WORT Local News

Here's your local news for Thursday, January 15, 2026:We explain why city-county tensions boiled over at a public hearing on Wednesday,Get the details on MMSD's budget outlook for 2026-2027,Describe the transparency concerns that emerged after WisconsinEye went dark,Tell you the best spots to cast your fishing line,Meet the Flamingos' newest midfielder,And much more.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, January 14, 2026:We head to the state Capitol for a student walkout protesting the ICE shooting last week in Minneapolis,Hear what city alders had to say ahead of yesterday's unanimous vote approving a one-year moratorium on new data center construction,Sit down with Senator Melissa Ratcliff to dissect the GOP's latest spate of anti-trans proposals,Predict what could be on the agenda if Democrats retake the state Legislature in November,Broadcast the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to 1968,And much more.

Here's your local news for Tuesday, January 13, 2026:We get the details on a proposal that would temporarily ban new data center construction in Madison,Hear the mission behind a city council newsletter that's slated to launch this week,Explain why the feds set legal definitions for dairy products,Talk gut health with a local dietician,Check on a pair of red-tailed hawks receiving treatment at the Dane County Humane Society's Wildlife Rehabilitation Center,And much more.

Here's your local news for Monday, January 12, 2026:We hear messages of mourning and resistance at a Madison vigil for Renee Nicole Good,Outline the latest charges in a child sexual abuse investigation at Sun Prairie West High School,Find out why a much-debated state law is taking center stage in the missing ballot lawsuit against the city of Madison and its former clerk,Share the local government's calendar for the week ahead,Mark the anniversary of a deadly earthquake in Haiti,Teach you how to mix up a "Dark N' Stormy" cocktail,Review two movies,And much more.

Here's your local news for Thursday, January 8, 2026:We detail the mixed reactions at a city meeting yesterday reviewing WisDOT's plan to expand the beltline,Find out how much Wisconsin's ballooning school voucher program is costing taxpayers,Spotlight some upcoming events celebrating eastern European culture,Meet a Madisonian who's using social media to highlight the local music scene,Consider the balance between function and beauty with a local woodworker,And much more.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, January 7, 2026:We find out why the DeForest village board decided not to take action Tuesday on a petition that would give voters the final say on a proposed data center,Learn how data centers could change Wisconsin's utility landscape,Answer some winter gardening FAQs,Broadcast the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to 1962,And much more.

Here's your local news for Tuesday, January 6, 2026:We find out how a new federal grant could help MMSD expand mental health services for students in need,Get the details on a local project that uses art to help older Black women fight Alzheimer's disease,Consider the potential pitfalls if private interests win out in the county's renovation of the Coliseum,Forecast another difficult year in the dairy business,Stop by JBC Coffee Roasters,Describe how winter ice can be dangerous for animals, too,And much more.

Here's your local news for Monday, January 5, 2026:We share an update on embattled Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan,Outline the tough choices ahead for the estimated 110,000 Wisconsinites that rely on ACA tax credits,Head to a rally in downtown Madison protesting the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro,Take a closer look at this weekend's military action with help from an expert in international law,Celebrate the birthday of a civil rights and anti-war activist,Teach you how to make Mexico's national cocktail,Review two new movies on the big screen,And much more.

Here's your local news for Thursday, December 18, 2025:We detail the interim independent monitor's priority list for police oversight efforts in Madison,Hear Rep. Ryan Clancy's plan to overhaul Wisconsin's tax system,Consider the sometimes-unexpected cost of open records requests,Tell you some of the best ice fishing spots,Learn how Forward Madison FC is reshaping their roster ahead of the 2026 season,And much more.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, December 17, 2025:We outline the key takeaways from the city of Madison's "Love Our Lakes" discussion on Tuesday,Find out why environmental advocates are challenging a Trenton dairy farm's newly-issued state permit,Learn how local jails are facilitating the Trump regime's mass deportation agenda,Hear a UW-Madison frat's pitch to save their annual hockey tournament and fundraiser,Broadcast the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to 1969,And much more.

