WORT Local News

Here's your local news for Thursday, September 3, 2026:We head to Centro Hispano for a public engagement session on Dane County's next budget,Find out why student workers are sounding the alarm on a deceptively-named program at the Wisconsin Union,Detail a 2023 legal case that challenged how the state Legislature puts constitutional amendments on the ballot,Learn how a local artist discovered her passion for painting portraits,Look forward to the Russian Folk Orchestra's first rehearsal of the semester,And much more.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, September 2, 2026:We explain which proposals made the cut on Monday, when city leaders considered funding for Willy Street businesses and the independent police monitor,Detail the controversy over an exhibit coming to the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art later this month,Share an update as yet more SSM nurses join the unionization effort,Discuss the future of body-worn cameras in Madison with Police Chief John Patterson,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, September 1, 2026:We share key takeaways from Monday's special meeting of the Wisconsin Elections Commission,Learn about a new project at the University of Wisconsin Law School that aims to demystify tribal land acquisition,Examine the shrinking access to safe and affordable produce,Celebrate community-making with sourdough bread,Look forward to the fall migration of chimney swifts,And much more.

Here's your local news for Monday, August 31, 2026:We check in with Madison's alternative emergency response program ahead of their fifth anniversary,Outline some of the hot-button issues that could be decided in the Wisconsin Supreme Court's next term,Learn about an initiative that's inviting folks to rethink their relationship with the natural world,Get the latest numbers on excessive CEO pay,And much more.

Here's your local news for Thursday, August 27, 2026:Hear about how the State Government considers reforming the laws around cemeteriesSouthern Wisconsin braces itself for rising food insecurityLearn how some municipalities pool their insurance needsWe’ll help you plan one last round of summer fishingHear whether Forward Madison continued their lossless streakAnd Much More.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, August 26, 2026:Check in on the heating-up Madison Mayor RaceLearn about a new Dane County Clerk’s Office Election Center on the east sideSee how Wisconsin is holding Meta accountable for the damaging effects of social media on kidsExamine how the budget cuts to the Affordable Care Act is causing Americans to become uninsuredWe’ll go back in time to State street during the Vietnam warAnd Much More

Here's your local news for Thursday, August 20, 2026:We learn how the city of Green Bay is preparing for the midterms, after a headline-grabbing election snafu earlier this year,Hear a union leader's pitch to make UW regent positions elected rather than appointed,Look forward to Ukraine Fest 2026,Build community and reduce waste at the "Fat Clothing Swap,"And much more.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, August 19, 2026:We find out why state finance leaders are opposed to deregulating crypto staking,Check in with Midwest Environmental Advocates after their latest victory in Dane County court,Hear how Wisconsin's ability to retain young educated professionals stacks up against other states,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, August 18, 2026:We hear how the Madison school board is planning for the next district budget,Talk carceral reform ahead of a history-making commutations hearing later this week,Examine a "shocking" decline in beef prices,Visit Wildwood Cafe in Stoughton,Share some fun facts about bat bugs,And much more.

Here's your local news for Monday, August 17, 2026:We share key takeaways from MMSD's back-to-school roundtable,Hear what consumer advocates are monitoring amid Wisconsin's chaotic data center build-out,Learn more about the nation's first law banning "nudification technology,"Mark the anniversary of a Palestinian cameraman's murder by U.S. soldiers,Teach you how to mix up the infamous "BORG" cocktail,Review two movies,And much more.

Here's your local news for Thursday, August 13, 2026:We detail the latest pitch to redevelop the downtown site that houses Essen Haus,Find out why ACLU is suing the state of Wisconsin,Examine the struggle to obtain additional records on police disciplinary investigations,Learn about a new lawsuit challenging the DNR's approach to data center development,Check in with Forward Madison FC after the end of their winning streak,And much more.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, August 12, 2026:We detail the preliminary results in Tuesday's election,Consider why statewide polls missed the mark in the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor,Hear what's at stake for Wisconsin kids amid the federal deregulation of Head Start,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, August 11, 2026:We explain why an error more than fifty years ago has the city rushing to hand over "remnant lands" to the county,Tour the new Bartillon shelter ahead of opening day next month,Learn how a series of economic shifts have turned the dairy world upside down,Hear the mission behind the "Dane County Food System Action Plan,"Take a closer look at the invasive European starling,And much more.

