>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> EXCESSIVE PROLONGED HEAT AND
LITTLE RAIN REACHES NATURAL
DISASTER PROPORTIONS.
EXTREME HEAT ALSO LEADS TO MORE
DEATHS THAN ANY OTHER
WEATHER-RELATED EVENTS.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG, TONIGHT
ON "HERE AND NOW," THE FARM
BUREAU ON THE EFFECTS OF SEVERE
DROUGHT CONDITIONS.
PLUS, A CLIMATE AND HEALTH
EXPERT ON STAYING SAFE IN
EXCESSIVE HEAT.
THE FEDS RAISE INTEREST RATES
AGAIN.
HOW IS THE WISCONSIN ECONOMY
FARING?
AND AN AGENCY REPORT ON
RESTRAINTS USED ON STUDENTS WITH
DISABILITIES.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JULY 28.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> AT THE MERCY OF MOTHER
NATURE, FARMERS WITHOUT
IRRIGATION ARE BEING LEFT HIGH
AND DRY, BUT SOME RELIEF IS IN
SIGHT.
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE DECLARED 27
WISCONSIN COUNTIES ARE UNDER A
NATURAL DISASTER DESIGNATION DUE
TO THE EXTENDED AND SEVERE
DROUGHT CONDITIONS.
THE DESIGNATION OPENS UP
RESOURCES TO FARMERS WITHIN
THOSE COUNTIES, INCLUDING
EMERGENCY LOANS.
FOR MORE ON HOW WISCONSIN
FARMERS ARE FARING, WE TURN TO
KEVIN KRENTZ, PRESIDENT OF THE
WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU
FEDERATION.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, TOO.
>> SO FOR FARMERS IN COUNTIES
DESIGNATED AS IN EXTREME
DROUGHT, IS THIS A TOTAL BUST
FOR CROPS AT THIS POINT?
>> NO, NOT NECESSARILY, BUT
THERE'S A HUGE AMOUNT OF STRESS
OUT THERE ON THOSE CROPS
BEGINNING IN EARLY MAY.
THIS DROUGHT REALLY STARTED IN
EARLY TO MID MAY , AND SOME OF
THOSE SEEDS REALLY HAD TROUBLE
EVEN GERMINATING AND COMING OUT
OF THE GROUND, AND THAT'S
AFFECTING THE WHOLE GROWING
SEASON, AND WE HAVE
INCONSISTENCIES WHEN WE'RE GOING
THROUGH POLLINATION RIGHT NOW,
AND THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT YIELD
A GREAT DEAL.
>> SO HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE
CONDITION OF THE CORN, SOYBEAN
AND OAT CROPS?
>> IT'S EXTREMELY VARIABLE, AND
I WOULD THROW WHEAT IN THERE AS
WELL.
A LOT OF OUR VEGETABLES ARE IN
THE CENTRAL SANDS REGION.
MANY OF THAT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY
TO BE IRRIGATED, BUT THERE IS
SOME DRY LAND AS WELL, SO THE
VEGETABLES ARE ALSO PART OF
THIS, BUT ON THE ROW CROP SIDE
OF IT, THE CORN, SOYBEANS,
WHEAT, THERE'S A LOT OF
INCONSISTENCIES ACROSS THE
STATE.
THERE'S SOME AREAS THAT RECEIVED
TIMELY RAINS.
MAYBE NOT AS MUCH AS THEY
PROBABLY COULD HAVE, BUT THEY
RECEIVED TIMELY RAINS THAT
REALLY WERE ABLE TO CAPTURE SOME
OF THAT AND BE ABLE TO BE OF
DECENT YIELD, AT LEAST IN THE
WHEAT CROP, BUT THERE'S MANY
PARTS OF THE STATE THAT ARE
REALLY STRUGGLING.
>> YEAH, FOR SURE.
DO MOST FARMERS HAVE CROP
INSURANCE?
AND DOES THAT COVER ALL LOSSES?
>> SO THE CROP INSURANCE, YEAH,
THERE'S MANY FARMERS THAT DO
HAVE CROP INSURANCE, BUT IT'S
EXPENSIVE TO BUY TO A CERTAIN
LEVEL.
SO MOST FARMERS WILL COVER 65 TO
70% OF THEIR CORROBORATE, MAYBE
UP TO 80 -- CROP, MAYBE UP TO
80%, BUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY
HERE IN WISCONSIN, WE'VE GOT TO
HAVE FEED FOR THE COWS, SO IT'S
NOT ONLY BEING ABLE TO SELL THAT
CROP, IT'S BEING ABLE TO HAVE
ENOUGH FEED FOR YOUR ANIMALS AT
THE END OF THE DAY.
