Podcasts about mmsd

Here's your local news for Thursday, May 29, 2025:We outline the spate of proposals in the 2025 Equality Agenda,Learn how to participate in Dane County's new food scraps program,Get the details on MMSD's 2026 budget proposal,Hear how a local nonprofit is faring after the loss of AmeriCorps funding,Share deck safety advice,Dig for historical treasure,And much more.

This week on the Friday news roundup, host Bianca Martin talks with Madison Ald. MGR Govindarajan about his efforts to formally censure fellow Ald. Charles Myadze following allegations of sexual harassment and assault. Executive producer Hayley Sperling has the latest on a Minnesota lawsuit that involves Madison Superintendent Joe Gothard. And Newsletter Editor Rob Thomas gives the team an update on some local restaurants. Mentioned on the show: Why So Many Public Officials Have Called For a Madison Alder's Resignation [

Tomorrow, in addition to voting on candidates Madison voters will also see four referendum questions on their ballot. A proposed constitutional amendment for the state, a budgetary referendum from the City of Madison, and two referendum questions from the Madison Metropolitan School District. Host Bianca Martin spoke with district Superintendent Joe Gothard to get a better look at the issues Madison schools are facing and why these referendums are coming at a critical time.  You can dig deeper into our election coverage with these shows:

The Madison Metropolitan School District has a big ask of voters come November. A $607 million dollar ask to be more precise. But what exactly will all that money be used for and does the district truly need it? Executive producer Hayley Sperling caught up with Cap Times K-12 education reporter Kayla Huynh to get the scoop on two MMSD referendum questions voters will sound off on this November. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We're also on Instagram!  You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. 

Madison voters will encounter two referendum questions, one for facilities and one for operations, on the November 5th ballot. If passed, they would incrementally increase property tax over the next […] The post Understanding the MMSD Referendum Questions appeared first on WORT-FM 89.9.

Here's your local news for Thursday, September 5, 2024:We check in with U.S. Dep. Secretary of Education Cindy Marten after her tour of MMSD schools.Find out why a conservative radio personality pitched a tent on Library Mall today,Explore what it takes to make lasting change in underserved communities,Explain the whys and hows of building permits,Investigate a mysterious object,And much more.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, September 4, 2024:We share the good news and bad news about Wisconsin's workforce economy,Head to Lapham Elementary for the first day of the fall semester,Find out how partisan politics is impacting the classroom,Hear from MMSD's new superintendent,Broadcast the most in-depth weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to 1968,And much more.

We've got a whole pack of educated educators joining us today to talk about Edgewood College's Grow Your Own Teachers program and their partnership with the Madison Metropolitan School District. With us today: Nancy Molfenter- Associate Superintendent for Student Services, Amy Vercauteren Hefty- Assistant Director of Special education for MMSD, and Michael Meissen- Senior Director of Innovations and Partnerships at Edgewood College. It's no secret that this country has a shortage of high-quality teachers. With poor working conditions, seriously sub-par compensation, and ever-increasing demands, teachers are fleeing the profession. Just as bad, prospective educators aren't pursuing teaching careers due to oppressive obstacles. So what's the answer? Well, just as with tomatoes and some other botanicals: grow your own. Many people who want to teach but aren't licensed to do so are already working in school districts. Madison is pioneering a program that matches these individuals with the classes they need to earn their credentials, with a focus on special education. Busted Pencils is part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 6-7 pm across Wisconsin. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook, X and Instagram to keep up with Dr. Tim, Dr. Johnny and the show! Guests: Michael Meissen, Amy Vercouteren Hefty, Nancy Molfenter

“I want destination Madison to also be destination MMSD,” says new Superintendent Joe Gothard. He joins host Douglas Haynes today to talk about his vision for Madison Metropolitan School District, […] The post Destination MMSD with Joe Gothard appeared first on WORT-FM 89.9.

