Archive: Behind the Headlines

In March, Republican Governor Scott Walker said Wisconsin’s economy is in the best shape it’s been since 2000. That got us wondering: is this true? We’re focusing today’s Behind the Headlines on the economy. We’ll have three segments, each tackling questions about the economy from a different perspective.

Between the sixty degree weather, baseball and the state budget, spring is finally here. In today's Behind the Headlines from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, we'll find out about a brand new Brewers podcast from our sports team. Our political team will break down the latest developments with the state budget. And if you haven't heard about the latest newsletter we've developed, you'll know about it as soon as we're done.

But never fear, we'll be back next week. Behind the Headlines host Katie O'Connell has some tips about a new Journal Sentinel podcast you can listen to in the meantime.

The challenge facing Milwaukee and similar high-poverty cities goes beyond education, crime and jobs. An emerging network of public health and neuroscience researchers, community-minded foundations and law enforcement officials now believe the primary challenge facing our city is an epidemic of childhood trauma passed from one generation to another, one neighborhood to the next. Reporter John Schmid has a five part series coming out about the role trauma plays in shaping Milwaukee. He talks to editor Tom Koetting about his findings. We’ll also hear from business intern Rebecca Carballo on the ways women are attempting to shatter the glass ceiling in engineering. And beer reporter Kathy Flanigan breaks down the beer forecast for spring and summer.

More than 1 million reports of drug side effects were filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2015, a fivefold increase since 2004, according to an analysis by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and MedPage Today. Reporter John Fauber has been working on that story with MedPage Today. He joins Behind the Headlines to discuss the findings and what they mean for consumers. Also in today’s show, opinion editor Dave Haynes addresses some of the changes to his section and why those changes were made.

Waukesha native Nick Viall is about to end his time as "The Bachelor." Will his fourth time on the franchise result in love? Our "Bachelor" experts Sarah Hauer and Alison Sherwood break it down in this week's episode of Behind the Headlines. Also in this week's show, business reporter Rick Romell talks about the latest trend in marketing. If you haven't heard of "social influencers" yet, be prepared. Investigative reporter Jacob Carpenter sits down with editor Greg Borowski during this week's show to talk about the latest with the investigation into the deaths at the Milwaukee County Jail.

In this week’s Behind the Headlines, we dive into the latest investigation from Raquel Rutledge and Rick Barrett. The reporters examine a group of industrial drum recondition plants, owned in part by Greif Inc., that have disregarded safe practices for handling hazardous materials. Practices at six facilities have resulted in workers suffering chemical and heat-related burns, injuries form exploding barrels, breathing difficulties and other health problems. The operations have caused at least one big fire in Indianapolis. At the Milwaukee plant, the safety manager and workers said chemical residue was washed down a floor drain. The story was brought to the attention of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel by a whistleblower who said he couldn’t stand by knowing such egregious practices were common. You’ll hear from him in today’s show as well.

Where were you when the Marquette men's basketball team took the NCAA title in 1977? In today's Behind the Headlines, beat writer Matt Velazquez walks us through the team's history. We'll hear from players themselves, as well as sports editor Jeff Maillet. Many thanks to Matt for reporting, hosting and producing this week's episode.

Bob Breitenbach was a respected, self-taught engineer at Standard Electric Supply. When Bob became sick with a deadly lung condition, his employer made accommodations for him, enabling him to work for as long as possible. When Bob could no longer work, his former co-workers rallied around him. Business reporter Rick Romell joins Behind the Headlines with the details of this heartwarming story. We’ll also hear from editor Jim Higgins on a new book chronicling Milwaukee’s early punk rock scene. And reporter Annysa Johnson discusses ways faith leaders are responding to President Donald Trump’s executive orders and the difficulty of navigating congregants through divisive political climates.

This past week, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit alleging that guards at the Lincoln Hills School for Boys and the Copper Lake School for Girls frequently used pepper spray on teen inmates who broke minor rules and have continued a practice of extensively using solitary confinement. Reporter Patrick Marley has the story of Sydni Briggs, a teen who attempted suicide at Copper Lake while in solitary confinement. Also in today’s show, editorial editors David Haynes and Ernie Franzen discuss why they called for Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke to resign from his position. We’ll also hear from Wisconsin Trails editor Chelsey Lewis on the perks of winter camping in Wisconsin, and business intern Rebecaa Carballo has a story about the hands-on way some Milwaukee teens are learning trade skills.

From White House Chief of Staff Reince Preibus to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, President Donald Trump will lean on Wisconsin leadership during his tenure. What can those leaders expect? Our politics team has some answers. Also in today's show, Green Bay Packers beat writers Bob McGinn and Michael Cohen offer their predictions for Sunday's game. And business reporter Tom Daykin details the tricky challenges in renovating the historical Warner Grand Theatre.

As pipeline protests have raged out West for the last decade, ever-growing volumes of North American oil have been discreetly flowing through the far more populous Great Lakes region, under its forests, rivers, ponds, wetlands, cities and towns and even, in one extreme case, across the bottom of the Great Lakes themselves. Great Lakes reporter Dan Egan joins Behind the Headlines with his investigation into the oil the flows through Wisconsin. We'll also hear from Washington bureau chief Craig Gilbert on president-elect Donald Trump's press conference following the leak of an explosive but unverified dossier.

Two winners of the prestigious Mary L. Nohl Fellowship are using their award to create art exploring their transracial adoptions. Arts reporter Sarah Hauer joins our show with more on that story. We'll also hear from business reporter Tom Daykin with the latest on an eastside development offering affordable housing. And political reporter Patrick Marley talks with opinion editor Dave Haynes about the incoming Republican legislature.

