For the first time in 15 years, liberals have a majority on the officially non-partisan Wisconsin Supreme Court. But the court’s locked in a power struggle with the Republican-controlled state legislature. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has threatened to impeach the newly-elected Justice Janet Protasiewicz and change the balance of power. Now, voters have sued, seeking to block any impeachment vote. Meanwhile, tensions are high between the justices on the court. We speak to Jack Kelly, statehouse re...
Sep 13, 2023•22 min
Wisconsin has long had mixed feelings about America’s largest rodents. Beavers have been hunted, trapped, had their dams blown up, and were generally considered to be a nuisance by many of the state’s human residents. Once hunted for their fashionable pelts, they’re now removed by the thousands across the state for a variety of reasons. Madison Parks says beaver dams could cause flooding in nearby soccer fields, golf courses and parking lots; beavers also chew trees at their base, creating poten...
Sep 12, 2023•23 min
Political parties have long known that controlling WHO can vote in an election carries a strategic advantage. Pick your voters, win your election. Hence, we fight over maps. Data science has made it easier than ever to create maps designed to ensure political outcomes. We now have fewer political districts that look like odd-shaped creatures and more that come from strategic targeting of voters based on data profiles and algorithms. Princeton University’s Gerrymandering Project calls Wisconsin’s...
Sep 11, 2023•22 min
The City Cast team is here to round up the news of the week. Dylan Brogan and Molly Stentz discuss what’s being done in the wake of a horrifying attack on a UW student in a downtown neighborhood last week. Also, we’re on impeachment watch as Republicans threaten to oust a recently elected Wisconsin Supreme Court justice. What’s new: Democrats are spending millions to fight it. Read more: Three felony charges filed against suspect of 'horrific' Madison assault [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel] Here's ...
Sep 08, 2023•20 min
Alex Booker, owner of Booker Botanicals, was the only Black farmer from Wisconsin at last year’s National Black Farmers Association Conference. He’s committed to changing that. Not only does Alex run a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program in the Madison area where he provides weekly boxes of fresh produce and herbs to members, he also hosts educational wellness events that connect more Black and brown Madisonians to local agriculture. We catch up with Alex to learn why he’s passionate a...
Sep 07, 2023•24 min
Madison was the first city in the nation to offer curbside recycling service. But 55 years of celebrating recycling’s virtues has driven us to optimism. We wishfully toss things in the cart and hope for the best. Friends, we are here to tell you that is NOT how this works. In fact, your good deeds are messing things up — gumming up machines and putting workers in harm’s way. Can you recycle plastic bags? Nope. Those little tabs from your bread bags? Nope. Bottle caps? Nope. And please, for the l...
Sep 06, 2023•22 min
Voice-identification systems, like Siri and Alexa, are becoming common. But they do more than play music or give us directions, they’re now being used as a security measure, like a fingerprint. Banks are beginning to use them to grant us access to our bank accounts. The only problem? They can be fooled. And not just by generating a computer-generated deepfake. By speaking through a PVC plastic tube. We catch up with UW-Madison Electrical and Computer Engineering Ph.D. students Shimaa Ahmed and Y...
Sep 05, 2023•19 min
The City Cast team is here to round up the news of the week. Bianca Martin, Dylan Brogan and Molly Stentz recap the week of kerfuffles on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. GOP lawmakers are talking about impeaching sitting Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz after she rebuffed their request to recuse herself on upcoming redistricting lawsuits. Plus, parents and educators from Lake View Elementary are upset after the Madison School District deems wooden benches a risk . And where was the best pla...
Sep 01, 2023•21 min
If it feels like there’s a bunch of new restaurants in Madison lately, you’re not alone. Our pal Lindsay Christians of the Cap Times clocked more than 30 new places that have either just opened or are coming soon . And she’s here to tell us what’s good. Join us every Thursday as we explore Madison's food culture, from the brewers and bakers to the chefs and cheesemakers. Also on the show: Taste of Madison is September 2 - 3 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 ...
Aug 31, 2023•23 min
Do you have family or friends visiting for Labor Day weekend? Where do you take them to show off Madison? Or maybe you’re hoping to squeeze in a quick getaway this weekend and you’re looking for some ideas? We got you. We thought we’d wager a friendly bet with our friends at City Cast Chicago . We asked our friend, host Jacoby Cochran, to plan a perfect day in our fair city. And then, OF COURSE, we had to offer our ideas for an ideal day trip to Chicago. What do you think? Leave us a voicemail a...
Aug 30, 2023•23 min
Elephants are everywhere in Baraboo: painted on the highway overpass, displayed as public art in the park, depicted on murals. But one place they’re not anymore: at Circus World. Circus World was the original home to the Ringling Brothers Circus. For more than a hundred years, they’ve included elephants as part of their circus performances. Today, you can still see circus acts there; they’re now owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society. But as of August 27th, there’s one mammoth change: no more...
