Homepage
What's New
Tweak to dog-bite law improves public safety
Descr: The city and county recently approved amendments that allow 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
Summer freebies
Mad Town has so many free events in summer, it’s possible to fill every day with something fun without spending a dime. Each year we try to unearth a few gems you may not already know about. Read more
Jun 8, 2024
Snooze the day away
Take a vacation that rewards you with a good night’s sleep. You don’t have to travel far. Read more
Jun 8, 2024
Ask the experts
We asked the authors of a spate of new Wisconsin guidebooks for their favorite spots to visit. Read more
Jun 8, 2024
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
Jun 7, 2024
UW System internal briefing recommends downsizing remaining branch campuses
In internal briefing, UW System aims to downsize footprint of remaining branch campuses and renegotiate agreements with host counties. Read more
Jun 7, 2024
Passenger rail station at Webcrafters?
Madison looked at whether the site of the recently shuttered Sheridan Wisconsin, formerly known as Webcrafters, would work for a passenger rail station, but found ‘major rail operational problems.’ Read more
Jun 7, 2024
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
Jun 7, 2024
Northeast Madison gets new bike path
Construction will begin this month on a bike path in northeast Madison that will add a new pedestrian and bike bridge over Highway 30 and connect northeast Madison to downtown. Read more
Jun 7, 2024
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
Jun 7, 2024
Wandering here, then there
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has little to do with the 8,600-acre Kickapoo Valley Reserve nature preserve. Instead, the Kickapoo Reserve Management Board, mostly local residents, runs the show. Read more
Jun 7, 2024
West-side residents submit petition opposing Old Sauk Road redevelopment
Madison’s Plan Commission is expected to consider a conditional use permit for a new three-story, 138-unit apartment building on Old Sauk Road on June 10. Hundreds of area residents submitted a petition opposing the project. Read more
Jun 6, 2024
Coverage loss follows Medicaid eligibility checks
Just about a year ago, the federal government started requiring states to once again annually verify Medicaid recipients’ eligibility. Hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin residents have since lost coverage, many because of procedural issues. Read more
Jun 6, 2024
7:00 AM
Pedal, paddle, proceed to Paoli
Investments in restoring this historic Dane County community are paying off Read more
Jun 6, 2024
6:00 AM
Landmark Creamery finds a home in Paoli
Landmark founded Landmark Creamery in 2013. In 2017, looking to buy a second-hand walk-in cooler, she entered an empty storefront in Paoli and left with a completely different plan. Read more
Jun 6, 2024
6:00 AM
Paoli’s first tourists
The 25-mile out-and-back route has been a favorite of cyclists for decades. Read more
Jun 6, 2024
6:00 AM
Not only here for the beer
The Hop Garden taproom is often mentioned as having jump-started Paoli’s current vibrancy. Read more
Jun 6, 2024
6:00 AM
What to do in Madison this weekend: Plant + Krauss, Madison Jazz Festival and more Isthmus Picks
Picks for June 6-9 includes the Marquette Waterfront Festival; American Players Theatre is underway for the summer with 'Ring Round the Moon.' Read more
Jun 6, 2024
5:04 AM
Raising the bar
The vibrant mural was inspired by the women of the Ndebele tribe of South Africa, who cover the exterior walls of their homes with brilliant murals and ornate designs all done by hand. Read more
Jun 5, 2024
5:00 PM
City planners share their vision on west-side Madison walking tour
Walking with Isthmus, city planners pointed out areas where Madison could add more density or mixed uses in future development to create more walkable neighborhoods. But some of those plans have already changed after pushback from residents. Read more
Jun 5, 2024
2:00 PM
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
1:30 PM
One-fourth of Wisconsin Assembly will be new lawmakers
Why the extensive turnover in what has been called the People's House? The first legislative district maps in 12 years that weren’t drawn only by Republicans. Read more
Jun 3, 2024
12:30 PM
What to do in Madison this week: Jenny Don't & the Spurs, Libby Fischer Hellmann and more Isthmus Picks
Isthmus Picks for June 3-6 includes a reception for a new exhibit celebrating five years of the Women Artists Forward Fund; a tour stop by former Skid Row vocalist Sebastian Bach. Read more
Jun 3, 2024
5:07 AM
Dessa, Fantastic Cat to headline 2024 Orton Park Festival
The Minneapolis singer, rapper and writer has recorded with the Minnesota Orchestra, written for The New York Times, and produced a podcast for the BBC, not to mention performing twice in the old Isthmus newsroom on State Street. Read more
May 31, 2024
5:30 PM
In the May issue
Wisconsin is for the birds
By almost any measure, birdwatching in Wisconsin has never been more popular — with technology making it easier than ever to tell a nuthatch from a chickadee or to post colorful photos on social media sites. Read more
Dinner at Nonna’s
It seems reasonable to assume that at a spaghetti house, you should start with the spaghetti. Also: take the cannoli. Read more
Churches eye redevelopment as buildings age and membership dwindles
‘The status quo for these properties is simply not viable for many of [these churches]. So they will change,’ says Pres House executive director Mark Elsdon. Read more
Auntie Luke explains why constitutional referendums are so confusing
Auntie Luke Explains, a new series by T.L. Luke, demystifies complex topics through the use of comics. She begins this month with an explainer on constitutional amendments that go to statewide referendum. Read more
Behind the Isthmus cover — May 2024
Designer and animator Chris Bennett finds the fun in a Madison run for the May 2024 Isthmus cover. Read more
New Orleans Tribute
Madison Jazz Festival: NewBridge Summer Concert Series at the shelter; bring lawn chair/blanket. Free. Read more
Jun 10, 2024
6:00 PM
WisPolitics.com Luncheon
Talk by Susan Webb Yackee and Barry Burden on national political conventions. $29. RSVP. Read more
Jun 11, 2024
11:30 AM
Jun 11, 2024
12:00 PM1:00 PM
Gerald Heckathorn
Discussing "Memoir of a Bank Robber," new autobiography, with Doug Moe. Free, but ticket required (livestream also available). Read more
Jun 11, 2024
6:00 PM