Opinion
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Freepik
Density backlash underway in Madison
The rhetoric against growth in Madison reflects a fundamentally anti-urban, back-to-the-land kind of vibe. Read more
Tommy Washbush / Freepik assets
Chill the Madison referendums
Local governments in Madison have to back off from the referendums they’re considering for the November ballot. Or risk helping elect Donald Trump for president. Read more
Jun 20, 2024
The mess at the Wisconsin Department of Corrections
The Dodge County Sheriff has filed charges against recently retired Waupun prison warden Randall Hepp and eight of his staff members in the deaths of two inmates. But the state’s top administrators need to explain how the alleged abuse happened. Read more
Jun 13, 2024
Teacher’s lounge
“That’s when I decided that the teachers’ lounge is like a cruise ship where, once you get into international waters, you can do anything you want.” Read more
Jun 11, 2024
Pittsburgh Institute for Nonprof
Journalist scores win in lawsuit over public employee gag rule
In an apparent first, a journalist has successfully sued a public agency over its policy prohibiting employees from speaking to reporters without permission. Read more
Jun 10, 2024
Tommy Washbush / Freepik assets
Tweak to dog-bite law improves public safety
The city and county recently approved amendments that allow humane officers to require that dogs who bite other dogs or people be physically restrained when outside, or their owners could be fined up to $500. Read more
Jun 9, 2024
Tommy Washbush / Freepik assets
UW athletics can afford fairness
In a recent historic settlement of an antitrust case, college sports programs agreed to pay their athletes up to $21 million a year. They also agreed to pay damages of $2.8 billion to some former athletes. It’s a good start but could go further. Read more
Jun 5, 2024
Tommy Washbush / Freepik assets
Build despite the F-35 noise
Dane County needs to produce about 7,000 housing units every year just to keep up with demand and we’re currently producing only 5,000. Read more
May 29, 2024
2:30 PM
Tommy Washbush
City of Madison budget crisis averted?
The city was estimating a large budget hole for 2025. But when the books were closed for 2023 it turned out the city was about $31 million in the black. You can thank inflation. Read more
May 15, 2024
9:00 AM
Climbing the rock
“Hidden from sight, I was on my own. Standing on the relatively flat base of the rock, I gazed at the ocean, the endless surge of water so lonely and awe-inspiring.” Read more
May 8, 2024
8:00 AM
Tommy Washbush
Starving Wisconsin’s public universities is not the answer
Years of defunding the UW System have laid the groundwork for implementation of Republicans’ higher education agenda. Read more
May 7, 2024
2:00 PM
Tom Krueger / WPR
Change ‘for the long haul’
WPR director Sarah Ashworth says that the restructuring, a product of a two-year planning process, does not change the station’s mission which is still to 'inform and inspire and to build communities throughout Wisconsin and the world.' Read more
May 3, 2024
10:00 AM
Tammy Baldwin for Senate
In praise of pork
Tammy Baldwin is a master at bringing home the bacon. She even touts it on her own website. Read more
May 1, 2024
7:00 PM
In the June/SummerTimes issue
Pedal, paddle, proceed to Paoli
Investments in restoring this historic Dane County community are paying off Read more
Journalist scores win in lawsuit over public employee gag rule
In an apparent first, a journalist has successfully sued a public agency over its policy prohibiting employees from speaking to reporters without permission. Read more
Election denialist ties up courts
Peter Bernegger has filed some 20 cases charging elections officials with fraud. All that have been adjudicated have been dismissed in court. He also faces a $10,000 fine or more than three years in prison in an ongoing criminal case. Read more
Get thee to an outdoor theater production
Despite the possible impediments of unexpected downpours, swarms of mosquitoes, and the occasional threatening bat, there is something magical about watching the (metaphorical) curtain rise as the sun sets. Read more
Behind the Isthmus cover: June 2024
Madison-based designer and illustrator Christina King says she has an ‘unhealthy obsession with chairs,’ with two vintage lawn chairs among her collection. The humble lawn chair stars in her June 2024 Isthmus cover illustration. Read more
