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Articles by Brian Standing
Madisonians grapple with firing of interim police monitor
https://d35i5brrnx3uxo.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/02181821/PCOB.mp3 Madison’s Police Civilian Oversight Board held a community listening session last Thursday to hear from the public about what they are looking for in an independent police monitor. The board also dealt with the public fallout, following the Madison city council’s recent decision to fire Aeiramique Glass, the PCOB’s choice for interim monitor.
“Dragonsocks and Queen of the Universe” at Broom Street Theater
Reg’s mom, Josephine has become more irascible, difficult and downright violent in her old age. With no-one wanting to deal with Josephine, Reg turns to the only help available – a home health care robot. That’s the premise of the new play, “Dragonsocks and Queen of the Universe” running through November 14th at Madison’s Broom Street Theater. Playwright Brendon Smith, director Suzan Kurry and actor Jim Rowe joined Monday Buzz host Brian Standing on November 2, 2026.
UNEP Climate Report 2026 Delivers Mostly Bad News
Bill Hare (photo courtesy climateanlaytics.org) The United Nations Environmental Program has released its 2026 Emissions Gap Report. It paints a generally gloomy picture of the earth’s climate, but contains a few shreds of hope. Titled “The Point of Return,” UNEP’s 17th annual climate change assessment warns that global warming will almost certainly overshoot the 1.5 degree Celsius temperature increase target established in the Paris Accords.
Wisconsin Legislative Districts to Watch in 2026 Election
Brittany Carloni (photo courtesy wisconsinwatch.org) Since the Republican wave election of 2010, the once-reliably Democratic state of Wisconsin has found itself under varying degrees of Republican control.
Madison: The Illustrated History 1932-1979
Stuart Levitan (Photo by Keith Wessel) WORT listeners know Stu Levitan best as the host of Bookbeat, and for his semi-regular Local News segment “Madison in the Sixties.” But Levitan is also a historian and author in his own right. His new book, “Madison: The Illustrated History, Volume 2” picks up where his previous volume left off and covers the years 1932 to 1979. Volume 2 is out now from the University of Wisconsin Press.
PCOB Chair Devon Snyder on the Future of Police Oversight
On Tuesday, October 20, after a marathon 12-hour public hearing, the Madison Common Council voted 14-6 to terminate the contract of Interim Independent Police Monitor Aeriamique Glass. The council’s action seemingly violated the city’s own ordinance, which grants the Police Civilian Oversight Board primary supervisory responsibility over the Independent Monitor. In another legally murky move, the Council appointed Common Council Chief of Staff Karen Kapusta-Pofahl as Glass’s replacement.
What if ICE Shows Up at the Polls?
Alex Shur (photo by Nicholas Wootton) On October 1, President Donald Trump told Time magazine that he wouldn’t rule out sending Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to polling places during next week’s midterm elections. Federal law, however, bans armed federal agents from polling places. Trump’s continued rhetoric has local election officials on edge.
Celebrating Wisconsin Bat Week
With the Milwaukee Brewers chasing a World Series appearance, you could be forgiven for thinking that an event called “Wisconsin Bat Week” referred to the offensive aptitude of the Brew Crew. You would be wrong, however – “Bat Week” is an international celebration of the other kind of “bats” – the furry winged mammals that play a pivotal role in ecosystems around the world.
Democrat Yee Leng Xiong Seeks State Treasurer Seat
Yee Leng Xiong (photo courtesy yeeforwi.vote) In the fall midterms on November 3, Wisconsin voters have a very full ballot. U.S. congress, governor, state legislature, secretary of state and state treasurer are all up for election this year. Over the years, the duties of the State Treasurer have been whittled down to overseeing the state’s unclaimed property program and sitting on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands.
El Salvador Delegates Bring Solidarity Lessons to Madison
For 40 years, the cities of Madison, Wisconsin and Arcatao, El Salvador have enjoyed a sister-city relationship, the first such declared compact in Madison’s history. This week, the Madison Arcatao Sister City Project welcomes a number of El Salvadoran activists to give a series of workshops, lectures, concerts and presentations to the Madison public.
