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

>> THE EYES OF THE NATION ARE ONCE AGAIN ON KENOSHA, WISCONSIN, AS KYLE RITTENHOUSE TESTIFIES IN HIS OWN DEFENSE.

THE $1.2 TRILLION INFRASTRUCTURE BILL PASSED IN CONGRESS AND IS ON ITS WAY TO THE PRESIDENT'S DESK FOR SIGNING.

A BUSY WEEK AT THE STATE CAPITOL BRINGS MORE POLITICAL INFIGHTING OVER 2020 ELECTIONS INVESTIGATIONS.

AND VOTES ON REDISTRICTING MAPS.

A WISCONSIN CITY IS BEING PROACTIVE ABOUT PFAS POLLUTION.

AND A RURAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM CONTINUES THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19.

>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," AS THE TRIAL OF KYLE RITTENHOUSE NEARS ITS END, KENOSHA PREPARES FOR THE VERDICT.

THE TRILLION INFRASTRUCTURE BILL MEANS GETTING THE LET OWD.

WE HEAR FROM WISCONSIN CONGRESSWOMAN GWEN MOORE.

WE CHECK IN ON REDISTRICTING ACTION AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

AND MARISA WOJCIK REPORTS FROM EAU CLAIRE ON PRECAUTIONS TAKEN AGAINST PFAS.

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

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

>> THE MURDER TRIAL OF KYLE RITTENHOUSE IN KENOSHA IS EXPECTED TO GO TO THE JURY ON MONDAY.

AHEAD OF THAT, THIS WEEK JURORS HEARD FROM THE DEFENDANT HIMSELF DURING A FULL DAY OF TESTIMONY.

>> RITTENHOUSE TOOK THE STAND THIS WEEK AND BROKE DOWN AS HE TESTIFIED ABOUT HOW HE WAS DEFENDING HIMSELF WHEN HE SHOT AND KILLED TWO PEOPLE AND INJURED A THIRD IN THE MIDST OF CHAOTIC PROTESTS FOLLOWING THE POLICE SHOOTING OF JACOB BLAKE.

HE DESCRIBED WHY HE FATALLY SHOT JOSEPH ROSENBAUM.

>> HE WAS CHASING ME.

I WAS ALONE.

HE THREATENED TO KILL ME EARLIER IN THAT NIGHT.

I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO SHOOT HIM.

>> KITT RITTENHOUSE TESTIFIED HD NOTHING WRONG, HE WAS DEFENDING HIMSELF.

>> HE FACES LIFE IN PRISON.

HOW WILL THE COMMUNITY REACT WITH EITHER A CONVICTION OR ACQUITTAL?

THE CASE DRAWS RESPONSE AROUND ISSUE OF POLICE CONDUCT AND RACIAL JUSTICE.

RITTENHOUSE HAS GOTTEN SUPPORT FROM CONSERVATIVE BACKERS INCLUDING THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

THE POLICE SHOOTING THAT INJURED JACOB BLAKE STARTED THE EVENT.

WE GO NOW TO WILL KENNEALLY IN KENOSHA.

SO WHAT IS THE SCHEDULE FOR WHEN THE JURY GETS THIS CASE?

>> SO THE JURY HAS A LONG WEEKEND.

THEY WERE OFF TODAY.

THEY'LL BE EXPECTED TO BE BACK IN COURT MONDAY.

THAT'S WHEN WE'LL HEAR CLOSING ARGUMENTS FROM BOTH SIDES.

THOSE ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE MAYBE TWO AND A HALF HOURS OR LESS EACH.

SO THE JURY WILL RECEIVE THE END OF THE CASE AND START DELIBERATIONS MONDAY EVENING.

>> I KNOW TODAY ATTORNEYS AND THE JUDGE WERE HASHING OUT INSTRUCTIONS FOR WHETHER THE PROSECUTION COULD ALLOW THE JURY TO CONSIDER LESSER CHARGES IF THEY CAN'T AGREE ON MORE SERIOUS CHARGES.

WHAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF THIS?

>> SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THE PROSECUTION HAS PRESENTED A SLATE OF CHARGES CHARGING KYLE RITTENHOUSE WITH A SLATE OF CHARGES.

THIS WOULD ALLOW THE JURY TO CONSIDER LESSER CHARGES THAN WHAT THE PROSECUTION HAS CHARGED HIM FOR.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, RITTENHOUSE FACES FIRST-DEGREE INTENTIONAL HOMICIDE RELATED TO ANTHONY HUBER.

