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On December 2nd, the Wisconsin Legislative Black Caucus elected Assembly District 77 Representative Shelia Stubbs as caucus chair.  Stubbs, who represents Madison’s south side, now becomes the first chair from Dane County since the Caucus began in 1955. Shelia Stubbs The post Wisconsin Legislative Black Caucus Gears Up for New Session appeared first on WORT 89.9 FM.

Currently based in D.C. but born and raised in Madison, David Goodfriend is the chairman and founder of the Sports Fan Coalition whose goal is to “to give you a seat at the table whenever laws or public policy impacting sports are being made.” David is bringing his new live TV streaming app, Locast, to Madison just in time for the Packers’ Divisional Playoff. Photo by Phillip Goldsberry on Unsplash The post David Goodfriend on new local TV streaming app, Locast. appeared first on WORT 89.9 FM.

A recent article in Wisconsin Watch— “We’re not going to be quiet; disability community in Wisconsin demands better access to voting” by Nora Eckert, published earlier this week, shows just how difficult voting can be for disabled people, and casts some light on why Wisconsin is ranked 44th of all the states in the disability gap—the turnout of people without disabilities compared to those with disabilities. The article in Wisconsin Watch spotlights interviews with a number of experts and disabled voters. Representative Jimmy Anderson, a member of the Wisconsin Assembly, representing the 47th district, is featured in the article. He joins us on the line to discuss disability and voting rights. Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash The post Representative Jimmy Anderson on disability and voting rights. appeared first on WORT 89.9 FM.

Many were pleased when President Trump’s Twitter and Facebook and other social media accounts were locked, due to his inflammatory rhetoric. But others are concerned about the power of these large monopolies to regulate “free speech” with little or no oversight. Thomas Hanna, Director of Research at the Democracy Collaborative and author of the book “Our Common Wealth: The Return of Public Ownership in the United States”, has written about this issue and thinks that public “democratic ownership” of these companies may be the answer. The post On big corporations regulating “free” speech appeared first on WORT 89.9 FM.

Patrick Rosentiel favors a presidential election where every vote is valued and every voter feels valued. Do you? The current Electoral College process is a state-by-state “winner take all” process, where solid “red states” and solid “blue states” are largely ignored by candidates, favoring campaigns focusing on swing states where the votes are close enough to be affected. The “National Vote Interstate Compact” is working toward making the Electoral College candidate numbers reflect the popular vote. The post One person, one vote for president — can it happen? appeared first on WORT 89.9 FM.

Clarence Lusane, Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Howard University speaks with Jan Miasaki about the recent government take-over attempt at the Capitol building, escalating random attacks of African Americans in Washington, D.C., and the increasing boldness of white nationalist groups since Trump’s election and fiery rhetoric to his base supporters. The post Lusane: Two-pronged white nationalist attack on the U.S. appeared first on WORT 89.9 FM.

Today on the Tuesday 8:00 Buzz with Damita Brown (in exile)… UW-Madison’s Dr. Christy Clark-Pujara, Associate Professor of History in the Department of Afro-American Studies joins for the whole hour to talk about Slavery and it’s legacy, her book, “Dark Work: The Business of Slavery” and her current work, a new book, “Slavery to Suffrage: Black on the Wisconsin Frontier” examining slavery and black settlement in Wisconsin. Photo from UW-Madison The post Slavery to Suffrage with Dr. Christy Clark-Pujara appeared first on WORT 89.9 FM.