Dr. Joe Gothard, incoming superintendent of the Madison Metropolitan School District now adds qualified Pencil Buster to his impressive resume! He summarizes his introductory framework very simply: people. purpose. pride. His primary commitment is to engaging in open dialogue with the community, so that the school district reflects the community it is meant to represent. Dr. Joe commits to making the small, necessary changes to the structure of school so that every child can flourish, with full pride in who they are. He emphasizes that we need to be asking a simple question to get to the heart of issues in school: how are the children? We so look forward to seeing the positive growth Dr. Joe will bring to MMSD! Busted Pencils is part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 6-7 pm across Wisconsin. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook, X and Instagram to keep up with Dr. Tim, Dr. Johnny and the show! Guests: Dr. Tim Slekar, Dr. Joe Gothard

 There are questions about the plan from public schools in Madison to raise taxes by more than half-a-billion dollars this fall after the Madison Metropolitan School Board recently approved two tax increase questions for the fall. The $600 million requests come after MMSD got a $350 million tax increase in 2020. Will Flanders, an education expert at the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, said there's hardly any evidence Madison Metropolitan Schools deserve an extra half-billion dollars.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_c8affaa8-33bf-11ef-89ad-a39491b4b8d5.html 

The City Cast Madison team is here to round up the news of the week, and what a week it's been. Host Bianca Martin is joined by executive director of WayForward Resources Ellen Carlson to recap how Madison's food pantries are struggling to find solutions to the growing issue of food insecurity. Additionally, executive producer Hayley Sperling and interim newsletter editor Ava Wojnowski join to help break down the two referendums the Madison Metropolitan School District put on the ballot this November. On top of that, a draft order leaked about a case the state Supreme Court has agreed to hear on abortion. Plus, two Madison “Ninja Warriors” run, climb, and jump for greatness. Mentioned on the show: WayForward Resources Many Dane County food pantries are spending more on food than ever before [WPR] $607M property tax hike for Madison public schools now up to voters [The Cap Times] Wisconsin Supreme Court will hear high-profile abortion rights case, draft order shows [Wisconsin Watch] Madison 'Twinjas' hit semifinals of 'American Ninja Warrior' [The Cap Times] Don't forget to VOTE FOR US for Madison Magazine's Best of Madison 2024 awards! City Cast Madison is up for best local podcast and our newsletter Madison Minutes is up for best local news website. Vote here. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We're also on Instagram!  Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter.  Learn more about the sponsors of this June 28th episode here: Babbel Madison 365 Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here's your local news for Monday, April 15, 2024:We get the latest on MMSD's budget struggles, Learn the story behind a new statue headed for the state Capitol's grounds,Hear from a Madison-based zine editor who's up for a prestigious award,Commemorate the Deepwater Horizon oil spill,Take a closer look at a popular cocktail,Review two apocalyptic movies,And much more.

Here's your local news for Thursday, April 11, 2024:We get the latest information on last night's deadly shooting,Hear incoming superintendent Dr. Joe Gothard's priorities for MMSD,Look back on Justice Ann Walsh Bradley's career - after her announcement that she's not running for re-election in 2025,Talk government transparency,Broadcast the most up-to-date fishing report,Catch up with the Madison Flamingos,And much more.

Heavy rains hammered our region this week, causing pressure on the MMSD sewage treatment plant, which couldn't keep up with the demand. As a result, the MMSD discharged water and sewage into area rivers to prevent wastewater from backing up into basements.

Omar Waheed reports from Baraboo (2:26), where the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association is holding its second annual conference. He talked with a half dozen leaders in the industry about the conference, the possibilities – especially for Indigenous entrepreneurs — and the legislative challenges. Plus, Green Bay school superintendent Dr. Claude Tiller resigned after appearing on a radio show in Atlanta, and a school board member resigned a week later. Stephanie, Rob and Dave talk through what led to that (34:57), now that we have the audio from the radio show and some sense as to what prompted the school board to launch an investigation. And speaking of school superintendents, a Madison native will be the next leader of MMSD (52:40). Dave shares some memories of interviewing him when he was a principal here and we talk through what the school board can expect from him.   Helpful links:   https://madison365.com/madison-based-dispensary-herbal-aspect-monona-police-hold-challenging-cannabis-conversations-to-build-relationships/   https://madison365.com/green-bay-school-district-begins-new-superintendent-search-after-superintendent-dr-claude-tiller-resigns/   https://madison365.com/green-bay-school-boards-only-person-of-color-resigns/