THE JURY COULD SAY WE ARE NOT GOING TO FIND A GUILTY VERDICT FOR THAT FIRST-DEGREE INTENTIONAL HOMICIDE CHARGE, BUT WE COULD TAKE UP A SECOND-DEGREE, A LESSER CHARGE, OR FIRST-DEGREE RECKLESS HOMICIDE CHARGE, COME BACK WITH A GUILTY VERDICT ON THAT.

WE'RE KIND OF IN FLUX HERE RIGHT NOW WITH THE JUDGE.

HE'S YET TO RULE WHETHER HE WILL ALLOW THE JURY TO CONSIDER THOSE LESSER CHARGES.

HE MAY RULE ON THAT LATER TODAY OR TOMORROW YET.

>> AND AGAIN THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE PROSECUTION HAD BROUGHT FORWARD AS SOMETHING THEY WOULD LIKE THE JUDGE TO CONSIDER TO BE INCLUDED IN THOSE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE JURY WHEN THEY GET THE CASE.

>> RIGHT.

EXACTLY.

THAT WILL BE PART OF THE JURY INSTRUCTIONS THAT THE JUDGE WILL GIVE THEM MONDAY RIGHT BEFORE THE JURY GOES INTO DELIBERATION.

>> NOW, WHAT IS HAPPENING IN TERMS OF PREPARATIONS IN KENOSHA FOR WHEN THAT VERDICT DOES COME IN?

>> SO LOCAL OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE WORKING WITH LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL OFFICIALS TO KIND OF TAMP DOWN ANY PROTESTS THAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN THE WAKE OF A VERDICT.

IF YOU REMEMBER LAST SUMMER, LOCAL OFFICIALS WERE WORKING WITH THE NATIONAL GUARD TO KIND OF GUARD MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS, ALLEVIATE LOCAL OFFICIALS TO KIND OF DO SOME POLICE WORK IN THE STREETS.

TODAY THE GOVERNOR ACTIVATED 500 NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO BE ON STANDBY IF LOCAL OFFICIALS NEED THEM NEXT WEEK WHEN THE VERDICT COMES BACK.

AFTER THIS, THEY ARE IN PREPARATIONS FOR ANYTHING THAT MIGHT HAPPEN.

WE HAVE YET TO HEAR DETAILS ON THAT.

BUT WE DO KNOW THAT PREPARATIONS ARE IN THE WORKS.

>> DO YOU SEE ANY KIND OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF THE KINDS OF PREPARATIONS THAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT, IN PARTICULAR, YOU KNOW, LAW ENFORCEMENT?

ANY PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF THAT BY WAY OF STREET CLOSURES OR SNOW FENCING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?

>> ACTUALLY, SO RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THE COURTHOUSE SQUARE, AND AS YOU CAN SEE HIND ME, LAST WEEK THERE WAS A CHAIN LINK FENCE.

WE DON'T SEE ANY OF THAT.

NO STREETS BLOCKED SO FAR.

SO THINGS ARE ALL QUIET RIGHT NOW.

BUT WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WEEK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WILL KENNEALLY, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US FROM KENOSHA.

>> THANK YOU.

>> IN WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS EXPECTED TO SIGN THE $1.2 TRILLION INFRASTRUCTURE BILL INTO LAW ON MONDAY.

FOR WISCONSIN, THAT INCLUDES $5.2 BILLION OVER FIVE YEARS FOR HIGHWAYS, $59D 2 MILLION FOR PUBLIC TRANCE SITS, $100 MILLION TO EXPAND BROADBAND AND $841 MILLION FOR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE BILL PASSED THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES LAST WEEK WITH ALL WISCONSIN REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS VOTING AGAINST THE SPENDING.

WE REACHED OUT TO MULTIPLE GOP U.S.

REPRESENTATIVES TO TALK ABOUT THEIR OPPOSITION, BUT THEY DECLINED.

IN A STATEMENT, FIFTH DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN SCOTT FITZGERALD SAID THIS.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEEDS TO REIN IN THEIR OUT-OF-CONTROL SPENDING.

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD THE DEBT OF THEIR SOCIALIST AGENDA.

ALL WISCONSIN CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS VOTED IN FAVOR, INCLUDING GWEN MOORE OF MILWAUKEE AND SHE JOINS US NOW AND THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE JUST REFERENCED THAT MORE THAN $840 MILLION WILL BE COMING TO WISCONSIN FOR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING THE REMOVAL OF LEAD PIPES.

