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

>> THE TWO ENDS OF STATE STREET IN MADISON, THE STATE CAPITOL AND THE UW CAMPUS SPAR OVER HOW COVID SHOULD BE MANAGED ON CAMPUS EVEN AS STUDENTS ARRIVE FOR SCHOOL.

SYSTEM PRESIDENT TOMMY THOMPSON STRIKES A DEFIANT STANSZ IN FAVOR OF SAFETY.

AND AFGHAN REFUGEES FIND THEIR WAY TO AMERICA VIA FORT MCCOY IN WISCONSIN.

>> I'M MF FREDERICA FREYBERG.

U.S.

SENATORS RON JOHNSON AND TAMMY BALDWIN ON THE ARRIVAL OF AFGHAN REFUGEES TO WISCONSIN.

A FOX VALLEY RESETTLEMENT SPECIALIST SHARES PREPARATIONS FOR NEW ARRIVES RIFLES.

AND WILL KENNEALLY REPORTS ON THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE SHOOTING OF JACOB BLAKE.

IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR A UGUST 27.

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

>> UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES ACROSS THE STATE ARE GEARED UP TO HOLD IN-PERSON FALL SEMESTER CLASSES WITH COVID PROTOCOLS IN PLACE.

THAT'S DESPITE PUSHBACK ON THE SAFETY MEASURES FROM SOME CORNERS OF THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE.

UW-MADISON IS AMONG THE SCHOOLS WITH A PLAN.

WE SHOULD NOTE THAT PBS WISCONSIN IS PART OF THE UW.

WE TALKED WITH CHANCELLOR REBECCA BLANK LATE THIS WEEK AND STARTED BY ASKING HER WHAT HESS MESSAGE IS TO FAMILIES AND THEIR STUDENTS ABOUT HOW THEIR SAFETY IS BEING PROTECTED.

>> SO WE'RE TAKING A NUMBER OF STEPS TO MAKE SURE WE OPEN S AFELY AND I SHOULD SAY WE ARE TRYING TO OPEN AS FULLY IN PERSON AS POSSIBLE BUT WITH SOME MODIFICATIONS.

THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO SAY WE ARE A HIGHLY VACCINATED COMMUNITY.

THE COMMUNITY AROUND US IS HIGHLY VACCINATED IN DANE C OUNTY.

BUT ON CAMPUS WE HAVE NOW OVER -9D 0% -- 90% OF OUR FACULTY AND STAFF VACCINATED.

AT LATEST REPORT WE WERE WELL OVER 80% OF STUDENTS VACCINATED.

THAT WILL CONTINUE TO GO UP BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE HAS REPORTED IN.

IN THE DORMS AS WELL ABOVE 90% AS WELL.

WE'RE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE ON THAT AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH THAT WITH FREE VACCINATIONS TO ANYONE.

BUT ON TOP OF THAT THERE ARE OTHER MEASURES WE NEED TOIC AT THAT.

WE HAVE AN INDOOR MASK MANDATE LIKE DANE COUNTY AND THAT IS IMPORTANT.

ALL OF OUR DORM RESIDENTS WHEN THEY ARRIVED RIFE HAVE TO TEST BEFORE THEY COME AND WILL BE TESTED WEEKLY IF THEY ARE U NVACCINATED ONCE THEY ARE HERE IN THE DORMS.

WE LAST WEEK ANNOUNCED THAT ALL UNVACCINATED COMMUNITY MEMBERS, STUDENTS AND STAFF, NEED TO TEST WEEKLY.

WE'RE GOING TO WATCH THESE NUMBERS VERY CLOSELY.

IF THEY GO UP, WE'LL TALK ABOUT OTHER MEASURES.

IF THEY GO DOWN, WE'LL RECONSIDER WHAT WE'RE DOING.

WE'RE FOLLOWING THE DATA AND SCIENCE AND DOING WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR, WHEN WE WERE QUITE SUCCESSFUL, INFECTIONS RATES BELOW 1%.

>> WOULD OTHER MEASURES INCLUDE GOING BACK TO ONLINE I NSTRUCTION?

>> WE'RE TRYING VERY HARD NOT TO DO THAT AND WITH I THINK WE NEED TO BE IN A GREATER HEALTH EMERGENCY THAN WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

OUR STUDENTS REALLY WANT TO BE BACK IN PERSON FOR OBVIOUS REASONS AFTER ALMOST A YEAR AND A HALF MANY OF THEM BEING O NLINE.

OUR FACULTY ARE EAGER TO BE BACK WITH STUDENTS.

WE ARE TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PRESERVE THAT COLLEGE EXPERIENCE WHICH SO MANY OF OUR STUDENTS HAVEN'T HAD FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.

>> MEANWHILE, REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR NS STEVEN NAS SAYS HE WILL SUE THE UW.

AS YOU KNOW, SYSTEM PRESIDENT TOMMY THOMPSON IS NOT BACKING DOWN ON THIS.

I STAND -- I TRUST YOU STAND WITH PRESIDENT THOMPSON?

>> I APPRECIATE HIS STANCE.

IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS CONTROL OVER EVERY POLICY WE MAKE ON THIS CAMPUS, PARTICULARLY OUR PUBLIC HEALTH POLICIES.

THIS HAS TO BE AT THE DISCRETION OF CHANCELLORS IN THE SYSTEM.

>> SENATOR NASS ALSO SAID, Q UOTE, IT IS NOT PRIZING THAT THE IVORY TOWERS ARE OPENLY D EFYING STATE LAW TO ISSUE COVID-19 MAN MANDATES TO CONTROL EVERY ADULT THAT DARES TO WALK ON THEIR CAMPUSES ON THE NOTABLE EXEMPTION OF 70,000 FOOTBALL FANS IN MADISON.

APPARENTLY THEY HAVE DISCOVERED THAT REVENUE-GENERATING FOOTBALL GAMES DON'T SPREAD COVID-19.

WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?

>> THAT'S ACTUALLY NOT QUITE TRUE.

OUR TICKET-PAYING FANS HAVE TO MASK.

SO IF THEY'RE IN THE BATHROOMS OR IN CLOSED ROOMS, AS DOES EVERYONE ELSE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THEY NEED TO BE MASKED.

OUTSIDE IN THE BOWL WE RECOMMEND PEOPLE MASK, BUT IT IS OUTSIDE AND THERE IS FAR LESS EVIDENCE OF TRANSMISSION AMONG PEOPLE OUTSIDE WITH THE WIND BLOWING OUT IN THE OPEN AIR.

SO, AS I SAY, WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.

BUT WE ARE FOLLOWING RULES THAT I MIGHT NOTE VIRTUALLY EVERY BOTH PROFESSIONAL TEAMS AND OTHER COLLEGE TEAMS ARE FOLLOWING THIS FALL.

>> WHAT ARE PROVISIONS FOR STUDENTS WHO DO GET INFECTED WITH COVID ON CAMPUS?

>> WELL, IF THEY'RE IN THE D ORMS, WE WILL HELP THEM MOVE INTO EITHER ISOLATION OR QUARANTINE SPACE SO THEY CAN RECOVER WITHOUT INFECTING OTHER PEOPLE.

WE HAVE SOME OF THAT SPACE SET A SIDE.

IF THEY'RE NOT IN THE DORMS, IT WILL BE THE LAST PROCEDURE AS LAST YEAR.

WE EXPECT THEM TO ISOLATE IN THEIR APARTMENTS.

OUR STUDENT SERVICES STAYS IN TOUCH WITH STUDENTS WHO TESTED POSITIVE, CALL THEM REGULARLY, MAKE SURE THINGS ARE GOOD, THAT THEY DON'T NEED ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE, MENTAL HEALTH OR PHYSICAL CARE.

>> WITH HOW MUCH TREPIDATION ARE YOU BE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FALL SEE SEMESTER WITH THESE RISING CASES.