Here's your local news for Monday, August 10, 2026:We get an update from Wisconsin's top elections administrator ahead of Tuesday's partisan primary,Hear the community-building mission behind MadWorC's new "Willy Street Impacted Workers Fund,"Sit down with a storm damage surveyor at the National Weather Service,Analyze the latest campaign finance filings in the race for Wisconsin governor,And much more.

Here's your local news for Thursday, August 6, 2026:We hear a disability advocate's warning about Medicaid cuts and a new opinion from the Justice Department,Explain how a conversation about public artworks at Tuesday's city council meeting devolved into accusations of "nativism,"Find out what Wisconsin DNR is doing to control an invasive species of fish,Look forward to this year's Ukraine Fest,Detail an ongoing lawsuit that could reshape Wisconsin's absentee voting process,Meet the co-founders of the "Fat Clothing Swap,"And much more.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, August 5, 2026:We detail the past 24 hours of city meetings and protests, two weeks after the police killing of Corey Ruiz,Learn how the U.S. Small Business Administration is helping Wisconsin recover from this spring's severe storms,Hear strategies to counter the concentrated power of billionaires,Broadcast the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,Travel back in time to 1963,And much more.

Here's your local news for Tuesday, August 4, 2026:We detail what went down this morning when the city followed through on its threat to clear out the encampment on Willy and Baldwin Streets,Head to a downtown rally demanding accountability in the police killing of Corey Ruiz,Meet Douglas Alexander, a self-described independent who's challenging Congressman Mark Pocan in the Democratic primary,Find out how federal policies are weakening the agricultural economy,Stop by JBC Coffee Roasters,Learn how some of our region's tiniest mammals survive in the wild,And much more.

Here's your local news for Monday, August 3, 2026:We get an updated report from the Corey Ruiz memorial site,Talk police training and "privileged use of force" with a UW law professor,Hear how Wisconsin farmers are pushing rural priorities ahead of the primary election,Share the local government's calendar for the week ahead,Mark the anniversary of a strike at Hoover Dam,Review two movies,And much more.

Here's your local news for Thursday, July 30, 2026:We hear how Wisconsin health officials are preparing to carry out the new federal work requirement for Medicaid recipients,Examine the city of Madison's push to standardize zoning,Usher in a new era of "Transparency Talk,"Tell you the best spots to cast your fishing line,Check in with Forward Madison FC as their winning streak continues,And much more.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, July 29, 2026:We share key takeaways from Tuesday's primary debate,Find out how much money Wisconsinites are losing to online scams,Check in with a nurse at St. Mary's Hospital, after the NLRB certified their union election,Hear about a new forever chemical designed to cool data centers,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, July 28, 2026:We detail the latest legal dispute over absentee voting in Wisconsin,Find out why Dane County is turning to an AI assistant to handle non-emergency calls,Explain how recent drought conditions are impacting American agriculture,Check out the eats at a local farmers market,Share some fun facts about brown-headed cowbirds,And much more.

Here's your local news for Monday, July 27, 2026:We outline how the Madison community has responded in the days since police shot and killed Corey Ruiz,Share key takeaways from Salah Sarsour's deportation hearing last week,Hear incumbent Sheriff Kalvin Barrett's pitch to voters ahead of the August primary,Get a political reporter's take on the chaotic race for Wisconsin governor,Commemorate the anniversary of a massacre during the Korean War,Teach you how to mix up a "Zombie" cocktail,Review two comedies,And much more.

Here's your local news for Thursday, July 23, 2026:We detail what's happened in the 24 hours since Madison police shot and killed Corey Ruiz,Talk the war in Iran with Senator Tammy Baldwin,Hear how students at UW are celebrating Balkan culture,Share the story behind Wisconsin's "battle between governors" in 1856,Head to the Amish Quilt and Consignment Auction,And much more.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, July 22, 2026:We hear what national experts have to say about police oversight efforts in Madison,Learn how the Willy Street Co-op is reducing plastic waste,Consider the ramifications of a new, controversial USPS rule,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, July 21, 2026:We hear how the local public health department plans to cope with reduced funding next year,Meet a civilian who's challenging Sheriff Kalvin Barrett in the August primary,Examine the fluctuating price of nonfat dry milk,Visit a restaurant trying new things on Madison's near east side,Explain what different species of birds need to reach maturity,And much more.

Here's your local news for Monday, July 20, 2026:We hear Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway's pitch for another term in office,Check in on efforts to rename three MMSD elementary schools,Learn the potential economic benefits of broader union membership,Dig into the campaign finance reports of Wisconsin's gubernatorial candidates,Teach you how to mix up a "Miami Vice" cocktail,And much more.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.