WHAT WILL THAT MEAN FOR MILWAUKEE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE?

>> WELL, I FIND IT VERY EXCITING, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN BUYING WATER.

ONCE I LEARNED THAT MY FIRST GREAT GRANDCHILD WAS TO BE BORN, MY GRANDDAUGHTER SHOWED ME THE BROWN WATER THAT WAS COMING OUT OF OF THE FAUCET IN HER APARTMENT AND I'VE BEEN BUYING WATER SINCE THEN.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEEN SCIENTISTS HAVE INDICATED TO US THAT NO AMOUNT OF LEAD IS SAFE FOR CHILDREN, AND THEY HAVE LOWERED THE INDICATORS FOR IT.

>> HOW LONG OVERDUE IS THIS KIND OF INVESTMENT, IN YOUR MIND?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE'VE HAD INFRASTRUCTURE WEEK EVERY WEEK UNDER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

IT GOT TO BE THE STANDING JOKE.

OF COURSE, 20 OR 30 YEARS, DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT, FREDERICA.

THE ENGINEER, THE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION HAS GRADED OUR INFRASTRUCTURE HAS A D PLUS.

AND THE PL BRIDGE WE SAW FALLINN MINNEAPOLIS IS ONE OF 180 BRIDGES IN THAT SAME SORT OF CONDITION.

THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUE THAT PEOPLE ARE SCREAMING ABOUT, WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THIS IN THE BILL.

WE'RE GOING TO UPGRADE PORTS, AIRPORTS.

AND THIS IS PART OF THE REASON THAT THERE'S SUCH A BACKUP IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN.

AND SO, AGAIN, IT'S REALLY CONFUSING WHY -- AND I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT WISCONSIN REPUBLICANS JOINED IN BY NOT VOTING FOR IT.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT, THE 13 REPUBLICANS WHO DID VOTE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE HAVE BEEN THREATENED, THEIR LIVES HAVE BEEN THREATENED, AND SO, YOU KNOW, IF PEOPLE DID NOT VOTE FOR IT BECAUSE THEY'RE FEELING COWARDLY, I GUESS I CAN UNDERSTAND IT GIVEN THE BACKLASH FROM THE SORT OF TRUMP ATMOSPHERE THAT HE'S CREATED AROUND NOT GIVING JOE BIDEN OR DEMOCRATS A WIN.

THIS IS A WIN FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, ACTUALLY.

>> NEXT WEEK YOU WILL VOTE ON THE NEARLY $2 TRILLION SOCIAL SPENDING BILL.

WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PRONGS OF THAT FOR YOU?

>> FIRST OF ALL, I CHALLENGE YOUR NOTION THAT IT'S A SOCIAL SPENDING BILL.

IT TOO IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR ECONOMY.

THE BEST WAY TO INCREASE OUR GDP IS TO INVEST IN PEOPLE.

AND THIS IS WHAT THIS BILL WILL DO.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IT DOES JUST RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, THIS PROVIDES THE ENHANCED EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT.

AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, WE ARE LITERALLY ARE TAXING PEOPLE INTO POVERTY, LOW-WAGE WORKERS INTO POVERTY.

THEIR TAX OBLIGATIONS TAXES THEM INTO POVERTY.

THIS ENHANCED EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT, IT IS A WAY TO NOT ONLY KEEP THEM FROM BEING IN POVERTY, BUT GIVING THEM MORE MONEY TO ADD TO OUR GDP.

AS YOU KNOW, FREDERICA, 70% OF OUR ECONOMY IS CONSUMPTION.

SO IF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE MONEY, THEY CANNOT SPEND.

THERE'S NO POINT IN HAVING A BIG DEMAND IF THERE'S NO ONE WHO CAN ACTUALLY PURCHASE YOUR PRODUCTS.

HEALTH CARE.

WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE THE COST OF HEALTH CARE FOR PEOPLE THROUGH THAT BILL THROUGH ENHANCING THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, SO-CALLED OBAMACARE.

WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

AND SO WHILE THIS IS NOT PHYSICAL MONEY IN PEOPLE'S POCKETS, IT IS AN INVESTMENT IN THEM TO ENABLE THEM TO INTERACT IN THE MARKETPLACE MORE ADEQUATELY.

>> WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.

WE WILL BE WATCHING THAT.

