>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," FIRST
UP, A LOOK AT WISCONSIN HEAT
WARNINGS HEADING INTO THE
WEEKEND.
THEN A CLOSER LOOK AT WHAT KIND
OF HEAT GLOBAL WARMING MAY BRING
WISCONSIN IN DECADES TO COME.
A CHECK-IN WITH VOCES DE LA
FRONTERIA ON IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT.
AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE
COMMISSION AND TRANSMISSION
LINES.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JULY 19.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> CONDITIONS ARE BRUTAL IN
PARTS OF WISCONSIN HEADING INTO
THE WEEKEND.
TODAY, GOVERNOR TONY EVERS
DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY
FOR THE CITY OF MADISON AND DANE
COUNTY DUE TO POWER OUTAGES AND
EXTREME HEAT.
>> THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
DECLARES SOUTHERN WISCONSIN IS
IN THE THROAS THROES OF AN EXCESSIVE
HEAT.
THE STATE CAPITOL CLOSED FRIDAY.
THAT'S BECAUSE TWO SUBSTATION
FIRES AT MADISON GAS AND
ELECTRIC CAUSED POWER OUTAGES
ACROSS THE DOWNTOWN.
THE UTILITY SAYS IT IS NOT
BELIEVED THE STRAIN OF
EXCESSTIVE HEAT CAUSED THE FIRES
AND OUTAGES.
THEY SAID IT WAS A MECHANICAL
ISSUE.
BUT THE CAUSE WAS UNDER
INVESTIGATION.
AT THE SAME TIME, SOUTHWEST
WISCONSIN SAW ROADS AND HIGHWAYS
CLOSED BECAUSE OF FLOODING AFTER
NEARLY SIX INCHES OF RAIN
THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY.
>> WE CHECK IN NOW WITH TIM HALL
HALLBACK ON THE PHONE FROM
MILWAUKEE.
SO THE GOVERNOR DECLARES THIS
STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR MADISON
AND DANE COUNTY BECAUSE HOW
DANGEROUS ARE POWER OUTAGES IN
THE MIDST OF THIS KIND OF
EXTREME HOT WEATHER?
>> WELL, EVERYBODY REALLY RELIES
ON THEIR AIR CONDITIONING TO
KEEP THEM COOL DURING THESE
TIMES WHEN WE HAVE EXTREME HEAT
LIKE THIS.
IT'S PRETTY RARE FOR US TO GET
TO THESE TYPES OF THRESHOLDS OF
HEAT AND THAT COMBINATION OF
THAT WITH THE HUMIDITY.
SO PEOPLE REALLY RELY ON THAT
AIR CONDITIONING TO KEEP THEM
COOL.
SO IF THAT GOES AWAY, THAT COULD
BE A BIG ISSUE FOR PEOPLE TO TRY
TO BEAT THE HEAT.
>> WHAT IS YOUR PREDICTION AS TO
ACTUALLY HOW HOT THAT HEAT
INDEX, THAT FEELS LIKE
TEMPERATURE, IS GOING TO BE
FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY MORNING?
>> YEAH.
SO FOR TODAY SOME OF OUR HIGH
TEMPERATURES OR THE TEMPERATURES
THAT WE'RE SITTING AT RIGHT NOW,
THERE'S A LOT OF PLACES THAT ARE
BETWEEN 90 TO 95 DEGREES FOR THE
AIR TEMPERATURE, AND THEN ON TOP
OF THAT MOST PLACES HAVE A
DEW POINT OF AROUND 80, WHICH
NORMALLY WHEN YOU GET TO ABOUT
65 TO 70 FOR A DEW POINT, THAT'S
WHEN YOU START FEELING THE
HUMIDITY.
IT'S VERY RARE FOR US TO GET
THAT HIGH.
SO THAT COMBINATION OF THE AIR
TEMPERATURE AND THE DEW POINT
LIKE THAT IS WHAT'S CAUSING THE
HEAT INDEX TO BE SO HIGH.
AND RIGHT NOW SOME OF THE
MEASUREMENTS WE HAVE ARE THE
HEAT INDEX UP AROUND 110, 115
DEGREES, A VERY DANGEROUS
SITUATION WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT
NOW.
WE DID EXTEND THE EXCESSIVE HEAT
WARNING FOR THE SOUTHERN PART OF
THE STATE UNTIL TOMORROW GOING
INTO THE AFTERNOON.
