WORT Local News
WORT News and Public Affairs
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Breaking news and feature stories straight from the WORT News team’s underground lair in Madison, Wisconsin. New episodes every Monday through Thursday at 7:30 PM. Also available live on 89.9 FM from 6:00-7:00 PM and online anytime at WORTFM.org.
Available episodes
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Oldest first
16 hours ago
"I say never again and we can't go back:" Protesters and counter-protesters gather outside of Madison East Planned Parenthood
Here's your local news for Thursday, September 28, 2023:
* We witness the protest and counter-protest outside a Madison clinic that resumed abortion services earlier this month,
* Ask Madison City Council members to define affordable housing,
* Get the latest information on fishing,
* Check in with Madison's soccer team as they near the end of their regular season,
* And much more.
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1 day ago
“We have a goal of getting people the appropriate care at the appropriate time:" CARES may soon respond to mental health crisis calls outside of Madison
Here's your local news for Wednesday, September 27, 2023:
* We attended a press conference on Madison's alternative emergency response team - which may soon serve other communities in Dane County,
* Look forward to this weekend's Art of Cheese Festival,
* Give the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,
* Remember President John F. Kennedy's chaotic trip to Madison,
* And much more.
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2 days ago
"The passion for skating never really leaves you:" Wisconsin skateboarders keep an eye on the Capitol as lawmakers consider a bill that might loosen regulations
Here's your local news for Tuesday, September 26, 2023:
* We learn more about a reintroduced bill that could loosen statewide skateboarding regulations - this time, with more bipartisan support,
* Get the scoop on flamingos and how a flock of them ended up on the shores of Lake Michigan this week,
* Hear from a UW-Madison reporter who investigated accessible transportation on campus,
* And much more.
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3 days ago
"My big key is to make sure that it's safe:" The Common Council is set to repeal an unenforceable anti-panhandling ordinance next month
Here's your local news for Monday, September 25, 2023:
* We get the details on an unenforceable panhandling ordinance that may soon be repealed in Madison,
* Dive into water usage data in Wisconsin, as a new report finds that usage has trended down by a third in the last quarter-century,
* Investigate the actual cost of child care,
* Get an abbreviated look ahead at local government,
* Mark the upcoming 104th anniversary of a racially-motivated massacre in Arkansas,
* Meet the Donut King,
* And much more.
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Sep 21, 2023
"I'm here to tell you it does not get easier:" Legislators, activists, and gun violence victims' families convene at the Capitol to support proposed regulations
Here's your local news for Thursday, September 21, 2023:
* We attended a press conference for the Gun Violence Prevention Day of Action to hear about a package of proposed bills,
* Learn about the United States Supreme Court ruling that made Madison's panhandling ordinances unconstitutional - ordinances still on the books years later,
* Hear more insider knowledge on the music industry from DJ Pain One,
* Get advice from expert carpenters on how to prep our houses for the winter,
* Dive into the world of Object Lessons,
* And much more.
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Sep 20, 2023
"The Republicans in particular said, 'Stick it':" Governor Evers talks child care challenges in a press conference earlier today
Here's your local news for Wednesday, September 20, 2023:\
* We look into the ongoing political fight over child care in Wisconsin,
* Interview a pro-choice lawmaker on shifting abortion access in the state,
* Hear about the lawsuit that accuses the Madison Police Department of open records violations,
* Travel back in time to 1968,
* And much more.
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Sep 19, 2023
"'This is my dream job, I'm so glad this exists:'" CARES program expands its service to the weekends
Here's your local news for Tuesday, September 19, 2023:
* We give an update on Madison's CARES program, as it uses new funding to expand its mental health crisis services once again,
* Hear from a Democratic lawmaker who sided with her Republican colleagues in last week's redistricting bill vote,
* Discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at UW-Madison,
* Celebrate the appearance of kites – that is, the type of bird,
* And much more.
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Sep 18, 2023
"It’s almost as if the sculpture has come home and joined the other mounds:" A Truman Lowe sculpture finds its home on the UW-Madison campus
Here's your local news for Monday, September 18, 2023:
* We celebrate as a sculpture by a local, Native American artist finds a home at UW-Madison,
* Follow up on proposed rate hikes from two Madison energy companies, this time from a health and climate change perspective,
* Hear from a political science expert on what might have motivated state Republicans to kick off their own redistricting efforts,
* Take to the streets in Madison to hear what “affordable housing” actually means to the city’s average resident,
* And much more.
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Sep 14, 2023
"They'll lie, they'll cheat, and they'll steal:" Senate Democrats argue that today's vote on Meagan Wolfe shouldn't have taken place
Here's your local news for Thursday, September 14, 2023:
* We give an update on the state's top elections administrator after Senate Republicans vote against Meagan Wolfe's reappointment,
* Report on Planned Parenthood Wisconsin's announcement that they will resume abortion services this month,
* Learn more about the Department of Justice Reform - and why the County has yet to find an interim head,
* Discuss possible changes to evictions records - namely, how long they're stored in Wisconsin,
* And much more.
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Sep 13, 2023
"They're on ventilators, their medications need to be cooled...:" Advocates say that rising energy costs could have a devastating impact on low-income communities
Here's your local news for Wednesday, September 13, 2023:
* We take a look at MMSD’s contract with their new bus company after a tumultuous start to the school year,
* Report from Centro Hispano's Evening of Dreaming last weekend,
* Discuss the impacts of higher energy rates,
* Revisit headlines from 1965,
* And much more.
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Sep 12, 2023
"That’s a reasonable request for a department that size:" Yesterday's County Board Budget Hearing at a Glance
Here's your local news for Tuesday, September 12, 2023:
* We give the rundown as Dane County's 2024 budget negotiations kick off,
* Interview a Milwaukee school teacher whose video was used without her knowledge - in order to drum up conservative outcry,
* Discuss the return to the fall semester at UW Madison,
* Take a look at the nocturnal nightjar,
* And much more.
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Sep 11, 2023
"We keep the students at the center of all that we do:" Local literacy advocates discuss the barriers that their clients face
Here's your local news for Monday, September 11, 2023:
* We dig into a conservative political ad that aired after the Packers game last night,
* Learn about the latest data on Wisconsin’s property values and tax data from a research group,
* Hear from adult literacy advocates in the area,
* Commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the CIA-backed coup in Chile,
* And much more.
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Sep 7, 2023
"He would just play it flawlessly:" Renowned jazz musician Richard Davis has passed away at 93
Here's your local news for Thursday, September 7, 2023:
* We pay our respects to jazz bassist Richard Davis and revisit his 2016 interview with WORT,
* Investigate a Republican bill in the state legislature that would legalize a Schedule 1 drug,
* Hear more from award-winning producer DJ Pain 1,
* Delve into the nostalgia of Oscar Mayer memorabilia,
* And much more.
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Sep 6, 2023
"Her life is forever changed:" MPD arrests a man days after Sunday's assault
Here's your local news for Wednesday, September 6, 2023:
* We share an update on the assault that took place on West Wilson Street last Sunday,
* Hear Congressman Mark Pocan's priorities for the upcoming session in DC,
* Discuss ending the tipped minimum wage with Representative Francesca Hong,
* Revisit an interview with Madison's second youth poet laureate,
* Travel back in time to 1963,
* And much more.
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Sep 5, 2023
"Are these rookery sounds or a rap limerick:" An update on area corvids during West Nile outbreak
Here's your local news for Tuesday, September 5, 2023:
* We outline the mayor's 2024 Capital Budget proposal,
* Learn about counseling for folks post-incarceration,
* Meet up with a sailboat against nuclear weapons that nears the end of its voyage,
* Celebrate the unique characteristics and culture of corvids,
* And much more.
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Sep 4, 2023
"It's in everyone's best interest:" Local organizers come together for LaborFest2023
Here's your local news for Monday, September 4, 2023:
* We celebrate this year's Labor Day at LaborFest,
* Investigate a new recycling process,
* Follow up on the Land Art Exhibit at a local green cemetery,
* Learn about healthy school lunches,
* And much more.
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Aug 31, 2023
"It is rather ironic:" Conservatives resist publicizing private school funding information
Here's your local news for Thursday, August 31, 2023:
* We investigate the conflict surrounding a new, online dashboard for school funding,
* Learn how the eight-week workers' strike at Leinenkugel's came to a close,
* Dive into the causes and consequences of an aging prison population across Wisconsin,
* Discuss fishing over this Labor Day weekend,
* And much more.
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Aug 30, 2023
"Some way to actually hold someone accountable:" Madison woman prepares for her attacker's trial
Here's your local news for Wednesday, August 30, 2023:
* We talk to folks as they prepare for the coming school year,
* Learn more about a project to update the Wisconsin Historical Museum,
* Follow up on a Madison woman who was attacked volunteering on the West Bank,
* Travel back in time to 1968,
* And much more.
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Aug 29, 2023
"Stuff that the average person cares about:" Journalist Patrick Marley Shares Insight on the State Supreme Court
Here's your local news for Tuesday, August 29, 2023:
* We learn about a proposed hotline for employers looking to hire formerly incarcerated workers,
* Then investigate controversial changes to an elementary school's outdoor space,
* Hear from an experienced, Capitol reporter about the state Supreme Court,
* Get the latest scoop on the West Nile Virus in Wisconsin
* And much more.
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Aug 28, 2023
"All under the same umbrella:" Capital High Gets Consolidation and a Facelift
Here's your local news for Monday, August 28th:
* We tour a Madison alternative high school that's getting consolidated under one roof,
* Then speak with Secretary Missy Hughes of WEDC on the threats and opportunities of AI, the subject of a new task force,
* Hear from artists exhibiting their work at an unusual venue - their future burial site,
* And much more.
Plus! A big welcome to WORT's incoming News Producer, Faye Parks. Got a tip? Email her at faye.parks@wortfm.org.
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Aug 24, 2023
Cooling Centers are Open Across Madison
In this Episode:
* Madison opens cooling centers in response to the heat wave.
* UW's University Hospital plans for a new expansion.
* Epic Systems unveils a new research tool.
* OuttaDeeBox talks with DJ Pain One about his journey in the music industry.
* The House Always Wins discusses the proper breath for a house.
* And Radio Chipstone goes to an Amish Quilt auction.
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Aug 23, 2023
State Dems Circulate a New Bill to Defend Media from Defamation Suits
In this episode:
* Democrats circulate a new bill designed to protect media from defamation suits.
* A local artist talks about how her home and family affect her work.
* The SEIU stages a rally at the Republican presidential debate.
* The lieutenant governor visits WORT to talk about her new podcast.
* Rob McClure gives us this week's weather report.
* and "Madison in the 60's" goes back to anti-war protests in Madison.
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Aug 22, 2023
Why did three Dane County Board Supervisors resign in one week?
Here are your local headlines for August 22, 2023:
* The RNC confirms the participants in the first Republican presidential debate.
* Waupun Correctional Facility has a four-month-long lockdown.
* UW schools consider layoffs in the face of budget deficits.
* Residential property values continue to increase rapidly.
* Cooling centers open across Southern Wisconsin.
And in tonight's episode, we unpack...
* What was driving the resignation of three Dane County Board Supervisors last week,
* Why a legal firm is asking the state Supreme Court to reduce the length that eviction records are public,
* Why puppy mills appear to be on the rise, and
* Why the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, a conservative legal firm, is suing Wisconsin's Secretary of State over open records.
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Aug 21, 2023
Plugging the Leaks in Madison's Water System
In this episode:
* Representative Clancy defends his controversial statement about police.
* Lawmakers move to bring disability savings accounts to Wisconsin.
* Reedsburg wins a loan to bring highspeed internet to the area.
* Three Dane County Supervisors resign.
* Madison braces for a heat wave.
* A new report investigates the problem of water leaks.
* A contractor heads to prison for tax fraud.
* John McCracken joins us to talk about the relationship between Wisconsin's largest energy company and the regulators who are supposed to oversee it.
* Young protestors march to shut down Line 5.
* Contributor Brenda Konkel goes over the happenings in local government.
* "The Past Isn't Past" looks at the contributions of historian Howard Zinn.
* And Contributor Harry Richardson reviews the feel-good comedy "Moving On."
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Aug 16, 2023
Menominee activist Ada Deer Dies at 88
In this Episode:
* The Former Director of State Courts files a complaint against the liberal justices on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
* UW-Madison students pay big bucks in a tight housing market.
* Madison's Landmark Commission approves a home near Old Spring Tavern.
* We honor the passing of Menominee activist Ada Deer.
* A new type of end-of-life care home opens on Madison's East Side.
* We air clips from Ada Deer's interview during her historic congressional race in 1992.
* Contributor Rob McClure talks weather to us.
* and "Madison in the Sixties" takes us back to 1969, when Madison was experiencing protests and a wobbly bus system.
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Aug 15, 2023
Biden visits the 4-1-4
Here's your local news for Tuesday, August 15:
* President Biden visits Milwaukee, touting his record on the economy and clean energy jobs,
* Teacher turnover statewide reached a record high in the last school year, says a new report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum,
* Nearly half of teen girls in Wisconsin report feeling sad and hopeless almost every day, says a new fact sheet from the Wisconsin Office of Children's Mental Health,
* A Republican state senator sues the Wisconsin Pilot and Review for reporting his alleged anti-gay slur,
* And, window collisions cause millions of bird deaths a year. The Madison Audobon Society Tells us how to prevent the unfortunate early demise of our feathered friends.
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Aug 14, 2023
Madison's Superintendent Search Enters Public Feedback Phase
In this episode:
* Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says Justice Protasiewicz must recuse herself from gerrymandering case or face impeachment.
* former Milwaukee sheriff David Clarke blasts the Republican party for failing to find a strong challenger against Senator Tammy Baldwin.
* Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes was not selected as Chicago's Chief of Police.
* Madison tweaks its bus routes after overhaul.
* Madison Metropolitan School District opens its search for a new superintendent to community feedback.
* More details emerge about an attack on a deputy at the county jail.
* Dr. Ajay Sethi talks about the future of Covid and the state of the vaccine.
* "The Past Isn't Past" looks back on the acquittal of Jo Ann Little in 1975.
* Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 344 Bill Carroll talks about the new hard-won contract with UPS.
* and Harry Richardson reviews a new Japanese zombie movie on Netflix.
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Aug 10, 2023
Madison's Move-out Days Bring out the Trash Collectors and Thrifters
Here's your local news for Thursday, August 10:
* Madison's August move-out days bring out the thrifters,
* We talk through plastic by the numbers,
* OuttaDeeBox covers Sun Prairie's Cornfest,
* The House Always Wins gives tips and tricks on energy use in your home,
* And Radio Chipstone explores the magical tintype photograph.
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Aug 9, 2023
A New Proposal for Blair Street Would Demolish Essen Haus
Here's your 6pm Local News for Wednesday, August 9:
* A new development proposal would build housing — but demolish the Essen Haus and Come Back In;
* We speak with Ruth Schmidt, Director of Wisconsin Early Childhood Association, on the crisis facing childcare,
* And, UW-Madison researchers unveil the first neutrino map of the Milky Way, Rob McClure gives us the weather in detail, and Stu Levitan takes us back to 1967 and racial tensions.
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Aug 8, 2023
Governor Evers Calls for A Special Legislative Session to Address Workforce Issues
* The First Republican candidate running against Tammy Baldwin announces her campaign.
* Wisconsin redesigns its absentee ballots.
* Statisticians file a lawsuit against gerrymandering.
