>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS GOVERNOR TONY GOVERNOR TONY EVERS DELIVERS A VIRTUAL STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS WHEN COVID MOVES FROM THE DISEE ASSEMBLY TO THE CHANNEL WHERE MEMBERS OF THE LOWER HOUSE ARE FRUSTRATED.

MEANWHILE, OUTSIDE THE CAPITOL WINDOWS BOARDED UP AFTER THREATS OF RIOTING.

>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," DEVIN LEMAHIEU EXPLAINS CHANGES TO THE COVID BILL SENT OVER BY THE ASSEMBLY.

WILL EXTREME TRUMP SUPPORTERS CAUSE TROUBLE THIS WEEKEND AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS HERE TELLING WHY ENFORCEMENT IS TAKING THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE SERIOUSLY.

WISCONSIN NEEDS FOR VACCINES.

HOW WILL THE STATE GET IT?

IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JANUARY 15.

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

>> FROM OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS TO OUR STUDENTS, WISCONSINITES HAVE BEEN STRETCHED TO THE LIMIT, MAKING SACRIFICES FOR NEIGHBORS, FAMILY AND LOVED ONES AND SO MANY ARE TIRED.

OUR EFFORTS TO CONTAIN THIS VIRUS WERE MET WITH COSTLY LITIGATION AND RESISTANCE NEARLY EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS FROM HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

THE GOVERNOR ISN'T THE ONLY ONE AT THE CAPITOL FEELING THE RESISTANCE TO COVID LEGISLATION.

THE BILL PASSED LAST WEEK BY THE ASSEMBLY GOT A FACE LIFT IN THE SENATE THIS WEEK, CHANGES SEEN BY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS AS MORE FAVORABLE TO THE GOVERNOR THAN TO ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS.

>> LAST YEAR, WE SPENT TIME NEGOTIATING WITH GOVERNOR EVERS.

WE DID THAT BECAUSE WE WANTED TO FIND COMMON GROUND.

IT SEEMS UNFORTUNATELY SOME WOULD THINK THE ONLY WAY TO FIND COMMON GROUND IS TO CAVE TO THE GOVERNOR'S DEMANDS.

WE WILL WORK TO REACH A CON CONSENSUS AS EQUALS, BUT WE WILL NEVER COMPROMISE OUR POLITICAL IDEAS IN THE NAME OF POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY.

>> WHILE THE SPEAKER MAY HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED WITH CHANGES TO THE COVID BILL, THOSE CHANGES GARNERED BIPARTISAN SUPPORT WITH ONLY ONE DEMOCRAT AND ONE REPUBLICAN VOTING AGAINST THE SENATE VERSION.

GOVERNOR TONY EVERS CALLED IT A GOOD START.

THE SENATE BILL STRIPPED SEVERAL ITEMS FROM THE ASSEMBLY VERSION, INCLUDING LIMITATIONS ON LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS' AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE COVID-RELATED PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES.

IT TOOK OUT LIMITS ON SCHOOLS' ABILITY TO RUN VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION.

THE SENATE BILL WOULD NOT BAR GETTING A VACCINE AS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT.

OR GIVING THE STATE LEGISLATURE OF COVID-RELATED MONEY.

THE BIGGEST THING THAT'S IN BOTH VERSIONS IS A LIABILITY SHIELD FOR BUSINESSES AGAINST COVID LAWSUITS.

WHY THE DEPARTURE FROM THE ASSEMBLY VERSION OF THE LONG-AWAITED COVID RELIEF PACKAGE?

WE TAKE THAT QUESTION TO THE NEW SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, DEVIN LEMAHIEU, WHO JOINS US FROM OOSTBURG AND THANKS FOR DOING SO.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.

THE GOAL ALL ALONG WITH THE SPEAKER, MYSELF AND THE GOVERNOR EVEN BACK IN DECEMBER WAS TO GET A BILL THAT WE COULD GET PASSED TO MAKE IMPORTANT CHANGES FOR THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.

