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Carolyn Fath Ashby
School district violates own policy with hidden surveillance cameras
Cameras hidden in hollowed-out smoke detectors were planted by district officials at East High School in a coach’s office in the boys’ locker room and a room where special needs students changed clothes. Read more
What's New
courtesy Lil Rail
A new Broom
A roundup of recent releases from Broom, Lil Rail and arel happening, plus the first "Queer Madison Mixtape" Read more
Feb 27, 2021
Carolyn Fath Ashby
School district violates own policy with hidden surveillance cameras
Cameras hidden in hollowed-out smoke detectors were planted by district officials at East High School in a coach’s office in the boys’ locker room and a room where special needs students changed clothes. Read more
Feb 24, 2021
Linda Falkenstein
More housing, less neighborhood input
Opinion | A pending proposal would give automatic approval to developments of up to 60 housing units that meet basic zoning requirements. After city review, permits could be issued without any need to go to the Plan Commission or meet with neighbors. Read more
Feb 24, 2021
Hedi LaMarr Photography
DRIFTing and Share-ing
Isthmus Picks for Feb. 25-March 4 includes livestream concerts by DRIFT and Nicholas Payton, Overture's International Festival, and more. Read more
Feb 24, 2021
Vinyl Cave: Reissues by Dwight Yoakam, k.d. lang and Iron City Houserockers
It's impossible to keep up with everything being reissued on LP these days. Vinyl Cave examines some recent pick-ups of note, including two first-time-on-vinyl albums by music legends. Read more
Feb 20, 2021
Courtesy YMCA
New role for the Y
“This need is not going away,” says the YMCA’s Jen Kruel. The organization went from zero to 60 in becoming a food provider as COVID-19 hit last spring. Read more
Feb 18, 2021
Skidmore survives
Ald. Paul Skidmore, first elected in 2001, faces his toughest race in years. He finished second in Tuesday’s primary to challenger Nikki Conklin; both will move on to the April 6 general election. Read more
Feb 17, 2021
courtesy PBS Wisconsin
Dreaming of spring
Isthmus Picks for Feb. 18-25 includes online editions of the Garden & Landscape Expo and Beloit International Film Festival, a livestream from Mars, and more. Read more
Feb 17, 2021
MattBritt00 is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Let’s make it “Hank Aaron Field”
Opinion | Aaron deserves more than to have his number retired (it already is) and a statue in front of the stadium (it’s already there). Read more
Feb 16, 2021
Kristian Knutsen (A Room of One's Own)
A new home for Room
A Room of One’s Own has been an institution at three locations in downtown Madison. It’s time to find stability in a new home, says co-owner Gretchen Treu. Read more
Feb 15, 2021
Judith Davidoff
Feeding the hungry
Some diehards turned out to frigid Lake Wingra to commemorate Grillin' 4 Peace, an annual fundraiser that raises money for a free meal program, even though the official fundraiser is largely online this year. Read more
Feb 13, 2021
State Line DIstillery
“Old fashioned” packages tied up with string
The concept of the take home cocktail kit came to the fore with the pandemic. Getting just the right amounts of the right ingredients makes sense. Read more
Feb 11, 2021
2:00 PM
The mayor won’t let us have any fun!
