I know we're all feeling a little on-edge. On a personal note I have been running as fast as I can for the past week and still feel incredibly behind. There are so many things to do, and life refuses to slow down. And as things stand now I am more and more just hunkering down in the house and trying to do everything from here. I have the disturbing feeling that the smattering of life video from meetings yesterday will be the last outside reporting gig for a while.

Episode 1 of our podcast, So - That Happened is now live. We're still working through a few technical issues, particularly since some of this podcast was recorded in noisy places. 

In this episode we explore citizen activists in the Chippewa Valley who are making a difference through their actions. I went on a bus trip to Madison with the Wisconsin Conservation Voters as they lobbied with their state Senators to pass legislation to protect water in Wisconsin.  I also spoke to Chris Hambuch-Boyle about her efforts to support our public schools for Public Schools Week along with the Wisconsin Public Education Network.

Life has been full. I've spent some time regrouping, making plans, and trying to forge a path for Wis.Community for 2020. As some of you know, it has been a trying year at Cruiskeen Farm. My partner and wife Lorelei died in August. Our doggie Shadow left shortly before that. As a result, I'm learning to manage the farm here, which I've blissfully left to Lori while we have lived here. I've also taken some time out to get used to living alone. 

Producing news costs money. Newspapers around the country are struggling to find ways to fund news-gathering operations and production costs. Our production costs are fairly low, but there still is a need to pay people to do the work, to pay web hosting costs, development costs, and more.