPORARILY.
THE CHALLENGES OF LEARNING
DURING COVID WERE FRONT AND
CENTER IN THE STATE
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS'
ANNUAL STATE ADDRESS ON
THURSDAY.
I SPOKE WITH SUPERINTENDENT
CAROLYN STANFORD TAYLOR
FOLLOWING THAT ADDRESS.
>> SUPERINTENDENT, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
THANKS FOR INVITING ME.
>> SO HOW WOULD YOU GRADE HOW
THIS CORONAVIRUS SCHOOL YEAR IS
GOING, JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS
INTO IT NOW?
>> WELL, I THINK WE WOULD GIVE
THEM AN A FOR EFFORT, BECAUSE I
KNOW ALL OF OUR EDUCATORS AND
DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS HAVE
BEEN BUSY.
THEY HAVE NOT MISSED A BEAT
SINCE CORONAVIRUS PRESENTED
ITSELF AND WE HAD TO SHUT DOWN
OUR SCHOOLING IN PERSON.
THEY HAVE BEEN PREPARING SINCE
MARCH, GETTING READY FOR THIS
FALL.
>> HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU THAT
SEVERAL DISTRICTS NOW HAVE HAD
TO PULL BACK AND REVERT TO
ONLINE AFTER POSITIVE CASES HAVE
COME UP IN THEIR SCHOOLS?
>> THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS
THEY PREPARED FOR, FOR THOSE
DISTRICTS WHO DECIDED TO GO
IN-PERSON.
THEY ALSO HAD OTHER PLANS, SO
THERE'S A VIRTUAL PLAN, THERE'S
A HYBRID PLAN, JUST IN CASE.
EVEN THOUGH THEY PUT IN ALL THE
PRECAUTIONS THAT THEY COULD HAVE
DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT STAFF AND
STUDENTS WERE SAFE, YOU DON'T
CONTROL ALL THE VARIABLES.
AND SO THE PLANNING WAS ALREADY
IN PLACE FOR IF THEY NEEDED TO
CLOSE TEMPORARILY AND HAVE
STUDENTS GO TO ONLINE.
>> NOW, YOU SAY THAT YOU'LL BE
ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING
FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION AND MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES.
WHY IS THAT EVEN MORE CRITICAL
NOW?
>> SO WE KNOW THAT MANY OF OUR
STUDENTS WITH IEPs, INDIVIDUAL
EDUCATION PLANS, NEED TO HAVE
SOME SERVICES THAT ARE IN
PERSON.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT OVER A
SPAN OF TIME, WE'VE LOST THAT
CONTRIBUTION FROM OUR STATE.
IT HAS BEEN AT A HIGH OF 60 PLUS
PERCENT AND DOWN TO 25% SUPPORT
FROM OUR STATE.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT
AMOUNT BACK UP BECAUSE WHAT
HAPPENS IS WE STILL HAVE TO
PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES AND THEN
DISTRICTS ARE PINCHED BY HAVING
TO TAKE MONEY FROM THE GENERAL
FUND THAT WOULD SUPPORT ALL KIDS
TO SUPPORT SPECIAL EDUCATION.
AND SO IF WE CAN MAKE A
COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING OUR
KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, THOSE
DOLLARS THAT WERE TAKEN FROM THE
GENERAL FUND CAN BE REPLACED AND
DISTRICTS CAN USE THOSE IN OTHER
WAYS.
>> WHAT ARE YOU FINDING ABOUT
HOW CRITICAL THE NEEDS ARE FOR
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AT THIS
TIME?
>> WE KNOW FROM OUR YOUTH RISK
BEHAVIOR SURVEY THAT PRIOR TO
THE PANDEMIC WE HAD ONE IN FIVE
STUDENTS WHO PRESENTED WITH SOME
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE WHO HAD SOME
CONCERN AROUND ANXIETY,
DEPRESSION, SUICIDAL IDEATION.
AND WITH COVID, THEM BEING
SEPARATED FROM FRIENDS,
SEPARATED FROM SCHOOL CONTACT,
WITH HUNGER IN SOME INSTANCES
AND UNEMPLOYMENT IN FAMILIES,
IT'S JUST SERVED TO ESCALATE
THOSE CONCERNS.
