Open Record

Latest Episodes:

S E137: COVID-19 Back in Court Nov 17, 2020

Show notes

The coronavirus is back in court in Wisconsin. Once again, there's a battle over what Governor Evers can and can not mandate during a pandemic. The latest arguments in Wisconsin's Supreme Court center around a statewide mask mandate. That move came after the governor's original public health emergency related to the pandemic had expired, a move opponents said was illegal. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigators Bryan Polcyn and Amanda St. Hilaire invite FOX6 political reporter Jason Calvi on to talk about this latest court battle. Jason explains how we got here, and the arguments coming from both sides. The team also talks about how other states can have mask mandates and what makes Wisconsin different.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

S E136: The Tipping Point Nov 12, 2020

Show notes

Wisconsin is in the midst of one of the nation's most dangerous COVID-19 surges. As schools brace for a virtual winter and hospitals near their tipping point, Bryan Polcyn and Amanda St. Hilaire break down the Badger State's numbers, put them in context, and discuss the tough decisions about holiday gatherings and where schools should draw the line.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

S E135: It's Only the Beginning Nov 10, 2020

Show notes

We've been living in a COVID-19 world now for eight months and it appears our way back to normal is a vaccine. However, developing that vaccine is only the beginning. Why is the process so complicated? Once the vaccine is released, who gets it first? In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigators Bryan Polcyn and Amanda St. Hilaire invite Contact 6's Jenna Sachs on to talk about the COVID-19 vaccine trials. Jenna recently went to Madison's UW Health to meet with researchers and doctors to talk about UW Health's participation in the final phase of the AstraZeneca trial. The team talks about what we know right now about the vaccine's development, what kind of supplies hospitals would need to administer it, and they dig into Wisconsin's priority list for distribution. Plus, most clinical trials last 8-10 years. With this COVID-19 vaccine trial spanning a much shorter time, can the public have confidence in the safety and results.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

S E134: It's Not Over Yet Nov 05, 2020

Show notes

It's been a wild ride, but the 2020 election isn't over just yet. We're still waiting on results from several battleground states. Wisconsin made its pick for the White House by half a percentage point. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigators Bryan Polcyn and Amanda St. Hilaire invite FOX6 political reporter Jason Calvi on to talk about all things elections. Jason helps break down where the presidential race stands right now and reminds listeners why results are slow to come in this year. The team also explains what the process will look like when we do get official results. Jason digs into the data of Wisconsin voter turnout and the potential for a recount in the race for President. The team also takes some time dispelling myths circulating on social media.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

S E133: Election Day Nov 03, 2020

Show notes

Months of campaigning, political rallies, and informing voters has come down to today. Election Day 2020 is here. We could, however, be a long way from knowing the next President of the United States. Due to the pandemic, an unprecedented number of mail-in and absentee ballots still have to be counted. It's something election clerks warn could make for a very long night. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigators Bryan Polcyn and Amanda St. Hilaire break down why this election night will be unlike any other in history. They'll explain Wisconsin's role in this election, how the Electoral College works, and make note of some of those must-watch states as results come in tonight and early Wednesday morning. You'll also hear about other important races to watch aside from the Presidential election.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

S E132: Prison (Out)Break Oct 29, 2020

Show notes

The COVID-19 outbreak at Waupun Correctional Institution is now so large that prison workers can no longer isolate sick inmates from those who are healthy. That's according to an internal memo obtained by FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn. It's the second outbreak at that prison and one of at least 11 in Wisconsin with ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 reporter Angelica Sanchez on to talk about the state's plan for keeping inmates safe. Angelica and Bryan have been covering this issue for weeks, as more and more family members of those incarcerated reach out to FOX6 about the conditions inside prison walls. Angelica shares the concerns loved ones have as well as the transparency from prison staff. Bryan also talks about that internal memo shared with him and his recent interview with the Department of Corrections Director of Adult Institutions.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

S E131: 'Tis the Season Oct 27, 2020

Show notes

As people spend more time at home amid the pandemic, the number of projects homeowners tackle increase. With some of those jobs come problems. Contact 6 continues to get flooded with complaints from FOX6 viewers about jobs gone bad, unreliable contractors, and other problems homeowners face. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigators Bryan Polcyn and Amanda St. Hilaire invite Contact 6's Jenna Sachs on to talk about the FOX6 consumer unit. Jenna reminds listeners how the Contact 6 process works, from filing a complaint to contacting businesses. It's the time of the year where Contact 6 receives a lot of homeowner complains and hones in on two cases in particular. The first has to do with homeowners insurance and one woman's claim against animal damage in her attic. The second talks about contractor work and in particular, one repeat offender. Jenna explains what to look for when hiring a contractor.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

S E130: Drivers Ed Oct 22, 2020

Show notes

Of the more than 36,000 teenagers of driving age in Milwaukee County, only half actually have a driver's license. While no one knows just how many, it is clear a significant number are driving anyway. They're behind the wheel with no education, training, or legal right to be on the road. In today's episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigators Bryan Polcyn and Amanda St. Hilaire explain why community leaders say drivers education is critical to reducing reckless driving in Milwaukee and how funding cuts and COVID-19 are standing in the way. Polcyn, who has been digging into the reckless driving problem in Milwaukee, reminds people about the city's Reckless Driving Task Force and its recommendations. Is there money set aside for combatting reckless driving in the 2021 budget? Polcyn walks us through the MPS Drive program and breaks down its success rate and limitations. Is reckless driving among teens and adults something the city can solve?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

S E129: A System in Chaos Oct 20, 2020

Show notes

It's the most-received call and email into the FOX6 newsroom: Unemployment issues. Since the pandemic hit more than seven months ago, FOX6 viewers have reached out to us, hoping we can help them get unemployment benefits. The viewers who contact us say there are a number of problems with the system, from having trouble filing an initial claim to not receiving benefits months after that first filing. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigators Bryan Polcyn and Amanda St. Hilaire dig into Wisconsin's unemployment system to find out why it's leaving so many people behind. You'll get a refresher course on just how our state's unemployment system works and the issues so many have seen since the pandemic started back in March. Amanda also shares the story of one FOX6 viewer who recorded his interactions with the Department of Workforce Development and explains how attempted fraud on his case is now preventing the RIGHT person from getting the money. You'll also hear what the DWD has to say about the backlog of claims and cases and why the process of getting these taken care of is so complicated.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

S E128: Virtually (In)Accessible Oct 15, 2020

Show notes

It's been seven months since COVID-19 shutdowns began and sent people scrambling. Since March, we've all changed the ways we get our information. Now, we know some of those changes might be here to stay. In this edition of Open Record, FOX6 Investigators Bryan Polcyn and Amanda St. Hilaire dive into the changes they've seen to freedom of information. Hear how public meetings have made a shift and why some changes are drawing criticism. Another way we get our information, through open records requests, has seen changes, too. You'll learn about the effect COVID-19 has had on getting those requests fulfilled and why delays in the process are causing challenges. Plus, Bryan and Amanda explain why this all matters, what it means for you, and what the changes say about the way our systems work.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected