Pat Diehl is a gardener and organizer at the Leopold Park Community
Garden in Madison. 

Originally from California, she shares fond memories of
picking beans with her family, learning to garden, and starting school
gardens in Oakland. She also speaks of her love for the restorative power of
gardening.

Pat Diehl (English): Rooted In Land, Preserving Through Generations

Framing Culture this week was in José's home country, Portugal, where he interviewed Joy Hanford, an American artist, ceramicist, community coordinator, and writer. Infused with lively humor, this conversation reflects on broader issues around art, craft, entrepreneurship, and cultural specificities and differences.

Joy Hanford on being an artist and community coordinator abroad

Did you ever wake up at night and wonder why Trump is the favored son of the Evangelical right? After all, he has proven he barely knows the Bible. Professor and Chair of the Department of Theological Studies at Concordia University in Montreal, Andre Gagne, explains in his book entitled "Evangelicals for Trump: Dominion, Spiritual Warfare, and the End Times" how the New Apostolic Reformation is working on a movement featuring the Political Theology of Power, with a strategy for Christians should take dominion over every aspect of society -- political, social, and cultural institutions.

Buzz - 1-24 - 24 - Andre - Gagne

Two Saturdays ago, Noble Knight Games, a Fitchburg game store, hosted an unusual tournament. 

The tournament pitted Star War fans against each other in a tabletop game. 

The winner gets a chance to compete in Adepticon - the world convention of table top games - in Schaumburg, Illinois later this spring.

Photo courtesy of Charlie Belawski and WORT News

Fitchburg Game Store Hosts Star Wars Tournament

The Silver Dollar Tavern, Madison’s oldest bar, closed for good on Saturday evening. Though the mahogany-topped bar itself will find a home in the new Wisconsin History Center set to open in 2027, Hovde Properties, which secured the rights to purchase the building last fall, plan to raze it to make way for the History Center’s construction. Reporter Jess Miller was there on Saturday to hear from the crowd of tavern faithfuls and see off the beloved Madison institution.

Image courtesy: Jess Miller / WORT News

Inside the Silver Dollar Tavern's last "last call"

The 2024 Spring Election season is ramping up - and Dane County voters will decide who sits on the county board. 
Three candidates are vying for the District 13 seat, which represents Madison’s near west side. That means they’ll face off in a primary on February 20th and the two candidates with the most votes will move on to the election on April 2nd.
Travis Austin is one of the three candidates. This week, he discussed some of his priorities with WORT News Producer Faye Parks.


Image courtesy: Travis Austin.

Dane County Board Candidate Travis Austin Discusses His Priorities for District 13

The 2024 Spring Election season is ramping up.
In terms of local elections, the big races on the ballot are for Dane County Board of Supervisors.
Only two Dane County Board seats have more than two candidates. That means that they are first headed to the spring primary next Tuesday, February 20th. The top two finishers from the primary will move on to the spring election on April 2nd. 
This week, we're taking a look at District 36, where the current supervisor - state Senator Melissa Ratcliff - has decided not to run for another term. Now, three candidates are vying to take on the job and represent the village of Cottage Grove, as well as portions of east Madison and Sun Prairie. They are Andrew McKinney, Loreen Gage, and David Peterson. 
Earlier this week, WORT News Producer Faye Parks spoke to David Peterson to hear his priorities for District 36.

Image courtesy: David Peterson.

Dane County Board Candidate David Peterson Discusses His Priorities for District 36

The 2024 Spring Election season is ramping up.
In terms of local elections, the big races on the ballot are for Dane County Board of Supervisors.
Only two Dane County Board seats have more than two candidates. That means that they are first headed to the spring primary next Tuesday, February 20th. The top two finishers from the primary will move on to the spring election on April 2nd. 
This week, we're taking a look at District 36, where the current supervisor - state Senator Melissa Ratcliff - has decided not to run for another term. Now, three candidates are vying to take on the job and represent the village of Cottage Grove, as well as portions of east Madison and Sun Prairie. They are Andrew McKinney, Loreen Gage, and David Peterson. 
Earlier today, WORT News Producer Faye Parks spoke to Loreen Gage to hear her priorities for District 36.

