Previous Deep Dives
Price Transparency for Patients Bill would allow consumers to know some health care costs upfront
WRN’s Bob Hague spoke with state Senator Julian Bradley about legislation (SB 383) which would require providers to let patients see upfront costs for “shopable” services.
The Price Transparency for Patients Bill gets a public hearing before a state Senate committee on Wednesday. Bradley says about 80% of all services handled by hospitals would be captured under this bill. “So, like an MRI or an X-ray blood work, anything that’s essentially a non-emergency service that they need to get done, they can find out ahead of time what the price will be and shop a little bit and try to save some money.”
Bradley notes the idea of price transparency polls extremely well with voters. Most Wisconsin health systems and the Wisconsin Hospital Association have registered against the measure. “The lobbying effort and opposition to this is strong and and I don’t understand it.” The bill will need to pass both chambers of the Legislature before the current session ends this spring.
DHS reiterates recommendations for newborn hepatitis B vaccinations
Despite a change from a federal advisory panel, Wisconsin health officials recommend all newborns should be vaccinated against hepatitis B.
“DHS continues to recommend that all newborns receive the Hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth, and then go on to complete the standard three dose series within the first 18 months of life,” said Dr. Ryan Westergaard, chief medical officer in the Department of Health Services Bureau of Communicable Diseases. “This recommendation is grounded in decades of research showing that the vaccine is safe and effective, and it aligns with guidance of the American Academy of Pediatrics and other leading medical groups.”
DHS issued the recommendation following a vote by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices at the CDC which reversed decades old federal policy. “Since universal newborn vaccination was adopted in the early 1990s, pediatric hepatitis B infections have declined by 99%,” Westergaard said.
DHS has sent a memo to providers, and Westergaard doesn’t expect the current rate of 77% of Wisconsin newborns receiving an initial vaccine dose to decrease. “But it’s important to understand the consequence of not giving the vaccine, which is that even a small number of cases of chronic hepatitis B infection in young people can come with pretty significant healthcare costs.”
A Hepatitis B infection can lead to lifelong liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer, and infants and young children are particularly at high risk. Westergaard said parents who have questions about the vaccine should talk to their pediatrician or family health care provider.
Wisconsin Eye public access channel seeks donations to stay in operation
Reporter Raymond Neupert speaks with Wisconsin Eye CEO John Henkes about the public access channel’s call for donations. You can find out more and donate online at http://www.wiseye.org
Wheel taxes becoming more common in Wisconsin
A new study from Wisconsin Policy Forum shows that by the end of 2025, nearly half of Wisconsinites will be paying a wheel tax to their local municipality or county. Reporter Sean Maloney chats with Communications Director Mark Sommerhauser about the rising number of wheel taxes…
What would a 50 year home loan look like? We ask a Realtor.
Reporter Raymond Neupert discusses the possibility of a 50 year mortgage with David Start of Stark Company Realtors in Madison.
WRN Deep Dive – History and origins of Veterans Day
WRN’s Bob Hague spoke with John Hall at the University of Wisconsin on the origins and history of Veterans Day.
Bob Hague 0:10
Talking with John Hall at UW Madison about the history of Veterans Day. John, you know what? I’m going to start off since we have a visual because I see you’re wearing a red poppy and perhaps explain the significance. Lots of us, of course, have purchased poppies from VFW folks perhaps without really understanding what the significance of that is.
John Hall 0:50
Well, the significance derives from the poem about the casualties at Flanders Fields in the First World War. And so the tradition is actually most strong in Britain and in Commonwealth nations, and those among the listeners who are hockey fans, as I suspect many of them are no doubt watching NHL broadcasts at this time of year will note that the Canadians in particular, and they’re not unique in this regard, generally wear the poppy for an extended period of time, marking not just Armistice Day, but also Remembrance Day and a broader commemoration of all of those who gave their lives in the First World War in particular, but then in subsequent conflicts as well.
Bob Hague 1:34
Obviously the the British Commonwealth nations and and Great Britain herself suffered very extensive casualties compared to America’s relatively brief participation in the First World War.
John Hall 1:48
Yeah, that’s absolutely right. United States joined that conflict in 1917 and did have some early engagement on the Western Front in the calendar year of 1917. But the bulk of its involvement came in 1918, the final year of the war and is my predecessor here at The University of Wisconsin-Madison, the great military historian Edward Mack Kauffman, proclaimed that the United States didn’t necessarily win the war for the Allies, but it was impossible that the the Central Powers would prevail once the US did join.
