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

>> DRIVING IN AND ROLLING UP SLEEVES.

VACCINE SURGES INTO THE STATE.

IT'S A SHOT IN THE ARM FOR TEACHERS SHOWN HERE IN DANE COUNTY AND FOR THE MORALE OF RESIDENTS AROUND THE STATE.

ACCORDING TO THE CDC, THE IN FLUSKS OF INFLUX OF THE GJ ESTABLISHES WISCONSIN AS 15TH IN THE NATION FOR VACCINATIONS GIVEN FIRST N. WASHINGTON, RELIEF OF A DIFFERENT KIND, A $1.9 TRILLION COVID STIMULUS BILL IS PASSED AND SIGNED INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN.

>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," WILL KENNEALLY EXPLAINS WHAT KIND OF STIMULUS WISCONSIN CAN EXPECT FROM THE COVID RELIEF BILL.

A WARNING A COVID-19 VARIANTS FROM DR. MICHAEL OSTERHOLM.

AND THE LATEST ON THE SAFE VACCINATION EFFORT WITH INTERIM SECRETARY OF HEALTH SERVICES, KAREN TIMBERLAKE.

AND LATER, WHAT THE COVID STIMULUS BILL MEANS FOR WISCONSIN FAMILIES AND CHILDREN.

IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MARCH 12.

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

>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SIGNED HIS FIRST MAJOR PIECE OF LEGISLATION THURSDAY, A $1.9 TRILLION PANDEMIC AID PACKAGE THAT PROMISES TO SEND $1400 CHECKS TO SOME AMERICANS AS EARLY AS THIS MONTH.

"HERE AND NOW" REPORTER WILL KENNEALLY BREAKS DOWN WHAT'S IN THE MASSIVE BILL AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR WISCONSIN.

>> THIS IS THE THIRD MAJOR FEDERAL PACKAGE RELATED TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

AFTER THE CARES ACT WAS PASSED LAST MARCH AND A SMALLER SUPPLEMENT IN DECEMBER.

>> TODAY I SIGNED INTO LAW THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, A HISTORIC PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT DELIVERS IMMEDIATE RELIEF TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.

>> THE NEW BILL CONTAINS SOME OF THE PROVISIONS FROM THE PREVIOUS BILLS, INCLUDING A $300 SUPPLEMENT FOR STATE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

THE SUPPLEMENT WAS EXTENDED IN DECEMBER, BUT WAS SET TO EXPIRE THIS WEEKEND.

THE EXTRA $300 WILL NOW RUN THROUGH THIS SEPTEMBER.

>> I'M USING EVERY POWER I HAVE AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO PUT US ON A WAR FOOTING TO GET THE JOB DONE.

>> FOR WISCONSIN, THE NEW RELIEF BILL SENDS ROUGHLY $3.2 BILLION IN DIRECT FUNDS TO THE BADGER STATE.

LAST YEAR, GOVERNOR EVERS USED SOME OF THE CARE ACTS MONEY FOR EQUIPMENT FOR FRONT LIEN WORKERS AND SET UP GRANTS TO HELP INDUSTRIES AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC, LIKE LODGING AND ENTERTAINMENT.

WISCONSIN COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES WILL GET ROUGHLY $2.5 BILLION IN AID.

MILWAUKEE WILL RECEIVE MORE THAN $4 MILLION AND MADISON, RACINE AND GREEN BAY WILL RECEIVE TENS OF MILLIONS.

FOR INDIVIDUAL WISCONSINITES, SOME WILL RECEIVE A $1400 STIMULUS CHECK.

THE FULL AMOUNT WILL GO TO ADULTS MAKING LESS THAN $75,000 PER YEAR OR COUPLES MAKING LESS THAN $150,000.

PARENTS WILL RECEIVE $3,000 PER CHILD, WITH AN EXTRA $600 FOR CHILDREN UNDER SIX.