Opinion | Before killing the idea of removing buses from State Street and turning it into a pedestrian mall, how about forming a committee to hash out the issues? Read more
Feb 10, 2021
7:00 AM
courtesy Winter is Alive
Considering climate
Isthmus Picks for Feb. 11-18 includes Winter is Alive, a multi-disciplinary arts examination of our relationship to the planet; the Virtual Venue Love Fest Valentine's Day streaming concert; and more. Read more
Feb 10, 2021
5:01 AM
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Freedom is a constant struggle
Opinion | I choose to remember those moments in time that have uplifted us, that have awed us all with people’s bravery and resolve, and have shown us the ability of the human voice to pave the path for major change. Read more
Feb 9, 2021
12:00 PM
Table Wine/Maison Noir
Table Wine highlights Black winemakers
Black winemakers are not as rare as they used to be, but only a handful of these wineries are distributed in Wisconsin. Table Wine owner Molly Moran thinks it’s important to support these makers. Read more
Feb 4, 2021
2:00 PM
Jeff Miller
UW Arb lands landmark status
The UW Arboretum joins the Wisconsin state Capitol and the First Unitarian Society Meeting House as a National Historic Landmark. Read more about this local gem in a special issue from the Isthmus archives. Read more
Feb 3, 2021
12:00 PM
Todd Hubler
Reinvent State Street, again
Opinion | State Street was already struggling before COVID-19. But there are a couple of encouraging things on the horizon. Read more
Feb 3, 2021
8:45 AM
Andy Manis
Through all kinds of weather
Isthmus Picks for Feb. 4-11 includes plenty of outdoor fun at the Wisconsin Union's Winter Carnival, new livestream concert series Song Space, and more. Read more
Feb 3, 2021
6:01 AM
New face, same debate
During a one-on-one interview, Isthmus asks new Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes to weigh in on the call for more officers, a possible ban on tear gas, and building trust with community members who want to defund the police. Read more
Feb 2, 2021
3:02 PM
Vinyl Cave: "Money Jungle" by Duke Ellington
Considering Duke Ellington recorded for a multitude of labels, it's surprising he never had a contract with Blue Note. But the shifting sands of label ownership in the recording industry rectified that situation. Read more
Feb 2, 2021
6:01 AM
Keep your information safe this tax season
Data thieves work year-round to try to gain access to accounts, and are particularly busy during tax season. The IRS warns taxpayers that the agency is seeing a large increase in bogus email schemes that seek to steal money or tax data. Read more
Feb 1, 2021
9:31 AM
Mary Ellen Matthews
“It’s nice to have some good news for a change”
With hopes that safe gatherings can resume this fall, Overture Center announces it’s lost 2020-2021 season will be back next year; Gwendolyn Rice runs down the shows. Read more
Jan 29, 2021
2:37 PM
Favorite reads
And then there were two
It wasn't even close. Dave Mahoney, a 26-year veteran of the Dane County Sheriff's Office, easily trounced Robbie Lowery in the Democratic primary for Dane County sheriff. Read more
A swing through divided Wisconsin
President Donald Trump will likely need battleground Wisconsin to win re-election. Are voters in key swing areas of the state still backing him? Staff writer Dylan Brogan hit the road to find out. Read more
A stitch in time
Larry Schmitt is one of the few experts in nalbinding in the country. It predates knitting and crochet and dates back to 6500 B.C. Read more
After the purge
With a “Wisconsin is open for business” mantra, former Gov. Scott Walker and legislative Republicans set a course to dramatically diminish the role of science in regulating and protecting Wisconsin’s abundant natural resources. Read more
Vinyl Cave: A piece of 1970s Wisconsin musical history
Whatever the story is with these oddly-covered 1970s albums, they are all musically worthwhile. Read more
ONLINE: Karen Tidbeck
A Room of One's Own livestream, discussing "The Memory Theater," new book, with CL Polk, via Crowdcast. RSVP for link. Read more
Feb 28, 2021
2:00 PM
ONLINE: HUMP! Film Festival
Homemade, sex-positive films, curated by Dan Savage; premiere 10 pm, 1/30. $25 ($40 for access to virtual screening room with Savage). More livestreams 1/31-3/6; click through for ticket links/options. Read more
Feb 28, 2021
7:00 PM
ONLINE: Yosef Ben Israel, Luke Leavitt, Hanah Jon Taylor
Cafe Coda "Night of the Improvisor" livestream: cafecoda.club. Read more
Feb 28, 2021
7:00 PM
ONLINE: Todd Rundgren
Livestream concert specifically tailored to Madison/Milwaukee. $35. Read more
Feb 28, 2021
8:00 PM
ONLINE: Winter Arts Mosaic
Virtual variety show collaboration by Central Midwest Ballet, Madison Savoyards and Upstart Crows Productions, on demand from 9 am on 3/1 through 3/31. $18. Read more
Mar 1, 2021Mar 31, 2021
