Shows / WORT Local News
WORT Local News
Breaking news and feature stories straight from the WORT News team’s underground lair in Madison, Wisconsin. New episodes every Monday through Thursday at 7:30 PM. Also available live on 89.9 FM from 6:00-7:00 PM and online anytime at WORTFM.org.
Episodes
- WORT Local News
School referendums “an avoidable choice,” state Democrats contend
Here's your local news for Tuesday, March 24, 2026: We check in on the partisan tug of war over Wisconsin's school funding system, Meet a county board…
- WORT Local News
Post-AI backlash, Madison's police monitor blames underfunding
Here's your local news for Monday, March 23, 2026: We find out why – and how – the city's independent police monitor used AI in their latest annual report…
- WORT Local News
After long battle, Governor Evers signs Gail's Law
Here's your local news for Thursday, March 19, 2026: We explain what changes under Wisconsin's new breast cancer screening law, Meet an incumbent county…
- WORT Local News
Madison’s "sustainability champions” share progress update
Here's your local news for Wednesday, March 18, 2026: We hear how a cohort of city staff are advancing Madison's sustainability plan, Explain the mission…
- WORT Local News
Despite neighbors’ opposition, Plan Commission backs west side development
Here's your local news for Tuesday, March 17, 2026: We find out why concerned parents flooded the public comment session at Monday's Plan Commission meeting…
- WORT Local News
City seeks public feedback on Odana Hills Golf Course redesign
Here's your local news for Monday, March 16, 2026: We hear about some possible improvements coming soon to a west side golf course, Meet a county board…
- WORT Local News
Senator Baldwin demands answers on Trump's "war of choice" in Iran
Here's your local news for Thursday, March 12, 2026: We hear how Senator Baldwin is fighting to stop the war in Iran, Meet a candidate who says her experience…
- WORT Local News
Ahead of population surge, Madison city council weighs structural changes
Here's your local news for Wednesday, March 11, 2026: We find out why the Madison Common Council is looking inwards as it prepares for two decades of…
- WORT Local News
Wisconsin’s childhood vaccination rate continues downward trend
Here's your local news for Tuesday, March 10, 2026: We find out why fewer Wisconsin children are getting vaccinated on schedule, Meet a candidate who says…
- WORT Local News
Madison, Dane County clerks tout speedier ballot printing process
Here's your local news for Monday, March 9, 2026: We hear how Dane County's new ballot printing vendor is speeding up election prep, Explain the debate over a…
- WORT Local News
Proposed Regent Street redesign garners mixed responses
Here's your local news for Thursday, March 5, 2026: We hear city staff's pitch to alleviate the traffic and pedestrian problems on Regent Street, Meet an…
- WORT Local News
Madison school board gets progress update on special education plan
Here's your local news for Wednesday, March 4, 2026: We learn how MMSD is fine-tuning its support for students with IEPs, Explain what would change if…
- WORT Local News
Governor Evers calls special session to ban partisan gerrymandering
Here's your local news for Tuesday, March 3, 2026: We hear the governor's pitch to make fair voting maps permanent in Wisconsin, Learn how the rush to build…
- WORT Local News
Wisconsin school districts sue Legislature over "inadequate funding"
Here's your local news for Monday, March 2, 2026: We get the scoop on a new lawsuit challenging Wisconsin's school funding system, Consider the political…
- WORT Local News
Dane County jail consolidation “a tough project,” staff say in progress update
Here's your local news for Thursday, February 26, 2026: We find out why construction on the jail consolidation project is running behind schedule, Meet an…
- WORT Local News
Probe of external influences in DOJ a “partisan stunt,” Attorney General Kaul says
Here's your local news for Wednesday, February 25, 2026: We detail Attorney General Kaul's clash this morning with the GOP legislators leading an investigation…
- WORT Local News
Responding to ICE fears, MPD rolls out new vehicle and staff markings
Here's your local news for Tuesday, February 24, 2026: We'll learn how to tell the difference between Madison police officers and ICE, Detail a new course at…
- WORT Local News
Monona community celebrates winter, Ho-Chunk history
Here's your local news for Monday, February 23, 2026: We join the Fire & Wonder Winter Gathering at San Damiano Park, Meet an incumbent supervisor who says the…
- WORT Local News
New report touts Dane County Regional Airport's economic impact
Here's your local news for Thursday, February 19, 2026: We outline the Dane County Regional Airport's economic benefits and environmental drawbacks, Look…
- WORT Local News
