Open Record

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.

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There's a growing economic pressure in Wisconsin for parents to find affordable child care options. But does hiring an unlicensed provider put your child's care at risk? A Waukesha child care provider is facing a criminal charge for lying to police about her identity and some of her clients say she lied to them, too. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigators Bryan Polcyn and Amanda St. Hilaire dig into that case, a recent investigation by Polcyn that came to us from a FOX6 viewer. You'll learn what it means for a child care provider to be operating illegally and how you, as a parent, can find out which providers across the state have been ordered by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families to stop their care. You'll also learn why licensing matters when it comes to child care and what parents can do if they're facing an urgent need for care, but affordability is a barrier.

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The city of Wauwatosa braced for unrest as word came down Wednesday the District Attorney would not file charges against Wauwatosa police officer Joseph Mensah for the shooting death of Alvin Cole. People protested and as night fell, those protests turned to damage and looting. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigators Bryan Polcyn and Amanda St. Hilaire explain how we got here, what happened overnight, and what happens next. The team invites FOX6 reporter Amy DuPont on the episode. Amy was part of the coverage Wednesday night in Wauwatosa. In addition to talking with Bryan and Amanda about the fallout following the decision to not charge Officer Mensah, Amy also shares a very personal and terrifying experience for her and a FOX6 photojournalist. Hear what it was like for Amy as she covered a recent protest and what happens when a handful of protesters turn and target journalists.

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There are mask mandates, requests to social distance, and new ways of doing everyday things. Yet, Wisconsin continues to grapple with one of the country's worst COVID-19 outbreaks. Hospitals in northeast Wisconsin say they're near-capacity, even delaying other surgeries and procedures to make room for new COVID-19 patients. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigators Bryan Polcyn and Amanda St. Hilaire take a look at the numbers. They see where Wisconsin stands right now, how we got there, and what could happen in the days and weeks ahead. They dig into what regions are getting hit the hardest, why we might be seeing such elevated positive case numbers, and some of the abrupt changes various groups across the state are making to try and help curb the spread of the virus.

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People are putting children on day care wait lists before they're even pregnant. That's how tough it is to find quality care in Wisconsin and that was before the pandemic. Now, the problem is getting worse and fast. If child care is the key to reopening the economy, what happens when that key starts to disappear? In this edition of Open Record, FOX6 Investigators Bryan Polcyn and Amanda St. Hilaire talk about Wisconsin's child care landscape and explain why it isn't in great shape. Amanda's recent story about this issue digs into how the problem started and why it wasn't in a good place even before COVID-19 hit. You'll also learn how child care providers have changed the way they operate, the challenges they're dealing with, and what the long-term looks like for child care center, parents, and the economy.

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Any time you listen to an episode of Open Record, you usually hear Bryan Polcyn, Amanda St. Hilaire, and Jenna Sachs. There are times various FOX6 reporters help us out: Jason Calvi to talk politics or maybe it's Derica Williams to talk education. But there are several others behind the scenes who help edit, publish, and post the podcast so it reaches your ears. In this edition of Open Record, Bryan Polcyn invites Executive Producer Sara Smith and editor Dave Michuda on to talk about how this podcast goes from an outline via email to an edited piece of audio you can download on your favorite podcast app. You'll learn how this podcast has adapted amid a pandemic, the process from start to publication, and how doing something that's audio-only differs from what we do on a day-to-day basis working at a television station that uses a visual medium. Plus, get the inside scoop on the very scientific process this FOX6 team goes through twice a week to come up with the perfect podcast title.

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U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo traveled to Wisconsin, a battleground state, just 41 days before the election. In a rare visit, Sec. Pompeo went where no sitting secretary has gone before -- the Wisconsin Capitol. Sec. Pompeo says it was official business, to warn Wisconsin officials about the CCP, the Chinese Communist Party. Critics called his visit a thinly-veiled campaign stop. In this edition of Open Record, a Milwaukee exclusive: Hear the one-on-one interview FOX6 political reporter Jason Calvi had with Sec. Pompeo. FOX6 Investigators Bryan Polcyn and Amanda St. Hilaire also get insight from Calvi on why it might be a problem for a sitting cabinet secretary to make a campaign stop.

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We are just 42 days away from the election. While we may not have a winner announced the night of November 3rd, we do know the days leading up to the election will be filled with plenty of headlines here in Wisconsin. What's the latest political news and what do you need to know to make sure your vote counts? In this edition of Open Record, FOX6 Investigators Bryan Polcyn and Amanda St. Hilaire invite FOX6 political reporter Jason Calvi on to talk all things politics. Jason explains a recent ruling that changed the deadline for counting absentee ballots. He also walks us through safety measures in place on Election Day for in-person voting and breaks down what people need to know if they're voting absentee. Jason also gives us an inside look at what it's like for election clerks right now as we're just weeks away from the election.

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We're in a year dominated by the coronavirus pandemic, calls for police reform, and a presidential election. All of this is happening while the city of Milwaukee is seeing another surge in reckless driving deaths. It's one of the most vexing issues still facing Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Police Department recently renewed efforts to target reckless driving in the city with extra traffic patrols. Where is the reckless driving happening and who does it affect the most? In this edition of Open Record, FOX6 Investigators Bryan Polcyn and Amanda St. Hilaire dig into the problem. Bryan's most recent investigation finds the deadly toll reckless driving is taking is only getting worse. You'll learn why it's so challenging to define reckless driving and when it started becoming a serious issue in Milwaukee. Bryan also explains the series of recommendations made by a special task force and how a recent report lays it all out.

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Many parents and health experts are keeping a close eye on the area elementary schools doing in-person learning or a hybrid because of the coronavirus. But as the school year gets underway, the focus of concern has shifted to local college campuses. Those colleges and universities are trying to figure out how to keep students safe and learning. However, COVID-19 cases are on the rise in Wisconsin and a lot of the numbers are concentrated on those campuses. In this edition of Open Record, FOX6 Investigators Bryan Polycn and Amanda St. Hilaire invite FOX6 reporter Derica Williams on the episode to talk about the issues among college-aged students and university staff. What kind of safety plans are in place and how are they being enforced? How have some of those plans been adjusted since welcoming students back? Derica has covered several stories surrounding local schools and plans launched amid a pandemic and gives an insight into how this is affecting students from elementary school to college.

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