SO THAT INCLUDES DANE COUNTY AS
WELL.
>> OKAY.
SO WHEN THE INDEX GETS INTO THAT
RANGE, IT'S DANGEROUS EVEN FOR
ON HEALTHY PEOPLE.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
YEAH.
SO YOU DON'T WANT TO BE DOING
ANYTHING UNNECESSARILY OUTSIDE.
THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS TYPICALLY
WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING ON
THEIR OWN THAT MIGHT HAVE HEALTH
ISSUES THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE GONE
AND PUT THEIR AIR CONDITIONING
UNIT INTO THEIR WINDOW EVEN IF
THEY HAD POWER.
THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WE ALWAYS
TELL, CHECK ON THEM, YOUR
NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS OR FAMILY
MEMBERS THAT MIGHT BE LIVING ON
THEIR OWN THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO UNTIL PUT IN THAT AIR
CONDITIONING UNIT.
SO ON DANGEROUS ALL AROUND.
>> MEANWHILE, IT SEEMS LIKE
THERE IS POTENTIALLY SOME WILD
WEATHER OUT THERE.
I'VE SEEN TORNADO WATCHINGS, IN
MINNESOTA TORNADO WARNINGS.
THERE'S BEEN FLOODING IN
SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE
STATUS OF THAT FLOODING?
>> A LOT OF HEAVY RAIN THAT FELL
OVERNIGHT FROM THE LA CROSSE
AREA THROUGH SOUTHWESTERN
WISCONSIN.
THEY HAD ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE
INCHES OF RAINFALL, STORMS THAT
DIDN'T MOVE AND KEPT DROPPING A
LOT OF RAINFALL IN THE SAME
AREA.
THAT CAUSED QUITE A BIT OF FLASH
FLOOD WARNINGS LAST NIGHT.
THE KICKAPOO RIVER BASIN JUMPED
UP AND WILL BE GOING INTO THE
MODERATE FLOOD STAGE THERE AS
WELL.
SO QUITE A BIT OF FLOODING IN
THAT PORTION OF THE STATE FROM
THE OVERNIGHT STORMS.
>> WHAT ARE WE GEARING UP FOR
OVER THE WEEKEND?
MORE STORMS?
MORE RAIN?
MORE HEAT?
>> YEAH.
THE INITIAL CONCERN IS FOR
TONIGHT IN THE NORTHERN PART OF
THE STATE.
THERE'S GOING TO BE VERY
WIDESPREAD WIND DAMAGE AND
POTENTIAL FOR LONG TRACK TORNADO
SET UP UP THERE.
SO THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT THAT
SEVERE WEATHER.
THE HEAT CONTINUES INTO TOMORROW
MORNING AND AFTERNOON FOR THE
SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE.
THAT'S WHY WE EXTENDED THE
EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING FOR THE
SOUTHERN PART.
WE HAVE A CHANCE FOR SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON
IN THAT SAME AREA.
SO PRETTY ACTIVE STRETCH GOING
INTO SATURDAY.
LOOKS LIKE SUNDAY THROUGH THE
REST OF NEXT WEEK LOOKS TO BE ON
THE CALMER SIDE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR OUR
PERSONAL WEATHER UPDATE.
THANKS.
>> NO PROBLEM.
>> IN A NEW REPORT TITLED
"KILLER HEAT" A GROUP CALLED THE
UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS
THIS WEEK SHOWED HOW IF LEFT
UNABATED HEAT-TRAPPING EMISSIONS
COULD TURN THE CLIMATE OF
WISCONSIN INTO THAT OF
ARKANSAS'S.
TODAY BETWEEN 105 AND 115
DEGREES FEELS LIKE TEMPERATURE.
THERE HAS BEEN ONE DAY ON
AVERAGE WITH A HEAT INDEX OF
OVER 100.
IT COULD INCREASE TO 14 AND TO
32 SUCH DAYS BY THE END OF THE
CENTURY.
HOW DOES THIS STUDY SQUARE WITH
THE WORK OF OUR OWN SCIENTISTS
HERE IN WISCONSIN?
WE CHECK IN WITH MICHAEL NOTARO
AND THE NELSON INSTITUTE FOR
CLIMATIC RESEARCH AND THANKS
VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.
>> AS WE MENTIONED, IN SOUTHERN
WISCONSIN THE HEAT INDEX IS
BETWEEN 105 AND 115 DEGREES.