>> SO WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS
AROUND THAT RIGHT NOW?
>> WELL, AGAIN, IT COMES BACK TO
IF YOU CAN'T RAISE IT, THEN YOU
HAVE TO PURCHASE IT, AND IF THIS
DROUGHT IS WIDESPREAD ENOUGH,
THOSE CROPS HAVE TO BE TRUCKED
IN A LONGER DISTANCE.
NOW, WE DO -- WE ARE FORTUNATE
HERE IN THE UPPER MIDWEST THAT
THE MAJORITY OF OUR GRAINS ARE
GROWN RIGHT HERE IN THE MIDWEST,
SO THERE SHOULD BE PLENTY OF
GRAIN TO FEED OUR LIVESTOCK.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF SOME FARMS
WON'T BE ABLE TO PRODUCE ENOUGH
THEMSELVES TO FEED THEIR OWN
LIVESTOCK SO THEY'LL HAVE TO
PURCHASE SOME OF THAT.
>> WHAT DOES THE FEDERAL
DISASTER DECLARATION DO FOR
FARMERS IN BAD STRAITS RIGHT
NOW?
>> SO IT GIVES THE ABILITY FOR
SOME LOW COST LOANS, AGAIN, TO
PURCHASE FEED, TO BE ABLE TO
COVER SOME OF THOSE INPUTS THAT
WE HAD ON PLANTING THE CROP TO
BEGIN WITH, SO IT COVERS SOME OF
THOSE LOSSES.
>> WILL PROVISIONS IN THE STATE
BUDGET FOR INCREASED FUNDING FOR
CROP INSURANCE TO INCLUDE THINGS
LIKE HELP WITH PREMIUMS HELP
OFF-SET COSTS FOR PRODUCERS AT
ALL?
>> SO MAINTAINING -- WE'RE IN
THE MIDST OF A FARM BILL
DISCUSSION ON A FEDERAL LEVEL
AND THE CROP INSURANCE PROGRAM
IS PART OF THAT, AND MAINTAINING
A ROBUST CROP INSURANCE PROGRAM
IS GOOD FOR EVERYBODY.
IT'S GOOD FOR FARMERS TO BE ABLE
TO PROTECT THEIR CROP, BUT IT'S
ALSO GOOD FOR CONSUMERS BECAUSE
ESSENTIALLY THAT'S FEED AND FOOD
THAT COMES BACK TO US AS
CONSUMERS, AND SO IT'S A FOOD
SECURITY PROGRAM AS WELL.
>> SO GIVEN ALL THAT, HOW
IMPORTANT ARE OUR MAJOR CROPS TO
OUR STATE'S ECONOMY?
>> OH, EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING THE
VEGETABLE SIDE OF THINGS, WE'RE
NUMBER TWO IN POTATOES, NUMBER
ONE IN CRANBERRIES, BUT CORN AND
SOYBEANS, AGAIN, GO TO FEED A
LOT OF OUR LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY.
WE'RE NUMBER TWO IN THE DAIRY
INDUSTRY IN THE NATION.
WE'RE RIGHT UP THERE WITH THE
BEEF INDUSTRY AS WELL.
SO IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR
WISCONSIN'S ECONOMY.
WE'RE 105 BILLION-DOLLAR
INDUSTRY IN WISCONSIN, AND --
BUT THE KEY PART OF BEING SUCH A
LARGE ECONOMIC DRIVER IS FARMS
SUPPORT LOCAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS
THE STATE, AND WHEN FARMS
STRUGGLE, LOCAL COMMUNITIES
STRUGGLE, BECAUSE EVEN A NUMBER
OF YEARS AGO, I DID THE RESEARCH
ON MY OWN FARM AND FOUND THAT
62% OF MY EXPENSES ARE SPENT
WITHIN A 15-MILE RADIUS OF MY
FARM.
SO YOU MULTIPLY THAT BY THE 60
PLUS THOUSAND FARMS ACROSS THE
STATE AND IT'S A HUGE IMPACT ON
LOCAL COMMUNITIES ALL ACROSS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
KEVIN KRENTZ, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FARMERS LOOKING FOR MORE
INFORMATION DURING THIS CRITICAL
TIME CAN VISIT THE DROUGHT
RESOURCES PAGE FROM THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TRADE
AND CONSUMER PROTECTION.
>>> AS TO WEATHER CONDITIONS,
EXTREME HEAT IS A DEFINITE
HAZARD TO VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS, INCLUDING NOW HERE
IN WISCONSIN.
ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE
STATE THIS WEEK, HEAT ADVISORIES
WENT OUT WITH FEELS-LIKE
TEMPERATURES TOPPING
100-DEGREES.
ADD TO THAT, AIR QUALITY ALERTS,
IT'S NOT ONLY MISERABLE, IT CAN
BE DANGEROUS.
WE TURN TO MARGARET THELEN, THE
PROGRAM MANAGER OF ENVIRONMENTAL
AND OCCUPATIOAL HEALTH.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO WITH HEIS HEAT INDICES OV0
DEGREES IN WISCONSIN, HOW
DANGEROUS CAN THIS BE?
>> IT'S VERY DANGEROUS, AND IT'S
BECOMING MORE AND MORE DANGEROUS
WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND IT'S
DANGEROUS TO EVERYBODY.
THE WISCONSIN INITIATIVE ON
CLIMATE IMPACTS THAT SOME AREAS
OF THE STATE ARE GOING TO
EXPERIENCE ALMOST A MONTH MORE
OF 90-DEGREE DAYS BY MIDCENTURY.
SO BY 2050.
>> HOW AT RISK ARE PEOPLE THAT
HAVE TO WORK OUTDOORS OR
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS LIKE THE
UNHOUSED, ELDERLY, OR PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES?
>> YEAH.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT
EXTREME HEAT CAN IMPACT ANYBODY.
BUT LIKE YOU SAID, THOSE -- THE
UNHOUSED POPULATION, OLDER
ADULTS, YOUNG CHILDREN, THEY ARE
MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THOSE
KIND OF SYMPTOMS.
FOR OUTDOOR WORKERS, IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT THOSE SUPERVISORS
AND EMPLOYERS REVIEW THEIR
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ON A
CLIMATEIZATION OR PUT IN
DIFFERENT OR LETTING THE WORKERS
WORK AT DIFFERENT PRIORITIES OR
FIND MORE WATER AND SHADE DURING
THOSE TIMES.
>> IS THAT HAPPENING, TO YOUR
KNOWLEDGE?
>> IT DOES.
THERE ARE O.S.H.A. POLICIES THAT
A LOT OF EMPLOYERS USE TO BE
ABLE TO HELP THEIR EMPLOYEES.
>> HOW REAL ARE THE DANGERS OF
FIRST, HEAT EXHAUSTION AND THEN
HEATSTROKE?
>> OH, THEY'RE VERY REAL.
THEY RANGE FROM HEAT RASH, WHICH
IS THE SPLOTCHY RED AND THE
ITCHING, TO HEAT CRAMPS TO HEAT
EXHAUSTION AND FINALLY
HEATSTROKE.
HEATSTROKE CAN REALLY HAPPEN
WITHIN MINUTES AND IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT YOU RECOGNIZE
THOSE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS IN YOUR
FRIENDS, YOUR FAMILY, THOSE
AROUND YOU, AND EVEN IN
YOURSELF.
>> HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU'RE
REALLY IN TROUBLE WITH THOSE
THINGS?
>> YEAH.
SO WITH HEATSTROKE AND HEAT
EXHAUSTION, YOU BECOME REALLY
DIZZY, YOU BECOME CONFUSED, YOU
START RAPIDLY BREATHING.
IT REALLY TURNS DANGEROUS WHEN
YOUR INTERNAL BODY TEMPERATURE
IS ABOVE 104°, AND WHEN THAT
HAPPENS, YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO
IMMEDIATELY FIND SHADE OR FIND A
COOL AREA, BE ABLE TO DRINK
WATER.
I KNOW WHEN I GET REALLY WARM
AFTER A RUN, I LIKE TO PUT A BAG
OF ICE ON THE BACK OF MY NECK
BECAUSE THAT JUST COOLS YOU DOWN
IMMEDIATELY.
>> IS IT SAFE TO BE EVEN INDOORS
WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING RIGHT
NOW?
>> THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT
FACTORS THAT GO INTO COOLING A
HOUSE.
THE COOLER AREAS WHERE THERE'S
LESS DIRECT SUNLIGHT LIKE
BASEMENTS OR CELLARS ARE
GENERALLY COOLER.
YOU CAN BE IN THERE.
BUT WHEN WE'RE REACHING THESE
HIGH TEMPERATURES, AND A LOT OF
PEOPLE WILL PUT FANS ON, AND IF
THEY DON'T HAVE AIR
CONDITIONING, FANS ACTUALLY
AREN'T RECOMMENDED WHEN IT'S
ABOVE 95° BECAUSE IT DOESN'T
ALLOW YOUR BODY TO COOL.
