>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> THE DELTA VARIANT SPIKES
INTEREST IN HOW SCHOOLS CAN
SAFELY GET UNDERWAY IN LESS THAN
A MONTH.
AND PROGRESS IN WASHINGTON ON
THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL PROMISES
TO SEND TRANSPORTATION DOLLARS
DOWN THE ROAD TO WISCONSIN.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," THE
DELTA VARIANT FLARES JUST AS THE
SCHOOL YEAR APPROACHES.
WISCONSIN'S SHARE OF
$110 BILLION OF FEDERAL MONEY
FOR TRANSPORTATION IS COMING
DOWN THE ROAD, AND GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS SAYS A STATE SUPREME COURT
DECISION BLOCKS HIS ABILITY TO
DECLARE A MASK MANDATE.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
AUGUST 6TH.
FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, THE
SUPREME COURT HAS TIED OUR HANDS
AROUND THAT, SO WE'LL RELY ON
PEOPLE TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND
OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT
COUNTIES WILL FOLLOW THE ADVICE
OF THE CDC AND I'LL DO TO THE
BEST OF MY ABILITY AND VARIOUS
EMPLOYERS ARE WORKING HARD
ACROSS THE STATE.
PEOPLE ARE TAKING THIS
SERIOUSLY.
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS TELLING
WHY WISCONSIN WILL HAVE NO MASK
MANDATE.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
IS HOSTING A VACCINE CLINIC AT
THE WISCONSIN STATE FAIR.
GIVING FREE CREAM PUFFS FOR ANY
TAKERS.
INCENTIVIZING AND ENCOURAGING
VACCINES IS ONE OF THE LAST
TOOLS IN THE GOVERNOR'S COVID
RESPONSE TOOLKIT.
THE COVID-19 DELTA VARIANT IS
CAUSING A SURGE IN CASES IN
WISCONSIN, WITH MILWAUKEE COUNTY
NOW IN THE EXTREME TRANSMISSION
CATEGORY.
IN RESPONSE TO THE DELTA SPIKE,
SOME HOSPITALS AND CITIES ARE
IMPOSING VACCINATION ORDERS FOR
EMPLOYEES.
MANY LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE
MANDATING MASKS, UW-MADISON THIS
WEEK ANNOUNCED MASKS ARE
REQUIRED AT ALL INDOOR
LOCATIONS.
UW-MILWAUKEE HAS ALSO IMPOSED
MASK MANDATES AND TESTING
REQUIREMENTS FOR UNVACCINATED
STUDENTS AND STAFF.
BUT THIS WEEK A
REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED
LEGISLATIVE RULES COMMITTEE
VOTED THAT THE UW SYSTEM WILL
NEED ITS APPROVAL TO IMPOSE SUCH
COVID-19 SAFETY MEASURES.
MILWAUKEE HAS DECLARED, HOWEVER,
THAT THE UW SYSTEM HAS AFFIRMED
ITS AUTHORITY TO PUT THE
MANDATES IN PLACE.
TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF HOW
THE DELTA VARIANT IS TAKING HOLD
AND THE LATEST COVID-19
INFORMATION, MARISA WOJCIK SPOKE
WITH DR. NASIA SAFDAR, PROFESSOR
OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE, STARTING
WITH UNDERSTANDING THE
PREVALENCE OF THE DELTA VARIANT
IN WISCONSIN.
>> IS THE SHARP INCREASE IN
HOSPITALIZATIONS THE TRUE
INDICATOR OF HOW THIS VARIANT IS
TAKING HOLD?
>> IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT THE
VAST MAJORITY OF CASES THAT
WE'RE SEEING HERE IS THE DELTA
VARIANT THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
THEM.
AND SO ONCE THE VARIANT SPREADS
LIKE THAT, IT QUICKLY REPLACES
WHATEVER ELSE MIGHT HAVE BEEN
CIRCULATING BEFORE, SO AT THE
MOMENT, IT'S REALLY ALL DELTA
FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES.
I THINK THE HOSPITALIZATION
PIECE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT
TELLS US BESIDES BEING MORE
EASILY ABLE TO TRANSMIT IS THIS
ALSO LEADING THEN TO MORE PEOPLE
GETTING SICK ENOUGH THAT THEY
NEED MEDICAL CARE AND
HOSPITALIZATION, AND S SO FAR WT
WE'RE SEEING IS YES, PEOPLE ARE
GETTING HOSPITALIZED BUT A
MAJORITY OF THEM ARE NOT
VACCINATED SO THAT ADDITIONAL
LAYER OF PROTECTION THEY WOULD
HAVE ISN'T THERE AND THAT
RESULTS IN THEM GETTING MORE
SICK THAN THEY WOULD OTHERWISE.
>> THE LEGISLATIVE RULES
COMMITTEE VOTED THAT UW CAMPUSES
WILL HAVE TO HAVE ANY
REQUIREMENTS OF VACCINATION,
TESTING OR MASK WEARING BE
APPROVED BY THIS REPUBLICAN
MAJORITY COMMITTEE.
WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THAT?