AS SCHOOLS BEGIN TO OPEN UP, THE FEDERAL PACKAGE INCLUDES $125 BILLION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE TO HELP FUND RENOVATION, REDUCE CLASS SIZES AND BIEF PPE.

ALSO MONEY TO HELP HOSPITALS AND THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR.

IT WILL PUT TOWARD COVID-19 MITIGATION AND FOR DEBT FORGIVENESS FOR MINORITY FARMERS, WHICH THE USDA ESTIMATED IN 2017 MAKE UP 1400 OF WISCONSIN'S MORE THAN 100,000 FOOD PRODUCERS.

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

>> THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN WAS PASSED OUT WK WITHOUT REPUBLICAN SUPPORT.

DEMOCRATIC U.S. REPRESENTATIVE RON KIND SAID COVID-19 HAS CAUSED AN ECONOMIC AND PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY LIKE WE'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE AND WE MUST MEET THIS MOMENTMENT THIS PACKAGE WILL PROVIDE RELAW ENFORCEMENT TO FAMILIES, EXPAND VACCINES, HELP SCHOOLS OPEN AND GET OUR ECONOMY FIRING ON OUR CYLINDERS.

REPUBLICAN U.S. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE GALLAGHER SAID THE BILL IS FLAWED.

WE ALL WANT TO ENSURE HOSPITALS RECEIVE THE FUNDING THEY NEED TO DISTRIBUTE VACCINES.

SCHOOLS CAN REOPEN AND THAT INDIVIDUALS HARDEST HIT CAN GET BY.

BUT INSTEAD OF WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE, PRESIDENT BIDEN PUSHED FOR THE LONG PLAN AND THE WRONG TIME FOR THE WRONG REASON.

SO MANY FOR UNITY.

GOVERNOR EVERS EXPECTS TO ACT QUICKLY TO DISTRIBUTE THE MORE THAN $3 BILLION FEDERAL COMING TO WISCONSIN SAYING HE WANTS TO GET THE MONEY OUT THE DOOR AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.

>> TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES THAT ARE A DIRECT RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC AND THAT'S GETTING IT OUT TO SMALL BUSINESSES, PEOPLE IN THE CHILD CARE INDUSTRY, TOURISM INDUSTRY, AND OBVIOUSLY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM IS WORKING APPROPRIATELY.

OUR GOAL IS TO GET IT OUT THE DOOR AND GET IT OUT THE DOOR, FRANKLY, IN THE SAME WAY WE HAVE IN THE PAST.

THERE'S MANY, MANY PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN THAT HAVE NEEDS AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MEET THOSE NEEDS.

AND SO THERE WILL BE NO SHORTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO HELP OUT THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN AFTER THAT MONEY COMES IN THE DOOR.

OF COURSE, WE ALWAYS HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE REGULATIONS AND I KNOW THAT THAT WILL TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.

BUT ONCE WE GET IT, WE'LL BE IN A POSITION TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED THE MOST IN THIS PANDEMIC.

>> IT HAS BEEN ONE YEAR SINCE GOVERNOR TONY EVERS DECLARED THE FIRST PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

THIS WEEK, HE RECOGNIZED THE TOLL AND TRAGEDY OF LOSING MORE THAN 6500 PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN TO THE OUTBREAK.

AND HE THANKED THE WORK OF SO MANY ON THE FRONTLINES.

EVERS SAID VACCINES PROVIDE A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

MANY ARE READY TO SHED SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND GATHER IN GROUPS.

ALONG WITH WARM WINDS COMING IN, THERE IS CAUTION BECAUSE COVID-19 VARIANTS ARE NOW CIRCULATING ACROSS THE U.S. AND IN WISCONSIN.

LATEST NUMBERS SHOW 33 CASES OF THE U.K.

VARIANT IN THE STATE, JUST AT THE TOP WHEN FOLKS ARE GETTING TIRED OF ALL THE RESTRICTIONS.