HOW CLOSE IS THAT TO WHAT
SCIENTISTS DESCRIBE AS
OFF-THE-CHARTS HEAT?
>> WELL, RIGHT NOW I THINK THIS
IS ABOUT AS HOT AS IT'S BEEN
SINCE ABOUT 2012, SO WE HAVE
TEMPERATURES IN THE LOW 90s.
WE HAVE DEW POINTS THAT ARE IN
THE MID 70s.
WE HAVE HEAT INDICES ABOUT 105.
THEREFORE AN EXCESSIVE HEAT
WARNING.
IN 2012 WE GOT ABOUT 103 DEGREES
FAHRENHEIT, BUT COMPARABLE HEAT
INDICES.
THIS IS PRETTY HIGH UP THERE,
MUCH MORE INTENSE THAN WE
TYPICALLY GET IN WISCONSIN.
WITH THE EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING,
PEOPLE ARE BEING ADVISED TO BE
CAREFUL, EVEN HEALTHY ADULTS AT
THIS POINT.
>> SO WHEN CLINICAL SCIENTISTS
SEE THIS KIND OF PERHAPS "KILLER
HEAT," DO YOU ATTRIBUTE IT TO
CLIMATE CHANGE OR EMISSIONS?
>> I WOULD NOT CONTRIBUTE A
SINGLE EVENT TO HUMAN-INDUCED
CLIMATE CHANGE AS CONSISTENT OF
WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT IN THAT
DIRECTION.
THERE'S A STUDY FROM UC-DAVIS
WHICH SHOWED WE HAVE IN THE
MIDWEST WHAT'S CALLED A WARMING
HOLE, WHERE THE SUMMER HIGH
TEMPERATURES HAVE NOT YET
WARMED, BUT THE DEW POINT
TEMPERATURES AND HEAT INDICES
HAVE BEEN INCREASING.
AS YOU REFERRED TO FROM THE
STUDY FROM THE UNION OF
CONCERNED SCIENTISTS, THERE'S A
LARGE PROJECTED INCREASE IN HEAT
INDICES.
IT'S CONSISTENT IN THAT
DIRECTION, BUT IT'S DIFFICULT TO
ATTRIBUTE SINGLE EVENTS TO
CLIMATE CHANGE.
>> DOES YOUR RESEARCH SQUARE
WITH THIS UNION OF CONCERNED
SCIENTISTS?
>> YES.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH A
COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON,
THE DNR AND OTHER STATE
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, ALONG WITH
TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS AND
BUSINESSES.
WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WHAT'S
CALLED DOWN SCALING WORK, TRYING
TO DEVELOP CLIMATE PROJECTIONS
FOR WISCONSIN.
A LOT OF WHAT THEY'VE GENERATED
THROUGH THEIR STUDY WAS
CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE FOUND.
THEY'RE USING THE SAME SET OF
MODELS AND ESTIMATES USED BY THE
INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON
CLIMATE CHANGE AND THEY'RE USING
A VERY COMMONLY USED STATISTICAL
CLIMATE CHANGE PRODUCT.
SO IT'S CONSISTENT.
>> SO ONE FINDING WAS BY
MID-CENTURY WITH NO REDUCTION IN
EMISSIONS A THIRD OF THE UNITED
STATES WILL EXPERIENCE OFF THE
CHART HEAT INDEXES.
>> BASICALLY YOU CAN PICTURE A
HEAT INDEX TABLE ON WHICH THEY
SHOW THE HIGH TEMPERATURE VERSUS
HELL RIFFVERSUS-- RELATIVE HUMIDITY.
WHEN IT GETS HIGH ENOUGH, THE
HEAT INDEX IS NO LONGER
CONSIDERED A RELIABLE MEASURE.
THEY'RE ESTIMATING THAT A
SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR
COUNTRY WILL EVENTUALLY MOVE
INTO THAT REALM.
EVEN BY THE END OF THE CENTURY
PARTS OF WISCONSIN MAY ENCOUNTER
THOSE KIND OF HEAT EXPERIENCES.
OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU ZOOM BACK TO
THE JULY, 2012 EPISODE, EVEN IN
WISCONSIN THERE WAS ABOUT A
DOZEN DEATHS AND HUNDREDS OF
HOSPITALIZATIONS AND THAT PALES
IN COMPARISON TO WHAT MAY COME.
