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

>> ELECTION DAY MAY BE IN THE REAR VIEW, BUT CLERKS ARE STILL HARD AT WORK TO CERTIFY THE OFFICIAL RESULTS.

THE ARRIVAL OF WINTERY WEATHER MEANS RETREATING INDOORS AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR VIRUSES TO THRIVE.

MOVES TO CURB INFLATION COOLING THE ECONOMY?

I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG AND TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW" WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION?

IT'S CHAIR JOINS US.

WE HEAR FROM A GREEN BAY DOCTOR ABOUT RESPIRATORY VIRUSES FILLING UP HOSPITALS.

THE RHETORIC THAT LED TO A RICE LAKE SCHOOL BOARD RESIGNATION AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE ECONOMY?

THAT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR NOVEMBER 18TH.

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

>> WHILE THE UNOFFICIAL VOTES WERE TALLIED LAST WEEK, COUNTIES HAVE UNTIL NEXT TUESDAY TO DELIVER THEIR OFFICIAL CANVAS.

THEN THE CHAIR OF THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION HAS UNTIL DECEMBER 1ST TO CERTIFY THE ELECTION RESULTS.

THE FUTURE OF THE COMMISSION ITSELF WAS A POLITICAL HOT POTATO THROUGHOUT THE MID-TERMS.

FOR AN UPDATE WE TURN TO THE CHAIR OF THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION DONE MILLIS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

YOU TOLD US IN JULY WHEN WE LAST SPOKE WITH YOU THAT YOUR JOB IS TO QUOTE LOOK FORWARD AND TRY TO ENHANCE THE PUBLIC'S CONFIDENCE IN ELECTIONS.

SO JUST OFF THE NOVEMBER 8TH ELECTION, DID YOU SUCCEED?

>> I THINK WE DID IN MANY RESPECTS.

THE ELECTION WENT OFF BETTER THAN MANY EXPECTED.

I KNOW THERE WERE PRESS ACCOUNTS OF CONCERN ABOUT CONTROVERSIES AND CONFLICTS AT POLLING PLACES.

THERE WAS ONE VERY UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT IN WEST BEND WHERE SOMEONE WHO PERHAPS A TROUBLED INDIVIDUAL HAD A KNIFE.

THAT'S -- I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THAT OTHER THAN WHAT I'VE READ IN THE PAPERS.

THERE WERE SOME PRESS REPORTS BUT I THINK FOR THE MOST PART IT WENT VERY WELL.

I TALKED TO STAFF THE EVENING OF THE ELECTION, THE NEXT DAY AND THEY THOUGHT IT WENT VERY WELL.

WE HAVEN'T HAD -- I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY ACCOUNTS OF GRAND CONSPIRACIES OR ELECTION BEING STOLEN IN WISCONSIN.

AND SO THUS FAR SO GOOD.

>> SO BREATHING A SIGH OF RELIEF?

>> A LITTLE BIT.

I THINK THAT BOTH PARTIES, LEADERSHIP OF BOTH PARTIES TRIED VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE THE ELECTION WEPT REALLY SMOOTHLY.

BOTH PARTIES INVESTED A LOT OF MONEY IN TRAINING PARTISAN POLL WORKERS AND PARTISAN ELECTION OBSERVERS.

I THINK THE STAFF AT THE COMMISSION DID A GOOD JOB ASSISTING CLERKS AND I THINK THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE IN WISCONSIN ARE THE LOCAL CLERKS AND I THINK THEY DID A VERY GOOD JOB.

>> HOW DID THE COMMISSION DO IN PROVIDING GUIDANCE TO THE ELECTION CLERKS, THE COMMISSION'S PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY?

>> I THINK THEY DID GOOD JOB.

WE TALKED ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH PROBLEM SITUATIONS, EDUCATED THEM ON THE LAW AND COURTS HAVE RULED AT VARIOUS TIMES WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT SAY.

THAT'S FAIR.

