>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> THE EYES OF THE NATION ARE
ONCE AGAIN ON KENOSHA,
WISCONSIN, AS KYLE RITTENHOUSE
TESTIFIES IN HIS OWN DEFENSE.
THE $1.2 TRILLION INFRASTRUCTURE
BILL PASSED IN CONGRESS AND IS
ON ITS WAY TO THE PRESIDENT'S
DESK FOR SIGNING.
A BUSY WEEK AT THE STATE CAPITOL
BRINGS MORE POLITICAL INFIGHTING
OVER 2020 ELECTIONS
INVESTIGATIONS.
AND VOTES ON REDISTRICTING MAPS.
A WISCONSIN CITY IS BEING
PROACTIVE ABOUT PFAS POLLUTION.
AND A RURAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
CONTINUES THE FIGHT AGAINST
COVID-19.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," AS
THE TRIAL OF KYLE RITTENHOUSE
NEARS ITS END, KENOSHA PREPARES
FOR THE VERDICT.
THE TRILLION INFRASTRUCTURE BILL
MEANS GETTING THE LET OWD.
WE HEAR FROM WISCONSIN
CONGRESSWOMAN GWEN MOORE.
WE CHECK IN ON REDISTRICTING
ACTION AT THE STATE CAPITOL.
AND MARISA WOJCIK REPORTS FROM
EAU CLAIRE ON PRECAUTIONS TAKEN
AGAINST PFAS.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
NOVEMBER 12.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> THE MURDER TRIAL OF KYLE
RITTENHOUSE IN KENOSHA IS
EXPECTED TO GO TO THE JURY ON
MONDAY.
AHEAD OF THAT, THIS WEEK JURORS
HEARD FROM THE DEFENDANT HIMSELF
DURING A FULL DAY OF TESTIMONY.
>> RITTENHOUSE TOOK THE STAND
THIS WEEK AND BROKE DOWN AS HE
TESTIFIED ABOUT HOW HE WAS
DEFENDING HIMSELF WHEN HE SHOT
AND KILLED TWO PEOPLE AND
INJURED A THIRD IN THE MIDST OF
CHAOTIC PROTESTS FOLLOWING THE
POLICE SHOOTING OF JACOB BLAKE.
HE DESCRIBED WHY HE FATALLY SHOT
JOSEPH ROSENBAUM.
>> HE WAS CHASING ME.
I WAS ALONE.
HE THREATENED TO KILL ME EARLIER
IN THAT NIGHT.
I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO SHOOT
HIM.
>> KITT RITTENHOUSE TESTIFIED HD
NOTHING WRONG, HE WAS DEFENDING
HIMSELF.
>> HE FACES LIFE IN PRISON.
HOW WILL THE COMMUNITY REACT
WITH EITHER A CONVICTION OR
ACQUITTAL?
THE CASE DRAWS RESPONSE AROUND
ISSUE OF POLICE CONDUCT AND
RACIAL JUSTICE.
RITTENHOUSE HAS GOTTEN SUPPORT
FROM CONSERVATIVE BACKERS
INCLUDING THE FORMER PRESIDENT.
THE POLICE SHOOTING THAT INJURED
JACOB BLAKE STARTED THE EVENT.
WE GO NOW TO WILL KENNEALLY IN
KENOSHA.
SO WHAT IS THE SCHEDULE FOR WHEN
THE JURY GETS THIS CASE?
>> SO THE JURY HAS A LONG
WEEKEND.
THEY WERE OFF TODAY.
THEY'LL BE EXPECTED TO BE BACK
IN COURT MONDAY.
THAT'S WHEN WE'LL HEAR CLOSING
ARGUMENTS FROM BOTH SIDES.
THOSE ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE MAYBE
TWO AND A HALF HOURS OR LESS
EACH.
SO THE JURY WILL RECEIVE THE END
OF THE CASE AND START
DELIBERATIONS MONDAY EVENING.
>> I KNOW TODAY ATTORNEYS AND
THE JUDGE WERE HASHING OUT
INSTRUCTIONS FOR WHETHER THE
PROSECUTION COULD ALLOW THE JURY
TO CONSIDER LESSER CHARGES IF
THEY CAN'T AGREE ON MORE SERIOUS
CHARGES.
WHAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF THIS?
>> SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THE
PROSECUTION HAS PRESENTED A
SLATE OF CHARGES CHARGING KYLE
RITTENHOUSE WITH A SLATE OF
CHARGES.
THIS WOULD ALLOW THE JURY TO
CONSIDER LESSER CHARGES THAN
WHAT THE PROSECUTION HAS CHARGED
HIM FOR.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, RITTENHOUSE
FACES FIRST-DEGREE INTENTIONAL
HOMICIDE RELATED TO ANTHONY
HUBER.
THE JURY COULD SAY WE ARE NOT
GOING TO FIND A GUILTY VERDICT
FOR THAT FIRST-DEGREE
INTENTIONAL HOMICIDE CHARGE, BUT
WE COULD TAKE UP A
SECOND-DEGREE, A LESSER CHARGE,
OR FIRST-DEGREE RECKLESS
HOMICIDE CHARGE, COME BACK WITH
A GUILTY VERDICT ON THAT.
WE'RE KIND OF IN FLUX HERE RIGHT
NOW WITH THE JUDGE.
HE'S YET TO RULE WHETHER HE WILL
ALLOW THE JURY TO CONSIDER THOSE
LESSER CHARGES.
HE MAY RULE ON THAT LATER TODAY
OR TOMORROW YET.
>> AND AGAIN THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT THE PROSECUTION HAD BROUGHT
FORWARD AS SOMETHING THEY WOULD
LIKE THE JUDGE TO CONSIDER TO BE
INCLUDED IN THOSE INSTRUCTIONS
TO THE JURY WHEN THEY GET THE
CASE.
>> RIGHT.
EXACTLY.
THAT WILL BE PART OF THE JURY
INSTRUCTIONS THAT THE JUDGE WILL
GIVE THEM MONDAY RIGHT BEFORE
THE JURY GOES INTO DELIBERATION.
>> NOW, WHAT IS HAPPENING IN
TERMS OF PREPARATIONS IN KENOSHA
FOR WHEN THAT VERDICT DOES COME
IN?
>> SO LOCAL OFFICIALS SAY THEY
ARE WORKING WITH LOCAL, STATE
AND NATIONAL OFFICIALS TO KIND
OF TAMP DOWN ANY PROTESTS THAT
MIGHT HAPPEN IN THE WAKE OF A
VERDICT.
IF YOU REMEMBER LAST SUMMER,
LOCAL OFFICIALS WERE WORKING
WITH THE NATIONAL GUARD TO KIND
OF GUARD MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS,
ALLEVIATE LOCAL OFFICIALS TO
KIND OF DO SOME POLICE WORK IN
THE STREETS.
TODAY THE GOVERNOR ACTIVATED 500
NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO BE ON
STANDBY IF LOCAL OFFICIALS NEED
THEM NEXT WEEK WHEN THE VERDICT
COMES BACK.
AFTER THIS, THEY ARE IN
PREPARATIONS FOR ANYTHING THAT
MIGHT HAPPEN.
WE HAVE YET TO HEAR DETAILS ON
THAT.
BUT WE DO KNOW THAT PREPARATIONS
ARE IN THE WORKS.
>> DO YOU SEE ANY KIND OF
PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF THE KINDS
OF PREPARATIONS THAT PEOPLE ARE
TALKING ABOUT, IN PARTICULAR,
YOU KNOW, LAW ENFORCEMENT?
ANY PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF THAT BY
WAY OF STREET CLOSURES OR SNOW
FENCING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?
>> ACTUALLY, SO RIGHT NOW WE ARE
IN THE COURTHOUSE SQUARE, AND AS
YOU CAN SEE HIND ME, LAST WEEK
THERE WAS A CHAIN LINK FENCE.
WE DON'T SEE ANY OF THAT.
NO STREETS BLOCKED SO FAR.
SO THINGS ARE ALL QUIET RIGHT
NOW.
BUT WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
WEEK.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WILL KENNEALLY, THANKS VERY MUCH
FOR JOINING US FROM KENOSHA.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IN WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT JOE
BIDEN IS EXPECTED TO SIGN THE
$1.2 TRILLION INFRASTRUCTURE
BILL INTO LAW ON MONDAY.
