News
Friends of San Damiano
Dining on Lake Monona?
The Monona City Council has approved a plan to turn the 1893 historic Frank Allis house and the land around it into a destination.
Who wants to be the next UW system prez?
A letter from a would-be applicant for UW system president.
Apr 20, 2026
Lizzy Larson
Gallery: Attempted 'open rescue' of beagles at Ridglan Farms
Tear gas was deployed on hundreds of animal activists and protesters at the Blue Mounds facility.
Apr 19, 2026
Liam Beran
Centro to establish tech, workforce development hub with $3 million grant
The nonprofit has responded to the second Trump administration with a legal defense fund. But it’s also trying to build up resources to promote workforce development for the Latinx community.
Apr 17, 2026
Lauren Hafeman
TLC for caregivers
SPARK!, a free Arts for All Wisconsin program, provides cultural and artistic activities for people with memory loss and their caregivers.
Apr 14, 2026
Focal Flame Photography
Neighbors raise concerns over Olbrich Gardens expansion plans
Friends of Olbrich Park will hold a neighborhood meeting April 14 on proposed expansion plans for Olbrich Gardens.
Apr 13, 2026
Lizzy Larson
How Evers' plan to issue commutations works
Gov. Tony Evers is creating an advisory panel to recommend commutations, a ‘form of executive clemency that reduces an individual’s punishment — most often by shortening a prison sentence.’
Apr 13, 2026
Liam Beran
Neutral sells Bakers Place for $37 million, pays mural artist
After selling its Bakers Place property, Madison developer Neutral is finally getting around to paying its bills.
Apr 11, 2026
8:00 AM
Tommy Washbush
Isthmus to celebrate 50 with Ben Sidran, New Breed Quintet, Mama Digdown's
Isthmus 50 Fest takes over Atwood Music Hall on April 18 with a musical party, followed by an April 21 trivia night at the High Noon Saloon.
Apr 10, 2026
11:45 AM
Chali Pittman
Two Dane County incumbents booted, five newcomers to step in
All 37 Dane County Board seats were on the April 7 ballot, but just a third were competitive.
Apr 8, 2026
12:15 PM
Chali Pittman
‘How the next generation is gonna win’
Huma Ahsan loses to incumbent Dane County Judge Ben Jones. But she takes comfort in bringing people of color into the political process.
Apr 8, 2026
11:45 AM
Two new members join Madison city council: school board incumbents survive challenges
Noah Lieberman and Ellen Zhang will join the city council; incumbents Nicki Vander Meulen and Blair Mosner Feltham will remain on the school board.
Apr 8, 2026
9:55 AM
Liam Beran
The Wisconsin GOP puts up little fight as Chris Taylor cruises to victory
Taylor didn’t just win in reliably blue counties; she won handily in red ones such as Jefferson and Ozaukee.
Apr 8, 2026
9:00 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.