Bob Hague 2:24
So let’s talk a little bit about the origins of veteran’s day with the earlier Armistice Day. And I think many people who dive into this a little bit are particularly intrigued by the very precise timing at which the Armistice went into effect on the Western Front.
John Hall 2:47
Yeah, and which is exactly why to this day in the United States, it is tradition to observe 2 minutes of silence at a prescribed hour and minute during the day, which is set to 2:11 PM Eastern Time here in the central zone, that’s 1:11 PM. But the idea behind that is the original commemoration was commemorating the precise moment of the Armistice. So 11:11 on 11 in November of 1918 and in commemorations here so that the entire nation across all of its time zones out into the Pacific could commemorate the exact same 2 minutes of silence. That’s why the clock is somewhat shifted, but that those are the the minutes that all Americans are supposed to observe silence.
Bob Hague 3:42
Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but my understanding is that that timing was set by the Allied High Command, who knew in advance that this is when the guns were going to fall silent on the Western Front. Presumably there were casualties sustained on both sides right up until the moment that the Armistice went into effect.
John Hall 4:06
Yeah, there were casualties on both sides right up until that moment. But rumors do spread rather quickly in large military organizations. And so the actual signing of the Armistice was a welcome relief to all of those involved, and I think probably a great many of them weren’t going to believe it until it actually came into effect. And so, you know, poetically, the guns fell silent at exactly that moment. But all the combatants on both sides were essentially fighting up to the whistle without necessarily believing that the tide of the war was going to change in those closing days or hours.
Bob Hague 4:52
So after the Armistice went into effect, eventually the the soldiers serving in the American Expeditionary Force returned to the United States. And I guess it was the following year, 1919, that President Rose, excuse me, President Wilson declared Armistice Day to be a national observance.
John Hall 5:12
Yeah, on that particular day. So the very first observance of Armistice Day in 1919 was a singular event commemorating the end of the war. It was not until 1926 that Congress asked the president to declare a proclamation of recognition of Armistice Day on a recurring basis. And that was sort of already something that many localities were doing. And then it wasn’t until 1938 that it actually became a federal holiday. But by that point, I think there were as many as 27 states that had already recognized Armistice Day as a state holiday.
Bob Hague 5:56
Obviously shortly after that the US entered World War 2 and it was after the conclusion of that conflict, I guess a couple of years later that I guess the movement sort of became born to recognize all veterans on this date.
John Hall 6:14
Yeah, that’s exactly right. So you had in the wake of World War 2 and then the Korean War. So it was actually in 1954 that the law establishing that Armistice Day as a national holiday was a renamed Veteran’s Day and repurposed so that it would honor the veterans of all of America’s conflicts and services in general, which is perhaps not surprising because as many as 16% of the US population had served in uniform during World War 2. And then, you know, you add to that what people had served in in the Korean War and so the veterans of the the great Crusade that was the Second World War and of the first hot engagement in the Cold War, they kind of had an attitude. What about us, right? You know that we’re thinking our World War One veterans. We now have also contributed to this and that resonated very well. Well, and so Congress responded to that. And President Eisenhower is the one who signed that into law, establishing the modern day federal holiday of Veteran’s Day.
Bob Hague 7:23
I guess in closing, John, I want to circle back to, I guess the significance of Armistice Day and America’s contribution to that first global conflict. And it’s it’s so often we, I guess we forget about that. We forget about Korea, but you know the the conflicts that perhaps are not um part of our national historic memory to the extent that the Second World War is, what sort of lessons do you think we can glean from America’s involvement in World War One?
John Hall 7:56
Well, I tell my students that we don’t really fully appreciate this conflict for the reasons that we addressed earlier, right? the United States joined late. Its contributions in terms of its toll of blood and casualties and national treasure pale in comparison to the other combatant nations. And the legacy of that war was largely overwhelmed then afterward by the global influenza pandemic and then subsequently by the Great Depression. So that by the 1930s, Americans had actually soured on their contribution to this war and largely regretted having gone to this war. There are actually congressional hearings. To figure out who was to blame for misleading the nation into the war. And it made Americans very reluctant to prepare for World War 2, even as Nazi Germany was rearming in plain view. And so I suppose the lesson I would derive from all of this is that, you know, history moves in sort of moves sideways, right? Societies learn overarching lessons from the recent past, and sometimes those lessons are never again. And that was the big lesson that Americans learned from World War One. But another one of the lessons is, although this is a lowercase R Republic, a representative government in which the burden of self-defense is supposed to fall on the citizenry at large. It’s a recognition that that burden must necessarily fall disproportionately on but a sliver of that population. And so Veterans Day to this day, I think, is a little bit less of a nationalistic, jingoistic kind of commemoration like Memorial Day, right? Which also commemorates the fallen of American war, America’s wars. These are days in which we don’t celebrate America’s great martial accomplishments. These are days in which we reflect upon service and sacrifice and those reflections may depending upon the moment, make the nation more or less willing to prepare for the common defense in the years to come.