>> SO MY FEELING ON THIS IS THAT
WE HAVE A SUITE OF PUBLIC HEALTH
SOLUTIONS THAT WE KNOW DO WORK
FOR CONTAINMENT, AND FOR A WHILE
THERE, WE COULD RELAX THEM A
LITTLE BIT BECAUSE DELTA WASN'T
AROUND AS MUCH AND WE DIDN'T
FACE THE SAME SORT OF EVOLUTION
AND STATE OF PANDEMIC THAT WE'RE
FACING NOW.
BUT NOW WHAT WE'RE FACING, I
THINK IT'S GOING TO NEED AN ALL
HANDS ON DECK APPROACH SO
TESTING AND VACCINATION AND
MASKING ARE ALL VERY IMPORTANT
PARTS OF THAT SUITE OF
SOLUTIONS, SO WHATEVER WAY WE
CAN GET THEM EASILY DEPLOYED, IT
SEEMS LIKE THE RIGHT THING TO
DO.
>> SHOULD EVERYONE BE MASKING
AND IN WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES?
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS A
CASE OF WHERE THERE'S BEEN A
CLEAR SHIFT IN OUR THINKING
BECAUSE OF THIS VARIANT COMPARED
TO WHAT WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE, SO
IT WILL TAKE A WHILE FOR US TO
CATCH UP TO WHAT WE NOW NEED TO
DO TO PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION
OF DELTA.
I THINK THE VACCINES ARE DOING
EXACTLY WHAT WE KNOW THE
VACCINES ARE CAPABLE OF DOING,
WHICH IS PREVENTING SEVERE
HOSPITALIZATION, SEVERE
SYMPTOMS, AND COMPLICATIONS.
WHAT THE VACCINES CANNOT DO
COMPLETELY IS TO PREVENT
TRANSMISSION IF PEOPLE DON'T
HAVE SYMPTOMS, AND SO THAT'S
WHERE MASKING COMES IN REALLY
HANDY.
I KNOW FOR A WHILE THERE, WE
WERE OF THE MINDSET THAT WE
DON'T NEED TO MASK ANYMORE AND
HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR DELTA, I
THINK THAT STILL WOULD HAVE BEEN
TRUE.
THIS PARTICULAR VARIANT HAS AN
ADVANTAGE OVER US IN A SENSE
THAT IT CAN BE SHED BY PEOPLE
WHO ARE VACCINATED, SO MASKING
NEEDS TO COME BACK.
>> WHAT ARE YOU BRACING YOURSELF
FOR IN THE FUTURE?
>> I THINK THAT WE ARE CONCERNED
POTENTIALLY ABOUT OTHER NEW
VARIANTS EMERGING.
I THINK HAVING SEEN THE STUFF
THAT DELTA CAN DO, FOR INSTANCE,
IT GIVES US A BETTER PICTURE OF
WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE FUTURE.
I THINK EVENTUALLY, THOUGH, EVEN
MORE EFFECTIVE VACCINES OR
PERHAPS THE BOOSTER OR SOME
OTHER ELEMENTS OF PROTECTION
THAT MAY COME ABOUT, I THINK
THAT WHAT IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN IS
THAT SARS COV-2 AND ITS VARIOUS
VARIANTS WILL BECOME EMBEDDED AS
PART OF THE USUAL RESPIRATORY
VIRUSES THAT WE SEE.
IF WE CAN GET TO A POINT WHERE
THE DISEASE IS MILD IN THE VAST
MAJORITY OF CASES, THEN IT WILL
BECOME INTO ONE OF THOSE
VIRUSES.
BUT WE ARE A FAR CRY FROM THERE
AT THIS POINT.
>> CHILDREN WILL BE GOING BACK
TO SCHOOL SOON, AND THOSE UNDER
12 ARE NOT PROTECTED BY
VACCINES.
AS COVID-19 INFECTIONS SPIKE
WITH THE DELTA VARIANT, THE CDC
RECOMMENDS UNIVERSAL MASKING IN
K-12 SCHOOLS.
HOW CONCERNING IS THIS
SITUATION?
WE TURN TO PROFESSOR AND
PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE
SPECIALIST AT UW HEALTH,
DR. GEG REDEMURI.
HOW CONCERNING IS THE SPREAD OF
COVID-19 AND ITS DELTA VARIANT
FOR GRADE SCHOOL CHILDREN WHO
REMAIN UNVACCINATED?
>> I THINK IT'S A BIG CONCERN
RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN REALLY AN
EXPLOSION IN THE PAST SEVERAL
WEEKS OF THE DELTA VARIANT OF
COVID WHICH IS THE PREDOMINANT
VARIANT NOW IN WISCONSIN, AND
CHILDREN WHO ARE UNVACCINATED
ARE VULNERABLE TO THAT VARIANT
ITSELF, AS ARE THE ADULTS IN
THEIR ENVIRONMENT.
THERE ARE REPORTS NOW OF
BREAKTHROUGH DISEASE IN
VACCINATED INDIVIDUALS.
