WORT 89.9FM Madison

Jeffrey Sykes, Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society, speaks with Ava Borelli, WORT 89.9FM Madison

Benjamin Skroch, Beloit Janesville Symphony Pops on the Rock July 4 concert WORT 89.9FM Madison with Ava Borell

On Monday, the MMSD School Board voted 5-2 for a district-wide cell phone policy. Starting this fall, cell phones will be banned all day for students in grades K-8 and all-day except for during lunch for high school students. To talk about kids’ cell phone and technology use, host Ali Muldrow is joined by two guests, Amy Martino and Jacqui Shore. Featured image of two teens using cell phones via P...

Today on the Too Turnt Up Tuesday 8:00 Buzz with Tara Wilhelmi, Alex Carter A/K/A Twenty85 joins us in studio to talk about his story, music, and what it’s like making music in 2026. Keep up with Twenty85 on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lockinwit20/ and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/alex.carter.779940/ and YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@twenty1985 .. and find his music on all the majo...

The Madison Board of Education approved a district-wide cell phone policy on Monday, just in time to comply with a new state law. Image courtesy: Robin Worrall via Unsplash.

ABC for Health is a Madison-based law firm that helps people navigate health coverage and medical debt issues. Their staff voted unanimously last Wednesday in favor of unionization – seeking better pay, more promotion opportunities, and a voice in the firm’s strategic planning. To learn more about the union campaign and how management has responded, our News Producer Faye Parks sat down this after...

Seven candidates running for Wisconsin governor joined a forum Monday evening to share their ideas about criminal justice reform, immigrants’ rights, and environmental justice.

Norman Stockwell, publisher of The Progressive Magazine recorded a quick interview with Trita Parsi, vice president and co-founder of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. They talked on Tuesday, June 16th and the Memorandum of Understanding or MOU of an agreed upon ceasefire was scheduled to be signed on Friday, June 19th. As it turned out, the President signed the MOU on Wednesday, Ju...

Last week, Madison’s Office of the Independent Police Monitor released a new finding: that police violence played a role in the death of a man in custody in 2024, contrary to the county’s medical examiner’s autopsy report. To talk about the place of medical examiners in the criminal justice system, host Dana Pellebon is joined by scholar, Terence Keel, author of The Coroner's Silence: Death Record...

A group of local historians are hard at work unearthing and preserving the rich histories of Madison’s neighborhoods. Using maps and oral histories, Make History Madison is a crowd-sourced, place-based public history initiative that encourages people of all ages to contribute photos, research, testimonials, and observations about the places in Madison that matter to them. On today’s show, host Dou...

Madison’s 37th annual Juneteenth celebration saw a massive turnout on Saturday. This year’s theme: “Black Resilience: Celebrating Our History and Presence.” After a march down Park Street, as many of 15,000 people convened in Penn Park to enjoy activities for all ages. WORT reporter Brian Standing was there and brings us this coverage with our News Producer Faye Parks. Image courtesy: Brian Standi...

A flavored cheese that earned a blue ribbon in the latest World Championship Cheese Contest will soon be available in supermarkets across the country. It was developed at a modern cheese plant located about thirty miles west of Madison. Bert Zipperer and Pete Hardin explain how Arena Cheese earned its reputation for innovation and creativity, in this edition of “The Milkweed.” Image courtesy: Aren...

This week on “Madison Mixology,” we’re off to Puerto Rico to learn about the Pina Colada and its many variations – dating all the way back to the late 1700s. Feature contributor Charlie Belawski tells us how to blend up this frozen treat and shares the history behind it.

Madison’s new men’s shelter could clear one of the last hurdles before opening day, and city officials get feedback on the recent slew of budget engagement events. Brenda Konkel has the rundown on this week’s meetings, in this edition of “Forward Lookout.”

This Saturday, June 13th is the anniversary of Thurgood Marshall’s nomination to the U-S Supreme Court by then-President Lyndon Johnson in 1967. Johnson said his ground breaking action was “the right thing to do, the right time to do it, the right man and the right place.” Feature contributor Harry Richardson has the story. Image courtesy: Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum. https:/...

The Field to Frock Festival returns to Madison for its 2026 edition. We’ll talk with Leslie Schroeder and Jessica Becker of the Midwest Linen Revival.

It’s been a banner year for everyone’s favorite bloodsucking, disease-carrying arachnid. Public health professor Johnny Uelmen tells us everything you ever wanted to know about ticks.

The data on remote work is in. Economist Emma Harrington tells us the good, the bad and the ugly about working from home.

Today June 22nd is the anniversary of the successful Maine Bath Iron Works Shipyard strike in 2020. Four thousand-three hundred workers successfully struck during COVID time, against the company's corporate parent, giant General Dynamics. Feature contributor Harry Richardson, has the story. Image courtesy: U.S. Navy Naval Air Station Brunswick website, via Wikipedia https://commons.wikimedia.org/w...

This week on Mel & Floyd: The Juneteenth episode; A solution for the reflecting pool; Schrodinger’s peace deal; A four ton elephant communicates its feelings at a GOP convention; Odd man out at the G7, And other random topics; Notice something missing? For the complete Mel and Floyd Experience, buy the CD “The Very Best of James Brown” and play it on your Hi-Fi while listening to this podcast! Or...

On today’s show, host Esty Dinur celebrates Juneteenth, “America’s second Independence Day,” with Dr. Timothy Golden. They talk about the symbolic importance of this federal holiday and how the US still struggles to make freedom meaningful for Black people. Featured image of a Juneteenth parade in Denver, CO via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

DJ Cooper Talbot joins guest host Jason Joyce to share her thoughts on Juneteenth, the Black National Anthem, and the DJ collective model.

Forward Madison FC’s Mark Segbers talks their USL1 season and the FIFA World Cup.

Corey Marioneaux joins Jason Joyce to discuss the Black Men Coalition, Juneteenth, and honor the legacy of mentor Michael Johnson.

The financial requirements Wisconsin utility regulators approved this spring for large data centers are too strict and could drive away major investors, according to the developers behind a multibillion-dollar campus that’s currently under construction in Port Washington. They filed a petition last week asking the Public Service Commission to loosen the rules. Tom Content is the executive director...