Bob Hague 10:05
Well said. John Hall at UW Madison. Thank you so much for taking the time this afternoon. I really appreciate it.
Feeding Wisconsin preparing for loss of federal Foodshare funding
The federal SNAP or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program helps individuals and families buy food. It aids 700,000 people in Wisconsin, including 300,000 children, and is known here as Foodshare. Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services administers some $114 million in federal funding through the USDA, which will be unavailable in November if the government shutdown continues. WRN’s Bob Hague spoke with Feeding Wisconsin Executive Director Jackie Anderson about what that will mean for Wisconsin’s food banks and food shelve, as well as what Foodshare recipients need to know, and how to help.
End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin releases its annual homicide report
Reporter Sean Maloney talks with End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin Executive Director Monique Minkens about the organization’s annual domestic violence homicide report.
Assembly debates resolution to honor Charlie Kirk
Some of Wisconsin’s youngest lawmakers spoke as the state Assembly on Tuesday considered a resolution honoring the life and legacy of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Milwaukee Democrat Kalen Haywood questioned Kirk’s relevance to Wisconsin. “Charlie Kirk, who was not a Wisconsin art, nor had any meaningful ties to our great state or any contributions to our state. And yeah you are using his name and his death to score political points.”
Hustisford Republican William Penterman. “Charlie Kirk was at UW Madison campus last October. His impact has been felt here in this state and will continue to be. Charlie Kirk was vocal about his faith, and as a Christian he loved everyone, especially those he disagreed with.”
The resolution was approved on a mostly party line vote on what would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday.
State Rep Snyder on another attempt to pass a medical marijuana bill
Reporter Raymond Neupert talks with State Representative Pat Snyder from Wausau who is taking another attempt at passing a medical marijuana bill.
WI AG Kaul discusses a ruling blocking the Trump Administration for accessing sensitive information on SNAP recipients
Reporter Raymond Neupert talks with Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul about a recent ruling blocking the Trump Administration from accessing state-based information on food benefit recipients.
“Fight the Bite” to avoid West Nile Virus
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services tracks human cases of West Nile Virus. Following confirmation of a case in Dunn County, WRDN’s Brian Winnekins spoke with Dunn County Health Department Director KT Gallagher on how you can keep your family safe.
Lawsuit against City of Madison over failure to count ballots cast in November 2024 election
Non-profit law firm Law Forward filed a class action lawsuit in Dane County Circuit Court against the City of Madison, seeking damages for 193 voters whose votes went uncounted in the November 2024 presidential election. Bob Hague reports:
Focus on school zone safety
With students across Wisconsin back in class, it’s time to focus on school zone safety. WRN’s Bob Hague spoke with Waunakee Police Lt. Matt Plendl about what drivers, parents and 
students need to keep in mind to keep everyone safe. Plendl is part of the Dane County Traffic Safety Commission.
In the last two years, Dane County experienced an increase in the number of children aged 5-18 injured while walking or biking to or from school compared to the previous year. In 2024, there were 15 injured and in 2023 there were 13, compared to 4 injured in 2022.This has prompted Dane County law enforcement agencies to collectively increase surveillance in school zones as children head back to school. Plendl said similar issues are being seen in communities across Wisconsin.
What to know about raw milk following illness outbreak in Florida
A recent illness outbreak in Florida puts raw milk back in the spotlight. Adam Brock, Administrator for the Division of Food and Recreational Safety at DATCP explained that sales of unpasteurized milk are illegal in Wisconsin.
“Simply put, the sale of raw milk and raw milk dairy products is illegal in Wisconsin. That being said, like with everything, there are some incidental exceptions to the rule,” Brock said.
Bob Hague interview w/DATCP’s Adam Brock:
Brock said the agency works to educate producers on the regulations prohibiting raw milk sales, and consumers on the risks associated with its consumption. “We just ask that you educate yourself and realize that it is not risk free or low risk,” he advised.