* Wisconsin gets a new area code.
* Ahan restaurant is moving.
* Governor Evers calls a special session.
* Madison Gas and Electric continues to negotiate with its unions.
* We hear from Hope Karnopp on her recent piece on revenue sharing.
* Trail Tuesday has its last episode at Gibbs Lake.
* We hear about a rescued musk turtle on Wildlife Weekly.
* And we hear from Dr. Becky Shields about how to learn Irish in Madison
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Aug 7, 2023
Unpacking the Latest Supreme Court Drama ⚖️
Here's your 6pm Local News for Monday, August 6:
* The state Supreme Court settles into its new ideological majority in a rather dramatic fashion,
* Dane County looks at building a third manure digester,
* And we get the weekend ahead in local government, from appeals boards to street use.
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Aug 3, 2023
Liberal-Majority State Supreme Justices Fire Director Of State Courts Randy Koschnick
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, August 3.
* The owner of a northwoods brewpub says he’s being shut down over his political views,
* The day after the state Supreme Court gets a liberal majority, they vote to fire their chief administrator,
* Undocumented workers on Wisconsin dairy farms struggle to even leave their workplace due to not having a driver’s license,
* And in the second half, what the new Supreme Court means for open government, you’re urged to check water temperatures before you fish, and the latest from Forward Madison FC.
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Aug 2, 2023
Liberal Law Firm Challenges Wisconsin Maps A Day After The State Courts Gains A Liberal Majority
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, August 2.
* The county’s Youth Justice Program gets a new facility, merging the full program under one roof,
* A liberal law firm looks to throw out Wisconsin’s gerrymandered maps one day after Justice Janet Protasiewicz is sworn into office,
* The Madison Common Council approves a pilot program to equip police with body-worn cameras,
* And in the second half, a citizen uprising threatens urban renewal in 1960s Madison, and the most comprehensive weather report on the air waves.
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Aug 1, 2023
DNR Releases New Draft Of Wolf Management Plan
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, August 1.
* The Madison Common Council is set to vote tonight on implementing a police body-camera pilot program…
* The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources releases an updated wolf management plan…
* New Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz is sworn into office, creating a liberal majority on the state's high court for the first time in 15 years…
* And in the second half, journalism combats misinformation, we play kickball at Festge Park and a unique water bird gets a tuneup.
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Jul 31, 2023
Preview Of Black Restaurant Week
This is your WORT local news for Monday, July 31.
* We talk with Black restaurant owners ahead of Black Restaurant Week here in Madison,
* State Attorney General Josh Kaul has joined 22 other attorneys generals to reject a proposed deal from a company accused of widespread PFAS pollution,
* And in the second half, this week in city and county meetings, what protections workers have during major heat waves, and two new movie reviews.
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Jul 27, 2023
City Expands Safer Bar Training
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, July 27.
* Bars and restaurants in downtown Madison are invited to go through a now-free violence prevention program,
* Former mayoral candidate Gloria Reyes launches a new grassroots political organization,
* Workers at TruStage are preparing for a strike this weekend over what they say are unfair labor practices,
* And in the second half, a former gang member finds a better life in dog breeding, how to tell the difference between sealant and caulk, and a trip back in time with tintype photography.
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Jul 26, 2023
City Hosts “Disability Summit” During Disability Pride Month
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, July 26.
* City officials release a report outlining the current extent of Madison’s housing crisis,
* People with disabilities are invited to join the city tomorrow night for the very first disability summit,
* We remember the life of a touchstone disability rights activist on the anniversary of the signing of the ADA
* And in the second half, the conclusion of our series on community farmers across the state, UW Regents crack down on protesters in 1960s Madison, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Jul 25, 2023
Annie C Stewart Fountain Conservation Efforts Underway
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, July 25.
* Temperatures are expected to climb throughout the week, bringing a heat wave to Madison after weeks of poor air quality…
* UW Madison is set to celebrate its 175th birthday…
* The Annie C Stewart Fountain in Madison's Vilas neighborhood could be getting a facelift…
* And in the second half, a new bill looks to prioritize the public over lobbyists, we explore a historic chapel in one of the region's largest parks, and hold a mid-year check-up with the Dane County Humane Society’s animal rehab center.
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Jul 24, 2023
Council to Begin Discussing Experimental State Street Mall
This is your WORT local news for Monday, July 24.
* City officials are debating turning parts of State Street into a pedestrian mall,
* A special election in eastern Wisconsin puts Republicans just two seats away from a supermajority in the State Assembly,
* A pig on the near-west side draws the entire city’s attention after he was evicted from his home last week,
* And in the second half, this week in city and county meetings, we continue to experience what is known as a “flash drought,” and two new movie reviews.
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Jul 20, 2023
Evers Signs Bipartisan Literacy Bill Into Law
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, July 20.
* ATVs could soon be allowed on more county highways throughout Dane County;
* Governor Evers signed a bill yesterday overhauling how kids learn to read;
* Multiple Wisconsin election officials were interviewed by federal investigators as part of their probe into actions by Donald Trump;
* And in the second half, we wait for public officials to get back to us about requested records; where the fish are biting this week around Dane County; and the latest news from Forward Madison FC.
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Jul 19, 2023
Badger Bus Sells Assets After Losing MMSD Contract
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, July 19.
* The city of Madison is hosting a contest to help raise awareness of the city’s stormwater system,
* A local bus company is selling off assets after another company was chosen to bus kids to Madison schools this fall,
* A group of Ukrainian refugees have opened up a restaurant on the far east side,
* And in the second half, we hear from two community farmers in Watertown, Henry Kissenger comes to 1960s Madison, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Jul 18, 2023
Proposed Constitutional Amendment Would Bar Governments From Closing Churches
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, July 18.
* State lawmakers introduce a constitutional amendment to block local governments from closing places of worship during emergencies…
* Local cinemas enjoy a post-pandemic boost with a slew of summer blockbusters,
* An environmental group calls on lawmakers to not block the Wisconsin DNR's PFAS remediation efforts…
* And in the second half, we test out the new Twitter competitor named Threads, the newest competitor to Twitter, hike at the Adam Burning Conservancy in Whitewater, and get to know the common house wren.
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Jul 17, 2023
Minor Changes Coming To Metro Transit One Month After Redesign Implementation
This is your WORT local news for Monday, July 17.
* Some minor changes are coming to the city’s bus system one month after the network’s major redesign went into effect,
* Despite some rain in Dane County last week, we’re still in a drought and area farmers are paying the price,
* And in the second half, a trip back to 1969 for an important conference from the Black Panther movement, two Democratic state lawmakers have created a caucus to defend transgender children, and two new movie reviews.
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Jul 13, 2023
Majority Of Madison Parks Now Allow On-Leash Dogs
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, July 13.
* The city of Madison is set to begin allowing dogs on leashes in most parks around the city,
* Democratic lawmakers look to bar a legal defense that could be used to lessen sentences in violent crimes against LGBTQ people,
* And in the second half, we talk with the owner of a clothing empire, we walk you through replacing a light fixture, and how a traumatic car accident led to shoemaking.
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Jul 12, 2023
Council Reverses Decision, Allows Rezoning Of Proposed Downtown Student Housing Development
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, July 12.
* The city council allows a proposed downtown housing development to move forward after rejecting it last month,
* A Madison entomologist is finding new ways to deal with rats across the city,
* A new state report shows that schools are continuing to seclude and restrain children in class,
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Jul 11, 2023
Paid Parental Leave, Marijuana Legalization Left On Budget Chopping Block
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, July 11.
* We look at what was left out of the state budget signed by Governor Evers last week…
* A small community in northwest Wisconsin takes on large lobbying groups in a fight over a nearby CAFO…
* And, we honor the life of Anne Perkins, hike at Anderson Farm County Park, and care for a rare merlin chick.
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Jul 10, 2023
Judge Rules Abortion Ban Lawsuit Can Continue
This is your WORT local news for Monday, July 10.
* A Dane County Judge rules that the lawsuit looking to overturn Wisconsin’s abortion ban may continue,
* City of Madison officials want YOUR help to squish invasive bugs over the summer,
* Governor Evers raises eyebrows with a 400-year veto, though the move has over two decades of precedent,
* And in the second half, the anniversary of the arrest of two “No More Deaths” students, what the US Supreme Court’s student loan decision means for you, and two new movie reviews.
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Jul 6, 2023
Environmental Group Bringing Potential Lawsuit To DNR Over Beaver Management
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, July 6.
* A Wisconsin environmental group threatens to sue the government over their beaver management plan,
* A UW-Madison astronomer explains why a discovery about gravitational waves has astrophysicists excited,
* And in the second half, we find out what kinds of school surveillance tapes we are entitled to, the dog days of summer bring fishing opportunities to Dane County, and the latest news from Forward Madison.
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Jul 5, 2023
Evers Signs Budget, Vetoing Dozens Of GOP Proposals
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, July 5.
* Governor Tony Evers signs the biennial budget, issuing over 50 line-item vetoes,
* A Wisconsin activist is traveling to Canada to remember a railway tragedy ten years later,
* A UW law professor helps break down the US Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action ruling,
* And in the second half, we'll debut our special series, Rooted in Land, Preserving Through Generations, produced by storytellers at Rooted; and we'll flashback to headlines from Madison in the late 1960s.
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Jul 3, 2023
Dane County Judge Dismisses Petition To Charge Matt Kenny With Killing Of Tony Robinson
This is your WORT local news for Monday, July 3.
* A Dane County judge declines to press charges against a Madison police officer,
* Two key Supreme Court decisions impact Wisconsin students,
* Wisconsin counties show steady growth over the past decade,
* And in the second half, we'll get this week's abbreviated rundown of city and county meetings, speak with retiring founders of an investigative news outlet, and review two new movies.
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Jun 29, 2023
WEC, Republican Legislature Fight Over Meagan Wolfe's Future as Top Elections Official
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, June 29.
* The air quality advisory continues here in Dane County as Canada contends with a record-setting fire season,
* The state elections commission battles with the Republican-led legislature over who will lead elections heading into the 2024 presidential race,
* And in the second half, Big Brothers Big Sisters is prepping for its annual gala; how you can learn how to be a carpenter; and what old maps can tell us about modern Madison.
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Jun 28, 2023
Dane County Air Quality Reaches “Very Unhealthy” Levels
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, June 28.
* City officials are canceling events as the air quality reaches very unhealthy levels,
* Madison’s beaches are open for swimming, but they will remain unstaffed as the city grapples with a lifeguard shortage,
* The latest Marquette Law School Poll takes a look at voter's thoughts on next year’s Senate race,
* And in the second half, an in-depth report from a Verona Area School District meeting, tragedy strikes at the Henry Vilas Zoo in 1966, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Jun 27, 2023
Committee Shelves Appointment Of Dave Mahoney To Head Department Of Justice Reform
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, June 27.
* A Dane County committee shuts down the appointment of a former sheriff to head a new criminal justice reform department…
* An Madison alder explains why he voted against a proposed downtown housing development…
* And in the second half, we take a look at the recently passed shared revenue bill, explore trails around Cherokee Marsh and help save a family of kestrels.
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Jun 26, 2023
Anti-LGBTQ Language In State Statutes
This is your WORT local news for Monday, June 26.
* Protestors in Sauk Prairie call for the return of abortion access on the one-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision
* State statutes are filled with barriers for LGBTQ couples, even as gay marriage is legal in the state,
* A man with every angler’s dream job gives a tour of the fish collection at the UW Zoological Museum,
* And in the second half, a look back at the beginning of the Korean War, legislators vote to cut the UW Systems’ budget, and two new movie reviews.
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Jun 22, 2023
Saturday Marks One Year Since Dobbs Decision
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, June 22.
* The shared revenue bill signed this week will help local communities, even if work still needs to be done,
* The one year anniversary of the Dobbs decision is coming up this Saturday,
* Democratic lawmakers are looking to enshrine the right to contraception in state law,
* And in the second half, the city of Madison is once again discussing police worn body cameras; anglers adjust their strategy during this drought; and the latest ‘mingo news from Forward Madison.
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Jun 21, 2023
City Celebrates Make Music Madison
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, June 21.
* The Common Council votes to essentially block a proposed student housing development downtown,
* The city is awash with music as Make Music Madison returns,
* While most of that music is at stationary venues, one artist brought their music to the people in a unique way,
* And in the second half, Wisconsin’s unemployment insurance fund rebounds from the early days of the pandemic, beatniks meet the Man in 1960s Madison, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Jun 19, 2023
County Board Designates Dane County Sanctuary For Trans People Amid Anti-LGBTQ Rhetoric
This is your WORT local news for Monday, June 19. Happy Juneteenth!
* The County Board vote to declare Dane County a sanctuary for trans and nonbinary people,
* A Verona School District man faces charges for striking a student,
* The NAACP of Dane County calls on UW Health to recognize Juneteenth as a holiday,
* And in the second half, this week in city and county meetings, examining why the state hasn’t recognized Juneteenth as a holiday, and two new movie reviews.
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Jun 15, 2023
County to Vote on Designating Dane County Sanctuary for Trans and Nonbinary Individuals
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, June 15.
* The legislature passes their shared revenue bill, sending more money to local governments across the state,
* County Supervisors are set to vote this evening to designate Dane County a sanctuary for transgender people,
* The Madison Metro School board has agreed to offer an eight-percent wage increase for all MMSD staff,
* And in the second half, a conversation with an ExPO navigator, the pros and cons of adding siding to your home, and finding ways to reuse political memorabilia
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Jun 14, 2023
Joint Finance Committee Delays Vote On UW System Funding
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, June 14.
* City officials say that the first half of 2023 has been the safest since the beginning of the pandemic,
* A Madison videographer is looking for volunteers to help create a tourism video for the city of Madison,
* The state’s budget writing committee calls off a vote on the UW systems budget,
* And in the second half, how wildfires in Canada are having a major effect on the air quality in the Midwest, and a trip back to Madison in 1968.
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Jun 13, 2023
Wisconsin Legislators Present Bill To Create Agency That Would Enforce Alcohol Laws
This is your WORT Local News for Tuesday, June 13.
* Lawmakers hold a public hearing to overhaul the state’s laws regulating alcohol...
* Metro riders share what they think about Madison’s new bus routes…
* We learn how voucher schools in Wisconsin can legally discriminate against LGBTQ students and students with disabilities…
* And in the second half, free speech continues to be a focus on UW campuses, we join a hike on a village of Oregon trail, and grape jelly poses risks to birds.
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Jun 12, 2023
GOP-Led Budget Writing Committee “Gut” Office Of School Safety
This is your WORT local news for Monday, June 12.
* Lawmakers, educators, and food advocates march for healthy, free lunch for all,
* Republican lawmakers vote to gut the state’s Office of School Safety,
* Wildfires in Canada lead to dangerous air quality conditions across the U-S,
* And two new movie reviews.
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Jun 8, 2023
Republicans Circulate a New Bill to Address Reading Education
In this show:
* The governor and the legislature reached a deal on state funding for local governments.
* A federal judge signals that the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa can continue their road blockage.
* Tim Michels, the former candidate for governor, sues an organizer who worked or him.
* TruStage CEO resigns following a worker strike.
* Republicans propose a new bill to address reading education.
* Riders prepare for the new bus routes this weekend.
* Marchers take to the streets to protest gun violence.
* We talk with the Wisconsin ACLU about increased punishments for people involved in drug-related death.