THAT'S WHAT WE DID IN THE SENATE.

WE FOUND A PATH FORWARD TO MAKE SURE THE STATE CAN STILL BEYOND TO THE COVID PANDEMIC CRISIS THAT'S GOING ON AND MAKE SURE THERE'S PROTECTIONS NOT JUST FOR BUSINESSES, BUT FOR CHURCHES, NONPROFITS, PRIVATE SCHOOLS, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, MAIN STREET BUSINESSES.

IT WAS IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE THAT LIABILITY SO THAT THESE ENTITIES CAN OPERATE AS THEY CURRENTLY ARE WITHOUT THE FEAR OF FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS.

>> SO YOU WANTED TO GET SOMETHING DONE.

WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO YOU, NEGOTIATING WITH THE GOVERNOR TO LEARN WHAT HE WILL SIGN INTO LAW OR NEGOTIATING WITH ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS TO MAKE SURE THE LEGISLATURE IS ALL ON THE SAME PAGE?

>> I THINK BOTH THOSE AREAS ARE IMPORTANT.

YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE SPEAKER AND THE ASSEMBLY.

THERE'S SOME IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE NEED TO TRY TO GET DONE THAT THE GOVERNOR MAY VETO.

SOME OF THE PROVISIONS THAT WERE TAKEN OUT, WE HAVE A STAND-ALONE BILL.

HOPEFULLY THE GOVERNOR WILL SIGN THEM.

THERE'S GOING TO BE THINGS GOING FORWARD WHEN WHERE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR AND GET THINGS DONE FOR THE STATE.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO WORK WITH THE SPEAKER TO MAKE SURE WE ADVANCE CONSERVATIVE LEGISLATION.

>> WHO'S GOING TO DRIVE THE BUS ON LEGISLATIVE ISSUES, YOU OR SPEAKER VOS?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, MY -- I OBVIOUSLY HAVE KNOWN THE SPEAKER FOR SIX YEARS.

IT'S A NEW ROLE FOR ME.

SO I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE SPEAKER TO FIND WAYS WHERE WE CAN DRAFT AND GET GOOD LEGISLATION DURING THE PROCESS.

>> ON THIS, THE FBI HAS WARNED OF ATTACKS, AS YOU KNOW, PRY -- BY PRO-TRUMP CONSERVATIVES OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THAT HAPPENING HERE?

>> YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T BEEN PRIVY TO MUCH OF THE INFORMATION AS TO WHY THEY ARE PUTTING UP BARRIERS AND BOARDING UP WINDOWS.

THERE'S ABOUT SOME TWITTER CHATTER ABOUT SOME DEMONSTRATIONS THAT MAY GO ON IN ALL 50 CAPITOLS.

WE CONDEMN VIOLENCE AS A SENATE GOP CAUCUS A WEEK AGO, SAYING VIOLENCE IN ANY FORM, IN MADISON LAST SUMMER, IN KENOSHA LAST FALL, IN THE CAPITOL JUST LAST WEEK, IT'S TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A RIGHT TO PEACEFULLY PROTEST IN THIS COUNTRY.

THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT RIGHT.

BUT VIOLENCE IS NEVER THE ANSWER.

IT NEEDS TO BE CONDEMNED.

>> IT IS CLEAR THAT MUCH OF THE ANGER FROM THESE INSURRECTIONISTS IS RELATED TO MISINFORMATION REPEATED BY DONALD TRUMP AND MANY REPUBLICANS ABOUT HOW THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN.

DO YOU BELIEVE WISCONSIN'S ELECTIONS WERE LEGITIMATE?

>> THE COURTS HAVE DECIDED THAT ALL PROCESS ONS WERE PROCESSES WERE IN PLACE.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK TO A MAKE SURE THE ELECTION COMMISSION ISN'T PROVIDING GUIDANCE TO CONTRARY TO LAW.