>> IT FEELS LIKE WHERE WE WERE BACK AUGUST, BUT THE RIGHT ANSWER IS WE'RE IN A VERY DIFFERENT PLACE THAN LAST AUGUST.

WE HAVE AN EFFECTIVE AND SAFE VACCINE.

EVEN THOSE WHO DO GET BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS ARE NOT GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY ILL GIVEN EVERYTHING WE KNOW ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE WITH THIS VAKS VACCINE.

AND THAT DOES MAKE THIS SEMESTER FEEL BETTER AND SAFER.

WE'RE BETTER PREPARED FOR WHAT WE ARE GOING TO GET IN TERMS OF INFECTIONS.

AND THERE WILL BE SOME INFECTIONS ON CAMPUS.

THAT'S JUST A GIVEN.

>> CHANCELLOR BLANK, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> A FINAL NOTE ABOUT THE UW-MADISON CAMPUS.

ON THURSDAY THE CAMPUS OFFICE OF FINANCIAL AID REPORTED THAT IT HAS CLEARED JUST UNDER $2 MILLION OF STUDENT FINANCIAL DEBT USING FUNDS GRANTED TO THE UNIVERSITY BY THE MERP RESCUE ACT.

RISING COVID NUMBERS ACROSS WISCONSIN ARE NOT JUST A CONCERN FOR UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES.

THE SURGE TOUCHES THE NERVES OF STUDENTS OF ALL AGES, FAMILIES AND STUDENT STAFF AS THE YEAR GETS UNDERWAY.

FOR AN UPDATE ON NEW PRECAUTIONS AND CONCERNS, WE TURN TO DR. SAFDAR, DIVISION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF MED SIN AT -- MEDICINE AT UW-MADISON.

SOME 500 PEDIATRICIANS SIGNED A LETTER TO SCHOOLS AND PARENTS ABOUT SAFE PRACTICES SAYING WE NEED TO MASK, DISTANCE AND GET VACCINATED IF EL VIBL -- ELIGIBLE.

WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T TAKE THOSE MEASURES?

>> IF WE HAVE ANY HOPE OF EDUCATEING OUR CHILDREN, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THESE PRECAUTIONS.

ONE IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE OTHER.

IF YOU FOLLOW THEM ALL F AITHFULLY AS CLOSE TO 100% AS WE CAN GET, THEN WE HAVE A REASONABLE CHANCE OF BEING ABLE TO OFFER THIS GENERATION THE EDUCATION THAT THEY DESERVE.

IF WE DON'T, THEN I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THE QUON SEQUENCES THAT WE SEE IN AREAS THAT ARE NOT HIGH WITH MASK USE AND DISTANCING.

>> COVID CASES SPIKED ABOVE 2 ,000 IN A DAY THIS WEEK.

HOW TRULY CONCERNING IS THIS?

>> IT'S PROBABLY THE WORST IT'S BEEN FOR A LONG TIME.

WE HAD A BIT OF A REPRIEVE OVER THE SPRING AND SUMMER.

IT'S A BIT HARD TO GET YOUR HEAD AROUND THE FACT THAT THINGS AREN'T GOING IN THE ROSIE DIRECTION WE WERE HOPING THEY WOULD.

THINGS ARE MUCH WORSE THAN THEY SHOULD BE.

>> ARE CHILDREN LESS AT RISK?

>> I THINK AS A GROUP IT'S TRUE THAT CHILDREN IN THE PEDIATRIC POPULATION ARE LESS AT RISK.

ULTIMATELY WHEN YOU HAVE THE VIRUS CIRCULATING IN HIGH NUMBERS, THERE WILL BE ENOUGH CHILDREN WITH COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEMS OR JUST BAD LUCK, BUT THEY WILL GET INFECTED AND SOME WILL REQUIRE MEDICAL CARE.

THE NUMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO R ISE.

>> HOW DO YOU THINK THE FULL FDA AUTHORIZATION OF THE PFIZER VACCINE WILL MOVE PEOPLE WHO WERE WAITING TO GET VACCINATED?