Governor Evers declares 2026 "Year of the Neighbor"
Here's your local news for Wednesday, February 18, 2026: We share the key takeaways from Governor Evers' final State of the State address, Find out why a…
- WORT Local News
Vos, LeMahieu close ranks on tax relief package
Here's your local news for Tuesday, February 17, 2026: We detail GOP leaders' latest pitch to spend down the surplus, after weeks of negotiations with Governor…
- WORT Local News
Fundraiser attracts crowds of supporters after ICE detains Madison restaurant owner
Here's your local news for Monday, February 16, 2026: We head to Señor Machetes for a fundraiser supporting co-owner Noel Quintana, who was detained by ICE…
- WORT Local News
Protesters, state Democrats join data center day of action
Here's your local news for Thursday, February 12, 2026: We head to the state Capitol for a rally demanding a statewide moratorium on data center development…
- WORT Local News
Lawsuit challenging race-conscious financial aid heads to oral argument
Here's your local news for Wednesday, February 11, 2026: We detail today's legal back and forth over a grant program that helps students of color attend…
- WORT Local News
2026 State of the Tribes Address spotlights education, health care funding
Here's your local news for Tuesday, February 10, 2026: We detail the goings-on today in the state Capitol, including key takeaways from this year's State of…
- WORT Local News
Madison tests election equipment ahead of spring primary
Here's your local news for Monday, February 9, 2026: We get an inside look at the city of Madison's routine election equipment test, Consider what's at stake…
- WORT Local News
Plans for harm reduction clinic placed on indefinite pause
Here's your local news for Thursday, February 5, 2026: We explain why a unanimous vote yesterday has sent local harm reduction efforts back to the drawing…
- WORT Local News
Wisconsin Republicans want to cut cryptocurrency red tape
Here's your local news for Wednesday, February 4, 2026: We find out how a tweak to state law could generate millions for Wisconsin crypto investors, Detail the…
- WORT Local News
Wisconsin Democrats renew call for legalized marijuana
Here's your local news for Tuesday, February 3, 2026: We detail state Democrats' latest attempt to legalize cannabis - and the recent changes to federal policy…
- WORT Local News
Madison protests in solidarity with the Iranian people
Here's your local news for Monday, February 2, 2026: We head to Library Mall for a rally in solidarity with the Iranian people, amid a national crackdown on…
- WORT Local News
State environmental policymakers back stricter standards for PFAS in drinking water
Here's your local news for Thursday, January 29, 2026: We explain what would change if Governor Evers approves an update to the state's drinking water…
- WORT Local News
MMSD commissions study to examine teacher salary disparities
Here's your local news for Wednesday, January 28, 2026: We hear the Madison school board's plan to address salary compression, Explain what's at stake for…
- WORT Local News
DeForest moves to re-fluoridate water system
Here's your local news for Tuesday, January 27, 2026: We find out why the DeForest village board is changing its tune, less than a year after they voted to…
- WORT Local News
Madison protests second ICE-related killing in Minneapolis
Here's your local news for Monday, January 26, 2026: We hear messages of solidarity and resistance at a Madison rally protesting the latest ICE-related…
- WORT Local News
Madison celebrates four new affordable homes, with more on the way
Here's your local news for Thursday, January 22, 2026: We share an update on a new housing development in the city's Owl Creek neighborhood, Outline what's…
- WORT Local News
Dane County judge dismisses lawsuit against local animal rights group
Here's your local news for Wednesday, January 21, 2026: We find out how a city initiative is defining Madison's "regional music brand," Hear a Midwest…
- WORT Local News
ICE activity could soon spike in Wisconsin, Rep. Pocan warns
Here's your local news for Tuesday, January 20, 2026: We get Congressman Mark Pocan's take on escalating ICE activity, the impending government shutdown, and…
- WORT Local News
Debate continues on proposed harm reduction drop-in center
Here's your local news for Thursday, January 15, 2026: We explain why city-county tensions boiled over at a public hearing on Wednesday, Get the details on…
- WORT Local News
Madison students stage walkout to protest ICE shooting
Here's your local news for Wednesday, January 14, 2026: We head to the state Capitol for a student walkout protesting the ICE shooting last week in…
- WORT Local News
Madison alders to weigh 12-month data center moratorium
Here's your local news for Tuesday, January 13, 2026: We get the details on a proposal that would temporarily ban new data center construction in Madison, Hear…
