Susan Bence
Environmental ReporterSusan Bence entered broadcasting in an untraditional way. After years of avid public radio listening, Susan returned to school and earned a bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She interned for WUWM News and worked with the Lake Effect team, before being hired full-time as a WUWM News reporter / producer.
Susan is now WUWM's Environmental Reporter, the station's first. Her work has been recognized by the Milwaukee Press Club, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, and the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association.
Susan worked with Prevent Blindness Wisconsin for 20 years, studied foreign languages at UWM, and loves to travel.
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In northeastern Wisconsin, a young program called “Medicine Fish” is connecting Menominee tribal youth to nature. Fly fishing was the first tool. Now, buffalo are being reintroduced to heal both the land and people.
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In 1970, an environmental movement unfolded and it resulted in calls for action. We meet several people who were part of what would be a pivotal environmental event.
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If you've never seen a lake sturgeon, the ancient species might take your breath away. On Wolf River in Outagamie County, the giant, torpedo-shaped fish are making their way upstream. Conservation efforts and public engagement are on display.
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The EPA established strict limits on several of the manmade chemicals in drinking water, while in Wisconsin, lawmakers continue to butt heads on how to attack PFAS contamination around the state.
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There was a lot of excitement yesterday. Parts of the country experienced a spectacular solar eclipse, and although Milwaukee wasn’t a prime location, plenty of people reveled in the experience.
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Heavy rains hammered our region this week, causing pressure on the MMSD sewage treatment plant, which couldn’t keep up with the demand. As a result, the MMSD discharged water and sewage into area rivers to prevent wastewater from backing up into basements.
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On April 2, Milwaukee residents will vote for mayor and common council members. So, how much power do those local officials have to affect environmental policies and practices?
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The American Birkebeiner is a cross country skier’s dream and means a lot to the local economy. Last month, organizers pulled off the event — despite Wisconsin’s warmest, largely snowless winter.
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Some people have enjoyed the warm winter we just experienced — not having to bundle up or shovel as much, and perhaps having lower energy bills. Others recognize the temperatures as a very real sign of climate change. And as a result, they’re more determined than ever to reduce their carbon footprint.
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Lake Michigan is teeming with life. But over time, its food web — from the smallest plankton to the largest fish — has been impacted. Overfishing and waves of invasive species have taken their toll. Now, climate change is flexing its muscles in the Lake Michigan ecosystem. On land, we’ve felt and seen it during what’s been the warmest winter on record.