Thousands in southeast Wisconsin are grappling with flooded businesses, homes, basements, garages, and cars. This, after torrential rainfall pummeled the Milwaukee area. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn explores the so-called 'Thousand Year' flood to hit the area. FOX6 Chief Meteorologist Tom Wachs explains what happened from a meteorological perspective. Plus, you hear from FOX6 reporter Jason Calvi who has been covering the flooding clean-up since the rains stoppe...
Aug 14, 2025•46 min
Parts of southeast Wisconsin have spent days under an air quality alert this summer, due to wildfire smoke creating unhealthy air quality. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 Chief Meteorologist Rob Haswell on to talk about the Canadian wildfires. You'll learn why all that smoke is coming to Wisconsin, how weather patterns and other factors are playing a role, and if there's anything we can do about it. You'll also hear from U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany who wrote...
Aug 07, 2025•46 min
In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn explores the seismic shift from the No. 1 source of public funds for animal research and the undercover investigation that shows what they're trying to stop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jul 31, 2025•46 min
A 7-year-old boy is abducted in broad daylight. Prosecutors say the kidnappers planned to rob a drug dealer, but ended up holding her child for ransom. In this episode of Open Record, how a search for a boy led to gunshots and why experts say this dramatic abduction is unlike almost any other. FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 reporter Bria Jones on to talk about the brazen daytime kidnapping of the Milwaukee boy and the local and national attention the case is getting. Learn more abou...
Jul 24, 2025•46 min
On each shift, police officers face a threat they may never see coming. On this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites FOX6 reporter and anchor Sam Kraemer on to talk about ambushes and unprovoked attacks. They discuss what goes into the research and training aimed at protecting the people who protect us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jul 17, 2025•46 min
Wisconsin's water war is spreading fast. Fifty-six Wisconsin communities now have bans or restrictions on wakesurfing, covering more than 400 lakes. So far in 2025, state lawmakers have yet to propose any legislation to settle the controversy statewide. On this episode on Open Record, Bryan Polcyn and Jenna Sachs are joined by guests with opposing views -- Cody Kamrowski of Wisconsin Wildlife Federation and Ed Gignac of Wisconsin Watersports Coalition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit pod...
Jul 10, 2025•46 min
People trusted him with family heirlooms, but years later, they're wondering where their treasured instruments went. Plus, a local woman mourning the loss of her husband now needs to prove she didn't die, too. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites Contact 6 reporter Jenna Sachs on to talk about two consumer problems brought to FOX6 that were also deeply personal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Jul 03, 2025•46 min
The FDA calls it a groundbreaking step in new drug development. A plan to phase out animal testing will steer hundreds of millions of dollars toward high-tech alternatives. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn explains how scientists here in Wisconsin are leading the effort to transform pharmaceutical research. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 26, 2025•46 min
It's time to cue the bands, fire up the grills, chill the beer, and download the Summerfest app! The 57th Big Gig is here and fans are ready to pack the lakefront. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn invites a trio of special guests to talk all things Summerfest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 19, 2025•46 min
A new online threat is putting Wisconsinites at risk of sexual exploitation. Apps and websites are using artificial intelligence to turn innocent pictures into so-called 'deepfake nudes.' In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn explains what lawmakers are doing to stop it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 12, 2025•46 min
Testimony is well underway in the trial of Maxwell Anderson, the Milwaukee man accused of killing and dismembering Sade Robinson. In this episode of Open Record, the FOX6 Investigators get you caught up on what's happened in court during week 1 of the trial. FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn, who has been following the testimony, talks about what we've heard and seen thus far. Legal expert and criminal defense attorney, Julius Kim, of Kim & Lavoy, S.C., walks us through what we can expect in th...
May 30, 2025•46 min
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 terrifying impact on young single women in Milwaukee, and what we can expect in the upcoming trial. Learn...
May 22, 2025•46 min
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 on to talk about two recent consumer issues to hit the FOX6 inbox. Learn more about your ad choices....
May 15, 2025•46 min
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 was the most important part. Also in this episode, we talk to Dr. Jeffrey Nirschl with the Wisconsin...
May 08, 2025•46 min
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 happened after, and what comes next in the case. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices...
May 01, 2025•46 min
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Apr 24, 2025•46 min
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 more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Apr 17, 2025•46 min
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 the Division of Consumer Protection about the top scams to watch out for this month. Learn more abou...
Apr 10, 2025•46 min
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 hear about the alternatives some say could and should replace animal testing. Learn more about your ad ...
Apr 03, 2025•46 min
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 stake in the races for State Superintendent and Wisconsin Supreme Court. Learn more about your ad choi...
Mar 27, 2025•46 min
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 rights groups targeting the commercial breeder, and where various investigations into the farm stand r...
Mar 20, 2025•46 min
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 because of COVID-19. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Mar 13, 2025•46 min
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 exposure investigation including how we got here and what's next. You'll hear from a concerned MPS parent a...
Mar 06, 2025•46 min
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 choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Feb 27, 2025•46 min
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 about the controversial law MPS never asked for and the long battle over who should foot the bill for ...
Feb 20, 2025•46 min
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 couples with permanent disabilities living a life of forbidden love. Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...
Feb 13, 2025•46 min
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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Feb 06, 2025•46 min
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 site are saying about the proposal, and the next steps before construction gets underway. Learn more...
Jan 30, 2025•46 min
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 explores the concerns over national security, censorship, and first amendment rights. Plus, we hear about...
Jan 23, 2025•46 min
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 legislative session. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Jan 16, 2025•46 min