'Your City Could Be Better': How Las Vegas Saves More Water Than Any Other City — Presented By City Cast Madison

No Phones in School, Lake Monona Stinks, and Food Delivery Bots Roll Away

This week, the Madison School Board approved [https://captimes.com/news/education/madison-schools-approve-cellphone-ban-tighten-limits-on-high-schools/article_41d66a79-7689-4fbe-8e6c-8d62bd28a2a4.html] a district-wide cell phone policy. Under the new rules, phones are banned all day for grades K–8 and only allowed at lunch for high schoolers. Host Bianca Martin breaks down that news with executive producer Hayley Sperling and producer Jade Iseri-Ramos. Plus, allergy season is bad [https://captimes.com/news/health/yes-allergy-seasons-are-getting-worse-madison-doctor-says/article_6f99ad58-bded-47a7-8df5-cf88b1b69495.html], blue-green algae is blooming [https://www.wmtv15news.com/2026/06/24/algae-concerns-people-living-near-lake-monona-say-blue-green-algae-is-showing-up-more-often/?outputType=amp], and women athletes are making Madison proud [https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/wisconsin-badgers-make-history-with-5-first-round-picks-in-2026-pwhl-draft/article_aa069996-5bba-4c70-8783-29181b3146d0.html]. For our neighbors-only segment, newsletter editor Rob Thomas jumps on the mic to react to the end of  food delivery robots on UW-Madison’s campus. Mentioned on the show: Rob Thomas’s story on Starship food-delivery robots [https://captimes.com/entertainment/dining/i-ll-be-back-with-lunch-rolling-robots-terminate-hunger-pangs/article_63689b97-3e8c-5560-b5c7-1e18bc8a8f3c.html] [Cap Times] 👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 [tel:608-318-3367] or email madison@citycast.fm [madison@citycast.fm]. We’re also on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/citycastmadison/]!  📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the City Cast Madison morning newsletter [https://madison.citycast.fm/newsletter].  🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program! [https://membership.citycast.fm/madison] Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads [https://madison.citycast.fm/advertise]. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 26th episode: * Society of St. Vincent de Paul [https://svdpmadison.org/raffle/] * Oak Bank [https://www.oak.bank/?utm_source=CityCast&utm_medium=ad&utm_campaign=2026&utm_content=BankingOutsideTheBox] - Do you have questions for Oak Bank? Submit them HERE [https://airtable.com/app7ni84ypo5bRfEK/shrDdP0QYCiPT2GkL].

Pour One Out for Schlitz and a Weekend Events Roundup

Earlier this year, Pabst Brewing Company announced [https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/schlitz-beer-pours-last-glass-rcna346065] an indefinite hiatus of Schlitz beer. However, Verona-based Wisconsin Brewing Company brewed a limited quantity of the beer [https://www.milwaukeemag.com/schlitz-is-gone/] that made Milwaukee famous and is throwing a party [https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ-L-7QgPPD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==] on Saturday, June 27 to celebrate. City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin sits down with Wisconsin Brewing Company brewmaster Kirby Nelson to talk about the special brew and what Schlitz means to Wisconsin. Then executive producer Hayley Sperling and producer Jade Iseri-Ramos jump on the mic to give you a rundown of events happening this weekend. Mentioned on the show: Rob Thomas’s article on Bleak Week [https://notthatrobthomas.substack.com/p/have-yourself-a-bummer-summer-with] [Not that Rob Thomas] Linen revival movement [https://madison.citycast.fm/podcasts/can-madison-ditch-fast-fashion] [🎧 City Cast Madison] 👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 [tel:608-318-3367] or email madison@citycast.fm [madison@citycast.fm]. We’re also on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/citycastmadison/]!  📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the City Cast Madison morning newsletter [https://madison.citycast.fm/newsletter].  🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program! [https://membership.citycast.fm/madison] Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads [https://madison.citycast.fm/advertise]. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 25th episode: * Society of St. Vincent de Paul [https://svdpmadison.org/raffle/]

