>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.

>> DUELING INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE 2020 ELECTION IN WISCONSIN IS CREATING A RIFT BETWEEN REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS, EVEN AS GOVERNOR TONY EVERS VETOES SIX REPUBLICAN BACKED ELECTIONS BILLS.

A HEATED DNR MEETING TO SET A HIGHER STATEWIDE WOLF HARVEST.

AND DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN RON KIND SAYS HE'S THROWING IN THE TOWEL.

I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," MARQUETTE POLL DIRECTOR PONDERS THE POLITICAL FUTURE OF RON KIND'S DISTRICT AND SHARES HIS LATEST STATEWIDE SURVEY RESULTS.

ONGOING REPUBLICAN EFFORTS TO INVESTIGATE THE 2020 ELECTION, AND THE HUNT FOR CONSENSUS ON THE DNR BOARD OVER WOLVES IN WISCONSIN.

IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR AUGUST 13.

>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.

>> THIS WILL BE MY LAST TERM IN OFFICE.

I WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION AS REPRESENTATIVE OF THIS CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT COME NEXT YEAR.

THE TRUTH IS, I'VE RUN OUT OF GAS.

>> RON KIND'S DECISION TO NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION IN HIS THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT RAISES THE POLITICAL STAKES FOR DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ALIKE.

THE OPEN SEAT ADDS DRAMA TO THE 2022 ELECTION CYCLE THAT WILL ALSO SEE A HOTLY CONTESTED U.S. SENATE RACE WITH OR WITHOUT INCUMBENT RON JOHNSON RUNNING AGAIN.

MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL POLL DIRECTOR CHARLES FRANKLIN JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT OPEN SEAT, AS WELL AS SHARE RESULTS FROM HIS NEW STATEWIDE POLL.

CHARLES, VERY NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

GOOD TO BE BACK.

>> SO I WANTED TO START WITH THE NEWS OF CONGRESSMAN RON KIND NOT RUNNING FOR REELECTION WAS THE WRITING ON THE WALL IN THAT WISCONSIN DISTRICT FOR DEMOCRAT?

>> WELL, WHAT'S HAPPENED IS DONALD TRUMP WON THAT DISTRICT BOTH IN 2016 AND 2018, GOVERNOR EVERS AND TAMMY BALDWIN WON IT AS WELL.

SO IT'S REALLY THE MOST COMPETITIVE SEAT IN THE STATE RIGHT NOW, AND IT'S ONE THAT'S BEEN MOVING IN A MORE REPUBLICAN DIRECTION.

FOR THE DEMOCRATS, THIS IS A BIG LOSS, TO LOSE KIND AS AN INCUMBENT TRYING TO HOLD THAT DISTRICT.

NOW IT WILL BE AN OPEN SEAT.

AND WITH DEMOCRATS ONLY CROWELLINGCONTROLLING THE HOUSET FIVE SEATS, LOSING ONE LIKE THIS ONE IS AN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT FOR DEMOCRATS.

FINALLY, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT REDISTRICTING WILL DO TO THAT DISTRICT.

IT COULD TILT IT IN A MORE REPUBLICAN DIRECTION AS WELL.

>> NOW THE MAN WHO NARROWLY LOST TO KIND IN THE LAST ELECTION, DEREK VAN ORDEN, WAS JUST ENDORSED BY DONALD TRUMP.

IS THAT KIND OF THE WAY OF THE THIRD IN YOUR MIND?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S A MIXED PICTURE.

I THINK CERTAINLY THE THIRD VOTED FOR TRUMP BY SMALL MARGINS BUT CONSISTENT MARGINS TWICE, AND THE ROLE OF THE TRUMP WING OF THE PARTY WITHIN THE GOP IS A BIG DEAL.

AND CERTAINLY DEVELOPING THROUGH THE 2022 ELECTION.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE DISTRICT HAS SOME SOLID DEMOCRATIC AREAS LIKE LACROSSE, AND SO HOW THAT DEVELOPS COULD ADVANTAGE DEMOCRATS IN TRYING TO SORT OF REPLICATE THE SUCCESSES IN 2018 RATHER THAN THE LOSSES IN THE DISTRICT AT THE PRESIDENTIAL LEVEL IN 2020.

>> THAT WOULD BE THEIR HOPE.