* Fishy Business talks about what to do in Madison if you are a rookie fisher.
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Jun 7, 2023
A month of flag-raisings
Here's your local news for Wednesday, June 7:
* The Wisconsin State Legislature was busy, busy, busy today. Amidst legislation to increase hoops for unemployment, protect gas-powered vehicles, create more transparency for parole, and ongoing negotiation over shared revenue, legislators also passed a package of bills that would make changes to the state's key credentialing agency, the Department of Safety and Professional Services. Our reporter watched the today's hearings in real time.
* Meanwhile, it's been a season of flag-raisings this month. Today, local leaders hoisted the trans pride flag above the Madison Municipal Building, where it'll fly for the next week,
* Madison educators will be getting the maximum allowable raise of 8%, more than double what MMSD had initially proposed, and
* Two chefs at Madison's Fairchild restaurant have won a top honor: a James Beard Award.
* Meanwhile - what do those air quality alerts mean?, Rob has the most comprehensive weather f…
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Jun 6, 2023
A Juneteenth Flag Raising
The local news for Tuesday, June 6th. In this show:
* An appeals court weighs whether lawmakers can override the Attorney General.
* Southern Wisconsin has an unusually dry May.
* Details of the planned John Nolen Drive construction are released.
* Dane County distributes drug overdose boxes.
* Madison teachers get a wage increase.
* Blue-green algae comes early to Madison lakes.
* We talk with Wisconsin Policy Forum's research director about high turnover in the state government.
* A Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony takes place downtown
* And the Dane County Humane Society has a raft of ducks
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Jun 5, 2023
Madison police start new mental health transportation pilot program
Here is your local news for Monday, June 6:
* CUNA mutual group strike pauses.
* Bipartisan group dedicated to restoring trust in elections opens a branch in Wisconsin.
* Madison airport opened its new terminal.
* Republican lawmakers propose plans for PFAS chemicals
* Madison Police are contracting out their lengthy transports to the only state-run psychiatric facility.
* Advocates say postpartum care should end up in the next state budget.
* Forward Lookout takes a gander at the week ahead, we jump back in time to 130 years ago, and review two new movies.
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Jun 1, 2023
Pride Flag Raised At The State Capitol For The Fifth Time
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, June 1.
* A complaint against the Madison school district’s communications director outlines a history of bullying and harassment towards staff and the press,
* Governor Evers raises the Pride flag above the Capitol on the first day of Pride month,
* And in the second half, the messy but important work of fixing your toilets, and when and if you should start a new project.
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May 31, 2023
Just Veggiez Receives Major Award Ahead of Grand Opening of State Street Location
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, May 31.
* A local restaurant receives the Wisconsin Emerging Small Business of the Year award,
* Madison in the ‘60s looks at changes in childbirth rules and traffic patterns from 1969,
* And the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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May 30, 2023
The outdoors show!
On the 6pm Local News tonight, it's an all-outdoors show.
* A local environmental attorney unpacks a recent Supreme Court ruling that guts parts of the Clean Water Act and threatens the nation’s waterways,
* Then, put on your hiking boots for Trail Tuesday— our new summer feature explores trails across south-central Wisconsin,
* Wildlife Weekly tells us what makes a cardinal red — and how the bird can be spotted sporting other colors.
Other headlines in brief:
* Statehouse Republicans today unveiled a bill package that would, among other things, clarify procedures that would be permitted under Wisconsin’s broad 1849 ban on abortion.
* Meanwhile, Wisconsin celebrated its official 175th birthday yesterday. Wisconsin became the 30th state to join the United States on May 29, 1848 — one year before the current abortion ban was passed.
* Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the state’s largest business lobby, says it’ll head to court to block new rules regu…
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May 25, 2023
TruStage Workers Vote To Extend Strike
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, May 25.
* Folks experiencing cardiac arrest in Dane County are nearly twice as likely to live in Dane County compared to the rest of the country,
* Union workers at TruStage, formerly known as CUNA Mutual Group, have overwhelmingly voted to extend their strike,
* And in the second half, requesting records from quasi-governmental groups, Memorial Day weekend brings great fishing weather, and the latest from Forward Madison FC.
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May 24, 2023
GOP Shuts Down Plan To Study Paid Parental Leave
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, May 24.
* Republicans in the state’s budget writing committee shut down a plan to study paid parental leave in Wisconsin,
* Students at Madison’s Memorial High School are calling on the school board for safer bathrooms,
* Local peace activists call for Wisconsin’s lawmakers in Washington to do more to bring peace to Ukraine,
* And in the second half, citizen scientists study Dane County’s lakes, a successful protest in 1966 Madison, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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May 23, 2023
Report Shows Uncertain Future For MMSD Budget
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, May 23.
* A new report shows Madison schools will continue to struggle without more state funding…
* A proposed shared revenue bill would increase state funding to towns and cities, but it might not be enough for Madison…
* And in the second half, a retired priest works to transform unwanted firearms into garden tools, and learn how to help stranded baby ducklings.
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May 22, 2023
Wisconsin Utilities Propose Rate Hikes Across The State
This is your WORT local news for Monday, May 22.
* The city’s Plan Commission is looking at a plan to bring more urban agriculture to Madison,
* The Urban League of Greater Madison is holding a clinic to help those with a criminal record get a job,
* Almost all of Wisconsin’s major utility companies are looking to increase their rates next year,
* And two new movie reviews
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May 18, 2023
DHS Report On Infant Death Points To Medical Inequity
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, May 18.
* A recent survey shows that the shortage of caregivers in Wisconsin is only becoming more dire,
* A new report from the state health department outlines major disparities in infant mortality rates,
* The state Assembly passes their shared revenue bill, but it still faces major hurdles before it becomes law,
* And in the second half, what it means to be a big brother or big sister, why your water softener makes strange sounds in the night, and the simple joys of flying a kite.
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May 17, 2023
David Fahrenthold On The Three Wisconsin Men At The Heart Of A Vast Political Nonprofit Network
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, May 17.
* Community members met locked doors when they attempted to submit a petition asking for CUNA Mutual Group management to bargain in good faith,
* A New York Times journalist finds a network of “scam PACS” with three Wisconsin men at its heart,
* And in the second half, GOP lawmakers introduce a bill to address PFAS, political protests and other news in 1960s Madison, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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May 16, 2023
Council To Vote On Creating Air Quality Monitoring Network
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, May 16.
* The Madison Common Council is set to vote on creating a city network of air quality monitoring stations…
* Hmong students from across Wisconsin come to the State Capitol to learn how to get engaged in government…
* And in the second half, we take an award-winning look at a little known Wisconsin landmark, warblers are making their seasonal return to the region, and a grassroots campaign works to inform the public about changes to Madison Metro service.
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May 15, 2023
PHMDC Announces New Round Of Funding For Community Violence Prevention Programs
This is your WORT local news for Monday, May 15.
* Public Health Madison and Dane County is gearing up for a second round of violence prevention grants,
* Meanwhile, the state’s health department is launching a program to provide free training for direct care workers,
* And in the second half, this week in city and county meetings, we remember a radio icon a day before his 111th birthday, and two new movie reviews.
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May 11, 2023
CDC-Funded Center Prioritizes Birthing Justice
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, May 11.
* San Damiano park in Monona is getting an upgrade, and the city wants your input on what it should look like,
* A center at UW-Madison works to reduce maternal disparities in healthcare,
* The local health department has tips on how to protect yourself from ticks,
* And in the second half, MMSD’s spokesperson sues to block the release of records, the full fishing season is finally open, and our newest feature with Forward Madison.
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May 10, 2023
MTI Retired Teachers Call On Finance Committee To Remember Education Funding
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, May 10.
* City officials offer a first look at the designs for Madison’s first permanent men’s homeless shelter,
* Retired teachers take to the capitol to call on the state’s budget writing committee to tackle education head-on
* And in the second half, Nelson Mandela’s grandson is coming to Wisconsin next week, part two of the Mifflin Street riots in 1969, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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May 9, 2023
Healthcare Workers Call for Support from State Budget
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, May 9.
* Health care workers are calling on Republican lawmakers to give them more support in this year's state budget…
* Scammers are using new technology to trick people into sending them cash…
* A horse at UW Madison is getting more parental leave than many of the university's human employees…
* And we check in with the Daily Cardinal as the UW spring semester ends and ponder why some animals have more friends than others.
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May 8, 2023
Childcare Providers Close Doors To Bring Awareness To Childcare Crisis
This is your WORT local news for Monday, May 8.
* Childcare centers across the state close their doors for a day to show what could happen if they don’t get more support,
* It’s a tale of two bills as our Democratic Governor and the Republican-led legislature looks for ways to increase local funding
* And in the second half, this week in city and county government, a rainy Monday could lead to a rainy graduation this weekend, and two new movie reviews.
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May 4, 2023
Attorneys Argue Whether Or Not Abortion Lawsuit Should Be Dismissed
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, May 4.
* A Dane County judge heard the first of presumably many rounds of oral arguments in Wisconsin’s abortion lawsuit,
* Attorney General Josh Kaul holds a press conference shortly after those oral arguments,
* Republican lawmakers introduce their shared revenue bill filled with provisions for municipalities,
* And in the second half, the past, present, and future of United Way Dane County, replacing your old windows, and a celebration of the end of winter.
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May 3, 2023
Medicaid Expansion Among Hundreds of Tossed Budget Proposals
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, May 3.
* Republican lawmakers voted not to expand Medicaid yesterday, and Democrats say they’re leaving money on the table,
* A new report says Madison’s five largest lakes are the healthiest they’ve been in years,
* And in the second half, a Mifflin Street riot in 1969, a controversial beach in Mazomanie, and UW Madison’s Odyssey turns 20.
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May 2, 2023
UW-Madison Students Take Action Against Racist Online Video
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, May 2.
* Hundreds of students march on the state capitol to call for rights for people without citizenship status…
* Republican lawmakers level the governor's budget proposals…
* UW-Madison community members push back against a student using racist and violent rhetoric in a viral video…
* Efforts continue to improve Black maternal and infant health in Dane County…
* And in the second half, Cardinal Call rounds happenings on the UW campus, a small business owner cuts back on food waste and Wildlife Weekly helps heal injured animals.
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May 1, 2023
County Supervisors Denounce Racial Slurs
This is your WORT local news for Monday, May 1.
* A county committee unanimously voted against confirming state Representative Shelia Stubbs to head a major county agency,
* A lack of funding for public attorneys in Wisconsin is having dire consequences on the state’s criminal justice system,
* And in the second half, the President of Madison’s teachers union joins A Public Affair for May Day, dreary weather today makes way for warm weather later this week, and two new movie reviews.
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Apr 27, 2023
First Wave Of F-35s Land In Madison
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, April 27.
* The first wave of F-35 fighter jets land in Madison, and neighbors are already being disrupted by the noise,
* GOP Legislators introduce their shared revenue plan, dictating how municipalities would be able to use those funds,
* And in the second half, a train derailed into the Mississippi river, requesting records from elected officials no longer in office, and fishing picks up in the Madison area.
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Apr 26, 2023
Proposed Sewerage Plan Would Affect Badger Mill Creek
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, April 26.
* Community leaders speak out against a plan to alter the flow of water to Badger Mill Creek,
* A state legislator’s nomination to a powerful county agency causes controversy,
* And, it’s National Library Week, a rock’n’roller comes to town, plus your weather forecast.
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Apr 25, 2023
CUNA Union Workers Authorize Strike
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, April 25.
* Madison teachers ask for wage increases that match inflation…
* City Bar on State Street must pay big fines after serving more than 100 underage patrons…
* CUNA Mutual workers have authorized a strike if a new contract isn’t signed within the next month…
* And in the second half, we remember the life of a local labor leader, a student group invites an anti-LGBTQ speaker to campus, and the wildlife face the danger of lawn pesticides.
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Apr 24, 2023
City Moves To Remove Nunchuck Ban While Cleaning Up Municipal Code
This is your WORT local news for Monday, April 24.
* City officials look to undo a nearly fifty year old ban on nunchucks,
* Madison’s property tax base is in, showing that home values continue to rise,
* And in the second half, this week in city and county meetings, the cold weather is sticking around a while longer, and two new movie reviews.
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Apr 20, 2023
What's an ALPR - and why does it know where you're driving?
Here's your local news
* Medical marijuana legalization could be on the horizon this year after news that Republican lawmakers plan to introduce a bill later this year. That's as Senate Minority Leader Melissa Agard, a longtime advocate for full legalization, launches a statewide listening tour.
* The Dane County Sheriff's Office is one of dozens of law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin using a new technology to track when, and where, you're driving. But what's the company behind an ALPR? We air a special report.
* Plus, OuttaDeeBox podcast talks with members of Briarpatch Youth Services about their work, The House Always Wins explains why 2x4s are anything but, and Radio Chipstone unravels one fiber artist's yarn obsession.
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Apr 19, 2023
Evers Creates Green Ribbon Commission; Touts Relationship Between Environmental Projects And Labor
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, April 19.
* Governor Tony Evers meets with local leaders to tout the strong relationship between environmental projects and union labor,
* The state’s powerful finance committee blocks the purchase of the state’s largest proposed conservation area,
* And in the second half, remembering the life of state archeologist Jim Skibow, protests for and against the war in Vietnam in 1960s Madison, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Apr 18, 2023
State Street Starbucks Workers Plans To Unionize
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, April 18.
* Workers at a Starbucks on State Street are gearing up to file for a union election…
* Madison's middle and high school students could get free bus passes to get around the city this summer…
* City officials are looking to possibly expand a planned permanent men’s shelter…
* And in the second half, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County is looking for bigs to go with their littles, UW seniors give a big gift to the Center for Healthy Minds, and baby raccoons are beginning to spring up.
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Apr 17, 2023
John Nolen Drive Reconstruction Gets $15 Million Federal Grant
This is your WORT local news for Monday, April 17.
* The John Nolen Drive Reconstruction Project gets a major boost from the federal government,
* A local food bank turns to farming to help bring fresh produce to low-income households,
* Dairy researchers at UW Madison open their new state-of-the-art research facility,
* And in the second half, what the federal mifepristone ruling means for Wisconsin, it’s National Severe Weather Awareness Week, and two new movie reviews.
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Apr 12, 2023
Recount Names Isadore Knox Jr. As District 14 Alder
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, April 12.
* State lawmakers debate changes to a program to make farms more eco-friendly,
* We sent reporters down to the marathon recount for one razor-thin alder district in Madison,
* And in the second half, we travel back and revisit a sports tragedy in 1960s Madison. And, we’ll decode local fish consumption advisories and get a comprehensive weather report during today’s red flag warning for fire danger.
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Apr 11, 2023
City Hiring "Ride Guides" to Help You Navigate Madison Metro
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, April 11.
* Madison Metro is hiring friendly faces to help bus riders navigate the upcoming Network Redesign…
* The Madison school district continues to struggle with transparency, even during a meeting about transparency…
* And in the second half, the UW Men’s Hockey team gets a new coach, a local vegan restaurant gets statewide recognition, and we learn how to care for the baby bunnies living in backyards.
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Apr 10, 2023
Bill Would Ban Guaranteed Income Programs
This is your WORT local news for Monday, April 10.
* GOP state lawmakers are looking to ban city’s from deploying guaranteed income programs,
* Pro-choice advocates take to the state capitol after a Texas judge looked to block a common abortion drug,
* A new report breaks down the differences between two competing state tax codes,
* And in the second half, we get the week ahead in local government, look ahead to warm weather all this week, and review two new movies.