The Science of Human Thriving: 100 Years of the Child Development Lab
Back in 1926, the University of Wisconsin created a first-of-its-kind cooperative nursery and preschool program on campus, staffed by professionals and researchers in early child development. Now celebrating its 100th birthday, the Child Development Lab has collaborated with the Ruth Davis Design Gallery in the School of Human Ecology to create an exhibit called “The Science of Human Thriving,” which features an in-depth look at the lab’s history and work.
Green Party’s Pete Karas Wants to be Secretary of State
Peter Karas (photo courtesy Peter Karas) On November 5, Wisconsin voters will cast ballots for U.S. congress, governor, state legislature, state treasurer and secretary of state.
Wisconsin Grassroots Festival at Seventeen
For 17 years, the Wisconsin Grassroots Network has hosted an annual festival to delve into a variety of issues of the day from a progressive perspective. This year’s fest, to be held on October 10 at Sun Prairie Central Heights Middle School, features speakers such as Mike McCabe, Nick Ramos, John Nichols, Jenny King and others.
Federal Cuts Set Back Regional Housing Progress
Torrie Kopp-Mueller (photo courtesy Torrie Kopp-Mueller) The Dane County Homeless Services Consortium consists of over 80 city and county government agencies, school districts, nonprofits and charitable organizations. In 2024, this expansive group adopted an ambitious plan to end homelessness in Dane County by 2030.
“Medical Melodies: Comedic Songs About Healthcare”
For thirty years, HR Britton worked as an actor, stand-up comic and musician, travelling to New York, Boston and Minneapolis to perform at a wide variety of theaters and venues. Tired of life on the road, he took a job as a receptionist at a healthcare clinic – and suddenly discovered he had a boatload of new material. He’s back on the road again with “Medical Melodies: Comedic Songs About Healthcare,” coming to Madison’s Muso on September 26.
Finding Home on Highway 14: Episode 11, Oregon, WI
Nicole Gruter (photo courtesy Nicole Gruter) Nicole Gruter, our far-flung, roving reporter has been documenting life along U.S. Highway 14 for us on the Buzz for several months now, meeting people in South Dakota and Minnesota. This month she doesn’t stray so far from her Madison home, traveling a mere 12 miles to the Village of Oregon. Nicole Gruter joined the Monday Buzz again on September 21, 2026.
In Tandem: Art of David Lynch and Christina A. West
Christina A. West in her studio. (Photo by Dani Hughes) The late David Lynch, who died in 2025, is best known for his macabre, unsettling films. But Lynch also worked in a variety of other art forms, including sculpture, painting and photography. It’s those photographs, mostly of female nudes, originally published by Madison’s Tandem Press that has intrigued sculptor Christina West.
“Wisconsin at Work” Walking Tour Showcases Madison Labor Struggles
From the country’s first worker’s compensation law in 1911, to the founding of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees in 1932, to a variety of strikes in the 1970s, Madison Wisconsin has a long history of labor organizing and struggles. On September 12, the Wisconsin Historical Society will offer a walking tour of downtown Madison to highlight some of the important events in labor history.
“Now We Are Here:” Family Migration through a Child’s Eyes
Gabrielle Oliveira (Photo courtesy Harvard University) People come to the United States from other countries for the same reasons anyone moves anywhere: for job opportunities, for a chance to better one’s life, to escape intolerable or unsafe conditions at home. As the United States government becomes increasingly hostile to migrants – at least migrants who aren’t millionaires – how is that affecting the people who recently came to the U.S. in search of a better life.
Let’s Make Wage Theft a Crime
WORT 89.9FM Madison · Let’s Make Wage Theft A CrimeI Robert Christl (photo courtesy Robert Christl) In Wisconsin, if you steal $3000 from the cash register at a local Walmart, you can expect the police will get a warrant for your arrest, look for you, and make you stand trial in criminal court. If convicted, you could be looking at a felony charge, with prison time and fines up to $10,000.
“Executive Excess” Report Reveals “Low Pay 100” Companies
Sarah Anderson (Photo courtesy Institute for Policy Studies) For the last four years, the Institute for Policy Studies has taken a deep dive into what it calls the “Low-Pay 100,” the 100 publicly traded corporations that pay their employees the least. Not coincidentally, many of those companies also have some of the highest ratios of Chief Executive Officer pay compared with their workers.