Omar Waheed reports from Baraboo (2:26), where the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association is holding its second annual conference. He talked with a half dozen leaders in the industry about the conference, the possibilities – especially for Indigenous entrepreneurs — and the legislative challenges. Plus, Green Bay school superintendent Dr. Claude Tiller resigned after appearing on a radio show in Atlanta, and a school board member resigned a week later. Stephanie, Rob and Dave talk through what led to that (34:57), now that we have the audio from the radio show and some sense as to what prompted the school board to launch an investigation. And speaking of school superintendents, a Madison native will be the next leader of MMSD (52:40). Dave shares some memories of interviewing him when he was a principal here and we talk through what the school board can expect from him.   Helpful links:   https://madison365.com/madison-based-dispensary-herbal-aspect-monona-police-hold-challenging-cannabis-conversations-to-build-relationships/   https://madison365.com/green-bay-school-district-begins-new-superintendent-search-after-superintendent-dr-claude-tiller-resigns/   https://madison365.com/green-bay-school-boards-only-person-of-color-resigns/

Here's your local news for Tuesday, February 27, 2024:We have the details on MMSD's contract with the new superintendent - and the community's reaction to his hiring,Visit a glassblowing exhibit,Learn more about UW's new online degree program,Share some local wildlife patient status updates,And much more.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, February 14, 2024:We correct yesterday's reporting on MMSD's Superintendent search,Investigate if bus delays in Madison are improving,Learn how treated wastewater could help warm houses in the area,Interview a Dane County Board candidate in next week's primary,Have an international conversation about the arts,Broadcast the most in-depth weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to 1969,And much more.

Episode Summary: In this insightful episode of the Infrastructure Hot Seat podcast, Eric Dundee shares his journey in the civil infrastructure space, particularly focusing on water and sewer operations. Listeners are given an inside look at the challenges and triumphs of managing a vital component of public works. As Eric and Chad Smeltzer discuss the intricacies of sewer district operations, they highlight the importance of effective municipal engineering in maintaining a sustainable environment. They explore topics ranging from workforce development to project management, and technological advancements that promise efficiency in public service delivery. Passion for Public Infrastructure: Eric's journey shows a shift from computer engineering to infrastructure, emphasizing the joy of creating public value. Reliability in Operations: Maintaining and advancing water treatment facilities to ensure public health speaks to the dedication required in this sector. Pollution Prevention: Discusses the complex challenge of managing various industrial wastes and the strategies employed by the MMSD to handle them. Workforce Development: Eric underlines the importance of investing in staff through training and succession planning, contributing to a strong and skilled workforce. Technological Evolution: The episode looks forward to more AI and technological tools aiding efficient infrastructure maintenance, a glimpse into the future of public works. "Your toilet is not a trash can." - A call to the public to avoid treating sanitation systems improperly. "We maintain a pretty consistent list of over 300 purchase orders." - Highlighting the complexity of managing a sewage district's operations. "What you put into it [APWA], you can get out of it." - Encouraging involvement in professional associations for career development. "For those who do a lot of procurement, you get your price, you get the order in, and then the lead time is how long it takes for the equipment to get there." - Explaining the procurement challenges faced by sewage districts. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-infrastructure/message

Here's your local news for Thursday, January 11, 2024:We share the details on the Republican bill to legalize medical marijuana - with strict limitations,Explain how the public can get involved in MMSD's superintendent search,Get a researcher's opinion on "educational transparency," Explore the benefits of mindfulness,Take a closer look at heating pumps,Discuss a motorcycle's incredible journey across the ocean,And much more.

With Americans living longer and deferring retirement for lots of reasons, the retirement planning landscape is changing. Employers are not offering pensions. All these factors make planning for retirement income crucial. We'll explore this in depth with my guest, Matt DiGangi.-Here are some resources to learn more about MassMutual Strategic Distributors (MMSD) and its offerings:Learn More about MMSD Annuity Solutions and Check Rates - https://mmsd.massmutual.com/products/annuities For more thought leadership, follow Matt DiGangi and MMSD on LinkedInwww.linkedin.com/showcase/massmutual-strategic-distributors/ www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-digangi-mba-cltc-2416556/ Referenced in this podcast:In Retirement Planning, It's What You Don't Know That Can Hurt Them - https://fieldnet.massmutual.com/public/ltc/pdfs/sdp6026.pdf Fixed Annuities and Consumer Literacy Study - https://fieldnet.massmutual.com/public/ann/pdfs/sdp5045.pdf Health Care Costs in Retirement - https://fieldnet.massmutual.com/public/ann/pdfs/an6722.pdf A message from Advisor Perspectives and VettaFi: To learn more on this and other topics, check out our full schedule of upcoming CE-approved virtual events.