Image courtesy: Loreen Gage via her website.

Dane County Board Candidate Loreen Gage Discusses Her Priorities for District 36

Hejira world music radio show host Jeff Spitzer-Resnick conducted a live interview with Jamala, about her new album, Qirim, from Kyiv.

Jamala interview 2-8-24

As the presidential election continues we talk with Jeff Sharlet, the author of A National Book Critics Circle Finalist The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War.

The Undertow comes out in paperback on March 5th. 





Jeff Sharlet is the New York Times best-selling author or editor of eight books, including The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War and The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power. He is Frederick Sessions Beebe '35 Professor in the Art of Writing at Dartmouth College. His reporting on LGBTIQ+ rights around the world has received the National Magazine Award, the Molly Ivins Prize, and Outright International’s Outspoken Award. His writing and photography have appeared in many publications, including Vanity Fair, for which he is a contributing editor; the New York Times Magazine; GQ; Esquire; Harper’s Magazine; and VQR, for which he is an editor at large.

The Struggle is Long: A Conversation with Jeff Sharlet

Andy Moore interviews The Spine Stealers, a band influenced by folk and old-school country music. The host discusses their passion for folk music and their songwriting process.

The band shares insights into their influences and collaboration. They also talk about their upcoming show at The Weary Traveler on February 29th.

The also have shows coming up May 8th at the Bur Oak, and Anondyne Coffee in Milwaukee on May 10th.

Spine Stealers

The American Hazelnut Company website, the "meet the growers" section reads:

We are not young. We have planted hazelnuts that will outlive us, growing old with our children and grandchildren. As our descendants watch the climate continue to change, the deep hazel roots will hold strong through heavier and heavier storms and longer and longer droughts. We plant hazelnuts because they are resilient. Because they will nourish our communities – human, animal, and soil – for decades as the world changes around them. This will be our legacy.  

In the early 2000s eco-conscience farmers across the Midwest began building planting hazelnuts. The hazelnuts found in Nutella are from European hazelnut trees, but the hazelnuts that are native to the Upper Midwest are the American hazelnut (Corylus americana). They are smaller and sweeter. The shrub-like tree is hardy and blight resistant, making it ideal for our Wisconsin winters, and the changing climate. The growers in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Norther Iowa and Illinois are often growing hybrid hazelnuts--a cross between American and European hazelnuts. 

On today's show, host Douglas Haynes talks with hazelnut farmer Paul Ronsheim and UW-Extensions Woody Crops Specialist Jason Fischbach. They discuss the process of growing hazelnuts, how the early spring is impact the trees, and ways to cook with hazelnuts.

Photos used with permission from American Hazelnut Company.

Hazelnut in Wisconsin with Jason Fischbach and Paul Ronsheim

On the Friday Eight O'Clock Buzz, Andy Moore engaged in a thought-provoking conversation with Charlie Sykes, MSNBC commentator and political columnist. The discussion covered a wide array of topics, starting with reflections on recent political events such as the State of the Union Address and Super Tuesday elections.

Sykes provided commentary on key moments from the State of the Union, emphasizing Biden's message on patriotism and women's rights. The conversation then delved into the Trump campaign's messaging tactics and the potential implications of ongoing legal battles.

They also discussed the relevance of issues in modern American politics, media coverage of Trump, and the challenges facing both political parties leading up to the November elections.

The interview offers valuable insights into the current political landscape, providing listeners with a nuanced perspective on the complexities of American politics in 2024. 

Image Credit: The Bulwark

Charlie Sykes

Jill Stein launched presidential bids in 2012 and 2016 on the Green Party ticket. 
And this year, the Green Party will appear on the presidential ballot. 
Dr. Stein is in Madison today on a fourteen-state tour. Tomorrow, she'll be in Racine and Milwaukee. 
She visited the WORT studio earlier today to speak with our News Director - Chali Pittman - and our News Producer - Faye Parks.

Image courtesy: Chali Pittman for WORT News.

