Open Record

Starting May 1, 2022, Milwaukee police will be able to do something new to deal with the city's most dangerous drivers. For the first time, they'll be able to impound cars -- at least, temporarily. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn shares how this plan is something community leaders have wanted for some time. Polcyn also details his latest investigation that profiles o...

Lawyers who represent the poorest in Milwaukee are pushing to have most eviction cases dropped from record after one year. Opponents say it's not fair to landlords. Plus, a window installer in Menomonee Falls is under investigation and facing mounting complaints. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites Contact 6's Jenna Sachs on the episode to talk about two big cons...

A Milwaukee man says he rushed his friend to the hospital to save his life and ended up with five police officers piled on top of him. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn explains why it's what officers left out of their reports that prompted that man to reach out to FOX6. Bryan walks through the timeline of that night in 2021. You'll also hear why Milwaukee police opene...

From a new Milwaukee mayor to big projects that went bust, the winds of change are blowing the spring following the April 2022 election. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator invites FOX6 political reporter Jason Calvi on to talk about results and the impact of those results. Jason digs into culture wars affecting school boards as well as the dozens of mayor's races across Southeast Wi...

A Milwaukee therapist is accused of sexually exploiting his clients. Now, a FOX6 investigation raises serious questions about how he got a counseling license in the first place. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn explains how he uncovered a disturbing series of arrests and the legal obstacles that may have kept the state's licensing agency in the dark. Plus, hear what a...

A fight breaks out at a high school basketball game and the referees suspend everyone. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 reporter Sam Kraemer on to talk about both what happened on the court AND in court. A judge's ruling changed the course of the 2022 WIAA basketball playoffs. Sam, who has been covering this story, explains what it could mean for the futu...

The war in Ukraine is prompting prices at the gas pumps to skyrocket. President Biden blames Russia, but also warns American oil companies they shouldn't cash in by price gouging. The president's critics say he should take the blame. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn and Contact 6's Jenna Sachs explore what is really driving gas prices. They welcome Patrick Dehaan of G...

It's been more than three months since the Waukesha parade tragedy. Since late November, millions of dollars have been raised for victims and their families. But since then, we've learned not all the money will go to the victims. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn explains why local non-profits want a cut and how one survivor feels about the motivation behind these dona...

Not all surprises are good ones, and for many who recently filed complaints with Contact 6, they know that all too well. In this episode of Open Record, Contact 6's Jenna Sachs joins FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn to talk about two recent consumer issues that hit the FOX6 inbox. People living in Waukesha's Horizon West condos were recently forced to leave their homes due to an unstable structure....

Following the November tragedy at the Waukesha parade, Wisconsin lawmakers have put the state's bail system on trial. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn shares the details of his latest investigation into bail reform. Bryan explains what bail is, how it's used, and why it's important. Hear about the proposals coming from Republican lawmakers and what the other side has...

The continued surge in violent crime is happening at the same time when politics are heating up again. The Wisconsin legislation is holding hearings and debates. and the governor's race is beginning to take shape. On top of that, Milwaukee is just a few weeks away from its first primary election for mayor in nearly 20 years without an incumbent. In this episode of Open Record, the FOX6 Investigato...

Most of the time, viewers see a story on the news, but are unaware all that goes in to getting that story on the air. In this episode of Open Record, the FOX6 Investigators dig into a topic they spend a lot of time discussing: Anonymous sources. Amanda St. Hilaire talks about the role of anonymous sources in one of her most recent investigations. She and Bryan Polcyn explain what anonymous sources...

It was a rocky start to the season, but the Packers are cruising as they head into the NFL playoffs. In this episode of Open Record, the FOX6 Investigators talk all things green and gold with special guest, FOX6 Sports Director Tim Van Vooren. Tim weighs in on Aaron Rodgers' record-breaking season, the team's chances of a win in Green Bay, and what it's like being a Sports Director covering the Pa...

A FOX6 Investigation reveals a communication breakdown may have led to the release of Darrell Brooks from jail five days before the Waukesha Christmas parade. In this episode of Open Record, the FOX6 Investigators are breaking news we have yet to report on TV. Hear why a delay in posting a bail payment online may have led to the parade suspect's release and how a simple phone call could have preve...

FEMA has billions of dollars set aside to help families with funeral and burial costs of those who died due to COVID-19, so why have many not even applied? Plus, what happens if you're vaccinated, but unable to prove it? In today's episode of Open Record, the FOX6 Investigators invite Contact 6's Jenna Sachs on to talk about some of the top consumer issues coming in to the FOX6 inbox. In today's O...

This time last year, we spent an episode talking about the good things that happened in 2020. In this episode of Open Record, the FOX6 Investigators take time to talk about what surprised us in 2021. We share messages from others in our FOX6 family about what surprised them most this year. You'll hear about everything from launching to space and the Bucks to working from home and having more empat...

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...

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...

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...