THE COURTS HAVE DECIDED THAT HE WON AND JUST THERE'S A LOT OF CLOSE STATES, BUT WE LIVE UNDER A NATION OF LAWS AND WE NEED TO FOLLOW THOSE LAWS.

>> AND SO TO BE CLEAR, YOU BELIEVE THAT THE ELECTIONS WERE FAIR AND THAT THE ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD HAVE BEEN RIGHTLY DEBUNKED DEBUNKED?

>> I DON'T THINK THERE WAS A -- FOR THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT OTHER STATES.

BUT IT WAS UNFORTUNATE THAT PARTS OF STATE LAW WERE -- SUCH AS HARVESTING BALLOTS IN THE PARK WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND WISCONSIN ELECTION LAW.

>> THAT WAS NOT SO DETERMINED.

BUT I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU THIS.

WILL YOU TELL YOUR CONSTITUENTS TRUTH WHEN IT COMES TO OUR ELECTIONS, THAT JOE BIDEN DID WIN AND HE WILL BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT?

>> JOE BIDEN WILL BE OUR NEXT PRESIDENT.

>> OKAY.

SENATOR LA MESA, THANK YOU AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING WITH YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ON WEDNESDAY, ONE WEEK TO THE DAY AFTER TRUMP SUPPORTERS STORMED THE U.S. CAPITOL AND KILLED A CAPITOL POLICE OFFICER, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VOTED TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT TRUMP, THE.

IT CAME WITH TEN REPUBLICAN VOTES IN FAVOR.

WISCONSIN MEMBERS VOTED ALONG PARTY LINES.

>> THE U.S. CAPITOL HAS NOT BEEN BREACHED FOR OVER 200 YEARS, SINCE THE WAR OF 1812, THAT IS UNTIL LAST WEEK WHEN IT WASN'T ANOTHER COUNTRY THAT ATTACKED US, BUT OUR OWN PRESIDENT.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ASKED HIS SUPPORTERS TO MARCH ON THE CAPITOL, INCITING TERRORISM THAT COST FIVE LIVES.

>> I RISE TO OBJECT TO THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT, WHICH MAKE THE CLAIM THAT HE WANTED OR EXPECTED THE RIOTS THAT TOOK PLACE LAST WEEK.

HE CLEARLY SAID HE WANTED PEACEFUL AND PATRIOTIC DEMONSTRATION.

HE DID SAY HE WANTED PEOPLE TO FIGHT LIKE HEL ORL OR WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A COUNTRY ANYMORE, BUT THAT WAS MEANT AS PHYSICAL FIGHTS.

>> WE HAVE SEEN JUST HOW FAST THEY CAN MOVE WHEN THEY WANT TO EXACT POLITICAL RETRIBUTION.

MY FRIENDS NOW HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OF BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS AND IN A FEW DAYS THEY WILL CONTROL THE ENTIRE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AS WELL.

MADAM SPEAKER, JOE BIDEN HAS TALKED ABOUT UNITY AND HEALING.

IS THAT WHAT THIS IS TODAY?

>> WOW, PEOPLE DIED.

HE WATCHED WITH GLEE.

THAT IS WHY EVEN THOUGH IT'S ONLY SEVEN DAYS BEFORE THE END OF HIS TERM, WE HAVE THE FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW.

SEVEN DAYS IS TOO LONG FOR HIM TO BE IN POWER.

>> THE VIOLENCE IN OUR NATION'S CAPITOL AND FBI REPORTS OF POSSIBLE ATTACKS ON STATE AND FEDERAL BUILDINGS AROUND THE COUNTRY LED GOVERNOR TONY EVERS TO CALL UP THE NATIONAL GUARD TO PROTECT THE STATE CAPITOL OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS.

HE ALSO ORDERED GROUND FLOOR WINDOWS AT THE CAPITOL BOARDED UP AGAINST THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE.