NOW, SWINGING INTO YOUR POLLING, RESULTS SHOW JOE BIDEN'S APPROVAL AT 49%, DISAPPROVAL 46% OF THOSE YOU SUR VAI SURVEYED.

THAT COMPARES TO TONY EVERS' NUMBERS, 50% APPROVE, 43% DISAPPROVE.

THOSE NUMBERS DESPITE THE HAMMERING THAT TONY EVERS GETS FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE.

WHAT IS LEADING TO THAT APPROVAL NUMBER?

>> EVERS, FIRST OF ALL, DIDN'T CHANGE AT ALL FROM OUR LAST POLL, WHICH WAS IN OCTOBER OF 2020, WHEN IT WAS AT 50-43 THEN AS WELL.

SO NO SHIFT FOR HIM.

WITH BOTH BIDEN AND EVERS, THEY HAVE PRETTY STRONG APPROVAL NUMBERS ON THEIR HANDLING OF THE CORONAVIRUS, WITH EVERS, IT'S 54 TO 39, AND THAT'S AN IMPROVEMENT FROM OCTOBER, WITH BIDEN, OF COURSE, HE HADN'T BEEN PRESIDENT, BEFORE IN OUR POLLING, BUT HIS CORONAVIRUS APPROVAL IS 54 TO 42.

SO THE HANDLING OF CORONAVIRUS AS MUCH AS IT IS A DIVISIVE PARTISAN ISSUE HAS NEVERTHELESS HELPED BOTH EVERS AND BIDEN.

>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT RON JOHNSON'S NUMBER.

POLL NUMBERS SHOW REPUBLICAN U.S.

SENATOR RON JOHNSON IS VIEWED FAVORABLY BY 3 35% OF YOR RESPONDENTS, UNFAVORABLY 42%.

NOW BEING UNDERWATER ISN'T GREAT FOR A POLITICIAN WHO HASN'T ANNOUNCED WHETHER HE'LL RUN FOR RE-ELECTION, SO WHAT DO YOU THINK HE'LL DECIDE ABOUT RUNNING AGAIN?

>> OH, I'M SURE NOT GOING TO TRY TO FORECAST WHAT HE'LL DECIDE.

I'M WAITING ALONG WITH EVERYBODY ELSE ON THAT.

THIS IS SOME SLIPPAGE FROM OCTOBER, WHEN HE WAS AT 38-36, A NET TWO POINTS POSITIVE VERSUS A NET SEVEN POINTS NEGATIVE THIS TIME.

THIS IS THE THIRD WORST FAVORABILITY FOR SENATOR JOHNSON BUT HIS TWO WORST RATINGS WERE IN 2015, 16 MONTHS BEFORE HE RAN SUCCESSFULLY FOR RE-ELECTION IN 2016.

SO I THINK THESE NUMBERS ARE WORTH WATCHING AND SEE HOW TREND, BUT IN 2015 TO 2016, THEY TRENDED CONSISTENTLY UP THROUGH THE ELECTION VICTORY.

I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS AND SAY THEY'RE IN ANY WAY DEFINITIVE FOR WHAT THE TWEP 2022 ELECTION OUTCOME MIGHE IF HE DECIDES TO RUN.

>> SO DEMOCRATIC SENATOR TAMMY BALDWIN'S NUMBERS ARE CLOSE, BUT AT LEAST RIGHT SIDE UP.

YOUR SURVEY SHOWS THAT SHE HAS A 21% NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO OPINION OF HER, LIKEWISE WITH SENATOR JOHNSON, IT WAS 23%, I THINK.

I DON'T GET THESE KINDS OF RESULTS IN THE "NO OPINION" OR "DON'T KNOW" NUMBERS IN THIS CRAZY HYPERPARTISAN ERA.

>> I KNOW, AND IT COMES UP EVERY TIME WE DO A SURVEY.

USUALLY SENATOR JOHNSON IS IN THE HIGHER 20s OR EVEN THE LOW 30s FOR NOT RECOGNIZING HIM OR NOT KNOWING ENOUGH TO SAY.

BALDWIN IS USUALLY IN THE MID 20s.