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Apr 6, 2023
Breaking Down The Results Of Madison’s Alder Races
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, April 6.
* We take a look at the winners and the losers of Tuesday’s alder races,
* A Wisconsin hiker is traversing the Pacific Crest Trail for charity,
* And in the second half, one man’s journey from prison to businessman, the do’s and don’ts of basement remodeling, and creating the perfect shoe.
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Apr 5, 2023
Protasiewicz Wins Supreme Court, Rhodes-Conway Wins Madison Mayor
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, April 5.
* Voters turned out in record numbers both across the state and here in Dane County for yesterday’s election,
* We examine the role that Wisconsin’s abortion ban played in yesterday’s election,
* Madison in the 60s follows how people in Madison reacted to the death of Martin Luther King Jr,
* And the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Apr 4, 2023
Madison Voters Cast Their Ballots
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, April 4.
* We travel across the city to talk with voters after casting their ballots…
* The one explicitly partisan election in Wisconsin today could hold major implications for the future of the state Senate…
* And in the second half, the state Supreme Court has become the most expensive judicial race in US history, the Daily Cardinal unveils its Action Project for the semester, and we learn what goes into caring for baby animals.
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Apr 3, 2023
Talk with the Candidates for Belleville School Board
This is your WORT Local News for Monday, April 3.
* We take a trip to the village of Belleville to look at the candidates running for school board,
* State lawmakers outline two different paths for legalizing marijuana in Wisconsin,
* A large fire caused parts of Park Street to close for a significant amount of time Friday night,
* And in the second half, this week in city and county meetings, more potentially severe weather is in the forecast for election day, and two new movie reviews.
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Mar 30, 2023
Bill Would Change Venues For Legislature-Related Cases
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, March 30.
* A proposed bill looks to spread out lawsuits against the state legislature to counties across the state,
* A small Wisconsin town is fighting in court over their right to regulate CAFOs
* And in the second half, what election records we are and are not entitled to; we gear up for trout fishing; and telling a story with an old pair of pants.
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Mar 28, 2023
“Day Of Empathy” At The Capitol To Advocate For Justice For Incarcerated Women
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, March 28.
* Dane County Executive Joe Parisi reveals a new final price tag for building a new jail…
* Advocates for incarcerated women meet in the Wisconsin Capitol Building for a Day of Empathy…
* We take a trip to Madison’s east side and talk to a candidate running for District 15 alder…
* And in the second half, we break down next week’s spring election, a UW Madison student becomes famous for his butter consumption, and we learn what it takes to keep baby animals ready for life in the wild.
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Mar 27, 2023
Anti-F-35 Protestors Stage Day of Action Across Madison
This is your WORT local news for Monday, March 27.
* Anti-F-35 protestors hold a day of action across the city as the jets are set to touch down in Madison later this spring,
* We talk with the incumbent alder in District 18 about why he is running for reelection,
* The DNR is asking for your help in identifying frogs and toads across Wisconsin,
* And two new movie reviews
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Mar 23, 2023
Last Chance To Weigh In On Lake Monona Waterfront Design Challenge
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, March 23.
* Today is the last day to submit your thoughts on the what the future of Lake Monona’s waterfront should look like,
* Two non-binding referendums will be on the ballot for Dane County voters on April 4th,
* We head to Madison’s north side to talk with one of the candidates running for alder in District 18,
* And in the second half, how poetry helped a community leader in prison, how to start a career in carpentry, and remembering a longtime disability-rights advocate.
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Mar 22, 2023
Council Approves Zoning Change For Filene House, Study On Home Healthcare Crisis
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, March 22.
* The current batch of city alders meet for a final time to address Madison’s lack of home healthcare workers, and dismiss old marijuana convictions,
* We talk with both of the candidates running for District 19 alder,
* Madison in the 60s looks back at when Madison elected a Republican for mayor,
* And the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Mar 21, 2023
Developer Group Spending Big Money In Madison Council Elections
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, March 21.
* The two Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates meet for their first and only debate…
* We share how to figure out what's on your spring ballot…
* Area Realtors inject big money into Madison’s alder races…
* We interview another of the Madison District 6 alder candidates…
* And in the second half, Meriter Health nurses explain why they are calling for union recognition, UW Madison works to update its dorms, and baby bird season is almost here.
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Mar 20, 2023
Council To Vote On Raising Backyard Chicken Limit
This is your WORT local news for Monday, March 20.
* Council members push to allow Madison residents to keep more backyard chickens,
* One of the candidates for District six alder shares why they are running to represent the near-east side,
* And in the second half, this week in city and county meetings, Cafe Coda bring the music to kids, and two new movie reviews
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Mar 16, 2023
The "Opees" and the local "Nopee"
Here's your local news for Thursday, March 16:
* More on that west-side construction for the first line of Bus Rapid Transit,
* Among the high-profile races on the ballot on April 4, there's also referendum on the structure of common council,
* Plus, we talk with a far-east side alder about her re-election campaign ahead of the general election,
* And, the winners and local lone loser of this year’s open government awards; ice fishing comes to an end in Dane County; and we study ancient veggies through art.
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Mar 15, 2023
GOP Lawmakers Introduce Abortion Exemption Bill; Expand Birth Control Access
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, March 15.
* GOP lawmakers are looking to create some exceptions to Wisconsin’s abortion ban, though that bill is unlikely to become law,
* We talk with two candidates running for alder running in two different far-east side districts,
* Madison in the 60s looks at two different mayoral elections of Madison’s past,
* And the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Mar 14, 2023
Mayoral Candidates Share Sharp Words At Debate
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, March 14.
* Madison's mayoral candidates exchange sharp words over housing and public transit…
* We head to the far east side of Madison to continue our coverage of the spring elections for alder…
* And in the second half, an Indigenous leader calls for the Wisconsin Legislature to take action on public health, and baby critters start to make their spring debuts.
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Mar 13, 2023
City Of Madison And Working Group Decide Fate Of Annie C Stewart Statue
This is your WORT local news for Monday, March 13.
* Madison wants to hear your opinion on what should be done with one of the city’s oldest public art pieces,
* We officially begin our coverage on the spring general election with one of the candidates running to represent Madison’s 8th alder district
* And in the second half, this week in city and county meetings, spring breakers tell us what spring means to them, and two new movie reviews.
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Mar 9, 2023
County Officials Announce Home Of New Crisis Triage Center
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, March 9.
* County officials have announced the home of the new facility for those facing mental health emergencies,
* Dane County scientists give an update on their experiment to try and to remove PFAS from the Dane County Airport
* One Madison filmmaker talks about how they got their big break,
* And how to keep your basement from flooding this spring
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Mar 8, 2023
Assembly Committee Greenlights Bills To Mandate SROs In Certain Schools
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, March 8.
* GOP lawmakers are looking to force schools that frequently call the police to hire school resource officers,
* An expedition in the Cave of the Mounds reveals thousands of years of climate change,
* With less than one month until the election for Madison mayor, we look back at the 1963 mayoral race
* And the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves
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Mar 7, 2023
Family, Friends Of Tony Robinson Remember His Life Eight Years Later
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, March 7.
* Family and friends of Tony Robinson remember his life eight years after he was shot and killed by a Madison police officer…
* Number crunchers analyze the governor's budget proposal…
* And in the second half, a new film highlights Madison's women firefighters, UW classrooms grapple with the rise of AI, and wildlife make their spring return in the era of climate change.
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Mar 6, 2023
City to Vote on Joining Class-Action Lawsuit Against Kia and Hyundai
This is your WORT local news for Monday, March 6.
* The city of Madison debates entering a nationwide lawsuit against Kia and Hyundai,
* Wisconsin family’s struggle as federal SNAP benefits come to and end,
* And in the second half, this week in city and county meetings, the story of the 1932 Ford Hunger March Massacre, and two new movie reviews.
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Mar 2, 2023
Bread And Roses – Madison Sourdough Workers File To Unionize
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, March 2.
* Employees at a Madison bakery file with the National Labor Relations Board for a union election,
* Kia and Hyundai owners get a free security upgrade, while cities across the state mull over legal action against the manufacturers.
* And in the second half, the difference between elected and appointed officials, ice fishing winds down in Dane County, and how to begin a new project.
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Mar 1, 2023
Council Allows More Unrelated Renters To Live Together
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, March 1.
* The Common Council approves a change to city zoning code to allow more unrelated renters to live together,
* Pollution in the great lakes threatens treaty rights for indigenous fishers,
* We look back at the 1961 race for Madison mayor just weeks ahead of 2023’s mayoral election,
* And the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Feb 28, 2023
Mayoral Candidates Go Head-To-Head On Housing, Debt Levels
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, February 28.
* A new city of Madison program looks to help low-income residents pay part of their utility bills…
* The two candidates for Madison mayor debate head-to-head for the first time since the primary election…
* And in the second half, UW Madison students remember Rebecca Blank, legislators signal that a flat tax is unlikely in Wisconsin’s budget, and a rare bird makes its way to an animal rehab center.
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Feb 27, 2023
Caregivers, Adults With Disabilities Weigh In On Caregiver Crisis
This is your WORT local news for Monday, February 27.
* State lawmakers celebrate Black History Month and look at how climate change furthers inequity across the globe
* Madisonians speak out about how the caregiver crisis is affecting them
* And in the second half, this week in city and county meetings, spring is just around the corner, and two new movie reviews
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Feb 23, 2023
Disabilities Committee Looks For Solutions To Caregiver Crisis
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, February 23.
* A Madison alder is sounding the alarm about the ongoing caregiver crisis,
* A growing number of Wisconsin workers are working from home, but those opportunities aren’t available to everyone equally
* A new report shows traffic crashes fell in Dane County last year, yet traffic fatalities are on the rise,
* And in the second half, how one Madison filmmaker got his start, the myth of the government stealing your gas stove, and how a language barrier led to one man being blamed for the death of his son.
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Feb 22, 2023
The winners and losers of yesterday's spring primary
On your local news for Wednesday, February 22, we recap the results of last night's primary election which saw "unprecedented" turnout in Dane County.
Plus, Centro Hispano is getting a new building, and we get the details on the sleet storm rolling in.
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Feb 21, 2023
Madison Residents Hit The Polls
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, February 21. Happy Election Day!
* Madison voters turned out today to make their voice heard in today’s primary election…
* The Wisconsin Supreme Court rules that big box stores can no longer take advantage of a tax loophole…
* And in the second half, Turkish students at UW Madison fundraise for earthquake disaster aid, we get in the dental chair to examine opossum teeth, and the Chazen Museum of Art examines the legacy of racism.
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Feb 20, 2023
Primary Election For Supreme Court Could Hold Major Ramifications For State Politics
This is your WORT local news for Monday, February 20.
* Tomorrow is primary election day, and the race for state Supreme Court could influence the future of Wisconsin politics,
* We squeeze in one last candidate interview before the election with the final candidate in the race for District 20 alder,
* And in the second half, this week in city and county meetings, another winter storm is headed our way, and one new docu-series review.
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Feb 15, 2023
Eviction Filings On The Rise In Dane County
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, February 15.
* Eviction filings in Dane County begin to rise as funding for rental assistance runs dry,
* Activists took to the capitol today to call on lawmakers to make driver’s licenses available to all,
* And in the second half, Madison College wants you to dig into archeology, students strike over Black Studies in 1960s Madison, and the most comprehensive weather report ahead of tomorrow’s storm
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Feb 14, 2023
Traffic deaths on the decrease
Here's your local news for Tuesday, February 14
* A Madison family is calling for more action to find their missing relative,
* Animal rights groups call for an end to a so-called chicken toss, and
* Traffic deaths and serious injuries continue to fall in Madison.
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Feb 13, 2023
Violent Crime Down, Says MPD Chief Barnes During Public Safety Address
This is your WORT local news for Monday, February 13.
* Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes says violent crime is trending down in Madison,
* That’s as a long-standing public safety committee could be on the chopping block,
* We continue our coverage of next week’s primary election in the 20th alder district,
* And in the second half, the Winter Carnival returns to Lake Mendota, Madisonians share their favorite winter activities, and two new movie reviews.
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Feb 9, 2023
MMSD Superintendent Bids Farewell – What Happens Next?
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, February9.
* Madison’s Superintendent Carlton Jenkins has announced he will retire later this summer,
* We head to our final district in our coverage of the spring primary election for alder,
* And in the second half, the UW Odyssey Project with Brian Benford, a look at why ice might be building up inside your home, and a new housing co-op comes to the south side.
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Feb 9, 2023
Council Votes To Shelve Landmark Designation For Filene House
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, February 8.
* President Biden visits the Madison area to highlight economic growth across the country following the State of the Union Address,
* The Madison Common Council nixes a plan to name the former home of the credit union movement a historic landmark,
* And in the second half, we conclude our coverage of the primary election for District 14 alder, students strike for Black Studies at UW Madison, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Feb 7, 2023
Four Projects Fight For Money Set For Alder Raises
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, February 7.
* The Madison city council has some extra cash — and alders have different ideas about how to use it…
* South Madison could be getting a major investment from the city, and we explore a financing tool that could make it possible…
* We continue our coverage of the District 14 alder primary…
* And in the second half, students look to beautify Bascom Hill, the trouble with feeding starving birds, and psychedelics find medicinal favor for treating substance abuse.
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Feb 6, 2023
Following National Trend, Wisconsin Lawmakers Introduce Book Ban
This is your WORT local news for Monday, February 6.
* Wisconsin Republicans follow national trends and introduce a book ban,
* We continue our coverage of the spring primary election with a trip to District 14 on the south side of Madison,
* And in the second half, the Lee Jeans Factory sit-in of 1981, the Sheboygan Police Department faces widespread sexual assault allegations, and two new movie reviews.
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Feb 3, 2023
Here’s What’s Behind The Single-Family Zoning Change
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, February 2.
* Madison residents get a chance to see the proposed designs for John Nolen’s revamped waterfront,
* City officials look to allow more unrelated renters to live together under one roof,
* We continue our coverage of the primary election for District 12 alder,
* And in the second half, the pros and cons of virtual meetings, this week’s fishing report, and a new and improved Radio Chipstone.
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Feb 1, 2023
Low-Salt Roads: UW Madison Criticized For Salt Use After Snow Storm
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, February 1.
* UW Madison is peppered with criticism over their use of salt after last weekend’s snow storm,
* Grassroots advocates look for ways to make Wisconsin elections more productive,
* We continue our coverage of the primary race for District 12 alder,
* And in the second half, a preview of the state’s 2023 budget deliberations, an attack on the Daily Cardinal goes awry in 1960s Madison, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Jan 31, 2023
Candidates Tackle Housing, Public Safety In First Mayoral Debate
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, January 31.
* The three Madison mayoral candidates on the ballot for this spring’s primary election meet in a debate…
* A health council searches for ways to improve health equity in Wisconsin…
* We continue our coverage of the primary for Madison's District 12 alder…
* And in the second half, the UW looks for new ways to acknowledge indigenous lands, owls strive to stay out of sight, and Dane County wants your opinion on regional housing options.
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Jan 30, 2023
Fighting Bob La Follette Plaque Unveiled In State Capitol
This is your WORT local news for Monday, January 30.
* Fighting Bob La Follette gets a plaque in the state capitol,
* LGBTQ farmers work to reframe the image of the family farm,
* We head to the northeast side to talk with one of the candidates running for District 12 alder,
* And in the second half, this week in city and county meetings, a new course at UW Madison looks at land-grant universities, and one new movie review.