WITHIN THOSE CONSTRAINTS I THINK THE COMMISSION STAFF DID A VERY GOOD JOB OF EDUCATING CLERKS AND PROVIDING THEM WITH THE TOOLS TO MAKE SURE THE ELECTIONS RAN SMOOTHLY AND TRANSPARENTLY.

>> IN YOUR MIND WHAT STILL NEEDS ADDRESSING?

>> WE STILL NEED TO HAVE GREATER CONFIDENCE IN ELECTION RESULTS.

IT IS A NAGGING ISSUE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE COMMISSION HAS SUGGESTED ON A BIPARTISAN 6-0 VOTE WAS TO PROPOSE AN OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL WITHIN THE AGENCY WITH RESOURCES AND POSITIONS THAT WOULD HELP INVESTIGATE -- NOT SO MUCH FORMAL COMPLAINTS BUT CONCERNS ABOUT THE LEGITIMACY OF CERTAIN PRACTICES AND ALSO TO ADDRESS PUBLIC INQUIRIES AND THE LEGISLATURE'S INQUIRIES.

>> NOW THAT TONY EVERS HAS WON AND THE DEMOCRAT INCUMBENT HAS WON THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF HAS WON DO YOU THINK THE GETTING RID OF THE COMMISSION.

>> IF ANYONE HAS ANY AWARENESS OF WHAT'S GOING ON, ANY RADICAL CHANGE FOR THE COMMISSION IS UNLIKELY TO PASS AND BE SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.

THE GOAL FOR US IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS IS COME UP WITH CHANGES THAT EVERYONE CAN AGREE UPON.

>> HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH SPEAKER VOS WHO APPOINTED YOU ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT HE WILL PURSUE ANY KIND OF MORE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO ELECTION LAW?

>> I HAVE NOT.

I KNOW WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS AMONG THE COMMISSIONERS AND ON STAF ABOUT SMALLER -- SMALL-SCALE CHANGES THAT MIGHT FIND FAVOR WITH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS BUT I HAVE NOT HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE SPEAKER.

>> CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT SOME OF THOSE SMALLER CHANGES MAY BE?

>> WE WOULD LIKE TO MAYBE ADDRESS THE ISSUES WITH ILLEGAL REQUESTS FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

THE RECENT REQUEST FOR MILITARY BALLOTS, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE THAT I THINK WOULD BE -- FIND FAVOR WITH EVERYONE.

THERE ARE -- WISCONSIN IS THE ONLY -- OF THE 49 STATES THAT REQUIRE REGISTRATION OR HAVE REGISTRATION, WE'RE THE ONLY STATE THAT DOESN'T HAVE MILITARY VOTERS REGISTERED.

WE THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD CHANGE THAT WOULD HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

WE ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, I THINK, TO ALLOW ELECTRONIC VOTING BY MILITARY OFFICERS BY ENGAGING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND USING SOME OF THEIR SYSTEMS.

AND SO THAT'S NOT BEEN TRIED ANYWHERE ELSE.

WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE THAT.

THAT WOULD BE A MAKING SURE OUR MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN OVERSEAS CAN VOTE AND CAN MAKE SURE THEIR VOTES ARE COUNTED.

SENDING BACK A PAPER BALLOT OVERSEAS HAS TIME ISSUES AND THERE ARE ONLY -- WE ARE -- >> SO THAT GETTING OF THE MILITARY BALLOTS BY THE PERSON WHO DID IT, THE FORMER DEPUTY ELECTION COMMISSIONER IN MILWAUKEE, IN YOUR MIND THAT EXPOSED A VULNERABILITY.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HAPPENED.

IN TALKING TO THE STAFF THERE IS A LAG TIME WHICH BY THOSE CHANGES, THOSE REQUESTS HAVE BEEN LOGGED INTO THE SYSTEM AND THE STAFF WERE CONFIDENT WITHIN 2 OR 3 DAYS AFTER IT BECAME APPARENT, IT HADN'T BECOME PUBLIC COMMISSION STAFF WOULD HAVE PICKED UP ON IT.

