WHYsconsin

What do you wonder about Wisconsin, its people or its culture? WHYsconsin is here to answer your questions about the state.

Drop your question in the form below and take a look at stories that started as questions from other curious Wisconsinites.

'That's 27 family members that we lost': Wisconsinites share the ways COVID-19 has changed their lives

Tuesday, January 25, 2022, 5:00am

Light shines on a woman's face as she stands in her home.

Some people lost family members in the pandemic. Some lost jobs or changed careers. Patients and health care workers faced overburdened hospitals. We talked to Wisconsinites about the ways the pandemic has affected them.

'The risk to our communities has never been more dire' as COVID-19 pandemic stretches on

Monday, January 24, 2022, 5:00am

A nurse in protective gear covering his face gets ready to enter a hospital room.

January showed the coronavirus pandemic is not over. In some ways, it was the worst month Wisconsin has had. With curveballs at every turn, health officials say the prospects for 2022 are uncertain.

How did Wisconsin Dells become 'the waterpark capital of the world'?

Wednesday, January 19, 2022, 5:45am

An outdoor waterpark is seen from above.

Wisconsin Dells is a place Wisconsinites and countless others have gone to spend summers and weekend getaways. But how did it become the quirky and beloved tourist destination it is today? That's the question Alexie Poncedeleon asked Wisconsin Public Radio's WHYsconsin.

Some parishioners upset over pandemic protections have left for other congregations

Tuesday, January 11, 2022, 6:30am

A man watches the service from behind a window in a small back room as he adjusts knobs on a panel.

Church shopping is nothing new and some are reluctant to try and find a new religious community. But a couple in northern Wisconsin felt they had no choice but to leave their longtime church because of misinformation about COVID-19 and the lack of pandemic precautions to protect parishioners.

How has COVID-19 impacted your life? The lives of the ones you love?

Tuesday, January 4, 2022, 6:00am

A man in a face mask holds a swab as he approaches the driver of a vehicle. The man is in silhouette and under a tent as the sun begins to set.

WHYsconsin wants to know how COVID-19 has affected you and your loved ones.

WPR's top stories of 2021

Friday, December 31, 2021, 5:00am

With another year almost in the books, it's a natural time to reflect on the last 12 months — the ups and downs and ins and outs of our lives, our communities, the country and the world.

Do you have memories of visiting Wisconsin Dells? Did you work there? We want to hear from you.

Tuesday, December 21, 2021, 10:15am

People float in light blue water in yellow and green inner tubes.

We want to hear from you: what memories do you have of Wisconsin Dells? Maybe it's a tradition to visit a water park there each year. Maybe you worked there or you work there now. Share your memories and experiences with us — and share your questions about Wisconsin Dells, too!

'Ouisconsin': Why so many places in Wisconsin have a French name

Tuesday, December 14, 2021, 5:00am

Why does Wisconsin have so many French place names to begin with, and why isn’t there a stronger French culture? Also, why don't we pronounce the place names correctly?

Most Wisconsin school districts joined state COVID-19 testing program, but parents say testing still comes with challenges

Monday, December 13, 2021, 6:25am

Jonathan Pagliarulo, 11, gets tested for COVID-19

Most Wisconsin school districts have COVID-19 testing set up through the state, but even with in-school testing available, some parents find that getting their kids swabbed comes with challenges.

What's the scoop on the origin of the Culver’s franchise?

Friday, December 10, 2021, 4:00am

A worker in a blue uniform hands a paper bag with food to a driver in a red sedan outside of the restaurant.

An audience member reached out to WPR’s WHYsconsin to ask about the restaurant chain’s origin. Franchise owner Craig Culver gives us the history.

Central Time

WHYsconsin: Why so many (mispronounced) French names in Wisconsin... But not so much French culture?

Thursday, December 9, 2021, 4:00pm

A relief depicting Jacques Marquette and others in a canoe

Wisconsin is full of French place-names like Prairie du Sac, Racine and Butte des Morts -- even though we don't say them the French way. A linguist explains. Then, we talk to a historian about why there are so many French names in Wisconsin, but not many people of French ancestry.

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How often are you testing your child for COVID-19?

Wednesday, December 8, 2021, 3:30pm

A woman swabs a child at an outside COVID-19 testing site

WHYsconsin wants to know how parents and caretakers are handling COVID-19 testing with your kids. How often do they get tested? Is it hard to access testing where you live?

About 87K Wisconsin children have gotten COVID-19 vaccine, but some vaccinated parents are still hesitant when it comes to their kids

Monday, December 6, 2021, 6:25am

Some Wisconsin parents are reluctant to have their children vaccinated against COVID-19, even though they got the shot for themselves.

Places to give on this GivingTuesday, and every day, in Wisconsin

Tuesday, November 30, 2021, 6:45am

two people in winter gear and face masks place small tarts into a box next to other donated items

Happy GivingTuesday! Here's a short list of organizations throughout the state to donate your time, money and love to.

What do you think about how your children are learning to read? We want to talk with you.

Wednesday, November 17, 2021, 5:00am

A student writes with a pencil as he wears a face mask at his desk.

What do you think about how your children are learning to read? What do you want to know about the process? Is there anything you’d share with other parents about your child’s reading education?