FOR WISCONSIN, THAT INCLUDES
$5.2 BILLION OVER FIVE YEARS FOR
HIGHWAYS, $59D 2 MILLION FOR
PUBLIC TRANCE SITS, $100 MILLION
TO EXPAND BROADBAND AND $841
MILLION FOR WATER
INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE BILL PASSED THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES LAST WEEK WITH
ALL WISCONSIN REPUBLICAN MEMBERS
OF CONGRESS VOTING AGAINST THE
SPENDING.
WE REACHED OUT TO MULTIPLE GOP
U.S. REPRESENTATIVES TO TALK
ABOUT THEIR OPPOSITION, BUT THEY
DECLINED.
IN A STATEMENT, FIFTH DISTRICT
CONGRESSMAN SCOTT FITZGERALD
SAID THIS.
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEEDS TO
REIN IN THEIR OUT-OF-CONTROL
SPENDING.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CANNOT
AFFORD THE DEBT OF THEIR
SOCIALIST AGENDA.
ALL WISCONSIN CONGRESSIONAL
DEMOCRATS VOTED IN FAVOR,
INCLUDING GWEN MOORE OF
MILWAUKEE AND SHE JOINS US NOW
AND THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> WE JUST REFERENCED THAT MORE
THAN $840 MILLION WILL BE COMING
TO WISCONSIN FOR WATER
INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING THE
REMOVAL OF LEAD PIPES.
WHAT WILL THAT MEAN FOR
MILWAUKEE IN THE VERY NEAR
FUTURE?
>> WELL, I FIND IT VERY
EXCITING, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN
BUYING WATER.
ONCE I LEARNED THAT MY FIRST
GREAT GRANDCHILD WAS TO BE BORN,
MY GRANDDAUGHTER SHOWED ME THE
BROWN WATER THAT WAS COMING OUT
OF OF THE FAUCET IN HER
APARTMENT AND I'VE BEEN BUYING
WATER SINCE THEN.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEEN
SCIENTISTS HAVE INDICATED TO US
THAT NO AMOUNT OF LEAD IS SAFE
FOR CHILDREN, AND THEY HAVE
LOWERED THE INDICATORS FOR IT.
>> HOW LONG OVERDUE IS THIS KIND
OF INVESTMENT, IN YOUR MIND?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE'VE
HAD INFRASTRUCTURE WEEK EVERY
WEEK UNDER PRESIDENT DONALD
TRUMP.
IT GOT TO BE THE STANDING JOKE.
OF COURSE, 20 OR 30 YEARS, DON'T
TAKE MY WORD FOR IT, FREDERICA.
THE ENGINEER, THE PROFESSIONAL
ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION HAS GRADED
OUR INFRASTRUCTURE HAS A D PLUS.
AND THE PL BRIDGE WE SAW FALLINN
MINNEAPOLIS IS ONE OF 180
BRIDGES IN THAT SAME SORT OF
CONDITION.
THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUE THAT
PEOPLE ARE SCREAMING ABOUT,
WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THIS IN
THE BILL.
WE'RE GOING TO UPGRADE PORTS,
AIRPORTS.
AND THIS IS PART OF THE REASON
THAT THERE'S SUCH A BACKUP IN
THE SUPPLY CHAIN.
AND SO, AGAIN, IT'S REALLY
CONFUSING WHY -- AND I'M
DISAPPOINTED THAT WISCONSIN
REPUBLICANS JOINED IN BY NOT
VOTING FOR IT.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT, THE 13
REPUBLICANS WHO DID VOTE FOR
INFRASTRUCTURE HAVE BEEN
THREATENED, THEIR LIVES HAVE
BEEN THREATENED, AND SO, YOU
KNOW, IF PEOPLE DID NOT VOTE FOR
IT BECAUSE THEY'RE FEELING
COWARDLY, I GUESS I CAN
UNDERSTAND IT GIVEN THE BACKLASH
FROM THE SORT OF TRUMP
ATMOSPHERE THAT HE'S CREATED
AROUND NOT GIVING JOE BIDEN OR
DEMOCRATS A WIN.
THIS IS A WIN FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE, ACTUALLY.
>> NEXT WEEK YOU WILL VOTE ON
THE NEARLY $2 TRILLION SOCIAL
SPENDING BILL.
WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT
PRONGS OF THAT FOR YOU?
>> FIRST OF ALL, I CHALLENGE
YOUR NOTION THAT IT'S A SOCIAL
SPENDING BILL.