SO A BIG CONCERN IS THAT A CHILD
AT SCHOOL COULD BRING IT HOME TO
VACCINATED PARENTS OR
GRANDPARENTS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE KNOW THAT THE CDC AS WE JUST
MENTIONED SAYS SCHOOLS SHOULD
IMPOSE MASK REQUIREMENTS.
HOW EFFECTIVE ARE MASKS TO
PREVENT THESE INFECTIONS?
>> WELL, THEY ARE QUITE
EFFECTIVE.
WE KNOW THIS FROM RESEARCH DONE
IN SCHOOLS IN THE FALL AND
WINTER OF LAST YEAR.
SO THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF
STUDIES, SOME RIGHT HERE IN
WISCONSIN, THAT HAVE REALLY
SHOWN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MASKS
AND OTHER MITIGATION STRATEGIES,
AND ALLOWING KIDS TO RETURN TO
SCHOOL SAFELY.
>> WHAT ABOUT DISTRICTS THAT ARE
NOT REQUIRING THEM, WHAT'S YOUR
REACTION TO THAT?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT THAT'S
VERY RISKY, TO BE HONEST.
AND THOSE DISTRICTS ARE TAKING A
CHANCE.
THE CHANCE OF AN OUTBREAK IS
GREAT, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS
DELTA BURST THAT WE'RE SEEING
HERE, AND THEY'RE TAKING A RISK
WITH THEIR CHILDREN'S LIVES, THE
LIVES OF THEIR TEACHERS AND THE
LIVES OF THE PARENTS.
>> NOW I NOW A GROUP ARE LOBBYID
AGAINST ANY MASKING REQUIREMENT
SAYING MASKING IN SCHOOLS, THIS
IS A QUOTE, IS NOT ROOTED IN
SCIENCE AND IS CRUEL TO
CHILDREN.
WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT
PERSUASION?
>> TO ADDRESS THE FIRST ISSUE
THAT IT'S NOT ROOTED IN SCIENCE,
IT IS.
THERE'S SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE ALL
OVER THE CDC'S WEBSITE THAT
MASKING IS EFFECTIVE AND WORKS.
WE SEE THAT IN OUR OWN
EXPERIENCE HERE IN OUR HOSPITAL,
HAS BEEN THAT MASKING HAS BEEN
VERY EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING
COVID TRANSMISSION AMONGST
HEALTHCARE WORKERS, OR TO
HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
SO THAT'S PRACTICAL EVIDENCE FOR
THAT.
AS TO CRUELTY OF MASKS, YOU
KNOW, I THINK THAT IS A LOT OF
HYPERBOLE, RIGHT?
NONE OF US LIKES WEARING MASKS.
I LOOK AT MY SURGICAL
COLLEAGUES, THEY WEAR A MASK
EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR 30, 40
YEARS OF THEIR LIVES.
AND YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ADULTS, OF
COURSE, BUT CHILDREN HAVE REALLY
SHOWN TO BE VERY ADAPTABLE AND
ACCOMMODATING TO MASKS.
A COLLEAGUE OF MINE, WHO'S A
NURSE, WAS TAKING HER CHILD TO
DAYCARE THE OTHER DAY, AND THE
CHILD HAD THE MASK ON IN THE CAR
AND SHE SAID, HONEY, YOU DON'T
NEED THE MASK ON IN THE CAR, YOU
KNOW?
SHE GOES, THAT'S OKAY, I DON'T
MIND IT.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE ATTITUDE
THAT KIDS HAVE ABOUT MASKS.
I THINK PARENTS ARE THE ONES
MAKING A BIG DEAL ABOUT IT.
>> YOU NEW RESEARCH RELEASED TS
WEEK FROM UW-MADISON SHOWS SOME
VACCINATED PEOPLE INFECTED WITH
COVID-19 CARRY AS MUCH VIRUS IN
THEIR NOSES AS THOSE WHO ARE
UNVACCINATED.
WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF
THAT FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN EVEN
IN THEIR OWN HOUSEHOLDS?
>> WELL, THIS IS A KEY PIECE OF
EVIDENCE FOR SUPPORTING WEARS
MASK BEINGS.
S.THIS IS STRONG EVIDENCE THAT E
NEED TO MASK EVERYBODY UP WHO'S
BEEN VACCINATED, SO THE 12 AND
UP AND THE ADULTS WHO HAVE BEEN
VACCINATED WHEN THEY GO TO
SCHOOL.
>> ARE YOU SEEING -- GO AHEAD.
>> IT'S CONCERNING THAT A KID
COULD BRING IT HOME TO A
VACCINATED PARENT AS WELL.
THAT'S CERTAINLY A CONCERN.
>> ARE YOU SEEING YOUNGER
CHILDREN GET SICKER FROM THE
DELTA VARIANT THAN THE ORIGINAL
STRAIN OF COVID?
>> WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT YET.
AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY
EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT IT'S
MORE SEVERE IN CHILDREN.
WE ARE HEARING FROM OUR
COLLEAGUES DOWN SOUTH AND,
TEXAS, LOUISIANA AND OTHER
PLACES THAT THERE IS A LOT OF
DISEASE IN CHILDREN NOW, A LOT
OF HOSPITALIZATIONS FROM COVID.