THE DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IN DANE COUNTY SAYS PEOPLE SHOULD TAKE THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS KIND OF ATTACK SERIOUSLY.

CHARLES TUBBS IS ALSO AN INSTRUCTOR FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND THE FORMER CHIEF OF THE WISCONSIN STATE CAPITOL POLICE.

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO THE FBI TODAY SAID THAT THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR VIOLENCE AT STATE CAPITOL BUILDINGS WHERE RALLIES, THEY SAY, MIGHT BRISK IN ARMED PROTESTORS.

WHAT IS THE LATEST THAT YOU CAN TELL US FROM HERE IN WISCONSIN?

>> WELL, WE'RE TAKING THE THREATS VERY SERIOUS AND PLANNING FOR THE ABSOLUTE WORST, PRAYING FOR THE BEST, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE PREPARING OURSELVES TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION AT HAND AND TRY TO REDUCE ANY TYPE OF INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE OR ANY SITUATIONS OF THAT NATURE.

AT THIS TIME WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN SHARED BY THE FBI AND HAS BEEN LOOKED AT AND DISCUSSED WITH EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AND OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED.

AT THIS TIME WE DO NOT HAVE A SPECIFIC THREAT ON A SPECIFIC LOCATION OTHER THAN THE STATE CAPITOLS.

BUT WE'RE TAKING THE POSITION THAT WE'RE GOING TO PROTECT THE ENTIRE DANE COUNTY AREA AND NOT ONLY PROTECT THE ENTIRE DANE COUNTY AREA, BUT THE ENTIRE STATE.

>> WOW.

WELL, I KNOW THAT SOME RALLIES ARE PLANNED FOR SUNDAY, KIND OF MIDDAY.

THERE IS A RALLY FOR JACOB BLAKE AND THEN THERE IS A RALLY OF TRUMP SUPPORTERS AND THEY KIND OF INTERSECT IN THEIR TIMES.

AND SO HOW WELL FORTIFIED ARE POTENTIAL TARGET SITES LIKE THE CAPITOL IN MADISON, IF YOU CAN TELL US?

>> WELL, THE CAPITOL, YOU KNOW, WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6 WHERE THERE WAS NO RESPECT, NO REGARD TAKEN FOR OUR UNITED STATES CAPITOL.

THAT SITUATION WE RECOGNIZE CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

SO WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER A TEAM AND WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER AS AN ENTIRE COUNTY AND STATE TOGETHER TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

THIS IS A REAL INCIDENT THAT COULD HAPPEN HERE AND WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO AVOID THAT FROM HAPPENING WHILE AT THE SAME TIME KEEPING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY SAFE IN DEALING WITH THOSE TYPES OF SITUATIONS.

>> NOW, WISCONSIN HAS SEEN ONE ARREST, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, OF AN EAU CLAIRE MAN FOR BEING INSIDE THE U.S. CAPITOL LAST WEEK.

FROM WHAT YOU KNOW, SHOULD WE EXPECT MORE ARRESTS?

>> I BELIEVE WITHOUT DIVULGING ANY INFORMATION, I BELIEVE THERE COULD BE ADDITIONAL ARRESTS INVOLVING PEOPLE FROM WISCONSIN.

>> YOU HAVE DESCRIBED TO ME YOUR VERY REAL CONCERN ABOUT WISCONSIN'S HOME-GROWN KIND OF DOMESTIC TERRORISTS OR EXTREMISTS.

DESCRIBE THAT.

WHY?

>> BECAUSE WITH OUR HOME-GROWN TERRORISTS HAS BEEN GROWING OVER THE YEARS AND A RECENT REPORT, AREA OF CONCERN.

I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE SAW RECENTLY ON CNN NEWS WHERE THEY NAMED FIVE STATES AND WISCONSIN WAS ONE OF THEM IN DEALING WITH HOME-GROWN TERRORISTS AND DEALING WITH PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T ALWAYS RESPECT THE RULE OF LAW AND PLAY BY THE SAME RULES THAT YOU AND I AND OTHERS WOULD PLAY BY.