WE TURN NOW TO UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EPIDEMIOLOGIST DR. MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, A NATIONAL EXPERT ON INFECTIOUS DISEASE WHO WAS TAPPED EARLY BY PRESIDENT BIDEN TO HELP GUIDE THE COVID-19 RESPONSE.

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO YOU ARE THE SOUNDING THE ALARM ON THESE COVID VARIANTS NOW CIRCUMSTANCE LAIGHT.

WHY?

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?

>> WELL, WE REALLY LIVE IN A TALE OF TWO CITIES.

THE TALE YOU HEARD FROM GOVERNOR EVERS IS VERY REAL.

WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE VACCINES THAT ARE COMING.

WE ARE AT A RELATIVELY LOW POINT IN THE NUMBER OF CASES.

BUT THE SECOND TALE OF THE SECOND CITY IS REALLY ABOUT ONE OF BEING IN THE EYE OF A HURRICANE, WHERE WE'VE GONE THROUGH THAT FRONT WALL, WHICH HAS BEEN A DRAMATIC AND TRAUMATIC YEAR.

AND EVERYTHING LOOKS KIND OF BLUE SKIES RIGHT NOW, GENTLE BREEZES.

BUT THE BACK WALL IS COMING.

AND THAT IS THIS VARIANT, THE MUTATED MUTATED VIRUSES.

B117 IS ABOUT 40% TO 60% MORE INFECTIOUS, CAUSING MORE SEVERE DISEASE.

WE'RE SEEING THE RAPID INCREASE IN THIS VIRUS' PRESENCE IN THE UNITED STATES.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A REAL CHALLENGE.

ENGLAND, FOR EXAMPLE, STILL IS IN LOCKDOWN RELATIVE TO THIS VIRUS SINCE CHRISTMAS.

THEY JUST OPENED SCHOOLS FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS WEEK, BUT MOST BUSINESSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS, LIVE VENUES ARE ALL SHUT DOWN.

THIS IS HAPPENING THROUGHOUT MUCH OF EUROPE.

AND SO EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE VACCINE HERE, IT'S COMING EVEN MORE EVERY DAY, THERE'S STILL SUCH A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE VACCINATED OR PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD PREVIOUS INFECTION THAT ANYWHERE FROM 55% TO 60% OF OUR POPULATIONS IN THE STATES OF THE UPPER MIDWEST ARE STILL VULNERABLE TO THIS VIRUS.

AND OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT WEEKS WE'RE GOING TO SEE B117 TAKING OFF.

IN MINNESOTA WE'RE SEEING EXTENSIVE OUTBREAKS BEGINNING TO DEVELOP.

>> MEANWHILE THE CIRCULATION OF THESE NEWER STRAINS COMES AT THE SAME TIME THAT STATES ARE OPENING UP AGAIN.

WHAT'S YOUR PREDICTION ABOUT THOSE TWO THINGS HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME?

>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S A PERFECT STORM.

WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING BUT TURNING OVER OUR CREDIT CARDS TO THIS VIRUS.

WE'RE GIVING IT EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO BE TRANSMITTED.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT SPRING BREAK COMING UP IN FLORIDA WHICH APPEARS TO BE THE STATE WITH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF VIRUS THERE IN TERMS OF THE B117.

WE'RE SEEING ALL THESE OTHER EVENTS TAKING PLACE, OPENING UP RESTAURANTS, BARS, ET CETERA.

AND OPENING UP SCHOOLS.

I'VE BEEN A VERY STRONG PROPONENT FOR OPENING K-8 BECAUSE WE'VE HAD DATA SHOWING A VERY LOW RISK THERE.

THAT'S ALL DIFFERENT WITH B117.

IN EUROPE THEY HAD TO SHUT DOWN SCHOOLS FOR MONTHS JUST TO TRY TO CONTROL THE TRANSMISSION OF THIS VIRUS.

SO I KNOW THE PUBLIC DOESN'T WANT TO HEAR THIS.