IT IS THE NUMBER OF MILITARY BALLOTS ARE RELATIVELY SMALL AND SOMETHING THEY CAN GET THEIR ARMS AROUND.

SO I THINK THAT WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CAUGHT IT BUT I THINK IN THIS CASE IT WOULD BE BETTER TO AND STILL GREATER PUBLIC CONFIDENCE AND COME UP WITH A BETTER SYSTEM FOR HANDLING MILITARY BALLOTS.

>> DON MILLIS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

TURNING TO HEALTH NEWS THE RISE IN RSV ALONG WITH FLU AND COVID IN WISCONSIN HAVE HEALTH SYSTEMS FOREWARNING OF CAPACITY ISSUES AS HOSPITALS, EMERGENCY ROOMS AND CLINICS BECOME OVERLOADED.

RSV AFFLICTS CHILDREN THE HARDEST.

OVERALL RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES HAVE CAUSED HOSPITALS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PEDIATRIC BEDS AND INTENSIVE CARE UNITS.

STATEWIDE PEDIATRIC BEDS AND INTENSIVE CARE UNITS ARE 80 3ERS PERCENT FULL.

DR. MICHAEL LANDRUM JOINS US FROM GREEN BAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> HAPPY TO BE WITH YOU.

>> WHAT IS THE SITUATION WHERE YOU ARE WITH ALL THIS?

>> WE'RE ABOUT AT THE STATE AVERAGE WHERE WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CASES ARE RSV IN CHILDREN AS WELL AS RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES IN ADULTS BUT WE HAVEN'T REACHED A CRITICAL LEVEL IN OUR CAPACITY RIGHT NOW.

WE'VE BEEN EXPLORING OPTIONS FOR WHAT TO DO IF NUMBERS INCREASE.

WE'RE ABLE TO MANAGE NOW WITH WHAT WE'VE SEEN NOW.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT THREE SEVERE RESPIRATORY VIRUSES ARE CIRCULATING AT THE SAME TIME WITH SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN CASES.

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS KIND OF TRIAD OF VIRUSES?

>> NO, I CAN'T REMEMBER A TIME IN MY CAREER WHAT I'VE SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

IT GOES ALONG WITH THE LAST THREE YEARS WITH THINGS THAT I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE ARE NOW HAPPENING.

>> SO I UNDERSTAND RSV IS RATHER COMMON BUT THAT IT IS ACTING DIFFERENTLY THIS YEAR.

LIKE IT STARTED EARLIER IN THE SEASON, IT MAY BE CAUSING MORE SEVERE INFECTION OR INFECTING A MORE VULNERABLE INFANT POPULATION.

IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT'S ALL CORRECT.

WE ARE DEFINITELY SEEING MORE CASES THAN WE TYPICALLY SEE THIS TIME OF YEAR.

USUALLY RSV WILL PEAK IN I WOULD SAY LATE DECEMBER, JANUARY, MAYBE IN FEBRUARY.

AND SO WHILE WE CAN SEE CASES THIS TIME OF YEAR IN A TYPICAL OR MORE NORMAL YEAR, WE'RE SEEING A LOT MORE THAN WE TYPICALLY DO THIS TIME OF YEAR AND THAT'S WHAT'S CONCERNING.

WE DON'T KNOW WILL THINGS CONTINUE TO INCREASE AND WE WON'T REACH OUR PEAK UNTIL A COUPLE MONTHS FROM NOW, OR WILL THIS PEAK EARLY AND THEN FADE AWAY EARLY?

SO WE'RE SEEING A LOT MORE DISEASE RIGHT NOW THAN WE TYPICALLY DO.

>> WHAT ABOUT IN THE INFANT POPULATION?

IS THAT BEING HIT PARTICULARLY HIDE AS WE'VE BEEN READING IN OTHER AREAS?