IT'S A REAL CONCERN BECAUSE AT TIMES SOME OF THESE GROUPS HAVE NO RESPECT AND WILL DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING TO PROVE THEIR POINT AND CARRY OUT THEIR MISSION WHO THEY ARE, WHAT THEY THINK THEY ARE AND HOW THEY CAN BE ABOVE THE LAW.

>> AND YET AUTHORITIES TRACK THESE PEOPLE, I TRUST, KNOW WHO THEY ARE AND WHERE THEY ARE?

>> YES, THEY DO.

SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES WITH THAT, AUTHORITIES DO A REALLY GOOD JOB OF TRYING TO TRACK THEM AND STAY ON TOP OF IT, BUT SOMETIMES IT'S JUST SMALL GROUPS, SOMETIMES IT'S A ONE LONER TYPE OF PERSON WHO RESPONDS IN A VERY DESTRUCTIVE WAY AND CAUSES GREAT BODILY HARM AND DEATH TO PEOPLE.

SO IT'S A REALLY TOUGH THING TO GET YOUR ARMS AROUND.

BUT IN THIS STATE WE'RE DOING THE BEST AND A GREAT JOB OF TRYING TO STAY ON TOP OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK PRESIDENT TRUMP'S VERY RECENT MESSAGE CALLING FOR NO VIOLENCE WILL HELP ANY OF THIS?

>> I THINK IT WILL HELP.

I REALLY DO.

SOMETIMES WHEN THE HORSE IS OUT OF THE BARN, IT'S HARD TO PUT THE HORSEBACK IN THE BARN.

BUT I'M PRAYING THAT HE HAS TAKEN UP A BETTER ROAD, A HIGHER ROAD, ON ADDRESSING THE ISSUES THAT THE COUNTRY IS FACING RIGHT NOW.

AND I'M PRAYING THAT PEOPLE WILL LISTEN TO WHAT HE HAD TO SAY NOW VERSUS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ON THE 6TH.

THAT APPEARED TO BE NOT VERY POSITIVE AT ALL, WHAT TOOK A PLACE ON THAT PARTICULAR DAY.

SO OUR HOPES AND PRAYERS IS THAT PEOPLE WILL LISTEN AND PEOPLE WILL FOLLOW THOSE DIRECTIONS.

>> I REALLY ONLY HAVE ABOUT A HALF A MINUTE LEFT, BUT AS THE FORMER CHIEF OF THE WISCONSIN CAPITOL POLICE, I WANT TO ASK YOUR REACTION WHEN YOU SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THE U.S. CAPITOL ON THE 6TH.

>> I WAS DEVASTATED, DISAPPOINTED, HEART-BROKEN, SADDENED.

I FELT SAWFUL.

I WAS WATCHING ON 9/11 WHEN THE TERRORIST ATTACKS HAPPENED IN THS COUNTRY AND I HAD SOME OF THE SAME EMPTY FEELINGS, JUST LIKE THE REST OF AMERICA, AND HOPING WE COULD GET OUR ARMS AROUND THIS AND SOLVE THAT PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WISH WE HAD MORE TIME.

CHARLES TUBBS, THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> OUR DIGITAL REPORTER WILL KENNEALLY WILL BE CLOSELY MONITORING FALLOUT OF THE ATTACK ON THE U.S. CAPITOL AS WELL AS ANY THREATS OF VIOLENCE TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS HERE IN WISCONSIN.

YOU CAN FIND HIS REPORTING BY GOING TO pbswisconsin.org AND THEN CLICKING ON THE NEWS PAGE.

NOW TO COVID-19 NEWS.

THIS WEEK ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS WROTE A LETTER TO GOVERNOR EVERS DESCRIBING THE STATE EFFORT TO SECURE AND DISTRIBUTE VACCINE AS WOEFULLY INADEQUATE.