IT WILL ACTUALLY HEAT YOUR BODY
UP WITH THAT AIR MOVEMENT.
>> SO WITH ALL OF THAT SAID, ARE
THERE ENOUGH OF THESE PUBLIC
COOLING CENTERS AVAILABLE?
>> SO EACH OF THE LOCAL
MUNICIPALITIES WILL IDENTIFY
THOSE PUBLIC AREAS WHERE PEOPLE
CAN GO.
OFTEN THEY'LL WORK WITH 2-1-1 SO
THAT PEOPLE HAVE A SINGLE SPOT
TO CALL TO BE ABLE TO FIND
EITHER TRANSPORTATION OR FIND
THOSE LOCATIONS.
SO THINK LIBRARIES, CHURCHES,
COMMUNITY CENTERS, THOSE AREAS
ARE USUALLY AVAILABLE.
>> WE KNOW THAT THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION HAS JUST
ANNOUNCED A NEW HAZARD ALERT
SYSTEM AND STEPPED UP
INSPECTIONS AND ENFORCEMENT OF
HIGH-RISK INDUSTRIES LIKE
CONSTRUCTION.
WHAT KIND OF CHANGING RESPONSES
DO PUBLIC AGENCIES LIKE YOURS AT
D.H.S. HAVE CONSIDERING THIS
KIND OF EXTREME HEAT.
>> I WORK FOR THE CLIMATE AND
HEALTH PROGRAM AND WE LIKE TO
WORK A LOT WITH OTHER STATE
AGENCIES AND FEDERAL AGENCIES
LIKE THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE TO BE ABLE TO
COMMUNICATE AND PREPARE FOR
EXTREME HEAT.
SO FINDING WAYS TO REACH THOSE
POPULATIONS THAT ARE NEEDED.
WE ALSO WORK A LOT WITH LOCAL
HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, LOCAL
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TO PROVIDE
DATA AND BEST PRACTICES AS THEY
IMPLEMENT THESE EXTREME
HEAT-RELATED RESPONSE PLANS THAT
THEY HAVE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN
FIND THE COOLING CENTERS, THEY
CAN MEET THOSE UNMET NEEDS
FASTER.
>> BECAUSE PRESUMABLY WE CAN
COUNT ON MORE OF THIS GOING
FORWARD?
>> YEAH, WITH CLIMATE CHANGE,
WISCONSIN IS BECOMING WARMER AND
WETTER AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO
EMPOWER OR LOCAL DECISION
MAKERS, OUR LOCAL PUBLIC
OFFICIALS WITH THAT DATA AND
KNOWLEDGE TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND
QUICKLY TO THESE TYPE OF EVENTS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
MARGARET THELEN, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IN ECONOMIC NEWS, NON-FARM
JOBS IN WISCONSIN GREW TO A
RECORD HIGH THREE MILLION PLUS
IN JUNE.
INFLATION HAS FALLEN BUT REMAINS
STUBBORNLY ABOVE TARGETS.
THE FED JUST RAISED INTEREST
RATES ANOTHER QUARTER POINT
HOPING TO MAKE BORROWING AND
INVESTING MORE EXPENSIVE TO
REDUCE DEMAND FOR GOODS,
SERVICES, AND LABOR.
WHERE DOES ALL THIS LEAVE US
HERE IN WISCONSIN?
WE TURN TO KEV KEVIN BAHR AT THE
CENTURY SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS.
PROFESSOR, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> FED IRAQI, NI FREDERICA, THAR
HAVING ME.
>> ALL IN ALL, HOW IS THE
ECONOMY FOR FOLKS IN WISCONSIN?
>> WISCONSIN IS PRETTY MUCH
TRACKING THE UNITED STATES IN
GENERAL AND THE ECONOMY HAS BEEN
DOING QUITE WELL, MUCH BETTER
THAN EXPECTED.
THE STOCK MARKET, WHICH IS
GENERALLY VIEWED AS A LEADING
ECONOMIC INDICATOR, THE S&P 500,
THE BENCHMARK INDEX OF LARGE
COMPANY STOCKS, THAT FELL BY 19%
IN 2022.
THAT IS UP THROUGH SEVEN MONTHS
THIS YEAR.
TECH STOCKS DECLINED BY 33% LAST
YEAR.
THEY'RE UP ABOUT 33% THIS YEAR.