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Jan 26, 2023
Debuting "The House Always Wins"
Here's your local news for Thursday, January 26, 2023:
* What's the future of the Lake Monona Waterfront?
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Jan 25, 2023
Evers Focuses On Mental Health, Increased Local Funding In State Of The State Address
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, January 25.
* Governor Evers gives a glimpse of his proposed 2023 budget at his annual State of the State address,
* We continue our preview of aldermanic races, talking with the District 10 incumbent-alder about their upcoming primary election,
* And in the second half, how to remove radium from the water supply, politicians go after the Daily Cardinal in 1965 Madison, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Jan 24, 2023
The Ins And Outs Of The UW Zoological Museum
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, January 24.
* We tour the UW Zoological Museum to learn how it gets animal specimens for research…
* WORT continues its coverage of the 2023 spring primary and heads to District 10 in southwest Madison…
* And in the second half, Cardinal Call returns for UW's spring semester, wildlife rehabilitators help an eagle with a spinal fracture, and we hear more voices of participants at the Women's March last Sunday.
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Jan 23, 2023
Common Council Approves $1.5 Million Grant From Center For Tech And Civic Life
This is your WORT local news for Monday, January 23.
* Thousands took to the streets yesterday to celebrate and mourn the 50th anniversary of Roe v Wade,
* The city of Madison accepts a grant to help run elections, while the legislature debates banning private funds for elections.
* We continue our coverage of the 2023 spring primary election in District nine,
* And in the second half, Black auto workers strike in 1969, this week in local government, and two new movie reviews.
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Jan 19, 2023
Report: CO2 Removal Needs Six-Fold Increase To Meet 2050 Goals
This is your WORT Local News for Thursday, January 19.
* A UW Madison professor helps on an international report on removing CO2 from the atmosphere,
* We kick off our coverage of the District nine alder primary,
* And in the second half, records requests go unfilled in the Madison School District; the ice holds up after Monday’s rain; and loom weaving on the go.
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Jan 17, 2023
Sheriff Kalvin Barrett Calls On County Board To Put Jail Funding On Ballot
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, January 17.
* The Dane County Sheriff is calling on the county board to put the question of funding a new jail before voters…
* We continue our coverage of the primary election for District 4 alder…
* And in the second half, we explore the potential health benefits to psychedelics, juncos receive some winter care, and Radio Astro takes its final trip into space.
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Jan 12, 2023
Federal Court Of Appeals Dismisses Challenge To Madison’s Long-Standing Billboard Ordinances
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, January 12.
* The state’s joint rules committee allows conversion therapy to continue in Wisconsin,
* The city wins a lawsuit against an outdoor advertising company over the size of billboards in Madison,
* We begin our coverage of the spring primary election for District 4,
* And in the second half, a conversation with DJ Spade; ice fishing picks up in Madison; and how to unpack the effects of cultural appropriation.
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Jan 11, 2023
City To Debate New Grant To Support Accessible Taxi Cabs
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, January 11.
* City officials are looking for ways to make accessible cabs available to everyone who needs them,
* We finish our coverage of the spring primary election for District Two alder,
* And in the second half, we try to ice skate in local parks, university officials try to turn Bascom Hill into a parking garage in 1968 Madison, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Jan 10, 2023
Evan McSorley Running In Primary Election For District 2 Alder
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, January 10.
* Madison residents fight to name the onetime home of the American credit union movement as a historic landmark…
* We continue our coverage of Madison alder candidates running in the spring primary election for District 2…
* And in the second half, Republican legislators are looking to pass a slew of amendments to the state constitution, we get to know a special goose, and researchers investigate the gasses that comprise the atmospheres of other planets.
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Jan 9, 2023
Colin Barushok Running In Primary Election For District 2 Alder
This is your WORT local news for Monday, January 9.
* DNR officials are still on the lookout after a Bald Eagle was shot and killed last month
* We kick off our interviews with the candidates in this spring's primary,
* A community leader with Voit Farm explains where they'd like the direction of the project to go.
* And two new movie reviews.
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Jan 5, 2023
Safe Skies Clean Water Files Final Argument Against F-35s
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, January 5.
* Anti-F-35 activists file one of their final legal arguments in their fight to keep the jets out of Dane County,
* A local skater fights for his right to skate in the winter months,
* Emergency mental health systems in Wisconsin are failing rural residents,
* And in the second half, the last year in government transparency, ice fishing survives the warm weather, and a new Netflix documentary briefly features some Chazen art.
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Jan 4, 2023
Madison Gets “Complete Green Streets”
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, January 4.
* The Common Council approves a plan to both make roads safer for pedestrians, but promote tree growth next to roadways,
* Drones could deliver life-saving equipment to rural areas quickly,
* And in the second half, police officers watch a movie in 1960s Madison, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Jan 4, 2023
Governor Tony Evers Sworn In For Second Term As Governor
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, January 3.
* Tony Evers is sworn in for his second term as Wisconsin's governor…
* The great Bird-a-thon sees birders helping to raise money for conservation efforts…
* Plus, homemade candy can now be legally sold in Wisconsin, and we consider political predictions for 2023.
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Dec 29, 2022
Drunk Driving Crashes On The Rise In Wisconsin
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, December 29.
* Dane County sucked around 25,000 tons of muck clogging waterways in 20-22
* Drunk driving is on the rise in Wisconsin,
* And in the second half, the importance of mediation in prison, the beginning of ice fishing season, and clearing the clutter in the new year.
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Dec 28, 2022
UW Madison Joins National Harm Reduction Research Network
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, December 28.
* The new Dane County Jail Project sees a tumultuous year of fighting inflation,
* UW Madison joins a national coalition to prevent opioid overdoses,
* Parks and Landmarks returns to Apple River Canyon.
* And Madison in the 60s sees a city fighting for civil rights in 1962.
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Dec 27, 2022
"Basically nautical snowplows:" Congress approves new heavy icebreaker for Great Lakes
Here's your local news for Tuesday, December 27:
* Nurses at UW Health take their fight for union recognition to the courts,
* Congress has approved a new heavy icebreaker for the Great Lakes,
* And, Miss America juggles her title while studying nuclear engineering at UW-Madison.
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Dec 26, 2022
Beneath Our Feet: Preservation and The Milwaukee Poor Farm Cemetery
This is your WORT local news for Monday, December 26.
To celebrate the holidays, we gave our volunteers the day off, and instead present an hour-long investigation into the Milwaukee Poor Farm Cemetery.
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Dec 22, 2022
Brian Benford Not Seeking Reelection
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, December 22.
* Major companies say they’ll phase out toxic forever chemicals,
* Neighborhoods across Madison celebrate the shortest day of the year,
* We continue our series of Madison alder exit interviews,
* And just in time for your last-minute shopping trip- what happens to those shiny new electronics years down the line?
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Dec 21, 2022
Winter Blizzard Zips Toward Wisconsin, Impacting Holiday Travel
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, December 21.
* Tomorrow’s winter storm will have major impacts on travel conditions ahead of the holidays,
* UAW workers in Racine caravan across southeastern Wisconsin to strike for better wages,
* We try to stay warm at Hoyt Park,
* And get the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves ahead of the upcoming winter storm.
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Dec 20, 2022
District 15 Alder Grant Foster Not Seeking Reelection
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, December 20.
* A local blood center is asking for donations ahead of an expected holiday-induced dip in its supplies
* We continue our series of alder exit interviews with Grant Foster
* And in the second half, birds buckle down for a winter blast, and we bid farewell to an old friend on Mars.
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Dec 15, 2022
Breaking Ground on Bus Rapid Transit
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, December 15.
* A new report finds Dane County is aggressively pursuing the so-called birth tax after a promise to stop nearly three years ago,
* State and city officials officially broke ground on Bus Rapid Transit today,
* And a planned strike from Red Cross workers was officially called off today after leaders reached a labor agreement.
* Plus, we go inside the Oakhill Correctional Institute, and explore the dos and don’ts of ice fishing.
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Dec 13, 2022
Plan Commission Approves Amendment To TOD Overlay Districts
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, December 13.
* Increased housing density could come to Madison’s historic districts…
* Today marks the one year anniversary of Dick Wagner’s passing,
* We meet the organizer of Madison’s newest sister city partnership…
* And in the second half, the Daily Cardinal reviews the UW's fall semester, robins see no reason to leave in the winter, and Radio Astro tunes out cosmic light.
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Dec 12, 2022
Roller Derby Returns to Madison
This is your WORT local news for Monday, December 12.
* Madison’s Plan and Landmarks Commissions untangle the web that is their methods of communication,
* Roller Derby returns to Madison after a years-long hiatus,
* We got our first major snowfall of the season, and Madison’s buses worked to keep
* And in the second half, this week in local meetings, state officials prepare for yet another budget deliberation season, and two new movie reviews.
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Dec 8, 2022
Hundreds Attend First Public Meeting On Potential Passenger Rail
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, December 8.
* Passenger rail could come to Madison - again;
* Madison’s alternative public safety response program reviews its one year of existence,
* We continue our round of exit interviews with Madison alders;
* And in the second half, why can state legislators make anonymous objections during state budget deliberations? Plus, slow times on Madison lakes, and aluminum Christmas trees.
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Dec 7, 2022
Syed Abbas Resigns From Common Council
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, December 7.
* Wisconsin farmers are looking for support for cover crops,
* Youth organizations get a little more money in their coffers,
* Former Alder Syed Abbas sits down to give an exit interview,
* And in the second half, a history lesson in Waunakee, violent anti war protests in 1960’s Madison, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves
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Dec 6, 2022
Jan. 6 Special Counsel Subpoenas Dane County Clerk’s Office
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, December 6.
* The US DOJ has subpoenaed the Dane County Clerk's office,
* 'Tis the season once again inside the Wisconsin Capitol Rotunda…
* A new initiative seeks to make Madison more pedestrian-friendly,
* And in the second half, we hike along the shores of Lake Mendota, foster orphaned bird chicks, and mine light from stars in far away galaxies.
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Dec 5, 2022
City Wants Public Input On Amtrak Station Study
This is your WORT local news for Monday, December 5.
* The county health department releases a report showing no elevated risk of lead poisoning near the Middleton airport,
* City officials are looking for public input on where to put a potential Amtrak station,
* Sennett Middle School gets their principal back after months of staff asking for his return,
* And in the second half, this week in local meetings, the anniversary of the founding of a major labor group, and just one new movie review.
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Dec 1, 2022
Inflation Drives Food Shortages – Foodbanks Are Feeling It Too
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, December 1.
* Area food banks are in need of help ahead of the holiday season,
* Madison’s all-electric cab company quietly ended operations last week,
* And in the second half, one of the co-founders of EXPO talks about the importance of voting for incarcerated people, tips on how not to fall through the ice, and bringing the holiday spirit front and center with human hair.
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Dec 1, 2022
U.S. Senate Passes Law Respecting Same-Sex Marriage
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, November 30.
* Madison Police provide an update on yesterday’s State Street shooting,
* Tammy Baldwin leads the way in passing of the Respect for Marriage Act,
* Local governments across the state took on a record amount of debt in 2020,
* And in the second half, a trip to Governor Nelson State Park, plenty of university news in 1960s Madison, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Nov 29, 2022
Local Entrepreneurs Excited For Madison Public Market
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, November 29.
* Local entrepreneurs are excited for the opening of the Madison Public Market in 2024…
* Madison’s mayor takes a trip to the Gambia to visit a sister city…
* Madison will soon be painted orange to raise awareness of gender-based violence…
* And in the second half, the Badgers football team is on to its third coach of the season, we check in on birds battling the avian flu, and learn how moons take shape.
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Nov 28, 2022
State Commission Rules UW Health Does Not Have To Recognize Nurses Union.
This is your WORT local news for Monday, November 28.
* A state agency rules that UW doesn’t have to recognize a nurses union,
* Several seats on the Madison Common Council are up for grabs,
* Madison’s paratransit service prepares for Bus Rapid Transit,
* And in the second half, this week in city and county meetings, the anniversary of the death of Harvey Milk, and two new movie reviews.
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Nov 23, 2022
Council Declines to Raise Alder Pay
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, November 23.
* Madison alders turn down a pay raise,
* We get the scoop from an investigative journalist on the arrest of three Madison police officers over a fortnight,
* And in the second half, Parks & Landmarks explores a new park in Rock County, Madison in the Sixties flashes back to November, 1963, and we take a look at the weather ahead over Thanksgiving weekend.
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Nov 22, 2022
Report Estimates $6.5 Billion Budget Surplus In Wisconsin
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, November 22.
* Wisconsin lawmakers debate about how to use a state budget surplus…
* Opioid overdose deaths reached a new record high last year,
* And in the second half, U-W Madison works to celebrate indigenous voices year round, we salute wild turkeys and NASA begins its return to the moon.
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Nov 21, 2022
Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway Announces Reelection Campaign
This is your WORT local news for Monday, November 21.
* Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway announces her re-election campaign to once again represent the city of Madison,
* County officials take a hard look at healthcare inside the Dane County Jail,
* Bears, cougars, and other large predators are being seen more and more in southern Wisconsin,
* And in the second half, this week in local government meetings, the anniversary of the death of a Mexican radical, and two new movie reviews.
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Nov 17, 2022
Some say "no way" to Sauk Creek Greenway
Here's your local news for Thursday, November 17:
* As the city concludes its budget process, some residents remain concerned over a future greenway restoration project,
* Starbucks workers on the Capitol Square strike for union recognition amidst a national campaign on one of the chain's busiest days of the year,
* Walker-appointed Natural Resources Board member Fred Prehn is back in court over text records,
* Plus, OuttaDeeBox speaks with Renee Moe, CEO of the United Way of Dane County,
* Radio Chipstone explores stress relief through handiwork,
* And we hear a bit about the recently-passed MMSD budget.
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Nov 16, 2022
RSV Cases On The Rise Across Wisconsin
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, November 16.
* Madison budget negotiations continue tonight - we find out what didn’t make it through last night.
* RSV is on the rise across the state, and the public health department gives some tips on how to avoid the virus,
* And in the second half, the king visits Madison and breaks out his karate moves, civil rights speeches in 1960s Madison, and the most comprehensive weather report on your radio dial.
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Nov 15, 2022
DNR Drafts First Plan In Decades On Wolf Management
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, November 15.
* The D-N-R issues its first plan in 25 years for managing wolves…
* Madison kicks off its big budget week tonight…
* It was a record year for ballot referendums in Wisconsin…
* And in the second half, we talk to new UW-Madison new Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin, warn against giving treats to wild animals and go on the hunt for black holes.
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Nov 14, 2022
Alders Propose Amendment To Help Madison Public Market
This is your WORT local news for Monday, November 14.
* Budget deliberations are set to begin, and the Madison Public Market is looking for new life in the capital budget,
* In the operating budget, the city’s CARES program is looking to expand,
* Meanwhile, after Governor Evers won reelection, will the Republican-led legislature agree to finally approve his appointees,
* And in the second half, the 1917 Night of Terror in D-C, the state DNR releases their new wolf management plan, and two new movie reviews.
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Nov 10, 2022
Gloria Reyes Announces Candidacy For Madison Mayor
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, November 10.
