Your Guide to June 2026 in Madison

'Your City Could Be Better': How Denver Is Fixing Its Sidewalks — Presented By City Cast Madison

Just how good are the sidewalks in Madison? The state of a city’s sidewalks can be a good indicator of how healthy that city is — and pedestrian safety is just the beginning. In Denver, voters approved a new fee a few years ago to fund much-needed sidewalk repairs, and after a lot of back-and-forth, those repairs are finally underway. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Denver [https://denver.citycast.fm/] podcast host Bree Davies about what drove this initiative, how it’s going, and who’s paying for it. And speaking of sidewalks, do bikes, scooters, and people playing music belong on public sidewalks? Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!  [yourcitycouldbebetter@citycast.fm] We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter [https://www.instagram.com/yourcitycouldbebetter] Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options [https://citycast.fm/advertise].

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/]