>> I THINK IF YOUR REASON FOR NOT GETTING VACCINATED WAS YOU WANTED TO SEE THE STAMP OF APPROVAL, A SMALL GROUP, THEN I THINK YOU'LL GET VACCINATED NOW THAT WE HAVE THAT.

FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN VACCINES IN CONVENIENTLY, I'M NOT SURE THAT IT WILL HAVE ANY CHANGE.

>> WHAT IS THE SITUATION AT THE HOSPITAL WHERE YOU WORK IN TERMS OF CAPACITY OR STAFF, BEDS, EQUIPMENT, ICU SPACE?

>> I THINK WHAT WE LEARNED WITH COVID IS YOU CAN GO FROM FEELING GOOD ONE WEEK ONLY TO FIND THAT THE FOLLOWING WEEK THE NUMBER OF CASES ARE RISING.

SO FOR THE MOMENT IT'S NORMAL OPERATIONS.

WE CERTAINLY ARE SEEING MORE INPATIENTS WITH COVID THAN WE DID BEFORE.

BUT NOTHING MORE HAS BEEN REQUIRED OF THE HEALTH SYSTEM AT THIS POINT.

BUT IS LIKELY NOT TO BE THE CASE SEVERAL WEEKS FROM NOW.

WE JUST HAVE TO PLAN FOR THAT POSSIBILITY.

>> AND WHAT IS IT LIKE THEN FOR THE FRONT LINE WORKERS IN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM TO CONFRONT THIS ONCE AGAIN?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S HIGH BURN-OUT RATES IN OUR SYSTEMS IN GENERAL.

PEOPLE FEEL THERE'S REALLY TWO CONSTRAINTS.

ONE IS YOU'RE DOING YOUR DAILY WORK ON P TOO OF THE ADDITIONAL STRESS THAT COVID POSES.

AS INFECTIONS RISE IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY ALSO RISE IN HEALTH CARE WORKERS.

AND THEN YOU HAVE STAFFING CONCERNS WHICH DOUBLES THE CONCERN FOR THOSE STILL AT WORK.

>> SO WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO PARENTS, SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS AS SCHOOLS START?

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO FAITHFULLY FOLLOW ALL RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS AS CLOSE TO 100% OF THE TIME AS WE CAN.

WITH THAT, I THINK WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS WE'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO DO.

WITHOUT THAT, WE HAVE NO CHANCE OF BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE THE WAY WE'D LIKE TO.

>> SO WITHOUT THAT YOUR EXPECTATION IS THAT POTENTIALLY THERE COULD BE ANOTHER KIND OF SHUTDOWN?

>> WELL, ONE HOPES IT DOESN'T COME TO THAT.

THOSE THINGS PROBABLY AREN'T SUSTAINABLE.

BUT GIVEN HOW QUICKLY DELTA IS TRANSMITTED, EVEN A LITTLE ABSENT MASKING MAY NOT BE IN CON SCWEN CHEL AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO FIND UNTIL YOU'RE IN THAT STATE.

CHILDREN ARE THE REAL HEROES OF THIS PANDEMIC.

THEY HAVE MASKED UP WITHOUT COMPLAINING THIS WHOLE TIME.

>> DO YOU GET THE SENSE AT ALL THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT TAKING THIS DELTA VARIANT AS SERIOUSLY AS PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELVES UNDERSTAND IT TO BE SERIOUS?

>> I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARD TO GET YOUR HEAD AROUND THE FACT THAT FOR A WHILE THINGS WERE GOOD.

WE GOT EFFECTIVE VACCINES AND NOW THERE'S A VARIANT AND A NEED FOR BOOSTERS AND SO ON.

YES, DELTA IS BAD AND CAN LEAD TO SEVERE CONSEQUENCES.

BUT HAVING SAID THAT, I THINK WE HAVE TO CONFRONT WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US.

DENYING IT ISN'T GOING TO MAKE IT GO AWAY.