* We look ahead to the local election cycle next spring, as Gloria Reyes announces her candidacy for mayor of Madison,
* That’s even as some results from the fall election on Tuesday are still being decided; Secretary of State candidate Doug LaFollette talks about his yet-to-be-called race against Republican candidate Amy Loudenbeck,
* And in the second half, Transparency Talk examines when we can record government meetings, Fishy Business gets ready for winter, and Radio Chipstone examines what was in a World War One soldier’s pockets.
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Nov 9, 2022
Wisconsin votes for the status quo — Evers, Johnson win another term
Here's your local news for Wednesday, November 9, 2022 —
* Mixed political victories roll in today, as Evers wins a second term as governor and Johnson, a third term as US Senator. We hear audio from the scene of several election night events and the vote totals, as of Wednesday afternoon.
* We speak with political reporter Patrick Marley, voting issues reporter for The Washington Post, about the outcome of Wisconsin's congressional elections and the narrowly-missed opportunity for a Republican supermajority in the Wisconsin legislature.
* We hear an excerpt from Marquette political science professor Julia Azari, who joined WORT earlier in the day to break down the election results and the myth of a "red wave" across the nation. Listen to the full interview here.
* Plus, Madison in the 60s has the news from 60 years ago this month, when urban renewal was in trouble, legal conflicts confused efforts for a public auditorium, and the most famous Black chef in America passed…
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Nov 9, 2022
WORT heads to the polls
Here's your local news for Tuesday, November 8 - Election Day!
* We fan out to polling sites across Madison to speak with voters - and election officials,
* Cardinal Call breaks down all the candidates who’ve visited the UW campus this fall,
* Wildlife Weekly gets patriotic with a record number of eagles at the rehabilitation center,
* And Radio Astro meets up with the IceCube Neutrino Observatory.
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Nov 8, 2022
Campaigns Rally Ahead Of Midterm Elections
This is your WORT local news for Monday, November 7.
* Candidates and political figures flock to Dane County for one final push before election day,
* Everything you need to know before heading to the polls tomorrow,
* And in the second half, this week in city and county meetings, a conversation with Fran Lebowitz, and two new movie reviews.
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Nov 3, 2022
Michels Stops In Dane County Days Before Fall Election
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, November 3.
* GOP gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels stops in Dane County days ahead of the fall election,
* The city is looking to expand opportunities for dogs in public parks,
* The dos and don’ts you need to know on election day,
* And in the second half, part two of our conversation with Sedrick Page, pesky carp in area waters, and Wisconsin’s early abolitionist efforts.
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Nov 2, 2022
“Everything is just in the air" — Homelessness advocates rally at Capitol
Here's your local news for November 2, 2022:
* Advocates rally at the Capitol to find solutions for a chronic problem: homelessness;
* We catch up on today's Marquette Law School Poll findings, the last before next week's election;
* Parks & Landmarks visits Anderson County Park, and no, that's not a zip line;
* Plus a flashback to elections of decades past and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Nov 1, 2022
Rats Invade Emerson Neighborhood In Northeast Madison
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, November 1.
* Madison's 20-23 budget deliberations continue with city employees potentially seeing a bigger raise…
* Rats overrun the Emerson East neighborhood…
* Anti-LGBTQ rhetoric is on the rise in Wisconsin ahead of the election…
* And in the second half, we recount the history of FreakFest, track patients of the Dane County Wildlife Rehab Center, and delve into the early history of the universe.
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Oct 31, 2022
Sheriff Kalvin Barrett Takes On Anthony Hamilton For Dane County Sheriff
This is your WORT local news for Monday, October 31.
* We break down the two candidates running for Dane County Sheriff,
* A new report shows a link between racial disparities in COVID mortality and the political leaning of state leaders,
* And in the second half, the anniversary of the disastrous Mississippi constitution in 1870, how party leaders on both sides of the aisle are looking at the fall election, and two new movie reviews.
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Oct 28, 2022
Healthcare Workers March for Abortion Rights
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, October 27.
* Healthcare workers and medical students march through downtown to tell state Republicans their thoughts on the state’s abortion ban,
* The history of housing co-ops in Madison, from past, to present, to future,
* And in the second half, the role of state attorney generals in open government, your weekly fishing report, and a final trip to a haunted house.
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Oct 26, 2022
How The Uihlein’s Became A Conservative Superpower
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, October 26.
* Senator Tammy Baldwin and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh come to DeForest to tout union labor,
* How one relatively unknown Midwest family has donated tens of millions of dollars to conservative candidates across the country,
* And in the second half, a return trip to the rock in the house, a US Senator is heckled off stage in 1960s Madison, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Oct 25, 2022
City Cracks Down On Their Own Voting Sign Placement
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, October 25.
* More than 1,000 Madisonians cast their 2022 ballots today, the first day of early voting — but you might have trouble finding those blue VOTE signs…
* An investigation of workplace and animal safety issues at the Henry Vilas Zoo recommends changes…
* We recap a community forum on housing issues held last night…
* And in the second half, we take a look at campus demonstrations against conservative provocateur Matt Walsh, walk through the difficult decision to euthanize rescued wildlife, and check out mystifying findings from the James Webb space telescope.
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Oct 24, 2022
Sabrina Madison Named New District 17 Alder
This is your WORT local news for Monday, October 24.
* The state’s top energy provider seeks to raise their rates,
* Sabrina Madison is named as Madison’s next alder for district 17,
* And in the second half, we get the scoop on local government meetings for the week ahead, a U-W professor is a MacArthur “genius,” and two new movie reviews.
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Oct 20, 2022
International Coalition Calls On Biden To End F-35 Program
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, October 20.
* An international coalition of anti-F35 activists call on President Biden to put an end to the controversial fighter jets,
* Dane County officials unveil the next stage in their Suck the Muck initiative,
* In addition to sucking the muck, county officials restore wetlands to protect communities from environmental hazards,
* And in the second half, the role mentorship has in our youth, snowfalls bring in the fish, and the international spam carving competition.
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Oct 19, 2022
“Theocratic Fascist” To Give Anti-Trans Talk At UW-Memorial Union
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, October 19.
* The city’s Landmarks Commission holds up a housing development that’s received surprising support from neighbors,
* A commentator courts controversy at an upcoming UW-Madison event,
* The three-way race for Robin Vos’ Assembly seat heats up,
* And in the second half, Middleton’s complicated relationship with the outdoors, Hilldale Shopping Center opens in 19-60s Madison, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Oct 19, 2022
Wisconsin School Districts Will Ask Voters To Raise Revenue Limits
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, October 18.
* School districts across Wisconsin are asking voters to raise their revenue limits…
* The application for federal student loan debt forgiveness just opened…
* And in the second half, U-W students struggle to find housing, birds circle residential neighborhoods, and a search for alien life starts with broccoli.
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Oct 17, 2022
DNR Begins Program To Dispose Of PFAS-Laden Firefighting Foam
This is your WORT local news for Monday, October 17.
* The state DNR begins a program to help fire departments get rid of their PFAS-laden firefighting foam,
* Governor Tony Evers took on GOP-candidate Tim Michels in a Friday night debate,
* And in the second half, the grim history of the 1876 Indian famine, artists set up shop around Madison for Artist Night, and two old-school movie reviews.
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Oct 12, 2022
Dairy Drive Community To Continue Through 2023; Mayor Releases Proposed 2023 Operating Budget
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, October 12.
* The Tiny Home campground on Dairy Drive will live on for another year, as the city prepares to decide Madison’s 2023 budget,
* Wisconsin faces a shortage of OBGYNs after the overturning of Roe
* Connecticut warblers are quickly disappearing from Wisconsin,
* And in the second half, the beauty of Mirror Lake, Badger news in 1962 Madison, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Oct 11, 2022
Checking in on Monona's former friary
Here are your local news headlines for Tuesday, October 11:
* A project to steer development of the former San Damiano friary in Monona is beginning to take shape... with your input,
* Artists protested on Sunday, as the the Ain't I A Woman Triennial exhibit came to a formal end at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art,
* Cardinal Call shared the backstory on the firing of former Badgers head coach Paul Chryst, Wildlife Weekly shares wild animals who have been rehabilitated recently, and Radio Astro taps into the power of a black hole.
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Oct 10, 2022
John Tate II Named Madison’s First Independent Police Monitor.
This is your WORT local news for Monday, October 10.
* The city of Madison names their first Independent Police Monitor,
* It’s Indigenous People’s Day, and a teepee was erected on the lawn of the state Capitol,
* And in the second half, the Allen Centennial Garden holds their Harvest Folk Festival, this week in city and county meetings, and two new movie reviews.
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Oct 6, 2022
Waukesha County Judge Rules “Ballot Spoiling” Illegal
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, October 6.
* A Wisconsin judge rules ballot spoiling illegal,
* The race for Wisconsin’s governor heats up, and becomes one of the priciest in the nation,
* And in the second half, a conversation with HeyMiss Progress, trout season comes to an end, and mysterious faces in pottery.
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Oct 5, 2022
Jenny Holzer Turns Shuttered Ballot Drop Boxes Into Art
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, October 5.
* Madison’s now shuttered absentee ballot drop-boxes get a new life as public art,
* Wisconsin farmers get together to discuss the role agriculture plays in saving the environment,
* Local governments navigate red tape in order to make urban highways safer,
* And in the second half, the battle of local apple cider donuts, equal housing rights in 1960s Madison, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Oct 4, 2022
Special Session On Ballot Initiatives Lasts 15 Seconds In State Senate
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, October 4.
* The Wisconsin Legisature's special session to allow ballot initiatives in the state lasts all of 15 seconds…
* Preliminary data from a PFAS removal study at the Dane County airport shows promising results…
* And in the second half, a popular source of income for U-W students closes its doors, a refresher on protecting yourself and wildlife during hunting seasons, and a mysterious star dims in deep space.
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Oct 3, 2022
Proposed County Budget Prioritizes Food Funding & Community Court
This is your WORT local news for Monday, October 3.
* County Executive Joe Parisi focus on food funding and community court in his 2023 budget,
* The US Supreme Court hears arguments that may shape the future of wetlands protections,
* And in the second half, this week in city and county meetings, local artists get into the Halloween spirit, and two new movie reviews.
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Sep 29, 2022
MTI Calls For Robust Noise Study Of F-35s
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, September 28.
* The union representing Madison teachers is calling for a more robust noise study ahead of the F-35 touchdown,
* A new report shows that Madison businesses are failing to promote Black workers,
* And in the second half, a trip to Rock County, and the debate about parole in 1960s Madison.
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Sep 28, 2022
Something Stinky This Way Comes: Parisi Proposes New Community Manure Processing Facility
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, September 27.
* Dane County Executive Joe Parisi proposes to stink up his 2023 budget with a manure processing plant,
* More and more college grads are leaving Wisconsin to find jobs in bigger cities…
* And in the second half, bats are beginning their winter hibernation, and NASA practices protecting us from Earth-killers.
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Sep 26, 2022
Dane County Bars Contracting With Agencies Enforcing Abortion Ban
This is your WORT local news for Monday, September 26.
* Dane County moves to ban contracts between the county and any agency that enforces Wisconsin’s abortion ban,
* Protesters gather in Madison to show support for a woman killed by Iranian police,
* We look back at the 1922 railroad strike ahead of the potential railroad strike hitting the US once again,
* And two new movie reviews.
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Sep 22, 2022
Officer Who Shot Quadren Wilson Charged
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, September 22.
* One of the officers who shot Quadren Wilson has been charged with a felony,
* A 3,000 year-old canoe has been found in Lake Mendota,
* And in the second half, the benefits of poetry both in and out of prison, fall weather fishing, and some light Halloween-themed crimes.
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Sep 21, 2022
Evers Calls For Special Session To Bring Binding Referendums To Wisconsin
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, September 21.
* Governor Tony Evers calls for a special session to allow voters to repeal laws at the ballot box,
* Libraries across the state weigh in on book banning during national Banned Book Week,
* And in the second half, a return trip to Indian Lake County Park, contentious school board meetings in 1969, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Sep 20, 2022
Alder Gary Halverson Resigns From Council
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, September 20.
* A Madison alder resigns after his name was found on the membership rolls of a far-right hate group…
* Employees at a local Noodles and Company walk out over low wages…
* And in the second half, we share everything you need to know about student debt relief, learn how to differentiate between two types of softshell turtles, and break out our intergalactic calculators.
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Sep 19, 2022
Republican Candidates Call For Madison To Abandon Tear Gas Ban
This is your WORT local news for Monday, September 19.
* Republicans call for the city council to abandon their efforts to ban tear gas in Madison,
* Pro-choice activists gathered over the weekend in protest of moves to ban abortions at a federal level,
* And in the second half, Tammy Baldwin on the “Respect for Marriage Act,” the anniversary of the Salinas lettuce strike, and two new movie reviews.
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Sep 14, 2022
Friends Of Sauk Creek Concerned About City’s Greenway Reconstruction Project
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, September 14.
* Neighbors of the Sauk Creek Greenway are concerned that restoration of the area will cause more harm than good,
* Art professionals are protesting the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art’s treatment of Black artists,
* Lunches in Madison schools are coming up short in the first weeks of the school year,
* And in the second half, the history of Mazo Beach, long hair students cause trouble in 1960s Madison, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Sep 14, 2022
Free Speech Survey Set To Be Sent To UW Students This Fall
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, September 13.
* The UW System’s free speech survey will be going ahead this semester…
* A new report from a UW Madison think tank shows support for unions is on the rise in Wisconsin…
* And in the second half, we assess the current state of State Street, search for palm warblers, and bend the way we look at space.
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Sep 12, 2022
New Exhibit Highlights UW Madison’s History Of Discrimination
This is your WORT local news for Monday, September 12.
* A new exhibit at the Chazen looks to reckon with UW Madison’s past of discrimination and racism,
* Nurses at UW Health come to an agreement with hospital administrators the day before they planned to strike,
* And in the second half, a look back at the Attica Prison Rebellion of 1971, life expectancies in the US fall for the second year in a row, and two new movie reviews.
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Sep 9, 2022
Parisi Announces New Initiative To Address Opioid Epidemic In Dane County.
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, September 8.
* Dane County leaders announce a new initiative to help combat the opioid epidemic in Dane County,
* Moths flock to sugar as we learn more about Land Trusts in south-central Wisconsin,
* And in the second half, the role baking has after incarceration, we hit area streams in search of fish, and hear about the joys of learning about ceramics.
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Sep 7, 2022
Raemisch Farm Rezoning Passes Common Council
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, September 7.
* Raemisch Farm is set to be redeveloped after over a year of back-and-forth from the Common Council,
* How new ideas behind grazing are allowing cows to take part in saving the environment,
* A case before the state Supreme Court looks to change how ballot questions are presented to voters,
* And in the second half, a trip to Stewart Lake in Mount Horeb, the start of the 1966 school year, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Sep 6, 2022
Madison Mayor Announces Capital Budget Proposal
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, September 6.
* The mayor of Madison releases her 2023 capital budget proposal…
* On Labor Day, we talked to folks about their work lives…
* We travel to southeastern Wisconsin for a community conversation about Foxconn…
* And in the second half, Cardinal Call returns with student news from UW-Madison, we watch turtles hatch in backyards, and learn what it's like to get stuck in an intergalactic traffic jam.
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Sep 1, 2022
Public Market Project Struggles With Swelling Budget
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, September 1.
* Inflation hits the Madison Public Market, putting the future of the project at risk,
* Potentially sketchy Lieutenant Governor campaigns, the race for Madison’s mayor, and de-escalation training all appear in this months Isthmus,
* And in the second half, we look for records from the past, we get ready for fall fishing, and a meeting between old friends.
