Gretchen Brown
Wiscons Public Radio
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Past articles by Gretchen:
As Luxury Homes Become The Norm, What Do We Lose?
The average single-family American home is now 2,631 square feet, according to 2017 U.S. Census Bureau data. That’s up from 1,660 square feet in 1973. → Read More
Wisconsin Cities Look To Smarten Up
The term "smart city" might bring to mind something out of "The Jetsons," all flying cars and jet packs. But the phrase isn’t a definition as much as it is a philosophy, say smart city proponents like Jason Nelson. → Read More
Vegetable Grilling Ideas For Memorial Day Weekend
Grilling vegetables might seem intimidating, but there’s nothing easier. That’s according to Mark "Mad Dog" Mathewson and Gary Merrill, Wisconsinites and self-proclaimed “grillologists” who host the CW network cooking show, “Midwest Grill’n.” → Read More
UW-Madison's 'Badger Ready' Program Helps Returning Non-Traditional Students
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly half of Americans have completed some college but have no degree. A new program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison hopes to bridge that gap. → Read More
Study: Illegal Immigration Linked To Decrease In Violent Crime
A new study from University of Wisconsin-Madison sociology professor Michael Light suggests people living in the country illegally are linked to a decrease in violent crime, not an increase. → Read More
Mushroom Recipes For The Outdoor Forager (And The Supermarket Shopper)
When it comes to mushrooms, the fresher the better, says food stylist and chef Liz O’Keefe. That means staying away from the canned stuff. → Read More
Report: Early Release Program For Ill Or Elderly Inmates Rarely Used
Reporter Gina Barton looked into the state’s compassionate release program in an investigative piece for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She found that, although the program has the potential to save the state millions per year, it’s rarely used. And hundreds of the state’s elderly prisoners aren’t even allowed to apply. → Read More
In Recovery, Storytelling As Healing
Addiction is a recurrent theme in literature. And in writing about her own recovery, Leslie Jamison looked to other writers and artists, like John Berryman, Denis Johnson and Billie Holiday, who had made art out of their struggle and continued to find creativity in sobriety. → Read More
Why Kids' Bad Behavior Isn't All Bad News
In a new book, "The Good News About Bad Behavior," Katherine Reynolds Lewis, a journalist, doesn’t go so far as to blame parents for the changing behavior. Instead, she links it to broader societal change. → Read More
1 Ill In Wisconsin From Lettuce-Born E. Coli Outbreak
Wisconsin has one reported case, but the full extent of the outbreak is yet to be determined, says Barbara Ingham, a professor of food science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and food safety specialist with UW-Extension. → Read More
Participation In High School Trap Shooting Growing In Wisconsin
Nearly 2,000 high school students from 78 high schools are competitively trap shooting this spring through the Wisconsin State High School Clay Target League. → Read More
DNR Seeks Bald Eagle Nest Reports In Southeastern Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is asking Wisconsinites to report any bald eagle nests they see throughout the state, especially in southeastern Wisconsin. → Read More
New Waisman Center Director Looks To Continue Combining Service, Education, Outreach
As the newest director of the Waisman Center, longtime researcher Qiang Chang hopes to continue the mission of integrative medicine. → Read More
8 Wisconsin Counties Rated 'F' For Air Quality
A new "State of the Air" report from the American Lung Association gives eight Wisconsin counties an "F" for ozone air quality — including Door, Manitowoc and Kenosha counties. → Read More
'Blighted' Designation For Homes Near Foxconn Site Leaves Residents Frustrated
The Village of Mount Pleasant is designating some of the homes as "blighted," a term generally reserved for properties considered deteriorated or unsafe, in order to obtain the properties and clear way for construction. → Read More
Once 'Overlooked,' Women Get The Spotlight — In Obituaries
A new history project spotlights notable women in history by finally giving them their due — an elusive New York Times obituary. → Read More
For 1 Nurse, Comics Are Communication
Known as the Comic Nurse, MK Czerwiec is passionate about the practice of "graphic medicine," an entire field based on that concept. → Read More
DNR Removal Of Potawatomi State Park Tower Garners Criticism
The DNR's decision to close an observation tower has garnered criticism from one state lawmaker. → Read More
Ebola Vaccine Developed At UW-Madison Is Set For Clinical Trials This Year
A team of researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is working to develop an Ebola vaccine. → Read More
Study: Couples Share Chores More, But Along Gender Lines
According to new research, it’s sharing who does the dishes — more than any other household chore — that coincides with a couple’s well-being. → Read More