Lake Loop Art Tour: An Urban Bicycle Art Ride
We’re all familiar with a gallery walk, but how about a gallery ride? That’s what the Lake Loop Art Tour offers to art and bicycle aficionados. Now in its second year, the bicycle tour of working art studios follows the popular Lake Loop bike route around Madison’s Lake Monona. Jackie Sullivan is the founder of Toast Ceramics, one of the stops on the tour, and organizer of the Lake Loop Art Show. Jackie joined Monday Buzz host Brian Standing on August 31, 2026.
Kids in the Rotunda Kicks Off 45th Season
Elainee Stanley (Photo courtesy Overture Center) If you’re looking for something to keep the small fry occupied on a Saturday, rejoice, Madison’s Overture Center’s Kids in the Rotunda has you covered. From music to magic to dance to participatory theatre to yoyos, the new Kids in the Rotunda schedule offers kid-friendly events of all stripes nearly every Saturday from September until April, all absolutely free.
Turning the Tide on Science Misinformation
Liz Neeley (Photo courtesy liminalcreations.com) It’s been a year and a half since self-styled genius Elon Musk wielded a literal chainsaw onstage at a Conservative Political Action Committee event, crowing about slashing federal bureaucracy. Since then, the Trump Administration has made good on its promise to slash non-Pentagon federal agencies. Since then, federal agencies have lost over 220,000 employees, bringing federal employment down to levels not seen since the 1930s.
Follow the Money: Primary Eve
Michelle Ellinger Linley Follow the Money is a periodic deep dive into the campaign finance reports for candidates seeking office in Wisconsin. On Friday, August 7, candidates for Wisconsin Governor filed the last of their campaign finance reports before the partisan primary on Tuesday, August 11. Joining us once again with all the twists and turns is self-described campaign finance nerd Michelle Ellinger-Linley.
R&D Gallery Provides DIY Exhibition Space
We all know, or maybe we’ve played in, a garage band. Something about that large expanse of concrete and high ceilings just begs to be used for something more fun than parking a car. If not a band stage, how about an art gallery? Texas transplants Abby Johnson and Austin Swearengin have done just that, periodically converting their apartment’s 5-car garage into R&D Galleries, a space for temporary exhibits of new works.
Alan Robinson on Corey Ruiz Memorial Aftermath
Alan Robinson (photo courtesy Madison 365) At 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 4th, City of Madison workers began dismantling an ad hoc memorial encampment at the site of the July 22 shooting of Corey Ruiz by a Madison Police officer. The action came as a surprise to protestors, since previous conversations with city officials left organizers with the impression that they had time to wind down the encampment. Barricades were removed, personal items and food thrown into garbage trucks.
Pressing Issues: Printmaking as Social Justice
Katie Koca Polite – assistant curator and publications specialist. With prints from the Works Progress Administration (WPA). (Photo by L. Brian Stauffer) During the Great Depression in the 1930s, workers from all industries suddenly found themselves without a job.
Voices from the Corey Ruiz Memorial
On July 22, 2026, a yet-to-be-identified Madison police officer shot 38-year old Corey Ruiz three times in the head, killing Ruiz on the spot. Bystander video appears to show that Ruiz had already been subdued by three other officers when one officer fired his gun. The incident occurred at the intersection of Madison’s Williamson and Baldwin Streets, in the Williamson-Marquette neighborhood.
Healthcare Costs Upend Small Business
Between 1987 and 2024, health insurance premiums in the United States rose by a staggering 1000% – almost four times the rate of inflation. The 1.4 trillion dollars spent on premiums accounts for one in every five dollars spent in the U.S. economy. With the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits, much has been made of the impact on these costs on individuals. But skyrocketing health care costs affect businesses as well – especially small businesses.
Postcard From London: “Kit” Delivers Street Poetry on Demand
How do I get my music played on WORT? We accept submissions in most genres and styles of music, focusing on noncommercial, out-of-the-mainstream, independent releases (check out our playlists and music charts for more information.) It may take up to a few weeks for us to review and process your submission so we appreciate your patience, and feel free to contact us to follow up.