Governor’s Race Shakeup, Giannis Trade Shock, and Madison’s Best Thrifts

In the latest on the race for Wisconsin governor, democratic candidate Missy Hughes dropped out of the primary [https://www.wpr.org/news/democrat-missy-hughes-suspends-campaign-for-governor] Monday and endorsed Lt. Gov. Sarah Rodriguez. Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Bucks traded Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat [https://nypost.com/2026/06/22/sports/giannis-antetokounmpo-traded-to-heat-in-blockbuster-deal/]amid a broader team shakeup. City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin and local writer-comedian Emily Winter chat about these big news stories. Plus, Emily takes a deep dive into secondhand fashion with a guide to thrifting in Madison, including the “Secondhand Summer” vintage passport [https://www.instagram.com/p/DYakmfNAWjB/] and local clothing swaps [https://www.visitmadison.com/event/unisex-clothing-swap/77900/]. Finally, we celebrate Leopold’s Book Bar Caffè landing third place in USA Today’s national roundup of best independent bookstores [https://www.wmtv15news.com/2026/06/17/leopolds-books-bar-caff-named-3-best-independent-book-store-usa-today-choice-awards/]. 👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 [tel:608-318-3367] or email madison@citycast.fm [madison@citycast.fm]. We’re also on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/citycastmadison/]!  📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the City Cast Madison morning newsletter [https://madison.citycast.fm/newsletter].  🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program! [https://membership.citycast.fm/madison] Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads [https://madison.citycast.fm/advertise]. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 24th episode: * Society of St. Vincent de Paul [https://svdpmadison.org/raffle/]

MMSD’s Proposed Property Tax Hike, Concerts on the Square Kickoff, and a T-Ball Legend

The Madison school board is looking to increase property taxes by 8.5% [https://captimes.com/news/education/madison-schools-draft-budget-proposes-8-5-property-tax-increase/article_f268f5a3-a8af-4acc-b589-49efef17905e.html] for the upcoming school year. City Cast Madison Host Bianca Martin chats with Scott Resnick, a local entrepreneur and former Madison City Council member, about the roughly $700 million MMSD budget, [https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1781106020/madisonk12wius/o2rn1or2fxkxr4wdknfs/2026-2027_MayProposedBudget.pdf] what it will pay for, and how it will impact tax payers. Then, we preview the line up for Concerts on the Square [https://wcoconcerts.org/concerts-tickets/concerts-on-the-square] which starts this Wednesday. Finally, a “Good On You” for Midvale Heights t-ball commissioner Michael Pressman who was recently honored [https://www.cityofmadison.com/news/2026-05-26/tribute-event-scheduled-at-oak-park-heights-parks] after 30 years of organizing the local league. 👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 [tel:608-318-3367] or email madison@citycast.fm [madison@citycast.fm]. We’re also on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/citycastmadison/]!  📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the City Cast Madison morning newsletter [https://madison.citycast.fm/newsletter].  🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program! [https://membership.citycast.fm/madison] Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads [https://madison.citycast.fm/advertise]. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 23rd episode: * Society of St. Vincent de Paul [https://svdpmadison.org/raffle/]

WI Governor Race Updates & Assembly District 76 Forum Takeaways

There are still seven candidates [https://www.therecombobulationarea.news/p/the-state-of-the-democratic-primary-f3b] vying for the Democratic nomination for the Wisconsin Governor’s race. With the August 11 primary less than two months away, the race is heating up. To get a better understanding of the state of the race, host Bianca Martin chats with Dan Shafer, a longtime Wisconsin journalist and founder of The Recombobulation Area [https://www.therecombobulationarea.news/]. Then, producer Jade Iseri-Ramos joins the show to report back on a forum for the 76th Wisconsin Assembly District. You can find a full recording from the June 17 forum here [https://share.descript.com/view/Nab02Kh0wro]. 👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 [tel:608-318-3367] or email madison@citycast.fm [madison@citycast.fm]. We’re also on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/citycastmadison/]!  📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the City Cast Madison morning newsletter [https://madison.citycast.fm/newsletter].  🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program! [https://membership.citycast.fm/madison] Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads [https://madison.citycast.fm/advertise]. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 22rd episode: * Society of St. Vincent de Paul [https://svdpmadison.org/raffle/]