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE GWEN MOORE, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> AND THANK YOU, TOO, FREDERICA.

>> AT THE STATE CAPITOL THIS WEEK, FORMER JUSTICE MICHAEL GABLEMAN PROVIDED AN INITIAL REPORT TO LEGISLATORS ON HIS INVESTIGATION INTO THE 2020 ELECTION.

HIS REPORT DID NOT PRESENT ANY CONCLUSIONS, BUT LAID OUT SOME ISSUES HE SEES WITH THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION.

>> IN SHORT, A MAJORITY OF OUR FELLOW CITIZENS HAVE EXPRESSED A VARIETY OF THOUGHTFUL AND MEANINGFUL CONCERNS ABOUT THE FAIRNESS, HONESTY AND TRANSPARENCY OF OUR ELECTIONS AND SEEK UNDERSTANDING AND TRUTH AS WELL AS ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THOSE ENTRUSTED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF THOSE ELECTIONS.

THE REPORT I DELIVERED TO SPEAKER VOS EARLIER TODAY IS AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP ALONG THAT JOURNEY.

>> I THINK YOU ARE ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT IS UNDERMINING VOTER CREDIBILITY IN OUR ELECTIONS AND DOING DAMAGE TO OUR DEMOCRACY.

>> GABLEMAN'S INVESTIGATION WAS TO WRAP UP BY THE END OF THE YEAR BUT HE DID NOT PROVIDE ANY UPDATE ON THE TIME LINE WHEN ASKED.

>> ALSO THIS WEEK, THE LEGISLATURE PASSED THE REPUBLICAN VERSION OF NEW VOTING MAPS, WHICH HAVE TO BE REDRAWN EVERY TEN YEARS WITH THE CENSUS.

>> MAPS PROPOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT EVERS COMMISSION WERE SHOT DOWN, WITH REPUBLICANS DERIDING THE PROCESS.

>> THEY HAVE A PROCESS THAT THE GOVERNOR UTILIZED THAT THEY WON'T EVEN STAND BEHIND.

THEY HAVE A PROCESS THAT IS CLEARLY PARTISAN.

>> THEY MOVED 2.4 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICTS TO MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEIR MEMBERS TO LOSE, WHETHER IT'S A GOOD YEAR FOR A BAD YEAR.

THAT IS NOT DEMOCRACY.

>> DEMOCRATS WERE NOT UNIFIED OVER THE GOVERNOR'S MAPS, HOWEVER.

SOME CRITICIZED THE MAPS FOR DELUDING MINORITY GROUPS' VOICE ACROSS MULTIPLE DISTRICTS.

>> AT LEAST THE REPUBLICAN MAP WAS NOT TO DECIMATE THE VOICES OF BLACK AND BROWN MEMBERS OF WISCONSIN.

GOVERNOR TONY EVERS OR THE PEOPLE'S MAPS ARE ALSO NOT FAIR TO EVERYONE IN OUR STATE.

>> 17 DEMOCRATS VOTED AGAINST THE GOVERNOR'S MAPS IN THE ASSEMBLY AS WELL AS ONE DEMOCRAT IN THE SENATE.

>> THE GOP MAPS FACE A CERTAIN VETO FROM THE GOVERNOR AND WILL LAND IN THE COURTS.

ASIDE FROM LEAD PIPES, COMMUNITIES ACROSS WISCONSIN ARE ALSO CONTENDING WITH PFAS CONTAMINATION IN DRINKING AND GROUNDWATER.

THERE ARE FEW ENFORCEABLE STANDARDS FOR THE HARMFUL CHEMICAL, BUT ONE NORTHWEST WISCONSIN COMMUNITY DECIDED IT CANNOT WAIT FOR LEGISLATION BEFORE DEALING WITH SUCH POLLUTION.

MARISA WOJCIK BRINGS US THIS REPORT FROM EAU CLAIRE.

>> WE'VE DONE THINGS IN OUR PAST TO THE ENVIRONMENT THAT AT THE TIME THEY MAY NOT HAVE SEEMED BAD, BUT NOW WE FIND OUT LATER THAT THEY'RE NOT GREAT FOR THE EARTH AND FOR OUR PERSONAL HEALTH.

>> LANE BERG IS THE CITY OF EAU CLAIRE UTILITIES MANAGER, IN CHARGE OF THE CITY'S DRINKING WATER WELLS.

>> WE HAVE 16 ACTIVE WELLS IN OUR WELL FIELD HERE.

