There are countless reasons to visit Wisconsin’s Driftless Region. The landscape of steep river valleys, exposed rock formations and forested ridges are ideal for any outdoor enthusiast. The area is full of meandering streams and rivers with cold, spring-fed water pushing through the rocks – making the Driftless Region one of the best trout-fishing habitats in the country.  

Trout season runs through Oct. 15 with some of the best fishing conditions in the fall. So, to help you plan a fly-fishing trip to the Driftless, Lake Effect’s Becky Mortensen is joined by Geri Meyer, the owner of the Driftless Angler and Logan Wroge with Travel Wisconsin. 

Did you know Milwaukee is a city for the birds? It's actually one of 82 official Bird Cities in Wisconsin. Bird City is a conservation program that brings folks together to create healthier communities for birds and people.  

Bryan Lenz is the Bird City Network Director for the American Bird Conservancy. He says Bird City first started in Wisconsin and has expanded across the country and internationally. Lake Effect’s Xcaret Nuñez spoke with Lenz for this month’s Chirp Chat to learn more about the program. 

The local DIY and school project supply hub American Science and Surplus has started a GoFundMe for financial support. Owner Pat Meyer says the business, which has locations in Milwaukee and Illinois, is facing rising costs and needs to reduce inventory ahead of a move to a smaller warehouse. 

He tells WUWM’s Eddie Morales how customers are showing support in a challenging economy. 

The Wisconsin DNR is looking for Wisconsinites to become community scientists by reporting any sightings of deer and game birds to track reproductive capacities.

This year’s class of high school seniors was born in or around 2008. That’s one year after the release of the first iPhone and four years after the launch of Facebook. While this generation of students grew up online, they’re increasingly heading into schools looking to ban cell phones. At least 19 states have banned phones outright in schools, and sixteen more states are considering it – including Wisconsin. 

But setting boundaries for kids on technology and social media can be tricky. Enter Devorah Heitner. She’s the author of the book “Growing Up in Public,” which guides parents on how to handle social media’s impacts on childrens’ mental health, geo-tracking, and awkward conversations.   

Heitner joins WUWM education reporter Katherine Kokal to talk about how to navigate a world of technology that feels like it’s changed in the blink of an eye.  

The ACLU of Wisconsin recently released a report detailing how local law enforcement cooperates with federal immigration authorities and is paid for that cooperation. Tim Muth is a senior staff attorney for the ACLU of Wisconsin and the primary author of the report. He joins Lake Effect’s Sam Woods to share what they found. 

This month’s Group Chat features two sisters born in Mexico who grew up in Milwaukee and were DACA recipients. They applied for Green Cards after marrying U-S citizens and they were just approved. They talk with each other, and their husbands, about the experience. They requested anonymity out of fear of retribution. 

It's been hot in Wisconsin this summer with nearly forty days of above average heat. That can be a serious health concern for people who work outdoors, but there aren't many protections for heat safety on the job. Kate McCoy directs the Occupational Health and Safety Surveillance program at the State Department of Health Services. She co-wrote a report last year that shows heat is a concern for workers in Wisconsin. Lake Effect’s Xcaret Nuñez is joined by McCoy to talk about the dangers of high heat in the workplace and ways to stay safe. 

Did you know there’s treasure hiding in plain sight at Milwaukee’s beaches? Blythe Haney (p. HAY-knee) hunts for beach glass along the freshwater shorelines of Southeast Wisconsin. She spoke with Lake Effect’s Xcaret Nuñez about beach glass and how to find it. 

Flood damage estimate exceeds $23M, officials hope for FEMA funding. Here's what types of personal insurance do, and do not, cover floods.