SO BOTH OF THEM ARE A LITTLE MORE RECOGNIZED IN THIS SURVEY THAN THEY OFTEN HAVE BEEN, BUT IT'S STILL 1 IN 5 OR 1 IN 4 VOTERS WHO SAY THEY DON'T KNOW ENOUGH TO HAVE AN OPINION ABOUT THEIR TWO U.S.

SENATORS WHO HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE SINCE 2010 AND 2012?

SO IT IS SORT OF A STRIKING RESULT, BUT IT'S ONE THAT'S INCREDIBLY CONSISTENT OVER TIME.

I THINK IN ONE SENSE, THESE FOLKS ARE OFF IN WASHINGTON OR THEY'RE ON NATIONAL CABLE TV, BUT MAYBE THEY'RE NOT SEEN SORT OF DAY TO DAY IN LOCAL NEWS COVERAGE OR THERE ARE STORIES ABOUT THEM BUT SOMEHOW THAT JUST DOESN'T PENETRATE TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT VERY, VERY INTO POLITICS.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE COVID VACCINE STATUS.

ON THE UPTAKE OF THE COVID VACCINE, ONCE AGAIN, A PARTISAN SPLIT AS HAS BEEN REPORTED, AMONG REPUBLICANS, 45% HAVE AT LEAST ONE DOSE.

AMONG DEMOCRATS, 87%.

WHY IS THIS A PARTISAN THING?

>> WELL, THAT'S THE BIG MYSTERY, AND THIS IS A BASIC HEALTH ISSUE.

YOU WOULD THINK THAT THAT'S CONSEQUENTIAL ENOUGH THAT MERE PARTISAN POLITICS WOULDN'T MATTER VERY MUCH.

BUT AS THE ISSUE WAS POLITICIZED THROUGHOUT 2020, AND HAS CONTINUED NOW WITH DEBATES OVER MASKS OR SCHOOLS AND WHETHER SCHOOL CHILDREN CAN OR CANNOT WEAR MASKS, THIS ISSUE HAS JUST PROLIFERATED.

I WILL NOTE THAT OVERALL, WE SHOWED 68% WHO SAID THEY'VE BEEN VACCINATED, AND THAT HAPPENS TO BE EXACTLY WHAT THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL REPORTS AS THE OVERALL RATE IN WISCONSIN FOR PEOPLE 18 AND OVER, WHICH OF COURSE IS WHO WE SURVEYED.

SO I THINK YOU COULD WONDER WHETHER DEMOCRATS ARE OVERROTING VACCINATIONS AND REPUBLICANS UNDERREPORTING IT, BUT CERTAINLY IN THE AGGREGATE, THESE NUMBERS TURN OUT TO BE SPOT-ON WITH THE CDC DATA.

SO I THINK IT'S REASONABLE TO BE PRETTY CONVINCED THAT THIS PARTISAN DIFFERENCE REALLY DOES STAND UP, EVEN IF MAYBE IT NOT QUITE AS LARGE AS WHAT THE DATA SHOW, I'M GOING WITH THE DATA.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, CHARLES FRANKLIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR DATA.

NICE TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MORE THAN NINE MONTHS AFTER THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL RACE, THAT ELECTION IS STILL BEING SCRUTINIZED BY AN INCREASINGLY VOCAL GROUP OF WISCONSIN CONSERVATIVES.

REPORTER WILL KENNEALLY DETAILS WHERE THE TWO COMPETING INVESTIGATIONS STAND.

>> WE, THE PEOPLE, MUST NEVER SURRENDER OUR RIGHT TO SCRUTINIZE ELECTION RESULTS.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

>> THE DEBATE OVER HOW TO INVESTIGATE THE 2020 ELECTION IS CAUSING A RIFT AMONG STATE REPUBLICANS AND HAS SPILLED OUT ON TO THE NATIONAL STAGE.

ON ONE SIDE, ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS.

HE TAPPED FORMER SUPREME COURT JUSTICE MICHAEL GABLEMAN TO INVESTIGATE CLAIMS OF ELECTION IRREGULARITIES.

ON THE OTHER SIDE -- [CHANTING USA] >> STATE REPRESENTATIVE JANEL BRANDTJEN, CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS COMMITTEE.

SHE IS THE STANDARD BEARER FOR THE ULTRACONSERVATIVE WING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT SAYS VOS IS NOT DOING ENOUGH.

