Author

Christina Lieffring
Christina Lieffring is a freelance writer who previously worked at UpNorthNews and covered the city of Racine at The Journal Times, agriculture in Nebraska, and little bit of everything at KCUR 89.3, Kansas City's public radio station.
Wisconsin restaurateurs couldn’t persuade Ron Johnson to vote for revitalization funds
By: Christina Lieffring - May 23, 2022
The ceremony to recognize Madison-area chef Dave Heide as Wisconsin’s 2022 Small Business Person of the Year on May 4 drew several prominent politicians, including U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan. U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson was absent, though a member of his staff spoke on Johnson’s behalf. Johnson’s office also followed up […]
Wisconsinites protest threat to overturn Roe v. Wade
By: Christina Lieffring - May 16, 2022
Hundreds of protesters filled the western corner of the Capitol lawn on Saturday advocating for abortion rights in light of the leaked Supreme Court draft decision that would overturn Roe v. Wade. Among them, one woman, who asked not to be named, held a sign showing a black-and-white photograph of her grandmother. With nine children […]
‘Day Without Child Care’ spotlights importance for parents, employers and kids
By: Christina Lieffring - May 10, 2022
Nearly 300 child care providers in 25 states signed up for “A Day Without Child Care,” an event organized to call for living wages for child care providers, and equitable, affordable access to child care across the country. For the parents who spoke at an event Monday morning at New Glarus Village Park, “a day […]
Agricultural runoff an overlooked threat to public health
By: Christina Lieffring - April 22, 2022
In Wisconsin, much of the discussions around water quality have been focused on contaminants including lead and PFAS. But George Kraft, UW-Stevens Point emeritus professor and emeritus director of the Center for Watershed Science and Education, says his biggest concerns looking to the future are nitrates and pesticides from agricultural runoff. “Instead of something that […]
Advocacy group shines spotlight on child care need, potential solutions
By: Christina Lieffring - April 7, 2022
In late 2017, business leaders in Black River Falls started talking among themselves about how a lack of child care was causing absenteeism among their employees who were parents, even forcing some to drop out of the workforce. They formed the Jackson County Childcare Network. The group initially consisted of business leaders, then expanded to […]
Child care providers are still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic’s toll
By: Christina Lieffring - March 28, 2022
While many Americans are ready to move on from the COVID-19 pandemic, for some people, like Corrine Hendrickson, that isn’t an option. Hendrickson is the owner and operator of Corrines Little Explorers, a child care center in New Glarus and a former board member of the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA), an organization that conducts […]
Latina leadership program takes off
By: Christina Lieffring - March 22, 2022
Beatriz Aguilar, chair of the music department at Edgewood College, will sometimes volunteer as a translator at Madison-area schools. One time at Madison East High School, some parents asked her what she does for a living, and when she told them, their high school Latina daughter perked up and asked Aguilar if she had a […]