Sharing Your Stories at Your Hometown Fair; Plus, What Else You Need to Know This Week

Sharing your stories at your hometown fair. Mortgage rates top 7%. Foxconn’s sell off. And a caregiver conversation you’ll want to hear.

Here are a few of our top picks for what you need to know this week:

Number 1. We are loving our visits to several of the county fairs across Wisconsin! The Brown County Fair in the Green Bay area continues through the weekend. And you’ve been stopping by the Civic Media “Truth Booth” to share your stories. Thank you!

We’re off to the annual fair in Marshfield next week. Look for the “Truth Booth” there, too. And take a listen to what we’re learning when we talk with you about your community, and issues important to you, here.

Number 2. Mortgage rates just hit the highest point in 20 years. The average 30-year-fixed mortgage rate is now 7.09%, according to weekly data released by mortgage provider Freddie Mac. It’s reaction to the Federal Reserve’s rate hikes to combat inflation and leading to higher payments for borrowers. Read more about the increase and what experts believe may happen next, and listen below to an interesting conversation with a Madison-based realtor when he visited the Max Ink Radio Music Show.

Number 3. Foxconn is looking to sell its innovation offices in Green Bay and Eau Claire. What happened here? At one point, more than 100 people were expected to be hired at each location. Foxconn bought the buildings in 2018 for around $12 million but both have largely remained vacant. Officials with Foxconn say they want to concentrate on the manufacturing campus in Mount Pleasant. Meantime, city leaders are expressing disappointment with hopes a developer will find interest in the properties. Find more details about the sell off, here.

Number 4. Caregiving is hard, and here’s a conversation about it you won’t want to miss! The Empowered Caregiver Show, heard weekly across the Civic Media radio network, featured a panel of people who are or have been caregivers to a family member. Liza Hellenbrand hosted a lively roundtable with all involved sharing their personal stories, along with resources for support. Take a listen to the entire show. You may find some valuable information to support your own caregiving efforts.

And don’t forget to tune in to your local Civic Media radio station on Wednesday, August 23. It’s the first Republican Presidential debate and every show host will be broadcasting from the Deer District in Milwaukee. You can listen live starting at 8 am, and throughout the day, right up to the debate at 8 pm It’s coverage you won’t find anywhere else!

Have a wonderful Wisconsin weekend,

Teri Barr