Follow the Money: WI Gubernatorial Campaign
Michelle Ellinger Linley When the Watergate scandal was breaking in the 1970s, the White House anonymous source code-named “Deep Throat” famously advised Washington Post Reporters Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward to “follow the money.” Neighborhood activist, long time organizer, and self-described “campaign finance nerd” Michelle Ellinger Linley has taken it upon herself to do just that.
Rally demands action on prison overcrowding
About two dozen people gathered outside Wisconsin Department of Corrections headquarters on Wednesday, sticking to the shade to avoid the extreme heat. But there’s little relief for the thousands of people incarcerated in prisons across the state. Talib Akbar, vice president of WISDOM Wisconsin, spoke from personal experience. “Because I’ve been in solitary confinement ten stints, I can tell you briefly what the conditions are.
Finding Home on Highway 14: Episode Nine
Nicole Gruter (photo courtesy Nicole Gruter) Once a month, we check in with the Monday Buzz’s roving reporter Nicole Gruter. Nicole’s been tracing the route of historic U.S. Highway 14, one of the first U.S. Highways originally built in the 1920s. Nicole documents the stories of those who live and work along the historic roadway. Today, Nicole brings us a story from Westby, WI, population 2,332. Nicole Gruter joined Monday Buzz host Brian Standing on July 13, 2026 with the latest installment.
Immigrants Face Arrests, Workplace Injuries in Wisconsin
Paul Kiefer (photo courtesy wisconsinwatch.org) President Donald Trump and his adviser Stephen Miller paint a picture of non-white, non-English speaking immigrants to the United States as violent criminals intent on wreaking havoc on American society. In truth, however, most undocumented migrants to this country have no criminal record, and are more likely to be the victims, not the cause, of exploitation, discrimination and violence. Paul Kiefer covers immigration issues for Wisconsin Watch.
“Unbroken Chain” Delivers Bicycles from Madison to Gambia
Elijah McCloskey (photo courtesy Unbroken Chain bike shop) When he was 16, Elijah McCloskey found himself homeless and unemployed. After visiting the Freewheel Bicycle Cooperative, he was able to build himself a free bicycle. A bicycle meant mobility, and mobility meant he could hold down a job. Elijah served as executive director of that same Freewheel shop until 2020. His latest project involves collecting donated bicycles and shipping them for kids to use in Africa.
World Cup Fever and Local Football Clubs
Conor Coloia (Photo courtesy Forward Madison FC) In the very first association football World Cup, in 1930, the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team placed third. It has never placed higher than 12th since, and didn’t qualify at all between 1954 and 1986. Beginning in 1990, thanks to many efforts to promote the world’s most popular sport on American soil and the growth of high school and college soccer, Team USA began a run of respectable performances in World Cup competition.
SCOTUS Curtails Religious Freedom, Congressional Authority
Howard Schweber, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. (Photo by Althea Dotzour / UW–Madison) On June 23, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a decision in Landor vs. Louisiana Department of Corrections that has sweeping implications not only for the First Amendment, but also for Congress’s fundamental power to enact laws binding on private individuals.
Trump Administration Terminates 988 LGBTQ+ Hotline
Natalie Eilbert (Photo courtesy Cap Times) In July of 2025, the Trump Administration announced it was terminating grants for LGBTQ+ specific hotline crisis services available by dialing 988. In the year since, while generalized 988 Suicide and Crisis hotlines have survived by piecing together state and private funding, specialized services for LGBTQ+ people have disappeared.
Hilton Madison workers still waiting for a union contract
About fifty people braved the punishing heat yesterday afternoon for a picket line outside Hilton Madison Monona Terrace. A majority of the hotel workers voted last August to join UNITE HERE Local 1, a union that represents hospitality workers in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana. Almost a year later, they’re still fighting for their first contract. “Look, folks are out here picketing because they don’t have a contract yet,” Local 1’s Communications Director Sarah Lyons told WORT.
