Local Reporting of Coronavirus Crisis Thrives — Wisconsin State Journal Shines in Madison, Wisconsin

Madison, Wisconsin — Not the creativity of bio-catastrophe writers, Richard Preston, Daniel Kalla and Robin Cook, can dream-up the economic, psychological and sociological consequences of the new coronavirus hitting the world, (CDC, World Health Organization, Madison, Wisconsin, Dane County Public Health).

Humanity is fighting back against this biological entity, the virus, COVID 19.

The medical community, restaurants, and bio-research communities are shining as white knights. So, are workers at grocery and liquor stores.

But it is a seemingly imperiled institution that has improbably seen a reemergence here during this public safety crisis — local journalism.

Local journalism isn't dead, though it perhaps looked that way not too long ago.

Since the coronavirus COVID 19 crisis unfolded mere weeks ago, this phenomenon has spurned a rebirth of local journalism.

The Wisconsin State Journal daily in Madison is leading the way, and its sister journal, The Capital Times, is also surging.

Public relations consultants around theses parts pitching stories are finding a common response — ' we just ran a piece on that.'

From coverage of innovation and persistence of local restaurants to the shockingly corrupt action of Wisconsin Gov Tony Evers refusing to halt elections in the middle of an unprecedented public health emergency, local journalism is alive and well.

One hopes it lives forever.
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Also, Richard Preston, Daniel Kalla and Robin Cook have new books out.

Wisc Marriage Ban Suit's McConkey Quit GOP After Palin Chosen as VP

Update: Here's Judith Davidoff's Cap Times link.

Judith Davidoff has a profile up at the Capital Times, "Citizen McConkey: How a straight, married, lapsed Republican came to wage a one-man battle against Wisconsin's gay marriage ban."

McConkey is the plaintiff in William C. McConkey v. J. B. Van Hollen, the Wisconsin Supreme court case that could doom the gay marriage ban voted into the state constitution in 2006.

Turns out McConkey is a life-time Republican, who lived in Alaska for a time and quit the GOP because Sarah Palin was chosen as nominee for the vice-president.

Writes Davidoff:

Because of his time in Alaska, McConkey was familiar with Sarah Palin, though he didn't know her personally. But he knew enough, he says, to consider her unqualified to be president. And so when former presidential candidate John McCain chose Palin as his running mate last year, it was the final straw for McConkey, who at that point severed his long ties with the Republican Party.

'I lost it,' he says. 'That just showed a disregard for the American people.'

It was not a decision he made lightly. The McConkey family's allegiance to the Republican Party dates back to the Civil War, when his relatives fought on the side of the Union.

See also:
- Wisconsin Gay Marriage Ban May Go Down
- Brief Looks to Doom Wisconsin Gay Marriage Ban
- Objection, Compound Referendum

Falk Is Shameless Now

Dane County dispatcher Nathan Waite is a hero.

In the Capital Times we read that Waite is being recognized for some superlative work.

From Mike Miller:

Dane County officials were happy Friday for something positive to celebrate at the 911 Center when they honored dispatcher Nathan Waite for the key role he played in the safe premature birth of a girl on Jan. 12.

Waite was on duty in the 911 Center when Brent and Kimberly Lodewyk of McFarland were rushing to a Madison hospital because Kimberly was facing the imminent birth of their child.

The Lodewyks were forced to pull off the road when the birth was about to occur. A call to the 911 Center was taken by Waite, who calmly instructed Brent Lodewyk on how to help with the birth and baby Katarina before medical help would arrive.

Nice work, Mr. Waite.

But don't forget what's really important here: Kathleen Falk's political career.

Falk jumped right into the picture of-course.

"This is just one of the countless stories of the heroic work our well-trained and dedicated dispatchers do everyday," Falk said.

C'mon. This man's first-rate work does not lessen Falk's failure on the Zimmermann case. Nor does it in anyway excuse Falk's covering up her failures.
And we know perfectly well that the Zimmermann murder is not the end of the story in the defects in the 911 Center that continued under Falk's administration. Madison writer Emily Mills catalogued numerous screw-ups and she hardly looked.

As Falk's likely opponent, Nancy Mistele, notes in a press release:

“I want to congratulate the 911 operator on a job well done, and the story of the 911 Center working as it should is heartwarming. But if Kathleen Falk is going to take credit for the achievements of the 911 center, then she is also going to have to shoulder the blame for its failures.

Since 2004, Kathleen Falk has ignored the advice of experts on how to fix the 911 center.

If Kathleen Falk had heeded those warnings, we’d have a lot more success stories like today’s, and a lot fewer headlines about the center’s failures.

Sadly, Friday’s news conference by Kathleen Falk is more about politics than public pride. It’s taken an election to make our public safety a priority for our current County Executive.

Dane County deserves someone who will put the safety of the community ahead of her political career.”

This never-have-I-ever-voted-Republican elector agrees. I have been asked in so many words, 'why are you trashing Falk, for *&#^ sakes'? [Just got a phone call.]

The short answer is Falk fell down on a critical aspect of the job: The 911 Center. A woman was murdered. And Falk treats the media in the manner of Dick Cheney.

And her latest ploy in pissing on the Fourth Amendment is nothing short of repulsive.

Let's not forget that Falk was all too happy to dump our former incumbent Democratic Attorney General for a far lesser offence.

Hey Guys, you can talk to Nancy Mistele. Check it out.

Falk-Mistele Debate
Jan. 28, Wednesday in Fitchburg
Fitchburg City Hall, 5520 Lacy Road
4:30 to 6:30 p.m.