THIS IS GOING TO BE THE NEW NORM
BY THE END OF THE END OF THE
CENTURY, MORE TYPICAL OF WHAT
YOU GET IN TERMS OF TEMPERATURES
WITH EXPECTED WARMING OF AIR
TEMPERATURES.
>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO
MIGHT DISCOUNT THIS KIND OF
RESEARCH AND FIND IT TO BE EX
EXAGGERATED?
>> WELL, ONE OF THE LATEST SHOWS
EVIDENCE IS RELATED TO WARMING
THROUGH HUMAN ACTIVITIES IS
THROUGH THE IPCC, A SERIES OF
CLIMATE MODELS HAVE BEEN RUN
BOTH WITH HUMAN-INDUCED CARBON
EMISSIONS AND WITHOUT DID.
THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN PRODUCE THE
WARMING IS TO INCLUDE HUMAN
EMISSIONS.
WE KNOW THE OBVIOUS SOURCE OF
EVIDENCE OF GREENHOUSE GASES AND
THE KNOWN PHYSICS FIND THEM,
TRAPPING IN RADIATION, PRODUCING
WARMING.
SO IT'S LOGICAL.
YOU CAN LOOK AT THE GLOBAL
TRENDS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING
UP TO NOW.
ALMOST THE WHOLE WORLD IS
WARMING.
ENTSZ AREEVENTS ARE BECOMING MORE
EXTREME, CONSISTENT WITH WHAT
THE CLIMATE MODELS HAVE BEEN
SHOWING.
>> WHAT KIND OF ACTION COULD
SLOW THE INCREASE IN THESE HOT
TEMPERATURES?
>> THE NICE THING WITH THE UNION
OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS REPORT
IS THERE'S A SENSE OF HOPE
OFFERED THERE IN THAT THEY WERE
SHOWING THAT IF WE ARE RIGOROUS
IN ATTACKING OUR EMISSIONS NOW,
THAT MORE FAVORABLE SCENARIO, WE
CAN DRAMATICALLY REDUCE THE
EXTREME HEAT BY THE END OF THE
CENTURY IN PARTICULAR.
SO THAT'S ENCOURAGING.
WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT
IT.
BUT THAT INVOLVES BEING VERY
PROACTIVE, REDUCING THE USE OF
FOSSIL FUELS, RELYING ON CLEAN
ENERGIES, BECOMING ACTIVE IN THE
PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT.
LIKEWISE, FOR THE LOW AND HIGH
END EMISSION SCENARIOS, IT'S
GOING TO GET HOTTER, SO WE NEED
TO ADAPT ALSO.
AND THAT INVOLVES, AS
RECOMMENDED, DEVELOPING PLANS TO
PROTECT VULNERABLE POPULATIONS,
MAPPING OUT WHERE THOSE
POPULATIONS ARE, COMING UP WITH
MORE CLEAN ENERGIES, ENERGIES
THAT WE DON'T LOSE POWER SO
EASILY, KEEP THE ENERGY,
ELECTRICITY FLOWING FOR PEOPLE
EVEN IF THEY DON'T PAY THEIR
BILLS, HAVING EMERGENCY PLANS.
THOSE ARE ALL SORTS OF
MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION.
>> YOU MENTIONED PRECIPITATION
AS PART OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
SO WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THAT
FRONT IN WISCONSIN EVEN AS WE
SPEAK?
>> YEAH.
SO WISCONSIN HAS BEEN SIMILAR TO
MOST OF THE WORLD, WHERE EXTREME
RAINFALL EVENTS ARE BECOMING
MORE FREQUENT AND MORE INTENSE.
THE PHYSICS BEHIND THAT IS AS
AIR IS WARMER, IT BECOMES A MORE
EFFECTIVE SPONGE OF MOISTURE.
YOU HAVE LARGER DOWNPOURS.
YOU CAN SEE PARTICULARLY IN
SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL WISCONSIN A
VAST INCREASE NOT JUST OF ANNUAL
PRECIPITATION, BUT THE FREQUENCY
OF RAINFALL EVENTS, FLOODING
EVENTS.
NOT JUST THE LAKE DELTON EVENT.
THOSE HAVE LARGE EFFECTS.
OVERALL YOU CAN ARGUE THAT THE
BIGGEST EFFECTS OF CLIMATE
CHANGE ARE THE EXTREMES, SO THE
HOT DAYS LIKE TODAY, WHICH
STRESS HUMAN HEALTH, HEAVY
FLOODING EVENTS FROM HEAVY
RAINFALL.