On Friday, January 6th, the newly sworn-in 117th U.S. Congress undertook the normally ceremonial task of certifying the votes of the Electoral College for the 2020 Presidential Election. This year, however, was anything but normal.  Hundreds of Republican representatives and senators were prepared to object to the certification. Earlier in the day, President Trump spoke to thousands assembled for a “Save America” rally, where the lame-duck President insisted he “would never concede,” and urged his followers to “fight like hell,” and “march on the Capitol.”  Many did exactly that, overwhelming Capitol Police and stormed into the Capitol building, carrying firearms, zip-tie handcuffs, flags and spears.  Many in the crowd tweeted that they were out to kill. At least 5 people died in the chaos, including 4 rioters and 1 police officer.  A second police officer committed suicide the day after.  In the aftermath of the insurrection, the call has been raised to bring to immediate justice not only the rioters, but also those who aided and abetted them, including President Trump.  Joining us now to discuss the legal options available to Congress and others is Howard Schweber, Professor of Political Science and Law at the University of Wisconsin. Howard Schweber Capitol riot photo by TapTheForwardAssist The post Legal Options for Removing Trump appeared first on WORT 89.9 FM.

Canadian mining company Aquila Resources has proposed an 80-acre open pit copper, zinc, gold and silver mine, near the Wisconsin / Michigan Upper Peninsula border.  Dubbed the “Back Forty Mine,” the extraction pit would operate immediately adjacent to the Menominee River, home to the Menominee Tribe.  The Menominee Tribe challenged environmental permits issued for the site by the State of Michigan. On January 4th, Michigan Administrative Law Judge Daniel Pulter denied the wetland permits for the Back Forty Mine, ruling that the project is not in the public interest.  Allison Werner is the Policy & Advocacy Director at River Alliance of Wisconsin. Allison Werner The post Back Forty Mine Permit Denied appeared first on WORT 89.9 FM.

On his way out the door, President Trump has handed fossil fuel industries and other polluters an enormous gift.  After years of wrangling, the EPA’s so-called “secret science” rule went into effect on January 6, 2021.  The rule mandates that scientists make public all data used for studies that become the basis for environmental regulations.  Sounds innocuous enough.  But the impact of the rule may make it impossible to do serious epidemiological research and could severely hamper the EPA’s ability to regulate pollutants.  Gabriel Filippelli is the Director of the Center for Urban Health and Professor of Earth Sciences at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Gabriel Filippelli The post EPA “Secret Science” Rule Curbs Public Health Research appeared first on WORT 89.9 FM.

A 50-year anniversary is a BIG deal — and that’s just what Operation FreshStart is celebrating this year — 50 years of service to area youth, ages 16-24, to help give them direction and a path to success. Over 9000 youth have experienced the learning skills, work ethic, and personal charge teachings of Operation FreshStart. They will have 5-day virtual celebration of their successes with on-line lunch conferences starting this Friday, September 18th. The post Operation FreshStart: Celebrating 50 years of service to area youth appeared first on WORT 89.9 FM.

To protect Wisconsin waterways from agricultural runoff, PFAS and other “forever chemicals”, flooding, and other assaults has been the challenge of the River Alliance of Wisconsin. Executive Director Raj Shulka talks about the group’s efforts to strengthen rules, enforcement, and inter-county cooperation to protect Wisconsin’s waters. See their “Water Agenda” on their website. The post Protecting Wisconsin waters: River Alliance of WI appeared first on WORT 89.9 FM.

Damita Brown talks with: Evan Hafenbreadl from Dane County Humane Society about Pets for Life and providing support to those in need caring for pets and their Pet Food Pantries. Tana Elias from Madison Public Library about the work the library is doing teaming up with the census and helping people be sure to be counted Award-winning documentary photographer Laylah Amatullah Barrayn about her work, opportunities for young artists, and her Visiting Artist Colloquium with UW-Madison Arts Department, 5-6:15PM on 9/16. Photo by Alexander Andrews on Unsplash The post Count Your Animal Photos! appeared first on WORT 89.9 FM.