IT'S ABOUT 400 ACRES IN SIZE AND IT SERVES THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF THE CITY OF EAU CLAIRE.

WE PUMP ABOUT 9 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY.

>> IN JULY WHEN THE TREATMENT PLANT DETECTED ELEVATED LEVELS OF PFAS, BERG TOOK IMMEDIATE ACTION.

>> WHEN WE DID SAMPLE ALL OF OUR WELLS, WE FOUND FOUR WELLS ON THE NORTH END OF OUR WELL FIELD THAT WERE SLIGHTLY HIGHER IN PFAS LEVELS.

AT THAT POINT WE SHUT THOSE WELLS DOWN IMMEDIATELY.

>> PFAS STANDS FOR PERFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES AND REFERRED TO AS FOREVER CHEMICALS.

OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, KNOWN CONTAMINATION SITES HAVE POPPED UP THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN.

>> I THINK THE MORE WE TEST FOR IT, THE MORE WE'LL FIND IT.

>> CHRISTY REMUCAL IS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING AT UW-MADISON.

>> THESE CHEMICALS ARE USED IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS WE COME IN CONTACT WITH EVERY DAY, A LOT OF CONSUMER PRODUCTS, ANYTHING THAT'S NONSTICK OR WATERPROOF, SO PANS, STAIN-RESISTANT CARPETING, WATERPROOF CLOTHING.

THEY'RE USED IN INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS AND IN FI FIREFIGHG FOAM JUST TO NAME A FEW.

SOME OF THESE CHEMICALS HAVE BEEN USED FOR DECADES AND WE'RE JUST NOW KIND OF FINDING OUT ABOUT THE EXTENT OF CONTAMINATION FOR THEM IN THE ENVIRONMENT.

THE CONCENTRATIONS WE WORRY ABOUT FOR HUMAN EXPOSURE ARE REALLY LOW, SO PARTS PER TRILLION.

>> PARTS PER TRILLION.

>> NEW CONCENTRATIONS WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

>> EAU CLAIRE TRANSLATES TO CLEAR WATER, AN AT T ATTRIBUTE G TOOK SERIOUSLY.

>> WE STARTED IN 2020 ON OUR OWN.

WE WANTED TO KNOW IF WE DID HAVE PFAS IN OUR WATER.

>> THEY WORKED WITH THE DNR FOR GUIDANCE ON HOW TO SAMPLE AND WHERE.

>> SO WE ARE IN BASICALLY ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF THE WELL FIELD.

THIS IS WHAT WE CONSIDER THE NORTH AND SOUTH HALF FROM HERE.

>> PFAS IS ESPECIALLY CONCERNING AS A GROWING BODY OF RESEARCH LINKS IT TO ADVERSE OUTCOMES, CANCER, THYROID ISSUES, INCREASED CHOLESTEROL AND PROBLEMS FOR PREGNANT MOTHERS AND THEIR BABIES.

PFAS CHEMICALS DON'T BREAK DOWN OVER TIME.

THEY TRAVEL FAR, AND THEY ARE EVERYWHERE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO HOLD PARTIES RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTAMINATION.

>> THE DNR HAS ACTUALLY LISTED THE AIRPORT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO HERE AS A POTENTIALLY RESPONSIBLE PARTY.

THEY'RE HANDLING THAT FULL INVESTIGATION.

>> MANY CONTAMINATION SITES ARE NEAR AIRPORTS OR FIRE TRAINING CENTERS, AS FOAMS ARE PACKED WITH PFAS CHEMICALS.

WHILE THE DNR HANDLES THE INVESTIGATION, EAU CLAIRE UTILITIES HAVE BEEN FOCUSING ON SOLUTIONS.

>> DOING PIPING, CREATING ABSORPTION PONDS.

WE'RE ABLE TO DUMP WATER WHICH IS CUTTING OFF THE FLOW OF PFAS TO OUR BETTER WELLS AND WE'VE ACTUALLY SEEN IMPROVEMENT IN FIVE OF OUR INDIVIDUAL WELLS SINCE WE STARTED DOING THIS AND OUR ENTRY POINT HAS BEEN ON A STEADY DECLINE AS WELL.

>> GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE COME OUT WITH DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WHAT'S CONSIDERED SAFE, BUT OVERALL ENFORCEMENT OF STANDARDS IS LIMITED.

