8 O'Clock Buzz

WORT 89.9FM Madison · What Went Wrong In Nicaragua?

Four and a half decades ago, Daniel Ortega was the standard bearer for the Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional, or FSLN, the socialist guerrilla army that seized power in Nicaragua in 1979.  In contrast to the autocracy and corruption of deposed dictator Anastasio Somosa, the Sandinista government was, at first, a breath of fresh air: the new revolutionary government embarked on a series of land reforms, a highly successful literacy campaigns and economic reforms. Ortega became the poster child for socialist revolution in Central America.  After rewinning the presidency in 2006, however, Ortega has betrayed his revolutionary roots,  becoming more and more authoritarian.  Last year, this became strikingly clear with the Nicaraguan government’s bizarre crackdown on Sheyniss Palacios, a Nicaraguan beauty queen who won the Miss Universe Pageant.  Donna Vukelich-Selva is an Associate Professor of Education at Edgewood College, who studied Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian issues and formerly taught at a bilingual school in Managua.  Donna Vukelich-Selva joined Monday Buzz host Brian Standing on January 15, 2024.

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Republicans in the Texas State government are targeting tenure protections of the State universities similar to the situation a few years ago in Wisconsin.  Conservative politicians want to relax these protections to give politicians or their appointees the right to remove professors that they feel are espousing political and moral positions with which they don’t agree.  Karma Chavez, chair of the Mexican American and Latina/o Studies department at the University of Texas – Austin, joins the Thursday edition of the 8 O’Clock Buzz to discuss the importance of providing professors the opportunity to sift and winnow data wherever the truth leads them without the fear of political retribution.

Photo by Dan Dennis on Unsplash

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Fitchburg, WI is recognized as one of the fastest growing communities in the State and also one of the most diverse in Dane County.  To meet the needs of an expanding population Fitchburg is faced with new staffing and infrastructure demands.  Joe Maldonado, Fitchburg City Council member, is interviewed on the Thursday edition of the 8 O’Clock Buzz to discuss some of these issues, and specifically to talk about plans for a new police department facility that is one of the hot topics on the Council’s agenda.  The price tag has gone up on this project by about 30% which is straining the City’s budget, and questions are being asked about fast tracking an expensive project like this for the mid-size community.

Photo by Daniel McCullough on Unsplash

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The City of Madison has announced that it will use less salt on the roads this year. Why? Well, Allison Madison from WI Salt Wise — a coalition of organizations working together to reduce salt pollution in our lakes, streams and drinking water — explains why, and gives you options to lessen your salt usage.

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Do you like the fun and action of Mallards baseball? Well, get ready for women’s fast-pitch softball in the same venue and with the same fun activities! The Northwoods League Softball will be starting this year, and President/Commissioner of the league, Kathryn Reynolds, tells all about the exciting summer season — and you could win a contest to name the new Madison team! For scheduling and more information, visit their website at madisonsoftball.com

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A recent proposal from Rep. Robin Voss to allow medical marijuana in Wisconsin (one of only twelve states still with a total ban) — with many restrictions — promises to be one of the strictest in the country. Democratic State Senator, Melissa Agard, a long-time supporter of marijuana legalization, talks with 8 O’clock Buzz host Nate Wegehaupt about the proposal which, according to Agard, does not address social injustices, does not benefit Wisconsin farmers or businesses, does not allow plant distribution or personal growing of the herb.

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Today on the Tuesday 8:00 Buzz with Tara Wilhelmi and Antoine McNeail, joined by Lolo Lature, talking about trauma and the cycles of grief in light of the tragic loss of 5 young people already this year.

Find support through the Behavioral Resource Center: https://danebhrc.org/ or United Way of Dane County: https://www.unitedwaydanecounty.org/get-help/ 

More about the 3 youth lost in the Monona Police Department chase: https://www.wpr.org/wisconsin-doj-investigating-after-monona-police-chase-ended-fatal-crash

And a review of Monona Police Department policies and history from WORT News: https://www.wortfm.org/three-dead-after-monona-car-chase/ 

And the tragic drowning of two young boys in Sun Prairie: https://madison.com/news/local/crime-courts/wisconsin-sun-prairie-death-ice/article_3ca6687e-ae3d-11ee-a098-37aa8e482062.html 

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

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Join Thursday Buzz hosts Tony Castañeda and Eli Wilz as they take a look in the rearview mirror of 2023, with Captain Zero behind the wheel. A very auld acquantaince of Tony’s, the Captain, after a lengthy sabbatical, brings his northwoods perspective to all things newsworthy, from weather to politics. One hopes that Tony and The Captain will be able to take a cup of kindness together soon. Happy New Year!

Photo courtesy of Courtney Cook on Unsplash.com

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Join 8 O’Clock Buzz co-hosts Tony Castañeda and Eli Wilz as they dig, rout and hunt for the stories that made them chortle and snort their way through 2023. With their humorous and sometimes, it’s said, cynical perspective on the absurd things humans do, say, defend, and complain about, hopefully you will find yourself laughing along with them as we embark on this new year.

Photo courtesy of Geralt on Pixabay.com

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With no end in sight, it may seem premature to wonder about the aftermath of the Israel-Gaza conflict. Thursday 8 O’Clock Buzz guest Jennifer Loewenstein, a long-time journalist and Middle East scholar, poses this question and more with host Tony Castañeda. Given the destruction of at least 50% of the homes in Gaza, the ruination of the entire medical system and the displacement of 2 million residents, the only certainty is mounting civilian deaths, a crisis of human suffering and decades of further hostility.

Photo courtesy of hosnysalah on Pixabay.

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