Open Record

When whipping winds knock out power at the homes of half the FOX6 I-Team and Consumer Unit on podcast recording day, you improvise. In this episode of Open Record, Bryan Polcyn and Amanda St. Hilaire switch gears. The two share their paths on how they got into investigative reporting. You'll learn what school was like for them, when they got the 'journalism' bug, and what work life is like as inve...

After a FOX6 investigation, Wauwatosa school leaders are re-evaluating their use of an academic program that costs thousands of dollars. They're not the only ones. in this episode of Open Record, the FOX6 Investigators dig deeper into the AVID program. Amanda St. Hilaire breaks down why she started looking into AVID in the first place. She also explains the research -- both successes and challenge...

Six people are killed and dozens more are hurt in the November 21 Waukesha holiday parade tragedy. Darrell Brooks Jr. now faces charges, accused of plowing his SUV through a parade. In this episode of Open Record, the FOX6 Investigators take a deeper look into Brooks' past and current legal issues. Bryan Polcyn explains Brooks' history and who he is. The team also talks about the fresh attention t...

It's a FOX6 investigation that sparked change before it even went to air. Thousands of tax dollars poured into a school program -- but was it for the kids or a school leader's relationship? In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Amanda St. Hilaire explains how she came upon AVID and the Wauwatosa School District. Amanda breaks down what AVID is and why a seemingly conflict of interest r...

It's a case and trial getting national attention and now, the city of Kenosha and beyond is waiting for a verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial. In this episode of Open Record, the FOX6 Investigators recap the case: Summarizing testimony, charges that were thrown out, and motions for a mistrial. The team also digs into the significance of this case and Rittenhouse's decision to take the stand in h...

The number of car thefts in Milwaukee has skyrocketed. Victims say it took weeks, even months, to recover from the crime. In this episode of Open Record, the FOX6 Investigators invite Contact 6's Jenna Sachs on the episode to talk about the city's latest epidemic. Jenna breaks down the spike in car thefts, which vehicles are being targeted, why police think it's happening, and how it's affected ca...

The tragedy surrounding the death of a 3-year-old boy didn't end when Milwaukee police discovered his body. It's what happened next that has magnified his grandparents' grief. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn digs into the background of the case, the search and discovery of Major Harris, and the death of his mother, Mallery Muenzenberger. The team talks about how Majo...

FOX6's podcast, Open Record, was recently awarded a National Edward R. Murrow Award. This week, FOX6 Investigator Amanda St. Hilaire traveled to New York City to attend a gala and accept the award on behalf of FOX6. In today's episode of Open Record, the team airs an encore of an episode that was first recorded and published back in March 2020. Portions of that podcast were part of the entry for t...

The fields are empty, no one is in the stands, and dozens of games have been canceled. You might think COVID-19 is to blame, but that isn't the case. In this episode of Open Record, the FOX6 Investigators invite FOX6 anchor Ben Handelman on to talk about the severe high school ref shortage. Ben's recent investigation into the crisis uncovered the underlying issue and how long the problem has been...

The Wisconsin Court System logged more than 81 million Zoom minutes over the last year and more than two million people have taken part in Zoom court appearances. The pandemic prompted one of the most profound technological transformations in the history of American justice, but now what? In this episode of Open Record, the FOX6 Investigators and Contact 6 explore the future of Zoom the courtroom....

How much do you know about open records? What can records show us and how do you file an open records request? In this episode of Open Record, our FOX6 investigators invite open records attorney Tom Kamenick on the podcast to give listeners a crash course about open records. Kamenick, founder of the law firm 'The Wisconsin Transparency Project,' helps explain the process of filing a request and so...

Medical spas are booming across Wisconsin, but are safety regulations keeping up? In today's episode of Open Record, the FOX6 Investigators expose a gap in state law that could allow unlicensed providers to perform medical procedures without a doctor in sight. Bryan Polcyn digs into his latest investigation and explains how he ended up researching the medical spa industry in the first place. What...

