Open Record

After deliberating for just a few hours, the jury in the Darrell Brooks trial came back with guilty verdicts on all 76 charges against him related to the Waukesha Christmas parade tragedy. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 reporters Bret Lemoine and Sam Kraemer on to talk about covering the trial. Bret and Sam have spent hours at the Waukesha County Courth...

A 97-year-old woman sent to the hospital finds she can't go back to her senior apartment. The state says the provider broke the law, but then changed its mind. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn explains a closed-door agreement the woman's family falls a 'betrayal' and why it could be part of a nationwide problem known as 'hospital dumping.' Learn more about your ad cho...

The man charged with killing six people and injuring more than 60 others in the Waukesha Christmas Parade is on trial. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 reporters Bret Lemoine and Sam Kraemer on to talk about the trial. Lemoine and Kraemer have been at the Waukesha County Courthouse since the start of the trial and gives listeners a different perspective o...

A Milwaukee man accused of threatening mass violence in Waukesha says he never actually planned to hurt anyone. He suffers from bipolar disorder, but refuses to take any medication and that's why his family came to FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn. In this episode of Open Record, Bryan explains why experts say it's harder to force someone into treatment than send them to jail. Learn more about your...

Throughout the month of September, we are revisiting some of our favorite podcast episodes from the past three years. In this episode of Open Record, Bryan Polcyn provides insight into an investigation that led to him talking with a prostitute. Jenna Sachs explains why not all consumer problems can be solved. Plus, Amanda St. Hilaire reveals her favorite story and how it helped her realize her pat...

Throughout September, we are revisiting some of our favorite podcast episodes from the past three years. This week: government secrecy and closed door conversations. You'll hear why the people you elected to represent you may be having secret conversations you can't hear and cutting deals you can't see. A recent FOX6 investigation uncovered the Wauwatosa School Board discussed public records in pr...

Throughout September, we are revisiting some of our favorite podcast episodes from the past three years. This week, we take you inside the surveillance van with Producer Pete. As we continue to work on new material for the future, please enjoy this encore presentation The Art of Surveillance. In this episode of Open Record, Jenna Sachs and Bryan Polcyn are joined by guest host Producer Pete. Pete...

Since March 2019, the Open Record team has produced more than 230 new episodes. As we work to produce all new material starting in October, we’re spending the month of September revisiting some of our favorites. This week, an encore presentation of an episode we recorded in a classroom at MSOE in 2019. It’s a tough, but important topic – Death and Dying. We're doing something different for this ep...

Since March 2019, the Open Record team has produced more than 230 new episodes. As we work to produce all new material starting in October, we’re going to spend the next few weeks revisiting some of our favorites. This week, an encore presentation of the episode that literally lives up to our name. It’s a crash course in the importance of public records – Open Records 101. How much do you know abo...

For decades, he's covered Wisconsin sports for FOX6. Through the highs and lows, Sports Director Tim Van Vooren has been there, and as the Packers season gets underway, Van Vooren's at it again. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator invites Van Vooren on the podcast to talk all things involved with covering the Green Bay Packers. We catch up with Van Vooren in Kansas City getting ready...

It's a shopping mall that's been vacant for years, and now Milwaukee leaders say it's a threat to public safety. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 reporter Bret Lemoine on to talk about what's next for Northridge Mall on the city's northwest side. Bret walks listeners through the history of the mall and why it's become such a nuisance for city leaders. The...

More than one million voters turned out in Wisconsin for Tuesday's primary election. The results from August 9 set the stage for November. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 political reporter Jason Calvi on to break down the big races from this week. Jason will talk about the biggest takeaways, surprise results, and what political spending could look like...

Violent crime in Milwaukee is hitting home - literally. Domestic violence homicides continue to surge, with 30 so far in 2022 (compared to 40 in all of 2021). On this episode of Open Record, the Executive Director of Sojourner Family Peace Center talks about a promising new model for preventing intimate partner violence from turning deadly and the barriers to its success that remain. Learn more ab...

Milwaukee is seeing more homicides and more shootings, and fewer police to respond to them. It's a recipe for slower police response in the city. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn walks listeners through his latest investigation. He explains how long it's taking for police to respond to the most common 911 calls and why an increase in funding may not be enough to fix t...

We're still a few weeks away from the Republican National Committee making an official decision on where to hold its 2024 party convention. But just days ago, the site selection committee officially recommended Milwaukee. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 political reporter Jason Calvi on to talk about what this decision could mean for the city. Jason expl...

After eight months of dispatching medical rides, a company with a big state contract is being sold. The acquisition is putting Wisconsin medical transport back into the hands of a former vendor. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites Contact 6's Jenna Sachs on to talk about her most recent story involving non-emergency medical transportation. Jenna explains what thi...

It's a crime that's sweeping the country and southeast Wisconsin is no exception. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites Contact 6's Jenna Sachs on to talk about catalytic converter thefts. Jenna explains why that part is important to your vehicle, why thieves are after it, and how you can avoid becoming a victim. Plus, Jenna breaks down why some apartment hunters a...

It's been nearly a week since the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, holding that the constitution does not confer a right to abortion and returning authority to regulate abortion to the states. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigators Bryan Polcyn and Amanda St. Hilaire invite political reporter Jason Calvi on to talk about the decision means for Wisconsin. The team shares re...

When terror struck the Waukesha Christmas Parade last fall, it was hard to fathom. Who would do something like that? Seven months later, Darrell Brooks is planning to mount an insanity defense. On this episode of Open Record, former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janine Geske explains what Brooks would have to prove to succeed. Plus, how the case of Jeffrey Dahmer may shed some light on the chall...

Surveillance video catches a valet doing something that left one woman stunned. Why it prompted her to reach out to Contact 6. Plus, a cellphone hack that happened days after a woman tapped into one airport's internet. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn is joined by Contact 6's Jenna Sachs. Jenna breaks down two recent consumer issues. Jenna explains why a recent car th...

The federal government is showering Wisconsin schools with more than two billion dollars in pandemic relief funds and the latest round aims at helping students catch up on what they missed. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn breaks down his latest investigation where he found one local school administrator who turned a learning loss into a financial gain for his own hou...

As of the publishing of this podcast, 24-year-old Kenneth Twyman is a wanted man. In fact, local police have asked US Marshals to go find him for the third time. This time, it's for homicide. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn explains how Twyman posted cash bail three times in three separate felony cases before he was charged with homicide. Bryan shares a conversation...

A recent FOX6 investigation uncovered the Wauwatosa School Board discussed public records in private. Why is that a big deal? In today's episode of Open Record, the FOX6 Investigators explain what you should expect from your government's public meetings. Bryan Polcyn and Amanda St. Hilaire walk listeners through a crash course in Open Meetings 101. Amanda breaks down a recent investigation involvi...

Rejected by rideshare, two members of Milwaukee blind community spoke out to Contact 6. Plus, a twist on a classic scam entangles a small local business. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites Contact 6's Jenna Sachs on to talk about two major consumer issues hitting the FOX6 inbox. One focuses on Uber and Lyft drivers denying rides to some disabled customers. The o...

Wisconsin nurses are stressed out and some are turning to drugs and alcohol to cope. But where do they turn when they're ready to get help? In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn explains why most health care workers struggling with addiction do not seek treatment until they're caught stealing drugs meant for you. He also shares what prompted a new non-profit and the backst...