>> DOCTOR, THANKS VERY MUCH AND THANKS FOR YOUR WORK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE TURN OUR ATTENTION NOW TO THE ARRIVAL OF REFUGEES TO WISCONSIN FROM AFGHANISTAN.

THIS AFTERNOON MORE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS GATHERED TO OBSERVE ACTIVITY AT FORT MCCOY NEAR TOMAH.

IT'S ONE OF THE MILITARY INSTALLATIONS IN THE U.S. APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY HOUSEING FOR THE AFGHAN N EWCOMERS.

THE DEPARTMENT SAYS FAMILIES ARRIVING ARE BEING KEPT T OGETHER.

ACCORDING TO U.S.

SENATOR RON JOHNSON, THERE ARE CURRENTLY MORE THAN 1,000 REFUGEES INSIDE FORT MCCOY.

IN A VISIT TO THE BASE ON WEDNESDAY, JOHNSON QUESTIONED THE LEVEL OF VETTING, SAYING A LACK OF VETTING POSES A SECURITY RISK TO THE COUNTRY.

>> HOW MANY SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VEES DISA HOLDERS DO YOU THINK THE TALIBAN ARE LETTING INTO KABAL AIRPORT RIGHT NOW?

HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE THE FOLKS THAT ARE AFGHANISTAN VETERANS, HOW MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE DO YOU THINK THE TALIBAN ARE ALLOWING THROUGH THE GATES OF KABAL AIRPORT?

>> REPUBLICAN U.S.

SENATOR RON JOHNSON AT FORT MCCOY ON WEDNESDAY.

DEMOCRATIC U.S.

SENATOR TAMMY BALDWIN SAYS THE U.S.

NEEDS TO WELCOME PEOPLE ARRIVING FROM AFGHANISTAN, PEOPLE WHO HAVE HELPED THE U.S.

CAUSE.

>> I FEEL LIKE A WE HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION NOT ONLY TO RETURN U.S. SENATE AL -- NATIONAL ALES, PEOPLE WHO ARE AT RISK BECAUSE OF THEIR ADVOCACY FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS, CHILDREN'S RIGHTS, N GOs, BUT ALSO THE AFGHANS WHO HAVE STOOD BY, TRANSLATED, DONE MANY OTHER THINGS.

>> THOSE ABLE TO GET OUT OF AFGHANISTAN CAN EXPECT TO SEE HELPING HANDS IN WISCONSIN FROM PLACES AND PEOPLE LIKE IN THE CITY OF OSHKOSH, WHICH IS SECOND ONLY TO MILWAUKEE IN THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS WITH REFUGEE BACKGROUNDS.

WE GO TO APPLETON TO LEARN ABOUT PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY FOR REFUGEES IN THAT AREA.

TAMI MCLAUGHLIN IS THE DIRECTOR OF WORLD RELIEF FOX VALLEY AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO AS WE KNOW, A DANGEROUS AND FRIGHTENING SITUATION FOR THOSE TRYING TO LEAVE AND WE KNOW PEOPLE ARE ARRIVING FROM AFGHANISTAN IN WISCONSIN THIS WEEK.

WHAT ROLE DO YOU EXPECT TO PLAY IN HELPING SETTLE THE NEW ARRIVALS?

>> WELL, WE DO HAVE A SMALL AFGHAN COMMUNITY IN THE FOX VALLEY, SO WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF WELCOMING THEIR FAMILY IF THEY ARE ABLE TO GET OUT OF AFGHANISTAN.

WE ALSO HOPE TO WELCOME ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE AFGHAN COMMUNITY WHO HAVE BEEN EVACUATED OUT OF AFGHANISTAN.

SO WE'RE WILLING AND READY AND ABLE WITH WHATEVER THAT OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS.

>> DESCRIBE YOUR WORK HELPING NEW ARRIVALS IN THE FOX VALLEY.

>> SURE.

