George Bailey in the movie It’s a Wonderful Life knew the importance of having liquidity during potential runs on a bank. But the recent collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in California once again has demonstrated how mismanagement in the banking industry can lead to disastrous results. Daryll Lund, Executive VP of the Wisconsin Bankers Association, joins host Tony Castañeda and the Thursday morning 8 O’Clock Buzz, to talk about specific issues with Silicon Valley Bank but also about the stability of banking in Wisconsin. Daryll points out that the California bank had grown very fast with an influx of venture capital funds, but then inexplicably invested the money in long-term financial products that left it vulnerable to penalties when bank deposits started to be withdrawn due to problems in the Tech industry.

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A major piece of the Inflation Reduction Act provides for negotiations for prescription drug prices for Medicare and out of pocket limits, which has the potential to save Medicare and recipients $29.5 billion per year. But which drugs will be price negotiated? Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy at UC San Diego, Inma Hernandez, talks about her independent study into which drugs will be affected in her paper “Drugs Likely Subject to Medicare Negotiation, 2026-2028“.

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Jan Miyasaki talks with Melinda Brennan, Executive Director of the ACLU of Wisconsin, about their many activities, including education, advocacy & lobbying, and impact litigation in their effort to be the nation’s guardian of individual rights and liberties. Some of their efforts include voter registration and education, watch guarding attacks on LGBT youth, and maintaining a legislative tracker of bills or proposals that infringe on individuals’ rights.

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The state of Black Entrepreneurship in Madison with Amul Harris

Today on the Tuesday 8:00 Buzz with Tara Wilhelmi and 1neofmani (Breyon Sommerville), Amul Harris, owner of Serieux Clothing joins us to talk about what’s going on, the latest fashion trends, entrepreneurship, and what it’s like be a Black business owner in Madison for 13 years.

Visit Serieux Clothing at 3371 E Washington, or give a call at 608-575-6982 to make an appointment.  See more about Serieux Clothing on Facebook.

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

Photo by Breyon Sommerville

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WORT 89.9FM Madison · Dane Arts Buy Local Teaches The Business Of Art

From March 30 to April 1, Dane Arts Buy Local will host its second “Business of Art” conference, helping local artists make a living from their work.  Mark Fraire is the director of Dane Arts, and he joined Monday Buzz host Brian Standing on March 13, 2023.

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WORT 89.9FM Madison · Twenty Fifth Wisconsin Film Festival Takes Shape

The Wisconsin Film Festival is two years older than the millennium and celebrates its 25th birthday this April with another slate of international, domestic and Wisconsin fiction, nonfiction and experimental cinema.  This year, venues include the former Sundance theater at Hilldale, and the Chazen Museum, Shannon Hall, Cinematheque and Union South on the University of Wisconsin Campus.  Artistic director Mike King and  “Wisconsin’s Own” programmer Ben Reiser joined Monday Buzz host Brian Standing on March 13, 2023.

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WORT 89.9FM Madison · Chicago And Atlanta Activists Fight Police Installations

Six years ago, former Chicago mayor Rahm Emmanuel proposed a ninety million dollar police academy in West Garfield Park, a majority African-American neighborhood.  The facility, also supported by current Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, would include a fake urban block for the Chicago Police Department to practice paramilitary maneuvers.  Meanwhile, in Atlanta, the Atlanta Police Foundation has leased 381 acres of the Weelaunee Forest to construct a corporate-funded police training facility, with military-grade shooting ranges.  Both construction projects have inspired fierce protests from police reform and police abolition activists.  Benji Hart has written for Time, Teen Vogue and In These Times on black radicalism, queer liberation and prison abolition.

Photo of Welaunee Forest by Crowina, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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In his newest novella, “Forty Acres Deep,” author Michael Perry tells the story of Harold, a Wisconsin farmer burdened with a recent devastating loss, and his attempt to save the remains of his farm after a record-breaking snowfall. On this edition of the Friday 8 O’Clock Buzz, Michael joins host Andy Moore to discuss Harold’s simultaneously heavy and uplifting story, his inspiration for the book, and how he managed to portray the plight of rural America, “in a timeless, yet time-running-out-way.”

Michael Perry is New York Times bestselling author, humorist, singer/songwriter and playwright from New Auburn, Wisconsin. His newest novella, “Forty Acres Deep,” is available in physical, electronic and audio formats. More information on where to find the book can be found at sneezingcow.com/product/forty-acr…s-deep-paperback/.

Photo courtesy of Michael Perry via Sneezing Cow Publishing

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Mark your calendars for the triumphant return of the Endurance Improv Fest March 23-25, and help Atlas Improv celebrate 19 years in the business of making us laugh. Events kick off on Thursday night with a very special Panic Room for the first hour of made-up comedy, and over the next 3 days they will be bringing you 19 hours of comedy to celebrate 19 year of Atlas Improv. To say thank you to all who have supported them through the years, shows all weekend are entirely free!

Photo courtesy of Atlas Improv

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Fritz Edler, Special Representative, Railroad Workers United, joins host Tony Castańeda and the Thursday morning edition of the 8 O’Clock Buzz to discuss the ongoing saga of railroad safety issues in light of recent derailments. According to Fritz the response at the federal level has been encouraging, but meaningful regulations will be required to improve health and safety issues in the railroading industry. The current version of the Railroad Safety Act of 2023 being considered at the federal level should be considered a good start, but Fritz warns that as currently written it has loopholes that a freight train could drive through. Self-imposed limits undertaken by the industry will not be sufficient and regulations must address standards for the use of early warning sensors and train lengths.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

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