NOT POSITIVE FEEDBACK FOR THE OFFICIALS NOW EMBARKED ON THE MOST COMPLICATED PUBLIC HEALTH EFFORT OF THEIR LIFETIMES.

WE GET THE LATEST ON THE STATE'S VACCINE SUPPLY NOW FROM JULIE WILLEMS VAN DIJK.

WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THOSE WORDS FROM SPEAKER VOS?

>> WELL, I THINK WE HAVE TAKEN ON A HERCULEAN EFFORT AND WE HAVE PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE WHO ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO MOVE VACCINE QUICKLY AND GET IT IN THE ARMS OF WISCONSINITES.

THERE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A DELAY BETWEEN WHEN VACCINE IS ALLOCATED, SHIPPED AND IN ARMS, BUT WE ARE NOW OVER 200,000 VACCINES GIVEN AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO MARCH FORWARD IN PROTECTING THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN.

>> IS IT TRUE THAT -- I MEAN, SO YOU'VE GIVEN 200,000 VACCINES, BUT ARE THERE ANOTHER 200,000 KIND OF WAITING HERE IN WISCONSIN TO BE GIVEN?

>> WELL, THAT 200,000 NUMBER REPRESENTS BOTH VACCINES THAT ARE IN TRANSIT AND THAT ARE IN INVENTORY.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT THAT NUMBER IN ANY GIVEN WEEK, ABOUT HALF OF THEM, ARE ACTUALLY THE VACCINES THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING SHIPPED.

SO YOU CAN'T GIVE A VACCINE THAT'S STILL ON THE FEDEX TRUCK.

AND THE OTHER 100,000 ARE IN THE INVENTORY TO BE DELIVERED IN A WEEK.

SO PROPORTIONALLY THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE THESE VACCINES IN TRANSIT.

BUT AS WE GO ON, IT WILL BE A SMALLER PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL NUMBER ADMINISTERED.

>> ARE THERE ISSUES IN WISCONSIN WITH GETTING THESE VACCINES OUT AS FAST AS POSSIBLE?

I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SAID WE NEED MORE VACCINE FROM THE FEDS.

>> MM-HMM.

YES.

THERE'S NOT A PROBLEM WITH GETTING VACCINE OUT TO OUR VACCINATEORS.

WE HAVE A GREAT SYSTEM MOVING THAT FORWARD ALTHOUGH IT DOES TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.

FOR THE PFIZER VACCINE, VACCINE IS DELIVERED TO OUR REGIONAL HUBS AND RE-DISTRIBUTED.

WE MADE OVER 156 DELIVERIES LAST WEEK.

SO THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A FEW WEEKS.

BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU A SENSE, IF WE'RE GOING TO GET TO 80% HERD IMMUNITY BY SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR, WE NEED OVER A MILLION DOSES A MONTH TO DO THAT.

AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT RECEIVING HALF OF THAT.

WE'RE ONLY RECEIVING ABOUT 457,000 DOSES A MONTH.

SO WE'VE GOT TO INCREASE THE VACCINE SUPPLY IF WE'RE GOING TO ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS.

>> I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE STILL IN THE FIRST PHASE WHERE HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND THOSE IN NURSING HOMES ARE BEING GIVEN THE VACCINE.

IS WISCONSIN MICROMANAGING THE VACCINE AS HAS BEEN CLAIMED?

>> I THINK WISCONSIN IS BEING VERY DELIBERATE ABOUT HOW WE'RE MANAGING THIS.

THERE'S OVER 550,000 PEOPLE IN THAT FIRST PHASE, 185,000 PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD IT.

THERE'S MORE TO BE VACCINATED IN THAT STAGE.

WE DON'T WANT TO CREATE CHAOS OF HEALTH SYSTEMS, PHONE SYSTEMS CRASHING BY OPENING UP TO EVERYBODY AND NOT HAVING ENOUGH SLOTS FOR APPOINTMENTS OR ENOUGH VACCINE.

