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WORT Local News

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.

Publisher-supplied feed metadata · PodParley refreshed Apr 4, 2026 · Source feed

  1. 300

    Rally demands action on prison overcrowding

    Here's your local news for Thursday, July 16, 2026:We head to a rally outside Wisconsin Department of Corrections headquarters,Learn the history behind "No Turn On Red" signs and the different ways municipalities use them,Explain why a pair of media outlets are suing the state's Department of Administration,Check in with the Madison Arcatao Sister City Project ahead of a big anniversary,Take stock of Forward Madison FC's standing,And much more.

  2. 299

    Elon Musk’s million-dollar payouts could lead to criminal charges

    Here's your local news for Wednesday, July 15, 2026:We get the details on Edgewood High School's "compromise" stadium plans,Find out why the world's richest man could soon face criminal charges in Wisconsin,Hear about the long road to justice for a fifty-year-old crime,Broadcast the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to 1964,And much more.

  3. 298

    Sara Rodriguez’s campaign continues following financial reporting blunder

    Here's your local news for Tuesday, July 14, 2026:We find out why a hopeful for Wisconsin governor has fired her campaign manager,Learn the mission behind a new community garden in Milwaukee,Get a consumer advocate's take on Oracle's new lawsuit against state utility regulators,Look at what Trump's ICE crackdown means for Wisconsin dairy farms,Hear about a local influencer's quest for good food,Explain how animals stay cool in extreme heat,And much more.

  4. 297

    Investigation authorized for Green Bay duplicate ballots

    Here's your local news for Monday, July 13, 2026:We hear how the state plans to respond, after a city clerk sent duplicate absentee ballots to voters in back-to-back elections,Learn about the economic and environmental benefits of agroforestry,Find out why an environmental law firm is suing the state's Department of Natural Resources,Examine the exploitation of undocumented immigrants' labor,Celebrate the birthday of a renowned American labor leader,Review two new movies,And much more.

  5. 296

    UW investigation finds no major infractions for animal rights group

    Here's your local news for Thursday, July 9, 2026:We find out why Madison is pursuing more control over a local highway,Detail ICE's traumatic toll on Wisconsin children,Check in with Animal Advocacy after they weathered a university investigation,Hear about a cultural club at UW,Examine a Wisconsin legal case that highlighted the conflict between First Amendment rights and the interest of the state,Talk organized chaos with a local artist,And much more.

  6. 295

    Madison's next budget will be a balancing act

    Here's your local news for Wednesday, July 8, 2026:We detail the obstacles ahead for Madison's 2027 operating budget,Learn more about the Evers administration's new plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Wisconsin,Hear the mission behind the "Unlock the Vote" campaign,Broadcast the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to 1969,And much more.

  7. 294

    Incumbent Dane County sheriff faces activist opponent in upcoming primary

    Here's your local news for Tuesday, July 7, 2026:We get to know the Democratic candidates running for Dane County sheriff,Hear what issues should take priority in the race for Wisconsin governor, according to a grassroots coalition of moms,Find out why Wisconsin has joined yet another multistate lawsuit against the Trump regime,Recap the U.S. Supreme Court's latest decision on Roundup liability,Learn how the termination of 988's LGBTQ+ crisis line has affected Wisconsinites in need,Explain how to identify different raptor species,And much more.

  8. 293

    Hilton Madison workers still waiting for a union contract

    Here's your local news for Thursday, July 2, 2026:We head to a picket line outside a downtown Madison hotel,Check in with Students for Justice in Palestine, two years after they struck a deal with UW administrators,Explain why an elected official in Waterford is suing his own police department,Tell you the best spots to cast your fishing line this holiday weekend,Get the scoop on Forward Madison FC's recent hot streak,And much more.

  9. 292

    Wisconsin's marquee conservation program expires

    Here's your local news for Wednesday, July 1, 2026:We hear Democratic legislators' plan to resurrect the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program,Find out how new federal work requirements could impact Medicaid coverage in Wisconsin,Learn the story behind an unusual settlement the state's DOJ announced this week,Dissect the Trump regime's latest attempt to shake up the Department of Education,Broadcast the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to 1968,And much more.

  10. 291

    Dane County supervisors gear up for 2027 budget season

    Here's your local news for Tuesday, June 30, 2026:We hear what Dane County's next budget is looking like so far,Learn more about a movement calling for a publicly-owned electric utility in the city of Milwaukee,Describe the destructive legacy of a 20th century American food scientist,Share some "struggle meal" ideas for when life gets in the way,Get a June update from the Dane County Humane Society's Wildlife Rehabilitation Center,And much more.

  11. 290

    Public health officials urge caution amid heat wave

    Here's your local news for Monday, June 29, 2026:We hear the long history of flax textiles in Wisconsin,Find out how hidden algorithms are driving up rideshare prices,Get some tips to stay safe during this week's extreme heat,Take a closer look at Wisconsin's fake elector case,Share the story of a mass, retaliatory deportation in 1936,Teach you how to mix up a "Fuzzy Navel" cocktail,Review a new television series,And much more.

  12. 289

    Wisconsin fire departments adapt to decline in volunteers

    Here's your local news for Thursday, June 25, 2026:We get a progress update from the lobbyist tasked with advancing the city of Madison's interests in the State Capitol,Hear why service sharing or consolidation could be the answer for understaffed Wisconsin fire departments,Look forward to a concert fundraiser this weekend celebrating Ukrainian culture,Detail a legal case that solidified protections against sex discrimination in the workplace,Talk perfectionism with a local artist,And much more.

  13. 288

    Madison school board adopts cell phone policy

    Here's your local news for Wednesday, June 24, 2026:We detail MMSD's new cell phone policy,Learn how women-led conservation groups in Wisconsin are rising above their funding troubles,Hear about a new digital ad campaign that's taking We Energies to task,Examine the mental health impacts of remote work,Broadcast the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to 1963,And much more.

  14. 287

    Staff unionize at ABC for Health

    Here's your local news for Tuesday, June 23, 2026:We head to Pewaukee for the latest gubernatorial candidate forum,Hear what's behind the unionization effort at a Madison-based law firm,Explain how a local cheesemaker earned its reputation for innovation,Find out why it's becoming more difficult for healthcare systems to participate in climate-safe practices,Share some fun facts about yellow-bellied sapsuckers,And much more.

  15. 286

    Democratic candidates make their pitch for 76th Assembly District

    Here's your local news for Monday, June 22, 2026:We recap the highlights from Wednesday's 76th Assembly District candidate forum,Head to Penn Park for Madison's 37th annual Juneteenth celebration,Share the local government's calendar for the week ahead,Mark the sixth anniversary of a successful strike in Maine,Teach you how to mix up a Pina Colada,Review two new movies,And much more.

  16. 285

    Consumer advocacy group defends data center credit standards

    Here's your local news for Thursday, June 18, 2026:We find out why advocates are sounding the alarm about Wisconsin's healthcare system,Learn how projected Social Security cuts could impact recipients across the state,Hear what's at stake if state utility regulators agree to loosen financial requirements for data centers,Detail the legal dispute over an unusually secretive state education conference in 2024,Tell you the best spots to cast your fishing line,Check in with Forward Madison FC after another big home-field victory,And much more.

  17. 284

    For the fourth year, advocates mark the toll of gun violence

    Here's your local news for Wednesday, June 17, 2026:We hear the mission behind a temporary photo display in the Capitol rotunda,Take a closer look at a new bombshell report from Madison's independent police watchdog,Discuss Freemasonry with a pair of insiders,Broadcast the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to 1969,And much more.

  18. 283

    Wisconsin lawmakers host Juneteenth celebration

    Here's your local news for Tuesday, June 16, 2026:We head to the Capitol rotunda for an early Juneteenth celebration,Find out how Wisconsin counties are preparing for federal changes to the SNAP program,Get the details on the draft Southwest Area Plan ahead of next week's vote in the city council,Mark National Dairy Month with a brief history of Wisconsin cheesemaking,Visit a cozy pizzeria on Madison's north side,Learn how wildlife rehabilitators helped reunite a family of bats,And much more.

  19. 282

    Independent monitor recommends re-examining death in Madison police custody

    Here's your local news for Monday, June 15, 2026:We recap the highlights from the Wisconsin Democratic Party's 2026 state convention,Find out why Madison's police watchdog is blaming officer restraint, not a drug overdose, for Richard Lee Johnson's death in 2024,Learn more about an interfaith coalition demanding Salah Sarsour's release from ICE custody,Outline the local government's calendar for the week ahead,Share some tips to protect your privacy in the digital age,And much more.

  20. 281

    City pushes Regent redesign forward, leaving bike lanes for other streets

    Here's your local news for Thursday, June 11, 2026:We find out why Madison alders approved a new layout for Regent Street despite public pushback,Hear the latest data that points to deep racial disparities in the well-being of Wisconsin children,Detail the legal case that ended Wisconsin's ban on same-sex marriage,Get a historian's take on right-wing politics in Latin America,Discuss hustle culture and community with a local artist,And much more.