- WORT Local News
Hundreds join Madison vigil for Renee Nicole Good
Here's your local news for Monday, January 12, 2026: We hear messages of mourning and resistance at a Madison vigil for Renee Nicole Good, Outline the latest…
- WORT Local News
City weighs WisDOT proposal to expand the beltline
Here's your local news for Thursday, January 8, 2026: We detail the mixed reactions at a city meeting yesterday reviewing WisDOT's plan to expand the beltline…
- WORT Local News
DeForest data center petition hits snag
Here's your local news for Wednesday, January 7, 2026: We find out why the DeForest village board decided not to take action Tuesday on a petition that would…
- WORT Local News
MMSD receives $1.9 million federal grant to train school psychologists
Here's your local news for Tuesday, January 6, 2026: We find out how a new federal grant could help MMSD expand mental health services for students in need…
- WORT Local News
Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan resigns
Here's your local news for Monday, January 5, 2026: We share an update on embattled Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan, Outline the tough choices ahead for the…
- WORT Local News
Madison's interim police monitor hits the ground running
Here's your local news for Thursday, December 18, 2025: We detail the interim independent monitor's priority list for police oversight efforts in Madison, Hear…
- WORT Local News
City staff highlight strategies to improve lake health
Here's your local news for Wednesday, December 17, 2025: We outline the key takeaways from the city of Madison's "Love Our Lakes" discussion on Tuesday, Find…
- WORT Local News
Law Forward's fair maps lawsuit unlikely to be resolved before midterms
Here's your local news for Tuesday, December 16, 2025: We share the latest updates on Madison's Southwest and Southeast area plans, Consider the long road…
- WORT Local News
Harm reduction clinic would overburden far east side, alder Sabrina Madison says
Here's your local news for Monday, December 15, 2025: We outline the recent back and forth over a proposal to build a new harm reduction clinic on Madison's…
- WORT Local News
Bill package aims to bolster Wisconsin's agricultural industry
Here's your local news for Thursday, December 11, 2025: We hear state Democrats' pitch to support Wisconsin farmers and protect agricultural lands from…
- WORT Local News
Environmental law firm sues PSC for data center energy use records
Here's your local news for Wednesday, December 10, 2025: We share the details on a pair of housing-focused ordinances approved at Tuesday's city council…
- WORT Local News
Wisconsin Democrats renew call for paid medical and family leave
Here's your local news for Tuesday, December 9, 2025: We get the details on a bill that would guarantee Wisconsin workers up to 14 weeks of paid family and…
- WORT Local News
Verona food pantry receives helping hand from Rep. Mark Pocan
Here's your local news for Monday, December 8, 2025: We head to a local food pantry for a conversation about the rising cost of living, Find out why senior…
- WORT Local News
Madison set to expand Building Energy Savings Program in 2026
Here's your local news for Thursday, December 4, 2025: We find out which Madison intersections are in the running for new traffic signals, Hear why advocates…
- WORT Local News
Why are Wisconsin Supreme Court elections so expensive?
Here's your local news for Wednesday, December 3, 2025: We'll explain how you can weigh in on the development future of downtown Madison, Find out why food…
- WORT Local News
City finance staff project $10.6 million surplus in 2025 budget
Here's your local news for Tuesday, December 2, 2025: We hear finance leaders' recommendation on how Madison should spend an unexpected budget surplus before…
- WORT Local News
Madison area Starbucks employees join Black Friday picket line
Here's your local news for Monday, December 1, 2025: We'll meet some local Starbucks workers taking part in the nationwide strike, Find out how parents of…
- WORT Local News
Madison teachers speak out against salary compression
Here's your local news for Tuesday, November 25, 2025: We find out why some of Madison's most experienced educators are still waiting for fair compensation…
- WORT Local News
Speaker Vos continues to block Medicaid extension for Wisconsin moms
Here's your local news for Monday, November 24, 2025: We hear what Wisconsin students and mental health specialists have to say about the hazards of the…
- WORT Local News
Congress searching for compromise on ACA tax credits, Senator Baldwin says
Here's your local news for Thursday, November 20, 2025: We talk health care tax credits and the Epstein files with Democratic U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, Learn…