Green Party Candidate Jill Stein on Her Presidential Run

In just three weeks, Dane County voters will decide who sits on the county board. 
Two candidates are vying for the District 9 seat, which represents Madison’s far west side. John Wollaeger is running against incumbent supervisor Steven Peters and they’ll face off on April 2nd. 
Earlier today, Wollaeger spoke to WORT News Producer Faye Parks to discuss his priorities for the district. 

Image courtesy: Sauk Prairie Healthcare via their website.

Dane County Board Candidate John Wollaeger Discusses His Priorities for District 9

In less than three weeks, Dane County voters will decide who sits on the county board. 
The District 9 seat represents Madison’s far west side. There are two candidates in that race: incumbent supervisor Steven Peters and challenger John Wollaeger. 
The two of them will face off on April 2nd. 
Earlier today, supervisor Peters spoke to WORT News Producer Faye Parks to discuss his priorities for the district. 

Image courtesy: Steven Peters.

Incumbent Candidate Steven Peters Outlines His Campaign For Dane County Board District 9

This week, Framing Culture's host José talks over the phone with Matthew Bakkom, a conceptual artist and researcher from Minneapolis, with prior ties to this region, and to UW-Madison in particular.
Expanding on his ongoing research-based and civic project with members of the community, Bakkom also shares some of the artistic concerns behind his own practice, anchored on the archive, as a concept and a reality.

Matthew Bakkom on being an artist, investigator, and archivist: of the outside and of the self

On today's show, Allen Ruff is joined by environmental activist Aurora Conley of the Bad River Band and documentarian Mary Mazzio to discuss the ongoing fight between The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the energy multinational giant Enbridge Corporation.

We kick off the show with the award-winning documentary film maker Mary Mazzio. Mazzio is the director of the about-to-be released documentary, Bad River debuting in Madison and select cities across the country on Friday

Then we continue the conversation with Aurora Conley. She tells us about the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa's enacting their tribal sovereignty to reject the seventy year old “Line 5” that carries toxic tar sands oil from west to east across the state and cuts through the Bad River reservation.

Image by The Kakagon Sloughs. © Richard Schultz 2022. Courtesy of 50 Eggs Films

"When we said no, we meant that"

West area residents disrupted a city planning presentation at Memorial High on Tuesday, voicing concern about the ways Madison's West side could change. 

But while residents interrupted city planners inside the classroom, genuine dialogue happened in the hallways outside. 

WORT News Director Chali Pittman was there.

Planning, interrupted: how a planning meeting went awry on Madison's west side

WORT's Perpetual Notion Machine talks with University of Wisconsin-Madison geologist Eric Carson about the geological history of the Driftless Region.

Glacial Geology of The Driftless Area

On today's two-part show, host Jade Iseri-Ramos chats with Sarah Quinn, Academic and Career Planning Coordinator at West High School, about a pilot program happening on April 4th. The first annual Equity Symposium will bring 50 presenters into the school to discuss a wide-range of equity topics. Sarah explains the behind the scenes work behind the event and what she hopes students will get out of it. 

Then, Sue Jennik, Program Director of the Dane County League of Women Voters and chair of the Wisconsin League of Women Voters Legislative Committee, comes down to the station to talk about two proposed constitutional amendments on the April ballot. Sue explains why the League is advocating for a no vote.

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Equity Symposium at West, then Two Amendments on the WI Ballot

In just two weeks, Dane County voters will decide who sits on the county board. 
District 25 represents Waunakee - and two candidates are vying for the seat: Mark Foster and David Boetcher. The current supervisor, Tim Kiefer, is not running for another term. 
Earlier this week, Foster spoke to WORT News Producer Faye Parks to discuss his priorities for the district.

Image courtesy: Mark Foster.

Dane County Board Candidate Mark Foster Discusses His Priorities for District 25

In one week, Dane County voters will decide who sits on the county board.
District 22 represents the villages of DeForest and Windsor and two candidates are vying for the seat: incumbent supervisor Maureen McCarville and challenger Rebecca Witherspoon.
Earlier today, Witherspoon shared her priorities with WORT News Producer Faye Parks.

Image courtesy: Rebecca Witherspoon.

