WORT Local News

Here's your local news for Thursday, February 26, 2026:We find out why construction on the jail consolidation project is running behind schedule,Meet an incumbent county supervisor who says NIMBYism should have consequences,Run through some transparency bills that are stuck in legislative limbo,Tell you the best spots to cast your fishing line,Get an update on Forward Madison FC's roster rebuild,And much more.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, February 25, 2026:We detail Attorney General Kaul's clash this morning with the GOP legislators leading an investigation of his department,Meet a county board candidate who's touting his firsthand knowledge of rural and urban issues,Check in on UW-Madison's search for a new provost,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, February 24, 2026:We'll learn how to tell the difference between Madison police officers and ICE,Detail a new course at UW Law School that's blending legal theory with lived experience in the criminal justice system,Meet a county board candidate who wants to provide housing and workforce services at a "veterans village,"Talk butter price gouging,Sit down with the editor-in-chief of TASTE – a WORT alum,Get ready for baby season at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center,And much more.

Here's your local news for Monday, February 23, 2026:We join the Fire & Wonder Winter Gathering at San Damiano Park,Meet an incumbent supervisor who says the growing county needs more housing and better transit,Find out why rural Wisconsin is struggling to hire municipal clerks,Mark the anniversary of the 2018 West Virginia teachers strike,Teach you how to mix up a 'Singapore Sling' cocktail,Review two new movies,And much more.

Here's your local news for Thursday, February 19, 2026:We outline the Dane County Regional Airport's economic benefits and environmental drawbacks,Look forward to a software glow-up coming soon to the library system,Commemorate the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine,Explore the complex politics of so-called "rare earth" elements,Meet a pair of artists that are using their craft to memorialize their friendship,And much more.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, February 18, 2026:We share the key takeaways from Governor Evers' final State of the State address,Find out why a Wisconsin environmental group is suing the EPA,Detail student organizers' demands to limit ICE activity on the UW-Madison campus,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, February 17, 2026:We detail GOP leaders' latest pitch to spend down the surplus, after weeks of negotiations with Governor Evers,Share some tips for private well owners who want to protect their water from contaminants,Outline some potential changes to Madison's border with McFarland,Explain what dairy products could win out in the recent protein craze,Visit a decades-old staple in the Madison coffee scene,Get ready for spring at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center,And much more.

Here's your local news for Monday, February 16, 2026:We head to Señor Machetes for a fundraiser supporting co-owner Noel Quintana, who was detained by ICE late last month,Find out why a grassroots group wants to combine child care and senior housing in Walworth County,Learn how the local public health department is working to stop the spread of measles,Check in with Madison's new city clerk ahead of tomorrow's spring primary,Commemorate the opening of King Tut's tomb in 1923,Teach you how to mix up a blackberry-based cocktail,Review two new onscreen offerings,And much more.

Here's your local news for Thursday, February 12, 2026:We head to the state Capitol for a rally demanding a statewide moratorium on data center development,Sit down with a West Allis nurse who was fired this week after leading a unionization effort at her workplace,Offer some open government story ideas to celebrate this year's Sunshine Week,Hear the mission behind the DNR's new "Be Well Informed" tool,Check in on Forward Madison's roster rebuild,And much more.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, February 11, 2026:We detail today's legal back and forth over a grant program that helps students of color attend college,Learn how some employers are filling the gaps in the health insurance marketplace,Meet an incumbent supervisor who says rural voters deserve an experienced representative on the county board,Reflect on the legacy of outgoing UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin,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, February 10, 2026:We detail the goings-on today in the state Capitol, including key takeaways from this year's State of the Tribes Address and the Assembly's packed floor agenda,Meet a candidate who says rural communities deserve a stronger voice on the Dane County Board,Outline some policy issues that could drive rural voters to the polls this fall,Sit down with a local food reviewer,Explore the tough ethical questions that wildlife rehabilitators encounter on the job,And much more.

Here's your local news for Monday, February 9, 2026:We get an inside look at the city of Madison's routine election equipment test,Consider what's at stake if Wisconsin elects a Trump loyalist as governor this fall,Share the local government's calendar for the week ahead,Mark the anniversary of the Dawes Act in 1887,Review two more Oscar contenders,And much more.

