In this edition of Madison Book Beat, host Lisa Malawski sits down with local Madison author Rachelle Kampen to discuss her journey from an imaginative Wisconsin farm girl to a self-published author of the Hanks Hollow series. In 2022, Rachelle self-published her books through Amazon, choosing to retain full creative control over her work. Her debut novel, Moon Over Hanks Hollow, introduced readers to the mystical town of Hanks Hollow, where werewolves and witches navigate an unusual and enchanting existence. The series continued with Witch In A Wolf Den, Lost In Hanks Hollow, and When Witches Wake.

Image courtesy of Lisa Malawski

The Madison Metro system has already surpassed the number of assaults on bus drivers last year. There have been at least twenty-three physical or verbal attacks on Madison bus drivers in 2025, according to a report from NBC 15.

And local elected officials are poised to consider an extra penalty to deter future attacks on drivers.

Image courtesy: Faye Parks / WORT News.

Today is National Apprenticeship Day. It also marks the fourth year in a row that Wisconsin has seen a record number of youth apprentices. Over 11,000 high school students enrolled in the state’s Youth Apprenticeship program this school year.

That’s a 14% increase from the year prior, according to a statement today from Governor Tony Evers.

Tracey Griffith is the executive director of the Building and Construction Trades Council of South Central Wisconsin. She tells WORT reporter Sutton Johnson that apprenticeships strengthen the middle class and expand students’ options. 

Image courtesy: Chali Pittman / WORT News.

Following his December plea "Restore UNRWA Funding. Stop Famine in Gaza" (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), Legislative Director for Middle East Policy at the Friends Committee on National Legistlation, Hassan El-Tayyab visited the Gaza area for a month, and reports back on the effects of starvation from total blockade of food, water, fuel, shelter, and medical assistance that would normally be coordinated by this U. N. aid group. With over 3000 aid trucks waiting to cross into Gaza with aid, El-Tayyab urges people to contact their congressional representatives to put pressure on Israel to let the aid continue and stop the killing.

On today’s show, host Ali Muldrow is joined by four accomplished Black women who are or have been in public office and who serve in organizations at the executive level. Brandi Grayson, April Kigeya, Sabrina Madison, and Dana Pellebon are local leaders who bring years of expertise and care to their work. However, they face an inordinate amount of scrutiny in their professional and personal lives.

Featured image of April Kigeya, Sabrina Madison, Ali Muldrow, and Brandi Grayson (Dana Pellebon, not pictured).

In her recent study "Who Would Pay the Biggest Price for Postal Privatization?" for the Institute for Policy Studies, Global Economy Project Director Sarah Anderson provided a careful analysis of the pros (spoiler alert, there are none) and cons of privatization of the USPS, which Trump has drafted an executive order as recently as February and which was approved by Musk last month. Anderson's study showed that rural customers will bear surcharges costs, as they do for UPS and FedEx, and also with less competition for price competition with the void of the USPS, other private carriers will be emboldened to increase prices.

Today on the Too Turnt Up Tuesday 8:00 Buzz with Stan Woodard comes to us from May 24th, 2005 with a conversation with Michael Eric Dyson that could have been recorded this week with just a few different names and cultural references, talking about Dr Dyson’s then new book, “Is Bill Cosby Right? Or Has the Black Middle Class Lost Its Mind?”

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

Two UW System regents are reaching the end of their terms next month – and Governor Tony Evers is tasked with appointing their replacements.

The American Federation of Teachers-Wisconsin started circulating a petition earlier this month urging the governor to select pro-labor representatives…and build a bridge between university leadership and the unions.

Jon Shelton is a democracy and justice studies professor at UW-Green Bay and the president of AFT-Wisconsin. He gave our News Producer Faye Parks the rundown this afternoon.

Image courtesy: UW-Madison via their website.

The Madison city clerk’s office failed to count nearly 200 absentee ballots in the November election.

An internal investigation released today places the blame squarely on former city clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl, citing lapses in communication and incomplete training.

Image courtesy: Chali Pittman / WORT News.

On this episode of Cardinal Call, Host Oliver Gerharz speaks with the Daily Cardinal’s Life & Style Editor Kaylie Wiedmeyer about her story “Protesting everywhere but in person: The changing face of activism at UW–Madison” in a discussion of how protests have changed at UW–Madison.

Articles featured in this week’s campus news in brief segment:

9 UW–Madison student visas restored as Trump administration reverses over 1,500 terminations - Annika Bereny, Francesca Pica and Ella Hanley

‘One of the largest crowds we have seen’: Thousands descend on Mifflin Street for 56th annual block party - Drew Wesson