WORT Local News

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 wi...

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' cockt...

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 c...

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, Visi...

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 ah...

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 Infor...

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...

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...

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...

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 com...

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 ho...

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...

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 Departm...

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 in...

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 r...

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...

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 forwar...

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...

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...

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...

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 a...

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 govern...