>> NOW ON THE ISSUE OF A NEED FOR A FULL CYBER FORENSIC AUDIT, THIS IS BEING THWARTED BY ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS.

>> LATE THIS WEEK, EVEN FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WEIGHED IN ON THE SPLIT.

SAYING IN A STATEMENT, QUOTE, ALL EYES ARE ON WISCONSIN AS THEY BEGIN THEIR ELECTION AUDIT.

HOPEFULLY REPUBLICAN SPEAKER ROBIN VOS HAS THE INTEGRITY AND STRENGTH WISCONSIN NEEDS TO SUPPORT REPRESENTATIVE BRAN BRANDTJEN'S EFFORTS.

>> WHAT WE WANT IS FOR SOMEBODY TO LOOK AT THE MACHINES.

>> BRANDTJEN IS PUSHING FOR WHAT SHE'S CALLING A FORENSIC AUDIT OF THE 2020 ELECTIONS IN WISCONSIN, AFTER VISITING ARIZONA TO WITNESS THE REVIEW THERE.

>> LISTEN, WHY IS THIS BETTER, RIGHT?

>> WHILE THERE IS NO WIDELY UNDERSTOOD DEFINITION OF FORENSIC, SUPPORTERS SAY IT MEANS TO BRING A HIGHER, SCIENTIFIC BAR OF SCRUTINY TO THE INVESTIGATION.

DEMOCRATS CALL THAT LAUGHABLE AND SLAM THE INVESTIGATIONS.

GOVERNOR TONY EVERS CALLS THEM A CLOWN SHOW.

BUT BRANDTJEN IS ALL IN.

>> THE CLOCK IS GETTING TIGHT HERE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'VE EXHAUSTED EVERYTHING THAT I CAN AS CHAIR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN REBUILD CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN'S ELECTIONS.

>> VOS DEFENDS HIS OWN INVESTIGATION AND BROUGHT HEFT TO IT BY HIRING GABLEMAN.

HE ALSO INVOKED A FORMAL EXAMINATION OF THE ELECTION BY THE LEGISLATIVE AUDIT BUREAU.

>> WE'RE ALREADY DOING A FORENSIC AUDIT, SO JUST LIKE PERHAPS PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS MISINFORMED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING IN WISCONSIN, I FEEL LIKE MY COLLEAGUE REPRESENTATIVE BRANDTJEN IS MISFORMED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING IN WISCONSIN.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF WIDESPREAD VOTER FRAUD IN WISCONSIN.

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S CHALLENGES TO THE ELECTION WERE REJECTED MULTIPLE TIMES BY BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS, INCLUDING BY A TRUMP-APPOINTED FEDERAL JUDGE IN MILWAUKEE.

OUT OF MORE THAN 3 MILLION VOTES CAST IN THE STATE LAST NOVEMBER, ONLY 27 WERE IDENTIFIED FOR POSSIBLE FRAUD.

MEANWHILE, WISCONSIN'S DUELING INVESTIGATIONS ARE TREADING INTO UNCHARTERED TERRITORY.

GABLEMAN RAISED EYEBROWS THIS WEEK WHEN HE ATTENDED A CONSPIRACY-LADEN EVENT IN SOUTH DAKOTA HOSTED BY MY PILLOW C.E.O.

MIKE LINDELL.

LINDELL CALLS RESULTS OF THE 2020 ELECTION "THE BIG LIE."

>> HERE IS WISCONSIN.

LOOK AT THAT.

20,000 VOTES BY -- WON BY.

>> FOR HER PART, BRANDTJEN ISSUED SUBPOENAS FOR ACCESS TO BALLOTS AND VOTING MACHINES, HOWEVER, ATTORNEYS HAVE ADVISED THOSE SUBPOENAS ARE INVALID UNDER STATE LAW.

BRANDTJEN SAYS SHE JUST WANTS TO AFFIRM THE ACCURACY OF ELECTION RESULTS AND NEEDS SUBPOENAS TO DO IT.

>> THIS IS BASICALLY TRYING TO -- FROM YOUR RECORDS, DO YOU HAVE EVERYTHING WE COULD RE-CREATE THE ELECTION AND GET TO THOSE FINAL NUMBERS?

>> BEYOND THAT, BRANDTJEN SAYS SHE WANTS TO MAKE A FUTURE CASE FOR CHANGES TO THE ELECTION PROCESS.

