8 O'Clock Buzz

With the Milwaukee Brewers chasing a World Series appearance, you could be forgiven for thinking that an event called “Wisconsin Bat Week” referred to the offensive aptitude of the Brew Crew. You would be wrong, however – “Bat Week” is an international celebration of the other kind of “bats” – the furry winged mammals that play a pivotal role in ecosystems around the world.  Here in Wisconsin, the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance and the University of Wisconsin Bat Brigade have teamed up to bring a variety of events celebrating the order chiroptera.  Brenna Marsicek of the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance and  Makeela Magomolla of the University of Wisconsin Bat Brigade joined Monday Buzz host Brian Standing on October 19, 2026.

Featured image: Little Brown Bat (myotis lucifugus)

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The Wisconsin Secretary of State performs primarily ceremonial duties these days.  Under the state constitution, the Secretary of State “keeps a fair record of the official acts of the legislature and executive departments,” “maintains the official seal of the State of Wisconsin,” chairs the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands and serves as third in line in the unlikely event both the Governor and Lieutenant Governor are simultaneously incapacitated.  Despite the limited powers of the position, the office has attracted a full slate of candidates competing in the November 3 election.  Here on the Monday 8 O’Clock Buzz, we’ve already heard from Republican candidate Jay Schroeder and Green Party candidate Peter Karas. Today, we hear from Democratic candidate for Secretary of State, Milwaukee City Council Representative and former state Assembly Representative, JoCasta Zamarripa.  JoCasta Zamarripa joined Monday Buzz host Brian Standing on October 19, 2026.

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The National Defense Authorization Act provides a template for allocating and authorizing the budget for the Defense Department, and, according to Allen Hester who leads the Nuclear Disarmament and Pentagon Spending portfolio from the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL). For the first time, this Act, with a budget proposal of $1.15 Trillion has passed the House on party lines, rather than bi-partisan, and includes an increase of $250 Million over the last budget. It appears to be stalled in the Senate, where Democratic senators fear approving the increase could signal approval of Trump’s war with Iran. The FCNL has an “action alert” on its website.

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Once a month, Monday Buzz roving reporter Nicole Gruter brings us tales from the road – a particular road in fact: U.S. Highway 14, also known as the Black and Yellow Trail or the Northwest Highway, which runs from Chicago, Illinois to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Today, Nicole joins us with the complicated history of the role New Ulm, Minnesota played in the bloody U.S. / Dakota War of 1862.  Host Brian Standing welcomed Nicole back to the Monday 8 O’Clock Buzz on October 12, 2026.

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In the fall midterms on November 3, Wisconsin voters have a very full ballot.  U.S. congress, governor, state legislature, secretary of state and state treasurer are all up for election this year.  Over the years, the duties of the State Treasurer have been whittled down to overseeing the state’s unclaimed property program and sitting on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands. Efforts to amend the state constitution to eliminate the position have failed. Despite the limited functions, the office has attracted two candidates, incumbent Republican John Lieber who seeks re-election and Marathon County Supervisor, Democrat Yee Leng Xiong.  Yee Leng Xiong joined Monday Buzz host Brian Standing on October 12, 2026.

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On November 3, Wisconsin voters will cast ballots for U.S. congress, governor, state legislature, state treasurer and secretary of state.  The Wisconsin Constitution charges the Secretary of State with “keeping a fair record of the official acts of the legislature and executive department,” “maintaining the official seal of the state of Wisconsin” and “such other duties as assigned by law.”  Not that it comes up much, but the Secretary of State is also third in line to succeed the governor if both the sitting governor and the lieutenant governor are incapacitated.  Despite a limited set of official duties, the office has attracted a full slate of candidates running in 2026, including Democratic Party nominee JoCasta Zamarripa, Green Party nominee Pete Karas and Republican Party nominee Jay Schroeder.  Jay Schroeder joined Monday Buzz host Brian Standing on October 12, 2026.

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Zonta Club of Madison is a network of local professionals who meet to collectively plan activities which supporting women and girls, and advocacy projects, fundraising, and educating the public through community awareness programs. Vice President Ellen Ermer talks about their programs, plus an upcoming fundraiser of six short films at the Barrymore “Women Make Movies Film Festival” on October 15th, 2026

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Emmy winner, author and producer of thirteen seasons of true crimes podcasts, and filmmaker, James Wolner, talks about his start as a podcaster and his interest in the true crimes culture. He highlights some of his investigative processes and meetings with families of the victims. Wolner’s latest documentary film of his season 7 podcast, “Call me Shelly”, will be shown at the Marcus Point Cinema on October 21. Tickets are available at dakotaspotlight.com

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For  40 years, the cities of Madison, Wisconsin and Arcatao, El Salvador have enjoyed a sister-city relationship, the first such declared compact in Madison’s history.  This week, the Madison Arcatao Sister City Project welcomes a number of El Salvadoran activists to give a series of workshops, lectures, concerts and presentations to the Madison public.  On October 5, 2026, Monday Buzz host Brian Standing was joined by:

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Back in 1926, the University of Wisconsin created a first-of-its-kind cooperative nursery and preschool program on campus, staffed by professionals and researchers in early child development.  Now celebrating its 100th birthday, the Child Development Lab has collaborated with the Ruth Davis Design Gallery in the School of Human Ecology to create an exhibit called “The Science of Human Thriving,” which features an in-depth look at the lab’s history and work.  Sarah Anne Carter, curator, Chipstone Foundation Design and Material Culture Chair, Associate Professor of Design Studies, and Executive Director of the Nancy M. Bruce Center for Design and Material Culture, Saffron Gonzalez, the Child Development Lab Centennial Project Coordinator and Amy Lee Wagner, Executive Director of Teaching and Research, Child Development Lab all joined Monday Buzz host Brian Standing on October 5, 2026.

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