Salina Heller
Test Standards and Testing Patience (2nd Hour)
Wisconsin school students have been subjected to a carousel of different standardized tests and ever-changing expectations for test scores. But all the pressure on students and teachers to raise the bar higher and higher is coming without the resources required to meet those demands. It’s almost as if a certain group of politicians is purposely short-changing our public schools in order to support the exploding taxpayer costs for private school vouchers.
UpNorthNews with Pat Kreitlow airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-8 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and Instagram to keep up with Pat & the show!
Elon’s Coup Is Real and Really Happening (1st Hour)
The president of the United States and world’s wealthiest man have begun the process of shutting down USAID, one of the most important ways America maintains its global leadership through humanitarian aid and assistance to promote democracy. Trump also spent the weekend enacting tariffs with some of our closest allies, firing career prosecutors and a top consumer watchdog, shutting down thousands of useful federal web pages, and giving Elon Musk access to sensitive databases so that he might unilaterally try to keep your government from paying its bills. Thank goodness for little diversions like last night’s Grammys.
UpNorthNews with Pat Kreitlow airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-8 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and Instagram to keep up with Pat & the show!
Solo Endeavors (Hour 2)
We’ll hear from Wisconsin Conservation Voters about the significance of the new president pulling the US out of the Paris Climate Accords. Long story short: In one way, we’re “on our own,” but on the other hand there’s always been a lot that individuals can do to minimize impact on our fragile climate. Another solo endeavor is at the heart of a segment with author Laura Bird, as she returns with more recommended reading for, as the poem says, the bleak midwinter. Forty Acres Deep by Michael Perry, A Winter's Rime by Carol Dunbar and Cheerfully I Refuse by Leif Enger. Laura also talks about some books for the warmer months coming soon: The Snowbirds by Christina Clancy, Bummer Camp by Ann Garvin, True North by Andrew J. Graff
UpNorthNews with Pat Kreitlow airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-8 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and Instagram to keep up with Pat & the show!
The Swear Jar Presidency (Hour 2)
Once the new president takes office, the challenge will be to stay on top of what he’s doing to our country and inform others without letting it consume too much of our valuable time and headspace. So we’ll introduce our new “Cussin Jar” to keep us focused on what’s important here in Wisconsin. And we’ll send off the outgoing president with a reminder of what President Biden accomplished during his term. It’s still a head-scratcher as to why he and his team couldn’t craft a message that resonated with voters, but history will look back fondly on a historic economic rebound and long record of consumer protection.
UpNorthNews with Pat Kreitlow airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-8 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and Instagram to keep up with Pat & the show!
One Last Week of Normal (Hour 1)
We’ll review the Packers unsurprising but still unnecessarily harsh defeat in their Wild Card playoff game in Philadelphia. And America is in its last full week of what we’ll later look back on as “normal,” ahead of the chaos coming with a second Donald Trump presidency.
UpNorthNews with Pat Kreitlow airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-8 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and Instagram to keep up with Pat & the show!
Deadline Day (Hour 2)
We now know who is running in nonpartisan elections across Wisconsin and whether any of the races will require a primary in February before a general election on April 1. We’ll update the choices for State Superintendent of Public Instruction and an open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court—both races with major implications for the state. And in this week’s Homeroom, we’ll review what kinds of legislation will be considered by the Assembly and Senate that could impact the education of Wisconsin kids.
UpNorthNews with Pat Kreitlow airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-8 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and Instagram to keep up with Pat & the show!
Kumbaya vs. Capitulation (Hour 2)
During the holidays and at the end of a long election year, there’s a lot of talk and wishful thinking about coming together and bridging divides. But there’s a difference between kumbaya and capitulation, and there’s rarely been a more important time for people concerned about the direction of our country to avoid walking away from civic engagement.
UpNorthNews with Pat Kreitlow airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-8 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and Instagram to keep up with Pat & the show!
Are You On The Naughty List? (Hour 2)
We’re bringing back author Laura Bird to share more recommendations on books as holiday gifts for kids and adults. And reporter Salina Heller asks kids how they know if they’re on Santa’s naughty list or the nice one.
Here are the books recommendations mentioned on today's show:
- Always Anthony by Terri Libenson (middle grade graphic novel)
- Mighty Millie Novak by Elizabeth Holden (young adult fiction)
- Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe (adult fiction)
- The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich (adult fiction)
- The Genius of Judy: How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for All of Us by Rachelle Bergstein (adult nonfiction)
UpNorthNews with Pat Kreitlow airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-8 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and Instagram to keep up with Pat & the show!
The Future of Progressive Campaigns (Hour 2)
Behind every candidate is a campaign manager running countless details behind the scenes. In many progressive campaigns, that manager is someone very young with no employment security after election day. We ask our guest Michael Horecki if there’s a better way to train, maintain, and retain the best campaign organizers, based on his own cross-country experience—and in the process, create more of a year-round effort to talk to voters.
UpNorthNews with Pat Kreitlow airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-8 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and Instagram to keep up with Pat & the show!
Mayor Pete and Midwestern Values (Hour 2)
Before he ever ran for president or took a job in DC, Pete Buttigieg was mayor of a small Indiana city, so he knows a thing or two about Midwestern values and what makes our economy tick. We talk to him about the economic resurgence that could come crashing down on Election Day. Also: Folks from around the world come to America to volunteer with campaigns. Hear what one Australian woman said in Eau Claire about her hope that voters preserve democracy.
UpNorthNews with Pat Kreitlow airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-8 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and Instagram to keep up with Pat & the show!
