https://isthmus.com/api/rss/content.rss Madison, Wisconsin's independent newspaper covering local news, politics, restaurants, beer, music, movies, arts, entertainment and more. en-us ISTHMUS is © 2025 Isthmus Community Media, Inc. | All rights reserved. | Madison, Wisconsin | USA Mon, 21 Jul 2025 14:30:00 -0000 Steven Walters The Wisconsin Elections Commission report documented repeated failures by city clerk employees to follow state laws requiring the tracking and recording of absentee ballots, and the secure storage of voting machines and other materials. https://isthmus.com/news/news/report-details-madison-ballot-security-problems/ https://isthmus.com/news/news/report-details-madison-ballot-security-problems/ Mon, 21 Jul 2025 14:30:00 -0000 Liam Beran Isthmus Staff Picks for July 21-24 also includes tour stops by American Aquarium and poets Daryl Gussin and James Norman; a University Theatre production of Clare Barron's Pulitzer-nominated play 'Dance Nation.' https://isthmus.com/arts/isthmus-madison-picks-july-21-to-24-2025/ https://isthmus.com/arts/isthmus-madison-picks-july-21-to-24-2025/ Mon, 21 Jul 2025 10:07:00 -0000 courtesy Matt Lorenz Dave Cieslewicz People already know who Evers is and threatening he is not. He comes off like the school principal he once was. https://isthmus.com/opinion/citizen-dave/tony-evers-is-best-bet-for-wisconsin-governor/ https://isthmus.com/opinion/citizen-dave/tony-evers-is-best-bet-for-wisconsin-governor/ Fri, 18 Jul 2025 16:00:00 -0000 Tommy Washbush / Freepik Jason Joyce Much of the Sunday State Journal’s front page story about downtown development was fiction created by an 'unauthorized use of AI.' https://isthmus.com/news/news/wisconsin-state-journal-re-reports-brayton-lot-story/ https://isthmus.com/news/news/wisconsin-state-journal-re-reports-brayton-lot-story/ Thu, 17 Jul 2025 22:00:00 -0000 Isthmus Staff Picks for July 17-20 also includes a reception for the current cohort of LAB^4 exhibitions at Arts + Literature Laboratory; Tango with Winnie Sextet brings together an international ensemble for a concert and dance at Cafe Coda. https://isthmus.com/arts/isthmus-madison-picks-july-17-to-20-2025/ https://isthmus.com/arts/isthmus-madison-picks-july-17-to-20-2025/ Thu, 17 Jul 2025 10:01:00 -0000 Andres Sanchez Esther Launstein Despite public concern over a lack of transparency, the Madison city council gave a green light to the first phase of the Madison LakeWay project, which can now proceed without going through a citywide referendum. https://isthmus.com/news/news/no-referendum-needed-for-first-phase-of-lake-monona-project/ https://isthmus.com/news/news/no-referendum-needed-for-first-phase-of-lake-monona-project/ Wed, 16 Jul 2025 18:00:00 -0000 Sasaki Patrick Maynard UW-Madison mathematician Stanislaw Ulam spent a few years at UW-Madison before going on to play a critical role in creating the implosion-type device used in the first explosion of a nuclear device. The Trinity nuclear test happened 80 years ago. https://isthmus.com/news/news/from-the-university-of-wisconsin-to-los-alamos/ https://isthmus.com/news/news/from-the-university-of-wisconsin-to-los-alamos/ Wed, 16 Jul 2025 14:00:00 -0000 Los Alamos National Laboratory Steven Walters Wisconsin lawmakers recently negotiated a bipartisan state budget while Congress passed Trump’s spending plan on a party-line vote. https://isthmus.com/news/news/a-tale-of-two-spending-plans-in-WI-in-Washington/ https://isthmus.com/news/news/a-tale-of-two-spending-plans-in-WI-in-Washington/ Tue, 15 Jul 2025 14:00:00 -0000 Tommy Washbush / Freepik Isthmus Staff Picks for July 14-17 also includes opening day for the Dane County Fair; Madison artist Natalie Jo Wright brings 'Four Eyed Cats in Mid Century Spaces' to Flying Low Skateshop. https://isthmus.com/arts/isthmus-madison-picks-july-14-to-17-2025/ https://isthmus.com/arts/isthmus-madison-picks-july-14-to-17-2025/ Mon, 14 Jul 2025 10:06:00 -0000 Bob Koch Liam Beran A need to fill the hole left by legacy outlets was a frequent theme sounded by those attending the annual conference of AAN Publishers conferring in Madison. Common challenges include the need for more revenue and stretched staff. https://isthmus.com/news/news/as-local-news-orgs-shut-down-alt-publications-step-up/ https://isthmus.com/news/news/as-local-news-orgs-shut-down-alt-publications-step-up/ Sat, 12 Jul 2025 20:00:00 -0000 Liam Beran Robin Shepard Lakefront Brewery stepped in last summer to purchase Public Brewing and has since focused on producing a smaller set of core brands and styles, especially sours. https://isthmus.com/food-drink/beer/public-opinion-public-brewing-company/ https://isthmus.com/food-drink/beer/public-opinion-public-brewing-company/ Fri, 11 Jul 2025 13:00:00 -0000 Robin Shepard Willow Rueckert-Gardner In this month’s One Dish, we rejoice over a twist to a dessert classic. https://isthmus.com/food-drink/one-dish-earl-grey-creme-brulee-at-mint-mark/ https://isthmus.com/food-drink/one-dish-earl-grey-creme-brulee-at-mint-mark/ Thu, 10 Jul 2025 13:00:00 -0000 Courtesy Mint Mark Isthmus Staff Picks for July 10-13 also includes the Broadway tour of 'Wicked;' the annual collision of Art Fair On the Square and Art Fair Off the Square. https://isthmus.com/arts/isthmus-madison-picks-july-10-to-13-2025/ https://isthmus.com/arts/isthmus-madison-picks-july-10-to-13-2025/ Thu, 10 Jul 2025 10:02:00 -0000 Rory Doyle Lauren Hafeman ‘The Death of Chuck Brown,’ written and directed by Lawrence, explores themes of family relationships, community safe spaces, Black history, and gentrification’s impacts in historically Black neighborhoods. https://isthmus.com/arts/stage/gavin-dillon-lawrence-death-of-chuck-brown/ https://isthmus.com/arts/stage/gavin-dillon-lawrence-death-of-chuck-brown/ Wed, 09 Jul 2025 20:30:00 -0000 Hannah Jo Anderson Isthmus Staff Oberon Jagodinski’s drone shot of the Fools’ Flotilla features one of Madison’s fun summertime events from a dramatic angle. https://isthmus.com/news/front-page/behind-the-isthmus-cover-july-2025/ https://isthmus.com/news/front-page/behind-the-isthmus-cover-july-2025/ Wed, 09 Jul 2025 18:00:00 -0000 Ovjphotography Linda Falkenstein Is it a cookbook? An art book? A lifestyle manifesto? ‘The Watercolor Feast’ is a delightful combo of all three. https://isthmus.com/arts/books/eat-the-still-life-erin-gleeson/ https://isthmus.com/arts/books/eat-the-still-life-erin-gleeson/ Wed, 09 Jul 2025 17:00:00 -0000 Isthmus Staff Editors, designers, publishers and revenue teams are convening in Madison to discuss how to succeed and grow as local, independent media outlets. https://isthmus.com/news/news/isthmus-welcome-aan-publishers-convention-to-madison/ https://isthmus.com/news/news/isthmus-welcome-aan-publishers-convention-to-madison/ Tue, 08 Jul 2025 20:00:00 -0000 Each month Community Shares of Wisconsin presents the Backyard Hero Award to organizations and people making change happen in our community. This month’s hero is Katherine Bellow. https://isthmus.com/sponsored/community-shares-of-wisconsin-backyard-hero-katherine-bellow/ https://isthmus.com/sponsored/community-shares-of-wisconsin-backyard-hero-katherine-bellow/ Tue, 08 Jul 2025 15:00:00 -0000 Linda Falkenstein There are businesses you’d never guess are operating quietly out of people’s Madison homes. This is the story of a basement bookseller. https://isthmus.com/news/snapshot/pauls-in-perpetuity/ https://isthmus.com/news/snapshot/pauls-in-perpetuity/ Tue, 08 Jul 2025 13:00:00 -0000 Tommy Washbush Jessica Becker The Wisconsin Triennial, at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art through Sept. 14, is more than a showcase of 24 working artists from