IT TOO IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR
ECONOMY.
THE BEST WAY TO INCREASE OUR GDP
IS TO INVEST IN PEOPLE.
AND THIS IS WHAT THIS BILL WILL
DO.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
IT DOES JUST RIGHT OFF THE TOP
OF MY HEAD, THIS PROVIDES THE
ENHANCED EARNED INCOME TAX
CREDIT.
AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, WE ARE
LITERALLY ARE TAXING PEOPLE INTO
POVERTY, LOW-WAGE WORKERS INTO
POVERTY.
THEIR TAX OBLIGATIONS TAXES THEM
INTO POVERTY.
THIS ENHANCED EARNED INCOME TAX
CREDIT, IT IS A WAY TO NOT ONLY
KEEP THEM FROM BEING IN POVERTY,
BUT GIVING THEM MORE MONEY TO
ADD TO OUR GDP.
AS YOU KNOW, FREDERICA, 70% OF
OUR ECONOMY IS CONSUMPTION.
SO IF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE MONEY,
THEY CANNOT SPEND.
THERE'S NO POINT IN HAVING A BIG
DEMAND IF THERE'S NO ONE WHO CAN
ACTUALLY PURCHASE YOUR PRODUCTS.
HEALTH CARE.
WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE THE COST
OF HEALTH CARE FOR PEOPLE
THROUGH THAT BILL THROUGH
ENHANCING THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT, SO-CALLED OBAMACARE.
WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE THE COST
OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
AND SO WHILE THIS IS NOT
PHYSICAL MONEY IN PEOPLE'S
POCKETS, IT IS AN INVESTMENT IN
THEM TO ENABLE THEM TO INTERACT
IN THE MARKETPLACE MORE
ADEQUATELY.
>> WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
WE WILL BE WATCHING THAT.
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE GWEN MOORE,
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> AND THANK YOU, TOO,
FREDERICA.
>> AT THE STATE CAPITOL THIS
WEEK, FORMER JUSTICE MICHAEL
GABLEMAN PROVIDED AN INITIAL
REPORT TO LEGISLATORS ON HIS
INVESTIGATION INTO THE 2020
ELECTION.
HIS REPORT DID NOT PRESENT ANY
CONCLUSIONS, BUT LAID OUT SOME
ISSUES HE SEES WITH THE
WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION.
>> IN SHORT, A MAJORITY OF OUR
FELLOW CITIZENS HAVE EXPRESSED A
VARIETY OF THOUGHTFUL AND
MEANINGFUL CONCERNS ABOUT THE
FAIRNESS, HONESTY AND
TRANSPARENCY OF OUR ELECTIONS
AND SEEK UNDERSTANDING AND TRUTH
AS WELL AS ACCOUNTABILITY FROM
THOSE ENTRUSTED WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION OF THOSE
ELECTIONS.
THE REPORT I DELIVERED TO
SPEAKER VOS EARLIER TODAY IS AN
IMPORTANT FIRST STEP ALONG THAT
JOURNEY.
>> I THINK YOU ARE ONE OF THE
PEOPLE THAT IS UNDERMINING VOTER
CREDIBILITY IN OUR ELECTIONS AND
DOING DAMAGE TO OUR DEMOCRACY.
>> GABLEMAN'S INVESTIGATION WAS
TO WRAP UP BY THE END OF THE
YEAR BUT HE DID NOT PROVIDE ANY
UPDATE ON THE TIME LINE WHEN
ASKED.
>> ALSO THIS WEEK, THE
LEGISLATURE PASSED THE
REPUBLICAN VERSION OF NEW VOTING
MAPS, WHICH HAVE TO BE REDRAWN
EVERY TEN YEARS WITH THE CENSUS.
>> MAPS PROPOSED BY AN
INDEPENDENT EVERS COMMISSION
WERE SHOT DOWN, WITH REPUBLICANS
DERIDING THE PROCESS.
>> THEY HAVE A PROCESS THAT THE
GOVERNOR UTILIZED THAT THEY
WON'T EVEN STAND BEHIND.
THEY HAVE A PROCESS THAT IS
CLEARLY PARTISAN.
>> THEY MOVED 2.4 MILLION PEOPLE
IN THE DISTRICTS TO MAKE IT
IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEIR MEMBERS TO
LOSE, WHETHER IT'S A GOOD YEAR
FOR A BAD YEAR.