From a contentious election to the unrest in Sherman Park, 2016 was a defining year for many. Of course it wasn't all bad, with more breweries opening and expanding in Milwaukee as well. During today's Behind the Headlines, our reporters and editors look back at the biggest headlines from a provocative and unusual year.

Each year editor Greg Borowski writes a fictional Christmas story for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. This year our staff came together to bring the episode to life. Enjoy the radio version of our story and happy holidays.

The Lincoln Hills School in Irma made headlines last December after a sweeping FBI probe at the institution. There were reports that the youths were not receiving adequate education. Since then, the reports have only gotten worse, including allegations of sexual assault, physical child abuse and more. Reporter Patrick Marley joins Behind the Headlines with a look at the story as it’s developed over the course of the year. Patrick also examines alternatives for handling juvenile offenders, including the example set by the state of Missouri. To read the stories, go to jsonline.com/LincolnHills. Also in today’s show, books editor Jim Higgins discusses his picks for the 10 best books of 2016. And business reporter Joe Taschler gives us an update on how local businesses are dealing with the erratic weather during this holiday shopping season.

75 years ago today, Japan attacked United States forces at Pearl Harbor, launching the reluctant country into World War II. Meg Jones, veterans reporter with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, joins Behind the Headlines to reflect on the attack and its significance for Wisconsin families.

71-year-old Charles Munch attributes his ability to use color to his training as an art conservator. Learn more about him from art reporter Sarah Hauer before heading to his show at Tory Folliard Gallery. Also in today's show, education reporter Annysa Johnson joins us with a report on chronic absenteeism and what Milwaukee Public Schools are doing to push back against the problem. We'll also hear from business reporter Rick Barrett on the economic impact deer hunting season has across the state.

The election is quickly approaching. To prepare you for Tuesday, our political team looks at everything from the latest PolitiFact claims to the impact of early voting. Never fear, we know it's been on contentious campaign season, so we'll keep the show light by hearing from Sarah Hauer. Sarah looked into the infamous "I Voted" stickers to track their origin, but that proved to be trickier than she expected.

As Wisconsin Trails editor Chelsey Lewis said in her column this week, "When it comes to fall colors in Wisconsin, few spots beat the Northwoods." And for those chasing fall hues, Chelsey joins our show with suggests for the best spots to see. We'll also hear from reporter Cara Lombardo. Cara looked into Wisconsin's status as the only state in the nation where children as young as 10 can be tried as adults for first-degree intentional homicide. And Rick Barrett has the latest on a tiff between Dannon and Wisconsin dairy farmers.

First Stage Children's Theater turns 30 this year. To celebrate, editor Jim Higgins talked to adults who went through the program about its significance. Jim joins us with those stories, as well as stories from his own time in high school theater. We'll also hear from Packers beat writer Michael Cohen ahead of the team's game against the Dallas Cowboys. And business reporter Kathleen Gallagher joins us with the latest on Comply365's technology.

Five years into the Act 10 era of public education, aftereffects of Wisconsin's bruising battle over union power are fundamentally altering education in the state. We'll hear from reporters Dave Umhoefer and Sarah Hauer on their investigation. We'll also hear from business reporter Joe Taschler on the success one local company has found in creating mini-markets in workplaces.

Investigative reporter Gina Barton takes Journal Sentinel readers to Oregon this weekend as she examines a faith-based effort to help ex-offenders who are leaving prison. We'll also hear from Kathy Flanigan on a new trend at bars. And our JS on Politics team brings you the latest with Republican candidate Donald Trump's stop in Waukesha.

The fall has officially arrived. So what's the best way to celebrate? Wisconsin Trails editor Chelsey Lewis joins Behind the Headlines with the answer.

The shooting death of 23-year-old Seville Smith by Milwaukee Police Officer Dominique Heaggan-Brown lead to two nights of violent unrest in the Sherman Park neighborhood. Crime reporters Ashley Luthern and Gina Barton wrote a story addressing two prominent questions that emerged following the unrest: why did this happen and why didn’t it happen sooner?

Our interns don't fetch coffee. They're not limited to answering phones or returning emails. Instead, our interns rise to the occasion, producing important and quality work throughout their tenure at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. In today's "intern edition," we catch up with three people who spent the summer with us to find out what they covered and what they're taking away from the experience.

The Midwest and Milwaukee need some rebranding. The term “Rust Belt” is still part of the national lexicon, much to the detriment of the city. What role does this term have in the election? And how are businesses reacting to that? Business reporter Rick Barrett has the answer. Also in today’s show, if you haven’t visited food trucks this summer, the clock is ticking. Dining critic Carol Deptolla brings us tips for summer food you should munch on before the summer fades away.

Journal Sentinel sports reporter Gary D’Amato has covered a number of Olympiads. Now he’s on his way to Rio. Gary joins today’s Behind the Headlines to talk about what he expects from his time there and which Wisconsin athletes we should keep an eye on. Also in today’s show, we’ve got your full Wisconsin State Fair preview.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Mark Johnson and photographer Mark Hoffman traveled with a medical team from Wisconsin to Zataari Refugee Camp in Jordan. The team, lead my Dr. Tarif Bakdash, provided medical care in a camp of 80,000 refugees. In today’s special edition of Behind the Headlines, we’ll travel to Jordan through audio Mark Johnson gathered during the course of his reporting.