>> ALL RIGHT.
MICHAEL NOTARO, THANKS FOR YOUR
WORK.
>> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.
>> WISCONSIN U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
MARK POCAN REPORTED BACK THIS
WEEK ON HIS RECENT VISIT TO A
MIGRANT CHILDREN'S FACILITY IN
HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA.
HE REPORTED TEENAGERS WERE BEING
HELD WELL OVER 20 DAYS.
FEDERAL AUTHORITIES SAY IT'S A
TEMPORARY SHELTER AND NOT BOUND
BY LENGTH OF STAY REQUIREMENTS.
FOLLOWING A MIDWEEK BEFORE THE
SENATE HOMELAND SECURITY
COMMISSION, CHAIRMAN RON JOHNSON
CALLED FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF HIS
PLAN TO SPEED UP ASYLUM
CONSIDERATIONS OF IMMIGRANTS
CROSSING THE BORDER.
"OPERATION SAFE RETURN" WOULD
ALLOW HOMELAND SECURITY TO
DEPORT IMMIGRANT FAMILIES WITHIN
15 DAYS IF NO DETERMINATION OF A
CREDIBLE FEAR OF THEIR RETURNING
TO THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN HAS
BEEN AFFIRMED BY AN IMMIGRATION
JUDGE.
WE CHECK IN ON THESE TOPICS NOW
WITH CHRISTINE NEUMANN-ORTIZ,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF VOCES DE
LA FRONTERIA, WHO JOINS US NOW
FROM MILWAUKEE.
THANK YOU FOR DOING SO.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO
SENATOR JOHNSON'S RETURN PLAN TO
RETURN THOSE WITHOUT VALID
COMPLAIMS TO THEIR HOME
COUNTRIES?
>> THERE'S NO QUESTION THIS WILL
CREATE MORE FARM FOR FAMILIES
THAT ARE COMING TO THE UNITED
STATES TO BE REUNITED WITH THEIR
FAMILY AND ARE FLEEING VIOLENCE.
RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS THAT
THERE IS A HUMAN RIGHTS CRISIS
THAT'S HAPPENING, WHERE PEOPLE
ARE BEING -- WHO ARE SEEKING
REFUGE, WHO ARE FLEEING
HORRENDOUS CONDITIONS, ARE BEING
PARADED IN FRONT OF THE -- NOT
JUST THE UNITED STATES, BUT THE
WORLD TO SEE HOW THEIR HUMIDITY
IS BEING DEGRADED.
THEY ARE BEING DENIED.
THEIR RIGHT TO SEEK ASYLUM
THROUGH EFFORTS AS IN TRYING TO
STRONG-ARM OTHER GOVERNMENTS TO
PREVENT THEM FROM COMING TO THE
UNITED STATES.
THEY'RE ALSO BEING DENIED IN
MANY WAYS LEGAL REPRESENTATION,
BEING DENIED FOOD, WATER,
LEADING TO DEATH OF CHILDREN.
SO THESE ARE CONDITIONS THAT
DON'T HAVE TO EXIST, YET THEY
ARE BEING CREATED INTENTIONALLY
TO DEGRADE AN ENTIRE GROUP OF
PEOPLE.
AND SENATOR JOHNSON IS MOVING --
BASICALLY ACCELERATING A PROCESS
THAT IS ABHORRENT AND IS
OUTRAGING SO MANY PEOPLE ACROSS
THE COUNTRY.
WHICH IS WHY WE SAW NATIONALLY
ALL THESE PROTESTS THAT WERE
BEING ORGANIZED AROUND WHAT
WE'RE WITNESSING AT THE BORDER.
>> AS WE NOTED, REPRESENTATIVE
MARK POCAN VISITED THE HOMESTEAD
FACILITY AND HE SAID THAT THE
NUMBERS OF CHILDREN THERE WERE
DOWN AND HE SAID HE DIDN'T SEE
HORRIFIC CONDITIONS.
DO YOU SUPPOSE THINGS ARE
GETTING BETTER?
>> NO.
THEY'RE NOT GETTING BETTER,
BECAUSE WE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT
PEOPLE ARE STILL -- RIGHT NOW
THEY'RE STILL BEING -- THAT
PROCESS, IT'S BEING INTERFERED
WITH.
WE JUST HAVE HAD THOSE RECENT
REPORTS AND OTHER SITE VISITS.
