Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
WSUM News Team compiles recent news in under 5 minutes every Monday through Thursday. Originally aired on the 91.7 FM stream, each newscast is re-posted in audio form.
INTRO GOOD (DAY) EVENING MADISON! YOU’RE LISTENING TO THE 5/6 O’CLOCK NEWS UPDATE ON WSUM 91.7 FM MADISON STUDENT RADIO. I’M TALULA HAYES.
IN THE NEWS TODAY,
IN CAMPUS NEWS,
The Wisconsin Union Directorate will host Ruby Bridges in a free-for-students moderated Q&A event on Tuesday. The event itself will compose of a 60-minute moderated Q&A followed by a 30-minute audience Q&A. Bridges, who is an author, civil rights activist, and famously was the first african-american student to attend a desegregated elementary school in a pivotal moment in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. She also earned the Presidential Citizens Medal, was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in March 2024, and most recently published her 6th book in January 2025. This is the 4th Distinguished Lecture Series event held this year, where other speakers included National Geographic photographer and writer Amy Vitale, popular drag queen Trixie Mattel, and 2025 Nobel laureate John Martinis. While the Shannon Hall event is fully sold-out, students can still submit questions that could be answered by Bridges on the Wisconsin Union Directorate website.
For WSUM News, I’m Elise Hendrickson
IN LOCAL NEWS,
Porchlight men’s shelter opening pushed back to an unknown date. The shelter was originally supposed to open this month. The new shelter will now hold around 250 beds, which is a decrease from the original 350. A Madison Alder said that they are confident the new shelter will open sometime this summer. City of Madison Community Development Manager Linette Rhodes says that there are still steps the city, county, and Porchlight need to take before the building is officially done. Rhodes also said "Sometimes individuals kind of expect things to happen; sometimes a quicker way. In government, we will have specific committees and boards that we will need to take resolutions through to make sure these things are finalized." Working with the county to create an intergovernmental agreement, so that there can be one contract with Porchlight rather than two. Updating service plans, such as how the waitlist is going to work for the beds. Finishing the setup of the building.
For WSUM News, I’m Nathan Jahn
IN STATE NEWS,
Wisconsin polls are open today and liberals are hoping to expand their majority in the Supreme Court election. Conservative judge Maria Lazar and liberal judge Chris Taylor are facing off on Tuesday. They’re fighting to replace Justice Rebecca Bradley, a retiring conservative judge. Compared to last election, this race will not flip the court, as liberals secured a 4-3 majority. The spring 2025 election became the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history. Last year, Elon Musk was present with a cheesehead hat and donated millions to the judicial race, however he has not yet made another appearance. This election will, however, determine if liberals can keep their strong hold, potentially through the end of the decade. A Marquette Law School poll conducted in mid-March found that 53% of registered voters were undecided. 23% supported Taylor, while 17% supported Lazar. The controversial topics running this election are over abortion rights and voter IDs.
IN INTERNATIONAL NEWS,
Trump threatens Iran that if it fails to meet his latest deadline, quote “a whole civilization will die tonight” end quote on Tuesday. The deal is regarding opening the Strait of Hormuz. The claim Trump made has led some Democrats in Congress to claim that this kind of reckless military action would violate international law. The Islamic Republic has instructed young people to form human chains around power plants to ensure the infrastructure’s safety. Iran will “take immediate and proportionate reciprocal measures” if Trump does launch strikes on Iran. Pakistan’s prime minister told Trump to extend his deadline for Iran by two weeks. Airstrikes have hit Kharg Island, a key hub for oil, even before Trump’s statement was put out. These airstrikes hit two bridges and a train station in Israel and Saudi Arabia, as well as Kharg Island’s military infrastructure. Trump has previously claimed strict deadlines with threats, however he claims this one is final and will end at 8:00 pm in Eastern Time, or 7:00 pm in Central Time. Trump further claims that, to open the Strait of Hormuz, he will deploy ground troops to seize oil. Iran’s president said 14 million people have volunteered to fight.
IN ECONOMIC NEWS,
Gas prices are continuing to climb across the United States as global leaders struggle to contain a major oil supply tied to conflict in the Middle East. Regular gasoline is now averaging over four dollars per gallon nationwide, making a sharp increase since the start of the Iran war. The increase comes due to key shipping routes being disrupted and barrels of oil being stranded. In response, Donald Trump and other world leaders are taking emergency measures to stabilize the markets, such as starting production of oil in the U.S., however, professor at Texas A&M Mark Barteau said, “If the U.S. were to try to make up the global shortfall, we would need to neatly double our production.” Other officials say the most effective solution would be restoring safe passage through the region but until then consumers will continue to feel the impact.
For WSUM News, I’m Berit Campbell
OUTRO: THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN! FROM THE WSUM NEWS BOOTH, I’M TALULA HAYES. HAVE A GREAT EVENING MADISON!