IT'S HORRIBLE.

WE'RE ALL AT THE ENDS OF OUR ROPE WITH REGARD TO THIS PANDEMIC.

BUT THIS IS I THINK THE LAST BIG HURDLE TO GET OVER, AT LEAST IN TERMS OF THE SHORT TERM, WITH THE VACCINE GOING TO HAVE BEEN HERE IN MAY, THIS SURGE LASTING 12, 14 WEEKS.

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE HERE FOR A WHILE AND WE'VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> WELL, ONE ARTICLE WRITTEN ABOUT YOUR PREDICTIONS CALLS YOU DR. DOOM.

ARE YOU BEING UNNECESSARILY PESSIMISTIC?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN CALLED THAT ALL MY CREEMPLET LET CAREER.

IF YOU LOOK AT MY TRACK RECORD ON THIS PANDEMIC I'VE CALLED IT ALL ALONG.

A YEAR AGO THIS PAST TUESDAY, I WAS ON THE JOE ROGAN PODCAST AND I SAID I COULD SEE IN THE NEXT YEAR WELL OVER 4800 DEATHS.

I WAS CALLED DR. DOOM AT THAT POINT.

YOU KNOW WHAT THE NUMBER IS RIGHT NOW IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE'RE AT 526,000 DEATHS.

SO I WILL JUST STICK WITH MY RECORD AND SAY THAT GO TAKE A LOOK AND THEN CAN YOU MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION.

YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE TO BRING BAD NEWS, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO BRING THE TRUTH TO THE PEOPLE.

>> AS TO VACCINES, YOU'VE ALSO REPORTED THAT YOU ARE DELAYING YOUR OWN SECOND DOSE.

WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT?

AND SHOULD WE BE DOING THAT AS A MATTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY?

>> WELL, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE DOING IT AS A MATTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY AND I'M NOT ALONE.

THE COUNTRIES OF ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM AND CANADA HAVE BOTH DONE THAT RIGHT NOW.

BASED ON THE DATA, WE CAN SHOW THAT WITH THE TWO FIRST VACCINES LICENSED, THE TWO-DOSE VACCINES, THAT YOU GET VERY GOOD PROTECTION AFTER THE FIRST DOSE.

WE STILL WANT PEOPLE TO GET THE SECOND DOSE, BUT WE'D LIKE TO DLAIF THAT DELAY THAT UNTIL WE GET THROUGH THE SURGE.

THERE ARE 20 PLUS MILLION RESIDENTS OF THIS COUNTRY OVER 65 WHO HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCESS TO THE VACCINE.

THIS IS WHERE THE SEVERE VACCINE OCCURS, 80% OF THE DEATHS.

MOST OF THE HOSPITALIZATIONS, MUCH OF THE SERIOUS ILLNESS.

AS WE GO INTO THIS SURGE, THE MORE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ONE DOSE IN THEIR ARM WOULD MEAN THAT MANY FEWER PEOPLE ARE LIKELY TO GET SEVERE, DISEASE, HOSPITALIZATION OR DIE.

SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT MY DOSE I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN EARLIER, WHICH I WILL GET EVENTUALLY, MAY GO INTO THE ARM OF SOME GRANDPA OR GRANDMA AND SAVE THEM TO BE AROUND WITH THEIR GRANDKIDS OFORT COURSE OF THE NEXT MONTHS AHEAD.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR INFORMATION, DR. MICHAEL OSTERHOLM.

>> THANK YOU.

>> RACING AGAINST TIME TO OUTPACE THE VIRUS, WISCONSIN IS OPENING UP WHO CAN GET THE VACCINE STARTING AT THE END OF THIS MONTH AND THIS WEEK SAID THAT BY MAY EVERYONE WILL BE ABLE TO BE VACCINATED.

BY MARCH 29 PEOPLE WITH UNDERLYING CONDITIONS WILL BE ELIGIBLE, WITH ALL ADULTS OVER THE AGE OF 16 ABLE TO GET THE VACCINE JUST A MONTH LATER.