MOST OF THOSE ARE DELTA VARIANT.
BUT I THINK IT'S JUST A MATTER
OF THE NUMBERS, JUST THE SHEER
VOLUME OF CASES IN THOSE
SOUTHERN STATES.
>> LATE THIS WEEK, THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION ENCOURAGED A
RECOMMENDATION FROM THE MEDICAL
COMMUNITY TO INCORPORATE
COVID-19 VACCINATIONS INTO
SPORTS PHYSICALS FOR STUDENT
ATHLETES THIS SUMMER AND FALL.
HOW IMPORTANT COULD THAT BE IN
YOUR MIND?
>> I THINK IT'S A GREAT WAY TO
INCREASE ACCESS TO VACCINES AND
GET TO ADOLESCENTS.
TRADITIONALLY, THE AGE GROUP OF
12 TO 18 HAS BEEN TOUGH TO GET
VACCINES TO.
WE'VE SEEN THIS FOR OTHER
VACCINES THAT ARE ROUTINELY
GIVEN IN CHILDHOOD.
THOSE SPORTS PHYSICALS, SUMMER
SCHOOL PHYSICALS ARE A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY TO GET THAT DONE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, GREAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
INFORMATION, AND GOOD LUCK IN
YOUR WORK, DR. DEMURI.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MY PLEASURE.
>> SWITCHING TO NEWS ABOUT HOW
WISCONSIN COULD SEE AN INFUSION
OF FEDERAL DOLLARS TO HELP FIX
HIGHWAYS, ROADS AND BRIDGES.
ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY
ADMINISTRATION, NEARLY 1,000
BRIDGES IN WISCONSIN ARE
STRUCTURALLY DEFICIENT AND MORE
THAN A THIRD OF ROADS IN THE
STATE ARE IN FAIR OR POOR
CONDITION.
THE $1 TRILLION BIPARTISAN
INFRASTRUCTURE BILL INTRODUCED
IN THE U.S. SENATE THIS WEEK
WOULD SEND SOME $5.5 BILLION TO
WISCONSIN FOR HIGHWAY AND BRIDGE
PROJECTS.
WISCONSIN SECRETARY-DESIGNEE OF
TRANSPORTATION, CRAIG THOMPSON,
JOINS US TO DESCRIBE WHERE THIS
MONEY WOULD BE AIMED.
AND THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME,
FREDERICA.
>> FIRST OF ALL, HOW DID WE GET
TO THE PLACE WHERE A THIRD OF
OUR ROADS ARE IN SUCH CONDITION,
AND NEARLY A THOUSAND BRIDGES
ARE STRUCTURALLY DEFICIENT?
>> WELL, OVER THE LAST SEVERAL
DECADES, AS OUR INFRASTRUCTURE
HAS AGED, IN WISCONSIN AND MOST
STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE
NOT KEPT UP IN THE INVESTMENT
WE'VE NEEDED AND IT REALLY
COMPOUNDS UPON ITSELF AND THAT'S
HOW WE'VE ARRIVED AT WHERE WE'VE
GOTTEN TO, WHERE WE'VE GOT SO
MANY BRIDGES AND SO MANY ROADS
AND PORTS AND OTHERS THAT ARE
REALLY AGING IN DISREPAIR.
>> SO MOST REMEMBER THE I-35
BRIDGE COLLAPSE IN THE TWIN
CITIES.
THERE ARE 10 URBAN INTERSTATE
BRIDGES IN WISCONSIN MARKED AS
DEFICIENT.
ARE THEY IN DANGER OF THAT KIND
OF THING, OR WHAT DOES THAT
DESIGNATION MEAN?
>> NO.
STRUCTURALLY DEFICIENT IS A
DESIGNATION BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, AND IT MEANS
SOMETHING TO ENGINEERS AND IT'S
CONCERNING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK
AT IT, BUT PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE
CONCERNED, IF WE GO OUT AND
INSPECT THE BRIDGES ALL OF THE
TIME AS DOES THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY
ADMINISTRATION AND IF WE HAVE
ANY CONCERNS, WE WILL
WEIGHT-RESTRICT THE BRIDGE OR WE
WILL CLOSE IF WE HAVE ANY
CONCERNS THAT THERE COULD BE
HARM.
>> SO HOW FAR WOULD THESE
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS GO TO
REPAIRING THE ROADS AND THESE
BRIDGES?
>> THIS WOULD REALLY BE HUGE FOR
WISCONSIN AND FOR THE COUNTRY.
AGAIN, WE HAVE DECADES OF
DISINVESTMENT AND THE BUDGET
PRIOR TO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
WE INCREASED HISTORIC
INVESTMENT.
WE'VE TBEE GUN THE DAUNTING TASK
OF FIXING OUR TWO-LANE HIGHWAYS
AND ROADS WE ALREADY HAVE IN
WISCONSIN, BUT THIS INFUSION OF
FEDERAL DOLLARS, AND IT WOULD BE
CERTAIN FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS,
WOULD REALLY ALLOW US TO PLAN,
BE STRATEGIC AND REALLY BEGIN TO
TRULY IMPROVE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE
HERE IN WISCONSIN.