  21. 280

    Wisconsin Democrats renew push for birth control protections

    Here's your local news for Wednesday, June 10, 2026:We hear Democrats' pitch to protect access to contraception amid federal uncertainty,Honor Michael Johnson, an influential community leader who died this week at age 50,Discuss the resurgence of nuclear power in the United States,Broadcast the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to 1968,And much more.

  22. 279

    Family calls for Salah Sarsour’s release, citing brutal detention conditions

    Here's your local news for Tuesday, June 9, 2026:We explain why a brutalist apartment building that's slated for demolition could still become a city landmark,Detail the mission behind Strolling Thunder,Sit down with Kareem Sarsour, who details his father's experience in ICE custody,Discuss some pests and diseases threatening American cattle,Examine the legal back and forth over Trump's billion-dollar slush fund,Share some fun facts about the common grackle,And much more.

  23. 278

    Nearly half of Wisconsin paroles end with re-incarceration

    Here's your local news for Monday, June 8, 2026:We find out why a popular youth diving club is shutting down,Examine the flaws in Wisconsin's community supervision system,Share the local government's calendar for the week ahead,Commemorate the 1967 nomination of a trailblazing U.S. Supreme Court justice,Review two new movies on the small screen,And much more.

  24. 277

    Filing deadline culls Wisconsin candidate pool

    Here's your local news for Thursday, June 4, 2026:We hear what Madison can do to regulate data center development in the city long term,Find out which election hopefuls made the cut after Monday's filing deadline,Explain why a simple letter can sometimes resolve an open government dispute faster than litigation,Tell you the best spots to cast your fishing line,Check in with Forward Madison FC after a big home-field win,And more.

  25. 276

    Gubernatorial hopefuls woo union members at labor-focused forum

    Here's your local news for Wednesday, June 3, 2026:We attend the Wisconsin Workers' Forum for Governor,Learn why some legal groups are urging caution, as the state Supreme Court weighs a proposal that would tighten Wisconsin's judicial recusal rules,Examine how ultra-wealthy oligarchs dominate democracies,Broadcast the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to 1961,And much more.

  26. 275

    UW-Madison student org defends anti-Ridglan flyers

    Here's your local news for Tuesday, June 2, 2026:We detail the latest debate over MMSD's cell phone policy,Find out why a student-led animal advocacy group has accused UW-Madison of quashing free speech to protect its bottom line,Explain how a massive food safety recall in April could impact consumer pocketbooks,Take a closer look at a local culinary publication,Celebrate one of nature's tiniest travelers,And much more.

  27. 274

    St. Mary’s nurses, supporters host pro-union rally

    Here's your local news for Monday, June 1, 2026:We head to St. Mary's hospital in Madison for a rally supporting the nurses union,Find out how the public can help shape the future of transportation in the Greater Madison area,Share the local government's calendar for the week ahead,Mark the anniversary of the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924,Teach you how to mix up a 'Lemon Drop' cocktail,Review some new movies,And much more.

  28. 273

    Fitchburg votes to end Flock Safety contract

    Here's your local news for Thursday, May 28, 2026:We find out why Fitchburg alders decided on Tuesday to cut ties with a controversial surveillance tech company,Take a deep dive into Madison's public water system,Detail a legal case that cemented the federal government's regulatory control over the Wisconsin National Guard,Examine a fast-spreading Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,Talk creative spaces and community with a local artist,And much more.

  29. 272

    Dane County weighs 18-month data center moratorium

    Here's your local news for Wednesday, May 27, 2026:We explain how you can weigh in on Madison's draft Safe Routes to School plan,Examine a proposed data center moratorium that's on the fast track in the Dane County Board,Debut a new media-focused feature,Broadcast the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to the late 1960s,And much more.

  30. 271

    Dane Co. Executive Melissa Agard looks to the future in first-ever ‘State of the County’ address

    Here's your local news for Tuesday, May 26, 2026:We share key takeaways from Thursday's 'State of the County' address,Explore the benefits of cover cropping,Break down Wisconsin's financial outlook after a bipartisan spending deal died in the Senate earlier this month,Describe a "triple whammy" hitting American farmers' pocketbooks,Examine a new federal ruling that blocks the Justice Department from obtaining Wisconsin's unredacted voter data,Look forward to summertime fun and hands-on learning at Camp WildSide,And much more.