SO WE KNOW THERE WAS A NEED
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND WE KNOW
THERE'S AN EVEN GREATER NEED
RIGHT NOW.
>> ADDRESSING RACISM WAS KEY IN
YOUR ADDRESS.
WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE AROUND
EQUITY IN OUR SCHOOLS AND
COMMUNITIES?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK WE
NEED TO DO IS TO REEXAMINE OUR
SYSTEMS.
OUR SYSTEM OF EDUCATION HAS BEEN
IN PLACE FOR YEARS.
AND IT WAS BASED ON A CERTAIN
TYPE OF STUDENT.
WHAT WE'RE HEARING OUR STUDENTS
AND OUR FAMILIES FROM
MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS SAYING
IS THAT WE FEEL DISENFRANCHISED,
THAT THE CURRICULUM OFTENTIMES
DOESN'T MAKE ME FEEL LIKE I'M A
PART OF THIS THING CALLED
SCHOOLING.
I'M NOT LEARNING ABOUT MYSELF
AND MY HERITAGE.
THERE'S NOT THE AUTHENTIC
TEACHING AND APPRECIATION FOR
WHO I AM AND WHAT I BRING.
AND I THINK WE HAVE TO SEIZE
THIS OPPORTUNITY, LISTEN TO
THOSE VOICES, LOOK AT OUR
STANDARDS THAT TALKS ABOUT HOW
WE EDUCATE AND HOW WE TALK ABOUT
OUR HISTORY WITH DIFFERENT
POPULATIONS.
AND WE HAVE TO INTEGRATE THAT.
WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE VOICES
OF OUR STUDENTS, OF OUR PARENTS
AND OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO
ARE SAYING THAT WE, TOO, ARE A
PART OF MAKING THE FUTURE OF
THIS COUNTRY GREAT.
AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ACT ON IT.
WE DON'T JUST LISTEN, BUT WE ACT
ON IT.
>> WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
SUPERINTENDENT CAROLYN STANFORD
TAYLOR, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IF YOU ARE AMONG THE MORE
THAN ONE MILLION VOTERS IN
WISCONSIN WHO HAS ALREADY
REQUESTED ONE, YOUR ABSENTEE
BALLOT SHOULD BE IN THE MAIL TO
YOU.
THAT'S BECAUSE ELECTION CLERKS
WORKED OVERTIME TO GET THEM OUT
BY THURSDAY'S DEADLINE.
BUT THAT NUMBER, ALREADY A
MILLION, IS GOING TO BE AN
ELECTION LIKE NO OTHER.
FOR FACTS AND FIGURES, WE TURN
TO THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE
WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION,
MEAGAN WOLFE, AND THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
SO A MILLION ABSENTEE BALLOTS
HAVE ALREADY BEEN PROJECTED.
WHAT IS YOUR PROJECTION OF HOW
MANY MAY VOTE IN PERSON FOR THE
ELECTION?
>> IT'S DIFFICULT TO REALLY
PREDICT.
THIS WILL TRULY BE AN ELECTION
UNLIKE ANY OTHER.
SO WE CAN LOOK TO PREVIOUS
ELECTIONS THIS YEAR FOR SOME
GUIDANCE.
IN THE APRIL ELECTION, WE SAW
THAT ABOUT 60% OF VOTERS THAT
PARTICIPATED PARTICIPATED USING
ABSENTEE BY MAIL.
IN THE AUGUST STATEWIDE
ELECTION, WE SEE THAT NUMBER GO
CLOSER TO 80%.
AND SO WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY
WHAT THE VOTER BEHAVIOR WILL BE
FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION, BUT
WE KNOW THAT WE MUST BE PREPARED
FOR A VERY HIGH VOLUME IN ALL OF
THE THREE STATUTORILY AVAILABLE
OPTIONS FOR VOTERS TO CAST THEIR
BALLOT.
>> BUT GIVEN THE HIGH NUMBERS OF
ABSENTEE BALLOTS, WHEN SHOULD WE
EXPECT ELECTION RESULTS?
>> WELL, OUR LOCAL ELECTION
OFFICIALS ARE ALSO WORKING TO
PREPARE THEIR SYSTEMS TO
ACCOMMODATE THE NEW VOLUME OF
ABSENTEE BALLOTS.
