Winter Solstice celebrations often include rituals and traditions to honor the return of the sun after the longest night of the year, however in Madison, the date is a time to remember and honor the homeless in Dane County who died in the past year. Linda Ketcham, Executive Director at Just Dane (formerly Madison Urban Ministry) joins 8 O’Clock Buzz host Tony Castañeda to talk about The Longest Night Homeless Persons’ Memorial Service, one of many taking place throughout the US. The interfaith service, set to begin at 3 p.m. Thursday, December 21, 2023 on the Capitol Square at the intersection of East Main, South Pinckney Street and King Street, will include reflections from Muslim, Jewish and Christian communities, as well as family members and homelessness advocacy groups. If able, please bring mittens, hats, long underwear, winter clothing and blankets, which will be given to local shelters or can be dropped at First Congregational United Church of Christ at 1609 University Ave. Additionally, Porchlight is open to receive donations such as jeans, boxers, winter coats, hats and gloves daily between 4pm and 8pm at 2002 Zeier Road. The National Coalition for the Homeless is creating a database which will track the wherabouts of unhoused individuals and names of homeless people who have died.

Photo courtesy of Planet Fox on Pixabay.

 

Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate here

Chuck Collins, Director of the Program on Inequality and the Common Good at Inequality.org talks about his most recent article “Revealing the True Cost of Billionaire Philanthropy“, which describes how some ultra-wealthy make “donations” to private foundations, control the wealth for whatever purpose they see fit, and little, if any, of that money eventually goes to charity — with taxpayers funding their investments.

Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate here

PADRES E HIJOS EN ACCIÓN is a non-profit in Madison focusing on supporting special needs Latino children and their families, according to founder and Executive Director Hector Portillo. Jan talks with Portillo and his wife, Aracely, about the program’s programs for equity and inclusion, educating both the families and communities surrounding these individuals.

Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate here

Today on the Tuesday 8:00 Buzz, the old dog is back to give Tara and company a few weeks off for the holiday!  Stan Woodard is back behind the mic talking with Executive Director of the Black Public Defender Association Alaina Bloodworth about what it’s like being a public defender and their important role in keeping the justice system just and providing for the community.  In the second half, Judith Tick, professor emerita of music history at Northeastern University and Author of “Becoming Ella Fitzgerald – The Jazz Singer Who Transformed American Song” joins us to talk about her new book and Ella Fitzgerald’s iconic role in American music history! 

More on the Black Public Defender Association: https://blackdefender.org/

More on Judith Tick and “Becoming Ella Fitzgerald” from Northeastern Univeristy: https://news.northeastern.edu/2011/01/19/judithtickfitzgerald/

Music playlist: https://spinitron.com/WORT/pl/18299315/Tuesday-8-O-Clock-Buzz 

Listen in Madison at 89.9FM or online anywhere at wortfm.org.  Support your community radio with a donation online at wortfm.org!

Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate here

WORT 89.9FM Madison · Art Paul Schlosser Hosts Holiday Variety Show

On Saturday, December 23, Madison’s Cargo Coffee offers a respite from the frenzy of holiday preparations with a wing-ding of a variety show.  The show features the multiple talents of Noah Stafford, Marie on Violin; Momic and friends, Michael Owen Sullivan the singing Irishman, Steve Cast, Buddy Holly Cheesehead, Lynn Gillitzer, Dr Chris Kammer the Rock n Roll dentist, Po Ivey, Ted Kowle and more.  The show is headlined and hosted by Madison State Street legend Art Paul Schlosser.

Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate here

WORT 89.9FM Madison · Water Protectors And Northwoods Lore

Nick Vander Puy describes himself as “woodsman, renegade journalist, born again pagan, trout bum, anarchist in black granite territory.”  He lives in Mellen, Wisconsin, where he reports on the politics and the natural phenology of the north woods.  His 2022 book “Water Protectors: The HELP Campaign to Save the Penokees,” details the 2014 activist campaign that blocked the proposed Gogebic-Taconite iron mine near the shores of Lake Superior.  Nick Vander Puy joined the Monday Buzz on December 18, 2023.

Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate here

WORT 89.9FM Madison · Solar Powered Affordable Housing

Solar energy and weatherization are solid bets to reduce monthly utility bills.  The problem is, even with generous federal tax credits, the cost of installing solar panels or even better insulation falls beyond the reach of those most burdened by utility payments.  To make matters worse, Wisconsin law makes it nearly impossible for renters to take advantage of new energy technologies. Out in River Falls, Wisconsin, the West Central Community Action Agency, better known as West CAP, has found a way around the legal obstacles providing low-income households with cheap, renewable energy.  Peter Kilde is the executive director for West CAP, and he joined Monday Buzz host Brian Standing on December 18, 2023.

Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate here

Investigative watchdog group True North Research, founded and headed by Lisa Graves, has kept an eye of a number of issues in 2023, including U. S. Supreme Court ethics issues — failure of Clarence Thomas to recuse himself in conflict of interests cases and unreported gifts and travel of Justices, State Court election funding of right wing candidates, distortion of local public education school board by special interest groups, and more. Graves gives the details.

Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate here

Kevin Kamps, Radioactive Waste Watchdog at Beyond Nuclear, gives an update on Holtec’s attempts to get authorization to restart the Palisades Nuclear Plant in Michigan, currently shut down and scheduled to be decommissioned, amidst issues of the age and condition of the power plant, and petitions to halt Holtec from receiving almost $12 billion of public money. Kamps suggests that something similar may occur at the Kewaunee Power Plant in Wisconsin.

Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate here

Janet Parker from World Beyond War, Madison Chapter, joins the Thursday edition of the 8 O’Clock Buzz to discuss efforts to get political figures to support an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing war in Gaza that has resulted in the mass displacement of thousands of Palestinians and the death of hundreds of women and children in the region.  The organization has been frustrated by the lack of support from liberal members of the US Congress, and they have finally scheduled a meeting with US Senator Tammy Baldwin in an attempt to convince her to support the cause.  World Beyond War is cooperating with Jewish Voice for Peace, and the Madison Rafa Sister City Project in this endeavor.

Photo by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona on Unsplash

Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate here