Listen Now

On the podcast today, important COVID and vaccine news at both the federal and local level. Plus, a local soul food institution is fundraising for a new van because the old Ford Explorer just isn't cutting it for a growing catering and delivery business.

As Minneapolis braces for the trial of the officers who killed George Floyd, the city backs off of a plan to pay "influencers" to keep the story positive. Plus, a Flamingo is getting a chance to shine on the major league stage, and COVID numbers are looking pretty good. 

On the podcast today, we talk Minari, cord management, International Women's Day, Men's Leadership Summit & COVID.

Mt Zion Baptist Church is launching a stimulus program of its own, and American Family is investing in small businesses on Madison's South Side. Plus, bad news for Dane County teachers as vaccines will be delayed at least two weeks.

Two members of the Sustainable Madison Committee resigned yesterday after the co-chairs made remarks that demonstrated “the typical well meaning white liberal kind of paternalistic type of racism.” On the podcast today we talk through what those remarks were and why they're problematic. Plus, One City Schools is expanding and COVID numbers went up slightly -- should we be worried?

On the podcast today: a local dance company is fundraising to make it through the pandemic and move into a new studio space. Plus, COVID stats continue to head in the right direction, but people with health issues still aren't prioritized for vaccinations. 

You can learn and play an ancient Indigenous game this Friday, thanks to the Ho-Chunk Nation's Cultural Preservation Office, the City of Madison Parks Department and Alder Arvin Martin. Plus, encouraging trends in the COVID numbers, and what happens when there's too much Madison365 merch lying around the house. (Embarrassing photo here.)

Today, we wrap up the National Guardian Life Insurance Company Black History Month series with a look at some of Madison's historic Black musicians. Plus, an important event to think about the future of Blackness in the United States and some concerning COVID developments on the UW campus.

The B.1.1.7 variant has arrived in Dane County. What does that mean? Plus, the movement to erect a statue of Vel Phillips on the Capitol grounds got a big boost yesterday and we have a profile of new Kids Forward CEO Michele Mackey.

A white candidate for state school superintendent said on Twitter that she'd been called the n-word ... and when criticized, blocked Black activists and ultimately deleted her twitter account. On the podcast today, we break down why all of that is problematic. Plus, a big fundraiser is set for this weekend and COVID stats are ... not terrible.

The legislature is finally passing some bills, but they're pro-COVID and likely to be vetoed. Plus, an inspiring story of a Madison woman who's overcome disability and inspired other kids to do the same, and local primary election results.

The Sun Prairie Saga continues. The latest details are now on Madison365, but the gist is that the fallout continues after a deeply hurtful question made its way into a sixth-grade class and the school district struggles to respond. We have the latest on disparaging emails, private apologies and why it all matters. Plus, a local nonprofit is making grants to women for self-care and the latest COVID numbers look pretty good.

Trump was unable to tweet his reaction, but we imagine he's pleased to have been acquitted by a minority of the US Senate. Plus, Faustina Bohling is running for Sun Prairie City Council and Wisconsin Watch has a deep dive on COVID in Wisconsin prisons.

A new video game, developed by a UW-Stout student, allows kids to experience Ojibwe culture. Plus, we have a profile of radio host and Renaissance man Tarik Moody and a story about two men running from Milwaukee to Madison to raise awareness of COVID ravaging Wisconsin's prisons.

It's the second day of the impeachment trial, and the Dems are putting on quite a show. Plus, International Festival is going virtual and Madison is going back to school.

We have an update on the Sun Prairie school district situation -- after an assignment asking kids how they would punish a slave sparked outrage, the school district said they had a partnership with the YWCA, which they did not -- and some analysis of why, exactly, that's a problem. Plus, some happier news: lots of fun and important events coming up, including two live streams on our own Facebook page from Milwaukee Film.

Caught in a lie? Sun Prairie school officials said they're in consultation with YWCA and other organizations to do restorative work following the February 1 lesson asking students to imagine how they would punish a slave. But the CEO of the YWCA Madison says that's just not true. Plus, it's Impeachment Trial Part 2, and Dane County has a new COVID order, easing restrictions on gathering.

The second installment of the National Guardian Life Insurance Company Black History Month series highlights some of the Madison area's trailblazing Black women: the first to graduate UW, the first to serve as a police officer, the first to serve as a firefighter, the first to be elected mayor. Plus, BMO Harris Bank's five year, $5 billion initiative to invest in Black and Latino-owned businesses is underway. Anthony Hudson and Raquel Filmanowicz from BMO join the show to share some details.

We're trying to make sense of the mask mandate back-and-forth between the governor and the state legislature. Plus, a progressive beer is being sold in conservative territory, thanks to a partnership with the Lac du Flambeau, and the COVID situation continues to improve.

The Golden Globes made at least one big mistake in failing to nominate the HBO sensation "I Will Destroy You," demonstrating once again the place of Black women in Hollywood. Plus, a local Black leader has been given a new lease on life through the governor's pardon and another took a big step up in the mostly-white world of architecture.