WORT Local News

Here's your WORT Local News for Tuesday, July 4th, 2020: Wisconsin has issued a health warning about multiple hand sanitizer brands, the governor is pushing to increase the state’s COVID-19 testing capacity, the search for Madison’s new police chief continues and in the second half WORT considers when elections are held, the science of space weather and a disgusting animal parasite.

Here's your WORT Local News for Monday, August 3rd, 2020: Madison residents are packing and moving… during a pandemic, protesters use their car horns to promote health over profit, we start in on our last week of candidate coverage and in the second half we get the week ahead in local government, pop the quarantine bubble and examine environmental racism.

Here's your WORT Local News for Thursday, July 30th, 2020: Governor Tony Evers has issued a statewide mask order starting Saturday, the Wisconsin congressional delegation reacts to President Trump’s proposal to delay the November election, we speak with Madison State Representative Lisa Subeck, and in the second half we take a behind-the-scenes look at a virtual event at the Chazen Museum and Radio Chipstone examines portraits of golden age R and B Stars.

Tonight, we take a break from the live local news.

The August primary is less than two weeks away, and so instead, we bring you a candidate forum on carceral justice, presented by local organization MOSES: Madison Organizing in Strength, Equality, and Solidarity for Criminal Justice Reform.

The first hour of the forum will feature the voices of people impacted by the criminal justice system, and you'll hear candidates signal whether they agree or disagree with the questions posed. In the second hour, you'll hear about the candidates' platforms.

All declared candidates running in the Democratic primary for Senate Districts 16 and 26 were invited to attend.

Candidates running to represent the 26th State Senate District (to replace outgoing Senator Fred Risser): Nada Elmikashfi, Aisha Moe, Brian Benford, Amani Latimer Burris, William Davis III, Kelda Roys, John Imes. The winner of the August primary in this race will face no Republican challenger and will be unopposed in November.

Candidates for the 16th State Senate District (to replace outgoing Senator Mark Miller): Melissa Sargent and Andrew McKinney will face off in the Democratic primary. The winner will face off against Republican Scott Barker in November.

The views represented in this forum do not necessarily represent the views of WORT, its staff, volunteers, reporters, or Board of Directors. However, our news department thinks it's important to bring these issues to your ears, and hear the voices of people impacted by criminal justice.

Here's your WORT Local News for Tuesday, July 28th, 2020: Madison alders might block new equipment for police, those with disabilities are now eligible for federal unemployment aid, WORT interviews a primary candidate for a Madison Assembly seat and in the second half of the show, we look ahead to the coming week in local government...and back at headlines from July 1968.

Here's your WORT Local News for Monday, July 27th, 2020: The Madison police union revoked its support for the Mayor, we break down the basics of voting and in the second half we go to the drive-in, remember the life of a prominent labor leader, and take a look at a recent supreme court ruling.

Here's your WORT Local News for Thursday, July 23rd, 2020: A crowd outside the Capitol protests mandatory masks, we preview the candidates running to replace state Rep. Chris Taylor, Conspiracy theories continue to surround contact tracing efforts; And in the second half WORT talks more about mask orders, considers the artistic importance of chairs, and remembers one of the founding fathers of Community Radio.

Here's your WORT Local News for July 22nd, 2020: The Madison city council pauses two proposals for business relief, Madison alders approve no cops in schools, an insect-eating plant is spotted in Wisconsin for the first time in four decades, and in the second half, we look at the week in local government, Rob has your weather report, and we hear the headlines from July, 1965.

Here's your WORT Local News for Tuesday, July 21st, 2020: The Madison school board has postponed a controversial vote...Two statues will return to the state Capitol grounds...WORT talks to a U-W researcher about young men and domestic violence...And in the second half of tonight’s show, we get to know nuthatches, gauge the age of our universe, and discuss the search for Madison’s new police chief.

Here's your WORT Local News for Monday July 20th, 2020: Madison’s schools will begin their fall semester online this year...A federal moratorium on evictions is scheduled to end this week...We speak with an organizer behind the efforts to recall Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway...And in the second half, The Past Isn’t Past takes a look at the Newsboy strike of 1899, What’s the Word takes us on a road trip and Forward Lookout gives us the week ahead in local government.