>> RSV IN GENERAL IS WORSE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND INFANTS.

THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE HOSPITALIZED WITH IT.

THAT IS TYPICAL FOR MOST YEARS THAT WE DO SEE THE MOST SEVERE CASES IN THOSE YOUNG CHILDREN.

>> SHOULD PEOPLE BE TESTED TO DETERMINE WHICH VIRUS THEY ARE SICK WITH?

>> I WOULD SAY WE ARE TESTING PATIENTS THAT WE SEE, BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS, FOR A NUMBER OF RESPIRATORY VIRUSES.

IT IS UP TO THE CLINICAL JUDGMENT OF THE PROVIDER SEEING THE PATIENT AT THE TIME.

WE DO A WIDE RANGE OF TESTING AND MUCH MORE TESTING AVAILABLE NOW EVEN THAN WE DID A FEW YEARS AGO SO THAT IS BETTER.

MOST OF THESE INFECTIONS ARE FOR RSV IN PARTICULAR THE END TO BE MILD AND THINGS THAT CAN BE MANAGED AT HOME AND YOU DON'T NEED TO RUSH IN AND GET TESTED FOR THAT REASON SPECIFICALLY.

HOWEVER, IF YOUR CHILD IS UNCHARACTERISTICALLY SICK AND HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING, PARTICULARLY YOUNG AND VULNERABLE THAT'S WHEN YOU WANT TOO CALL YOUR PEDIATRICIAN AND FAMILY PHYSICIAN AND SEE WHAT THEY COME IN AND GETTING EVALUATED AND POTENTIALLY TESTED.

>> SO CONTINUING COVID, FLU AND RSV IS THE THOUGHT THAT ISOLATION AND MASKING OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS LEFT PEOPLE VULNERABLE?

>> THAT IS, YOU KNOW, THE THEORY THAT'S BEING CIRCULATED.

RSV, FLU, RESPIRATORY VIRUSES IN GENERAL ARE THINGS THAT ARE VERY COMMON AND PEOPLE GET YEAR TO YEAR.

SO OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AS WE'VE BEEN MASKING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING WE HAVEN'T BEEN EXPOSED TO THESE THINGS FOR A WHILE.

SO OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM IN TERMS OF FIGHTING THESE OFF IN THE OVERALL COMMUNITY AND THE POPULATION IS A LITTLE BIT LOWER AGAINST THESE THINGS SO IT CAN LEAD TO MORE TRANSMISSION, MORE CASES AND PERHAPS MORE SEVERE CASES.

>> WHAT'S THE PRESCRIPTION FOR TRYING TO STEM THE OUTBREAK ESPECIALLY COMING INTO THE HOLIDAYS?

>> WELL, ABSOLUTELY.

I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION.

REALLY IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO GET VACCINATED FOR FLU OR TO GET VACCINATED FOR COVID-19, WHETHER IT IS YOUR INITIAL IMMUNIZATION OR TO GET A BOOSTER, PLEASE DO SO.

THE VACCINES DON'T PREVENT ANY INFECTION FROM OCCURRING.

YOU CAN STILL GET A AN INFECTION BUT MAKE IT LESS SEVERE.

THIS YEAR PRELIMINARY INFORMATION FROM THE CDC SUGGESTS THE FLU VACCINE IS A GOOD MATCH FOR THE STRAINS WE'RE SEEING CAUSING A LOT OF CASES RIGHT NOW EARLY IN THE FLU SEASON.

SO PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE GO AND GET VACCINATED.

THAT WILL HELP PROTECT YOU AND PROTECTS OTHERS AROUND YOU AND IT HELPS OUR HEALTH SYSTEM FROM GETTING OVERLOADED WITH ALL THESE RESPIRATORY DISEASES.

>> GOOD ADVICE, DOCTOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THIS NEWS, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR HAS ISSUED A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST PACKER SANITATION FOR OPPRESSIVE CHILD LABOR LAW VIOLATIONS.