Here's your local news for Tuesday, December 16, 2025:We share the latest updates on Madison's Southwest and Southeast area plans,Consider the long road ahead for a lawsuit that claims Wisconsin's congressional maps are an anti-competitive gerrymander,Explain why American beef prices are in flux,Learn how to achieve that signature bagel chewiness,Mark the start of hibernation season,And much more.

Here's your local news for Monday, December 15, 2025:We outline the recent back and forth over a proposal to build a new harm reduction clinic on Madison's far east side,Explain how Trump's $12 billion federal aid package leaves small, specialty crop farmers in the lurch,Find out why Wisconsin lawmakers may soon reconsider a policy that diverts federal benefits away from foster children,Celebrate WORT's fiftieth birthday and look to the future, in a conversation with Madison's next generation of radio leaders,Teach you how to mix up a sweeter variant of a World War II-era cocktail,And much more.

Here's your local news for Thursday, December 11, 2025:We hear state Democrats' pitch to support Wisconsin farmers and protect agricultural lands from development,Outline some of the most pressing challenges in the state's rural school districts,Get an update on MMSD's Behavior Education Plan,Check in with the Russian Folk Orchestra ahead of their busy concert season,Discuss the imminent passage of the National Defense Authorization Act,Share some advice on how to find a bona fide "space tree,"And much more.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, December 10, 2025:We share the details on a pair of housing-focused ordinances approved at Tuesday's city council meeting,Find out why Midwest Environmental Advocates has filed an open records lawsuit against the state's utility regulator,Learn how a local newsroom uses hands-on learning to improve children's literacy skills,Broadcast the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to 1967,And much more.

Here's your local news for Tuesday, December 9, 2025:We get the details on a bill that would guarantee Wisconsin workers up to 14 weeks of paid family and medical leave,Outline key findings in UWPD records obtained by Tone Madison, nearly two years after a multi-jurisdiction raid of the student protest encampment on Library Mall,Share a news roundup on Roundup,Consider the intersection between kitchen skills and early childhood education,Learn how to help local wildlife this holiday season,And much more.

Here's your local news for Monday, December 8, 2025:We head to a local food pantry for a conversation about the rising cost of living,Find out why senior advocates want to preserve county-owned nursing homes,Check in with the director of Madison's Civil Rights Department, after an investigation cleared him of workplace discrimination claims,Explain what's next for two lawsuits challenging Wisconsin's congressional map,Celebrate Noam Chomsky's birthday,Teach you how to make a bright cocktail with ties to World War II,Review Ken Burns' new docuseries on the American Revolution,And much more.

Here's your local news for Thursday, December 4, 2025:We find out which Madison intersections are in the running for new traffic signals,Hear why advocates recommend "walk audits" as a first step to reducing your neighborhood's carbon footprint,Learn some of the most common ways commercial buildings in Madison waste energy,Explain your right to access government records on data center projects,Share some ice fishing safety tips,Attend Forward Madison's postseason town hall,And much more.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, December 3, 2025:We'll explain how you can weigh in on the development future of downtown Madison,Find out why food access is still limited in Wisconsin even after FoodShare benefits resumed,Examine the record breaking spending on Wisconsin's judicial elections ahead of the next contest this spring,Share some tips on how to stay safe in the event of an ICE encounter,Broadcast the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to 1960,And much more.

Here's your local news for Tuesday, December 2, 2025:We hear finance leaders' recommendation on how Madison should spend an unexpected budget surplus before the end of this year,Find out how donors can support a local literacy nonprofit in the wake of federal funding losses,Share a year in review for the American dairy industry,Meet the editing manager of Edible Madison,Celebrate Giving Tuesday with the Dane County Humane Society,And much more.

Here's your local news for Monday, December 1, 2025:We'll meet some local Starbucks workers taking part in the nationwide strike,Find out how parents of children with disabilities are preparing for the looming cuts to Medicaid,Detail some recent policy updates that could expand Wisconsin renters' access to solar power,Share the local government's calendar for the week ahead,Learn the violent history behind the American Anti-Slavery Society,Teach you how to make a "Ward Eight" cocktail,Review two new movies,And much more.

