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WORT Local News

WORT Local News presents alternative viewpoints in its news – both in the sources it uses and the stories it covers. Newscasts include local and state news, weather, and regular features. It aims to give underrepresented people a voice.

Madison, 1965 – Civil Rights

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Madison in the Sixties. Civil rights, 1965 In November, two great civil rights leaders come to campus. John Lewis, the 25-year-old national chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, speaks twice on the second — a noon rally on the Union steps, and an evening address in Great Hall. “Racism is embedded in the heart […]

Wisconsin DNR discovers 59 never-before-seen rare plant populations

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The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says almost sixty new populations of rare plants were discovered last year. The discoveries were made by the DNR’s volunteer-run Rare Plant Monitoring Program. Each year, volunteers throughout the state document and catalogue new populations of rare and endangered plants. Earlier today, WORT Producer Jonah Chester spoke with DNR […]

Madison Common Council votes to boot police from schools

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Last month, the Madison school board unanimously voted in favor of early termination of its contract with the Madison Police Department.  But, because the contract formally ends in 2022, the Common Council also needed to approve the early termination. And last night, in a nineteen to one vote, the council moved to do exactly that.  […]

Madison School Board Discusses Changes to Layoff Rules

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Last night, six of the seven members of the Madison Metropolitan School Board voted to delay changes  to new layoff procedures for educators — insisting district administrators and the teachers’ union work out a compromise. Board Vice President Ali Muldrow abstained from the vote.  The local teachers union — Madison Teachers Incorporated or M-T-I — […]

On with Heg’s head

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Yesterday, officials approved a resolution to restore two statues removed from the capitol building’s grounds during protests last month. The Wisconsin Capitol and Executive Residence Board, which oversees maintenance of the state capitol building and its grounds, voted unanimously yesterday to eventually restore the statues.  Now, Hans Christian Heg a union soldier and anti-slavery activist, […]

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