This episode of Black Oxygen features Nichelle Nichols, the President of the MMSD school board and System Leader in Residence for the National Equity Project. Although born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, for many years she thought that her life and profession would taking her to places much larger than Madison. Today, you'll learn how Nichelle began in education as a profession, what type of educational experience she wants for all children in the Madison area, and how she now fully accepts Madison as here home. Our conversation covers many topics including, her initial dreams of being an artist, motherhood, achieving equity within education and much more.  #BlackOxygenPodcast #BlackInMadison #Madison365 #MadisonWisconsin #NationalEquityAtlas #NichelleNichols #EducationalEquity #EquityInEducation #MadisonSchools #MMSDEquity #MadisonEducation

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.

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.

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

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 forecast on the WORT airwaves, and a national magazine fawns over Paul Soglin on this week's Madison in the Sixties.

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 regulating surface water pollution. Wisconsin's public affairs channel Wisconsin Eye, a state-level version of C-SPAN, could be getting a boost from the state Legislature in the upcoming budget, An internal complaint filed against Madison Metropolitan School District's head of communications was unsealed by a Dane County judge late last week. In it, seven current and former employees allege a pattern of mistreatment from MMSD's top spokesman Tim LeMonds, And, The 95th Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee in Maryland kicked off today.  Among the 251 spellers competing in the national spelling bee is Wisconsin's own Aiden Wijeyakulasuriya, a seventh-grader at Blessed Sacrament School. The spelling kicked off today with a preliminary round. Wijeyakulasuriya appeared to still be in the running as of this afternoon, spelling the word bahuvrihi correctly. You can watch it all this week at spellingbee.com. Hey, it's our one-week Summer Fundraising Drive! Three-quarters of WORT's budget comes from individual listeners. We could use your support to both maintain our programming and expand our services. Want to give? Call 608-256-2001, or give online at wortfm.org/donate.

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.

Michael Mucha, the Chief Engineer and Director for the Madison Metropolitan Sewage District (MMSD), has bi-coastal experience as both an educator and administrator.  Prior to his current role in Wisconson, he's worked in both Olympia, Washington, and Reading, Pennslyvania.  This structural engineer by degree explains how a job as a civil engineer completely changed his career trajectory.Michael discusses the challenges faced by MMSD, including maintaining public confidence, an affordability dichotomy, and decarbonization. He also identifies efficiency opportunities for MMSD, including adaptive strategies, sustainable infrastructure, consolidation, and automation. Mucha emphasizes the importance of focusing on public health as a solution to water quality issues, rather than just building bigger treatment plants. He also discusses the proactive approach MMSD is taking to manage their infrastructure and collection systems, including the use of real-time data and technology. According to our guest, 70% of reductions in greenhouse gases come from day-to-day operational decisions.Michael's answer to Mahesh's question about the talent gap differs from previous guests.  He actually talks about successes they've had in recruiting.Finally, Mucha emphasizes the importance of building public trust through sustainability and leaving a legacy of a trustworthy and effective government.  His personal mission statement is "building public trust through sustainability." He explains what goes into that.More: Michael Mucha's Bio on the MMSD Website: https://www.madsewer.org/who-we-are/district-leadership/Aquasight Website: https://aquasight.io/

On the podcast today, a new MMSD program for the youngest learners. Plus we catch up on a few stories from Blueprint365: a scholarship for future doctors, a new director at Rock County Jumpstart and an innovative program for people with hidden disabilities.

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.

Mayor Rhodes-Conway is joined by Madison Metropolitan School District Superintendent Carlton Jenkins, MMSD School Board President Ali Muldrow and Metro director Justin Stuehrenberg to announce the third year of providing free bus passes to all middle and high school MMSD students.

