Open Record

The death and dismemberment of 19-year-old Sade Robinson rocked people in Milwaukee and across the nation. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 reporter Bria Jones on to talk about the case, evidence scattered across two states, and the man charged in the case who will go to trial in just days. Bryan and Bria walk you through the timeline of events, the terri...

Veterans exposed to harmful chemicals while serving our country are eligible for benefits under a relatively new law. As more people file claims, others are frustrated by their denials. Plus, a Racine community theater is shocked to find its tickets for an upcoming show are being sold at a huge mark-up. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites Contact 6's Jenna Sachs...

A Menomonee Falls couple donated their daughter's brain for science, only to learn the hospital threw part of it out. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn shares the unexplained error that has Children's Wisconsin apologizing to a grief-stricken family. You'll learn how the whole brain wasn't lost. However, according to the researcher who asked for it to be preserved, it...

The FBI arrests a Milwaukee County judge accused of helping a man avoid immigration officials at the courthouse. Judge Hannah Dugan faces federal charges and her arrest has put Wisconsin back in the national spotlight in a showdown over immigration. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 reporter Bill Miston on to talk about what led to Dugan's arrest, what hap...

It's the biggest off-season event of the year in the NFL's smallest city. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 reporter Sam Kraemer on to talk about preps in Green Bay and what to expect in Titletown and across Wisconsin over the next several days. We also hear from Team Lammi and Visit Milwaukee and the unique partnership they have this NFL Draft weekend. Le...

The best teachers go to great lengths for their students. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites anchor and reporter Carl Deffenbaugh on to talk about a Waukesha County teacher who brought her students along for the ride after a recent trip to Antarctica. You'll learn how the trip came to be and why it's been such a valuable lesson in and out of the classroom. Learn...

It's been years since a dental clinic closed its doors, but it was just recently that the legal battle of its collection notices finally came to an end. Plus, one Wisconsin-based comedian says there's nothing funny about the scam attempts in his name. In this episode of Open Record, Contact 6's Jenna Sachs talks about two recent consumer issues to hit the FOX6 inbox. We also hear from the head of...

FOX6 recently shared the investigation into a massive Wisconsin puppy mill that sells beagles for scientific experiments. Now, we know who is buying the dogs. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn obtained an internal buyers list from Ridglan Farms. Polcyn explains how one of Ridglan's most loyal customers is now speaking out in defense of animal research. Plus, you'll hea...

The spring election is April 1 and several races are heating up across Wisconsin with millions of dollars pumped into campaigns on both sides of the aisle. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 political reporter Jason Calvi on to talk about the impact these races will have on issues in Wisconsin and across the country. Jason explains specifically what's at st...

Is it animal agriculture or animal cruelty? A special prosecutor will soon decide if criminal charges should be filed against the operators of Ridglan Farms. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn breaks down the details of his latest investigation into the massive dog-breeding farm west of Madison, WI. You'll learn the history behind facilities like this one, the animal ri...

It was five years ago this month when a global health emergency disrupted everything. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigators Bryan Polcyn and Amanda St. Hilaire reflect on the COVID-19 pandemic. They talk about the timeline in March 2020, how our news coverage adjusted in the days and months following the start of the pandemic, and what things in our daily life have changed forever bec...

The Milwaukee Health Department is investigating the ongoing lead hazards at several buildings within the Milwaukee Public School district. There are strict deadlines for MPS to provide a plan to the health department to "get us into the next stage of this crisis." In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn and Contact 6's Jenna Sachs get you up-to-speed on the MPS lead exposur...

We Energies says power surges are rare, so why has one neighborhood had three in less than three years? Plus, one woman is warning others after she says a hijacker used her Facebook to scam three people. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites Contact 6's Jenna Sachs on to talk about two recent consumer issues that impacted our viewers. Learn more about your ad choic...

A Milwaukee County judge ordered the state's largest school district and the City of Milwaukee to split the cost of putting school resource officers in schools. That judge also put a strict deadline on when those officers are in Milwaukee Public Schools and the clock is ticking. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 political reporter Jason Calvi on to talk ab...

In Wisconsin alone, more than 100,000 adults with disabilities receive monthly Supplemental Security Income payments of $943 per month. If they get married, however, a decades-old federal law slashes those benefits and threatens the support services that come with them. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn shares his latest investigation that found the law has some couple...

Airline anxiety is surging after back-to-back crashes left more than 90 people dead. In this week's episode of Open Record, America's aviation safety system is under the microscope. FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites Amanda St. Hilaire and Sam Kraemer on to talk about the new information emerging in Milwaukee and Chicago about close calls no one told you about until now. Learn more about your...

A Buc-ee's planned for Oak Creek has a lot of people talking. The 73,370 square foot convenience store/fueling plaza is slated to open in early 2027. It will mark a milestone, as it's expected to be the first Buc-ee's in the state and northern Midwest. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn digs into the plans for Buc-ee's in Oak Creek, what people living near the proposed...

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...