THE WISCONSIN-BASED COMPANY PROVIDES CONTRACT CLEANING AND SANITATION SERVICES TO MEAT PROCESSING PLANTS IN MINNESOTA AND NEBRASKA.

AN INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 16 WORKED LONG HOURS OR OVERNIGHT, OPERATED MACHINERY ON THE KILL FLOOR, AND RECEIVED CHEMICAL BURNS FROM CAUSTIC CLEANERS.

THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.

SCHOOL BOARDS ACROSS WISCONSIN BECAME THE NEW BATTLEGROUND FOR CULTURE WAR POLITICS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS HEIGHTENED IN THE RUN-UP TO THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

BUT WHAT KIND OF HUMAN DAMAGE IS DONE WITH PUBLIC SMEAR CAMPAIGNS ABOUT EVERYTHING TEACHING ABOUT RACE TO ALLOWING STUDENTS AND STAFF TO USE GENDER-AFFIRMING PRONOUNS TO POLICIES ON TRANSGENDER STUDENTS?

WE ASK OUR NEXT GUEST, A CURRENT COLLEGE PROFESSOR AND FORMER MEMBER OF THE RICE LAKE SCHOOL BOARD UNTIL SHE RESIGNED LAST MONTH.

THAT WAS AFTER A GROUP CALLED THE BARRON COUNTY PATRIOTS RAISED THEIR VOICE AND RHETORIC IN THE DISTRICT.

ABBEY FISCHER JOINS US NOW AND THANKS VERY MUCH FOR DOING SO.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO YOU TOLD US THAT THINGS GOT UGLY WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT.

HOW SO?

>> AS THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, PEOPLE IN TOWN BEGAN VOICING THEIR OPPOSITION TO CONTINUING TO STAY AT HOME, WHICH WE UNDERSTOOD.

WE WANTED THE STUDENTS BACK IN THE BUILDINGS.

BUT THE RHETORIC GOT LOUD IN TOWN.

PEOPLE BEGAN EMAILING BOARD MEMBERS FREQUENTLY AND THEY BEGAN TO ATTEND OUR BOARD MEETINGS, WHICH WE ENCOURAGE IT BUT IT WAS OFTEN NOT FOUNDED IN SCIENTIFIC PROOF.

IT WAS A LOT OF WHAT I WOULD SAY NON-SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS.

LANGUAGE BEING USED ON A NATIONAL SCALE THAT FOUND ITS WAY TO RICE LAKE.

AND SO PEOPLE WERE ANTI-MASK, ANTI-VACCINE, THEY WERE ANTI-KEEPING STUDENTS SIX FEET AWAY FROM EACH OTHER.

THEY WANTED TO GET BACK TO NORMAL WHEN SCIENCE AT THAT POINT WAS TELLING US NOT TO DO SO.

>> THEN THIS FALL THERE WAS SCHOOL BOARD DEBATE AROUND A LESS INCLUSIVE POLICY FOR TRANSGENDER STUDENT IN RICE LAKE SCHOOLS, POLICIES THAT YOU DESCRIBE AS PREVIOUSLY SUPPORTIVE OF LGBTQ STUDENTS.

HOW DID THAT MAKE STUDENTS AND STAFF FEEL, THESE NEW KIND OF POLICIES?

>> THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES AT OUR OCTOBER 12TH BOARD MEETING SAID THAT THE PREVIOUS POLICY SAVED THEIR LIVES.

THEY WERE ABLE TO BE THEMSELVES IN OUR BUILDINGS.

THEY WERE ABLE TO BE THEMSELVES WITH THEIR INSTRUCTORS AND PEERS AS THEY WERE READY TO BE.

THE NEW POLICY, THE CURRENT POLICY, DOES NOT ALLOW STUDENTS TO USE THE NAMES THAT THEY WISH TO OR THE PRONOUNS THEY WISH TO UNTIL THEY HAVE COME OUT TO THEIR PARENTS.