IN FACT, THE STATE LEGISLATURE ALREADY PASSED A SLATE OF ELECTION BILLS IN JUNE THAT WOULD MAKE CHANGES TO THE ELECTION PROCESS, LIKE ADDING MORE REQUIREMENTS FOR ABSENTEE VOTERS TO REQUEST BALLOTS.

GOVERNOR TONY EVERS VETOED THOSE BILLS THIS WEEK.

>> WE'VE WATCHED REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS AND LEGISLATORS AROUND OUR COUNTRY WORK QUICKLY TO ADD MORE LUR DELLS TO VOTING, TO DISCREDIT THE GOOD WORK OF OUR ELECTION OFFICIALS AND TRY AND CAST DOUBT ON THE ELECTION JUST BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WIN.

IT'S TIME FOR THOSE THAT HAVE STIRRED THE POT TO SAY THERE'S NOTHING THERE.

>> ANY REPUBLICAN EFFORTS TO CHANGE HOW WISCONSIN CONDUCTS ITS ELECTIONS WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY FACE A VETO FROM EVERS.

AS TO THE VOS AND BRANDTJEN INVESTIGATIONS, THEY COULD EXTEND WELL INTO 2022.

THE AUDIT BUREAU ANTICIPATES ITS REPORT TO BE RELEASED LATER THIS FALL.

REPORTING FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M WILL KENNEALLY IN MADISON.

>> FORMER JUSTICE GABLEMAN TELLS REPORTERS THAT HE TRAVELED ON TAXPAYER MONEY TO ARIZONA LAST WEEK TO SEE THE REVIEW OF BO LOLBALLOTS THIS WEEK AND THIS WK TO THE MY PILLOW EVENT AS PART OF A FACT-FINDING MISSION.

NOW TO COVID DEVELOPMENTS, STATE DEPUTY HEALTH SECRETARY JULIE WILL HEMS VAN DYKE SAYS WISCONSIN NEEDS TO GET AN 80% FULLY VACCINATED RATE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE DELTA VARIANT.

CURRENTLY 50% OF WISCONSINITES ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

GOVERNOR TONY EVERS SAYS THE SPEED OF THE CURRENT SURGE MAKES VACCINATIONS ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT.

>> AS OF EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE 7-DAY AVERAGE OF NEW CONFIRMED CASES HAS INCREASED 40% OVER THE PAST WEEK, AND IT IS 11 TIMES HIGHER THAN IT WAS A MONTH AGO.

ALL 72 COUNTIES ARE EXPERIENCING HIGH OR VEL HIGH DISEASE VERY HE ACTIVITY AND OUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ARE PREPARING FOR THE WORST.

FOLKS, THIS DELTA VARIANT IS NO JOKE.

IT IS HIGHLY INFECTIOUS AND IS SPREADING MORE QUICKLY THAN ANY OTHER STRAIN OF THE VIRUS.

WE ARE NO LONGER IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19.

THIS IS NOW A FIGHT AGAINST THE DELTA VARIANT AND ALL THE POTENTIAL VARIANTS THAT COULD FOLLOW.

BUT WISCONSIN, THERE IS GREAT NEWS HERE, AND THAT IS THAT WE HAVE THE ANSWER.

THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE: GET VACCINATED.

THE VACCINE IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE.

AND GETTING VACCINATED IS THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT YOURSELF, YOUR FAMILY, AND YOUR COMMUNITY FROM COVID-19 AND THE DELTA VARIANT.

IT'S EASY, IT FREE, AND ANYONE CAN GET THE VACCINE REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS OR IF YOU'VE HAD COVID BEFORE.

>> THE DELTA VARIANT IS A WHOLE NEW GAME BECAUSE IT IS HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS, MUCH MORE CONTAGIOUS THAN THE ORIGINAL STRAIN OF COVID-19.

LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

WITH THE ORIGINAL STRAIN OF COVID-19, AN INFECTED PERSON WAS LIKELY TO INFECT TWO OTHER PEOPLE WHO WERE THEN LIKELY TO INFECT TWO ADDITIONAL PEOPLE FOR A TOTAL OF SIX CASES FROM ONE INFECTION.