AND THE REASON WHY EVERYTHING
HAS GONE MUCH BETTER THAN
EXPECTED IS BECAUSE ECONOMIC
GROWTH THROUGH THE FIRST HALF
HAS BEEN ABOVE 2%.
THAT'S VIEWED AS MODERATE
ECONOMIC GROWTH.
THERE WERE RECESSIONARY CONCERNS
AT THE END OF LAST YEAR.
THAT HASN'T MATERIALIZED.
THE LABOR MARKET IN THE UNITED
STATES, WE HAVE 156 MILLION
AMERICANS WORKING.
THAT'S GREATER THAN AT ANY OTHER
POINT IN TIME IN THE HISTORY OF
THE UNITED STATES.
IT'S FIVE MILLION MORE THAN WERE
EMPLOYED IN 2019.
IT'S 25 MILLION MORE THAN WERE
EMPLOYED AT THE BOTTOM OF 2020
DURING THE COVID YEARS.
UNEMPLOYMENT, 3.6%.
EVERYTHING IS VERY STRONG,
CONTINUES TO BE VERY STRONG.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF JOB
OPENINGS PER UNEMPLOYED WORKER,
THAT'S ABOUT 1.5.
SO ON BALANCE, THINGS HAVE BEEN
GOING VERY GOOD.
INFLATION, A YEAR AGO, 9%.
NOW IT'S 3%.
>> THOSE RATE HIKES REALLY DID
THE TRICK, THOUGH THEY CONTINUE
TO IMPOSE THEMSELVES.
UNEMPLOYMENT IN WISCONSIN IS
ABOUT 2-1/2% RIGHT NOW.
IT'S STILL A GOOD TIME TO GET A
JOB AND PEOPLE SHOULD EXPECT THE
PAY TO BE HIGHER?
>> WAGE GROWTH HAS BEEN -- WAGE
GROWTH IN THE LAST TWO YEARS HAS
BEEN HIGHER THAN AT ANY OTHER
POINT THIS CENTURY IN THE UNITED
STATES.
WAGE GROWTH HAS BEEN COMING DOWN
THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, BUT
THE GOOD NEWS IS, THE WAGE
GROWTH HAS BEEN COMING DOWN THE
LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, INFLATION
HAS BEEN COMING DOWN.
NOW YOU HAVE WAGE GROWTH
EXCEEDING INFLATION.
SO YOUR PURCHASING POWER HAS
ACTUALLY BEEN GOING UP.
IF I MIGHT POINT OUT, ONE OF THE
MAIN REASONS WHY INFLATION HAS
GONE FROM 9% TO 3%, THERE WERE
GLOBAL ECONOMIC FACTORS THAT
REALLY DROVE INFLATION
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
INFLATION PEAKED NOT OVER 10% IN
THE UNITED KINGDOM.
EUROPEAN UNION, OVER 8% IN
CANADA, NEARLY 9% IN MEXICO, SO
YOU HAD THIS GLOBAL INFLATION
LAST YEAR AND THE TRENDS, KIND
OF THE UPS AND DOWNS OF
INFLATION, THE U.S. PRETTY MUCH
REFLECTS THAT AND IT WAS PRETTY
MUCH DRIVEN BY YET A NEARLY
DOUBLING OF OIL PRICES BECAUSE
PUTIN INVADED UKRAINE.
YOU HAD WHEAT PRICES EXPLODE BY
ABOUT 50% BECAUSE RUSSIA AND
UKRAINE COMBINE FOR ABOUT 30% OF
GLOBAL WHEAT EXPORTS.
RUSSIA IS THE NUMBER ONE
PROVIDER OF AGRICULTURAL
FERTILIZER EXPORTS, SO ALL THAT
CONTRIBUTED TO THIS HUGE
HISTORICALLY HIGH INFLAIPTION
AROUND THE WORLD.
SO -- INFLATION AROUND THE
WORLD.
SO YOU HAVE THE FEDERAL REFER
RAISING INTEREST RATES BECAUSE
THAT'S REALLY ALL THEY CAN DO.
THEY'RE TRYING TO CUT DOWN
DEMAND FOR PRODUCTS, ALTHOUGH
CONSUMER SPENDING HAS REMAINED
STRONG, BECAUSE THEIR GOAL IS TO
GET INFLATION DOWN TO 2%.
WELL, WE'RE STILL ABOVE THAT SO
YOU HAVE ANOTHER RATE INCREASE
YESTERDAY, BASICALLY 11 RATE
INCREASES SINCE THE BEGINNING OF
2022.
>> SO I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT
THE JOB MARKET.