Every year like clockwork, we start hearing stories about “unprecedented” wildfires in the North American West.   One million acres in Oregon and 3 and 1/2 million acres in California are now on fire. In San Francisco, cinder and ash have turned the skies a hellish red. At least 23 people have died, dozens more are missing and well over 3,000 homes have been destroyed this fire season. The damage is not just limited to California and Oregon. At least 10 western states have major blazes underway at the current time. If it seems like things are getting worse, well, you’re right. According to the Monitoring Trends and Burn Severity program, since 2015, there have been a hundred more large wildfires every single year. Richard C. Keller’s a professor of history and bioethics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has written a book called Fatal Isolation: The Devastating Paris Heat Wave of 2003 and is currently working on a global history of the environment. Richard C. Keller The post Wildfires: The New Normal appeared first on WORT 89.9 FM.

In 1943, Russian British Economist Abba Lerner wrote a paper entitled functional finance and the federal debt, in which he argued that governments should spend whatever is necessary for Full Employment. Lerner’s work received little notice in the years after its publication, and especially beginning in the 1980s when big government spending fell out of favor. More recently though, Australian Economist Bill Mitchell has revived and updated Lerner’s ideas into what is now called Modern Monetary Theory. Today, Progressive politicians, such as  New York Congress representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, are betting big on Modern Monetary Theory as a way to pay for programs like the green New Deal. More by necessity than by design, relief programs under the coronavirus pandemic are now putting Modern Monetary Theory to the test. Steven Pressman is a Professor of Economics at Colorado State University. Steven Pressman The post Does the Government Need to Worry About Balancing Its Checkbook? appeared first on WORT 89.9 FM.

Tipped workers, such as restaurant servers, are commonly paid a $2.13 federally mandated minimum wage and are expected to make more on tips — but because their paychecks show such a low wage, they are commonly denied unemployment compensation, according to Nikki Cole from One Fair Wage. Only 7 states have a “one fair minimum wage” for tipped service workers, and One Fair Wage is working to change that or get them compensation during the COVID-19 crisis. The post One Fair Wage battles for COVID relief for service workers appeared first on WORT 89.9 FM.

One of the largest African mass burial grounds, the Moses African Cemetery in Bethesda (Montgomery County), is under threat of being paved over by a self-storage company. This sacred ground is the final resting place for hundreds of unmarked and unnamed remains of those who died in the slave trade era in the U.S. The Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition wants these grounds preserved and returned to the Macedonia Baptist Church. The post Coleman Adebayo: Moses Cemetery of african remains is being desecrated... appeared first on WORT 89.9 FM.

Jubilee USA Network is an interfaith group which works on the debt, tax, transparency and trade policies that impact our lives, communities and world. Eric LeCompte, Executive Director, discusses two recent meetings, the Federal and Central Banks Retreat and a UN COVID-19 Relief meeting, with the potential of 400 million jobs being lost around the world and potential loss of decades of advancement in poor countries. The post Jubilee USA Network works internationally for economic and COVID relie... appeared first on WORT 89.9 FM.

Community Shares of Wisconsin is the oldest social action fund in the country, dating back almost 50 years. Cheri Dubiel, Executive Director, shares some of the work the organization and its 70 member non-profits have done to support systemic change of social inequities, and talks about the annual “Change Maker Award Event“, being held virtually this year on Thursday, September 17th at 5PM. Photo: John Urban The post Community Shares of WI: Celebrating Change Makers appeared first on WORT 89.9 FM.

Back in March, Wisconsin governor Tony Evers issued an eviction moratorium  related to the covid-19 pandemic. That moratorium lasted until May, one of the first state moratoriums to expire. Since then, housing advocates have seen spikes in evictions  across the state, but particularly in Milwaukee. Now the federal Center for Disease Control has issued a nationwide eviction moratorium. How much help will it be to people who have lost income as a result of the pandemic? Katy Ramsey Mason is a professor of Law and director of the medical legal Partnership Clinic at the University of Memphis. The Conversation | What the CDC eviction ban means for tenants and landlords: 6 questions answered Katy Ramsey Mason The post CDC Eviction Moratorium Falls Short appeared first on WORT 89.9 FM.