Mayor Rhodes-Conway is joined by Madison Metropolitan School District Superintendent Carlton Jenkins, MMSD School Board President Ali Muldrow and Metro director Justin Stuehrenberg to announce the third year of providing free bus passes to all middle and high school MMSD students.

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.

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.

WORT 89.9FM Madison · Passing the Telescope on to a New Generation at the MMSD Planetarium. Geoff Holt has been the director of the Madison Metropolitan School District Planetarium for […] The post Passing the Telescope on to a New Generation at the MMSD Planetarium appeared first on WORT-FM 89.9.

A new program delivers meal kits to MMSD students -- and gets them on a Zoom call with the Black chef who created the meal, and who teaches them to cook for their families. Plus, a longtime Madison radio host is now a Hall of Famer, and the COVID situation continues to improve.

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.

This is your WORT Local News for Monday, December 6, 2021. On today's show, we travel to Reindahl Park to get an update, as the window for campers to move out draws to a close, the race for a Madison school board seat lights up online, and we take a look at Wisconsin's abortion laws, look at the generational shift from mixtapes to playlists, and review two new movies.

In this episode we hear from  one of Wisconsin's leading experts in best practices in special education and transition supports for student with disabilities. Dr. Nancy Molfenter  is currently an Assistant Director of Student Services in Wisconsin's 2nd largest school district as well as a special education professor at the University of Wisconsin. Nancy is someone who is not afraid to roll up her sleeves! She has more than 20 years of experience working as as a special educator, transition coordinator, and a leader in statewide and national organizations supporting inclusion and employment first. She is passionate about supporting all students with disabilities to reach their potential.  Hear what Nancy  to say about three key ways to close the achievement gap for students with disabilities, the biggest challenges for school districts and how parents and IEP teams can find common ground, even when there are disagreements. Support the show (https://arcwi.org/donate/)

Gloria Reyes is the president of the MMSD school board, CEO of Briarpatch youth services, and former law enforcement, among many other things. Her work for the city of Madison in all her fields is admirable and amazing. She shares her story of perseverance as she works her way out of poverty and into a successful career. Donate: https://youthsos.org/get-involved/donate Our Website: themadisonianpodcast.com Merchandise: teespring.com/stores/themadisonianpodcast Patreon: patreon.com/themadisonianpodcast Music Credits: Voices by ASHUTOSH | https://soundcloud.com/grandakt Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

Here's your WORT Local News for Tuesday, February 16th, 2021: State Republicans move to block COVID vaccines for prisoners, ore details on the MMSD plan to return students to in-person classes, We preview the governor's budget address and in the second half, we learn the latest from the U-W campus, get to know muskrats, and touch down on Mars.

Here's your WORT Local News for Wednseday, February 10th, 2021: MMSD announces plans to return to in-person education, love is in the air this Valentine's Day...but so is the coronavirus, we take a closer look at Wisconsin's vaccine distribution and in the second half, we get the latest in local government news, the most comprehensive weather forecast on the air and the headlines from 1969.

Here's your WORT Local News for Wednesday, January 27th, 2021: Madison and Deforest area schools approve an attendance area swap, a Wisconsin environmental stewardship programs is set to expire unless lawmakers act, Wisconsin's mink farmers are one of the next groups in line to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and in the second half we get the latest in local government news, the most comprehensive weather forecast on the air and the headlines from January 1963.

In this episode, I have an invigorating conversation with a dear friend and colleague, Ms. Bianca Gomez. Bianca & I attended graduate school together at the University of Wisconsin-Madison a few years ago; while in Madison, Bianca became involved with Freedom, Inc - a community-based organization that organizes for social, political, and educational advocacy for oppressed and marginalized groups. One of Freedom Inc's biggest and most recent wins was convincing the local school board in Madison to decentralize police presence within the Madison Metro School District (MMSD). Bianca credits the leadership of middle & high school students who participated in grassroots-level activism as a major factor in MMSD becoming a police-free school district. Tune in to this episode to learn more about how it all happened! Learn more about Freedom Inc via https://freedom-inc.org/. To learn more about how your school district can strategize on educational diversity, equity, and inclusion, I invite you to schedule a discovery call with me here: https://calendly.com/karlamanning/20min --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/karla958/support