https://isthmus.com/news/index.rss Isthmus : Madison, Wisconsin : News, Analysis 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Liam Beran Homeownership and affordable housing will become more accessible under a new package, city officials argue. https://isthmus.com/news/news/du-plex-the-right-thing-city-officials-urge/ https://isthmus.com/news/news/du-plex-the-right-thing-city-officials-urge/ Fri, 04 Jul 2025 12:00:00 -0000 Liam Beran Liam Beran Everyone loves Madison’s free music events. But the organizations behind them say additional support is needed to keep their finances stable. https://isthmus.com/news/cover-story/scraping-by/ https://isthmus.com/news/cover-story/scraping-by/ Thu, 03 Jul 2025 13:00:00 -0000 Lizzy Larson Liam Beran Five years after the COVID lockdown, business in downtown Madison is booming. But with that growth comes inevitable pains. https://isthmus.com/news/cover-story/downtown-madison-fills-out/ https://isthmus.com/news/cover-story/downtown-madison-fills-out/ Thu, 03 Jul 2025 13:00:00 -0000 Lizzy Larson Bill Lueders Justice Ann Walsh Bradley is retiring from the Wisconsin Supreme Court at the end of July after 30 years of service. https://isthmus.com/news/news/justice-ann-walsh-bradley-reflects-on-30-years-of-service/ https://isthmus.com/news/news/justice-ann-walsh-bradley-reflects-on-30-years-of-service/ Thu, 03 Jul 2025 13:00:00 -0000 Tatiana Shirasaki Maeghan Chase Wisconsin Watch A student journalist uncovered examples of late-night texts, free rides, and sharing of police intel to help students avoid bar raids. https://isthmus.com/news/news/UW-Madison-investigates-police-officer/ https://isthmus.com/news/news/UW-Madison-investigates-police-officer/ Thu, 03 Jul 2025 11:00:00 -0000 Tommy Washbush Judith Davidoff Liam Beran The Wisconsin Supreme Court has struck down the state’s 1849 criminal abortion ban, but current restrictions remain in place. https://isthmus.com/news/news/abortion-ruled-legal-in-wisconsin-but-threats-remain/ https://isthmus.com/news/news/abortion-ruled-legal-in-wisconsin-but-threats-remain/ Wed, 02 Jul 2025 17:20:00 -0000 Liam Beran Liam Beran Madison officials have recently pushed for additional funding for the program, which hasn’t seen a funding increase since 2003. https://isthmus.com/news/news/madison-could-see-3-million-boost-in-municipal-services-payments/ https://isthmus.com/news/news/madison-could-see-3-million-boost-in-municipal-services-payments/ Tue, 01 Jul 2025 20:05:00 -0000 Kaya / Flickr Steven Walters On July 1 Justice Jill Karofsky will have made the jump from associate justice to chief justice — the top administrator and public face of Wisconsin’s court system — in just five years. https://isthmus.com/news/news/jill-karofskys-climb-to-WI-Supreme-Ct-chief/ https://isthmus.com/news/news/jill-karofskys-climb-to-WI-Supreme-Ct-chief/ Mon, 30 Jun 2025 19:00:00 -0000 Emilie Heidemann Country music fans flock to the first concert at Camp Randall since 1997, featuring Morgan Wallen. https://isthmus.com/news/news/Morgen-wallen-Madison-more-intense-than-any-football-game/ https://isthmus.com/news/news/Morgen-wallen-Madison-more-intense-than-any-football-game/ Sun, 29 Jun 2025 17:30:00 -0000 Emilie Heidemann Liam Beran The UW System requested $856 million from the state over the next two years. Republicans are unlikely to fulfill that amount. https://isthmus.com/news/news/professors-wary-as-another-uw-budget-battle-rages/ https://isthmus.com/news/news/professors-wary-as-another-uw-budget-battle-rages/ Thu, 26 Jun 2025 12:00:00 -0000 Liam Beran The area near the Capitol has long been subject to concerns around public safety. https://isthmus.com/news/news/city-planners-unveil-designs-for-top-of-state-street/ https://isthmus.com/news/news/city-planners-unveil-designs-for-top-of-state-street/ Wed, 25 Jun 2025 20:15:00 -0000 City of Madison Steven Walters Wisconsin justices have continued drawing attention to the growing threats against appointed and elected public officials. https://isthmus.com/news/news/wisconsin-justices-have-called-for-more-security-measures/ https://isthmus.com/news/news/wisconsin-justices-have-called-for-more-security-measures/ Tue, 24 Jun 2025 14:00:00 -0000 David Michael Miller Esther Launstein One local nonprofit is forging ahead in the face of federal funding cuts. Wisconsin Humanities is taking a transparent approach, sharing plans about its 'hibernation' period. https://isthmus.com/news/news/wisconsin-humanities-charts-a-way-forward/ https://isthmus.com/news/news/wisconsin-humanities-charts-a-way-forward/ Fri, 20 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0000 Esther Launstein Judith Davidoff The roughly $29 million project would have demolished the current, one-story facility and redeveloped the building into five floors, with a new community center and housing units, some affordable. https://isthmus.com/news/news/the-alexander-company-out-on-neighborhood-house-rebuild/ https://isthmus.com/news/news/the-alexander-company-out-on-neighborhood-house-rebuild/ Tue, 17 Jun 2025 20:45:00 -0000 Tommy Washbush Steven Walters The eight-day Capitol dance, also known as budget negotiations, is well underway in Wisconsin. https://isthmus.com/news/news/capitol-progress-on-tax-cut-not-k-12-aids/ https://isthmus.com/news/news/capitol-progress-on-tax-cut-not-k-12-aids/ Tue, 17 Jun 2025 19:00:00 -0000 Tony for Wisconsin / Freepik Lizzy Larson Photographer Lizzy Larson was on the scene Saturday in downtown Madison for the 'No Kings' protest. https://isthmus.com/news/news/gallery-no-kings-protest-june-14-madison-wi/ https://isthmus.com/news/news/gallery-no-kings-protest-june-14-madison-wi/ Mon, 16 Jun 2025 21:30:00 -0000 Lizzy Larson Judith Davidoff Those with accessibility challenges or who are wary of crowds found an alternative way to join the "No Kings' protests against the Trump administration's policies in Madison. https://isthmus.com/news/news/have-walker-will-protest-in-Madison/ https://isthmus.com/news/news/have-walker-will-protest-in-Madison/ Sun, 15 Jun 2025 13:35:00 -0000 Amy Barrilleaux Esther Launstein The ‘No Kings’ protests across the country, including in Madison, were to “counter the idea that it's not just big city liberals who care” about the impacts of Trump policies, says Pamela Oliver, a professor emeritus at UW-Madison. https://isthmus.com/news/news/a-nationwide-intervention-madison-no-kings-rally/ https://isthmus.com/news/news/a-nationwide-intervention-madison-no-kings-rally/ Sun, 15 Jun 2025 13:30:00 -0000 Lizzy Larson Liam Beran John Schlueter and Mark Papko will lead the Department of Human Services and Dane County Regional Airport, respectively. https://isthmus.com/news/news/dane-county-director-for-human-services-and-airport-hired/ https://isthmus.com/news/news/dane-county-director-for-human-services-and-airport-hired/ Fri, 13 Jun 2025 21:00:00 -0000