AS A LESBIANS, I KNOW HOW CHALLENGES IT IS TO COME OUT TO YOUR OWN PARENTS AND TO ASK STUDENT TO COME OUT TO THEIR PARENTS BEFORE THEY'RE READY PUTS THEM AT RISK FOR POTENTIAL COMPLICATIONS AT HOME AND ALSO POTENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH COMPLICATIONS.

>> SO HOW DID A GROUP CALLED THE BARRON COUNTY PATRIOTS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS RESPOND TO THIS ISSUE?

>> THE PATRIOTS AND OTHERS FOR WELL OVER A YEAR, THIS STARTED PROBABLY IN SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER OF 2021.

THEY WERE LOUD IN THEIR OPPOSITION TO THE INCLUSIVE CLASSROOMS AND THE INCLUSIVE CURRICULUM THAT THE RICE LAKE SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS OFFERING.

THEY CAME TO SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS AND SPOKE DURING PUBLIC APPEARANCES.

THEY SPOKE HORRENDOUS STATEMENTS, UNTRUE, HARMFUL, HURTFUL STATEMENTS ABOUT LGBTQ PLUS PEOPLE AND CONTINUED THAT UP UNTIL THIS POLICY WAS PASSED AND THEY BELIEVE THAT -- A LOT OF THEM SEEM TO BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWING STUDENTS TO BE THEMSELVES WITHIN THE CLASSROOM.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THEIR BELIEFS THAT THEY EXPRESSED?

>> WE HEARD THINGS THAT TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS ARE MENTALLY ILL. WE HEARD THAT TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS REALLY DON'T EXIST AND WE ARE NEED TO BE COMFORTABLE WITH OUR GENDER.

WE HEARD MANY STATEMENTS THAT BEING LGBTQ QI PLUS IS AGAINST THE BIBLE AND THAT WE NEED TO SPEND MORE TIME IN CHURCH.

>> HOW DID THAT AFFECT YOU PERSONALLY?

>> AS A LESBIAN, IT WAS HARD TO HEAR MY COMMUNITY TALKED ABOUT LIKE THAT.

IT STARTED A YEAR PRIOR AND AS A BOARD MEMBER, WE SIT QUIETLY AND OUR TABLE AND DON'T CONVERSE WITH THE PUBLIC APPEARANCE SPEAKERS, THAT'S OUR POLICY.

SO TO HAVE TO SIT AND LISTEN TO THESE UNTRUE STATEMENTS AND TO THE HARMFUL RHETORIC WAS WEIGHING ON ME HEAVILY TO THE POINT WHERE MY MENTAL HEALTH WAS NOT GOOD.

AND SO I CHOSE TO RESIGN AND MY MENTAL HEALTH HAS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED WITHOUT HAVING TO LISTEN TO THOSE COMMENTS AND NOT BE ABLE TO RESPOND.

>> IN YOUR MIND, WAS THIS AN EXAMPLE YOU SPOKE TO JUST A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, AN EXAMPLE OF NATIONAL RHETORIC REACHING INTO LOCAL COMMUNITIES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE LANGUAGE THAT WE SAW AGAINST THE MASKS, THE LANGUAGE WE SAW AGAINST THE VACCINES AND THE LANGUAGE THAT WE SAW AGAINST LGBTQ STUDENTS AND CURRICULUM IS THE SAME LANGUAGE THAT OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE SEEING AND WE'RE SEEING IT BOTH HERE IN WISCONSIN AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> SO EARLIER YOU SAID THAT THE MORE SUPPORTIVE POLICIES, STUDENTS HAD TOLD YOU THAT IT SAVED THEIR LIVES.

WHAT ABOUT THESE NEW POLICIES?

>> WE DON'T YET KNOW THEIR EFFECTS.

AT THE OCTOBER 12TH DISTRICT WHEN THEY WERE ADOPTED THE DISTRICT DIDN'T HAVE A WAY TO ENACT THEM.

