News | Wisconsin Public Radio

Listen Live

Music Playlists

Wisconsin Public Radio has a broadcast and online news staff of more than 20 journalists and web professionals located in seven regions. There are over 20,000 news stories available online.

Supreme Court Primary Election Appears Likely

January 3, 2013 - 1:24pm

An outspoken lemon law attorney and a Marquette law professor both filed signatures Wednesday to challenge sitting Justice Patience Roggensack in this year's State Supreme Court race.Assuming their signatures hold up, lemon law lawyer Vince Megna and Marquette Law Professor Edward Fallone would be on a primary ballot with Roggensack...

UW Receives $10M For 'Quit Smoking' Program

January 3, 2013 - 1:19pm

The UW School of Medicine has received a new $10 million grant to help people quit smoking. The grant covers counseling, medications, and lab tests for 1,500 smokers.The grant will fund the second phase of a National Institutes of Health study launched in 2004. David Dell joined the study when...

Study: Mercury In Fish Absorbed Fast, Can Decline Quickly, Too

January 3, 2013 - 1:15pm

A study expected to be used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to further reduce mercury emissions is startling researchers. Results of the 11-year study show fish quickly absorb mercury, but at the same time, can get rid of it just as fast if mercury emissions drop. Lake 658 is...

Farm Bill Extension Prolongs Uncertainty

January 3, 2013 - 1:05pm

Congress has approved a nine-month extension of the Farm Bill that expired late last year.The extension came out of this week's fiscal cliff agreement. Farmers hoping for a full five-year Farm Bill will have to wait. Kicking the can down road also means negotiations will start from scratch or close...

Votes On "Fiscal Cliff Bill" Say There's More To Do

January 3, 2013 - 11:59am

Two Wisconsin congressmen on opposite sides of the political aisle agree on parts of the so-called fiscal cliff legislation signed into law Tuesday by President Obama. They agree, but voted differently.Even as the House voted 257-167 to pass legislation that avoided the so-called fiscal cliff, freshman Republican Congressman Sean Duffy...

Badgers Drop Third Straight Rose Bowl

January 2, 2013 - 1:50pm

The Wisconsin Badgers have lost their third straight Rose Bowl game, bowing to Stanford yesterday by a score of 20-14.Stanford scored the first two touchdowns in the game, then withstood a Wisconsin comeback. Athletic Director Barry Alvarez coached the Badgers, following the departure of Brett Bielema to Arkansas, and Alvarez...

Frac Sand Mining Means More Rail Safety Concerns

January 2, 2013 - 1:44pm

A major safety blitz is on in Barron County as demand for frac sand brings a long dormant railroad back to life. For those living along the 45-mile stretch of Canadian National Railroad between Barron and Ladysmith train horns and the rumble of freight cars are distant memories. For kids...

Lake Superior's Gull Island Still Off-Limits To Fishing

January 2, 2013 - 1:36pm

A small island in the Apostle Islands will remain a no-fishing zone for the time being. Researchers say the Gull Island shoal is a critical area for the comeback of lake trout in Lake Superior.Since it was established in 1976, the strategically placed Gull Island Shoal Refuge has brought back...

The Holidays Bring A Big Increase In Cooking Oil Recycling

January 2, 2013 - 1:28pm

An estimated one-million tons of extra trash generated in the U.S. between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. In Wisconsin, there's also an increased demand for recycling services. And, one of the byproducts of the holidays is being turned into fuel.Cardboard recycling bins fill up quickly after holiday gifts are unwrapped,...

Rose Bowl Preview

January 2, 2013 - 1:20pm

Ahead of the Badgers' third straight Rose Bowl appearance, Chuck Quirmbach and Kristen Durst talk about preparations for the game.

New Year's Day Means Polar Plunges

January 1, 2013 - 10:19am

A Wisconsin New Years Day tradition continues today. People around the state people will dive into freezing waters as part of a "polar bear plunge." Several events are planned around the state, including Madison, Milwaukee, Sheboygan, and in Jacksonport in Wisconsin's Door County. It's the 27th year for the Jacksonsport...

Wisconsin Vs. Stanford In The Rose Bowl This Afternoon

January 1, 2013 - 10:15am

The University of Wisconsin plays Stanford in the Rose Bowl this afternoon. The big game is the culmination of an unusual season full of challenges for the Badgers. Tim Scott is the voice of the Badgers pre-game and post-game radio shows. He spoke with Terry Bell about this strangest of...