IN THE MEANTIME, BERG WANTS TO REASSURE THE PEOPLE OF EAU CLAIRE.

>> I WANT TO JUST REINFORCE THE FACT THAT OUR WATER IS SAFE.

>> I ALSO THINK IT'S REALLY GOOD THAT SOME COMMUNITIES ARE BEING PROACTIVE.

>> PFAS IS A BIG ISSUE.

I DON'T THINK WE'LL BE IN A POSITION TO WAIT FOR ANY LEGISLATIVE ACTION.

WE'LL TAKE ACTION ON OUR OWN HERE.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE FEEL REALLY STRONGLY ABOUT AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

>> MOST ESPECIALLY IN A CITY NAMED FOR ITS CLEAR WATER.

FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M MARISA WOJCIK IN EAU CLAIRE.

>> WHEREAS SOME MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT COVID-19 WAS ON THE RETREAT, CASES, HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS ARE ON THE RISE IN WISCONSIN, WITH SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE CASE COUNTS ABOVE 2500 AND DAILY DEATHS IN THE DOUBLE DIGITS.

EIGHT COUNTIES HAVE CRITICALLY HIGH NUMBERS.

SIX ARE IN THE NORTHWEST PART OF THE STATE.

HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE PANDEMIC FOR MORE THAN A YEAR AND A HALF AND STILL THERE IS RESISTANCE TO WEARING MASKS AND GETTING VACCINES.

THE CEO OF MARSHFIELD CLINIC, A PROVIDER ACROSS RURAL WISCONSIN, HAS LAMENTED THE BACKLASH OVER COVID MITIGATIONS.

SUSAN TOURNEY JOINS US NOW FROM MARSHFIELD.

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

<!32768> T >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US.

>> WAS THE BACKLASH MOSTLY AROUND YOUR MANDATE THAT STAFF BE VACCINATED?

>> YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY THAT WE'VE HAD MANY CHALLENGES DURING COVID, AND THE ISSUE ABOUT VACCINATION HAS CERTAINLY CREATED CONTROVERSY.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEEN SOME VERY, VERY STRONG VACCINE RESISTANCE IN OUR SERVICE AREA, INCLUDING SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES.

WE DID, AS YOU JUST STATED, MANDATE THE VACCINE FOR ALL OF OUR HEALTH SYSTEM STAFF, AND IT DREW BACKLASH FROM NOT JUST SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES, BUT ALSO FROM SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

AND IT'S NOT UNIQUE TO US.

HEALTH SYSTEMS AND HOSPITALS ACROSS WISCONSIN ARE REALLY FACING THE SAME TYPE OF BACKLASH.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT AS A -- FOR US AS A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, MANDATING THE VACCINE WAS REALLY A SIMPLE DECISION.

OUR VALUES DEMAND THAT WE DO WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR PATIENTS.

WE KNOW THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE.

SO WE ALSO WANT TO LIVE OUR MISSION, WHICH IS TO ENRICH LIVES.

SO WHEN WE CAN'T REALLY APPROACH LIVING TO THOSE IDEALS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE IF WE HAVE AN UNVACCINATED POPULATION.

SO OUR PATIENTS DEPEND ON US.

THEY WANT AND THEY DESERVE TO COME TO A FACILITY THAT DOES EVERYTHING IN ITS POWER TO KEEP THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES SAFE.

SO I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT MOST OF OUR 10,000 EMPLOYEES AND ALL OF OUR PHYSICIANS HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

WE ARE AT ABOUT 99% PLUS RATE RIGHT NOW FOR ALL OF OUR STAFF WHO HAVE COMPLIED WITH OUR REQUIREMENT.

OUR DEADLINE IS NEXT MONDAY, AND ON THAT DATE I SUSPECT WE WILL HAVE A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO DO CHOOSE TO NOT COMPLY WITH OUR REQUIREMENT.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT WE ARE PREPARED AND I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE IN A GOOD POSITION TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE DO BEST, WHICH IS TAKE CARE OF PATIENTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY CARE.

>> AND I'M ASSUMING THAT WHEN YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE PREPARED WHEN THAT DEADLINE HAPPENS TO HAVE TO LET PEOPLE GO THAT DO NOT COMPLY WITH GETTING VACCINATED?

>> YES.

THERE MAY BE A FEW PEOPLE THAT DON'T COMPLY AND WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE ORGANIZATION.

AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT, AGAIN, LIVING UP TO OUR MISSION AND STANDING ON OUR VALUES AND KNOWING WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO BEST SERVE OUR PATIENTS AND OUR STAFF AND OUR COMMUNITIES, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS.

>> NOW, I KNOW THAT YOU'VE DESCRIBED WHAT YOU EXPERIENCED THERE AT YOUR HEALTH SYSTEM AS BACKLASH, BUT THERE WERE LITERALLY PROTESTS OUTSIDE YOUR CLINIC?

>> YOU KNOW, WE DID HAVE SOME PROTESTS IN SOME OF OUR COMMUNITIES, AND WE ALSO HAD STAFF THAT WERE HARASSED WHEN THEY WERE WALKING TO THEIR CARS IN THE PARKING LOT.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE ARE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO PROTECT OUR STAFF, PROTECT OUR PATIENTS IN THIS ENVIRONMENT.

SO IT HAS CERTAINLY ADDED TO THE STRESS THAT OUR STAFF HAS FELT DURING THIS PANDEMIC AS WE ALL KNOW THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS TAKEN TRULY AN EXTREME TRIAL ON ALL OF OUR WORKFORCE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO IN THE MIDST OF ALL OF THIS, WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THESE COUNTIES WITH CRITICALLY HIGH COVID CASE COUNTS RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE DO SERVE A VERY RURAL POPULATION AND WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE COUNTIES IN OUR SERVICE AREA THAT HAVE LOWER VACCINATION RATES THAN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE.

HOWEVER, WE ARE HERE TO SERVE OUR PATIENTS AND WE WILL TAKE CARE OF PATIENTS.

WE HAVE A MULTIPRONGED APPROACH.

OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE OUR PATIENTS TO BE VACCINATED.

WE HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THEM AND WE WILL ALSO SPEAK WITH THEM IF THAT WOULD HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS OF THE VACCINATION.

YET PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET SICK.

THE RATE OF PEOPLE GETTING SICK WITHOUT A VACCINATION IS MUCH HIGHER THAN THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

BUT WE WILL TAKE CARE OF OUR PATIENTS.

THAT'S WHAT WE DO AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO HONOR OUR COMMITMENT TO PATIENT CARE.

>> AND AS TO YOUR STAFF AND HOW PEOPLE HAVE WEATHERED THIS FATIGUE AND BURN-OUT AS IT'S BEEN DESCRIBED, WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THOSE OF YOU IN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM ON THE FRONT LINES?

>> YOU KNOW, I WISH THERE WERE A SINGLE MESSAGE, BECAUSE I THINK THE MESSAGE WOULD BE LET'S HAVE HOPE THAT WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS AND COME OUT ON THE OTHER END IN A BETTER PLACE.

AND I BELIEVE THERE IS TRUTH TO THAT.

YET, I'VE ALREADY SAID THE PANDEMIC REALLY HAS TAKEN AN EXTREME TOLL ON OUR WORKFORCE.

THEY'RE EXHAUSTED FROM FIGHTING THE PANDEMIC FOR TWO YEARS NOW.

WE HAVE OFTENTIMES BEEN SHORTSTAFFED PEOPLE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SICK OR THEY'RE WORKING EXTRA SHIFTS OR THEY'RE TAKING CARE OF SICK FAMILY MEMBERS.

THESE WORK-RELATED CHALLENGES ARE IMMENSE.

AND BEING A RURAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, WE'VE HAD CHALLENGES THAT PREDATED COVID, PREDATED THE PANDEMIC.

MANY AREAS IN THE COUNTRY WITH RURAL HEALTH, THAT ARE IN RURAL HEALTH CARE, HAD ALREADY EXPERIENCED A CRISIS WITH HOSPITAL CLOSURES, SHORTAGES OF WORK STAFF.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIGHT THE UNIQUE STRAIN THAT THIS HAS BROUGHT TO US AND HELPING OUR STAFF IF THERE ARE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, IF THERE ARE FINANCIAL ISSUES, IF THERE ARE CHILD CARE ISSUES.

WE'RE TRYING TO MEET THEIR NEEDS THE BEST WE CAN.

AND, AGAIN, I THINK HOPE IS THE WORD THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT.

WE HAVE HOPE THAT THIS WILL BE BETTER.

>> DR. TURNEY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU CAN FIND MORE A COVID-19 AND ALL THE LATEST NEWS BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE AT pbswisconsin.org.

THAT IS 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 OF PBS WISCONSIN.