Chad Holmes
Watching Out for Our Waterways (Hour 2)
Beyond our roads and skies, we move all kinds of products through our rivers and waterways. But the Mississippi River can’t move all of that Wisconsin corn and cargo if its infrastructure falls apart, and other waterways are endangered by a new US Supreme Court ruling giving a green light to polluters.
No Immigrants—No Dairy Industry (Hour 2)
Wisconsin’s dairy farms are very different from only a few years ago—with Mexican laborers making up a substantial share of the workforce. We’ll talk to Ruth Conniff, author of “Milked: How an American Crisis Brought Together Midwestern Dairy Farmers and Mexican Workers,” along with two prominent figures from her book.
Cars, Bikes, and Tractors (Hour 2)
Wisconsin drivers have completed another season of navigating winter roads, but that only means some new types of vehicles will be joining them—motorcycles and tractors. We’ll focus on the farm machinery that still too often is struck by motorists, especially during the planting and harvesting seasons. Plus, an update on Wausau area news with Chad Holmes from Bull Falls Radio.
Ignoring Harassment Is Unacceptable (Hour 2)
Many students, including a former student who had to drive 300 miles, attended a school board meeting in Wausau last night to continue speaking out against the allegedly racist and homophobic band teacher. The school board has continued to ignore the problem, and we invite Chad Holmes to bring a local perspective.
There’s a New Secretary of State in Town (Hour 2)
Wisconsin has a new secretary of state for the first time in more than four decades. Sarah Godlewski has already gained attention—and ruffled some feathers—for her outspoken advocacy to fend off right-wing attacks on fair elections. Is she going beyond the bounds of her new role? Or is this kind of candor what Wisconsin needs right now, after Republican threats to weaponize the office and threaten to overturn the will of the voters?
Make Local Control Great Again (Hour 2)
Did you know that in 1911 Wisconsin state government gave a whopping 90% of state revenue to local governments and schools—because that’s where most services take place? Now, after 12 years of GOP control, less than 10% of state revenue goes to local providers and decision-makers. We’ll talk to a former county board member in Lincoln County about the impact and the ongoing effort to stoke division between rural and urban Wisconsinites.
The New Life of a Forgotten Hero (Hour 2)
Chippewa Falls teacher and author John Kinville has published a new book that recounts the life of one of Wisconsin’s first World War II casualties. Through letters sent to family and friends, Harry Kramer paints a picture of life in that pre-war, Depression-era period when a decision to pursue a career in the US Navy led to being stationed on a battleship in California that would eventually be stationed in Pearl Harbor.
First and Third with Nobody Out (Hour 2)
A review of last week’s election results shows why Democrats should be getting active right now in the 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts. Scot Ross, who for years led the liberal group One Wisconsin Now, gives his assessment of how competitive these districts have become—and why it’s important for the party to be out and about to give constituents someone other than Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden to represent them in 2024.
How to Fix Bail the Right Way (Hour 2)
There’s a constitutional amendment on next week’s ballot that might sound like a way to improve how criminal defendants can’t or can’t be released on bail, but state Assembly Rep. Evan Goyke explains why it’s a poor substitute for real reform.
Treat People With Kindness (Hour 2)
This hour, after expounding a bit more on the vaccination issue, we hear from Chad Holmes on the recent antisemitic event in Wausau.