>> WILL SOME OF THE MONEY GO TO
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO REPAIR OR
MAINTAIN THEIR ROADWAYS AS WELL?
>> WELL, AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT
OUR GENERAL TRANSPORTATION AIDS
THAT GO TO LOCALS AND THEN
THERE'S PROJECTS THAT THEY HAVE
THAT WE COULD FUND THROUGH SOME
OF THIS, SO ABSOLUTELY, AND
THERE'S A LOT OF THE BRIDGES
THAT ARE WEIGHT-RESTRICTED RIGHT
NOW THAT REALLY IMPACTS OUR
FARMERS, PARTICULARLY, AND SOME
OF OUR MANUFACTURERS AROUND OUR
LOCAL SYSTEM.
SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY
CLOSELY WITH OUR COUNTIES IN
PARTICULAR TO TRY TO SPEED UP
THOSE PROJECTS ALREADY, BUT SOME
OF THESE FEDERAL DOLLARS FOR
THESE BRIDGES WILL CERTAINLY
HELP US MOVE THAT PROCESS ALONG.
>> NOW THERE ARE SOME, LIKE U.S.
SENATOR RON JOHNSON, WHO OPPOSE
THE SPENDING, CITING THE
NATIONAL DEBT.
WHAT ABOUT THAT PERSUASION ON
THIS GIANT INFRASTRUCTURE BILL
THAT IS STILL UNDERGOING
AMENDMENT REVISIONS?
>> WELL, I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE HAD
CONCERNS ABOUT THAT IN DIFFERENT
AREAS, BUT I WILL TELL YOU AS IT
PERTAINS TO THIS INFRASTRUCTURE
PACKAGE, THIS IS NOT BECAUSE
WE'RE COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC
FROM MY STANDPOINT.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT STIMULATING --
THIS IS ABOUT SOMETHING THAT
WILL IMPROVE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
THIS IS WHAT GOVERNMENTS SHOULD
BE DOING AND WHAT WE DIDN'T DO
FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS.
WE'RE BUILDING THINGS THAT WILL
LAST FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS THAT
WILL PROVIDE A PLATFORM WHERE
OUR PRIVATE SECTOR CAN COMPETE
BETTER WITH CHINA AND WITH OTHER
AREAS THAT HAVE INVESTED IN
THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE.
THIS IS NOT JUST PUTTING MONEY
IN TO PUT MONEY IN.
THIS WILL RESOLVE IN IMPROVED
INFRASTRUCTURE SO WE CAN COMPETE
AGAINST THE REST OF THE WORLD.
>> THE BILL ALSO AIMS MONEY
TOWARDS MASS TRANSIT AND RAIL
SERVICE, $595 MILLION OVER A
FIVE-YEAR PERIOD FOR PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION IN WISCONSIN.
HOW NEEDED IS AN INFUSION OF
FUNDING TOWARD URBAN MASS
TRANSIT IN YOUR MIND?
>> THIS IS SO WELCOME.
THE EVERS ADMINISTRATION, WE'VE
PROPOSED TRYING TO INCREASE
FUNDING FOR MASS TRANSIT WHICH
IS SO NEEDED IN WISCONSIN, AND
THAT'S ONE AREA WHILE WE FOUND
COMMON GROUND ON INVESTING ON
OUR ROADS IN THE LAST TWO
BUDGETS, THIS IS AN AREA WE WERE
NOT ABLE TO COME TO AGREEMENT
ON, THEY TOOK OUT ALL THE
INCREASES FOR MASS TRANSIT, AS A
MATTER OF FACT FOR MILWAUKEE AND
MADISON, THEY WERE EVEN CUT IN
THIS LAST BUDGET.
SO THIS DEDICATION OF FEDERAL
MONEY TO OUR MASS TRANSIT
SYSTEMS IS GOING TO MEAN A LOT
TO MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE,
EASIER TO USE, AND WHEN WE DO
THAT, THEN USAGE GOES UP.
>> SO WHAT KIND OF REACTION AND
RESPONSE HAVE YOU BEEN HEARING
FROM ACROSS THE STATE TO THE
POTENTIAL OF THIS INFUSION OF
FUNDING?
>> A LOT OF EXCITEMENT.
I WAS JUST UP IN THE GREEN BAY
AREA YESTERDAY MEETING WITH SOME
LARGE EMPLOYERS WHO COULD USE
SOME RAIL CONNECTIONS TO TAKE A
LOT OF TRUCKS OFF THE ROAD,
IMPROVE THEIR EFFICIENCY, AND SO
THERE'S SO MANY BUSINESSES LIKE
THAT ACROSS THE STATE, SO
THERE'S JUST A LOT OF EXCITEMENT
OF WHAT THIS INVESTMENT CAN DO.
>> WE'LL WAIT AND SEE.
CRAIG THOMPSON, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> WITH THIS NEXT STORY, A LOOK
BACK AT SOME OF THE GREATS.