Here's your local news for Thursday, February 5, 2026:We explain why a unanimous vote yesterday has sent local harm reduction efforts back to the drawing board,Meet a county board candidate who's calling for more workforce housing,Hear a journalist's firsthand account of the ICE invasion in Minneapolis,Learn what it takes to achieve fluency in Russian,Visit an open art space on the UW-Madison campus,And much more.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, February 4, 2026:We find out how a tweak to state law could generate millions for Wisconsin crypto investors,Detail the benefits of cover crop practices,Meet a county board candidate who wants to keep special interest groups out of local politics,Learn how the UW-Madison community participated in the nationwide ICE protest on Friday,Broadcast the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to 1966,And much more.

Here's your local news for Tuesday, February 3, 2026:We detail state Democrats' latest attempt to legalize cannabis - and the recent changes to federal policy that have added to their urgency this time around,Find out how the state's Department of Justice is using the court system to push back against federal intrusion,Share dire predictions from this year's Agricultural Outlook Forum,Learn how the changing climate is impacting Wisconsin's fish population,Look forward to some upcoming educational opportunities for animal lovers of all ages,And much more.

Here's your local news for Monday, February 2, 2026:We head to Library Mall for a rally in solidarity with the Iranian people, amid a national crackdown on protest in the country,Get Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul's take on the federal incursion in Minnesota,Share the local government's calendar for the week ahead,Mark the anniversary of the Philippine-American War,Teach you how to mix up a popular dessert cocktail,Review two Oscar-nominated films,And much more.

Here's your local news for Thursday, January 29, 2026:We explain what would change if Governor Evers approves an update to the state's drinking water standards,Learn what's behind the nationwide shortage of teachers for the visually impaired,Debunk state Republicans' claims that an annual crane hunt would reduce crop damage,Share an update on an open records lawsuit against the state's Department of Justice,Find out what's biting under the ice,Take a closer look at the Flamingos' roster turnover ahead of the 2026 season,And much more.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, January 28, 2026:We hear the Madison school board's plan to address salary compression,Explain what's at stake for Congressional Democrats if they allow a boost in funding for the Department of Homeland Security,Sit down with an incumbent county supervisor who's heading to a primary next month,Learn how some UW-Madison professors have adopted artificial intelligence into their coursework,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, January 27, 2026:We find out why the DeForest village board is changing its tune, less than a year after they voted to remove fluoride from the community's drinking water,Meet a county board candidate who wants to consolidate city and county housing services,Examine a dispute over manure digesters in Waupaca County,Talk about halal street food with a local restauranteur,Share some fun facts about America's most famous hibernator ahead of Groundhog Day,And much more.

Here's your local news for Monday, January 26, 2026:We hear messages of solidarity and resistance at a Madison rally protesting the latest ICE-related shooting in Minneapolis,Meet a local business owner who's running to represent Madison's north side on the Dane County Board of Supervisors,Get an environmental journalist's take on the recent data center frenzy,Mark the fifteenth anniversary of the Egyptian Revolution,Review two Oscar contenders,And much more.

Here's your local news for Thursday, January 22, 2026:We share an update on a new housing development in the city's Owl Creek neighborhood,Outline what's been predictable and surprising about the Trump regime's immigration crackdown,Celebrate Bob Weir's life and legacy with a local Grateful Dead tribute band,Learn how a local woodworker used his art to tackle a complicated subject,Look forward to the Russian Folk Orchestra's first rehearsal of the semester,And much more.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, January 21, 2026:We find out how a city initiative is defining Madison's "regional music brand,"Hear a Midwest professor's warning about the Trump regime's escalating authoritarian tactics,Check in with Dane4Dogs after their latest legal victory over Ridglan Farms,Examine UW-Madison's evolving anti-hazing policies,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, January 20, 2026:We get Congressman Mark Pocan's take on escalating ICE activity, the impending government shutdown, and efforts to redraw Wisconsin's congressional maps,Outline the partisan debate over rising energy costs,Share an excerpt from the keynote speech at Dane County and Madison's 41st Annual MLK Day Observance,Explain why most of the American ag industry is running in the red,Celebrate the legacy of Mother Fool's Coffeehouse,Offer a novel idea to support the Dane County Humane Society's Wildlife Rehabilitation Center,And much more.

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.