Walker Says He's Open To Democratic Ideas On Mining Bill

January 1, 2013 - 10:14am

Governor Scott Walker says he's open to incorporating some of the ideas from a Democratic-controlled mining committee into a bill the legislature considers this year.A mining panel chaired by Janesville Democratic Senator Tim Cullen met for hours on end in 2012, hearing testimony from geologists, environmentalists and mining industry representative...

Power Line Construction Expected Soon

January 1, 2013 - 9:36am

High voltage transmission line opponents and developers in western Wisconsin had a whirlwind 2012. And, neither side is close to finished with its work. Construction should begin soon in Rochester, Minnesota, on the CapX2020 line that was approved last May by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. The transmission utility...

St. Croix River Crossing Set To Move Ahead In 2013

January 1, 2013 - 9:24am

After decades of planning and legal wrangling, a major bridge project in western Wisconsin was approved in 2012. The River Crossing will be four lanes wide, towering 200 feet above the St. Croix River. It will connect Oak Park Heights, Minnesota and St. Joseph, Wisconsin and will replace an 80-year-old...

Faith Group Promotes Civility in Wisconsin

January 1, 2013 - 9:17am

Wisconsin's seemingly nonstop election cycle may be over for now, but religious leaders around the state are continuing the conversation on being more civil in the political arena and our everyday lives. The Wisconsin Council of Churches kicked off the "Season of Civility" in 2011, after religious leaders were disturbed...

Wisconsin Foreclosures Decline Slightly In 2012

January 1, 2013 - 8:57am

Foreclosures declined slightly in Wisconsin in 2012. And there are still many foreclosures in the state that have been languishing for at least a few years. More than 3,400 Wisconsin properties were in foreclosure in November, according to RealtyTrac. That was a 1.5% increase from October, but a nearly 22%...

Wisconsin To Consider Tougher Drunk Driving Laws

January 1, 2013 - 8:55am

Two state lawmakers say they will try to pass legislation cracking down on drunk driving in the next session. Rep. Jim Ott and Sen. Alberta Darling plan to introduce bills that would, among other things,require first-time offenders to appear in court, make a third conviction a felony, and establish mandatory...

Congress Extends Farm Bill

January 1, 2013 - 8:53am

Farmers in Wisconsin could soon be breathing a sigh of relief. It appears Congress may take action on a new Farm Bill. The bill won't last five years as is typically the case, but an extension would give farmers an idea of what to expect in 2013. Party leaders are...

Northeast Wisconsin Says It Outpaces Rest Of State

December 31, 2012 - 1:40pm

Northeastern Wisconsin's economic development organization says the region is outpacing the rest of the state and the nation. The New North is akin to a region-wide Chamber of Commerce. It represents businesses in 17 counties from Sheboygan and Fond du Lac in the South, to Florence and Marinette in the...

Menu

Listen Live

Program Schedule

Program Notes

Program Schedule

Music Playlists

Program Schedule

Music Playlists

Supreme Court Primary Election Appears Likely

UW Receives $10M For 'Quit Smoking' Program

Study: Mercury In Fish Absorbed Fast, Can Decline Quickly, Too

Farm Bill Extension Prolongs Uncertainty

Votes On "Fiscal Cliff Bill" Say There's More To Do

Badgers Drop Third Straight Rose Bowl

Frac Sand Mining Means More Rail Safety Concerns

Lake Superior's Gull Island Still Off-Limits To Fishing

The Holidays Bring A Big Increase In Cooking Oil Recycling

Rose Bowl Preview

New Year's Day Means Polar Plunges

Wisconsin Vs. Stanford In The Rose Bowl This Afternoon

Walker Says He's Open To Democratic Ideas On Mining Bill

Power Line Construction Expected Soon

St. Croix River Crossing Set To Move Ahead In 2013

Faith Group Promotes Civility in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Foreclosures Decline Slightly In 2012

Wisconsin To Consider Tougher Drunk Driving Laws

Congress Extends Farm Bill

Northeast Wisconsin Says It Outpaces Rest Of State

Search form

The Ideas Network

Program Schedule

Program Notes

NPR News & Classical Network

Program Schedule

Music Playlists

All Classical Network

Program Schedule

Music Playlists

Subscribe To WPR Newsletters