around the state. This exhibition challenges visitors to connect with modern art in new ways. https://isthmus.com/arts/wisconsin-triennial-2025-mmoca-review/ https://isthmus.com/arts/wisconsin-triennial-2025-mmoca-review/ Tue, 08 Jul 2025 13:00:00 -0000 Mariah Moneda Steven Walters Significant gains by Democratic candidates in Wisconsin’s new electoral districts gave Democrats newfound influence over the state budget. https://isthmus.com/news/news/new-wisconsin-legislative-districts-led-to-bipartisan-budget/ https://isthmus.com/news/news/new-wisconsin-legislative-districts-led-to-bipartisan-budget/ Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:00:00 -0000 Freepik Janet Clear The heart of this production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is the play-within-the-play. https://isthmus.com/arts/stage/american-players-theatre-midsummer-nights-dream-2025-review/ https://isthmus.com/arts/stage/american-players-theatre-midsummer-nights-dream-2025-review/ Mon, 07 Jul 2025 15:00:00 -0000 Michael Brosilow Judith Davidoff Even before federal funding cuts seemed imminent, public media has been struggling. https://isthmus.com/opinion/from-the-editor/a-time-of-upheaval-for-public-media/ https://isthmus.com/opinion/from-the-editor/a-time-of-upheaval-for-public-media/ Mon, 07 Jul 2025 15:00:00 -0000 Jim Gill / WPR Dave Cieslewicz Under the settlement in House v. NCAA, universities can pay all of their players in all sports collectively up to about $20.5 million per year. The settlement was supposed to go into effect on July 1, but is now on appeal. https://isthmus.com/opinion/citizen-dave/bucky-needs-a-union/ https://isthmus.com/opinion/citizen-dave/bucky-needs-a-union/ Mon, 07 Jul 2025 14:15:00 -0000 Tommy Washbush / Freepik Steven Potter ‘Greg Marshall Pops Out of the Trees’ tells the story of what was set in motion on one nearly-catastrophic night. https://isthmus.com/arts/stage/greg-marshall-stories-of-a-life/ https://isthmus.com/arts/stage/greg-marshall-stories-of-a-life/ Mon, 07 Jul 2025 13:00:00 -0000 Isthmus Staff Picks for July 7-10 also includes Fête de Marquette, which gets rolling on Thursday; soprano Angela Brown joins the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra for Concerts on the Square. https://isthmus.com/arts/isthmus-madison-picks-july-7-to-10-2025/ https://isthmus.com/arts/isthmus-madison-picks-july-7-to-10-2025/ Mon, 07 Jul 2025 10:07:00 -0000 Joan Marcus Linda Falkenstein Cafe MiMi is Korean street food meets comfort food, served where Allen Street meets Regent Street. https://isthmus.com/food-drink/reviews/grab-fun-korean-street-food-at-cafe-mimi/ https://isthmus.com/food-drink/reviews/grab-fun-korean-street-food-at-cafe-mimi/ Sat, 05 Jul 2025 13:00:00 -0000 Tommy Washbush Steven Potter Organizers say the festival gives young people an outlet to help them process some of their angst and emotion. https://isthmus.com/arts/arts-beat/brave-new-voices-to-be-held-in-madison/ https://isthmus.com/arts/arts-beat/brave-new-voices-to-be-held-in-madison/ Fri, 04 Jul 2025 20:30:00 -0000 Matt Weinberger Michael Siebers Retired VA doctor Michael Siebers warns that the Veterans Health Administration is in a ‘crisis,’ with federal cuts to staff and services negatively impacting veteran care. https://isthmus.com/opinion/opinion/save-the-va/ https://isthmus.com/opinion/opinion/save-the-va/ Fri, 04 Jul 2025 15:00:00 -0000 Tommy Washbush Julia Richards Hosting community events draws a range of people into the expansive former sugar beet factory. It’s a deliberate strategy to support the 15 local businesses that call Garver home. https://isthmus.com/news/community/community-gatherings-and-private-events-garver-feed-mil/ https://isthmus.com/news/community/community-gatherings-and-private-events-garver-feed-mil/ Fri, 04 Jul 2025 13:00:00 -0000 Kristin Shafel