Preserving Art and Culture for a Decade
Amadou Kromah (Photo courtesy Carlee Latimer / Madison Public Library) Amadou Kromah picked up a camera when he was fifteen years old, and hasn’t put it down since. In 2017, the Madison-based photographer won Silver in the NAACP’s Youth Act So Program. Since then, he’s photographed the likes of Patti La Belle, Earth Wind and Fire and Wynton Marsalis. He’s worked as an artist in residence at the Madison Public Library, teaching teenagers to follow his footsteps in digital photography.
Wisconsin Felony Case Against Fake Electors Creeps Forward
Alex Shur (photo by Nicholas Wootton) In the political realm, the 2020 Presidential election seems like eons ago. Many of the perpetrators and co-conspirators around Donald Trump’s unsuccessful attempt to overturn the 2020 election have since received Presidential pardons, or seen the cases against them dismissed in court. The State of Wisconsin’s felony case against three who plotted to submit fake electoral votes to Congress, however, continues to creep – ever so slowly – forward.
Gubernatorial candidates appeal to voters at Pewaukee forum
With less than two months to go until the primary election for governor, the clock is ticking for Wisconsin voters to learn about the candidates and make their choice. WISDOM Wisconsin, an interfaith network that advocates for racial and social justice, hosted a forum in Pewaukee Monday evening where candidates were invited to weigh in on a slew of issues – including criminal justice reform, immigration, and the economy.
Madisonians build connections at 37th annual Juneteenth celebration
Madison’s 37th annual Juneteenth celebration saw a massive turnout on Saturday. This year’s theme: “Black Resilience: Celebrating Our History and Presence.” After a march down Park Street, as many as 15,000 people convened in Penn Park to enjoy activities for all ages. WORT reporter Brian Standing was there and brings us this coverage with our News Producer Faye Parks. Image courtesy: Brian Standing / WORT News. Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible.
Field to Frock Festival Returns for 2026
Jessica Becker (left) and Leslie Schroeder (right) outside the WORT studios. (Photo by Jessica Becker) When the Strait of Hormuz shut down during the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, global textile prices skyrocketed, illustrating once again how dependent our economies are on global trade. An alternative to such global dependence may be to “think local” and work to substitute locally-produced products for those shipped from across the world.
Bloodsuckers: Ecology and Public Health of Ticks
Johnny Uelmen (Photo courtesy University of Wisconsin) Eight-legged, bloodsucking vampires swarm over your gardens, forests and fields, biting onto your neck to reproduce, bringing disease and in some cases, death. That’s not the tagline for a new horror flick – that’s a description of the lifestyle of the arachnid order Ixodida, better known as ticks.
The Data on Remote Work: Productive but Lonely
Emma Harrington (Photo courtesy University of Virginia) The global COVID-19 pandemic wrought a variety of social and economic changes. Some, like social distancing, were temporary. Other changes remained in place long after the most acute crisis subsided. According to U.S. Census data, prior to the pandemic, people who worked from home accounted for about 3% of the working population.
“Edward IV” Brings Elizabethan Drama to the Playground
Sarah Z. Johnson (photo courtesy Linked In) Kia Karlen (photo courtesy Madison Children’s Museum) For every kid who’s ever run around a playground pretending to be a pirate getting in swordfights, Madison Shakespeare Company and Madison Children’s Museum have the play for you. This month, MSC will mount a production of “Edward IV” by Elizabethan playwright Thomas Heywood, performing on the Madison Children’s Museum’s elaborate wonderground playground.
Purchase With Purpose Offers Tips for Avoiding Big Tech
Kyle Bradley (photo courtesy LinkedIn) Media activist, professor and author Bob McChesney used to say that if you’re getting something for free on the internet, then you’re the product. Data harvesting cookies, bots, apps, devices, AI chatbots – even kitchen appliances – spy on you 24 hours a day, reporting their findings back to the corporations such as Google, Apple, Meta and X.
Summer Programs Out of Reach for Many Parents
Randy Neve (photo courtesy Wisconsin Out of School Time Alliance) Jennifer Smith (photo courtesy Wisconsin Out of School Time Alliance) With school out for the year, working parents struggle to find a summer program to keep the kids busy, entertained and safe over the hot summer months. A new survey by the Afterschool Alliance suggests that nearly half of all parents seeking summer programs fail to find an appropriate slot for their kids.
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