IT'S STILL THE CASE THAT THERE
IS A SHORTAGE OF WORKERS, AND
ONE ECONOMIC EXPERT I READ SAID
THAT THE LABOR MARKET IS, QUOTE,
OUT OF WHACK.
HOW DOES IT GET REALIGNED?
>> WELL, THAT'S WHAT THE -- YOU
KNOW, THAT IS AN EXCELLENT
QUESTION, BECAUSE I THINK IN MY
OPINION, ANYWAY, IF YOU LOOK AT
THE FEDERAL RESERVE AND THE
NUMBER ONE THING THAT THEY'RE
TRYING TO DO IS TO GET THAT
LABOR MARKET BACK IN LINE.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, WHERE YOU
DON'T HAVE THIS HIGHER NUMBER OF
JOB OPENINGS PER UNEMPLOYED
WORKER.
THAT CREATES WAGES GOING UP.
THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO
INFLATION.
SO BY INCREASING INTEREST RATES,
THE IDEA IS THAT AT SOME POINT,
CONSUMERS STOP SPENDING ON STUFF
BECAUSE COST OF FINANCING IS
GOING TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE.
BUSINESS INVESTMENT, RESIDENTIAL
INVESTMENT, THAT'S A LITTLE BIT
UP AND DOWN OVER THE LAST YEAR.
THAT'S DEFINITELY FELT THE
IMPACTS OF THE INCREASE IN THE
INTEREST RATES, BUT CONSUMER
SPENDING OVERALL HAS NOT.
BUT YOU HIT ON THE EXACT POINT,
THAT IS WHY THE FEDERAL RESERVE
KEEPS ON RATCHETING UP INTEREST
RATES, EVEN THOUGH INFLATION HAS
COME DOWN RATHER SIGNIFICANTLY.
>> WELL, IT IS A COMPLICATED
MIX.
SO, KEVIN BAHR, STEVENS POINT,
THINKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> IN MILWAUKEE THIS WEEK, THE
COUNTY BOARD APPROVED A .4%
SALES TAX TO SHORE UP ITS BUDGET
AND PREVENT DEEP CUTS TO
SERVICES, THIS FOLLOWS ONE
EARLIER IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE
THAT RAISES THE SALES TAX THERE
BY 2%.
IN EDUCATION NEWS, WIDESPREAD
RESTRAINT AND SECLUSION
PRACTICES IN SCHOOLS ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY USED IN
ELEMENTARY GRADES AND ON
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
THAT'S ACCORDING TO A RECENT
REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, WHICH CALLED
THE RATES CONCERNINGLY HIGH WITH
SOME 5900 INCIDENTS OF SECLUSION
AND 6900 OF RESTRAINT.
A 2019 LAW REQUIRED D.P.I. TO
START COLLECTING DATA ON USE OF
THESE PRACTICES AND LIMIT THEIR
USE.
PHYSICAL RESTRAINT IS DEFINED AS
A RESTRICTION THAT IMMOBILIZES
OR REDUCES THE ABILITY OF A
STUDENT TO FREELY MOVE THEIR
TORSO, ARMS, LEGS, OR HEAD.
IT MAY ONLY BE USED WHEN A
STUDENT'S BEHAVIOR PRESENTS A
CLEAR, PRESENT, AND IMMINENT
RISK TO THE PHYSICAL SAFETY OF
THE STUDENT OR OTHERS.
SECLUSION MEANS THE INVOLUNTARY
CONFINEMENT OF A STUDENT APART
FROM OTHER STUDENTS IN A ROOM OR
AREA FROM WHICH THE STUDENT IS
PHYSICALLY PREVENTED FROM
LEAVING.
D.P.I. SAYS THE USE OF THESE
PRACTICES MUST BE A LAST RESORT.
FOR REACTION TO THE WIDESPREAD
USE OF THESE PRACTICES, WE SAT
DOWN WITH MADISON CIVIL RIGHTS
ATTORNEY, JEFF SPITZER-RESNICK.
HAVING BEEN A CHIEF ADVOCATE FOR
USING SECLUSION AND RESTRAINT IN
SCHOOLS, WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO
THE LATEST REPORT THAT THERE ARE
THESE THOUSANDS OF INCIDENTS IN
THE 2021/2022 SCHOOL YEAR?
>> WELL, THERE'S A FEW
REACTIONS.
ING THE FIRST REACTION IS, WOW,
THAT'S A LOT OF KIDS WHO ARE
SUFFERING FROM, REALLY, AN
ABHORRENT BEHAVIOR ON ADULTS'
PART, BEING SECLUDED,
RESTRAINED.
