Open Record

The problem of reckless driving is nothing new in Milwaukee. Unfortunately, it only seems to be getting worse. Despite all the meetings and task force recommendations, it appears little has been done to actually talk to the young people who are engaging in this deadly behavior -- until now. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigators Bryan Polcyn and Amanda St. Hilaire talk about a story Bryan recently did that took a different approach to the issue of reckless driving. Bryan talked with a young man who admitted to driving recklessly for years. The team reminds us how big of a problem reckless driving is in Milwaukee and what's been done to contain it or address it thus far. Bryan breaks down his conversation with 'David,' the young man he interviewed and explains why 'David' agreed to talk to FOX6. You'll also hear about Carolyn Hall, a woman who lost her daughter at the hands of a reckless driver, and get her take on the approach to curbing this behavior.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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