SO WE'RE DOING THIS IN A METHODICAL WAY.

>> SO WITH THAT SAID, WHO'S NEXT AND HOW WILL THEY KNOW THAT THEY'RE NEXT IN LINE?

>> YEAH.

WE HAVE A PROPOSAL OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT RIGHT NOW, BUT IT WILL BE OLDER ADULTS, POLICE AND FIRE, EDUCATORS, PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN CONGREGATE SETTINGS IS WHAT IS ON THE TABLE AND I'M CONFIDENT MUCH OF THAT WILL MOVE FORWARD.

AND THEY'LL KNOW THROUGH A VARIETY OF MECHANISMS.

THE MEDIA, OUR WEBSITE.

WE'VE SET UP A NEW EMAIL PEOPLE CAN SIGN UP FOR TO GET UPDATES ON VACCINE.

AND WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS THAT AS WE IDENTIFY A GROUP, LIKE PEOPLE OVER 65, THEY CAN REACH OUT TO THEIR PATIENTS FOR SCHEDULING.

>> AWESOME.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

JULIE WILLEMS VAN DIJK, WE APPRECIATE T. >> THANK YOU.

>> THIS AFTERNOON, GOVERNOR EVERS ANNOUNCED HE WAS DECLARING ANOTHER EMERGENCY HEALTH ORDER AND EXTENDING THE MASK MANDATE FOR 60 DAYS, WHICH TAKES IT INTO MARCH.

ACROSS THE COUNTRY, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAVE EXPERIENCED A HIGHER BURDEN OF COVID-19 CASES, HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS.

IN WISCONSIN, ONE CITY SAW THE WARNING SIGNS EARLY AND MOBILIZED TO ADDRESS THESE INEQUITIES.

MARISA WOJCIK BRINGS US THIS REPORT FROM MILWAUKEE.

>> YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT FROM THIS.

WE ARE NOT.

>> COVID-19 IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER HAS TOUCHED ALL OF OUR LIVES.

BUT WISCONSIN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAVE SEEN A DISPROPORTIONATELY LARGER IMPACT FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.

>> I I THINK THERE WAS A RECOGNITION EARLY ON THAT PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATION, ACTUALLY CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATION, WASN'T GETTING OUT TO COMMUNITIES COLOR AS RAPIDLIMENT >> THE ALARM OF THIS SOUNDED EARLY IN MILWAUKEE.

>> THE FOCUS WAS ON ADDRESSING THOSE DISPARITIES THAT OFTEN IN THOSE COMMUNITIES AND THEN HOW THE MESSAGING WAS SENT TO ONE PERSON IS GOING TO AFFECT HOW IT'S SENT TO ANOTHER PERSON.

WE WERE MAKING SURE THAT THE MESSAGING THAT WAS GOING OUT HAD VERY SPECIFIC AIMS AT WHO IT WAS TARGETED TOWARDS.

>> CENTERED AROUND A GRANT, IT TURNED INTO A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN AND OFFICE ON AFRICAN-AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

IT BECAME THE CREATIVE HEALTH COLLECTIVE.

>> THE FIRST TIER WAS TO QUICKLY ADAPT COMMUNICATION THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN DEVELOPED BY THE CDC, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION AND THE STATE OF WISCONSIN FOR POOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WITHIN THE STATE, OR WITHIN MILWAUKEE, SOUTHEAST ASIAN, AFRICAN-AMERICAN, LATINO AND NATIVE AMERICAN.

>> THERE WAS A RECOGNITION THAT MOST PUBLIC HEALTH MESSAGING IS GENERALLY GEARED TOWARD A WHITE AUDIENCE AND IT MATTERS NOT ONLY WHAT THE MESSAGE IS, BUT WHO IT COMES FROM.

>> IT MATTERS BECAUSE PEOPLE TRUST WHO THEY TRUST.