Aug 29, 2023•24 min
The Wisco Birder — aka Dexter Patterson — is back to explain how the roseate spoonbill, native to the gulf coast, found its way to Green Bay this summer. We also learn about what birds to look for heading into fall and some upcoming birding events. Mentioned on the show: 🪶 Swift Night Out Social 💧 Charlies Berens and Dan Egan Panel on Phosphorus in Aquatic Ecosystems 🌳 Meet the Library Naturalist Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast...
Aug 28, 2023•22 min
City Cast Madison’s Bianca Martin and Dylan Brogan roundup the news this week, including Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway defending Madison ahead of the GOP presidential debate in Milwaukee; A Republican bill that would ban “high-risk” research at UW-Madison; And how to send 103 year-old Wisconsin WWII Veteran Harry Baker a birthday card. Mentioned on the show: 📰 Bill would ban high-risk research in Wisconsin aimed at preparing for new pathogens (Wisconsin State Journal) 📚 Lab-created bird flu virus ...
Aug 25, 2023•21 min
If you’ve ever been to Osteria Papavero in downtown Madison, you know you’re in for quality handmade Italian dishes, with beloved classics and a constantly changing menu of seasonal local fare. Lasagna Alla Bolognese. Barese-style Focaccia. Budino di Caramello. Are you hungry yet? Now you can learn to make them for yourself with Chef Francesco Mangano’s new cookbook, The Osteria Papavero Cookbook : Recipes from the Italian Shack and Beyond. Written with Lindsay Christians, it’s chock full of sto...
Aug 24, 2023•22 min
If you’re new to Madison, welcome! We don’t have a cup of sugar for ya, but we do have some advice for living in Madtown that we’ve gleaned over the years. Some hot tips and general life hacks we think you’ll appreciate. Some of us grew up here and some of us moved here, but there’s always those things about a city that you just find out the hard way. Some things take time to discover. We’re here to cut right to the chase and help you live better and more enjoyable lives in our fair city. We bro...
Aug 23, 2023•25 min
The Mariel Boatlift exodus has been called one of the U.S.’s most complex waves of immigration. It was named for the Cuban Port of Mariel, where more than 125,000 people emigrated from in 1980. You’ve likely heard about the large Cuban community that flourished in Miami. But did you know that nearly 15,000 Cuban refugees were sent to Fort McCoy, the U.S. Army base between Tomah and Sparta in southwest Wisconsin? Many settled in Madison. And many didn’t talk about their experience, until now. Mau...
Aug 22, 2023•28 min
Blake Alvarenga calls himself a Madison liberal. He also owns many guns and he knows how to use them. That sets him apart from many others who he’s met in Madison. He regularly staffs a booth at the Dane County Farmers’ Market, where he talks to neighbors who bought guns for self-defense, and were surprised to learn that nothing comes next. No instructions, no training. So he stepped in to help. He’s the president of the Wisconsin chapter of the Liberal Gun Club and he offers community classes o...
Aug 21, 2023•22 min
The City Cast team is here to round up the news of the week. Bianca Martin, Dylan Brogan and Molly Stentz remember Ada Deer , a Wisconsin trailblazer who died on August 15th, just days after celebrating her 88th birthday. We also discuss the comings and goings of Madison concert venues and debate our new friend, the 353 area code . Mentioned on the show: 🎧 Listen to Chali Pittman’s full interview with Ada Deer [WORT FM] 📖 Read a brief history of the Menominee [Menominee Indian Tribe of Wiscons...
Aug 18, 2023•22 min
Landmark Creamery of Paoli makes some of the best cheeses in the world. You don’t have to take our word for it - that’s according to judges at the American Cheese Society , the Good Food Awards , and the World Championship Cheese Contest . They make a variety of tasty handmade sheep-milk cheeses. And now, they’re making artisan butter down the street at Seven Acre Dairy in Paoli. Landmark Creamery Co-owner Anna Thomas Bates tells us why. Join us every Thursday as we explore Madison's food cultur...
Aug 17, 2023•23 min
Driving in Madison takes some know-how. Construction projects abound as the city grows. Plus, it’s that time of year when you see more people turning the wrong way down Madison’s one-way streets. They’re confusing for tourists, students, and newcomers alike. And of course, getting stuck behind a train is a classic problem on the isthmus. We wanted to know the secrets of getting across town these days. So who better to ask that someone who drives for a living? Producer Dylan Brogan spoke to Adam ...