I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE A WAY TOO MAKE IT HAPPEN YET.

WHAT WILL LIKELY HAPPEN IS THAT STUDENTS WILL PROBABLY NOT COME OUT TO THEIR -- NOT FEEL SAFE EXPRESSING WHO THEY ARE TO STAFF AND THAT MAKES THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT A LESS SUPPORTIVE PLACE AND A PLACE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE AT.

OFTEN FOR LGBTQ I PLUS INDIVIDUALS PEOPLE COME OUT FIRST AS A PLACE TO TRY ET AND SEE WHAT IT FEELS LIKE.

NOW WE'VE TAKEN THAT AWAY FROM STUDENTS.

THEY HAVE TO COME OUT AT HOME.

OFTEN THE SCARIEST PLACE TO COME OUT AND EVEN WITH SUPPORTIVE PARENTS.

MY PARENTS WERE SUPPORTIVE BUT IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO COME OUT TO THEM.

WE'VE TAKEN THE PLACE WHERE STUDENTS OFTEN EXPLORE AND FIGURE OUT WHO THEY ARE.

WE'VE TAKEN THAT AWAY FROM YOU.

>> DOES IT STRIKE YOU THAT IT WILL END HERE ON THIS ISSUE?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THE PATRIOTS AND OTHERS IN TOWN HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO FIGHT AGAINST THE INCLUSIVE HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT CURRICULUM THAT THE RICE LAKE SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFERS.

I DON'T THINK THAT WILL STOP.

AND THEN ALSO THEY HAVE MADE COMMENTS ABOUT OUR SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM.

I THINK THAT WILL ALSO CONTINUE.

>> ABBEY FISCHER, WE APPRECIATE YOU SPEAKING WITH US ON THIS AND BRINGING US THE PERSPECTIVE FROM WHAT IS HAPPENING IN RICE LAKE.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> INFLATION REMAINS HIGH FOR THINGS LIKE FOOD AND FUEL.

IN RESPONSE, THE FED CONTINUES TO HIKE INTEREST RATES WHICH HAS COOLED THE HOME BUYING MARKET.

BUT CONSUMERS CONTINUE TO SPEND AND THE JOB MARKET IS STILL HOT.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE OBSERVATIONS FROM OUR NEXT GUEST HERE TO TALK WITH US ABOUT WISCONSIN'S ECONOMIC CONDITION AND THE QUESTION EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW, IS THERE A RECESSION ON THE HORIZON?

KEVIN BAHR IS PROFESSOR OF FINANCE OF UW STEVENS POINT.

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE, THANK YOU.

>> WHAT IS THE CONDITION OF THE OVERALL ECONOMY RIGHT NOW?

ARE WE SLOWING DOWN AND SLIDING TOWARD A RECESSION?

>> THE GENERAL CONSENSUS FOR NEXT YEAR IS THAT THE UNITED STATES WILL SLIP INTO A RECESSION.

BUT THE GENERAL CONSENSUS IS ALSO THAT THE RECESSION SHOULD BE RELATIVELY SHORT LIVED AND RELATIVELY MINOR.

THAT IS KEY IN YES, PEOPLE WILL GET HURT BUT IT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE AS WHAT THE RECESSION WAS IN 2000 AND 2008 AND THE EARLY 198 0S.

>> THAT IS COMFORTING.

DO THE RECENT LAYOFFS IN THE TECH INDUSTRY SPELL ECONOMIC DOWNTURN RIGHT NOW?

>> I THINK RECENT LAYOFFS IN THE TECH INDUSTRY, THOSE ARE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE REST OF THE ECONOMY.

THE RECENT LAYOFFS IN THE TECH INDUSTRY.

THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SPECIFIC SORT OF COMPANY AND INDUSTRY ISSUES.

THERE WILL BE A SLOWDOWN OVERALL IN THE UNITED STATES ECONOMY AND YOU CAN EXPECT JOB LOSSES AND UNEMPLOYMENT TO GO UP.