THE MILWAUKEE BREWERS HAVE BEEN
HONORING NEGRO LEAGUES BASEBALL
PLAYERS FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS,
BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TEAM
HISTORY, THE MADISON MALLARDS
COLLEGIATE TEAM TOOK TO THE
FIELD IN UNIQUE UNIFORMS OF THE
DAY.
"HERE AND NOW" SPECIAL PROJECTS
JOURNALIST MURV SEYMOUR GOES TO
THE BALLPARK AND HAS A TRIBUTE
TO BASEBALL WITH STRONG ROOTS IN
WISCONSIN.
>> BASEBALL, IT'S THE AMERICAN
PAST TIME.
>> IT'S ALMOST GAME TIME FOR THE
MADISON MALLARDS BASEBALL TEAM.
>> IT'S OUR 21ST SEASON HERE IN
MADISON.
IT'S ALL ABOUT FUN AT A MALLARDS
GAME.
FROM BOBBLEHEADS TO FIREWORKS TO
BEERS AND HOT DOGS.
>> IT'S A GOOD ENVIRONMENT COME
COMING HERE EVERY DAY.
>> FOR OUTFIELDER CAM CRATIC,
DRAKE BALDWIN AND THE REST OF
THE TEAM, THE GAME OF BASEBALL
IS SOMETHING SPECIAL.
>> I'VE BEEN PLAYING SINCE I WAS
THREE YEARS OLD, I WOULDN'T DO
IF I DIDN'T LOVE IT.
>> TONIGHT'S GAME ON THE DIAMOND
WILL BE A FIRST.
>> YOU CAN TRACE A LOT OF THE
BIG MOMENTS IN AMERICAN HISTORY
THROUGH BASEBALL.
>> A GEM OF A LEARNING LESSON
WHERE HISTORY IS BROUGHT TO LIFE
ON THE FIELD.
>> TONIGHT IS OUR FIRST EVER
NEGRO LEAGUE TRIBUTE.
>> AND IN THE STANDS WHERE FANS
WAWR WEAR IWEAR JERSEYS, HATS AN
A TRIBUTE OF THE 3400 OR SO
BALLERS THAT PLAYED IN THE NEGRO
LEAGUES FROM 1920 TO 1960.
>> I GOT MY SATCHEL PAIGE JERSEY
TONIGHT, WHO I CONSIDER ONE OF
THE BEST PITCHERS ALL TIME IN
BASEBALL SO YOU KNOW I THINK
REALLY THE IDEA OF UNDERSTANDING
THERE ARE SOME GREAT PLAYERS
THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO BE IN THE
MAJOR LEAGUES BECAUSE OF THE
COLOR OF THEIR SKIN.
>> MALLARDS PLAYERS WEAR ENTIRE
UNIFORMS JUST LIKE THE ONES WORN
BY THE NEGRO LEAGUES BEARS
ALMOST A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
>> WE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE
SOME AUTHENTIC REPLICA UNIFORMS
OF THE MILWAUKEE BEARS.
>> I'M EXCITED TO PLAY IN THESE,
FOR SURE.
DEFINITELY GOING TO BE A SPECIAL
EXPERIENCE.
>> I FEEL LIKE I'M IN THE
1940s, LIKE FOR SURE.
>> HONESTLY, SEEING CAM AND I IN
THESE, IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE
WE'RE PLAYING FOR THE MILWAUKEE
BEARS.
>> WE'RE ACTUALLY GIVING OUT
RIGHT NOW TRADING CARDS THAT ARE
OFFICIALLY LICENSED BY THE NEGRO
LEAGUE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME IN
KANSAS CITY.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF TALENTED
PLAYERS BACK THEN THAT WEREN'T
GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY IN
THE MAJOR LEAGUE.
>> THE TRADING CARDS FEATURE THE
STORIES AND STATS OF SOME OF THE
GREATEST PLAYERS OF THE NEGRO
LEAGUES.
GUYS LIKE WILLIE CANNON BALL
JACKMAN OF THE 1928 PHILADELPHIA
GIANTS AND GRANT "HOME RUN"
JOHNSON, WHO SMASHED 60 OUT OF
THE PARK WHILE PLAYING ON AN
INTEGRATED MINOR LEAGUE TEAM IN
1894.
THEN THERE WAS THIS GUY,
"HAMMERING" HANK AARON, WHO
PLAYED FOR THE 1952 INDIANAPOLIS
CLOWNS FOR 200 BUCKS A MONTH.
LATER THAT YEAR, HE SIGNED WITH
THE THEN INTEGRATED MAJOR LEAGUE
MILWAUKEE BRAVES.
AARON WENT ON TO BREAK BABE
RUTH'S HOME RUN RECORD.
>> I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE PARENTS
TALKING TO THEIR KIDS TONIGHT
ABOUT THE TEAM.
I HOPE THEY'RE GOING OUT AND
GOOGLING IT AND LEARNING A
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE NEGRO
LEAGUES.
SATCHEL PAIGE PLAYED A LOT OF
BASEBALL HERE IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN AND THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT WE NEED THAT STORY TO BE
TOLD.
YOU KNOW, JESSE OWENS PLAYED
BASEBALL.