I can't believe it's not yellow: A peek into Wisconsin’s quirky margarine laws

Friday, November 12, 2021, 6:00am

A car is parked just across state lines in Illinois at an impromptu dealer selling colored oleomargarine

From milk to cheese to butter, the dairy industry is a cash cow for Wisconsin, generating $45.6 billion a year for the state’s economy. For Wisconsin’s state legislators, it’s an industry worth protecting. And its importance can be tracked through a history of sometimes oddball laws intended to protect it.

Are you waiting to vaccinate your child against COVID-19? We want to hear from you.

Tuesday, November 9, 2021, 9:30am

A girl in a pink face mask watches as a tie-dye bandage is stuck to her arm.

Did you get the COVID-19 vaccine but are waiting to vaccinate your eligible child? If so, why? What information do you need before you sign your child up?

The 'most friendly debate': cream puffs vs. kringle — 2 of the state’s most popular delicacies

Friday, October 29, 2021, 5:00am

There is a lot of hype surrounding the cream puff. And then there is a lot of love for the kringle. Marisa Wojcik wasn’t sure what all the fuss was about when she tried a cream puff for the first time. So, she reached out to WHYsconsin and asked, "Why do cream puffs get all the attention, when the kringle is the official state pastry of Wisconsin?"

Central Time

WHYsconsin: The great cream puff and kringle debate

Tuesday, October 26, 2021, 4:00pm

We discuss the history, culture and culinary characteristics that make cream puffs and kringle each special Wisconsin treats in their own right. And we get to the bottom of which one people truly prefer.

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Evictions in Wisconsin have increased since moratorium ended, and may get worse if rental assistance delays continue

Friday, October 1, 2021, 9:30am

Wisconsin's eviction filings have increased 55 percent since the national eviction moratorium ended a month ago, but they have still not reached pre-pandemic levels. Advocates say this is because more landlords and tenants are taking advantage of the state's emergency rental assistance program, but delays in the process could push landlords over the edge.

How To Become A Local After Moving To A New Place

Thursday, September 30, 2021, 6:00am

U-Haul truck seen in the side mirror of a another truck

Moving can be a hard process, and one newcomer to the Madison area asked WPR's WHYsconsin how to make the transition to a new place easier. We get advice from the author of "This Is Where You Belong: Finding Home Wherever You Are."

A Q For You: Where Does The Name 'Chicken Q' Come From?

Wednesday, September 29, 2021, 4:00am

A typical set up advertising a Chicken Q event. It's the scent of grilled chicken that helps bring customers in

The Chicken Q is a unique name for a chicken dinner fundraiser held in a 45- to 60-mile radius of La Crosse. While references to the name date to the 1950s, who came up with the name is hard to say for sure.

Curious About COVID-19 Booster Shots? Here's What You Need To Know.

Tuesday, September 28, 2021, 3:05pm

Marvin Marcus, 79, a resident at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale, receives a COVID-19 booster shot.

The decision by federal regulators to approve COVID-19 booster shots reassured those wondering whether they were as protected from the disease as they could be. But the news has prompted even more questions and sometimes confusion about who can get a shot, what it does or doesn’t prevent, and whether it will interfere with other vaccines.

Eligible Wisconsinites Still Have Time To Get $100 For Getting Vaccinated Against COVID-19

Thursday, September 16, 2021, 12:35pm

A member of the Mississippi National Guard receives a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine

Wisconsin's vaccine reward program ends Sept. 19, but there's still time for those eligible to receive the vaccine to roll up their sleeves, get the shot and claim their $100.

Why Is The Delta Variant More Contagious?: Your Questions About New COVID-19 Variants, Vaccines And Booster Shots, Answered

Monday, August 30, 2021, 5:35am

A woman wears a face mask as she receives a COVID-19 vaccine.

What makes the delta variant of COVID-19 more contagious? Do existing vaccines work against it? And will I have to get a booster shot? WPR answers your questions about the pandemic and protections against COVID-19.

Vaccines Have Historically Protected Schoolkids From Diseases. Some Worry COVID-19 Is Eroding Trust In Immunization.

Friday, August 13, 2021, 6:10am

In this April 1955 photo, first and second-graders at St. Vibiana's school are inoculated against polio

The politicization of COVID-19 and its vaccine have some worried that more people will opt out of school and day care vaccine requirements, even as vaccines for COVID-19 and other diseases have been shown to dramatically lower the risk of contracting and developing severe illnesses.

End Of Pandemic Unemployment Programs Creates Uncertainty For Self-Employed, Gig Workers

Monday, August 9, 2021, 5:50am

The sun shines on the Department of Workforce Development building

Many pandemic unemployment programs are set to end in September. But for many people, life still hasn't returned to normal.

The Delta Variant Is Surging. Here's How Wisconsinites Can Help Stop Its Spread.

Friday, August 6, 2021, 11:15am

Jolanta Gawlik, left, gives Juliana Cepeda the Pfizer vaccine

The contagious delta variant has propelled COVID-19 case numbers higher, and changed guidance for how to keep the virus from spreading. Epidemiologist Ajay Sethi talks about where Wisconsin stands in the pandemic and what it will take to lower the number of infections.