Here's your local news for Tuesday, November 25, 2025:We find out why some of Madison's most experienced educators are still waiting for fair compensation,Hear the economic pros and cons of data centers,Consider the future of Madison's bus system with Metro Transit's new general manager,Explain why A2A2 milk is a win for both dairy farmers and consumers,Debut our new feature exploring the city's diverse array of local coffee shops,Take a closer look at one of the Midwest's most iconic birds,And much more.

Here's your local news for Monday, November 24, 2025:We hear what Wisconsin students and mental health specialists have to say about the hazards of the digital age,Find out how much taxpayers could stand to lose with the end of the free IRS Direct File program,Consider why Speaker Vos continues to block expanded postpartum benefits for Wisconsinites on Medicaid,Learn how a public-private foundation is working to support the state's conservation fund,Celebrate the birthday of a legendary musician,Teach you how to make a brand new cocktail,Review a big blockbuster and a new detective series,And much more.

Here's your local news for Thursday, November 20, 2025:We talk health care tax credits and the Epstein files with Democratic U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin,Learn how to spot U.S.-made products ahead of the holidays,Meet the city of Madison's Parks Superintendent,Explain your right to know the final five applicants being considered for public offices,Tell you the best spots for some cold-weather fishing,Make a wish list for the Flamingos' 2026 season,And much more.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, November 19, 2025:We head to a public hearing on the Dane County Regional Airport's latest efforts in F-35 noise mitigation,Consider Wisconsin's retention and workforce challenges this Education-Support Professionals Day,Hear the research goals driving the Nelson Institute's new partnership with QTS Data Centers,Learn how students at UW-Madison fared during the SNAP benefits chaos,Broadcast the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to 1965,And much more.

Here's your local news for Tuesday, November 18, 2025:We hear what party leaders had to say ahead of today's floor session in the state Senate,Learn how some entrepreneurs in Madison and Chicago are redefining vending machines,Consider the pros and potential pitfalls of a bipartisan bill that would legalize online sports betting in Wisconsin,Explain what's behind some recent ag industry happenings,Taste what's on the menu at Sultan,Take a closer look at one of the most common birds of prey,And much more.

Here's your local news for Monday, November 17, 2025:We get to know the three finalists vying for an interim leadership role in Madison's Office of the Independent Monitor,Find out why a proposal mandating teaching hours for UW System faculty could raise constitutional concerns,Share the local government's calendar for the week ahead,Learn the story behind Transgender Day of Remembrance,Review two new movies,And much more.

Here's your local news for Thursday, November 13, 2025:We hear Senator Baldwin's plan to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, a measure excluded from the budget bill Trump signed into law Wednesday,Detail the economic benefits of agrivoltaics,Talk election security and accuracy with the new Madison city clerk,Share some upcoming events celebrating eastern European culture,Hear the story behind a new local music space on Madison's east side,Consider the community-building potential of quilts,And much more.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, November 12, 2025:We'll get the details on a last-minute amendment that dominated budget deliberations yesterday in the Madison Common Council,Find out why a pro-democracy advocate is sounding the alarm on a handful of election bills in the state Assembly,Share some key takeaways in the Daily Cardinal's new "AI Issue,"Broadcast the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to 1962,And much more.

Here's your local news for Tuesday, November 11, 2025:We explain why Verona city leaders decided to cut ties with a third-party surveillance contractor,Get the details on a bill that would put a cap on Wisconsinites' utility rates,Hear what climate advocates have to say about Alliant Energy's new rate case settlement,Unscramble the recent chaos around SNAP benefits,Indulge in a Tex-Mex feast,Describe what it takes to treat eye injuries in birds,And much more.

Here's your local news for Monday, November 10, 2025:We'll share the mission behind a 1,500-ribbon display in downtown Madison,Hear how a delay in federal funding is impacting the Menominee Indian School District,Find out what's at stake if online publication Tone Madison can't reach their winter fundraising goal,Explain why air traffic has ground to a halt,Share lessons from New York City's 1933 mayoral election,Teach you how to make a tea-based cocktail,Review two new offerings available for streaming,And much more.

Here's your local news for Thursday, November 6, 2025:We detail the debate ahead of yesterday's budget vote in the Dane County Board of Supervisors,Hear what a former drum corps instructor's accusers have to say about his recent return to the public eye,Discuss how open government cases can often be solved with a warning rather than a lawsuit,Celebrate the Madison Public Library's 150th anniversary - no invitation needed,Look ahead to Forward Madison FC's next chapter,And much more.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, November 5, 2025:We hear the pros and cons of data centers, according to stakeholders who joined an informational meeting today in the state Capitol,Find out who's paying for Jack Daly's services, just months after the "Scam PAC" fundraiser emerged from federal custody,Learn how the Badgers' faltering football team could add red ink to local and state business ledgers,Broadcast the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to 1965,And much more.

Here's your local news for Tuesday, November 4, 2025:We hear Superintendent Jill Underly's pitch to address teacher sexual misconduct and grooming of students,Check in on Dane County's 2026 proposed budget ahead of tomorrow's deliberations,Discuss the long fight to shut down Ridglan Farms with a local animal rights activist,Consider a pressing business dilemma for American dairy farmers,Meet a local hot sauce connoisseur,Celebrate Animal Shelter Appreciation Week,And much more.

Here's your local news for Monday, November 3, 2025:We check in with Dane County food pantries amid the federal chaos,Hear locals' concerns about a proposal to expand a commercial dairy operation in Door County,Find out why environmental advocates are sounding the alarm on Line 5's newly-issued federal permits,Share the local government's calendar for the week ahead,Remember an abolitionist who was murdered protecting his printing press,Teach you how to make a tropical cocktail,Review a new movie and a new season of television,And much more.

Here's your local news for Thursday, October 30, 2025:We'll outline what's at stake locally as federal lawmakers weigh cuts to AmeriCorps Seniors funding,Discuss the potential flaws in the Madison Police Department's body-cam pilot study,Learn more about UW-Madison's Russian Flagship Program,Sit down with Chicago-based musician Winefred RT,Share the joy that comes from a used sewing machine,And much more.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, October 29, 2025:We get the details on two much-debated items that earned unanimous approval in last night's Common Council meeting,Discuss the road to 2026 with WisDems Chair Devin Remiker,Learn how UW-Madison researchers are partnering with local farmers,Broadcast the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to 1969,And much more.

In this show:The Building Commission approves the funds for planning a rework for correctional facilities across the stateA local activist explains the importance of civilian oversight of the Madison police'How to Stand up for Democracy' links the degradation of free speech to the rise of anti-semitismSoybean farmers are looking into novel ways to use their cropAnd we hear how local mammals fare during the winter

In today's episode:Wisconsin Dems draw attention to an upcoming spike in health insurance costsWisconsin Policy Forum releases a deep dive on the city budgetElection clerks are scrambling to meet new citizenship standardsand more

Here's your local news for Thursday, October 23, 2025:We join a public feedback session on Madison's Southeast Area development plan,Outline the fundraising goal to support the city's new men's shelter,Share an inside look into today's combative legislative hearing on teacher misconduct and grooming in Wisconsin schools,Consider the often-exorbitant fees records custodians are allowed to charge,Share the best spots for fall-weather fishing,Check in on Forward Madison FC ahead of their last match of the season,And much more.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, October 22, 2025:We hear from the supporters and opponents of a bill that would codify the IHRA's definition of antisemitism in state law,Find out what's at stake if independent broadcast network WisconsinEye can't reach their urgent fundraising goal,Get more details on a city proposal that could eliminate UW students' input on alcohol policy,Broadcast the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to 1969,And much more.

Here's your local news for Tuesday, October 21, 2025:We hear local nonprofits' warning to the county board as they weigh proposed funding cuts in next year's budget,Consider strategies to combat the rise of white Christian nationalism,Detail the gaps in the system that make it difficult to track educators accused of sexual misconduct and grooming,Survey the trade war's impact on American soybean farmers,Celebrate the history of Madison's Mediterranean Cafe,Explain why bird banding is a valuable tool for researchers and rehabilitators,And much more.