A Florida dairy farm has been linked to an outbreak of infections. Six children under 10 years old were among the more than 20 victims. Seven people have been hospitalized, with two developing severe complications.
New D-Day exhibit now open at the State Veterans Museum in Madison
Reporter Raymond Neupert talks with State Veterans Museum Director Chris Kolakowski about the newly opened exhibit on Wisconsinites who fought and died on D-Day during the invasion of Normandy.
“Adopt, Don’t Shop” this summer when you’re looking for a dog says the Wisconsin Humane Society
Reporter Raymond Neupert talks with Angela Speed from the Wisconsin Humane Society about summer dog adoption.
How to prevent scams against elder relatives, with help from the Better Business Bureau
Reporter Raymond Neupert talks with Lisa Schiller with the Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin on how you can help elderly relatives spot and be ready for scams.
WISDEMS Convention in The Dells this weekend
Wisconsin Democrats gather for their annual state party convention in the Dells this weekend. Bob Hague previews what to expect with UW La Crosse Political Science Professor Anthony Chergosky.
Milwaukee TV station alleges open meetings violation by school district
Milwaukee TV station WTMJ is pursing legal action against the School District of St. Francis over an open meetings law violation. It happened Monday, June 2, when Superintendent Deborah Kerr prevented a reporter and photographer from attending an open board meeting – and threatened to call police. Bob Hague spoke with Bill Lueders, President of the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council.
Grocers have concerns about federal cuts to SNAP/FoodShare
Wisconsin grocers have concerns about the future of the federally funded FoodShare program, the state’s version of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program The House passed budget reconciliation bill makes deep cuts. Bob Hague spoke with Mike Semmann, President of the Wisconsin Grocers Association.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reports FoodShare benefits 700,000 residents. Semmann says that makes it financially viable to keep stores open in some communities
Disability advocates have concerns about Medicaid reforms
Advocates for people with disabilities have concerns about changes to Medicaid Beth Swedeen is Executive Director of the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities. Swedeen says many optional Medicaid programs could be eliminated under the provisions of President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill Act which was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. She spoke with WRN’s Bob Hague.
Spring is wildfire season in Wisconsin — danger is elevated statewide this week
Spring is wildfire season in Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources advises residents that fire danger is elevated statewide this week. DNR Wildfire Prevention Specialist Catherine Koele says there the dangers of “crown fires” are high in the pine woods of northern Wisconsin
“In these really dry, sandy soil areas, the fires tend to creep up into the trees and then move into the the crowns of the trees,” she tells WRN. “The pine trees and those can be very difficult and challenging to suppress.”
Koele suggests residents in those areas put off any burning for now. “So until things become really green and lush, we’re going to be in it. And we anticipate that we’re going to have this kind of dry stretch over the next week and no significant precipitation in the in the near forecast over the next week.”
So far in 2025, 658 wildfires have burned 2,220 acres of land. It’s important to know fire conditions and burning permit restrictions in your area. Check the DNR website for current fire danger, wildfire reports and burning restrictions.
Follow these simple tips to prevent wildfires from getting out of control:
- Avoid outdoor burning until conditions improve.
- Operate equipment (chainsaws, off-road vehicles, lawnmowers, etc.) early in the morning or late in the day to avoid sparks at peak burn hours.
- Secure dragging trailer chains.
- Report fires early and call 911.
Trump administration cuts mean uncertainty for Head Start in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Head Start providers face uncertainty. Earlier this month, the Trump administration shut down the Head Start regional office in Chicago and fired its employees. Family Forum, Inc. provides Head Start for over 300 families in Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, Iron, and Price Counties. Executive Director Jeanne Myer says there’s uncertainty about who will review their next grant application, due September 1st. “It’s also still uncertain if it will be accepted and funded. We haven’t had any clear communication on that.”
The programs Meyer oversees are currently funded through November of this year. “I’m still having high hopes that everything is going to be fully funded and will continue to survive.”
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and 40 other Senators are demanding that the Department of Health and Human Services immediately release Head Start funding and reverse the mass firing of Head Start staff.
Trump plans to eliminate CDC Division of HIV Prevention raise concerns
Media reports that resident Donald Trump plans to eliminate the Division of HIV Prevention at the CDC and cut $1.3B in HIV prevention funding. WRN’s Bob Hague spoke with Bill Keeton, Chief Advocacy Officer at Milwaukee-based Vivent Health, about what that could mean for Wisconsin.
Highlighting 2025 Milwaukee Brewers’ Season Events with Chief Operating Officer Marti Wronski
WRN morning anchor and reporter Ted Ehlen talks with Milwaukee Brewers Chief Operating Officer Marti Wronski. Topics included in the discussion include Marti being the first female COO of a Major League Baseball team, remembering the late and legendary Brewers broadcaster and entertainer Bob Uecker, how the team will salute Ueck during the 2025 season, and what fans can look forward to when they head to American Family Field this year.
UW Madison’s ‘Weather Guys’ concerned about layoffs at NOAA and NWS
Trump administration layoffs at the National Weather Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have experts concerned. WRN’s Bob Hague spoke with “The Weather Guys,” UW Madison meteorology professors Jonathan Martin and Steve Ackerman. There are NWS offices in La Crosse, Green Bay and Milwaukee Sullivan, and offices in the Twin Cities and Duluth serving western Wisconsin. The number of employees to be let go at the Weather Service and NOAA remain unclear.
Unpacking the Wisconsin Supreme Court race
WRN’s Bob Hague spoke with John Johnson, a research fellow at the Lubar Center for Public Policy Research and Civic Education at Marquette University Law School, about the race for Wisconsin Supreme Court. Dane County Court Judge Susan Crawford, and former Wisconsin Attorney General and current Waukesha County Court Judge Brad Schimel are running for the seat being vacated by Justice Ann Walsh Bradley.
Pfaff bill would give farmers “right to repair” equipment
A state lawmaker proposes legislation giving Wisconsin farmers the “right to repair” their equipment. State Senator Brad Pfaff (D-Onalaska) says farmers are currently prohibited from making repairs or having local shops do the work on tractors and combines they purchase. He’s seeking bipartisan sponsors for the bill. Pfaff says it allows the owner of that farm equipment to be able to repair that farm equipment while also protecting the intellectual property of manufacturers.
Bill would impose $5,000 surcharge for convictions related to sex trafficking
WRN’s Bob Hague spoke with state Senator Andre Jacques about his proposal to reintroduce the Human Traff
icking Prevention Act.
Celebrating 51 years of ‘Birkie Fever’
WRN’s Bob Hague talks with American Birkebeiner Executive Director Ben Popp about timely snowfall that’s assisting organizers of the cross-country ski race between Cable and Hayward, the importance of Birkie volunteers, and the legacy of Ernie St. Germaine, a founding skier in the historic race.
New tariffs could mean tough decisions for Wisconsin businesses
WRN’s Bob Hague spoke with James Vanderloo, Head at global freight forwarder OEC Group Milwaukee, who says businesses importing from Canada, Mexico and China are unlikely to take on the costs that come with new tariffs.
Study committee will recommend formation of permanent committee on AI
WRN’s Bob Hague interviewed state Senator Julian Bradley (R- New Berlin) who chaired the Legislative Study Committee on Artificial Intelligence,
UW – La Crosse Political Scientist on State Legislative control
WRN’s Sean Maloney talked to UW – La Crosse Associate Professor of Political Science Anthony Chergosky about what’s at stake in the State Legislature during Tuesday’s election.
Wisconsin hospitals conserving IV fluid after Hurricane Helene damages NC production facility
WRN’s Bob Hague spoke with Wisconsin Hospital Association President and CEO Eric Borgerding, regarding the steps Wisconsin hospitals are taking during a nationwide disruption in the supply of IV fluids. Hurricane Helene damaged a North Carolina factory which makes the fluid.
Report: state’s elder care industry will need to add beds
A new report finds huge challenges looming for Wisconsin’s elder care industry. The number of Wisconsinites 75 and older is expected to increase by by nearly 75% over the next 20 years, according to the study by Forward Analytics, the research arm of the Wisconsin Counties Association. Bob Hague spoke with Forward Analytics researcher Kevin Dospoy about the report, titled “On The Brink: Probing the Coming Senior Care Challenges.”
Wisconsin Teamsters Joint Council 39 endorses Harris
The 1.3 million member International Brotherhood of Teamsters declined to endorse either Harris or Donald Trump. But Teamsters Joint Council 39 President Bill Carroll says the Wisconsin organization is backing Vice President Kamala Harris.
DNR asks hunters to test deer for Chronic Wasting Disease
Wisconsin deer hunters should consider testing their deer for Chronic Wasting Disease. Erin Larson is Deer Herd Health Specialist with the Wisconsin DNR. CWD testing remains a priority for the agency.
