Open Record

It was here, then it wasn't, now it is again...sort of. We're talking about the social media app, TikTok. The future of the app is still uncertain, but in this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn looks at the legal questions surrounding President Trump's executive order giving TikTok's parent company another 75 days to sell off its U.S. operation. The Open Record team also explo...

Wisconsin's legislature is back in session and ready to get down to business. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 political reporter Jason Calvi on to talk about Wisconsin politics. From a fast-tracked effort to enshrine Voter ID in the state constitution to another power-tipping election for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, we take a deep dive into the 2025-26...

For the second straight year, the Green Bay Packers are headed to the playoffs. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn goes green and gold to talk all things Packers. Alongside FOX6 Sports Director Tim Van Vooren and FOX6 anchor Ted Perry, the trio preview Sunday's playoff game, reflect on the team's season, and look ahead to what's next for the Packers. Learn more about yo...

Imagine changing your two-year-old's diaper on the germ-infested floor of a public bathroom. Now, replace your toddler with a fully-grown adult. That's the humbling reality millions of Americans with significant disabilities face daily. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn explains why the nationwide effort to install adult-sized changing tables in public restrooms is run...

It's no surprise streets are shut down and cleared when the Vice President visits. But some living in one Milwaukee neighborhood say they needed more time to move their cars before they were ticketed and towed away. Plus, doctors at one urgent care center called for an ambulance when a child had trouble breathing. More than a year later, that family is still fighting a bill for the ride. In this e...

A controversial water sport is making waves in Wisconsin as dozens of communities race to regulate so-called ‘wake boats.’ In this episode of Open Record, we hear from the Water Sports Industry Association and a rep from Lakes at Stake, part of a coalition of lake protection groups.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There used to be strict rules when it came to adoption. But now, for the most part, gone are the days of a child being placed in a home and the birth parents never seeing or hearing from them again. Another thing changing? The family dynamics of those adopting. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 anchor and reporter Mary Stoker Smith on to talk about the cha...

When Billy Ford died in 2023, the VA declared him an 'unclaimed veteran.' What happened next raises troubling questions about a system that's supposed to ensure all veterans are laid to rest with honor. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn shares the details of his latest investigation. Bryan explains why he first looked into this issue, what Ford's family is saying about...

While the race to the White House and the U.S. Senate seat vote in Wisconsin are both settled, we're still seeing results trickle in for other close races across the state and the country. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites Contact 6's Jenna Sachs and FOX6 political reporter Jason Calvi on to talk about Tuesday's election. The trio will talk about Donald Trump's...

Millions of Americans have already cast their ballots in the 2024 Presidential Election and election clerks operate under a microscope as you decide the next occupant of the White House. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 political reporter Jason Calvi and former Executive Director of the City of Milwaukee Election Commission Claire Woodall on to talk all t...

One family moved across the country with only the essentials and thought their moving truck would follow in a couple of weeks. Months later, Contact 6 stepped in to help. Plus, one woman rented a storage unit, but when she came to move her belongings out, she discovered some of the items were damaged by rats. In this episode of Open Record, Contact 6's Jenna Sachs shares two recent issues where vi...

A Racine woman's quest for ancient public records hits a barrier she can't cross. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn shares the story of the government-owned building that's inaccessible to those with physical limitations. You'll also hear the public response one woman who is disabled calls, 'a slap in the face.' The team also invites an attorney with Disability Rights...

For thousands of Milwaukee's poorest residents, a traffic ticket can snowball, putting a valid driver's license out of reach. But an effort to restore their driving privileges is running into roadblocks. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn takes a deep dive into a little-known program you're already paying for. You'll hear how the Center for Driver's License Recovery and...

The city flag debate has been a topic of conversation for nearly a decade. The Milwaukee Common Council continues to pore over changing the flag after some council members say a possible replacement, 'The People's Flag,' does not represent all the people in the city. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 anchor Ben Handelman on to talk about the history of the...

The Milwaukee Brewers clinched the NL Central Division title, but there's still uncertainty about the playoff picture that lies ahead. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 Sports Director Tim Van Vooren and FOX6 anchor Ted Perry on to talk about all things Brewers. The trio will take a look back at how the Brewers got here and what to expect when the postseas...

A hot-button issue on Wisconsin lakes right now are so-called 'wake' boats. Those are boats designed to make bigger waves for water sports. State lawmakers may or may not tackle the issue next year, but in one small town after another, residents say they can't afford to wait. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn explains why this issue is pitting neighbor against neighbor...

For years, Joe Bartolotta was the face of the Bartolotta Restaurants. After his passing several years ago, his brother, Paul, stepped in to lead and build on the family's legacy. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 anchor and reporter Stephanie Grady on to talk about her most recent sit-down interview with Paul Bartolotta. Hear how Paul helped bring the hit...

The federal government added a new disease to its recommended list for newborn screening. But, it could be years before Wisconsin tests for the deadly disorder. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn explains why your baby's life could depend on where it's born. It's part of Bryan's continuing investigation into the rare Krabbe disease and newborn testing for it. Learn more...

A dispute over hail damage prompted one family to write to Contact 6. Now, months later, their case is going to court. Why does the family's attorney say the damage should be covered by insurance? Plus, veterans suffering from chronic pain are dealt a setback. Why is their eligibility to get care outside the VA system being scaled back? In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcy...

Just weeks following the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, it's now Chicago's turn to host a convention. The DNC is in its final night and what a week it's been in both the Windy City and here in Milwaukee. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 anchor Ted Perry on to talk about his experiences being on-site at both the RNC and the DNC. Ted talks abo...

It's been about 45 days since a tragic incident outside the Hyatt Hotel in downtown Milwaukee. What started as one man's erratic behavior escalated into a violent struggle and ended in the death of 43-year-old D-Vontaye Mitchell. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 reporter Bria Jones on to talk about the disturbance, the hotel's response, the protests and c...

Wisconsin voters will head to the polls on August 13 for the primary election. One of the most significant statewide issues in this August primary is a pair of referendums that could change the state's constitution. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 political reporter Jason Calvi on to explain what the questions are asking and implications of the results,...

For nearly two decades, a group has been finding and bringing dinosaur bones back to Kenosha. A recent dig uncovered what could be their most important find yet. However, there's a problem. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 anchor and reporter Ben Handelman on to talk about why the group's next expedition may be their last. You'll learn more about the Cart...

From a 'disastrous' debate to an attempted assassination, a major party convention in Milwaukee and a stunning campaign reversal, the summer of 2024 has shaken up the race for the White House. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn is joined by a pair of award-winning political journalists as we unpack 24 days of turmoil that changed American history. Learn more about your...

Fiction writers from all over the world sent money to help a Wisconsin mom whose daughter was in the hospital. But, they soon discovered the leader of their online book club had a troubling secret. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn reveals how the authors' first clue was a FOX6 investigation from 2020. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoice...