Wisconsin Watch
From the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
About the show
The Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism is an independent, nonpartisan and nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that reports on government accountability and quality of life issues, like education, the economy and the environment. It’s more important to us to get the story right than it is to be first and we believe in collaborating, not competing, with other news outlets. Not only can you find our stories on WisconsinWatch.org, but we give all of our reports away for free to hundreds of other news organizations.
We are excited to start sharing our reports in audio form and you can find them wherever you get your podcasts!
Wisconsin Watch on social media
Episodes
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Wisconsin towns brace for next fight on local control over large farms
August 23rd, 2023 | 16 mins 53 secs
confined animal feeding operations (cafos), mississippi river basin ag & water desk, news, wisconsin, wisconsin watch
A proposed pig CAFO spurred five northwest Wisconsin towns to regulate big farms. After one rescinded its ordinance, others wonder if they’ll face lawsuits.
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Midwest drought: Corn and soybeans suffer as forecasters expect no quick relief for farmers
August 23rd, 2023 | 9 mins 26 secs
a changing basin, drought, mississippi river basin ag & water desk, news, wisconsin, wisconsin watch
Arid conditions are expected to persist in eastern Iowa and Missouri, Illinois and Wisconsin. River barges are affected, too.
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Wisconsin law still refers to husband and wife, a reminder to LGBTQ+ families that their rights are at risk
August 23rd, 2023 | 19 mins 23 secs
lgbtq+, news, statehouse, wisconsin, wisconsin watch
The courts and Evers administration have stepped in, but bipartisan efforts to make state law neutral to reflect status of same-sex couples have stalled
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‘They die so quickly’: Fentanyl killing 1,000+ people in Wisconsin each year
August 23rd, 2023 | 15 mins 51 secs
death, drugs, fentanyl, news, unhealthy wisconsin, wisconsin, wisconsin watch
Many teenagers dying from the drug aren’t addicted, says one mother who lost her son to fentanyl. ‘They’re taking pills to make themselves feel better.’
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Some Milwaukee County parents leaving workforce due to sky-high child care costs
August 23rd, 2023 | 16 mins 13 secs
child care, news, news414 / noticias414, wisconsin, wisconsin watch
Milwaukee County parents spend more of their income on child care than most Americans. Gov. Tony Evers wants to intervene as Wisconsin providers face a fiscal cliff.
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Rising cost of living in northeast Wisconsin has many working families treading water
August 23rd, 2023 | 15 mins 1 sec
families matter, housing market, living, living costs, new news lab, news, rent, wisconsin, wisconsin watch
A dearth of affordable housing and the cost and availability of child care remain barriers to opportunity for many working families in the northeast region
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Wisconsin students with disabilities often denied public school choices
August 21st, 2023 | 21 mins 56 secs
disability, education, enrollment, false choice, news, students, vouchers, wisconsin, wisconsin watch
Wisconsin lets public schools reject applications of students with disabilities who seek transfers across district lines — a form of exclusion courts have upheld.
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‘Unwanted and unwelcome’: Anti-LGBTQ+ policies common at Wisconsin voucher schools
August 21st, 2023 | 15 mins 59 secs
discrimination, education, false choice, lgbtq+, news, schools, vouchers, wisconsin, wisconsin watch
Many taxpayer-funded ‘choice’ schools in Wisconsin have anti-LGBTQ+ policies, often justified by Christian beliefs. And there’s little the state can do about it.
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How would widening Milwaukee’s I-94 affect residents near the highway?
August 21st, 2023 | 20 mins 2 secs
infrastructure, news, news414 / noticias414, public transit, transportation, wisconsin, wisconsin department of transportation, wisconsin watch
Milwaukeeans discuss potholes, noise pollution and public transit shortcomings as the Wisconsin Department of Transportation advances a $1.2 billion project to widen the I-94 East-West Freeway corridor.
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Federal, state law permit disability discrimination in Wisconsin voucher schools
June 22nd, 2023 | 17 mins 35 secs
education, false choice, news, schools, wisconsin
The state Department of Public Instruction says it has no legal authority to force private taxpayer-funded schools to accommodate students with disabilities
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Voting has gotten harder in Wisconsin. Organizers have found ways to help
June 22nd, 2023 | 17 mins 10 secs
news, voting, wisconsin
Two different research initiatives have documented the ways it’s now more difficult to vote in Wisconsin, from disparities in access to added barriers.
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Wisconsin eviction process: What happens to a tenant’s property?
June 22nd, 2023 | 8 mins 50 secs
eviction, news, wisconsin
What Milwaukee renters and those statewide should know about their possessions after an eviction.
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Chinese prisoners: We were forced to make Milwaukee Tool gloves for cents each day
June 19th, 2023 | 23 mins 56 secs
milwaukee tool, news, wisconsin
Chishan prisoners report being forced to produce work gloves for the Brookfield, Wis.-based tool company, which did not answer specific questions.
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False choice: Wisconsin taxpayers support schools that can discriminate
June 19th, 2023 | 28 mins 44 secs
education, false choice, news, schools, wisconsin
Dozens of voucher schools have policies that allow them to exclude LGBTQ+ students or those with disabilities. In many cases, it’s legal.
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Wisconsin Republicans clear out projects stalled by secretive ‘pocket veto’
June 19th, 2023 | 12 mins 12 secs
news, wisconsin
Gov. Tony Evers is considering next steps as conservation groups question legal authority of Legislature to block projects anonymously
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Whistleblower claims Milwaukee doctor performed unneeded surgeries
June 2nd, 2023 | 29 mins 40 secs
news, wisconsin
Complaint says Aurora St. Luke’s Dr. Scott Kamelle endangered patients — and drove up costs — with extra surgeries and a product not OK’d for internal use