I WOULD ASK ANY ADULT TO IMAGINE
THEMSELVES BEING HELD AGAINST
THEIR WILL AND BEING PUT INTO A
ROOM THAT WHERE NO ONE ELSE IS,
HOW THEY WOULD FEEL.
BUT SECOND, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE
NUMBERS, WE SEE THAT IT'S A HUGE
PERCENTAGE, ALMOST ALL OF THEM
ARE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
SO WE HAVE THESE YOUNG CHILDREN.
NOW, YOU MIGHT ASK ME WHY ARE
THEY YOUNG CHILDREN.
AS CHILDREN GROW OLDER, STAFF
JUST AREN'T GOING TO -- THEY'RE
JUST NOT GOING TO TRY THAT WITH
A BIGGER KID.
SO THIS POWER IMBALANCE IS
REALLY PROBLEMATIC.
IT'S LIKE WE CAN SO CALLED GET
AWAY WITH IT WITH YOUNG
CHILDREN.
LET'S ASSUME FOR THE MOMENT THAT
THE ONES THAT ARE REPORTING THAT
THEY HAVE FEW IF ANY KIDS WHO
THEY'RE SECLUDING AND
RESTRAINING, WHY AREN'T WE NOT
ONLY CELEBRATING THAT, BUT
D.P.I., FINDING OUT, WELL, HOW
ARE YOU DOING THAT?
CAN YOU HELP US TRAIN THESE
OTHER SCHOOLS THAT ARE
STRUGGLING?
CONVERSELY, IF YOU HAVE WHAT
I'LL CALL REPEAT PERFORMERS, AND
WE GENERALLY DO, IT'S USUALLY
NOT AN ABERRATION THAT A SCHOOL
DISTRICT HAS LOTS OF SECLUSION
AND RESTRAINT AND THEN NONE THE
NEXT YEAR.
THEY'RE GOING TO STAY THERE.
THEY MIGHT GO AND UP DOWN A
LITTLE BIT, BUT WHAT ARE WE
DOING TO CHANGE THAT?
IF YOU LOOK AT D.P.I.'S REPORT,
IT LISTS A FEW LINKS OF
RESOURCES.
SERIOUSLY?
IS THAT IT?
WE'VE GOT TO DO BETTER THAN
THAT.
>> SO YOU DESCRIBE ACCURATELY
HOW THE NUMBERS SUGGEST THAT AS
MANY AS 80% OF THE CHILDREN WHO
ARE RESTRAINED OR SECLUDED ARE
IN GRADE SCHOOL.
SAME HOLD TRUE FOR THE NUMBER OF
STUDENTS WHO ARE DISABLED.
>> RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, LOOK.
YOU'VE GOT TWO THINGS GOING ON
WITH CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.
ONE IS THEY'RE SIMPLY MORE
VULNERABLE, AND SO THEREFORE
THEY ARE MORE SUBJECT NOT ONLY
IN SCHOOL BUT OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL
TO BE ABUSED, SO THAT'S A
PROBLEM.
I CONSIDER THIS ABUSE, BY THE
WAY.
SECONDLY, ARE THERE SOME OF
THOSE CHILDREN THAT MAY HAVE
MORE CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS?
OF COURSE THERE ARE.
THAT'S WHY THEY'RE IN SPECIAL
EDUCATION.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE PROGRAMS AND
FUNDING, PERHAPS INSUFFICIENT, I
WON'T EVEN SAY PERHAPS.
DEFINITELY INSUFFICIENT.
TO HELP THEM.
THEY SHOULDN'T BE ON THE BUTT
END OF TRAUMA, AND THAT'S WHAT
SECLUSION RESTRAINT WILL DO.
>> DO YOU THINK THERE IS ANY
PLACE IN THE SCHOOLS FOR
SECLUSION AND RESTRAINT?
>> SO WHAT THE LAW SAYS, AND
WHAT I BELIEVE IS TRUE IS IF
THERE'S AN IMMINENT RISK, AND
IMMINENT MEANS IMMINENT, LIKE
RIGHT NOW, OF SERIOUS BODILY
INJURY, AND I EMPHASIZE SERIOUS,
THEN YES, OF COURSE.
PEOPLE ASK WHEN WE WERE TRYING
TO GET THE BILL PASSED, WELL,
WOULDN'T YOU STOP A KID WHO WAS
RUNNING IN FRONT OF A CAR IN THE
STREET?
OF COURSE WE'D STOP THEM AND
RESTRAIN THEM, TEMPORARILY, FOR
A SHORT TIME.