WORLD RELIEF IS ONE OF NINE NATIONAL AGENCIES WHO CONTRACT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE SERVICES.

IT'S VERY COMPREHENSIVE.

WE START BY SECURING APARTMENTS FOR REFUGEES AND THEN FURNISHING THOSE APARTMENTS.

OUR WORK CONTINUES AS WE CONNECT THEM WITH COMMUNITY RESOURCES, ENROLL THEM IN SCHOOLS, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, ENGLISH LANGUAGE CLASS CLASSES.

WE PROVIDE A LOT OF ORIENTATION AND CULTURAL TRAINING SO THEY UNDERSTAND HOW TO NAVIGATE THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE.

SO THE FIRST 90 DAYS ARE VERY, VERY BUSY IN THE REFUGEE COMMUNITY.

>> WHICH POPULATIONS HAVE YOU WORKED WITH?

>> OUR LARGEST POPULATION IS FROM THE REPUBLICAN OF CONGO.

ALSO THE BURMESE AND IRAQI COMMUNITY IS SECOND AND THIRD COMMUNITY.

AND THEN SOMALI, SYRIANS, A FGHANS, JUST A VARIETY OF OTHER NATIONALITYIES WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF WELCOMING.

>> HOW DID OSHKOSH BECOME SECOND ONLY TO MILWAUKEE IN NUMBER OF RESETTLEMENTS?

>> BECAUSE WE'RE SUCH A WARM AND WELCOMEING COMMUNITY, IBLG.

-- I BELIEVE.

WE ARE POSITIONED HERE.

WE DID A LOT OF GROUNDWORK REGARDING THE RECEPTIVENESS OF THE COMMUNITY, HOW STRONG PARTNERSHIPS ARE.

VOLUNTEER AND CHURCH PARTNERS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO US.

IT WAS CREATED AS A P RIVATE/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP ON BEHALF OF A WHOLE COMMUNITY.

THE RESEARCH FOUND THAT OSHKOSH AND APPLETON WOULD BE THOSE TYPES OF COMMUNITIES.

>> WHAT FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE ARE PEOPLE NEWLY ARRIVING DEALING WITH, ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM A WAR ZONE AND ESCAPING THE WAY THEY HAVE FROM AFGHANISTAN?

WHAT ARE THEY DEALING WITH?

>> THE FIRST RESPONSE WE ALWAYS HEAR IS I'M SAFE.

NO MATTER WHERE THEY COME FROM.

AND THAT'S WHETHER IT'S FROM THE CONGO OR BURMA OR AFGHANISTAN.

SO OBVIOUSLY JUST REALIZING THAT THEY'RE COMING OUT OF A SITUATION THAT PRODUCED HIGH TRAUMA, ANXIETY, FEAR OF DANGER, FEAR OF LIFE.

SO THOSE ARE THE FIRST THINGS THAT WE KNOW.

MAY NOT BE SPOKEN, BUT KNOW THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WILL NEED TO BE CONFRONTED AND DEALT WITH AS PEOPLE MOVE ON.

THE FIRST INITIAL RESETTLEMENT IS JUST REALLY AK CLA -- ACCLIMATEING AND STABILIZING.

HOW DO WE GET TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND SEEING WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.

BASIC NEEDS ARE INITIALLY THE PRIORITY, THOUGH.

>> HAVE OFFICIALS REACHED OUT TO YOUR ORGANIZATION TO STEP IN AT THIS POINT YET?

>> THE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS WHO WE TYPICALLY WORK WITH FOR REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT HAVE REACHED OUT AND THERE'S BEEN A VARIETY OF DISCUSSIONS.

WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WE'LL COME TO A PLACE OF CONTRACT, IF YOU WILL, WITH SOME OF THIS AFGHAN POPULATION AND JUST APPRECIATE THEIR SUPPORT AND THEIR W ILLINGNESS TO PROVIDE A STRUCTURE AGAIN AND JUST SOME ASSISTANCE AS WE AS A COUNTRY REALLY WORK TOWARD HOW WE CAN HELP THIS COMMUNITY BEST.