VERY PROMISING NEWS.

WE CHECK IN WITH INTERIM SECRETARY OF DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES KAREN TIMBERLAKE.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

>> OPENING UP THE ELIGIBILITY AND MAKING WAY FOR ALL ADULTS TO BE VACCINATED STARTING IN MAY SUGGESTS THAT WISCONSIN WILL SEE A MAJOR UPTICK IN SUPPLY.

WHAT'S THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TELLING THE STATE ABOUT SUPPLY COMING IN AND WHEN?

>> WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF WEEKS OF JUST REALLY GOOD NEWS ON THE VACCINE SUPPLY FRONT.

SO IF WE THINK BACK TO JUST MAYBE FOUR OR FIVE WEEKS AGO, WE WERE GETTING ABOUT 70,000 FIRST DOSES INTO THE STATE EVERY WEEK.

BY NEXT WEEK, WE'LL BE AT ABOUT 179,000 FIRST DOSES.

SO IT'S TWO AND A HALF TIMES INCREASE FROM WHERE WE WERE.

BY EEFERL EARLY APRIL WE'RE EXPECTING 225,000.

BY MAY 250,000.

SO THE NEWS HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT GOOD.

>> AS TO THE VACCINE BEING EXPANDED, IT INCLUDES PEOPLE WITH UNDERLYING CONDITIONS LIKE CANCER OR HEART DISEASE.

HOW MANY ADDITIONAL PEOPLE IS THAT IF THE QUEUE FOR THE VACCINE?

>> ABOUT ANOTHER TWO MILLION WISCONSINITES WHO WILL BE IN THAT ELIGIBILITY GROUP AND THAT'S BECAUSE BETWEEN THE RESEARCH FROM THE CDC AND ELSEWHERE AND CERTAINLY THE REVIEW BY OUR OWN STATE MEDICAL ADVISERS IT'S A FAIRLY LONG LIST OF UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE REACH OUT TO PEOPLE WITH THOSE CONDITIONS, MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WILL BE ELIGIBLE AS OF THE VERY END OF MARCH TO GET IN LINE, AS YOU SAY, AND GET THAT VACCINE.

>> ONE OF THOSE INCLUDES BEING SIMPLY OVERWEIGHT.

WILL PEOPLE HAVE TO VERIFY THEIR CONDITIONS?

>> OUR EXPECTATION OF OUR VACCINATORS IS THAT THEY WILL NOT REQUIRE ANY PARTICULAR VERIFICATION.

WE DO ASK PEOPLE TO SIGN AN ATTESTATION FORM THAT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE.

FOR THESE UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITIONS, OUR HEALTH CARE PARTNERS, OUR HOSPITALS, OUR CLINICS, OUR COMMUNITY CLINICS, OUR PHARMACIES, THEY'RE WELL AWARE OF THEIR PATIENT POPULATIONS AND WE KNOW THEY WILL DO A GREAT JOB OF OUTREACH.

>> YOU'VE ADDED A NEW CATEGORY OF PEOPLE TO THE ELIGIBILITY LIST AND THAT IS RESTAURANT WORKERS.

WHEN ARE THEY ELIGIBLE?

>> THEY'RE ELIGIBLE STARTING RIGHT NOW.

SO IN THE CURRENT GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE, WE ADDED PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING IN OUR FOOD SUPPLY, SO GROCERY WORKERS, PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING ALL ALONG THE FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN.

>> WHEN DO YOU EXPECT THE STATE TO REACH HERD IMMUNITY?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTIONMENT WHAT I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ARE WUN TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT WE HAVE THREE EXCELLENT VACCINES THAT ARE SAFE, THEY ARE INCREASINGLY AVAILABLE.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR EVERY PERSON WHO IS ELIGIBLE TODAY TO SEEK OUT AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A VACCINE.