JESSE OWENS, THE TRACK STAR,
PLAYED BASEBALL AT STEVENS FIELD
HERE IN DOWNTOWN MADISON IN THE
1930s AFTER HIS RUN IN THE
OLYMPICS.
AND PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ALL THESE
STORIES.
IF WE CAN PROMPT GETTING THAT
DIALOGUE GOING A LITTLE BIT BY
TELLING THAT STORY HERE AT A
BASEBALL GAME TONIGHT, THAT'S
WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
>> HOPEFULLY SOME KIDS GO HOME
AND THEY LOOK UP THE NEGRO
LEAGUES AND THEY LOOK UP THE
MILWAUKEE BEARS AND THEY LOOK TO
SEE WHAT THEY DID.
>> FROM WEARING THESE UNIFORMS,
I'M DEFINITELY GOING TO GO HOME
AND LOOK UP SOME STUFF TO SEE
HOW THEY PLAYED, SEE IF I
RECOGNIZE ANY OF THE NAMES.
>> I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW THE
WHOLE STORY OF THE MILWAUKEE
BEARS MYSELF, AND I'M A BASEBALL
FANATIC.
>> NO ONE KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THE
1923 MILWAUKEE BEARS.
>> THE MILWAUKEE BEARS ARE ONE
OF THOSE UNTOLD STORIES.
THEIR MANAGER ON FIELD WAS A GUY
NAMED PETE HILL.
HE WAS ACTUALLY INDUCTED INTO
THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME.
>> HISTORIANS BELIEVE THIS
GRAINY, FADED PICTURE MIGHT BE
ONE OF THE ONLY SNAPSHOTS
FEATURING A FEW MILWAUKEE BEARS
PLAYERS.
UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE DOCTORAL
CANDIDATE KEN BARTELT LOVES
TALKING BASEBALL.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE BEARS, HE'S
A STEP AHEAD OF MOST.
PART OF HIS MASTERS THESIS WAS
ON THE MILWAUKEE TEAM.
HISTORY TELLS US THEY BARELY
MADE IT THROUGH ONE LONE,
PARTIAL SEASON.
BUT IN THOSE FOUR SHORT MONTHS,
THE BEARS HAD AN IMPACT ON THE
GAME.
>> THE MILWAUKEE BEARS ACTUALLY
HAVE CONNECTIONS TO SOME OF THE
BIGGEST FIGURES AND MOMENTS IN
BASEBALL HISTORY.
THE BEARS PLAYED IN ONE OF THE
FIRST-EVER GAMES UMPIRED BY
BLACK MEN.
>> WE MET KEN ON THE BASEBALL
FIELD AT ROSE PARK IN MILWAUKEE,
WHICH IS NOW AN HISTORIC
LANDMARK FOREVER CONNECTED TO
THE BEARS, THE BREWERS, THE
BRAVES, AND A LOT OF OTHER BIG
SPORTING EVENTS IN WISCONSIN.
>> WE'RE KIND OF ON THE SIDE OF
THE FORMER BORCHERT FIELD.
THAT WAS MILWAUKEE'S MAIN SPORTS
VENUE UP UNTIL 1953, WHEN COUNTY
STADIUM WAS BUILT.
THIS WAS A COMMUNITY GATHERING
SPACE.
THE MILWAUKEE BREWERS MINOR
LEAGUE TEAM PLAYED HERE,
OBVIOUSLY THE BEARS, THE MINOR
LEAGUE PLAYED HERE, THERE WERE
FOOTBALL GAMES PLAYED HERE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HEARD ABOUT
THE KANSAS CITY MONARCHS, BUT
SOME THE SMALLER TEAMS THAT
MAYBE DIDN'T DO AS WELL LIKE THE
MILWAUKEE BEARS, THEY'VE KIND OF
BEEN FORGOTTEN TO HISTORY, BY
LOOKING AT THOSE TEAMS YOU'RE
GOING TO GET A MORE COMPLETE
PICTURE OF WHAT THE NEGRO
LEAGUES WERE LIKE.
THE BLACK POPULATION IN
MILWAUKEE WASN'T VERY BIG YET SO
IT WAS DIFFICULT TO ATTRACT
FANS, ESPECIALLY IN A MARKET
WHERE YOU HAD A VERY POPULAR
MINOR LEAGUE WHITE TEAM, THE
MINOR LEAGUE MILWAUKEE BREWERS.
THE NEGRO LEAGUES ARE SUCH A
GREAT EXAMPLE OF BLACK
ENTREPRENEURS BUILDING SOMETHING
IN WHAT WAS KIND OF A RACIST
DUAL ECONOMY IN THE UNITED
STATES.
>> THE NEGRO BASEBALL LEAGUE IS
A PART OF BLACK HISTORY.
IT PRODUCED SOME OF THE GREATEST
BASEBALL PLAYERS THAT EVER
PLAYED THE GAME.
>> MEET 86-YEAR-OLD DENNIS
BIDDLE.
>> HOMESTEAD BRAVES, NEW YORK
EAGLES, CHICAGO AMERICAN GIANTS,
BALTIMORE.