As COVID-19 cases surge in southeast Wisconsin, demand for testing has skyrocketed. Some test sites are busier than they've ever been, while some can't keep tests in stock. Plus, Wisconsin is holding on to hundreds of millions of dollars and it belongs to you. In today's episode of Open Record, Contact 6's Jenna Sachs talks about two consumer issues in the headlines. Jenna will explain the demand...

A class-action lawsuit says Wisconsin's unemployment system discriminates against people with disabilities. In this episode of Open Record, the FOX6 investigators dig into the lawsuit and why it was filed. It's an issue Amanda St. Hilaire has followed for more than a year. Amanda explains how the unemployment system currently works, what the lawsuit is asking, and the response from the Department...

September 11, 2021, will mark 20 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Two decades later, we are looking back on the day that changed the world. In this episode of Open Record, the FOX6 Investigators welcome two guests: FOX6 News Director, Jim Wilson, and FOX6 Executive Producer, Sara Smith. The team shares memories of where they were when they learned of the events of that unforgettable morning...

A local controversy makes national news. A unanimous school board vote prompts hate mail and threats. At the center of all of this: A school lunch debate in Waukesha. How did we get here? What comes next? In this episode of Open Record, the FOX6 Investigators invite FOX6 political reporter Jason Calvi on to talk about the issue. Jason explains how the school lunch programs work and the arguments f...

Your privacy probably isn't as protected as you think. What does HIPAA really cover? Do you even know what the letters stand for in HIPAA? In today's episode of Open Record, the FOX6 Investigators talk privacy. Amanda St. Hilaire recently hit the streets in search of anyone who would talk to her about their personal information and opinions on who should have access to that information. Amanda cle...

Supporters say Milwaukee's streetcar needs to expand, but city leaders haven't said much that expansion is going to cost. In this episode, the FOX6 Investigators talk about how Bryan Polcyn uncovered the $330 million plan no one told you about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A wealthy donor threatens to wipe out a youth hockey program's upcoming season unless the board that runs the program gives up control. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn explains why hundreds of kids could be frozen out of a public school's ice rink. The FOX6 Investigators also talk about why school officials say there's nothing they can do to stop it. In our Off the R...

If you're feeling a sense of déjà vu, you're not alone. As COVID-19 cases hit a six-month high, mask mandates are on the verge of a comeback and vaccine mandates have become a new flashpoint. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Racine County judge issues a reversal over a controversial high school wrestling call. The decision comes two years after the wrestler's father sued to keep his son's championship hopes alive. The governing body for high school sports in Wisconsin – the WIAA – calls it as a victory for sports officials. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn explains the video at the cent...

50 years! In this episode of Open Record, Contact 6 Investigator Jenna Sachs and Producer Pete join Bryan Polcyn to talk about a conflict in the law over selling tobacco products to minors; the 50-year-old computer system behind Wisconsin's unemployment program; and speaking of 50 years... that Milwaukee Bucks NBA Championship! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Governor Evers and the Wisconsin Legislature have a good problem: Divvying up a $4.4B surplus. Where did all that extra money come from? In today's episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn and Contact 6's Jenna Sachs invite FOX6 political reporter Jason Calvi on to talk about what's included in the Republican-written state budget. Jason answers where the budget surplus came from and...

The run to the NBA finals has electrified the city of Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Bucks and its fans aren't the only ones winning. In this episode of Open Record, the FOX6 Investigators look at the impact businesses are feeling from the team's playoff run. The FOX6 Investigators invite Peggy Williams-Smith, President and CEO of VISIT Milwaukee, on the podcast to talk about what the team's success has...

A COVID-19 survivor is still suffering symptoms more than a year after being discharged from the hospital, and his medical costs continue to stack up. His insurance was originally billed more than $1M. So, what does he still owe today? Plus, there's a massive backlog at the IRS. Why are federal tax returns delayed by several months? In this episode of Open Record, Contact 6's Jenna Sachs joins the...