Watch our film on immigration tensions, read stories on sexual harassment, fading conservation, poverty, a fatal workplace blast, more
We’re thankful that you’re reading the sixth edition of our selective weekly roundup of top news stories we think Wisconsin residents, or people who care about the state, need to know about.
Before we get to this week’s stories, a reminder that today, Nov. 24th, is the final day that our first documentary is available as part of a digital showcase of the Meet the Press Film Festival in Collaboration with the American Film Institute. To see it, click here.
The Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism and New York filmmaker Jim Cricchi’s Twelve Letter Films co-produced “Los Lecheros (Dairy Farmers), which explores rising tensions over undocumented dairy workers since the election of President Trump.
The film runs 21 minutes and also is available on Apple TV, Roku and Fire TV. Just download the NBC News app and dive into the Meet the Press category within the app. Cable subscribers can find the digital showcase on most set-top boxes within the on-demand function. Just open the NBC section; Los Lecheros is listed in the MTP Film Festival.
Watch for more viewing opportunities in the coming weeks!
Of note in this WisconsinWeekly: The Wisconsin State Journal’s Nico Savidge uses public records and interviews to reveal a culture of persistent sexual harassment in the UW-Madison Department of Urban and Regional Planning. A consultant hired by the university said 10 of the 13 women she interviewed told her they personally experienced or witnessed sexual harassment, and said she heard “pervasive reports of repeated inappropriate staring and verbal sexual harassment by one faculty member, some dating back as far as 20 years.”
WisconsinWeekly is produced by us, Andy and Dee J. Hall, a couple who founded the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism. Andy is the executive director and Dee is the managing editor.
‘Legacy of sexism’ and allegations of sexual harassment mar UW-Madison department
Wisconsin State Journal – Nov. 19, 2017
The Department of Urban and Regional Planning at UW-Madison is under increased scrutiny after a committee report released in February described the department as having a lengthy history of sexism and sexual harassment dating as far back as 20 years ago. Follow-up on Nov. 22: UW-Madison dean acknowledges school’s failure to address sexual harassment
Wisconsin, under Scott Walker, no longer leads in conservation
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – Nov. 22, 2017
As Gov. Scott Walker approaches his eighth year in office, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel details the administration’s lengthy history of easing environmental regulations, a trend that is of increasing concern for conservation groups as Foxconn prepares to break ground on its massive LED display panel plant in Racine County. Earlier, from Scientific American: How Scott Walker dismantled Wisconsin’s environmental legacy
Poverty drives epidemic of childhood trauma, panelists say
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service – Nov. 20, 2017
In Milwaukee, more than 40 percent of children live below the poverty line, a condition that leads to an increased risk of childhood trauma.
Wisconsin company hit with $1.8 million fine for ‘egregious’ blast that killed five
Wisconsin State Journal – Nov. 17, 2017
An OSHA investigation found that the fatal explosion at the Didion Milling Inc. plant in May could have been avoided had the company followed well-established industry safety precautions. Earlier, from WCIJ: How a polluter gets stimulus money — and avoids environmental review
Here’s what happened to teachers after Wisconsin gutted its unions
CNN Money – Nov. 17, 2017
In the five years since Act 10 was passed, median salaries for teachers have fallen by 2.6 percent, median benefits have fallen by 18.6 percent and the average exit rate is a steady 8.8 percent.
Wisconsin lawmakers consider eliminating state air pollution rules
Wisconsin Public Radio – Nov. 21, 2017
Under a proposed bill, all of Wisconsin’s air quality regulations would be eliminated by the end of 2018.
The nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism (www.WisconsinWatch.org) collaborates with Wisconsin Public Radio, Wisconsin Public Television, other news media and the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by the Center do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates.
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