THERE WAS 72 TEAMS THAT MADE UP
THE NEGRO LEAGUES FROM 19 WITH
IT TO 1960.
>> FROM THE SENIOR CITIZEN
COMMUNITY CENTER AT ROSE PARK,
BIDDLE TELLS US ABOUT HIS TIME
PITCHING FOR THE 1953 AND 1954
NEGRO LEAGUES CHICAGO AMERICAN
GIANTS.
HE ALSO LOBBIED TO HAVE A
LANDMARKER PLACED AT ROSE PARK
AS A PERMANENT REMINDER TO THIS
COMMUNITY.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE READ IT AND
DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S
ABOUT.
THAT THIS AREA WAS A PART OF
THAT GREAT HISTORY.
NOTHING WAS WRITTEN DOWN ABOUT
HANK AARON COMING TO THE NEGRO
LEAGUE BATTING CROSS-HANDED.
ERNIE BANKS COMING IN, HE
COULDN'T STAND THE TREATMENT
THAT WE WERE GETTING BY THE FANS
CALLING US ALL KINDS OF NAMES
AND STUFF.
HE WANTED TO GO HOME.
>> DENNIS BIDDLE SAYS WHEN HE
SEES TODAY'S PLAYERS IN
YESTERDAY'S NEGRO LEAGUES
UNIFORMS, IT BRINGS BACK
MEMORIES.
>> AND I CAN SEE SOME OF THOSE
OLD MEN THAT WERE MAKING
OUTSTANDING PLAYS, SOMETIMES IT
BRINGS TEARS TO MY EYES.
THERE'S LESS THAN 40 PLAYERS
STILL LIVING THAT PLAYED IN THE
NEGRO BASEBALL LEAGUES.
IT TOOK 10 YEARS BEFORE ALL OF
THE TEAMS HAD ONE.
THINK OF ALL THE GREAT BALL
PLAYERS THAT FELL THROUGH THE
CRACKS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IF
THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY.
THE BOSTON BRAVES HAD A FARM
TEAM HERE CALLED THE MILWAUKEE
BRAVES.
AND THE BEARS COULD ONLY PLAY IN
THE PARK WHEN THEY WERE OUT OF
TOWN.
>> THIS IS BLACK TRIUMPH, YOU
KNOW, IN THE FACE OF THE WORST
RACISM AMERICA HAD TO OFFER.
EVEN OUR NATIONAL PASTTIME WAS
SEGREGATED.
BLACK MEN COULD NOT PLAY ON THE
MAJOR LEAGUE TEAMS THAT WE LOVE
AND CHEER FOR TODAY.
THAT'S A STORY WE CANNOT FOR G
GET.
>> I MIGHT NOT BE IN THE
SITUATION THAT I AM RIGHT NOW IF
THE NEGRO LEAGUES WERE NEVER
HERE, SO IT'S PRETTY COOL
REMEMBERING THEM AND KIND OF
THANKING THEM.
>> IT'S SAFE TO SAY THIS
ONE-GAME SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO
HISTORY HAS BEEN A BIG HIT WITH
PLAYERS AND FANS TO A LEAGUE OF
PRO ATHLETES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN
FORGOTTEN.
>> I'M GLAD PEOPLE ARE FINALLY
STARTING TO GIVE RESPECT TO
THOSE PLAYERS WHO DIDN'T GET THE
RESPECT AT THE TIME.
>> INSTEAD, THEY'RE BEING
REMEMBERED.
>> THIS WROTE ABOUT JACKIE
ROBINSON BUT HE WAS THE ONLY
ONE.
HE OPENED THE DOOR, AND HE DID,
BUT THERE WAS MANY, MANY MORE
JUST AS GOOD, JUST AS GREAT, AND
NEVER GOT THE NOTE RIGHT THAT
THEY DESERVED.
SO MY JOB IS TO MAKE SURE I
LEAVE THAT INFORMATION FOR THEM.
>> THAT WAS MURV SEYMOUR
REPORTING.
SOME SAD NEWS TO CLOSE THE
PROGRAM.
PBS WISCONSIN AND WISCONSIN
PUBLIC RADIO LOST THEIR LEADER
THIS WEEK.
IT IS WITH GREAT SORROW THAT WE
REPORT THAT GENE PURCELL,
DIRECTOR OF WISCONSIN PUBLIC
MEDIA, PASSED AWAY LAST WEEKEND
AFTER A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT.
GENE BECAME OUR DIRECTOR IN
2018, AFTER HEADING THE
EDUCATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS BOARD
FOR 10 YEARS.
HIS LOVE FOR PUBLIC RADIO AND
TELEVISION WAS INFORMED BY HIS
DEEP APPRECIATION OF PUBLIC
MEDIA'S MISSION: TO EDUCATE,
INSPIRE, ENTERTAIN, AND TO HELP
STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES.
GENE WILL LIVE ON AS ONE STAFFER
PUT IT THIS WEEK, IN THE PUBLIC
AIRWAVES.
WE EXTEND OUR DEEPEST
CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY.
HE WAS A KIND AND TALENTED MAN.
HE WILL BE MISSED.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.