THAT IS NOT DEMOCRACY.
>> DEMOCRATS WERE NOT UNIFIED
OVER THE GOVERNOR'S MAPS,
HOWEVER.
SOME CRITICIZED THE MAPS FOR
DELUDING MINORITY GROUPS' VOICE
ACROSS MULTIPLE DISTRICTS.
>> AT LEAST THE REPUBLICAN MAP
WAS NOT TO DECIMATE THE VOICES
OF BLACK AND BROWN MEMBERS OF
WISCONSIN.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS OR THE
PEOPLE'S MAPS ARE ALSO NOT FAIR
TO EVERYONE IN OUR STATE.
>> 17 DEMOCRATS VOTED AGAINST
THE GOVERNOR'S MAPS IN THE
ASSEMBLY AS WELL AS ONE DEMOCRAT
IN THE SENATE.
>> THE GOP MAPS FACE A CERTAIN
VETO FROM THE GOVERNOR AND WILL
LAND IN THE COURTS.
ASIDE FROM LEAD PIPES,
COMMUNITIES ACROSS WISCONSIN ARE
ALSO CONTENDING WITH PFAS
CONTAMINATION IN DRINKING AND
GROUNDWATER.
THERE ARE FEW ENFORCEABLE
STANDARDS FOR THE HARMFUL
CHEMICAL, BUT ONE NORTHWEST
WISCONSIN COMMUNITY DECIDED IT
CANNOT WAIT FOR LEGISLATION
BEFORE DEALING WITH SUCH
POLLUTION.
MARISA WOJCIK BRINGS US THIS
REPORT FROM EAU CLAIRE.
>> WE'VE DONE THINGS IN OUR PAST
TO THE ENVIRONMENT THAT AT THE
TIME THEY MAY NOT HAVE SEEMED
BAD, BUT NOW WE FIND OUT LATER
THAT THEY'RE NOT GREAT FOR THE
EARTH AND FOR OUR PERSONAL
HEALTH.
>> LANE BERG IS THE CITY OF
EAU CLAIRE UTILITIES MANAGER, IN
CHARGE OF THE CITY'S DRINKING
WATER WELLS.
>> WE HAVE 16 ACTIVE WELLS IN
OUR WELL FIELD HERE.
IT'S ABOUT 400 ACRES IN SIZE AND
IT SERVES THE ENTIRE POPULATION
OF THE CITY OF EAU CLAIRE.
WE PUMP ABOUT 9 MILLION GALLONS
PER DAY.
>> IN JULY WHEN THE TREATMENT
PLANT DETECTED ELEVATED LEVELS
OF PFAS, BERG TOOK IMMEDIATE
ACTION.
>> WHEN WE DID SAMPLE ALL OF OUR
WELLS, WE FOUND FOUR WELLS ON
THE NORTH END OF OUR WELL FIELD
THAT WERE SLIGHTLY HIGHER IN
PFAS LEVELS.
AT THAT POINT WE SHUT THOSE
WELLS DOWN IMMEDIATELY.
>> PFAS STANDS FOR
PERFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES AND
REFERRED TO AS FOREVER
CHEMICALS.
OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, KNOWN
CONTAMINATION SITES HAVE POPPED
UP THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN.
>> I THINK THE MORE WE TEST FOR
IT, THE MORE WE'LL FIND IT.
>> CHRISTY REMUCAL IS AN
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING AT
UW-MADISON.
>> THESE CHEMICALS ARE USED IN A
LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS WE COME
IN CONTACT WITH EVERY DAY, A LOT
OF CONSUMER PRODUCTS, ANYTHING
THAT'S NONSTICK OR WATERPROOF,
SO PANS, STAIN-RESISTANT
CARPETING, WATERPROOF CLOTHING.
THEY'RE USED IN INDUSTRIAL
APPLICATIONS AND IN FI FIREFIGHG
FOAM JUST TO NAME A FEW.
SOME OF THESE CHEMICALS HAVE
BEEN USED FOR DECADES AND WE'RE
JUST NOW KIND OF FINDING OUT
ABOUT THE EXTENT OF
CONTAMINATION FOR THEM IN THE
ENVIRONMENT.