AS PEOPLE BECOME ELIGIBLE DOWN THE ROAD, WE NEED EVERYBODY STEPPING UP TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND PROTECT ALL OF US.

>> SO WHAT'S THE BEST WAY FOR PEOPLE TO SIGN UP TO GET THE VACCINE?

>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PLACES THAT PEOPLE CAN GO TO ACCESS VACCINES.

THE FIRST PLACE TO START IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE WITH YOUR DOCTOR'S OFFICE.

IN ADDITION, IT'S REALLY A GOOD IDEA AUTO CHECK WITH LOCAL PHARMACIES INCLUDING WALGREENS AND PICK AND SAIF SAVE PHARMACIES AND IN ADDITION WE HAVE A TOLL FREE NUMBER PEOPLE CAN CALL FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE THEY CAN GET THE VACCINE AND WE HAVE A MAP ON OUR WEBSITE OF ALL THE SITES ACROSS THE STATE WHERE THE VACCINE IS AVAILABLE.

>> AND IN FACT THERE ARE MORE AND MORE OF THESE MASS VACCINATION SITES BEING STOOD UP IN WISCONSIN AS WELL.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

WE HAVE SOME COMMUNITY SITES THAT ARE NOW OPEN IN ROCK COUNTY, ONE THAT WE JUST ANNOUNCED THAT'S GOING TO OPEN IN RACINE COUNTY IN JUST ANOTHER WEESK OR SO, A SITE THAT JUST OPENED IN LA CROSSE AND THERE WILL BE MORE TO COME.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE VARIANTS THAT ARE CIRCULATING NOW IN WISCONSIN?

>> WE'RE WATCHING THAT VERY CLOSELY.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ABOUT 33 KNOWN CASES OF THE -- WHAT'S KNOWN AT U.K.

VARIANT, THE MOST COMMON ONE PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT.

WE STILL HAVE ONE CASE OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN VARIANT.

WE KNOW THESE VARIANTS ARE MORE CONTAGIOUS.

THEY SPREAD QUICKLY.

THAT IS WHY BETWEEN GETTING EVERYONE VAKS VACCINATED AND CONTINUE TO GO WEAR MASKS, WATCH YOUR DISTANCE, WASH YOUR HANDS, ALL OF THAT WILL HELP US.

>> HOW DO YOU EXPECT THE FEDERAL COVID RELIEF MONEY TO HELP WISCONSIN'S HEALTH EFFORT IN ALL OF THIS?

>> THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN WILL HELP US CONTINUE OUR RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS THROUGH TESTING AND PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND VACCINATION.

BUT IT'S ALSO GOING TO HELP US INVEST IN RECOVERY FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE STRUGGLED TO PAY RENT, FAMILIES STRUGGLING TO FIND CHILD CARE.

THERE ARE TREMENDOUS INVESTMENTS COMING OUR WAY.

>> WE LEAVE IT THERE.

KAREN TIMBERLAKE, THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> NOW A DEEPER DIVE ON THE COVID RELIEF BILL.

ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PROVISIONS COMES IN THE FORM OF BOLSTERING THE CHILD TAX CREDIT WHICH COULD REDUCE CHILD POVERTY IN THE UNITED STATES BY UP TO 50%.

MARISA WOJCIK HAS MORE ON THIS.

>> THE HISTORIC $1.9 TRILLION COVID-19 RELIEF BILL DUBD DUBBED THE AMERICAN REST RESCUE PLAN MAY RESCUE FAMILIES WITH THE TAX CREDIT.

FAMILIES WILL GET UP TO $3600 FOR EVERY CHILD UNDER SIX.

FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH ONE PARENT EARNING LESS THAN $75,000 OR COUPLES EARNING LESS THAN $150,000, TARGETING MANY MIDDLE AND LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.

>> THIS IS GOING TO BE A BROAD-BASED BENEFIT THAT HELPS MOST CHILDREN IN WISCONSIN.

