8 O'Clock Buzz

WORT 89.9FM Madison · New Tools Help With Student Loan Repayments

On September 1, 2023, the U.S. Department of Education ended a COVID-19 pandemic relief program and restarted collection of student loan payments. The change affects some 43.6 million students across the country, with a total debt load of 1.64 trillion dollars. For folks in Wisconsin struggling to readjust, the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and the Department of Financial Institutions has joined forces with tech public benefit corporation Savi to help. On Tuesday, November 7 DATCP, DFI and Savi will sponsor “Student Loan Repayment Webinar: How to Avoid Scams, Use Free Repayment Tools, and Save Money.” Lindsay Clark is the Chief Borrower Advocate with Savi, and she joined Monday Buzz host Brian Standing on November 6, 2023.

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WORT 89.9FM Madison · Wisconsin GOP Sponsors Slew Of Constitutional Amendments

Republicans in Wisconsin are used to getting their own way.  Nearly two-thirds of state legislators representing solidly Republican – albeit peculiarly drawn – districts.  Until very recently, Republicans also held the ultimate backstop – a conservative majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.  The 2023 election of Janet Protasiewicz, however, flipped the court to a liberal majority, and with Democrat Tony Evers in the Governor’s chair, Republicans now control only one branch of state government.  Legal challenges to the state’s gerrymandered legislative district maps further threaten GOP political power.  In an apparent effort to cement conservative policy gains and to bypass the Governor and the courts, state Republican legislators have introduced a bevy of state constitutional amendments.  Wisconsin Watch reporter Jack Kelly has the story.

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If you’re not sure what your neighbors have been up to, here’s a chance to take a peek into their lives without even seeming creepy. The first annual 53704 Frame by Frame Film Festival will feature both narrative and documentary films made about, of, or by current and former residents of the 53704 ZIP code, an area that includes the north side and much of the near east side of Madison including the Schenk-Atwood, Emerson East and Eken Park neighborhoods. Thursday 8 O’Clock Buzz host and former 53704 resident Tony Casteñada is joined by organizer and producer Karen Faster along with filmmakers Kurt Sensenbrenner and Morgan Stewart to learn more about the fest’s 20+ films which range from 2 to 72 minutes long. With movie titles like This Old Jell-O and The Turkeys of Atwood Avenue, maybe even folks outside the 0-4 will want to take a peek into your neighbors’ lives.

What: 53704 Frame by Frame Film Festival

Where: Barrymore Theater

When: Saturday, November 4 from 2pm until 10pm

General Admission: $15.00

 

Photo courtesy of OhioAvenue.com

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Activist Tsela Barr joins Thursday 8 O’Clock Buzz host Tony Castañeda to talk about the history of the group Jewish Voice for Peace and its efforts to educate people about the Israeli occupation of Palestine and work toward Palestinian liberation. Given Israel’s response to the October 7 Hamas attack (described by politicians and the mainstream media as necessary, but likely in violation of international rules of war) Barr encourages listeners to contact US Rep. Mark Pocan and Senator Tammy Baldwin to voice their support for a ceasefire and the discontinuation of aid to Israel.

Mark Pocan 202-225-2906

Tammy Baldwin 715-832-8424

Photo courtesy of Jewish Voice for Peace. 

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President of Occupy Madison, Brenda Konkel, gives an update one the status of the OM Villages, tiny house constructions, solar panels, Conestoga huts, potential warehouse to build the tiny homes — and invites you to their grand re-opening event noon – 4 on Sunday 11/5 at OM Village #2 at 1901 Aberg Ave. Tours of the houses and amenities will be available.

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With a number of fiber-art groups existing in Madison — including sewing, knitting, quilting, paper making and more — Elizabeth Tucker and her co-founder, Heather Kohlmeier, decided they would organize a hub to bring all these different, yet related, groups together. A “Soft Opening” of the Textile Arts Center, their maker/display/teaching space happened this past Sunday, with a throng of over 500 eager attendees present. They have already organized workshops, and a Gallery Night is scheduled for Friday, November 3, 2023 from 5:00 to 9:00 PM, 1901 Aberg Avenue.

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With a change in leadership at Wisconsin Watch, a nonpartisan, nonprofit investigative news outlet, employees took a look at the current work rules and decided they needed reassurances and protections that only a union could give them: principally safeguards to job loss without cause, and a more democratic workplace. With signatures of 80% of the employees, the Wisconsin Watch Union was formed. Journalist and Wisconsin Watch employee Jacob Resneck talked with Brian Standing about how the union idea started and how its progressing.

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Today on the Tuesday 8:00 Buzz with Tara Wilhelmi, RR Moore, and Antoine McNeail, a special live broadcast from Madison Nonprofit Day at Monona Terrace, a Panel discussion, “Taking the Lead: Black Men in Community Work.”

Get your morning started with EOTO as they present a dynamic panel delving into the challenges facing black men. Join five influential and engaging black men who are community-driven as they provide valuable insight into the critical issues facing black men in the City of Madison and Wisconsin.

With an emphasis on solutions, they will recount their leadership journeys. Illuminating their struggles, victories, and innovative approaches, the goal of the conversation aims to inspire others to take action and foster unity and empowerment within the community.

Host: Tara Wilhelmi, EOTO Culturally Rooted, Founder/CEO

Moderators, RR Moore and Antoine McNeail

Panelists:

Rashied Atlas, Center for Black Excellence and Culture

Corey Marionneaux, Founder/CEO

Shar-Ron Buie, Marquette University – Center for Urban Research, Teaching, & Outreach, Associate Director of Student Success and Recruitment

Reuben Sanon, City of Madison, Deputy Mayor City of Madison

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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WORT 89.9FM Madison · Madison Bikes Seeks Safer Roads

According to the Federal Highway Administration, cars kill almost 7,000 bicyclists and pedestrians in the United States a year, and injure a staggering 123,000 a year more.  Even worse, despite millions of dollars to improve traffic safety, these numbers continue to rise.  Is this danger just a fact of life – something we have to accept?  The advocacy group Madison Bikes thinks we can fight back.  On Monday, October 30th – that’s tonight – Madison Bikes will hold a screening of the documentary “The Street Project” at Union South.  Aaron Levine is a graduate student of planning at the University of Wisconsin and is on the Board of Directors of Madison Bikes.  

You can catch the event on Monday, October 30th.  Social hour begins at 5 p.m. at Sett’s Pub, with the screening of “The Street Project” at 6, and a panel discussion at 7.  For more information, or to RSVP, go to madisonbikes.org.

Image by Paul Brennan from Pixabay

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WORT 89.9FM Madison · DWD Combats Worker Misclassification

One of the great achievements of the 20th century labor movement was the creation of universal, mandatory worker safeguards like Worker’s Compensation, Social Security, unemployment insurance and civil rights protections.  But the 21st century has seen more and more employers seeking to dodge those protections by classifying workers as independent contractors instead of employees. The Wisconsin Department of Workforce and Development has had enough, and has started a campaign to crack down on worker misclassification.  Ramona Natera is the Administrator for the Equal Rights Division of the Department of Workforce Development, and she joins us now by phone. 

For more information about worker misclassification, go to dwd.wisconsin.gov/misclassification.  

 

Image by Michal Jarmoluk from Pixabay

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