WORT Local News

Here's your local news for Tuesday, January 16, 2024:

• We take a closer look at some of the voting map proposals currently before the state Supreme Court,
• Share an update on the project to bring Amtrak stations to Madison,
• Learn how a tragic accident in Sun Prairie could inspire change across the state,
• Get a long-time political observer's predictions for the election year ahead,
• Offer tips for how to find owls in the wild,
• And much more.

The Madison community gathered again this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at the 39th Annual Madison & Dane County King Holiday Observance, live from the Overture Center for the Arts in the Capitol Theater and presented by the Madison/Dane County King Coalition.

This event featured a presentation of the Madison-Dane County 2024 Humanitarian Awards, performances from the MLK Community Choir, and a keynote speech from Dr. Terrence Roberts, who volunteered to desegregate Little Rock Central High School and made history as one of the “Little Rock Nine.”

WORT carried the observance live on the air, and we present it to you for further reflection.

Click this link to view the program booklet.

Originally broadcast on WORT on January 15, 2024. Our thanks to the King Coalition and Overture Center staff for making this event and broadcast possible. Find more about the King Coalition, and volunteer to get involved, at mlkingcoalition.org.

Here's your local news for Thursday, January 11, 2024:

• We share the details on the Republican bill to legalize medical marijuana - with strict limitations,
• Explain how the public can get involved in MMSD's superintendent search,
• Get a researcher's opinion on "educational transparency,"
• Explore the benefits of mindfulness,
• Take a closer look at heating pumps,
• Discuss a motorcycle's incredible journey across the ocean,
• And much more.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, January 10, 2024:

• We learn how conservation groups are generating more awareness about wildlife collisions,
• Interview Steven Espada Dawson - Madison's new poet laureate,
• Hear more about life as a Madison barista,
• Broadcast the most comprehensive weather report on the airwaves,
• Travel back in time to 1964,
• And much more.

Here's your local news for Tuesday, January 9, 2024:

• We get the details on a bill that would introduce ranked voting in Wisconsin - but only in congressional races,
• Learn how climate change is impacting the Latine community in the United States,
• Interview a UW-Madison professor whose stem cell technology is providing new insight into the human brain,
• Take a closer look at public domain law,
• Celebrate a variety of "snowy" animals,
• And much more.

Here's your local news for Monday, January 8, 2024:

• We learn how street art could make Madison roadways safer for pedestrians and cyclists,
• Check in with some of the gamers participating in a Fitchburg tabletop tournament later this month,
• Get the details on the Madison Police Department's new "Hate Crimes Task Force,"
• Interview a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist,
• Celebrate Joan Baez on the eve of her birthday,
• Review two new movies,
• And much more.

Here's your local news for Thursday, January 4, 2024:

• We attend a press conference commemorating the January 6th insurrection, just days before its third anniversary,
• Investigate a bill that would allow any resident to inspect a school's curriculum materials within two weeks,
• Get the latest report on the state of taxes in Wisconsin,
• Round up more of our wish list for open records and government transparency,
• Look at fishing conditions on the waters that remain remarkably ice-free,
• Check in on the Flamingos' pre-season preparations,
• And much more.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, January 3, 2024:

• We learn how yesterday's court ruling allows election clerks to "cure" incomplete absentee ballots,
• Check in on Wisconsin's workers - many of whom are still stuck at the federal minimum wage,
• Get the latest on Monona's San Damiano Friary project, as the city deliberates what to do with an 1890s-era house on the property,
• Explore fine arts and fundraising in Madison,
• Broadcast the most in-depth weather report on the airwaves,
• Travel back in time to 1964,
• And much more.

Here's your local news for Tuesday, January 2, 2024:

• We get the latest information on last night's deadly police chance in Monona,
• Hear the next steps for Wisconsin's voting maps - after the state Supreme Court ruled that the current ones are unconstitutional,
• Investigate the latest UW System controversy: a chancellor removed from office after regents discovered his explicit content online,
• Usher in another election year with a UW-Madison journalism professor,
• Shine the spotlight on the white-footed mouse,
• And much more.

In 2018, historic floods hit southern Wisconsin. The effect was devastating.

Roads were overtopped with water making them impassable. Schools were closed. Cars floated down streets. Neighbors worked together to sandbag their houses. Many had to evacuate their houses.

The severity of damages resulted in a federal Presidential Disaster Declaration. The combined damage estimate for all of southern Wisconsin approached 209 million dollars.

Five and a half years later, what steps have been taken by our local government to reduce the severity of future floods to protect residents, businesses and infrastructure from rising water?

In this hour, feature contributor Greg Michaud speaks with residents and government officials about the damages caused by floods, and what's changed in the last 5 and a half years.