For a brief time, Palestinian exchange student Anastasia had a window of what life as a Wisconsin teenager could be. The 15-year-old made friends playing soccer at Monroe High School. She fell in love with local coffee shops. But as WPR’s Corrinne Hess tells us, her world was shattered with a phone call.

Palestinian exchange student in Wisconsin returns home despite violence

Wisconsin Life celebrates the people, places, history and culture of the state. Come with us as we kayak the Mississippi River, interview musicians in Milwaukee, and bake pasties in Rhinelander. We connect you with diverse people and ideas through short stories updated twice a week.

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What are some of your early rock ‘n’ roll  memories? For Stoughton’s Bill Amundson, his hit REALLY close to home — when Stoughton’s very own “One Hit Wonders,” The Fendermen, rehearsed in a garage down the street from his home. WPR’s Brad Kolberg produced this story.

Remembering when The Fendermen took Stoughton to the top of the charts

You know the action movie character John Wick? The assassin who avenges the death of his dog? Well, did you know the real John Wick lives in Wisconsin? Matt Geiger introduces us to him.

Meet the real John Wick of Mazomanie, Wisconsin

In a tribute to one of her favorite activities as a new mom, WPR’s Jenny Peek gives us an ode to the bedtime story. She tells us how becoming a mom reignited a love for children’s books she has been missing since she was little.

Motherhood: Reigniting a love for bedtime stories one book at a time

There are memories that you hold dear to your heart, knowing you’ll never experience those often simple moments again. Change can feel so gradual that when you look back, you forget just how drastic it can really be. Pat Faherty of Milwaukee talked with husband, Dennis, about those kinds of memories, from life as a kid in cities like Memphis and Jacksonville, Florida. The couple talked about their experience with StoryCorps.

From Elvis to NASA: Reliving unique childhood memories with The Fahertys

Lilies of the valley are often considered a beautiful, yet high-maintenance plant. For writer Nancy Jorgenson, they will forever connect her to her beloved grandmother, who found virtue in caring for them. Caregiving was deeply rooted in her grandmother, who dreamed of being a nurse. But, society had different plans for a woman of her era. Jorgenson reflects on her grandmother’s devotion to her family, dreams, and flowers.

Palestinian exchange student in Wisconsin returns home despite violence

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