Aug 16, 2023•19 min
Local radio is alive and well in Monona. The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association named 98.7 FM WVMO — the “Voice of Monona” — the Best Radio Station in state in 2022. Not bad for a teeny 100-watt station with an antenna on the fire department’s hose-drying tower. WVMO is owned by the city of Monona, run primarily by volunteers, and airs local programs. You can hear a variety of Americana music, updates on city events, and even a quick hello from the Walsh family on Sullivan Street. We speak with ...
Aug 15, 2023•24 min
When Mahanth Joishy became Madison’s Fleet Service Superintendent, the city had zero electric vehicles in its fleet. Now it has nearly a 100 and counting. Joishy is helping Madison reach its goal of running city operations on 100% renewable energy and with net zero carbon emissions , all by 2030. City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin finds out how. Also mentioned on the show: 🐔 Madison Children’s Museum Birthday Party and Coopwarming 🍻 Sips for Sustain Dane Wanna talk to us about an episode? Le...
Aug 14, 2023•20 min
The City Cast team is here to round up the news of the week. Bianca Martin, Dylan Brogan and Molly Stentz recap the ongoing saga of state money for our fair city, ask a UW-Madison prof how admissions might change after the U.S. Supreme Court’s affirmative action decision, and ponder why local restaurants wanna break up with food delivery apps. Mentioned on the show: 💰 What will Popple River, Wisconsin's second-smallest town , do with a 5,000% increase in state funding? (Milwaukee Journal Sentin...
Aug 11, 2023•21 min
A few times a year, there’s a special eggroll sale in Madison. The Hmong Institute takes orders of eggrolls by the dozen, perfect for stocking your freezer. The eggrolls are handmade by volunteers and the sales fund the non-profit’s work to preserve Hmong heritage and support Madison’s Hmong residents. And friends, eggroll time is now! Producer Molly Stentz caught up with Hmong Institute COO Mai Zong Vue to learn what goes into this labor of love. The deadline to order eggrolls is Friday, August...
Aug 10, 2023•25 min
PFAS chemicals show up in all kinds of things: non-stick cookware, stain-resistant clothing, microwave popcorn bags, firefighting foam. They’ve been dubbed “forever” chemicals because they don’t break down in the environment, making them very hard to get rid of. And they’re showing up in our water. Scientists are still discovering the health risks of PFAS, but research suggests that PFAS exposure increases the risk of kidney and testicular cancer. The CDC says most of us have been exposed to PFA...
Aug 09, 2023•22 min
John Yost has taught survival skills to people of all ages for more than 30 years. He can build impromptu shelters in all weather, start a fire without matches, and generally hunt, fish, trap or forage his next meal. And yes, he’s auditioned for Survivor and Alone. And no, he’s not preparing for the zombie apocalypse. He’s a Wisconsin farm kid who grew up outdoors with a love of nature. Mentioned on the show: 🔥 Yost Survival Skills 🐾 Dane County Humane Society 🐈 Acro-cats 💊 Addiction-treatin...
Aug 08, 2023•23 min
It wasn’t long ago that Wisconsin Supreme Court elections were snoozers with low voter turnout. After a raucous decade in Wisconsin politics, that era is over. Judge Janet Protasiewicz won the statewide office this spring in the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history. With lawsuits about ballot drop boxes, the state’s political maps and abortion already winding through the courts, big questions over political power, voting rights and liberty are at stake. Now that Judge Janet is on the ben...
Aug 07, 2023•20 min
The City Cast team is here to round up the news of the week. Dylan Brogan and Molly Stentz recap Wisconsin’s role in the latest Trump indictment and ask why Madison apartment building names are just so… interesting. Plus, there were Nazis in Watertown last weekend. What is happening? Mentioned on the show: 🏳️🌈 Unity Project of Watertown Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm . We’re also on Instagram ! Want more Madison news delive...
Aug 04, 2023•21 min
D.B. Pedersen has been a chef in the Madison area for years. He’s worked at L’Etoile, Weary Traveler, the former Taqueria Gila Monster, and the Taliesin School of Architecture, to name a few. His latest venture? A soup delivery business called Soups! I Did It Again . Along with Bazile Booth, they cook up high-quality soups from scratch, using fresh local ingredients, from a kitchen in Spring Green. They deliver to Madison on Mondays. You can also find their soups at the Festival Foods on the ist...
Aug 03, 2023•19 min
Every Friday night in August, it feels like Madison throws a party for itself. The rooftop of the Monona Terrace becomes a dance floor, with live bands ranging from funk and soul to mambo and disco. There are also DJs and dance lessons… and you’ll find babies boogieing next to your neighbors. And it’s all free. You don’t need a ticket. Just show up. We speak with Al Cooper, president of Dane Dances , about this year’s lineup. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-336...
Aug 02, 2023•23 min
