MADISON, WI - Today State Senator Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee) asked Governor Scott Walker to use his influence on the national stage to help protect Wisconsin’s seniors.

“I have read your letter to President-Elect Donald Trump and I believe that there are areas of concern that you may have overlooked; namely, the protection of our most vulnerable senior citizens," Senator Carpenter stated in his letter to Governor Walker. "We have seen time and again attacks on SeniorCare, one of our most successful programs, and I believe that it is time to make this program permanent. I believe that it’s long overdue that you seek a federal waiver to make SeniorCare a permanent program in Wisconsin.”

Senator Carpenter noted that SeniorCare serves around 60,000 seniors and saves tens of millions of dollars for Wisconsin’s seniors and taxpayers. He called for an end to the sense of unease and undue stress for those who rely on SeniorCare.

“While your letter focuses on punitive measures, I believe we can also do some good and use your connections to President-Elect Donald Trump to ask for a permanent waiver for our SeniorCare program," Carpenter said. "Doing this could help bring certainty to those living with chronic illness, on fixed incomes, and with limited resources. These seniors deserve to know that the Wisconsin prescription drug program, that they count on, will be there for them and not subject to unnecessary unease every two years.”

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/wisc-dairy-farm-s5.jpgSen. Kathleen Vinehout hopes to find common ground on the issues of concern to Wisconsinites. For the residents of the 31st Senate District, most of were related to water. People were also frustrated with the negativity of the past election cycle.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/david-clarke1-s5.jpgState legislators call for Clarke's removal in a public letter Wednesday. The Milwaukee County Jail, under the Sheriff's supervision has experienced four recent deaths resulting from a lack of intake screening for substance abuse and mental illness.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/franklin-delano-roosevelt-tva-s5.jpgFDR and the greatest generation of WWII had the courage to expect freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear for the whole world. Today's Americans are just afraid.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/putin-dc-s5.jpgRussian espionage was used to meddle with our Presidential Election, and Ryan, Priebus, Johnson, and Duffy should stand up for our country and call for an immediate investigation into Russia's actions. It is not a Democratic or Republican priority, it is an American priority.

The Big River Radio Wave will present a show on Wisconsin Public Radio this Christmas Eve that is a combination of music, comedy and rural holiday wisdom. The show includes the rich local talent from western Wisconsin – names that many in the area will recognize.

ALMA, WI - Looking for a homegrown Holiday treat for Christmas Eve? Look no further than your radio for a special holiday performance from Wisconsin’s beautiful west coast.

Big River Radio Wave’s Christmas Show airs on Wisconsin Public Radio across Wisconsin on Christmas Eve. The show comes straight from our valley to your radio.

The show originates at the renovated Big River Theater in Alma, Wisconsin. In fact, the creator and host, Mac Cherry, is my neighbor.

This year’s Holiday show weaves local musicians, storytellers, and comedians with their very special bit of advice. The show is upbeat, funny and filled with rural holiday wisdom, like comedian Tim Harmston’s counsel for “navigating the political divide at Christmas.”

Big River Radio Wave Christmas Show features the La Crosse band String Ties. Voted “the Best Band of the Coulee Region,” their music celebrates the hills of the upper Mississippi (according to their Facebook page) through an acoustic blend of Gospel, Swing, Folk and Old Time Country.

I caught up with Mac Cherry when we were both snowbound on a recent Sunday afternoon.

I asked Mac about the origins of the show. He told me, “We had the theater for a few years. We had different types of talent appear, good names in the area…having lived in the Twin Cities and moved from Milwaukee, I was surprised and impressed with all the indigenous talent...plus we had national talent coming from the Cities. Folks, who wanted to come to our area, perform and stay for a while. I thought it would be kind of fun to do a variety show with so much rich talent available.”