Wisconsin, Grant County suffer first measles death

On Thursday, Nov. 5, the Grant County Health Department released information on the first measles-related death in the state, which involved a resident of the county. "Grant County Public Health is saddened to confirm the infant death associated with the southwestern Wisconsin measles outbreak, announced earlier today by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, was a Grant County resident," the department stated in a news release. "To protect the privacy of those involved, Grant County Public Health will not release additional health or personal information related to the death.

A much-awaited Mississippi River bridge is open in northeast Iowa

A new Mississippi River bridge opened Friday in northeast Iowa's Driftless Region, connecting the city of Lansing to rural Crawford County, Wisconsin. It replaces the historic Black Hawk Bridge, which was demolished in Dec. 2025 to make way for the replacement. The Iowa and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation (IDOT, WisDOT)...

Josh Turek Makes Surprise Appearance at Luther

On Oct. 15, Josh Turek (D), the senator-elect for Iowa’s vacant U.S. Senate seat, made a surprise appearance at Preus Library as a guest of Luther’s chapter of the College Democrats of America. During the visit, Turek spent half an hour meeting Luther students and Decorah locals. The...

Freedom Honor Flight discontinues Veterans Day Breakfast

LA CROSSE (WKBT) -- Freedom Honor Flight announced on Thursday that they will be discontinuing the Veterans Day Breakfast hosted with the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Intercollegiate Athletics Department, according to a release .

Western Wisconsin school districts face budget gaps after voters reject funding referendums

BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wis. (WKBT) — Voters in several local school districts rejected requests for more funding Tuesday, leaving districts with budget problems to solve.

La Crosse judge orders North Side home closed after years of drug complaints

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) — A La Crosse County judge signed an order Friday to immediately close a North Side home tied to years of drug complaints.

WisDOT seeks public input on plans to rebuild 5 miles of US 53 in La Crosse County

Downtown Mainstreet shutdown brings change in La Crosse Center concessions

The disbanding of La Crosse’s Downtown Mainstreet, Inc. (DMI), may have a ripple effect on a few local businesses. That includes the La Crosse Center. DMI, which voted this week to disband at the end of the year, has provided concessions at Center events, but that will end on Dec. 1.

Gas prices fall in Wisconsin and La Crosse County

LA CROSSE COUNTY, Wis. (WKBT) -- Gas prices have dropped since the midterm elections, with regular unleaded averaging $4.10 per gallon in Wisconsin and $3.98 in La Crosse County.

10 measles cases confirmed in Sauk County, health officials say

BARABOO, Wis. -- Public Health Sauk County on Friday confirmed 10 cases of measles among county residents, as the virus continues to spread throughout Wisconsin.

Vernon County Awards ceremony held in Hillsboro

VERNON COUNTY, Wis. — Vernon County celebrated the people, businesses, and organizations helping the community grow and thrive at its Fourth Annual Vernon County Awards Banquet on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, in Hillsboro. More than 200 community members, business leaders, and local officials came together to honor those who have made a lasting impact on our communities.

Members of Viroqua City Council address cancellation of special council meeting

VIROQUA Wis. – Alderperson Tanja Birke has issued a written statement clarifying why a special meeting of the Viroqua Common Council scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 4 was canceled, addressing public confusion and contradicting claims made by Mayor Krista Browne regarding the canceled session. According to an agenda that was...

Downtown Baraboo holiday light display to debut Friday

BARABOO, Wis. (WMTV) - It may only be the first week of November, but one Wisconsin downtown is already getting into the holiday spirit. Friday night, downtown Baraboo is lighting up their holiday display for the very first time. The display will include a 24-foot tall tree, multiple light-up arches...

Modular Data Centers bring new community questions

The Brief

Wisconsin enterprise to lay off 78 workers at corporate headquarters in January

MIDDLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – High-end household product and kitchenware distributor Hy Cite Enterprises, LLC will execute a permanent workforce reduction at its corporate headquarters early next year, according to a notice filed with state and local officials. In a letter sent to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, the company confirmed that a total of […]

History made: Madison elects Wisconsin’s first transgender lawmaker

The Cap Times is an independent newsroom serving Madison and Wisconsin. Sign up for the Morning Update to receive news in your inbox each morning. Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford knows she is forging a new path for the state. Madison made history Tuesday night by electing Martinez-Rutherford as Wisconsin’s first transgender state lawmaker.

This Enchanting College Town In Wisconsin Will Steal Your Heart With Its Dining And Shopping

There are places you visit and places that visit you right back, and Madison, Wisconsin falls firmly and unapologetically into the second category. This city sits on an isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, and that simple geographic fact shapes everything about how Madison looks, feels, and operates on a daily basis.

'Act 10 is a goner,' and other ways Wisconsin Democrats will use power

The Cap Times is an independent newsroom serving Madison and Wisconsin. Sign up for the Morning Update to receive news in your inbox each morning. For the first time in nearly two decades, Democrats will control the Legislature and governor’s seat in Wisconsin, setting the stage for a new era in state politics after years of Republican reign and divided government.

5 things to do in Madison this weekend: November 6-8

Black Art Expo & Holiday Market Black artists, makers and creative entrepreneurs take center stage with original artwork, handmade goods and more. The program also includes artist talks, live demonstrations, music, family activities, specialty food vendors and a new watercolor exhibition by Alice Traore. Nov. 6, 5-9 p.m., Nov. 7, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., The Center for Black Excellence and Culture, 671 W. Badger Road "Dark Tales: An Evening of Music & Mystery" The Madison-based LunART organization draws on folklore, literary horror and the darker side of the classical repertoire. The concert brings together music by Hildegard von Bingen and contemporary composers, with Edgar Allan Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado" providing the narrative framework for a chamber-music exploration of suspense and psychological unease. Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m.; Starlight Theater, MYArts, 1055 E. Mifflin St. Madison Herb Fair The Madison Herb Society's annual fair centers on the theme of herbal self-care, with a marketplace devoted to the culinary, medicinal and practical uses of plants. Vendors offer teas, seasonings, herbal preparations, books and garden-related goods, while educational presentations give visitors a closer look at the traditions and contemporary applications behind the products. Nov. 7, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Olbrich Botanical Gardens, 3330 Atwood Ave.