YOU LET THEM GO AFTER THE CAR
GOES BY AND YOU REDIRECT THEM
AWAY.
>> CLEARLY YOU DON'T THINK THOSE
ARE THE ONLY TIMES THAT THIS IS
BEING USED.
>> OF COURSE NOT, WHICH ALSO
THEN BEGS THE QUESTION, IS
D.P.I. ACTUALLY EXAMINING, AND,
OF COURSE, THEY CAN'T EXAMINE --
BUT COULD THEY GO INTO THE TOP
OR BOTTOM, DEPENDING ON YOUR
U.V. INDEX THE THREE SCHOOL
DISTRICTS THAT ARE SHOWING THE
HIGHEST PROPENSITY OF SECLUSION
AND RESTRAINT AND ACTUALLY LOOK
AND SEE, ARE EVERY ONE OF THESE
STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN SECLUDED
AND RESTRAINED, HAVING DONE SO
WHEN THERE WAS AN IMMINENT RISK
OF HARM?
I'M A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE THEY
WILL FIND NOT.
THEN WHAT DO WE DO?
THE PROBLEM IS D.P.I. HAS
HISTORICALLY AND KNOW PRESENTLY
BEEN COMPLAINT RESPONSIVE.
SO, YES.
IF SOMEONE FILES A COMPLAINT, IF
A PARENT SAYS MY KID WAS
SECLUDED AND RESTRAINED AND
THERE WAS NO IMMINENT RISK OF
HARM, D.P.I. WILL LOOK INTO IT,
MAY ORDER A CORRECTIVE ACTION
PLAN IF THEY SUBSTANTIATE THAT.
BUT WITHOUT THAT COMPLAINT,
D.P.I. IS JUST GOING TO SAY,
HERE'S THE NUMBERS, HERE'S SOME
RESOURCES, AND IT'S JUST
INADEQUATE.
>> HOW DO THESE TECHNIQUES
POTENTIALLY HARM CHILDREN?
>> WELL, IT CAN BE VERY
TRAUMATIZING, RANGING FROM, YOU
KNOW, SHORT-TERM TRAUMA WHERE A
CHILD GOES HOME CRYING TO THEIR
MOTHER OR FATHER OR WHATEVER TO
WHAT CAN BE, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S
REPEATED -- YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER
WHEN WE HAD THE BILL PASSED,
THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN WHO
LITERALLY WAS PUT INTO A
PSYCHOTIC STATE AFTER REPEATEDLY
BEING SECLUDED AND RESTRAINED.
I MEAN, THAT'S AN EXTREME.
MANY OF THESE KIDS DON'T HAVE
VERY GOOD VERBAL SKILLS,
LANGUAGE SKILLS.
MAY HAVE NONE.
>> HOW DOES THE ENDURING
SHORTAGE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION
FUNDING PLAY INTO THE USE OF
SECLUSION AND RESTRAINT?
>> WE HAVE STAFF WITH INCREASING
CASELOADS.
SO WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, BOTH A
NUMBERS PROBLEM AND A TRAINING
PROBLEM, AND THAT CERTAINLY IS
PART OF WHY THESE NUMBERS --
HIGH NUMBERS OF SECLUSION AND
RESTRAINT PERSIST.
>> IN A STATEMENT RESPONDING TO
SPITZER-RESNICK'S COMMENTS,
D.P.I. COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR
ABIGAIL SWEAT SAID, QUOTE, WHILE
I TAKE ISSUE WITH THE
CHARACTERIZATION OF OUR RESPONSE
AS INADEQUATE, I WANT TO MAKE IT
VERY CLEAR THAT WE KNOW THAT
EACH OF THESE DATA POINTS
REPRESENTS THE REAL, LIVED
EXPERIENCE OF A CHILD AND THAT
WHILE THESE ARE STEPS TAKEN BY
STAFF TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF
THE STUDENT THEMSELVES AND THE
SAFETY OF OTHERS, THEY ARE ALSO
TRAUMATIC EVENTS FOR THOSE VERY
STUDENTS AND REALLY ALL
INVOLVED.
SECLUSION AND RESTRAINT SHOULD
BE, IS, AND NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO
BE AN ABSOLUTE LAST RESORT.
>>> NEXT WEEK, WE'LL BE JOINED
BY EDUCATORS FROM D.P.I. ON THIS
TOPIC.
TO WATCH THE EXTENDED INTERVIEW
WITH SPITZER-RESNICK AND FOR
MORE ON THE ISSUES FACING
WISCONSIN, YOU CAN VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT PBS WISCONSIN DOT-ORG
AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
?
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.