Open Record

A tree falls in a park and lands on a man's car. Now, he thinks the city should pay for his repairs. Plus, one contractor faces dozens of criminal charges. A handful of those charges stem from an unfinished project at a house that once belonged to one of Milwaukee's most illustrious men. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites Contact 6's Jenna Sachs on to talk about...

For people of a certain generation, The Turf in Greenfield is iconic. It was a skateboard park that drew people from all around the country. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 anchor and reporter Carl Deffenbaugh on to talk about the park's past, present, and future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A conflict is brewing on Wisconsin waters as a new style of powerboat is making big waves. FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn explains the race to regulate the new kings of the lake. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's nine days of music and live entertainment on 12 stages. Summerfest is kicking off its 56th year and the people in charge of putting on the festival are feverishly ticking boxes on their to-do lists and making sure every detail of Henry Maier Festival Park is perfect. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites three special guests on to talk about what it takes to p...

Milwaukee is home to one of the oldest Juneteenth celebrations in the country. But it's been a long road to where we are now from the day in 1863 when President Lincoln first issued his Emancipation Proclamation, the beginning of the end of slavery in America.  In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 anchor Mary Stoker Smith on to talk about Juneteenth Day. The...

Hundreds of small business owners in Milwaukee say they have private security to keep you safe, but many of those workers are unlicensed and untrained. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn talks about his latest investigation that finds some of those workers are violent, convicted felons. Bryan explains a new Milwaukee ordinance that requires private security workers to g...

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and a Franklin woman is sharing her story to give others hope. After hitting rock bottom, she got the help she needed to beat her drug addiction. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 reporter Ashley Sears on to share Christina's story. Ashley explains how Rogers Behavioral Health got Christina back on the path to sober liv...

A popular grilling accessory sends one man to the ER, and now he's warning others about the dangers. Plus, delivery driver or porch pirate? A woman who made an online purchase catches something on her home security camera and now wants the shipping company who delivered her stuff held accountable. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites Contact 6's Jenna Sachs on to...

A Tough Mudder's finish line turns into a flatline for one man. Now, that patient has a second chance at life and is paying it forward to the cardiac rehab unit that helped him get back on his feet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When a 9-year-old girl ran away from school for the second time, her parents called FOX6 Investigators for help. Experts say it's not bad behavior. It's autism. Nearly half of children with autism elope, meaning they wander or run away. Some meet with tragic consequences. This week on Open Record, we explore what parents can do to get their child's school to prevent "bolting." Learn more about you...

One woman loses her entire savings after falling victim to a scam and learns much of her lost money was taxable. Plus, another woman is out nearly $50,000 after making a major purchase online. She thought the seller was in Wisconsin, but it turns out, the address was being spoofed. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites Contact 6's Jenna Sachs on to talk about two o...

It's been more than three years since prosecutors charged George Ramsey with sexually exploiting three of his former mental health clients. Now, a jury has found the former Milwaukee therapist guilty of sexually exploiting one of those female clients. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn breaks down the long-delayed Ramsey trial, the crucial piece of evidence, and what on...

Make-a-Wish Wisconsin is celebrating 40 years and marking a major milestone by granting their 8,000th wish. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 anchor and reporter Carl Deffenbaugh on to talk about how the magic of music was able to give one teen the chance of a lifetime. Carl shares Lulu Altman's story of managing a debilitating diagnosis and the lead-up to...

From the presidential primary to dozens of school referendums, voters hit the polls April 2 to cast their ballots. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn and FOX6 political reporter Jason Calvi break down the numbers and results. They explain what it all means for people living in Wisconsin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When it comes to Presidential campaigns, the Badger State is a must visit -- a battleground that can make or break a candidate. But do campaign visits really influence voter behavior? On this week's episode of Open Record, we are joined by Christopher Devine, author of a new book on the impact of campaign visits and why his research shows they usually don't work. Learn more about your ad choices....

It's against the law to drive without a valid license in Wisconsin. But it's almost never a crime, no matter how many times you get caught. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn explains the loophole in state law that allows dangerous drivers to keep on driving, putting you and your family at risk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Whether it's daily words of wisdom coming from an unexpected place or defying expectations, you never know when or where you'll find that spark. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 anchor and reporter Carl Deffenbaugh on to talk about two recent feature stories that have one thing in common: Inspiration comes from a place where feeling matters more than seei...

In the news business, much of what we do revolves around scheduled interviews where a reporter asks the questions and an interviewee shares information, insight, and reaction. But not everyone we want to interview for the news wants to be interviewed. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigators Bryan Polcyn and Amanda St. Hilaire talk about how and why we sometimes resort to showing up, uns...

A Waukesha solar installation company closes and leaves customers with unfulfilled contracts. Now, the FBI is investigating that company for fraud. Plus, $4,000 went missing from a West Allis safe deposit box. Contact 6 steps in and helps solve the money mystery. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites Contact 6's Jenna Sachs on the episode to talk about two of the l...

An April trial date is set for the former Oak Creek teacher accused of sexually assaulting a student. 22-year-old Rachel Goodle has pleaded not guilty to charges of second degree sexual assault of a child and sex assault of a student by school staff. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 reporter Sam Kraemer on to talk about the case and more specifically, the...

FOX6 editor Dave Michuda was recently one of six local television journalists inducted into the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences 'Silver Circle.' It's an honor given to television journalists who have excelled at their craft for more than 25 years in the profession. In this episode of Open Record, we bring Dave on to talk about his extensive career in broadcast journalism, what it's...

Over the last several years, police body-worn cameras have gone from non-existent in Wisconsin to widespread use. With that increased usage comes a surge in public requests for those videos to be released under the public records law. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigators Bryan Polcyn and Amanda St. Hilaire talk about something that's transformed the world of policing: body cameras. T...

Milwaukee County needs foster parents, but matching kids with families who speak the same language is a challenge. Now, there's a renewed push to recruit more Spanish-speaking foster families. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 reporter Darronte Matthews on to talk about the foster program through Children's Wisconsin. We also learn more about the foster sy...

A Milwaukee landlord accuses a former tenant of trashing his rental property. It's a claim he made after two young children were poisoned in his house. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn explains the story of a home so dangerous, the city of Milwaukee ordered everyone out. Bryan explains how that landlord seemingly cashed in after collecting an insurance check and force...

Milwaukee has more than 400 miles of alleys and only a small fraction get replaced in any given year. What happens when neighbors need to advocate for their alley and why is it such an uphill battle? Plus, they're convenient and easy to use, but if you toss them in the trash, you risk starting a fire. Why is disposing of small propane tanks a problem? In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investiga...