STATE LAW SAYS OUR LOCAL
ELECTION CLERKS CANNOT BEGIN
PROCESSING, TABULATING THOSE
ABSENTEE VOTES UNTIL 7:00 A.M.
ON ELECTION DAY.
SO THEY HAVE A VERY SMALL WINDOW
OF TIME TO PROCESS ALL THOSE
BALLOTS.
THAT SAID, THEY'RE PREPARING IN
ALL OF OUR JURISDICTIONS TO PUT
MORE RESOURCES TOWARDS THAT
PROCESS.
BUT I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT TO ADD TO THIS
CONVERSATION THAT ELECTION NIGHT
RESULTS ARE ALWAYS UNOFFICIAL.
IT TAKES NEARLY A MONTH IN EVERY
ELECTION TO CERTIFY THE OFFICIAL
RESULTS AND WINNERS OF A
CONTEST.
>> SO IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT WE'D
BE LOOKING SOMETIME PAST THE
EVENING OF NOVEMBER 3 FOR EVEN
THOSE UNOFFICIAL RESULTS.
BUT I WANT TO MOVE ALONG.
PRESIDENT TRUMP TOLD PEOPLE TO
TEST THE SYSTEM BY VOTING TWICE,
ONCE BY ABSENTEE BALLOT AND THEN
AGAIN AT THE POLLING PLACE.
WHAT SHOULD VOTERS KNOW ABOUT
THAT ADVICE?
>> SURE.
SO IF YOU RECEIVE AN ABSENTEE
BALLOT BY MAIL, SO IF THAT'S THE
MELD THAT YOU CHOOSE, YOU DO
HAVE SOME OPTIONS.
IF YOU DON'T SEND THAT BALLOT
BACK, VOTERS ARE STILL ELIGIBLE
TO CAST A BALLOT AND TO VOTE AT
THE POLLS ON ELECTION DAY AND
ESSENTIALLY CANCEL THEIR
ABSENTEE BY MAIL.
HOWEVER, IF YOU HAVE RETURNED
YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOTS YOU ARE
NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE AT THE
POLLS.
THERE'S A WATERMARK ON THE POLL
BOOKS.
SO YOU WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO
CAST A BALLOT ON ELECTION DAY IF
YOU HAD RETURNED YOUR ABSENTEE.
BUT YOU CERTAINLY SHOULDN'T
TRIEF TRY
THAT EITHER BECAUSE IT COULD BE
REFERRED TO A DISTRICT ATTORNEY
AND BE VOTER FRAUD.
>> WHAT ARE THE FACTS ON THAT IN
WISCONSIN?
>> SO AFTER ELECTIONS WE ARE
REQUIRED TO PRODUCE A REPORT
THAT SHOWS INSTANCES OF VOTER
FRAUD.
AND OUR COMMISSION JUST APPROVED
THE MOST RECENT REPORT, WHICH
TAKES A LOOK AT THE ELECTIONS
ALREADY HERE IN 2020, AS WELL AS
SOME OF THE PREVIOUS ELECTIONS
LAST YEAR, AND OVER THAT COURSE
OF THAT REPORTING PERIOD, SO
WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO THIS EVERY
YEAR, WE SAW ABOUT 20 INSTANCES
STATEWIDE.
AND, AGAIN, THAT COVERS THE
GAMUT OF MORE THAN A YEAR WORTH
OF ELECTIONS IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
>> THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT THE
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE AND ITS
ABILITY TO DELIVER BALLOTS ON
TIME ON NOVEMBER 3.
WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE WHO WANT TO
VOTE THAT WAY DO?
>> SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN
VOTING BY ABSENTEE BALLOT BY
MAIL, MAKE SURE YOU'RE
LEVERAGING THE TIME THAT WE HAVE
BEFORE ELECTION DAY.
SO ALL ABSENTEE BALLOTS MUST BE
RECEIVED BY YOUR LOCAL ELECTION
OFFICIAL NO LATER THAN 8:00 P.M.
ON ELECTION DAY.