WITH THE DELTA VARIANT, AN INFECTED PERSON IS LIKELY TO INFECT FIVE PEOPLE, WHO ARE LIKELY TO INFECT 25 PEOPLE, FOR A TOTAL OF 30 CASES FROM ONE INFECTION.

SIX COMPARED TO 30.

YOU CAN EASILY SEE HOW THIS VARIANT WILL SPREAD LIKE WILDFIRE.

AS THE WEATHER CHANGES AND MORE PEOPLE MOVE INDOORS, THE VIRUS WILL SPREAD EVEN MORE RAPIDLY.

IF YOU ARE UNVACCINATED AND EXPOSED, IT'S NOT A MATTER OF IF YOU'LL GET IT, IT'S WHEN.

AND WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE UNVACCINATED ARE MOST AT RISK FOR GETTING VERY ILL, HOSPITALIZED, AND DYING.

WITH THIS SURGE, WE'RE A FEW WEEKS BEHIND OUR SOUTHERN STATES.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING HAPPEN IN FLORIDA COULD HAPPEN HERE.

>> TONIGHT, IN THE SECOND OF HER REPORTS ON HOUSING INSECURITY, REPORTER MARISA WOJCIK EXPLORES HOW EVICTIONS AND FEDERAL RENTAL ASSISTANCE FITS IN TO WISCONSIN'S BROADER HOUSING CRISIS, EVEN AS THE CDC HAS REINSTATED A PANDEMIC MORATORIUM WITH THE SPREAD OF THE DELTA VARIANT OF COVID-19.

>> I MEAN, IT CAN BE TOUGH, EMOTIONALLY TOUGH WHEN YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES LITTLE KIDS ARE HERE, THEY'RE THERE WITH MOM AND DAD AND THEY'RE BEING EVICTED.

>> COMMISSIONER PAUL BURKE SEES EVERY EVICTION CASE THAT COMES THROUGH THE BROWN COUNTY COURTHOUSE.

>> OKAY, COME ON.

>> MOST OF THEM, I'D SAY 90% OF WHAT WE GENERALLY SEE ARE FOR NONPAYMENT ISSUES.

>> MEANT TO SLOW DOWN THE SPREAD OF COVID-19, BURKE SAW FIRSTHAND HOW THE BAN ON EVICTIONS EMPTIED OUT THE COURTROOM.

>> NUMBERS-WISE, WE PROBABLY HAVE ABOUT 20 OR SO ON TODAY, ALL TOLD.

AND ON PRE-COVID, IT WOULDN'T BE UNUSUAL FOR US TO HAVE 50 OR 60.

>> PER WEEK?

>> PER WEEK.

>> STATEWIDE, EVICTIONS DECREASED BY A THIRD WHILE THE BAN WAS IN PLACE OVER THE LAST YEAR.

THE MORATORIUM EXPIRED ON JULY 31ST, BUT DAYS LATER, THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL PUT A NEW ONE IN PLACE, FOR COUNTIES WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION RATES OF COVID-19, AS THE DELTA VARIANT SPREAD RAPIDLY.

>> I GET CALLS AN HOUR BEFORE THE FIRST COURT DATE, RETURN DATE -- >> GREEN BAY HOUSING INVENTORY PROVIDES FREE SERVICES THROUGH LEGAL ACTION WISCONSIN, AND IF A TENANT DOES HAVE A LAWYER PRESENT, IT PROBABLY HIM.

>> TENANTS WOULD BE IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION IF THEY HAD REPRESENTATION.

THERE'S THE PROCESS, WHICH IS DIFFICULT WHEN YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT.

>> BUT MOST TENANTS GO THROUGH THE PROCESS ALONE.

>> THEY WILL COME IN AND I ASK THEM IF THEY HAVE A LEGAL DEFENSE AND THEY SAY, YES, I LOST MY JOB, I'VE LIVED HERE FOR TWO YEARS AND I'VE ALWAYS PAID MY RENT AND I LOST MY JOB.

THAT'S WHY I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE -- AND THEY THINK THAT'S A PERFECTLY VALID DEFENSE, AND IT'S CERTAINLY UNDERSTANDABLE.

AND THEY'RE VERY SURPRISED WHEN I TELL THEM THAT THAT'S NOT.

>> WITHOUT A LAWYER PRESENT, THE TENANT IS AT A DISADVANTAGE.