THE CONCENTRATIONS WE WORRY
ABOUT FOR HUMAN EXPOSURE ARE
REALLY LOW, SO PARTS PER
TRILLION.
>> PARTS PER TRILLION.
>> NEW CONCENTRATIONS WE'RE
LOOKING FOR.
>> EAU CLAIRE TRANSLATES TO
CLEAR WATER, AN AT T ATTRIBUTE G
TOOK SERIOUSLY.
>> WE STARTED IN 2020 ON OUR
OWN.
WE WANTED TO KNOW IF WE DID HAVE
PFAS IN OUR WATER.
>> THEY WORKED WITH THE DNR FOR
GUIDANCE ON HOW TO SAMPLE AND
WHERE.
>> SO WE ARE IN BASICALLY ABOUT
THE MIDDLE OF THE WELL FIELD.
THIS IS WHAT WE CONSIDER THE
NORTH AND SOUTH HALF FROM HERE.
>> PFAS IS ESPECIALLY CONCERNING
AS A GROWING BODY OF RESEARCH
LINKS IT TO ADVERSE OUTCOMES,
CANCER, THYROID ISSUES,
INCREASED CHOLESTEROL AND
PROBLEMS FOR PREGNANT MOTHERS
AND THEIR BABIES.
PFAS CHEMICALS DON'T BREAK DOWN
OVER TIME.
THEY TRAVEL FAR, AND THEY ARE
EVERYWHERE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT
TO HOLD PARTIES RESPONSIBLE FOR
CONTAMINATION.
>> THE DNR HAS ACTUALLY LISTED
THE AIRPORT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY
TO HERE AS A POTENTIALLY
RESPONSIBLE PARTY.
THEY'RE HANDLING THAT FULL
INVESTIGATION.
>> MANY CONTAMINATION SITES ARE
NEAR AIRPORTS OR FIRE TRAINING
CENTERS, AS FOAMS ARE PACKED
WITH PFAS CHEMICALS.
WHILE THE DNR HANDLES THE
INVESTIGATION, EAU CLAIRE
UTILITIES HAVE BEEN FOCUSING ON
SOLUTIONS.
>> DOING PIPING, CREATING
ABSORPTION PONDS.
WE'RE ABLE TO DUMP WATER WHICH
IS CUTTING OFF THE FLOW OF PFAS
TO OUR BETTER WELLS AND WE'VE
ACTUALLY SEEN IMPROVEMENT IN
FIVE OF OUR INDIVIDUAL WELLS
SINCE WE STARTED DOING THIS AND
OUR ENTRY POINT HAS BEEN ON A
STEADY DECLINE AS WELL.
>> GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE COME
OUT WITH DIFFERENT
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WHAT'S
CONSIDERED SAFE, BUT OVERALL
ENFORCEMENT OF STANDARDS IS
LIMITED.
IN THE MEANTIME, BERG WANTS TO
REASSURE THE PEOPLE OF
EAU CLAIRE.
>> I WANT TO JUST REINFORCE THE
FACT THAT OUR WATER IS SAFE.
>> I ALSO THINK IT'S REALLY GOOD
THAT SOME COMMUNITIES ARE BEING
PROACTIVE.
>> PFAS IS A BIG ISSUE.
I DON'T THINK WE'LL BE IN A
POSITION TO WAIT FOR ANY
LEGISLATIVE ACTION.
WE'LL TAKE ACTION ON OUR OWN
HERE.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE FEEL REALLY
STRONGLY ABOUT AND WE'RE GOING
TO TRY AND RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
>> MOST ESPECIALLY IN A CITY
NAMED FOR ITS CLEAR WATER.
FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M MARISA
WOJCIK IN EAU CLAIRE.
>> WHEREAS SOME MIGHT HAVE
THOUGHT COVID-19 WAS ON THE
RETREAT, CASES, HOSPITALIZATIONS
AND DEATHS ARE ON THE RISE IN
WISCONSIN, WITH SEVEN-DAY
AVERAGE CASE COUNTS ABOVE 2500
AND DAILY DEATHS IN THE DOUBLE
DIGITS.
EIGHT COUNTIES HAVE CRITICALLY
HIGH NUMBERS.
SIX ARE IN THE NORTHWEST PART OF
THE STATE.