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Aug 31, 2022
Town Of Middleton Chairperson Raise Concerns Of Lead Pollution At Morey Airport
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, August 31.
* A Middleton official is sounding the alarm over lead pollution,
* State officials are warning not to fall for loan forgiveness scams,
* We learn why some Dane County residents are frustrated over delayed PFAS cleanup,
* And in the second half, we get an update on bike trails on Lake Mendota, a rocky start to the school year in 1960s Madison, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Aug 30, 2022
City, County To Invest $9 Million For Permanent Men’s Shelter
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, August 30.
* Dane County announces a major investment into a new permanent men’s shelter…
* Labor Day is around the corner, and we look at what’s happening at this year’s Laborfest…
* A state finance committee holds up funding for arts organizations until the last minute…
* And in the second half, we examine how community groups are organizing for abortion access, learn just how birds fly, and get ready for our next trip to the moon.
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Aug 29, 2022
Injuries From Drunk Driving Rise 41% In First Half Of 2022
This is your WORT local news for Monday, August 29.
* Injuries from drunk driving accidents are on the rise in Dane County,
* A program at the Madison Public Library is looking for underrepresented stories, and wants you to be the storyteller,
* And in the second half, the anniversary of a major coal workers strike, what student loan relief means in Wisconsin, and two new movie reviews.
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Aug 25, 2022
UW Health Nurses Vote To Strike If Union Is Not Recognized
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, August 25.
* Nurses at U-W Health plan to strike,
* A new report finds Wisconsin leads the nation in proposals to overhaul elections,
* We look into why Wisconsin is facing a public defenders staffing crisis,
* And in the second half, being a father in prison, trout come to Dane County, and a trip to an Amish fair.
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Aug 24, 2022
Criminal Defense Lawyers Sue State’s Public Defender Board Over Lack Of Public Defenders
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, August 24.
* A group of criminal defense lawyers are suing the state of Wisconsin over the state’s lack of public defenders,
* Top state Democrats are calling on Republicans to act on money the state won in a massive opioid settlement,
* UW Madison ranks last in sustainability compared to other universities, and they are working to make the campus more eco-friendly,
* And in the second half, the culture behind waterfalls, a decade of eventful summers in Madison, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Aug 23, 2022
Meet The Candidates For Madison’s First Independent Police Monitor
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, August 23.
* Madison's police oversight board announces four candidates for the city's first Independent Police Monitor…
* We look back at the Kenosha protests after two years...
* And in the second half, we learn how far electric cars can really go, watch chipmunks attack bird feeders, and take a trip inside a neutron star.
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Aug 22, 2022
Why Not Concrete?
This is your WORT local news for Monday, August 22.
* Eco-friendly concrete hits the road to try and cut down on carbon emissions,
* A new group aims at connecting the Latino community with green energy production,
* Congressman Mark Pocan on the Inflation Reduction Act,
* And in the second half, this week in city and county meetings, the difference between apples and crabapples, and two new movie reviews.
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Aug 18, 2022
To Madison’s Gay Community, Risk Of Monkeypox Goes Beyond Just The Virus
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, August 18.
* We look at how Monkeypox is creating a new stigma for the LGBTQ community,
* Madison’s first electric buses hit a major snag in the road,
* And in the second half, records from quasi-governments, muskies make their way to Madison, and hoarding on Hippie Christmas.
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Aug 17, 2022
Dane County Seeks Consultant To Update Plan To Address Homelessness
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, August 17.
* Madison officials release new stats on public safety, showing that Madison is getting safer,
* The city is working to hire a consultant to update the city’s homelessness prevention plan,
* A new Marquette Law Poll shows a tight race for the Governor’s mansion,
* And in the second half, pontoon tours of Mendota, shriners come to Madison, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Aug 16, 2022
“What’s Good For Birds Is Good For Wisconsin,” Judge Rules Madison Ordinance Requiring Bird-Safe Glass Is Legal
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, August 16.
* A Dane County judge rules Madison’s ordinance requiring bird-safe glass can stand…
* A national newspaper chain lays off local reporters in Wisconsin and across the country…
* Long-term care providers face a major staffing crisis…
* And in the second half, the dos and don’ts of moving day in Madison, a mustachioed bird flies into town, and the mystery of a dimming star.
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Aug 15, 2022
Of lilacs and Macbeth
Here's what's on your local news for August 15, 2022:
* The mayor quotes Macbeth to celebrate the end of a long-running election investigation,
* A new proposal for a new Dane County Jail takes the stage this week,
* We take a trip down to the Longenecker Horticultural Gardens, and smell some lilacs,
* Plus, we get the scoop on local government meetings for the week ahead.
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Aug 11, 2022
What To Know About Monkeypox In Madison
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, August 11.
* We get an update on the current state of Monkeypox here in Dane County,
* We look at what makes three southeastern Wisconsin counties so important in Wisconsin elections,
* And in the second half, a conversation with a corrections officer, horse-powered ice cream, and our new feature heads to the lake to search for some fish.
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Aug 10, 2022
Tim Michels Wins Republican Primary, Solidifying Trump’s Influence In Wisconsin
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, August 10.
* We recap last night’s primary election - which saw Tim Michels take home the Republican nomination for Governor,
* And also saw Assembly Speaker Robin Vos struggle with a surprisingly tight race to keep his job,
* And in the second half, things get rocky in Fountain City, a city dance leads to flaring racial tensions in 1960s Madison, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Aug 9, 2022
Talking With The Voters: 2022 Fall Primary
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, August 9.
* We head to the polls to talk with voters about today’s primary…
* We speak with a former Dane County judge investigating allegations at the Henry Vilas Zoo…
* And in the second half, Our Faith Communities explores what it means to be a Christian, Wildlife Weekly explains why cats can be bad for the environment, and Radio Astronomy celebrates the power of curiosity.
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Aug 8, 2022
On The Ground At A Waukesha Trump Rally
This is your WORT local news for Monday, August 8.
* Former President Donald Trump comes to Wisconsin ahead of tomorrow’s primary election,
* Rural Wisconsin roads are having a hard time keeping up with repairs,
* Oshkosh Defense runs into hot water when they try and move production out of their namesake city,
* And in the second half, this week in city and county meetings, how to deal with burnout, and two new movie reviews.
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Aug 4, 2022
Lawsuit Against Wisconsin’s 19th-Century Abortion Ban Moves Forward
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, August 4.
* UW Madison employees pen an open letter calling for increased COVID protections,
* We look at what’s going on with Attorney General Kaul’s lawsuit against the state’s abortion ban,
* The village of Belleville gets into hot water with closed-door meetings over the sale of an old library,
* And in the second half, Madison is facing a vet shortage, Gableman’s legal fees begin to add up, and a look back at racial tensions in 1960s Milwaukee
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Aug 3, 2022
Residents On Madison’s Southwest Side Upset Over Adult Store In Neighborhood
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, August 3.
* Disability Pride returns to Madison after a hiatus from the pandemic,
* Union leaders gather in Madison to call for Congress to address inflation,
* Protesters gather in Racine to call for the arrest of a man who admitted to committing voter fraud,
* And in the second half, stargazing at Donald Park, an early iteration of the Civilian Police Oversight Board, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Aug 2, 2022
New Plan For Dane County Jail Released As Jail Residents Are Moved To Surrounding Counties
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, August 2.
* The Dane County Jail may be getting a new plan more in line with its original budget…
* We talk to Tim Ramthun, a Republican candidate for governor, about why he wants to change Wisconsin's 2020 electoral votes…
* And in the second half, the Big Ten is expanding, invasive birds cause issues for native species, and debates heat up over how dense the universe really is.
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Aug 1, 2022
On pints and politicians
Here's your local news for Monday, August 1:
* Our producer travels to a "Pints and Politics" GOP event with frontrunners Rebecca Kleefisch and Tim Michels,
* A decision on Madison's first Independent Police Monitor could be coming down the pipeline this month — after two years of searching,
* Our Faith Communities heads to a local Catholic church to sit in on a sermon,
* The Past Isn’t Past takes a trip to Disneyland to look back and when Yippies took over the park, and more.
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Jul 28, 2022
Spoiled Ballots and Fake Electors
Here's your local news for Thursday, July 28:
* A coalition steps up its push to demand that the Dane County DA investigate a Republican false elector scheme,
* Voted for a candidate who's since dropped out? Here's how to spoil your ballot,
* COVID-19 protections for thousands of migrant farmworkers expire today as the peak of the agricultural season begins,
* We continue our series of interviews with Republican candidates for governor,
* One woman's unique (and topless) protest for reproductive rights and nipple equality,
* Plus, OuttaDeeBox speaks with EXPO organizer Carle Fields and Radio Chipstone learns how to save cash as you're learning to sew.
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Jul 27, 2022
Voters With Disabilities File Lawsuit Over Absentee Ballot Return
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, July 27.
* Wisconsin residents with disabilities file a lawsuit against the state Elections Commission over absentee ballots,
* State election officials are looking to educate voters ahead of the fall general election,
* A new series from Wisconsin Watch highlights food insecurity in Wisconsin,
* And in the second half, goats graze in Madison parks, twin tragedies in 19-60s Madison, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Jul 26, 2022
Concerns Of Madison Bikers On Shared-Use Paths
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, July 26.
* Madison's health department is helping to fund violence prevention programs…
* Madison residents put on their helmets and butt heads over bike speeds…
* And in the second half, we kick off our fall 20-22 election coverage, explain why a little bird is so controversial, and tune in to galactic radio relics.
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Jul 21, 2022
New Lawsuit Seeks Damages For PFAS Contamination
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, July 21.
* More on yesterday’s big lawsuit against PFAS manufacturers,
* A new proposal could give you more time to learn about city business,
* We take a trip to the Dane County Fair,
* And we talk open records, meet Madison’s first Youth Poet Laureate, and explore the power of kitsch in the second half of the show.
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Jul 20, 2022
Joint Committee Throws Out Rule Authorizing Elections Clerks To Fix Absentee Ballot Errors
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, July 20.
* State lawmakers strike down an emergency rule authorizing election officials to fix errors on absentee ballots,
* Madison leaders approve a new low-incoming housing project ,
* A new Marquette Law Poll shows support for the US Supreme Court is dwindling,
* And in the second half, a trip to the putting green, a ride-along in the city’s CARES van, and tense debate of riot gear in 1960s Madison.
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Jul 19, 2022
CARES Program Adds Second Team And Second Location On West Side
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, July 19,
* Madison's alternative first-responder program expands…
* A judge bans all recordings of a high profile Madison murder trial…
* And in the second half, a Sauk City musician emerges triumphant from the pandemic, eagles get caught in fishing line, and the James Webb telescope continues capturing amazing images.
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Jul 18, 2022
Democratic U.S. Senate Candidates Debate In Milwaukee
This is your WORT local news for Monday, July 18.
* Democratic candidates for U-S Senate vie ahead of next month’s primary,
* Dane County looks to extend an unhoused hotel program,
* Pink Out Week aims to raise funds for reproductive health resources through food,
* And in the second half, this week in city and county meetings, environmentally sustainable forestry, and two new movie reviews.
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Jul 14, 2022
Reproductive Health Gets a Local Boost
Here's what's on your local evening news for Thursday, July 14, 2022:
* Community Pharmacy is distributing free fentanyl testing kits to fight drug overdoses in Dane County,
* Public Health Madison Dane County is expanding reproductive health resources, and will begin offering IUDs,
* The underreported Supreme Court decision in Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta could undermine tribal sovereignty for the Menominee Nation,
* Isthmus editor-in-chief Judy Davidoff tells us about her embedded reporting following one woman's trip to Illinois for abortion care,
* Families of victims of gun violence share their story,
* Outtadeebox speaks with entrepreneur J-Ball about his journey from foster care, to prison, and finally to businessman,
* And Radio Chipstone takes stock of an inherited sewing machine and accompanying gadgets.
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Jul 13, 2022
State Dems Mobilize Voters After The Fall Of Roe
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, July 13.
* Top state Democrats rally around abortion access ahead of the state primary election,
* Two Democratic Senate candidates voice their concern about being left out of a debate,
* A reproductive health clinic in Rockford gets ready to take on Wisconsin residents,
* And in the second half, a ride on a weed-eating machine, The Beach Boys and hot rods in 1964 Madison, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Jul 12, 2022
Abortion Ban Complicates Access To Other Medications
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, July 12.
* State and local officials react to the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling banning absentee ballot boxes…
* Patients struggle to find medications they need because it could be used to perform an abortion…
* Healthcare workers and nonprofit employees have a chance at student loan forgiveness…
* And in the second half, Much Ado About Nothing comes to Madison, the Humane Society's Animal Rehab Center has a busy year, and the first images from the James Webb Telescope are revealed.
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Jul 11, 2022
State Supreme Court Rules Absentee Ballot Drop Boxes Illegal
This is your WORT local news for Monday, July 11.
* The state Supreme Court issues several big rulings,
* New flex lanes are coming to the beltline to help alleviate congestion during rush hour,
* And in the second half, we get the week in city and county meetings, plus working from home, and two new movie reviews.
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Jul 7, 2022
PSC Member Not Compelled To Turn Over Private Phone Records
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, July 7.
* The state Supreme Court makes an important ruling on the Cardinal-Hickory Creek line,
* A new report links school spending in Wisconsin to the state’s tax burden,
* The Rape Crisis Center opens a new service in the wake of the overturning of Roe,
* And in the second half, a state supreme court decision on open records, a conversation with a local Buddhist leader, and a trip to the thrift store.
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Jul 6, 2022
Healthcare Workers Share Mental Health, Staffing Struggles At Dane County Hearing
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, July 6.
* The Supreme Court rules on additional legal protections for sex trafficking victims,
* Local healthcare workers share their stories, and help explain why Dane County has a shortage of healthcare workers,
* City officials hold a press conference to discuss the Highland Park shooter’s intentions when he fled to Madison,
* And in the second half, the highest hill in Rock County, 1960s auditorium drama, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Jul 5, 2022
Henry Vilas Zoo Issued Two USDA Animal Welfare Act Violations
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, July 5.
* The Henry Vilas Zoo gets two federal violations for incidents regarding capybaras…
* The city of Madison holds a listening session to discuss the status of Well 15…
* A Madison apartment building isn’t allowing its tenants to use window air conditioners…
* And in the second half, we explore vegan dining options at U-W Madison, keep pests away with killdeer, and bend light across the universe.
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Jun 30, 2022
35 Years Later, Wisconsin’s Act 292 Law Is Still On The Books
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, June 30.
* We examine a little-known state law that can detain pregnant women,
* The US Supreme Court threatens environmental standards,
* Tibetan Buddhists hold service just outside of Madison,
* And in the second half, how spending 28 years in prison can teach us to be more understanding, a celebration of Black Art at Madison’s Central Library, and the bane of all craftspeople.
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Jun 29, 2022
Willy Street Treasure Shop Crash Renews Calls For Action
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, June 29.
* The state’s high court rules that Fred Prehn does not need to step down from the DNR board,
* We break down why so many crashes seem to happen on Willy Street,
* We talk with the group POWERS on navigating a post-Roe world,
* And in the second half, a round up of all the firework displays this weekend in Dane County, political action on July 4th in the 1960s, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Jun 28, 2022
AG Kaul Files Legal Challenge Against Wisconsin’s Abortion Ban
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, June 28.