BUT THE TECH INDUSTRY IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SPECIFIC ISSUES TO WORK THROUGH.

>> RIGHT NOW THE OVERALL JOB MARKET EVEN IN WISCONSIN IS STILL SUPER HOT?

>> THE JOB MARKET IS INCREDIBLY HOT.

IN OCTOBER WE HAD 153.3 MILLION PEOPLE WORKING IN THE UNITED STATES.

THAT'S MORE THAN AT ANY OTHER TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.

WAGE GROWTH IN AUGUST WAS 6.7% AT AN ANNUALIZED RATE.

IT WENT DOWN TO 6.3% IN SEPTEMBER.

IT REFLECTS THE HOT LABOR MARKET AND IN OCTOBER THERE WERE TWO JOB OPENINGS FOR EVERY UNEMPLOYED PERSON.

SO ALL THOSE FACTORS COMBINE INTO A VERY HOT LABOR MARKET.

>> THE FACE OF INFLATION, HOW IS IT THAT CONSUMER SPENDING IS HOLDING?

>> WELL, I THINK PART OF THE REASON CONSUMER SPENDING IS HOLDING IS BECAUSE THE JOB MARKET HAS BEEN SO HOT.

YOU'VE GOT RECORD EMPLOYMENT LEVELS.

WAGES GOING UP.

SO THE JOB MARKET HAS REALLY KIND OF FUELED CONSUMER SPENDING.

THE INCREASE IN THE INTEREST RATES BY THE FED LAST TWO QUARTERS, INVESTMENT SPENDING HAS DECLINED IN THE UNITED STATES.

CONSUMPTION SPENDING HAS INCREASED EVER SINCE THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2020.

IT HAS BEEN UP, UP AND AWAY WITH CONSUMER SPENDING.

IT IS LOWER NOW THAN WHAT IT HAD BEEN LAST YEAR BUT STILL INCREASING.

THE RATE OF GROWTH IS LOWER NOW THAN LAST YEAR.

>> DOES THAT SUGGEST THAT INFLATION REALLY ISN'T HITTING PEOPLE?

>> I THINK INFLATION IS HITTING PEOPLE, BUT THEY STILL HAVE MONEY TO SPEND.

AND I WOULD POINT OUT THAT INFLATION RIGHT NOW, THIS IS GLOBAL.

A GLOBAL ISSUE.

INFLATION THE VARYING BETWEEN 7 AND 10% IN CANADA, AUSTRALIA, UNITED KINGDOM AND GERMANY AND ITALY IT'S A GLOBAL ISSUE.

A LOT OF THE FACTORS AFFECTING THOSE -- THAT INFLATION WORLDWIDE RELATES TO THE WAR IN UKRAINE AND SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.

>> SO HOLIDAY RETAIL IS ALWAYS AN INDICATOR.

WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS FOR THAT?

>> THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING TO WATCH.

IN OCTOBER RETAIL SALES INCREASED.

SO THERE ARE DIFFERENT FORECASTS FOR RETAIL SALES.

WHEN YOU START GETTING INTO FORECASTING THE ECONOMY NEXT YEAR AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU'LL HAVE A RECESSION, IT IS ALMOST LIKE DOING A LONG-RANGE WEATHER FORECAST.

YOU ARE PRETTY CONFIDENT IT WILL BE CLOUDY AND NOT STORM, BUT IT MIGHT RAIN, IT MIGHT NOT RAIN.

AND IN ANY EVENT, THE ECONOMY IS GOING TO SLOW.

HOW QUICKLY AND HOW FAST IT SLOWS, THAT'S STILL SUBJECT TO QUESTION.

>> WELL, WE APPRECIATE YOUR PROGNOSTICATIONS AND YOUR EXPERTISE.

KEVIN BAHR, PROFESSOR OF FINANCE AT UW STEVENS POINT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG.

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 OF PBS WISCONSIN.