>> TAMI MCLAUGHLIN, WORLD R ELIEF, FOX VALLEY, THANKS VERY MUCH AND THANKS FOR YOUR WORK.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THE LAST LARGE SCALE REFUGEE RELOCATION EFFORT AT FORT MCCOY WAS IN 1980, WHEN 14,000 CUBANS CAME TO THE WESTERN WISCONSIN MILITARY INSTALLATION.

MARISA WOYCHIK SPOKE WITH THE PROFESSOR STUD STUDYING THIS MIGRATION AND ASKED WHAT BARRIERS WERE PRESENT IN 1980 THAT WE MIGHT SEE AGAIN TODAY.

>> THE LANGUAGE IS GOING TO PRESENT EVEN A MORE SIGNIFICANT BARRIER.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT SPANISH AND THE WAY IN WHICH IT'S SPOKEN IN THE UNITED STATES TODAY, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THAT EASY TO FIND INTERPRETERS AND TRANSLATORS FOR THESE POPULATIONS.

THERE'S A LOT OF WOMEN THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA AND ABUSE AND THAT HAS ALSO -- IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT REQUIREMENT OF HOW WE MANAGE THIS EXODUS IN TERMS OF QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.

BUT IN MY OPINION, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS THIS RUSH TO GO HELP AND PROVIDE FOOD AND SHELTER.

I THINK ACTUALLY LISTENING, YOU KNOW, AND TRYING TO EMPATHIZE WITH THE GROUP AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ACTUAL NEEDS OF THE GROUP ARE MIGHT BE MORE BENEFICIAL WAY, JUST KIND OF TAKING A PAUSE AND THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE ACTUAL NEEDS OF THIS POPULATION IN TERMS OF NOT JUST FOOD AND SHELTER, BUT BEYOND THE TRAUMA THAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING AT THE TIME AND THE REPERCUSSIONS THAT THAT TRAUMA IS GOING TO HAVE AS THEY RESETTLE INTO U.S. COMMUNITIES.

>> WHAT DID WE GET WRONG IN 1980 THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET RIGHT TODAY?

>> SO EDUCATING THE FAMILIES THAT ARE GOING TO WELCOME THESE FOLKS.

IF THEY DO INDEED STAY IN THE AREA, WHICH IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME, EDUCATING THE ORGANIZATIONS IN TERMS OF LIKE WHAT ACTUAL STEPS ARE NECESSARY FOR THESE PEOPLE TO GET THEIR REFUGEE AND ASYLUM STATUS IN THE PERIOD OF TIME THAT IS REQUIRED BY THE IMMIGRATION, YOU KNOW, LAWS.

WHAT SORT OF SUPPORT DO THEY NEED IN TERMS OF EDUCATION, NOT JUST GETTING ANY JOB, BUT ACTUALLY HAVING ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION, HAVING ACCESS TO THE FUNDS FROM THE STATE TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE EQUALLY IN AN EQUITABLE WAY RATHER THAN JUST SAY, OKAY, THEY'RE FINE.

THEY'RE WITH THE FAMILIES.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE OKAY.

SO I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS AT THE TIME.

>> THIS WEEK MARKED THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE JACOB BLAKE SHOOTING THAT ROCKED KENOSHA AND BROUGHT WISCONSIN INTO THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT.

BLAKE WAS LEFT PARTIALLY PARALYZED AFTER BEING SHOT SEVEN TIMES BY A KENOSHA OFFICER WHO WAS ATTEMPTING TO ARREST HIM FOR AN OUTSTANDING WARRANT.

PROSECUTORS DECLINED TO BRING CHARGES AGAINST THE OFFICER AND HE IS BACK ON DUTY.

BLAKE HAS FILED AN EXCESSIVE FORCE LAWSUIT AGAINST THE POLICE OFFICER.

REPORTER WILL KENNEALLY SPOKE WITH PEOPLE IN KENOSHA ABOUT THE PAST YEAR AND THEIR HOPES FOR FUTURE CHANGE.