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS HAVE BEEN
ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE
PANDEMIC FOR MORE THAN A YEAR
AND A HALF AND STILL THERE IS
RESISTANCE TO WEARING MASKS AND
GETTING VACCINES.
THE CEO OF MARSHFIELD CLINIC, A
PROVIDER ACROSS RURAL WISCONSIN,
HAS LAMENTED THE BACKLASH OVER
COVID MITIGATIONS.
SUSAN TOURNEY JOINS US NOW FROM
MARSHFIELD.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
<!32768> T
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
HAVING US.
>> WAS THE BACKLASH MOSTLY
AROUND YOUR MANDATE THAT STAFF
BE VACCINATED?
>> YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY THAT
WE'VE HAD MANY CHALLENGES DURING
COVID, AND THE ISSUE ABOUT
VACCINATION HAS CERTAINLY
CREATED CONTROVERSY.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEEN SOME
VERY, VERY STRONG VACCINE
RESISTANCE IN OUR SERVICE AREA,
INCLUDING SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
WE DID, AS YOU JUST STATED,
MANDATE THE VACCINE FOR ALL OF
OUR HEALTH SYSTEM STAFF, AND IT
DREW BACKLASH FROM NOT JUST SOME
OF OUR EMPLOYEES, BUT ALSO FROM
SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AND IT'S NOT UNIQUE TO US.
HEALTH SYSTEMS AND HOSPITALS
ACROSS WISCONSIN ARE REALLY
FACING THE SAME TYPE OF
BACKLASH.
AND I WOULD SAY THAT AS A -- FOR
US AS A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM,
MANDATING THE VACCINE WAS REALLY
A SIMPLE DECISION.
OUR VALUES DEMAND THAT WE DO
WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR PATIENTS.
WE KNOW THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO
EXCELLENCE.
SO WE ALSO WANT TO LIVE OUR
MISSION, WHICH IS TO ENRICH
LIVES.
SO WHEN WE CAN'T REALLY APPROACH
LIVING TO THOSE IDEALS THAT WE
HAVE IN PLACE IF WE HAVE AN
UNVACCINATED POPULATION.
SO OUR PATIENTS DEPEND ON US.
THEY WANT AND THEY DESERVE TO
COME TO A FACILITY THAT DOES
EVERYTHING IN ITS POWER TO KEEP
THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES SAFE.
SO I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT MOST OF
OUR 10,000 EMPLOYEES AND ALL OF
OUR PHYSICIANS HAVE BEEN
VACCINATED.
WE ARE AT ABOUT 99% PLUS RATE
RIGHT NOW FOR ALL OF OUR STAFF
WHO HAVE COMPLIED WITH OUR
REQUIREMENT.
OUR DEADLINE IS NEXT MONDAY, AND
ON THAT DATE I SUSPECT WE WILL
HAVE A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE
WHO DO CHOOSE TO NOT COMPLY WITH
OUR REQUIREMENT.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT WE ARE
PREPARED AND I BELIEVE THAT WE
ARE IN A GOOD POSITION TO
CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE DO BEST,
WHICH IS TAKE CARE OF PATIENTS
IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDE
HIGH-QUALITY CARE.
>> AND I'M ASSUMING THAT WHEN
YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE PREPARED
WHEN THAT DEADLINE HAPPENS TO
HAVE TO LET PEOPLE GO THAT DO
NOT COMPLY WITH GETTING
VACCINATED?
>> YES.
THERE MAY BE A FEW PEOPLE THAT
DON'T COMPLY AND WILL BE ASKED
TO LEAVE THE ORGANIZATION.
AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT,
AGAIN, LIVING UP TO OUR MISSION
AND STANDING ON OUR VALUES AND
KNOWING WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO
BEST SERVE OUR PATIENTS AND OUR
STAFF AND OUR COMMUNITIES,
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS.
>> NOW, I KNOW THAT YOU'VE
DESCRIBED WHAT YOU EXPERIENCED
THERE AT YOUR HEALTH SYSTEM AS
BACKLASH, BUT THERE WERE
LITERALLY PROTESTS OUTSIDE YOUR
CLINIC?
>> YOU KNOW, WE DID HAVE SOME
PROTESTS IN SOME OF OUR
COMMUNITIES, AND WE ALSO HAD
STAFF THAT WERE HARASSED WHEN
THEY WERE WALKING TO THEIR CARS
IN THE PARKING LOT.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE ARE DOING WHAT
WE CAN TO PROTECT OUR STAFF,
PROTECT OUR PATIENTS IN THIS
ENVIRONMENT.