AND THE USPS HAS TOLD US AND HAS
TOLD US FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS
NOW THAT EACH JOURNEY OF YOUR
BALLOT CAN TAKE UP TO A WEEK.
SO IT CAN TAKE UP TO A WEEK FOR
THAT BALLOT TO GET TO YOU AND UP
TO A WEEK FOR IT TO GET BACK TO
YOUR LOCAL ELECTION OFFICIAL.
PLAN ACCORDINGLY.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO USE THAT
OPTION, MAKE YOUR REQUEST RIGHT
AWAY.
ONCE YOU RECEIVE YOUR BALLOT,
RETURN IT RIGHT AWAY.
IF YOU ARE CLOSE TO THE
DEADLINE, THERE ARE OTHER
OPTIONS TO RETURN YOUR BALLOT,
INCLUDING IN-PERSON DROP-OFF AT
YOUR LOCAL ELECTION OFFICIAL'S
OFFICE.
AND MANY OF YOUR COMMUNITIES MAY
HAVE DROP BOXES WHERE YOU CAN
DROP OFF THOSE BALLOTS.
>> ONE ISSUE IN THE MIDST OF
COVID-19 IS THAT NURSING HOME
RESIDENTS WON'T SEE ELECTION
DEPUTIES IN THEIR FACILITIES TO
HELP THEM COMPLETE THEIR BALLOT
BECAUSE IT'S JUST TOO RISKY.
WHAT ARE THOSE RESIDENTS TO DO
IF THEY CANNOT WHREET THEIR BALLOTS
WITHOUT HELP?
>> ANY STATE OF WISCONSIN
ELECTOR IS ALLOWED TO USE AN
ASSISTER OF THEIR CHOICE.
SOME RESIDENTS MAY UTILIZE
FACETIME OR SKYPE TO COMMUNICATE
WITH A LOVED ONE TO HELP ASSIST
THEM IN THAT PROCESS.
SO THERE ARE OPTIONS AVAILABLE
TO THOSE VOTERS.
WE'VE ALSO SENT OUT EXTENSIVE
TRAINING TO THOSE CARE
FACILITIES SO THEIR RESIDENTS AS
WELL AS THEIR STAFF UNDERSTANDS
HOW TO ASSIST A VOTER AND WHAT
THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO DO IN TERMS
OF INFLUENCING A VOTER'S
OPTIONS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE.
MEAGAN WOLFE, THANKS YOU VERY
MUCH FOR JOINING US IN THE MIDST
OF THIS VERY BUSY TIME.
>> SKT.
THANK YOU.
>> NOW MORE ON COVID-19-RELATED
NEWS AND THE TOLL THE PANDEMIC
IS TAKING ON THE STATE
WORKFORCE.
THE LATEST REPORT FROM THE
UW-MADISON CENTER ON WISCONSIN
STRATEGY IS A PRODUCT OF THE
CENTER REACHING OUT TO WORKERS
AROUND THE STATE TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THE
PANDEMIC ON THEM IN A WIDE
VARIETY OF JOB SETTINGS.
LAURA DRESSER IS ASSOCIATE
DIRECTOR OF COWs AND THANKS
VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.
THANKS.
>> THE JOBLESS RATE IS IMPROVING
SLIGHTLY, DOWN TO 6.2% IN
AUGUST ACCORDING TO SOME
NUMBERS.
IS THAT REASON FOR SOME
OPTIMISM?
>> FOR SURE.
IT IS GREAT TO SEE THAT RATE GO
DOWN.
THE CONTRACTION FROM THE
SHUTDOWN IN MARCH WAS INTENSE
AND OFF THE CHARTS LIKE NOTHING
WE'VE EVER SEEN.
UNEMPLOYMENT SPIKED UP TO 13.
IT HAS COME DOWN.
IT'S COMING DOWN MORE SLOWLY
NOW.
WE USED TO BE RIGHT AROUND 3%,
3.5.
SO WE'RE STILL QUITE A BIT
HIGHER THAN BEFORE.
AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING
I THINK ESPECIALLY THE FOLKS
FROM LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY,
RESTAURANTS, HOTELS, THAT'S
WHERE A REALLY INTENSE STORY OF
DISLOCATION AND INCOME LOSS IS
EVEN TODAY.
>> OF COURSE.