Dane County Board Candidate Rebecca Witherspoon Discusses Her Priorities for District 22

In recent news, Massachusetts General Hospital has successfully transplanted a genetically edited pig kidney into a 62 year old man living with end stage kidney disease. What could this mean for the future of organ transplants?

With around 90,000 people on the waitlist for a kidney transplant in the United States, 1,500 of which reside in Wisconsin, organ transplants are at an all time high. 

With Perpetual Notion Machine host Lauren Hicks, Dr. Kaufman discusses the renal system, kidney donation process, organ donor shortage, and how an xenotransplant can even function in humans. 

About the guest:

Dr. Dixon Kaufman is a UW Health transplant surgeon and professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Where he specializes in kidney and pancreas transplant surgery.

Image courtesy:  Sasin Tipchai / Pixabay

Pig Kidney Transplanted into Human with Dr. Dixon Kaufman

Over the last month, the opinion section in the Cap Times has been flooded with debate over Madison’s housing crisis - namely, the city’s attempt to address it through proactive rezoning and more affordable development.
The Marquette Neighborhood is located on Madison’s near-east side - and Eric Hamilton is the Vice President of the neighborhood association. He shared his perspective on the housing debate with WORT News Producer Faye Parks earlier today.

Image courtesy: Boston Public Library via Flickr, a postcard of downtown Madison circa 1930.

Marquette Neighborhood Association Vice President Eric Hamilton Weighs in on Development Debate

Political intrigue is being cultivated in Columbus, Wi with a fight to save the historically significant Dingee Farm from demolition and redevelopment.  Last year the City Council met in a series of closed sessions to purchase the property after two local residents were in the process of negotiating its purchase and preservation.  The funding for the City’s purchase reportedly came from ARPA funds that were intended to stimulate the economy during the pandemic.  Now the City is faced with the decision on how best to proceed with development of the property.  The former City Council narrowly voted to proceed with a housing development plan over a plan to preserve the farm despite widespread opposition from the community.  But with new elections for City Council, it seems possible that a new vote on development plans could change that decision.  Jesse Pycha-Holst, a Madison based realtor, joins the 8 O’Clock Buzz in the studio to talk about efforts to preserve the farm.  Stay tuned.

Photo by Tomasz Filipek on Unsplash

Politics, Property and Preservation in Columbus, WI

The 2nd EVER New Horizons Swing band is live  in the studio live today, in the record room, providing music breaks for today’s show. The first ever New Horizons program at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York was designed to serve the senior population.
Mark Salzman is the bands director and a beloved, retired, band director at Madison East Side High School.
Mark talks about the New Horizons International Music Association, an international non-profit providing entry points to music making for adults, many of which include instruction for those with no musical experience at all, and also those who were active in school music programs but have been inactive for a long period. Many adults would like an opportunity to learn music in a group setting similar to that offered in schools. Most New Horizons Music programs provide music instruction at all levels from beginner to advanced.

New Horizons Swing Band

The agenda for yesterday’s Common Council meeting was packed. From electing new leadership - to a resolution affirming their support for survivors of domestic violence and abuse.
But alders struggled to follow procedure - in light of recent allegations against one of their colleagues.

Image courtesy: Chali Pittman / WORT News.

What Happened at Yesterday’s Tense Common Council Meeting?

A new report Wisconsin Policy Forum released today finds that Wisconsin’s current finances are the strongest on record. According to the nonpartisan research org, federal pandemic relief and careful spending are the primary contributors. 
But are these numbers just a flash in the pan?
WORT News Producer Faye Parks spoke to Jason Stein, Research Director at the Policy Forum, to get his take on Wisconsin’s financial future. 

Image courtesy: Chali Pittman / WORT News.

Wisconsin Policy Forum Finds State’s Finances Strongest on Record

Forecast For Wednesday, 4 - 17 - 24

While campus protests over Israel's genocidal war on Gaza have continued in recent months, so have attacks on academic freedom and free speech at universities across the U.S. In his recent piece for Truth Out, "Israel Has Formed a Task Force to Carry Out Covert Campaigns at US Universities" activist and scholar William I. Robinson argues that the attacks are part of an Israeli government campaign to shape US public opinion and neutralize opposition to Israel's war. 