SO EVERYBODY IS GOING TO SEE A LIFT FROM THIS.

IT WILL BE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO FAMILIES WITH LOW INCOMES WHO ARE STRUGGLINGLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

>> WE KNOW THAT WOMEN IN PARTICULAR WHO HAVE BEEN HURT BECAUSE OF LACK OF CHILD CARE, LOW-WAGE SERVICE JOBS, WHICH ARE PARTICULARLY AFFECT MINORITIES.

>> WOMEN LIKE TINESHIA CAMPBELL.

>> MY NAME IS TINESHIA CAMPBELL.

I HAVE TWO BEAUTIFUL KIDS, 12 AND 10, BOY AND GIRL.

>> AT THAT NISHA AND HER CHILDREN LIVE IN PUBLIC HOUSING IN MADISON AND SHE WORKS AT A GAS STATION.

THINGS GOT TOUGH WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT.

>> IN THE BEGINNING IT WAS REAL STRESSFUL BECAUSE HOURS WERE CUT SO MY PAY WAS CUT.

BUT THE BILLS DON'T GET CUT.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

THE KIDS STILL HAVE TO EAT.

YEAH.

SO IT WAS STRESSFUL IN THE BEGINNING.

>> IT'S HARD TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

WE SEE THE LINES AT THE FOOD BANKS AND WE SEE THE FOODSHARE WAS UP 22%.

SO THOSE PARTICULAR FAMILIES WERE HURTING THEN ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE WORKING NOW.

>> SHE MADE IT WORK WITH HELP FROM A FOOD PANTRY AND TEMPORARY INCREASE TO FOODSHARE BENEFITS.

BUT THE WAY THE NEW CHILD TAX CARE IS STRUCTURED WOULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE, ENSURING SHE RECEIVES THE FULL REFUND AND DON'T HAVE DIFFERENT BENEFITS COUNT AGAINST ONE ANOTHER.

>> IF YOU EARN AN EXTRA DOLLAR RIGHT NOW AND YOU'RE LIVING IN PUBLIC HOUSING OR RECEIVING SNAP BENEFITS, THEY'RE GOING TO REDUCE YOUR SNAP BENEFITS, THEY'RE GOING TO INCREASE THE RENT YOU PAY.

THE CHILD TAX CREDIT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.

THERE'S NO CLAWBACK.

>> AND IT WON'T BE A LUMP SUM COME TAX SEASON.

STARTING IN JULY MONTHLY PAYMENTS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED DIRECTLY TO FAMILIES.

>> OH, IT WOULD BE AMAZING.

BILLS WOULD BE ON TIME.

YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO FIGURE OUT LIKE AM I GOING TO PAY FOR THE KIDS TO BE ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL WITH THE INTERNET OR SHOULD I WORRY ABOUT THE FOOD?

LIKE SO YOU -- THAT WOULD DEFINITELY HELP A LOT.

>> EXPERTS SAY THE EXPANDED CHILD TAX CREDIT ALONG WITH OTHER MEASURES IN THE STIMULUS PACKAGE COULD ALLEVIATE CHILD POVERTY 40% TO 50%.

HOWEVER, THE FUNDING IS TEMPORARY.

>> MOST OF THE OTHER PARTS OF THE COVID RELIEF BILL ARE TEMPORARY.

THE CHILD TAX CREDIT PART IS ONE YEAR.

AND SO WE WILL HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES WHEN THIS IS DONE IF IT HAD THE TREMENDOUS IMPACT THAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING.

>> HAVING EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS, SHE HOPES TO BE ABLE TO EVENTUALLY SAVE FOR HER CHILDREN'S FUTURE.

>> I JUST THINK IT'S AMAZING THAT YOU CAN GIVE YOUR KIDS THAT LEG UP AND LIKE ESPECIALLY NOW, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN GET THE MONEY WHEN THEY'RE 18, 21, 25.