* Top Democrats file a lawsuit to nullify Wisconsin’s abortion ban,
* An OBGYN shares how her job has changed since the overturning of Roe v Wade…
* And in the second half, we explore how L-G-B-T-Q rights have evolved in Wisconsin over 40 years, watch orioles fill the skies, and track quantum particles in space.
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Jun 27, 2022
US Supreme Court Overturns Roe V Wade
This is your WORT local news for Monday, June 27.
* We round up the latest fallout from the Supreme Court’s stripping of constitutional right to privacy and abortion,
* We round up resources for people who may be left in the lurch,
* And we get the latest in local meetings and government, explore the evolution of music marketing, and review two new movies.
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Jun 23, 2022
Three Wisconsin Coal Power Plants To Close Years Later Than Anticipated
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, June 23.
* Two Wisconsin energy companies double back on their promise to close their coal power plants for the moment,
* The Madison Water Utilities release their yearly water quality report,
* Madison alders resurrect a ban on the use of tear gas and pepper spray for police officers,
* And in the second half, open records and investigations, a permanent Streatery program, and how to pick a sewing pattern.
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Jun 22, 2022
Special Session On Abortion Lasts Only 14 Seconds
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, June 22.
* A busy day at the state capitol, as state lawmakers hold a special session to decide the fate of abortion access in Wisconsin,
* Paddlers ride down the Rock River in celebration of a 1,200 year old canoe
* How Illinois is preparing to care for Wisconsinites with the fall of Roe,
* And in the second half, a rock and roll karate match, tragedy at the Henry Vilas Zoo in the 1960s, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Jun 21, 2022
City Launches New Guaranteed Income Pilot Program
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, June 21.
* UW students hold a rally to call out anti-Asian hate on campus,
* Musicians gather around Madison to make the city a bit more musical,
* The city introduces a new program for no strings attached guaranteed income
* And in the second half, a new play looks to rewrite history, birds beat the heat, and we get sucked into a beginner’s guide to black holes.
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Jun 20, 2022
A Look Inside The Outdated Dane County Jail
This is your WORT local news for Monday, June 20.
* Madison comes out to celebrate Juneteenth, even as the state trails in formally recognizing the holiday,
* We travel inside the 1950’s-era Dane County Jail,
* And in the second half, we preview local government meetings, look at corporate rainbow washing during Pride month, and get the scoop on two new movies.
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Jun 16, 2022
Dane County Sues DNR Over PFAS Regulations For Storm Water Permit
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, June 16.
* Dane County sues the state over PFAS testing,
* UW-Madison students organize against an alleged assault near campus,
* We learn what the new health advisories from the EPA on PFAS contamination in water mean for both scientists and regular citizens,
* And in the second half, an incarcerated person gives their insights on life, what makes sour beers so sour, and a father’s day celebration.
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Jun 15, 2022
Veterans Housing Complex Celebrates Grand Opening
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, June 15.
* A new health advisory for PFAS chemicals sits well below some Madison’s wells,
* A new veterans-focused housing development comes to the east side,
* Wisconsin towns are tightening their budgets,
* And in the second half, a chill history of an outdoor staple, controversy over a school name in the 1960s, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Jun 14, 2022
Massive Storm Leave Over 17,000 Madison Residents Without Power
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, June 14.
* Yesterday’s storms caused widespread damage across Madison, just in advance of a major heatwave…
* A new film screening at Sun Prairie Public Library shares the stories of unhoused families in Dane County…
* And in the second half, a Wisconsin musician reflects on their triumphant return to live music, two long-time radio hosts celebrate their retirement, and solar eclipses continue to illuminate our understanding of space.
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Jun 13, 2022
Downed power lines and tree-scattered roads
Here's your local news for Monday, June 13, 2022:
* A storm takes out power for much of south-central Wisconsin,
* There's more wild weather in store tomorrow,
* Students rally for gun reform,
* Plus we take a journey across time and space via canoe, review beauty standards, and get the scoop on two new movies.
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Jun 9, 2022
Fiber Arts Store Targeted By “Trans-A-Phobic” Activist
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, June 9.
* The Dane County Board of Supervisors and area students call on congressional leaders to take action on gun violence,
* A Madison yarn shop pushes back on anti-transgender vandalism,
* Madison schools struggle to get enough food for school lunches due to supply chain issues,
* And in the second half, a crash course in food and beer pairing, the Wisconsin Transparency Project wins big, and we learn to get back into sewing.
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Jun 8, 2022
Madison Common Council Votes To Adopt Metro Network Redesign Plan
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, June 8.
* The Madison Common Council votes to adopt transit changes in yet another packed meeting,
* Governor Tony Evers calls a special session for action on abortion access,
* A small town in Wisconsin becomes the center of a nation-wide media storm,
* And in the second half, a trip on the Lake Monona Bike Loop, part two of our memorial to those who died in the Vietnam war, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Jun 7, 2022
Madison Common Council To Vote For Truth And Reconciliation Process For City Of Madison
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, June 7.
* A local artist roasts a project to paint fire hydrants in Monona…
* It’s Madison Bike Week, and we talk with cyclists around town about why they bike…
* A new city workgroup aims to address racial disparities in Madison…
* And in the second half, U-W Madison goes on summer break, we learn what the Dane County Humane Society is up to, and tune into some deep space radio signals.
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Jun 6, 2022
Dane County Board Orders Independent Investigation Of Henry Vilas Zoo
This is your WORT local news for Monday, June 6.
* The Dane County Board of Supervisors vote to hold an external investigation into the management of Henry Vilas Zoo,
* The Great Wisconsin Bird-a-thon is just flying by,
* And in the second half, all the meetings happening around the city and county this week, a social media graveyard, and two new movie reviews.
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Jun 2, 2022
Construction At Dane County Airport Leads To Planes Flying Over Isthmus
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, June 2.
* Planes are rerouting to fly over downtown Madison until airport construction finishes,
* Madison residents continue to be divided over the Metro Transit Network Redesign,
* And in the second half, we find out the most important ingredient in every beer, our newest feature talking with currently or formerly incarcerated people, and memories from the U-W Campus.
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Jun 1, 2022
Madison Teachers Walk Out Over Proposed School District Budget, Wages
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, June 1.
* A Dane County Judge throws his hat in the ring to become Wisconsin’s next Supreme Court Justice,
* One of Madison’s beaches hopes to avoid closure this summer from toxic algae blooms,
* Faculty and staff at Madison’s East High School walk out over teacher’s wages,
* And in the second half, we head to a rock in a house, we continue our report on a local mosque, and we remember those who died in Vietnam from 1960s Madison.
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May 31, 2022
Royal Thai Pavilion Repair Nearly Underway
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, May 31.
* Madison is considering ways to reduce light pollution..
* The Royal Thai Pavilion at Olbrich Botanical Gardens is getting ready for major repairs…
* Employees at the Dane County Medical Examiner’s Officer say their workplace is toxic…
* And in the second half, we visit Madison's Madinah Mosque, duck from dive-bombing blackbirds and take the measure of marsquakes.
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May 26, 2022
How are the record shops doing?
Here's your local evening news for Thursday, May 26:
* Voting rights advocates say a case before the Wisconsin Supreme Court could have serious implications for disabled Wisconsinites,
* Record shops are adapting to changing sales, trends, and locations,
* Ella's Deli may be gone, but the colorful whimsy returns in the form of a new mural,
* And we get the recap on the GOP convention last weekend, explore what makes a malt beer malty, and learn more about open records when it comes to government subcontractors.
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May 25, 2022
How to cope
Here's your local news for Wednesday, May 25:
* Area educators tell us how they're speaking to students about the shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde,
* The Madison city council moves to streamline historic preservation rules,
* A report shows Wisconsin hospitals cost insurers some of the highest rates in the nation,
* And we travel to Apple River Canyon in northern Illinois.
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May 24, 2022
Quality assurance testers at Raven Software make history
Here's your local news for Tuesday, May 24:
* Madison teachers push for better pay,
* An anti-circumcision group comes to town,
* And we check in with a local government reporter on the historic unionization of quality assurance testers at Raven Software.
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May 23, 2022
How a retired hypnotherapist helped fuel a far-right complaint in Wisconsin
Here's what's on your local evening news:
* Why Madison is practicing "Low Mow May" in an effort to help the pollinators,
* We dive deep into the local risks of ransomware,
* And how a complaint from retired hypnotherapist Jay Stone helped fuel the hunt for election fraud in Wisconsin.
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May 19, 2022
UW-Madison Study Says 50 Thousand Lives Per Year Can Be Saved By Reducing Air Pollutants Emission
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, May 19.
* A new study quantifies the health effects of air pollutants,
* A downtown Madison courtyard is scheduled for a makeover,
* Isthmus on WORT brings an update on an ongoing effort to save the birds,
* and Fermenting WORT talks the state of the brewing industry with a Milwaukee brewing company,
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May 18, 2022
New Jail Price Tag Rises Once Again
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, May 18.
* A new report details how schools across the state have spent federal pandemic aid,
* Inflation causes the new Dane County Jail to rise in price once again,
* Milk Banks offer families struggling to find baby formula a unique way of feeding their children,
* And in the second half, college students rally over buses in 1967, our newest feature heads to Indian Lake County Park, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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May 17, 2022
Stores Struggle To Find Baby Formula Amidst Shortage
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, May 17.
* UW Madison introduces its new chancellor, and Republican lawmakers are not happy,
* We examine how baby formula shortages are affecting Madison,
* As COVID cases climb once again, we ask what the summer may bring for the pandemic,
* And in the second half, we revisit an award-winning story about watches, spot bird nests in peculiar places, and gaze into the black hole at the center of our galaxy.
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May 16, 2022
City To Offer Loans To Homeowners To Help Build Granny Flats
This is your WORT local news for Monday, May 16.
* The city is offering homeowners loans to help build “granny flats” around Madison,
* Indigenous people in Wisconsin fight against the Enbridge pipeline, saying it will disrupt agriculture,
* The sale of part of the Yahara Golf Course could mean bigger things for the city’s other golf courses,
* And in the second half, state lawmakers speak out about abortion access, generational trauma in movies, and two new movie reviews.
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May 12, 2022
Staying Cool At Madison Public Parks
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, May 12.
* Madison resident’s get out and enjoy the heatwave hitting the state,
* The Madison Common Council has a summer filled with some major shakeups,
* And in the second half,we learn how bacteria creates alcohol in our beer, we find out who’s really in charge, and we head to a fashion show to learn how clothing can bring out other passions.
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May 11, 2022
Federal Judges Block Cardinal Hickory Creek From Crossing Wildlife Refuge
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, May 11.
* The Madison Common Council discuss trains, golf courses, medians, and more at last night’s meeting,
* A panel of federal judges refuse to allow the Cardinal Hickory Creek Power Line to be routed through federally protected land,
* And in the second half, Wisconsin’s walleye population is on the decline, a bongo party is raided by police in 1960s Madison, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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May 10, 2022
Madison Preps To Assist With Gun Reform Litigation
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, May 10.
* Madison gets ready to help litigation to curb gun violence…
* Southern Wisconsin is under a tornado watch, and the rest of your evening weather forecast…
* The union representing Madison’s teachers is suing the school district over records requests…
* And in the second half, another spring semester winds down at U-W, an orphan gosling finds a new home, and interstellar rayguns light up the cosmos.
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May 9, 2022
Pro-Choice Supporters Rally; Anti-Abortion Group Attacked Over Weekend
This is you WORT local news for Monday, May 9.
* A pro-abortion rights protest and bombing an anti-abortion group marked some more fallout over the leaked Supreme Court decision,
* A local scientist was integral to the latest global climate change report, and tells us to not lose hope,
* We get an update on the sentencing of Kenyairra Gadson,
* And in the second half, we preview local government meetings, review two new movies, and re-play a feature that won a statewide award this weekend.
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May 5, 2022
Advocating For Missing And Murdered Indigenous Women At The State Capitol
This is your WORT local news for Thursday, May 5.
* The city plans to convert around 100 planted medians to concrete and turf grass,
* Activists gather at the state capitol for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Awareness Day,
* Our newest feature provides a portrait of one local religious institution,
* And in the second half, the dramatic history of pilsners, intersectionality between race and mental health, and how we process art created by enslaved craftspeople.
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May 4, 2022
Dane County Files Lawsuit For PFAS Damages
This is your WORT local news for Wednesday, May 4.
* Protests gather at the state capitol in response to the potential overturning of Roe v Wade,
* Dane County is suing manufacturers of PFAS-laden firefighting foam,
* The city works to cut their food waste in half by 2030 with a new composting program,
* And in the second half: the difficulty of trying to truly silence our computers, drama over Truax Field in 1962, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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May 3, 2022
State And Local Lawmakers React To SCOTUS Apparent Intent To Overturn Roe V Wade
This is your WORT local news for Tuesday, May 3.
* State and local lawmakers react to the news that the US Supreme Court intends to overturn Roe v Wade,
* Wisconsin Starbucks workers hold a rally to drum up support for unionization,
* And in the second half, we consider skateboarding on the UW campus and what to do if you hit an animal with your car.
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May 2, 2022
“United We Stand, We The People” Rally Calls For Robin Vos To Step Down
This is your WORT local news for Monday, May 2.
* East High School students stage a walkout in support of immigration reform,
* Wisconsin renters continue to struggle finding housing after two years of the pandemic,
* The new Dane County Board chair supports an investigation into the Henry Vilas Zoo,
* And in the second half, we look at all the meetings happening around Madison and Dane County this week, a “Stop the Steal” rally takes place at the state capitol, and two new movie reviews.
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Apr 29, 2022
Teachers’ Union “Disappointed” In Next Budget’s Low Wage Increase
This is your local news for April 28.
* Madison’s teachers union is disappointed with the small wage increase proposed in MMSD’s next budget,
* A group of YIMBYs push for more housing around Madison and fight against urban sprawl,
* And in the second half, how much open government other states have, a trip to the funk factory, and how to deal with problematic art.
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Apr 27, 2022
Kinnard Farms Asks DNR To Review Groundwater Monitoring Mandate On Farm
This is your local news for April 27.
* A farm in northeastern Wisconsin is suing the state DNR to get out of groundwater testing,
* Olbrich Botanical Gardens has a smelly visitor coming in the next week,
* The newest Marquette Law School Poll breaks down how people are feeling about this November’s election,
* And in the second half, we protect our cranes, a bleak report on Atwood Avenue from 19-67, and the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves.
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Apr 26, 2022
City Could Drop “Quota” From Police Oversight Board, Settling Lawsuit
Here's your local news for April 26:
* The City of Madison could drop the "quota" from the Police Oversight Board,
* The family of Quadren Wilson continue to ask for answers,
* The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness launches a program to lower Black infant mortality rates,
* And in the second half, we share a roundup of U-W student government elections, get to know a tiny visitor to the wildlife rehabilitation center, and celebrate the work of amateur astronomers.
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Apr 25, 2022
Progress Center For Black Women Begin New Incubator Program
This is your WORT Local News for Monday, April 25. On todays show, the Wisconsin Conservation Congress makes the results of their 2022 Spring Hearing available to all, Governor Tony Evers creates the new Office of Environmental Justice for Earth Day, The Progress Center for Black Women launches a new program to help connect Black entrepreneurs, and in the second half, this week in city meetings, a trip to the drive in, and a Nic Cage celebration with two movie reviews.