  31. 270

    Wisconsin child care funding to expire this summer

    Here's your local news for Thursday, May 21, 2026:We find out why Madison's police oversight leaders are asking for a bigger budget,Learn how Wisconsin families and providers could be impacted when Child Care Counts runs out of funding this summer,Explain why the state's open records law needs an update,Tell you the best spots to cast your fishing line this Memorial Day weekend,Catch up with Forward Madison FC after a series of tough losses,And much more.

  32. 269

    Olbrich Gardens unveils finalized expansion plan

    Here's your local news for Wednesday, May 20, 2026:We join a crowded public meeting at Olbrich Gardens,Detail a major land conservation project that earned the county board's stamp of approval last week,Learn more about a billboard campaign that's urging active duty troops to refuse illegal orders,Broadcast the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to 1967,And much more.

  33. 268

    Spring election results include late-arriving Madison ballots

    Here's your local news for Tuesday, May 19, 2026:We explain how you can weigh in on the development future of downtown Madison,Hear the benefits of agroforestry,Check in with Law Forward after a recent win in Dane County court,Outline the latest dairy trends as American cheesemakers scramble to compete in a difficult international market,Dispel some myths about Midwestern cuisine,Explore how certain birds hijack nests and force adoptions of their young,And much more.

  34. 267

    Internal differences set aside at this weekend’s state GOP convention

    Here's your local news for Monday, May 18, 2026:We hear local advocates' pitch to strengthen police oversight efforts in the city of Madison,Share key takeaways from the Republican Party of Wisconsin's annual convention this weekend,Analyze a court decision last month that gutted the Voting Rights Act,Learn about one of the first Black lawmakers elected to Congress,Teach you how to mix up a "White Lady" cocktail,Review two new movies on the small screen,And much more.

  35. 266

    $1.8B surplus deal dies in the Senate

    Here's your local news for Thursday, May 14, 2026:We break down last night's contentious vote in the state Legislature,Find out how private donors and the state can help WisconsinEye stay afloat,Celebrate traditional Ukrainian embroidery,Examine a recent legal case that had big implications for the separation of powers in Wisconsin,Chat with a group of historical fencing enthusiasts,And much more.

  36. 265

    St. Mary’s nurses hold strong, despite union busting

    Here's your local news for Wednesday, May 13, 2026:We get a progress update on MMSD's long-term sustainability plan,Outline the benefits of strong energy codes,Hear how St. Mary's nurses are keeping their union campaign alive amid pressure from hospital management,Learn the story behind the "Pistachio Wars,"Broadcast the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to 1969,And much more.

  37. 264

    Bartillon men's shelter could open later this summer

    Here's your local news for Tuesday, May 12, 2026:We get a progress update on Madison's highly-anticipated men's shelter,Learn how recent federal health care cuts could impact Wisconsin,Find out why the governor's $1.8 billion surplus deal is already drawing criticism from his own party,Examine the economic hurdles that farmers are facing at the start of a new growing season,Visit a decades-old staple in the Madison coffee scene,Share some fun facts about eastern bluebirds,And much more.

  38. 263

    Cap Times management recognizes newsroom union

    Here's your local news for Monday, May 11, 2026:We share a major update in the campaign for a unionized newsroom at the Cap Times,Examine the urban-rural gap in access to child care,Find out which priorities made the cut in the bipartisan spending deal Governor Evers announced Monday,Say goodbye to the UW Space Place,Commemorate the anniversary of the Million Mom March for gun control,Teach you how to mix up a simple French cocktail,Review a new movie and a new docuseries,And much more.

  39. 262

    Center for Black Excellence and Culture hosts triumphant grand opening

    Here's your local news for Thursday, May 7, 2026:We check out a new community space on Madison's south side,Learn more about the campaign for a unionized newsroom at the Cap Times,Discuss two recent court decisions involving DOJ records requests,Tell you the best spots to cast your fishing line,Reflect on Forward Madison FC's remarkable stretch away from home,And much more.

  40. 261

    Madison school board grapples with phone restriction policy

    Here's your local news for Wednesday, May 6, 2026:We detail a proposed cell phone policy that garnered mixed responses at Monday's MMSD school board meeting,Examine a conservative ad campaign that's using bipartisan issues to prop up Assembly Republicans in competitive districts,Honor the legacy of Wisconsin's most celebrated and feared political reporter,Broadcast the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to 1969,And much more.

  41. 260

    Abortion pill restrictions on pause, for now

    Here's your local news for Tuesday, May 5, 2026:We hear what's next for the Odana Hills Golf Course redesign,Find out why sustainable farmers want the U.S. Supreme Court to reject Monsanto's immunity bid,Learn how the legal back and forth over mifepristone, a widely-used abortion pill, could impact Wisconsinites,Rebroadcast The Milkweed's award-winning segment on stray voltage,Chat with the co-owner of Little Tibet Market and Cafe,Get a baby season update from the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center,And much more.

  42. 259

    Madison's Day Without Immigrants rally draws thousands

    Here's your local news for Monday, May 4, 2026:We find out why the Madison Police Department credits community partners for the city's declining crime rates,Head to downtown Madison for this year's May Day rally,Learn how Wisconsin teachers are picking up the slack amid funding and retention issues,Share the local government's calendar for the week ahead,Celebrate the legacy of an anti-colonialist reporter,Review an international film and television series,And much more.

  43. 258

    Ridglan Farms sells 1,500 beagles to animal rescue groups

    Here's your local news for Thursday, April 30, 2026:We learn what's next, after an embattled testing facility agreed this week to sell most of its dogs to rescue groups,Find out why so many Wisconsin Republicans are announcing their retirement ahead of the midterms,Talk cultural experiences with a UW-Madison language lecturer,Debut our new feature on Wisconsin's most famous legal cases,Explore the idea of soft architecture,And much more.

  44. 257

    Law Forward appeals anti-competitive gerrymander decision

    Here's your local news for Wednesday, April 29, 2026:We detail a Regent Street development project that earned the Plan Commission's stamp of approval Monday,Talk climate change and storm-ready infrastructure,Check in with Law Forward after a panel dismissed their gerrymandering lawsuit,Break down how federal tax dollars are spent,Broadcast the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to 1968,And much more.

  45. 256

    Madison teachers rally for equal pay

    Here's your local news for Tuesday, April 28, 2026:We share an update on the fight to end salary compression at MMSD,Examine the widening funding gaps between Wisconsin K-12 school districts,Find out what's next, after Trump ended a twenty-year ban on mining near the Boundary Waters,Recap the Milkweed's award-winning segment on stray voltage,Explore Madison through the lens of beer and books,Learn about some tiny new patients at the Dane County Humane Society's Wildlife Rehabilitation Center,And much more.

  46. 255

    PSC ruling aims to shield ratepayers from data center energy costs

    Here's your local news for Monday, April 27, 2026:We dig into the Public Service Commission's landmark ruling last week on data centers,Discuss the latest election-related news from around the state,Share the local government's calendar for the week ahead,Mark the anniversary of the Birmingham Children’s Crusade,Teach you how to mix up an “Ocean Breeze” cocktail,Review two more movies from the Wisconsin Film Festival,And much more.

  47. 254

    Enrollment data lays the groundwork for MMSD redistricting

    Here's your local news for Thursday, April 23, 2026:We find out why Madison schools are projected to see declining kindergarten enrollment,Detail an upcoming expansion to the UW System's Direct Admit program,Learn how competing interests on Regent Street were prioritized in a planned redesign of the thoroughfare,Explore the ins and outs of Wisconsin's open meetings law,Tell you the best spots to cast your fishing line,Check in with Forward Madison FC after a pair of tough matches,And much more.

  48. 253

    Accusations swirl, as Madison alders consider reforming police oversight bodies

    Here's your local news for Wednesday, April 22, 2026:We detail what went down at Tuesday's tense city council meeting,Share key takeaways from a new report on Wisconsin's criminal justice system,Examine the latest change in leadership at UW-Madison,Broadcast the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to 1967,And much more.

  49. 252

    Multicultural fashion show embraces radical self-expression

    Here's your local news for Tuesday, April 21, 2026:We attend the "Existence as Resistance" fashion show,Find out why more architects are using engineered wood,Detail the environmental benefits of passenger rail,Explore how immigration raids are impacting the American agricultural industry,Talk culinary perspectives with a food writer,Describe the diverse dietary needs of birds,And much more.

  50. 251

    Law enforcement blocks Ridglan Farms operation, leading to injuries and arrests

    Here's your local news for Monday, April 20, 2026:We hear from protesters who joined the attempted raid this weekend of a Blue Mounds dog breeding and testing facility,Share key takeaways from a new report on climate change in Wisconsin,Find out why county leaders withdrew funding for Flock cameras,Celebrate the legacy of a trailblazing bluegrass musician,Review two documentaries featured in this year's Wisconsin Film Festival,And much more.

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

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.

HOSTED BY

WORT News and Public Affairs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does WORT Local News have?

WORT Local News currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is WORT Local News about?

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.

How often does WORT Local News release new episodes?

WORT Local News has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to WORT Local News?

You can listen to WORT Local News on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts WORT Local News?

WORT Local News is created and hosted by WORT News and Public Affairs.
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