Here's your local news for Monday, October 20, 2025:We head to downtown Madison for this Saturday's nationwide protest against the Trump regime,Outline city leaders' recent examination of the Urban Design Commission and its role in development oversight,Find out why a city committee voted last week to preserve student input on alcohol licenses and policies,Share the local government's calendar for the week ahead,Commemorate the 1972 founding of the Service, Office and Retail Workers Union of Canada,Review two movies,And much more.

Here's your local news for Thursday, October 16, 2025:We hear how the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development is faring during the government shutdown,Outline the state's teacher turnover trends over the last decade,Uncover the world of Soviet-era samizdat,Get the latest numbers on the nation's wealth gap,Meet one of the artists who's helping the Madison Public Library celebrate 150 years of service,And much more.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, October 15, 2025:We outline today's debate over a Republican bill that would put a cap on UW's annual tuition increases,Hear what GHC members had to say in a special meeting with the cooperative's Board of Directors,Learn why election reform advocates are calling for Final Five voting in Wisconsin,Find out if UW-Madison's ethnic studies requirement is actually at risk,Broadcast the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to 1960,And much more.

Here's your local news for Tuesday, October 14, 2025:We hear from party leaders on both sides of the aisle ahead of the state Senate's long-awaited floor session,Find out why an update to Madison school facilities is expected to cost taxpayers less than originally projected,Discuss the video game industry's rising reliance on artificial intelligence,Consider why more Wisconsin dairy farmers may be looking to cash out,Celebrate community-making with sourdough bread,Check in with the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center as they prepare for colder weather and new patients,And much more.

Here's your local news for Monday, October 13, 2025:We find out why the state Assembly is centering environmental protections this Indigenous Peoples' Day,Outline the back and forth this morning in the state Supreme Court over tribal sovereign immunity,Meet the city of Madison's new Director of Transportation,Brush up on immigration law amid the unprecedented federal crackdown,Remember a trailblazing fighter pilot,Learn how to mix up a Sea Breeze cocktail,Review two new movies,And much more.

Here's your local news for Thursday, October 9, 2025:We outline what to expect when construction begins next week on one of Madison's busiest thoroughfares,Consider the gray areas in Wisconsin's regulation of THC,Explain when and how public bodies can enter closed session,Tell you the best spots to cast your fishing line,Celebrate Forward Madison FC's recent back-to-back wins,And much more.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, October 8, 2025:We hear what's at stake if Congress fails to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits,Outline city leaders' debate over a proposed drive-thru coffee shop at West Towne Mall,Find out why MMSD is pitching its recent 4K expansion as a win-win,Discuss the risks of private equity in 401(k) retirement plans,Broadcast the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to 1968,And much more.

Here's your local news for Tuesday, October 7, 2025:We outline some of the funding priorities in Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway's $452.5 million operating budget proposal,Find out why state Democrats want to require health insurers to include fertility services in their coverage,Consider what's at stake if a loophole in Wisconsin's campaign finance law is replicated on the federal level,Share some bad butter pricing news,Visit a beloved State Street eatery,Follow the migrating blackpoll warbler,And much more.

Here's your local news for Monday, October 6, 2025:We head to Monona Terrace for a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, where local leaders emphasized the importance of community,Get the latest data on alcohol-induced deaths in Wisconsin,Consider what's at stake after a Georgia-based journalist was deported on Friday,Celebrate the birthday of a renowned peace activist and journalist,Teach you how to make a Lynchburg Lemonade,Review two new movies,And much more.

Here's your local news for Thursday, October 2, 2025:We'll outline some of the cost-saving measures in County Executive Agard's spending plan for next year,Mark the end of a Biden-era climate initiative,Find out how PFAS chemicals from Truax Field end up in nearby waterways like Starkweather Creek,Learn what it takes to achieve fluency in Russian,Talk songwriting with a Milwaukee-based musician,Dissect the scholarly lessons in Scooby Doo,And much more.