WHAT'S THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN
DISCUSSION OF HOW GREAT THE
STOCK MARKET IS DOING AND THE
AVERAGE WISCONSIN WORKER TODAY?
>> I MEAN, THE DISCONNECT IS
PRETTY INTENSE.
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE HISTORIC
HIGHS, HAVE HIT HISTORIC HIGHS
THIS YEAR IN THE STOCK MARKET IN
SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THIS
ECONOMY IS -- HAS -- HAS -- IS
IN CRISIS FOR SO MANY PEOPLE.
AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY A
CONTRADICTION THAT IN DOING
RESEARCH IN THE ECONOMY WE'VE
TRIED TO POINT OUT ALL THE WAY
ALONG, THAT WHAT WE SEE
HAPPENING IN THE STOCK STOCK MARKET IS
NOT REFLECTED AT THE MIDDLE OF
THE LABOR MARKET AND THE MEDIAN
WORKER'S LIFE IN THIS STATE.
THIS IS THIS EXTREME VERSION
WHERE IN SPITE OF INCREDIBLE
SUFFERING AND DISLOCATION,
ECONOMIC MATERIAL DESPERATION IN
THIS NATION, WE HAVE A KIND OF
DISCONNECTED REALITY FOR THE
RICH.
>> NOW, THE SUPERINTENDENT OF
WISCONSIN SCHOOLS IN HER ANNUAL
ADDRESS THIS WEEK SAID THAT
COVID LAID BARE OPPORTUNITY
GAPS.
FROM AN ECONOMIST'S VANTAGE, HOW
DOES IT ALSO LAY IN ECONOMIC
INEQUALITIES BARE?
>> MAYBE PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR
WITH THE HEALTH OUTCOMES, WHERE
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES ARE
THREE TIMES AS LIKELY TO -- THIS
IS NATIONALLY, THREE TIMES AS
LIKELY TO CONTRACT THE DISEASE,
TWICE AS LIKELY TO DIE FROM THE
DISEASE.
BUT UNDERNEATH YOU ALSO SEE
INCREDIBLE -- THE INCOME
DISPARITIES, ESPECIALLY RACIAL
ECONOMIC DISPARITIES EXACERBATED
BY THIS.
I WAS TALKING EARLIER ABOUT
RESTAURANT WORKERS.
THE WORKERS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE
LABOR MARKET, MORE LIKELY IN
RESTAURANTS AND FOOD SERVICE,
ARE THE ONES WHO LOST THEIR
JOBS, WHO CAN'T FIND JOBS TO GO
BACK TO.
IN THE FIRST PLACE, THEY WERE IN
JOBS THAT HAD PRETTY LOW HOURS,
PRETTY VARIABLE WAGES AND LOW
WAGES AND REALLY WEAK BENEFIT
PACKAGES.
THOSE ONES HAVE ABSORBED ALL
THIS INTENSE SHOCK.
THOSE ARE MORE LIKELY BLACK AND
BROWN WORKERS IN THE STATE.
AND ALSO SPECIFICALLY THINKING
ABOUT THE WORKERS IN
MEAT-PACKING PLANTS, WHICH ARE
LARGELY IMMIGRANTS, MOSTLY FROM
LATIN AMERICA IN MOST OF THE
SETTINGS IN THIS STATE THAT HAD
OUTBREAKS, SO THAT THAT INTENSE
-- WAS INTENSELY EXPERIENCED
THROUGH WORK BY THOSE
COMMUNITIES.
>> NOW, YOU DESCRIBE UNCERTAINTY
FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED,
OF COURSE.
BUT WHAT IS THE WORST OF THAT
UNCERTAINTY IN YOUR MIND WITH
REALLY LESS THAN A MINUTE LEFT?
>> THE WORST OF THE UNCERTAINTY
IS I THINK THE INABILITY TO SEE
PENL
PEOPLE TREATING THIS AS A
NATIONAL ECONOMIC CRISIS, WHERE
THE HEALTH CARE -- THE SITUATION
IN OUR HEALTH IS DISPLACING SOME
PEOPLE AND THEY NEED INCOME
SUPPORT TO KEEP FOOD ON THEIR
TABLES AND KEEP THEMSELVES IN
HOUSING.