SO MAYBE IN THAT CIRCUMSTANCE,
IF THEY KNOW HE'S VISITING AND
WHAT HE'S GOING TO REPORT OUT, I
DON'T WANT TO SEE THOSE
CONDITIONS, I DON'T WANT THAT TO
BE REPORTED.
BUT GIVEN EVERYTHING THAT IS
HAPPENING -- AND ALL OF THE
OFFICIAL REPORTS THAT HAVE COME
OUT BASICALLY DECLARING THAT
THIS IS STATE-SPONSORED TERROR
THAT IS HAPPENING IN TERMS OF
HOW THESE KIDS ARE BEING
IMPACTED.
AND THIS IS FROM, YOU KNOW, A
FORMAL INVESTIGATIONS AND
INTERVIEWS.
I WOULD SAY NO, THINGS ARE NOT
HAPPENING THE WAY THEY SHOULD.
AND WE CONSTANTLY SEE THAT EVERY
DAY WHEN SOMETHING IS BEING
ANNOUNCED.
>> HOW MANY CHILDREN AND/OR
FAMILIES SEEKING ASYLUM HAVE
COME TO WISCONSIN, IF YOU KNOW?
>> I DON'T KNOW THE TOTAL
NUMBERS, BUT WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING WITH FAMILIES.
THE ONES THAT WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING WITH CLOSEST HAVE BEEN
COMING FROM THE KENOSHA
DETENTION FACILITY, AND A NUMBER
OF THOSE FAMILIES ARE ALSO LIKE
IN SOME CASES -- WELL, PEOPLE IN
THAT SITUATION WHAT WE FIND
MOSTLY IS THAT THE THING THAT
THEY'RE MOST DESPERATE FOR IS TO
TRY TO CONNECT UP WITH A FAMILY
MEMBER.
AND THIS WHOLE DETENTION
PROCESS, IT'S NOT JUST FUELED BY
THIS KIND OF HATRED AND
DEGRADATION OF PEOPLE FROM OTHER
COUNTRIES.
IT'S ALSO FUELED BY BIG
BUSINESS.
SO THERE'S NOW LIKE FEES TO CALL
SOMEONE.
THERE'S ALL THESE WAYS THAT
MONEY IS BEING MADE OUT OF THE
DETENTION OF PEOPLE THAT FOLKS
STRUGGLE.
THAT'S PART OF THE CHALLENGE OF
BEING ABLE TO EVEN APPLY YOUR
RIGHT WHEN YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO
MAKE A PHONE CALL OR TO GET A
CREDIT CARD TO CONTACT SOMEONE.
SO IN MANY WAYS THAT'S HOW THE
COMMUNITY HAS BEEN HELPING
PEOPLE TO ESTABLISH THOSE
CONNECTIONS OR RAISE MONEY FOR A
A BOND, A BOND WHICH CAN BE VERY
EXPENSIVE, WHICH IS ANOTHER WAY
TO KIND OF PRICE OUT SOMEONE OUT
OF THEIR -- OUT OF THE RIGHTS
THAT THEY HAVE.
>> THIS PAST SUNDAY WAS SUPPOSED
TO BE A DAY WHEN ICE CONDUCTED
RAISED TO PICK UP UNDOCUMENTED
PEOPLE IN TEN CITIES ACROSS THE
U.S.
THAT DIDN'T APPEAR TO TAKE
PLACE.
BUT WHAT IS LIKE IN THE
IMMIGRANT POPULATION EVEN HERE
IN WISCONSIN WHEN THESE RAISED
ARE ANNOUNCED?
>> THERE IS, OF COURSE,
NATURALLY, TREMENDOUS CONCERN.
PEOPLE ARE -- YOU KNOW, THEY
HAVE LIKE WHAT SO MANY PEOPLE
SAY.
IT'S LIKE I HAVE TO GO ABOUT MY
-- I HAVE TO GO ABOUT MY DAILY
BUSINESS BECAUSE I HAVE -- I
HAVE TO SUPPORT MY FAMILY.
BUT YEAH.
PEOPLE LIVE IN FEAR.
AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE TO CONQUER
THAT FEAR IS SINCE THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION CAME INTO OFFICE
AND ALL THESE PROTECTIONS WERE
TAKEN AWAY, THAT WOULD TAKE INTO
ACCOUNT, YOU KNOW, YOUR RECORD,
HOW LONG YOUR FAMILY TIES, ALL
OF THAT, WHICH NOW IS IRRELEVANT
UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION,
WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS CREATE A
24-HOUR, SEVEN-DAY EMERGENCY
NUMBER.