Robinson points to a report by Israeli news outlet Ynetnews, that says the government is behind the covert campaign to harass and intimate students, campus journalists, faculty, and administration. He tells A Public Affair, "The  intent is to crush any dissent on U.S. campuses, any attempt at solidarity with Palestine, any attempt to oppose the genocide that's being carried out."

William I. Robinson  is an American professor of sociology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He's the author of a number of books including Can Global Capitalism Endure? (Clarity Press, 2022) and Global Civil War: Capitalism Post-Pandemic (PM Press, 2022).

Photo by Ian Hutchinson on Unsplash

Who is Behind the Crackdown on Campus Free Speech?

Election workers and administrators are at the frontline of defending democracy by ensuring free and fair elections.  But increasingly their job descriptions include threat analysis, reporting harassment, and methods to de-escalate potential violence.  This has all come about due to increased threats to election officials since the 2020 presidential election, and the false claims of illegal voting by right wing agitators.  Scott McDonell, Dane County Clerk, joins the Thursday edition of the 8 O’Clock Buzz to discuss the upswing in election worker turnover and preparations for the 2024 elections.

He also speaks to the increased security afforded Meagan Wolfe, Administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, after she was specifically named in false accusations by Don Trump in his continued tirade against those at the forefront of providing our democratic rights.

Is it possible the Framers of the Constitution would have had second thoughts about freedom of speech if they knew Dishonest Don was coming?

Election Day Heroes

Record Store Day is an annual celebration of the culture of the independently owned record store.  It’s typically held on one Saturday in April to allow artists, fans and independent stores around the world to gather and spread the word about the special place these stores hold in our communities.  DJ el Serpentine, Sal Serio, joins the 8 O’Clock Buzz to discuss events in the Madison area for this observance.  Because this year’s bash is this Saturday, April 20, it will coincide with the annual celebration of the counter-culture’s rally for diversity and acceptance.  Peace out.

Record Store Day 42024

At some point in your life you may have been admonished for “wearing white after Labor Day.”

Had you known that the full warning is actually… 

…Those who cannot afford a fall vacation should not wear white after Labor day… you might have escaped the clutches of the fashion police. 

We should just be happy that at least we are allowed to wear the color red. 

Remaking the Renaissance is currently on display until May 19 in the Lynn Mecklenburg Textile Gallery on the UW Madison campus. As the title suggests, the focus is on textiles c.1400 - 1700. The exhibition was curated by Dr. Sophie Pitman, the Pleasant Rowland Textile Specialist and Research Director for the Center for Design and Material Culture.

In this episode of Radio Chipstone, Dr. Pitman shares with contributor Gianofer Fields how the study and conservation of textiles from the Renaissance helps historians have a better understanding of the period.

Wearing White After Labor Day

Many news outlets and social media users are in a tizzy about a proposed arrest warrant for Kirk Bangstad. But a technicality in the court filing system is to blame for setting off the alarm.

Featured image courtesy of Minocqua Brewing Company.

No Arrest Warrant Authorized for Kirk Bangstad

Audio and commentary of Evers v. Marklein, a lawsuit challenging the power of the Joint Finance Committee and other legislative committees that have veto powers.

JFC on Trial

The Soundtrack of the Vietnam War

Water quantity issues in Wisconsin

Last month, the Madison City Plan Commission unanimously approved a proposal to update and expand the Salvation Army homeless shelter on the east side.

On today's episode, we learn about the details of this project and the community's response with Salvation Army director of social services Melissa Sorenson, city planner Tim Parks, and community development supervisor Linette Rhodes.

They discuss the work of the Salvation Army, the city permitting process, the role of mixed development in addressing Madison's housing needs, concerns from local residents about neighborhood safety, and what listeners can do this holiday season to support initiatives for the homeless.

Cover image: Tenney–Lapham Neighborhood Association Steering Committee Meeting Slides, July 1, 2019

City Planning – Expansion of the Salvation Army Homeless Shelter

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We provide an outlet for communication, education, free expression, entertainment, training and access for the purpose of sharing music, information, news, and cultural experiences, and strive to give people underrepresented elsewhere in traditional media a voice. 

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