The Onion is back in print
The satirical news site The Onion, formerly based in Madison, is coming back to print. Raymond Neupert talks with long time writer and editor in chief Chad Nackers on seeing The Onion in newsprint again, and his roots as a Madison native.
Madison Housing Week reflects statewide challenges
WRN’s Bob Hague interviewed Darrin Wasniewski with AARP Wisconsin about Housing Week in Madison and the challenges of creating more housing in communities around the state.
Republican lawmaker urges ‘yes’ vote on Constitutional Amendments
Wisconsin voters will have two referendum questions on the statewide ballot Tuesday, August 13. Both measures would allow for legislative oversight of how Wisconsin governors may allocate federal funding. Both are opposed by Democrats including Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers. WRN’s Bob Hague spoke with state Representative Tony Kurz (R-Wonewoc), one of the amendment authors.
UW Madison professor says Americans in Russia run risks of being held hostage
The U.S. State Department advises Americans against traveling to Russia. WRN’s Bob Hague spoke with University of Wisconsin Political Science Professor Yoshiko Herrera about the risks for Americans in Russia, and the complex negotiations leading the release of American and European hostages in exchange for Russian criminals.
Statue at Capitol honors Civil Rights pioneer Vel R. Phillips
A statue of groundbreaking civil rights leader Vel R. Phillips unveiled at the Capitol in Madison on Saturday. Her son, attorney Micheal Phillips, said his mom was “tough” and a “fighter.” He also told the crowd gathered at the Capitol that “between now and November, we have got some fighting to do,” and that if Phillips were here, “she would be right on that.” The statue honors the first Black woman elected to the Common Council in Milwaukee, where she led the fight for fair housing. Phillips was also the first Black person elected to statewide office and was the state’s first Black judge.
Marshfield Clinic Research Institute continues to seek ticks collected from citizens
Scientists at Marshfield Clinic Research Institute are asking the public to submit ticks for the Tick Inventory via Citizen Science (TICS). WRN’s Bob Hague spoke with Research Institute executive director Jennifer Meece.
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‘We did our jobs that day’ – J6 officers campaign for Biden, warn against second Trump term
At stops in Madison, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Wausau, and Eau Claire earlier this month, two police officers who defended the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 campaigned for President Biden and Vice President Harris. D.C. Metro Office Daniel Hodges and former U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn called on voters to hold Donald Trump accountable for his threats to democracy and embrace of political violence. Audio of their remarks at the Capitol in Madison on Wednesday, June 12.
Wisconsin tourism revenue hits record high for second year
Reporter Raymond Neupert talks with Travel Wisconsin spokesperson Craig Trost about the bounceback of Wisconsin tourism. You can find out more online at https://www.travelwisconsin.com/
No safe amount: UW professor & Manitowoc native on newest alcohol science
New research shows the safest amount of alcohol is none, with consumption tied to various cancers. Bob Hague interviewed Dr. Noelle LoConte, an oncologist and associate Professor of Medicine at UW Madison.
Wisconsin Umpires Association training director discusses the state of umpiring in Wisconsin
WRN morning anchor and reporter Ted Ehlen talks with the Director of Training for the Wisconsin Umpires Association, David Furru, about the state of baseball and softball umpiring in Wisconsin, the personal qualities that it takes to become an effective umpire, and the non-profit association that provides training and support for umpires around the state.
Recovering substance addict plans walk from Superior to Cudahy to raise addiction recovery awareness
WRN morning anchor and reporter Ted Ehlen talks with Greg Studzinski…a recovering substance abuse addict who learned that long daily walks aid in his recovery. After finishing a 2022 fundraising walk from Green Bay to Cudahy in what he called the “Packer 2 Packer 120”, Greg will next be on a trek of nearly 500 miles, walking from Superior to Cudahy this August to raise funds for substance abuse recovery efforts during his “Lake 2 Lake 500.” Greg talks about planning and preparing for the long walk, and how walking has contributed to his recovery from addiction.
Special Elephant Bobblehead heralds Milwaukee’s hosting of Republican National Convention
WRN morning anchor and reporter Ted Ehlen talks with the co-founder and CEO of Milwaukee’s National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, Phil Sklar, about the special Elephant Bobblehead that his organization has created in observance of Milwaukee’s hosting of the 2024 Republican National Convention. Phil talks about the evolution of the special bobblehead (as well as a special Donkey Bobblehead for August’s 2024 Democratic National Convention down the road in Chicago), the museum itself, how he became so involved with bobbleheads, and why these nodding statuettes have become such a desired collectible worldwide.