AND THOSE PEOPLE, ONCE THE EXTRA
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FROM THE
FEDERAL CARES ACT RAN OUT AT THE
END OF JULY, THE NATION HAS
BASICALLY LOOKED AWAY.
THAT PROBLEM HASN'T GONE AWAY
AND COVID HASN'T GONE AWAY AND
THOSE WORKERS ARE IN DESPERATE
NEED.
>> LAURA DRESSER, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
THANKS FOR YOUR WORK.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> AND THIS NOTE.
THIS AFTERNOON GOVERNOR EVERS
ANNOUNCED HE ASKED FOR AND
RECEIVED THE RESIGNATION OF
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY
CALEB FROSTMAN.
WISCONSIN KNIGHTWISCONSINITES SHOULD BE
RECEIVING THEIR BENEFITS SOONER.
>> JUST WEEKS AGO THE NATIONAL
SPOTLIGHT WAS ON KENOSHA.
NOW THAT THE OUT-OF-TOWN
PROTESTERS AND MEDIA HAVE LEFT,
THE COMMUNITY IS STILL SHOWING
UP TO FIGURE OUT NEXT STEPS.
MARISA WOJCIK SAT DOWN WITH
DANIEL THOMPSON, A FORMER EDITOR
AT THE KENOSHA NEWS WHO RESIGNED
AFTER THE NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED
WHAT HE CONSIDERED AN
IRRESPONSIBLE HEADLINE TO TALK
ABOUT HOW KENOSHA HAS BEEN
REPRESENTED AND HOW HE HOPES TO
ELEVATE MORE VOICES AND CREATE
GREATER TRANSPARENCY IN LOCAL
REPORTING WITH HIS OWN MEDIA
ORGANIZATION CALLED THE UPTOWN
OBSERVER.
>> IN A TIME WHERE, SADLY,
KENOSHA NEEDS DE-ESCALATION AND
THE NATION NEEDS DE-ESCALATION,
WE HAVE IRRESPONSIBLE HEADLINES
THAT ARE ESCALATING THINGS.
WE HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
AND COMMANDER COMMANDERS HAVE DECIDED TO
RESPOND WITH BRUTE FORCE INSTEAD
OF ACTUALLY TALKING TO THE
PEOPLE OR LISTENING.
SO THAT'S ESCALATED THINGS.
AND THEN WE HAD A CALL-OUT
BECAUSE OF THAT ESCALATION FOR
OUR MILITIA, CAN RED TO A
17-YEAR-OLD PERSON FROM OUT OF
MY CITY, OUT OF MY STATE, COMING
IF AND KILLING TWO OF MY PEOPLE.
TWO.
TWO OF MY PEOPLE.
YOU CAN SEE AS I TALK ABOUT IT
WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT I START
GETTING UPSET, BECAUSE IT'S
DIFFICULT TO WATCH A SITUATION
BOILING OVER WHEN THERE ARE SO
MANY PEOPLE THAT COULD COOL IT
DOWN.
BUT THEY DON'T.
AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE KENOSHA
IS AT RIGHT NOW, IS THAT THERE
ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO WANT
CHANGE, THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE
WHO WANT THINGS TO BE DIFFERENT,
BUT IS LEADERSHIP ACTUALLY GOING
TO DO IT.
>> YOU CAN WATCH THAT FULL
INTERVIEW AT
PBSWISCONSIN.ORG/NEWS.
MARISA WOJCIK'S SERIES ON RACIAL
JUSTICE AND THE MEDIA CONTINUES
NEXT WEEK ON HER LIVESTREAM NOON
WEDNESDAY.
STAY WITH US ONLINE THROUGHOUT
THE WEEK FOR UPDATES ON THE
RACIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENT IN
WISCONSIN AND LOOK FOR A NEW
COVID-19 REPORT FROM OUR
PARTNERS AT wiscontext.org ON
HOW TO TRACK LOCAL AND STATE
CASE NUMBERS.
THAT'S wiscontext.org.
AND THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR
TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FOR MORE "HERE AND NOW" 2020
ELECTION COVERAGE, GO TO PBS
pbs.org AND CLICK ON NEWS.
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PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.