THEY CAN USE IT FOR CLEFNLG, COLLEGE, FOR BUSINESS, FOR NECESSITIES AND DON'T HAVE TO ASK PEOPLE FOR HELP.

>> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M MARISA WOJCIK IN MADISON.

>> IN A WEEK THAT SAW THE START OF JURY SELECTION IN THE TRIAL OF A MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD, PBS WISCONSIN BAY DEBUTED "WHY RACE MATTERS."

HERE'S ANGELA FITZGERALD WITH EAKS R EXCERPT FROM THE FIRST EPISODE.

>> AFTER THE DYGHT OF GEORGE FLOYD IN 2020 AND MEDIA ATTENTION AROUND RACIAL JUSTICE, I FELT A RESPONSIBILITY TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THESE ISSUES IN WISCONSIN.

CERTAIN SPACES IN WISCONSIN ARE OFTEN CREDITED AS SOME OF THE MOST LIVABLE CITIES.

BUT FOR WHOM EXACTLY?

A 2019 REPORT FROM THE CENTER ON WISCONSIN STRATEGY SHOWED THAT WISCONSIN RANKS NEAR THE BOTTOM NATIONALLY ON A NUMBER OF RACIAL DISPARITIES, INCLUDING WORST FOR UNEMPLOYMENT.

SECOND WORST FOR OUT OF SCHOOL SUSPENSION.

THIRD WORST FOR VOTER PARTICIPATION.

AND FOURTH WORST FOR INFANT MORTALITY.

DURING THIS SEASON, WE'LL TALK WITH BLACK PEOPLE LIVING IN WISCONSIN AND THE ISSUES IMPORTANT TO THEM, LIKE THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE AND THE WHITE-CENTERED EDUCATION.

>> WHEN YOU KNOW YOU'RE A HUMAN, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO ACCEPT SLAVERY OR OPPRESSION.

AND IT'S SIMILAR TO TODAY.

WHEN WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE TRULY WORTH, WE'RE NOT GOING TO ACCEPT THE EDUCATION PIECE BECAME CRITICAL.

>> CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND THE FEAR BEHIND CHANGE.

>> TO EXPECT ME TO FEEL LIKE I'M LOVED IN THIS SOCIETY, IN THIS COUNTRY IS RIDICULOUS.

TO TRY TO FIX A SYSTEM THAT LITERALLY WAS STARTED BY STEALING LAND AND STEALING PEOPLE IS A RIDICULOUS IDEA TO EVER THINK THAT LIKE THIS COULD BE A JUST SYSTEM.

>> BLACK MENTAL HEALTH AND THE TRAUMA SUR ROWRNDING THE IMAGES OF BLACK DEATH.

>> WE'VE HEARD COUNTLESS BLACK MEN SAY I CAN'T BREEFGHT.

I ALWAYS EXPLAIN WITH COVID AND ALL OF THE RACIAL UNREST, WE CAN'T BREATHE AS A COMMUNITY.

>> BLACK FARMING AND LAND OWNERSHIP EXPWHRVMENT IT'S SO HARD TO CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT WHAT I WAS DOING WAS THE RIGHT THING BECAUSE IT WAS SLAVERY.

YOU KNOW, THE HARD WORK, YOU KNOW, WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, THEY DIDN'T REALIZE THERE WAS A PAY-OUT FOR THAT HARD WORK.

>> THE BLACK EXPERIENCE IN WISCONSIN NEEDS TO BE TALKED ABOUT.

OUR STORIES NEED TO BE HEARD.

>> WHY RACE MATTERS IS A NEW PBS WISCONSIN DIGITAL SERIES HOSTED BY ANGELA FITZGERALD.

WATCH THE FIRST EPISODE AND LISTEN TO THE WHY RACE MATTERS PODCAST AT pbswisconsin.orgwhyracematters.

NEW EPISODES PREMIERE EVERY WEDNESDAY AT 7:00 P.M.

THROUGH MAY.

AND THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING "HERE AND NOW."

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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