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Chali Pittman
All hail the repair shops
The hail stopped falling weeks ago, but the businesses helping residents recover are still buried and the supply chain is showing strain. Isthmus talks with the workers helping residents get back to normal.
What's New
Rhythm Records
Milwaukee’s Rap J to play his first Madison show
Over the years, the motivation to make music — and to push past being seen as disabled and prove he could succeed — changed.
May 8, 2026
Tommy Washbush
New faces headed to Madison Public Market
Construction on stall buildouts appears to be increasing and anticipation is high.
May 8, 2026
Behind the Isthmus cover — May 2026
You never know what you might find in a Little Free Library. Illustrator Eden Cunningham has some ideas.
May 8, 2026
Chali Pittman
All hail the repair shops
The hail stopped falling weeks ago, but the businesses helping residents recover are still buried and the supply chain is showing strain. Isthmus talks with the workers helping residents get back to normal.
May 8, 2026
Joe Timmerman / Wisconsin Watch
Parkour for seniors?
Wisconsin has the nation’s highest reported death rate from falls among older adults, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. But strength and movement training can prevent deadly falls.
May 7, 2026
Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs
How the Ridglan Farms beagles were saved
Two animal rights groups have a deal to buy 1,500 beagles from the controversial dog breeding and research facility in rural Dane County.
May 7, 2026
Tommy Washbush
Are trained tutors an answer to Madison’s reading crisis?
The Madison school district’s longtime tutoring program is set to sunset in June due to federal funding cuts. There are differing opinions on what should replace it.
May 7, 2026
Zoe Sullivan: Focal Flame / Campaign photos
Who’s going to replace Francesca Hong in the state Assembly?
The candidates for the 76th Assembly District have similar policy priorities: building more housing, investing in social safety nets, and opposing the Trump administration.
May 7, 2026
Chali Pittman
Hundreds line up for first look at the Center for Black Excellence and Culture
The Center opened its doors on April 6, celebrating with a ribbon-cutting and open house. Led by the Rev. Dr. Alex Gee, and his sister Lilada Gee, the Center is a forum for Black creativity, gathering and culture.
May 7, 2026
Riley Construction
What to do in Madison this weekend: May 7-10, 2026
Weekend picks also include the Troy Farm Plant Sale, which moves up the road this year to the Warner Park Duck Pond; Off the Record, a comedy fundraiser for The Badger Project.
May 7, 2026
'Winter Hymns’ run at Flix Brewhouse is extended
The extended run for ‘Winter Hymns’ at Flix is just the beginning.
May 6, 2026
John Diedrich / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Dan Bice held officials from both parties accountable
Dan Bice, one of Wisconsin’s best investigative journalists and writers, has died at 62 from esophageal cancer.
May 4, 2026
Lizzy Larson
Gallery: Immigrant rights rally in Madison responds to escalating attacks, due process violations
Milwaukee-based immigrant rights group Voces de la Frontera has been organizing the Day Without Immigrants march for 20 years.
May 1, 2026
8:30 PM
Dylan Brogan
Isthmus hires Chali Pittman as staff writer
Chali Pittman is Isthmus’ new staff writer. Liam Beran is leaving the paper to move to the Netherlands.
May 1, 2026
3:45 PM
Center for Black Excellence and Culture
'A space that feels like us, that looks like us'
The Center for Black Excellence and Culture opens on May 6, with new performing arts and gallery spaces.
May 1, 2026
8:00 AM
Cap Times reporters form union
The weekly publication’s reporters are forming a union in association with NewsGuild-CWA, the largest union for journalists in the country.
Apr 30, 2026
4:20 PM
moonjelly media
What to do in Madison this weekend: April 30-May 3, 2026
Weekend picks also include the kickoff to a month-long BlueStem Jazz residency by guitarist Kenny Reichert at North Street Cabaret; Madison Symphony Orchestra celebrates the tenure of retiring music director and conductor John DeMain.
Apr 30, 2026
5:01 AM
Courtesy Wonderporium.
Experimental ensemble Wonderporium will play an original score for ‘Strike’ at Giant Jones as a lead-in to May Day
Giant Jones Brewing aims to inspire community connection with its pro-worker 'Strike' screening.
Apr 27, 2026
8:00 PM
Richard Hurd via Wikipedia Richard Hurd
Conservative justices on Supreme Court ignored 2017 plea for recusal rule
The backstory to a new request from five retired Circuit Court judges to establish recusal rules for withdrawing from pending cases.
Apr 27, 2026
1:30 PM
OCP Photography
What to do in Madison this week: April 27-30, 2026
This week's picks also include a tour stop by the Chucho Valdés & Paquito D’Rivera Reunion Sextet; a book launch for James Cleary (aka James DeVita, American Players Theatre stalwart).
Apr 27, 2026
7:51 AM
Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs
Law enforcement officers accused of excessive force at Ridglan Farms
About 1,000 protesters showed up at Ridglan Farms on April 18 to free beagles held at the breeding and research facility. Witnesses say that law enforcement used inappropriate force in response.
Apr 24, 2026
11:00 AM
‘Winter Hymns’ to return to Flix Brewhouse with three encore screenings
Did you miss seeing 'Winter Hymns' at the Wisconsin Film Festival? Director Nathan Deming has created a slate of Wisconsin showings, with three more screenings at Flix Brewhouse.
Apr 23, 2026
11:15 AM
Camp Randall: Lectrician2 via WI
Let’s lease out Bucky
Why cling to the pretense that student-athletes are really also students?
Apr 23, 2026
9:00 AM
Francisco Torres
What to do in Madison this weekend: April 23-26, 2026
Weekend picks also include a 15th anniversary event for the Wisconsin Bail Out the People Movement; a World Premiere Wisconsin debut by Mercury Players Theatre.
Apr 23, 2026
5:03 AM
In the April issue
50 years and counting
Isthmus was founded in 1976 by Vince O’Hern and the late Fred Milverstedt. The first issue was eight pages long and featured a shot from the movie ‘Taxi Driver’ on the cover. It’s changed a lot over five decades.
50 Moments in 50 years
Madison has undergone enormous change since Isthmus published its first issue in April 1976 and the paper has chronicled that evolution with care and affection. Here are some of the stories from the last half-century of Isthmus coverage.
Making the news
Former news editor Bill Lueders on living up to his charge to make sure that ‘news-minded people find the paper worth reading.’
Welcome to arts heaven
Dean Robbins, who steered Isthmus’ cultural coverage for more than two decades, looks back on ‘arts-critic heaven.’
The way we were
Revisit Madison's past with a collection of Isthmus file photos from the '70s, '80s and '90s.
Newsies the Musical
Children's Theater of Madison, 5/2-17, Starlight Theater, at 2 & 7 pm Saturday and 1 & 6 pm Sunday, plus 7 pm, 5/15.
May 10, 2026
1:00 PM
SOLD OUT: Bill Charlap
Salon Piano Series concert, 7:30 pm on 5/9 and 2 pm, 5/10. $50 ($45 adv.; free masterclass 1 pm, 5/9).
May 10, 2026
2:00 PM
Madison Bach Musicians
"Princely Architects: Bach, Beethoven and Frank Lloyd Wright," 7:30 pm on 5/9 and 3 pm, 5/10. Lectures 45 minutes prior.
May 10, 2026
3:00 PM
UW-Madison Bridge Ensemble, Gerri DiMaggio, Ensemble Aubergine, Tony Casteñeda's Latin Jazz Band
"PjD Fest," celebrating UW professor Peter Dominguez's retirement. $20.
May 10, 2026
3:00 PM9:00 PM
