Articles by Rob Ferrett

Series: The Novel Coronavirus, COVID-19 And Wisconsin: March 2020

A Closer Look At The Shortage Of COVID-19 Tests

Audio: 
Rob Ferrett
Wisconsin Public Radio
Tuesday, March 31, 2020 - 3:15pm
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The availability of tests for COVID-19 continues to be an issue in Wisconsin and across the United States, particularly given a shortage of testing supplies. WisContext associate editor Wil Cushman discusses what it means for the outbreak in the state.
Series: The Novel Coronavirus, COVID-19 And Wisconsin: March 2020

What Will It Take To Flatten Wisconsin's Coronavirus Curve?

Audio: 
Rob Ferrett
Wisconsin Public Radio
Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - 3:15pm
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Much of the public health conversation about COVID-19 has centered on a concept called "flattening the curve," but what does that mean and what would it look like in Wisconsin? WisContext associate editor Will Cushman discusses the challenges the state faces in the pandemic.

Why Are Local Governments Not Keeping Up With Cybersecurity Best Practices?

Audio: 
Rob Ferrett
Wisconsin Public Radio
Wednesday, March 11, 2020 - 3:15pm
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The Wisconsin Elections Commission is threatening to shame several local governments in the state that have not kept up with cybersecurity best practices. WisContext associate editor Will Cushman discusses how county websites in the state do and don't follow two common practices.
Series: Climate Science And Wisconsin

With Lake Ice Dwindling In Winter, What Does That Mean For Frozen Fun?

Natalie Guyette
Wisconsin Public Radio
Audio: 
Rob Ferrett
Wisconsin Public Radio
Friday, February 28, 2020 - 5:30pm
In a place with long winters like Wisconsin, people tend to make use of one of its most visible seasonal resources: ice.

The Early History Of African Americans In Beloit

Audio: 
Rob Ferrett
Wisconsin Public Radio
Wednesday, February 26, 2020 - 3:15pm
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Many of the first African Americans to live in the Beloit moved there as part of the Great Migration in the early decades of the 20th century. Blackhawk Technical College academic advisor and local historian Linda Fair discusses this history of the city.
Series: Drinking Water Quality

PFAS 'Forever Chemicals,' Explained

Audio: 
Rob Ferrett
Wisconsin Public Radio
Wednesday, January 22, 2020 - 3:15pm
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PFAS "forever chemicals" have become a fixture of public attention and policymakers are taking steps to address their use. UW-Madison civil and environmental engineering professor Christy Remucal discusses what is known about PFAS and the risks associated with them.
Series: CAFOs, Manure And Water

What Does It Mean To Be A 'Right-To-Farm' State?

Audio: 
Rob Ferrett
Wisconsin Public Radio
Wednesday, November 6, 2019 - 3:15pm
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One factor central to policy debates of livestock siting and other agricultural policies in Wisconsin is the state's "right-to-farm" law. National Agricultural Law Center attorney Rusty Rumley discusses Wisconsin's version of the law and similar laws across the nation.
Series: Extreme Precipitation And Wisconsin's Climate

Reengineering Infrastructure For A Wetter Wisconsin

J. Carlisle Larsen
Wisconsin Public Radio
Audio: 
Rob Ferrett
Wisconsin Public Radio
Monday, November 4, 2019 - 6:00pm
Over the last few years, bridges and roads have washed away during flash floods across Wisconsin. But how can engineers tackle the problem in order to prevent this kind of infrastructure damage in the future?
Series: CAFOs, Manure And Water

How To Smell A CAFO

Will Cushman
WisContext
Audio: 
Rob Ferrett
Wisconsin Public Radio
Video: 
Marisa Wojcik
PBS Wisconsin
Friday, October 25, 2019 - 10:00am
How can livestock odors be measured and quantified in a systematic and fair way? Is it even possible to break down an odor into its component parts, or to identify an acceptable odor threshold? It turns out these questions are the subject of rigorous scientific research.

How Children's Hospital Of Wisconsin Helped Crack The Vaping Lung Disease Case

Audio: 
Rob Ferrett
Wisconsin Public Radio
Wednesday, October 23, 2019 - 3:15pm
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A lung illness public health officials have linked with vaping and e-cigarettes has gotten international attention and led to new scrutiny of their health effects. Children's Hospital of Wisconsin pulmonologist Dr. Louella Amos discusses how physicians uncovered the cause.