>> IT IS INTIMIDATING TO BE IN A COURTROOM WHEN YOU'RE NOT USED TO BEING IN A COURTROOM.

>> IT'S NOT JUST WHAT HAPPENS IN THE COURTROOM, BUT THE ENTIRE EVICTION PROCESS IS UNKNOWN TERRITORY TO MOST RENTERS.

>> THE SPEED OF THE WHOLE PROCESS IS REALLY SCARY.

I MEAN, IT CAN HAPPEN FROM START TO FINISH IN THREE TO FOUR WEEKS, AND THE SHERIFF SHOWS UP AND MOVES YOU OUT AND THEN YOU'VE LOST EVERYTHING.

>> I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH EASILY HUNDREDS OF EVICTIONS.

>> DEPUTY JOSEPH FISHER IN THE BROWN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ASSISTS IN REMOVING THE TENANTS, ONLY IF THEY HAVEN'T LEFT WHEN THE COURT ORDERED.

>> WHEN SOMEONE TRULY DOES NEED HELP, I DON'T WANT TO BE THE PERSON JUST TO REMOVE THEM.

I WANT TO AT LEAST GIVE THEM SOME SORT OF DIRECTION IF THEY'RE WILLING TO TAKE IT.

>> THE EMOTION AND THE STRESS, THE FACT THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH A CRISIS OF LOSING HOUSING, ALL OF THAT COMES OUT AT THE VERY LAST STEP.

>> I THINK THE PANDEMIC REALLY SHOWED THE DISCONNECT IN COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN LANDLORDS AND TENANTS.

IT'S BEEN EITHER YOU PAY YOUR RENT OR YOU DON'T, YOU GET OUT OR YOU DON'T GET OUT, AND I THINK THAT THERE'S THIS MENTALITY THAT YOU JUST DON'T COMMUNICATE THAT UNTIL IT'S ALMOST TOO LATE.

>> JOE DEKEYSER OWNS SIX PROPERTIES IN GREEN BAY, AND TO HIM, COMMUNICATION IS IMPORTANT.

>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LINE OF OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR CLIENT OR FAMILY AND ALSO HAVE PATIENCE AND THE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND THINGS THAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH ALSO IN THEIR LIVES.

>> DEKEYSER SAYS HE'S ONLY GOTTEN TO THE POINT OF EVICTING A TENANT ONCE.

>> IN MY SITUATION, ANYWAY, IT IS THE LAST RESORT.

>> FOR LANDLORDS WITH FAR MORE PROPERTY, EVICTIONS ARE FAR MORE COMMON.

>> I PERSONALLY SAW IT RIGHT HERE IN GREEN BAY, BEING IN THAT COURTROOM.

YEAH, THERE WERE COMPANIES THAT THEY HAVE A FULL TIME PERSON WITH THE FOLDER 6 INCHES WIDE FULL OF EVICTION NOTICES AND WENT UP TO THE JUDGE AND JUST READ ONE RIGHT AFTER THE OTHER, JUST LIKE IT WAS CALLING OUT PEOPLE FOR LUNCH.

>> IT'S REALLY USED AS A RENT COLLECTION TOOL.

>> BRANDON DU PONT IS A DATA ANALYST WITH THE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN.

>> IF YOU HAVE 70% OF YOUR INCOME IS GOING TO RENT, AND YOU HAVE A LARGE SHOCK, SO YOUR CAR BREAKS DOWN OR YOU ARE -- YOUR KID HAS SOME SORT OF EMERGENCY.

YOU HAVE THIS DECISION, RIGHT, BECAUSE YOU'RE ALREADY OVEREXTENDED FINANCIALLY, DO I PAY MY LORETTA LYN LANDLORD OR O FIX MY CAR SO I CAN GET TO WORK, OR THIS MEDICAL BILL.

OFTENTIMES WHAT THE SERIAL EVICTION PRACTICE IS DOING IS IT'S TRYING TO REPRIORITIZE WHO GETS PAID FIRST.

>> AND HEDGING WHAT BILLS TO PAY FIRST IS HAPPENING TO MORE AND MORE PEOPLE.

>> THE INCOME DISPARITY HAS JUST GOTTEN WORSE AND WORSE.

LOOK AT THE HOME BUYING MARKET.

IT HAS JUST SKYROCKETED IN VALUE.