SO IT HAS CERTAINLY ADDED TO THE
STRESS THAT OUR STAFF HAS FELT
DURING THIS PANDEMIC AS WE ALL
KNOW THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS TAKEN
TRULY AN EXTREME TRIAL ON ALL OF
OUR WORKFORCE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
SO IN THE MIDST OF ALL OF THIS,
WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THESE
COUNTIES WITH CRITICALLY HIGH
COVID CASE COUNTS RIGHT NOW?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE DO SERVE A
VERY RURAL POPULATION AND WE
KNOW THAT THERE ARE COUNTIES IN
OUR SERVICE AREA THAT HAVE LOWER
VACCINATION RATES THAN OTHER
PARTS OF THE STATE.
HOWEVER, WE ARE HERE TO SERVE
OUR PATIENTS AND WE WILL TAKE
CARE OF PATIENTS.
WE HAVE A MULTIPRONGED APPROACH.
OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE
OUR PATIENTS TO BE VACCINATED.
WE HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION
AVAILABLE TO THEM AND WE WILL
ALSO SPEAK WITH THEM IF THAT
WOULD HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE
BENEFITS OF THE VACCINATION.
YET PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET
SICK.
THE RATE OF PEOPLE GETTING SICK
WITHOUT A VACCINATION IS MUCH
HIGHER THAN THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
VACCINATED.
BUT WE WILL TAKE CARE OF OUR
PATIENTS.
THAT'S WHAT WE DO AND IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO
HONOR OUR COMMITMENT TO PATIENT
CARE.
>> AND AS TO YOUR STAFF AND HOW
PEOPLE HAVE WEATHERED THIS
FATIGUE AND BURN-OUT AS IT'S
BEEN DESCRIBED, WHAT IS YOUR
MESSAGE TO THOSE OF YOU IN THE
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM ON THE FRONT
LINES?
>> YOU KNOW, I WISH THERE WERE A
SINGLE MESSAGE, BECAUSE I THINK
THE MESSAGE WOULD BE LET'S HAVE
HOPE THAT WE WILL GET THROUGH
THIS AND COME OUT ON THE OTHER
END IN A BETTER PLACE.
AND I BELIEVE THERE IS TRUTH TO
THAT.
YET, I'VE ALREADY SAID THE
PANDEMIC REALLY HAS TAKEN AN
EXTREME TOLL ON OUR WORKFORCE.
THEY'RE EXHAUSTED FROM FIGHTING
THE PANDEMIC FOR TWO YEARS NOW.
WE HAVE OFTENTIMES BEEN
SHORTSTAFFED PEOPLE PEOPLE HAVE
BEEN SICK OR THEY'RE WORKING
EXTRA SHIFTS OR THEY'RE TAKING
CARE OF SICK FAMILY MEMBERS.
THESE WORK-RELATED CHALLENGES
ARE IMMENSE.
AND BEING A RURAL HEALTH CARE
PROVIDER, WE'VE HAD CHALLENGES
THAT PREDATED COVID, PREDATED
THE PANDEMIC.
MANY AREAS IN THE COUNTRY WITH
RURAL HEALTH, THAT ARE IN RURAL
HEALTH CARE, HAD ALREADY
EXPERIENCED A CRISIS WITH
HOSPITAL CLOSURES, SHORTAGES OF
WORK STAFF.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIGHT THE
UNIQUE STRAIN THAT THIS HAS
BROUGHT TO US AND HELPING OUR
STAFF IF THERE ARE MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES, IF THERE ARE FINANCIAL
ISSUES, IF THERE ARE CHILD CARE
ISSUES.
WE'RE TRYING TO MEET THEIR NEEDS
THE BEST WE CAN.
AND, AGAIN, I THINK HOPE IS THE
WORD THAT WE NEED TO THINK
ABOUT.
WE HAVE HOPE THAT THIS WILL BE
BETTER.
>> DR. TURNEY, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WORK.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YOU CAN FIND MORE A COVID-19
AND ALL THE LATEST NEWS BY
VISITING OUR WEBSITE AT
pbswisconsin.org.
THAT IS 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.