>> IT'S A VERY NICE DAY.

NOT TOO DIFFERENT THAN TODAY.

SO I THOUGHT I'D GET ON MY BIKE, RIDE DOWNTOWN AND JUST KIND OF ENJOY THIS LAST DAY BEFORE A VERY BUSY WEEK.

RODE MY BIKE NORTH TO WASHINGTON ROAD, STARTED HEADING EAST TO THE LAKE AND BY THE TIME I GOT TO SHERIDAN ROAD ALL THE SIRENS AND POLICE VEHICLES WERE MOVING HERE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> I'M ANTHONY KENNEDY, ALDERMAN IN THE 10TH DISTRICT.

LET ME JUST DO A DEDICATION ON MY BIRTHDAY.

THEN WE HEARD THE SEVENTH SHOT.

>> MY NAME IS ALVIN D. OWENS, I'M A LICENSED MASTER BARBER, EDUCATOR, FOUNDER OF REGIMENT BARBER COLLECTIVE.

PEOPLE ASK ME HOW DO I FEEL ABOUT THAT BEING FROM KENOSHA?

TO BE BRUTALLY HONEST, IT WAS AS IF, OH, THIS WAS THE OTHER SHOE THAT WAS GOING TO DROP.

>> MY NAME IS NATHAN UPHAM, 24 YEARS OLD, KENOSHA, WISCONSIN.

I HAVE BLOCKED A LOT OF THAT STUFF BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY INTENSE.

NOW SEEING ON MY INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK MEMORIES, I WAS OUT EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR THE PROTESTS.

>> KENOSHA HAS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO SET AN EXAMPLE FOR WHAT A CITY CAN BE, RISE FROM THE ASHES LIKE A PHOENIX KIND OF THING.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN CALL MYSELF AN ACTIVIST.

BUT WE WERE ACTIVATED, YOU KNOW.

BECAUSE WHEN CHAOS ENSUES, THERE'S NO ORGANIZATION AND THERE'S NO LEADERSHIP.

SO I MAKE SURE THAT I'M HERE.

AS A RESIDENT, AS A BUSINESS OWNER, AS A CHILD WHO GREW UP HERE, I FELT AND I'VE SHARED THIS WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.

I FELT THAT WE WERE ABANDONED FOR A GOOD TWO WEEKS.

>> I WON'T SAY IF I'VE SEEN PROGRESS.

WHAT I'LL SAY IS THAT I SEE BLATANT COMPLACENCY FOR KENOSHA.

I MEAN, HERE IN KENOSHA.

>> IN KENOSHA, A MINORITY VOTE IS NOT STRONG.

IT'S NOT POWERFUL.

IT'S NOT PRESENT.

BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE WORKING THEIR ASSES OFF TO TRY TO CHANGE THAT.

>> COME TO THE BARBERSHOP.

COME TO THE BLACK CHURCHES.

COME TO WHERE WE STILL SAFE IN OUR OWN SPACES.

COME AND MEET US.

>> I THINK EVEN THE FACT THAT WE CREATED THE CONVERSATION, I M EAN, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE BEGINNING TO BE LOOKED AT AS A MORE EQUAL AND RESPECTED FORCE.

>> THAT SPARK, THAT TOOK PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONES AND WANTED TO BE CONFRONTATIONAL AND CONFRONT THE SYSTEMS THAT ARE IN PLACE.

I HOPE THAT SPARK KEEPS BURNING AND I HOPE THAT YOU TAKE THAT SPARK AND MOVE THAT INTO ACTIVISM.

>> "HERE AND NOW" REPORTER WILL KENNEALLY FROM KENOSHA.

FOR MORE ON ALL THE TOPICS IN TONIGHT'S PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE LATEST COVID CONDITION REPORT, GO TO pbswisconsin.org AND CLICK ON THE NEWS PAGE.

THAT'S ALL FOR TONIGHT.

I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

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