WHICH IS GREAT FOR PROPERTY TAX VALUES, IT'S GREAT FOR COMMUNITIES, IT'S GREAT FOR HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE SUDDENLY ABLE TO HAVE THIS EQUITY IN THEIR HOME THAT MAYBE THEY DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE, BUT IT'S NOT GOOD FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE EITHER LOOKING TO BUY OR LOOKING TO RENT, BECAUSE RENTS GO UP TOO.

>> A RECENT SURVEY ESTIMATES THAT NEARLY 78,000 HOUSEHOLDS IN WISCONSIN ARE BEHIND IN RENT.

>> MOST PEOPLE ARE PAYING MORE THAN 50% OF THEIR INCOME IN HOUSING.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE PAYING FAIR MARKET RENT, 6 TO 800 A MONTH, DEPENDING ON THEIR FAMILY SIZE.

SOMETHING HAPPENS.

IT TAKES ONE TINY SLIP, AND THEY GO OFF THE EDGE AND THEY CAN'T MAKE THEIR RENT.

THEN THEY GET EVICTED.

>> GREEN BAY RESIDENT NORMA TUCKER LIVED THIS WHEN SHE WAS FORCED OUT OF HER HOME.

>> I COULDN'T AFFORD IT ANYMORE.

AND MY PAYMENTS STARTED OUT AT 600-PLUS, AND THEN WHEN I MOVED OUT, IT WAS 849 FOR THE PAYMENT, AND THAT WAS MORE THAN HALF OF WHAT I MADE.

>> THE MORATORIUM WAS PUT IN PLACE TO ADDRESS AN IMMEDIATE HEALTH CRISIS BUT EVICTIONS HAVE BEEN IMPACTING HEALTH LONG BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

>> TO BE IN GOOD HEALTH, YOU NEED STABLE, RELIABLE SHELTER, RIGHT?

FIRST AND FOREMOST.

BUT YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT OF ESTABLISHED RESEARCH SHOWING AN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN EVICTIONS AND A WHOLE HOST OF SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH IN THE WORST HEALTH OUTCOMES.

FOR CHILDREN ESPECIALLY, IT'S AN INCREDIBLY DESTABILIZING EXPERIENCE.

>> A GLIMMER OF SHORT TERM STABILITY CAME WITH BILLIONS OF FEDERAL DOLLARS IN EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

IN WISCONSIN, THE STATE HAS PARTNERS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES TO GET THAT MONEY OUT.

THE RENTER APPLIES FOR ASSISTANCE, AND THE CHECK GOES STRAIGHT TO THE LANDLORD.

>> IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS SUCCESSFUL, IT REALLY DOES REQUIRE BUY-IN AND PARTICIPATION FROM LANDLORDS, COMMUNITIES, TENANTS, STATE, GOVERNMENT, FEDERAL DOLLARS.

THERE'S A LOT OF PIECES TO MAKING THIS WORK.

RIGHT NOW THE NEED IS TO MEET PEOPLE'S EMERGENCY NEEDS AND GET THEM STABILIZED WHILE WE FIGURE OUT LONGER TERM SOLUTIONS TO OUR HOUSING CRISIS.

>> NORMA NOW LIVES IN SUBSIDIZED HOUSING, WHERE HER RENT IS GUARANTEED TO BE A THIRD OF HER INCOME, AND SHE'S ENJOYING HER RETIREMENT THERE.

>> WE WORK PUZZLES, WE HAVE DINNERS, AND IT'S JUST NICE.

>> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M MARISA WOJCIK REPORTING FROM GREEN BAY.

>> WISCONSIN OFFICIALS ARE URGING RESIDENTS WHO ARE BEHIND ON RENT BECAUSE OF COVID-RELATED HARDSHIPS TO APPLY FOR THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE THAT IS STILL AVAILABLE IN THE STATE.

THE U.S. CORY BOOKER RELEASED CE RELEASED POPULATION DATA THIS WEEK THAT WILL BE USED TO DRAW UP POTENTIALLY NEW U.S. CONGRESSIONAL AND LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT LINES.

NEXT WEEK ZAC SCHULTZ REPORTS ON THE STATUS OF REDISTRICTING IN WISCONSIN.

THAT'S ALL FOR TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.

I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

[MUSIC] >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.