THIS IS COMMON NATIONALLY AS A
WAY THAT IMMIGRANT RIGHTS
ORGANIZATIONS HAVE RESPONDED SO
THAT IF THERE IS AN ICE
SIGHTING, THAT IS REPORTED AND
CAN VERIFY IF IT'S A LEGITIMATE
RUMOR OR NOT.
WE ASK PEOPLE TO VIDEOTAPE OR
PHOTOGRAPH, HAVE PEOPLE GO
THERE.
IF IT IS THE CASE, TO WORK WITH
THOSE FAMILIES.
IF THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN REAL
TIME OR HAVEN'T HAPPENED, THERE
IS NOW A STRONG SENTIMENT OF
RESISTANCE.
THE LAST TIME THERE WAS A MAJOR
RAID RIGHT BEFORE THE 2018
ELECTIONS HERE, THE LARGEST I
HAD SEEN IN 20 YEARS OF
ORGANIZING THAT LASTED SEVERAL
DAYS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, A --
FOR EXAMPLE, IN MADISON, YOU HAD
HOTEL WORKERS THAT REPORTED THAT
ICE AGENTS WERE STAYING IN THE
HOTEL AND THAT WAS ABLE TO GET
OUT AND THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY
COMMUNITY MEETING AND FOLKS WERE
READY TO GO AND DO CIVIL
DISOBEDIENCE IN THE STREETS TO
DEMAND THAT ICE LEAVE THE
COMMUNITY.
JUST IN MILWAUKEE THERE WAS A
SHUTDOWN OF ICE FACILITIES BY 30
FAITH LEADERS.
THAT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED
BEFORE.
SO THE EXTREME SENSE OF
SOLIDARITY AND STANDING UP FOR
IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES AT THIS
TIME I WOULD SAY IS THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE COIN OF WHAT'S
HAPPENING, THAT THERE IS
SOMETHING THAT IS VERY INSPIRING
AND GOOD.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
CHRISTINE NEUMANN-ORTIZ, THANKS
VERY MUCH.
NEWS TODAY OUT OF MADISON WAS
FOCUSED ON POWER OR LACK OF IT
DUE TO A MECHANICAL FAILURE AT
THE CITY'S MAIN PLANT.
ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION IS ALSO
THE TOPIC OF OUR WISCONSIN LOOK
TONIGHT.
IT'S A LOOK AT SOUTHWESTERN
WISCONSIN, WHERE SOME RESIDENTS
WORRY ABOUT THE IMPACT OF A
PROPOSED POWER LINE RUNNING FROM
THE MADISON AREA TO DUBUQUE,
IOWA.
STUDENT JOURNALIST WILL KEN
NEELY HAS MORE.
>> THE LAND HAS DEEP MEANING FOR
THE REGION.
>> IT'S A SPECIAL PLACE.
>> KILEY AND ERIC CATES SPENT A
SUNNY AFTERNOON AWAY FROM THE
FARM TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD
IN MADISON.
>> WE HAVE STRONG CONSERVATION
ON OUR FARM.
SO DOES OUR TOWN COMMUNITY,
FARMING COMMUNITY.
WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THE TOWERS
GROW UP.
>> THEY ARE PART OF A GROUP OF
RESIDENTS VOICING A CONCERN
ABOUT A POWER LINE THAT WOULD
CONNECT JUST WEST OF MADISON
WITH DUBUQUE, IOWA.
IT'S BEFORE THE STATE'S PUBLIC
SERVICE COMMISSION, WHICH WILL
DECIDE WHETHER THE CARDINAL
HICKORY-CREEK PROJECT IS
NECESSARY.
AMERICAN TRANSMISSION COMPANIES
SAYS THE PROJECT IS CRUCIAL TO
ALLEVIATE THE STRAIN ON THE
REGION'S ENERGY GRID.
>> TRANSMISSION LINES DON'T
START AND STOP AT STATE LINES.
IT'S MUCH LIKE THE INTERSTATE
HIGHWAY SYSTEM.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE BENEFITS
THAT THIS PROJECT ACTUALLY
ADDRESSES, IS REDUCING THE
CONGESTION THAT HAS COME ABOUT
OVER THE YEARS WITH THE
CONSTRAINTS ON THE ELECTRIC
TRANSMISSION SYSTEM.
>> THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
ASKS THE PUBLIC TO WEIGH IN ON
THE NEED FOR THE NEW LINE,
HOLDING HEARINGS IN LANCASTER,
MADISON AND DODGEVILLE.
>> THIS IS VERY DISTURBING TO US
AND WOULD CHANGE OUR QUALITY OF
OUR LIVES, WOULD CHANGE THE
AESTHETICS OF THE LAND THERE AND
CAUSE ALL KINDS OF ENVIRONMENTAL
PROBLEMS.
>> FOR THE CATES, THIS IS
CRUCIAL TO THEIR AREA.
>> YOU KNOW, WE LIVE IN A VERY
SMALL TOWNSHIP THAT'S RIGHT OFF
OF THE RIVER AND IT'S VERY
REMINISCE CENTS OFREMINISCENT OF 40, 50 YEARS AGO.
WE HAVE STRICT ORDINANCES TO
WHERE YOU CAN BUILD A HOME AND
JUST IN ORDER TO KEEP A VERY
SPECIFIC LOOK IN OUR TOWNSHIP.
AND HAVING A CELL TOWER IS JUST
NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN PASSED
IN OUR TOWN ON.
SO TO PUT THIS IN THERE WOULD BE
DIVISIVE AND HARD FOR OUR
COMMUNITY.
>> THE PROPOSED POWERS WOULD BE
UPWARDS OF 175 OF FEET AND NEED
75-FOOT CLEARANCES ON BOTH
LIENSZ.
THE LINES WOULD BE BUILT ON
EXISTING RIGHTS-OF-WAY WHERE
POWER LINES ARE ALREADY LOCATED.
5% OF THE LINES WOULD BE OVER
NEW GROUND.
>> WE STRIVE TO CREATE THE LEAST
AMOUNT OF IMPACT AS POSSIBLE.
>> FOR THOSE AREAS WHERE NEW
POWER LINES ARE NEEDED,
RESIDENTS WOULD HAVE TO GIVE UP
PART OF THEIR LAND.
>> THE FIRST ALTERNATE ROUTE
WENT RIGHT THROUGH OUR FARM.
IT WENT KIND OF LIKE UP AND OVER
THIS HILL AND UP AND OVER THAT
HILL.
SO JUST IMAGINING IN MY MIND I
WAS IMAGINING HOW THE HECK WOULD
THEY BUILD ALL THAT?
IT'S CRAZY.
>> THOSE OPPOSING THE PROJECT
ARE ASKING FOR ALTERNATIVES,
SUCH AS LOCAL RENEWABLE ENERGY
PRODUCTION OR A BATTERY DRIVEN
STORAGE SYSTEM.
ATC SAYS LOCAL SOLUTIONS WOULD
BE COSTLY.
THE COST OF THE LINE WOULD BE
SHARED ACROSS A WIDE REGION.
>> WHAT IT DIDN'T ACCOMPLISH IS
ALL OF THE OTHER BENEFITS THAT
THE TRANSMISSION LINE OFFERS,
WHICH IS ACCESS TO LOWER-COST
POWER, REDUCTION OF CONGESTION
ON THE ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION
SYSTEM AND IMPROVED ACCESS TO
RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES.
>> THE PSC IS EXPECTED TO MAKE A
DECISION THIS FALL ON WHETHER
THE PROJECT GETS THE GREEN
LIGHT.
REPORTING FROM MADISON, THIS IS
WILL KENNEALLY.
>> REGULATORS MUST ALSO SIGN OFF
BEFORE THE PROJECT BREAKS GROUND
IN 2021.
IT'S EXPECTED TO BE OPERATIONAL
IN 2023.
THIS WEEK REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS
WHOSE DISTRICTS ARE IN THE
CORRIDOR SENT A LETTER
QUESTIONING THE NEED FOR THE
PROJECT.
THEY ASKED FOR A COST BENEFIT
ANALYSIS OF THE EXPANSION.
THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
NEXT FRIDAY, MARISA WOJCIK
REPORTS ON THE HUMAN-MADE
CHEMICAL HAZARD KNOWN AS PFAS
AND WE'LL TALK WITH DNR
SECRETARY PRESTON KOHL ABOUT -- COLE ABOUT
WHAT THE STATE IS DOING TO
HANDLE THAT ENVIRONMENTAL
THREAT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.