AND YOU CAN'T FAKE THAT.

>> TO GAIN THAT TRUST, THE COLLECTIVE TOOK THEIR WORK TWO LAYERS DEEPER, ONE LAYER BEING HIRING LOCAL ARTISTS AND INFLUENCERS TO CREATE MEDIA FOR THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.

>> THIS IS REPRESENTED THROUGH THE CHOICE OF SYMBOLISM, IMAGERY, THE TRADITIONAL PRACTICES THAT PEOPLE WOULD RECOGNIZE BUT THAT WOULD ALSO INVOKE A SENSE OF CULTURAL PRIDE.

>> THE FINAL LAYER OF GAINING TRUST WAS HIRING COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, PEOPLE WHO ALREADY KNEW THEIR COMMUNITY AND COULD NOT ONLY DIRECTLY DELIVER PUBLIC HEALTH MESSAGING, BUT COULD DELIVER MASKS, HAND SANITIZER, FOOD AND DIAPERS DURING THE CRISIS.

>> WE'VE HAD SITUATIONS COME UP WITH FOLKS WHO WERE UNDOCUMENTED OR HAVE A COMPLEX SITUATION DON'T WANT TO COME TO THE CITY FOR HELP AND THAT HOUSEHOLD MIGHT BE COVID POSITIVE AND REALLY NEED THE HELP.

FRANKLY, NEED GROCERIES TO BE ABLE TO SHELTER IN PLACE.

AND THEY WOULD TRUST A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER TO PROVIDE THAT.

>> THE COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS BROUGHT FORWARD THE REALITY OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO FAMILIES ON THE GROUND, MANY FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN HEALTH AND PAYING THE BILLS.

>> THE COMPANY, SOMETIMES THEY ARE DOING DON'T COME BACK.

PEOPLE ARE SCARED.

>> WHEN PEOPLE ARE SCARED OF LOSING THEIR HOUSING, WORK TAKES PRIORITY.

IF EMPLOYERS AREN'T ENFORCING HEALTH GUIDELINES, COVID HAS A BETTER CHANCE OF SPREADINGMENT WHEN ONE FAMILY HAS MANY PEOPLE LIVING IN ONE HOUSEHOLD, IF ONE PERSON CATCHES COVID, EVERYONE DOES.

PUBLIC HEALTH KNOWS HOW HOUSING, FOOD INSECURITY, EVEN RACISM IMPACTS A PERSON'S HEALTH.

>> THE NUMBERS HAVE TOLD THE STORY OF THE IMPACT RACISM IS HAVING THROUGH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

>> OFFICIALS ARE HELPING THE LESSONS CAN BE USED FOR THE NEXT PHASE, TRUSTING THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

>> IT IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT FROM ALL OF THE DIFFERENT GROUPS BECAUSE AFRICAN-AMERICANS IS DIFFERENT FROM AMERICAN INDIANS.

SO WE ALL HAVE OUR INDIVIDUAL NUANCES IN THE HEALTH FIELD.

>> COMMUNICATION IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT AROUND VACCINE HESITANCY.

THESE ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS THAT COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS OR OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ARE GOING TO HAVE WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE TOOLS WE HAVE IN ADDRESSING THAT.

>> DESPITE EXISTING GRASP, THERE'S OPTIMISM IN THE APPROACHES TAKEN BY THE COLLECTIVE.

>> IN THIS PROJECT, IT'S A PROJECT OF HOPE.

AND TO BE PART OF A PROJECT OF HOPE THAT IMPACTS HUMAN BEINGS ACROSS ALL ETHNIC GROUPS, IT IS LIKE -- IT'S AMAZING.

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

>> IS THE MILWAUKEE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS WORKING TO EXPAND THEIR CREATIVE HEALTH COLLECTIVE ELSEWHERE IN THE STATE.

AND THAT'S OUR PROGRAM 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 PBS WISCONSIN.