Liam Beran

Madison rents up 47% over the last five years Vacancy rates are increasing and rent increases have slowed, a promising sign for renters in Madison. But monthly rents are still pricing out many residents.

Madison rents went up 47% over the last five years, according to a recent report. But, in a promising sign for renters, vacancy rates in Dane County are the highest they've been in more than 5 years, and rent growth is slowing.

@isthmusmadison.bsky.social

isthmus.com/news/news/ma...

Fan favorite Madison artist Emily Balsley’s design is featured on Milwaukee Brewers promo T-shirt

Madisonians are very excited that local artist Emily Balsley designed the Aug. 12 Brewers t-shirt.

10,000 shirts will be given away. There’s a bus (yes, a bus) of fans, friends and family heading to Milwaukee. Linda Falkenstein has the latest @isthmusmadison.bsky.social

isthmus.com/arts/sports/...

Epic employees flood Madison’s dating scene Epic employees dominate online dating apps like Tinder, Hinge and Bumble, Madison residents say. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, it just is.

Among young people in Madison, it’s a near-refrain: “The pool of dating is Epic.”

For @isthmusmadison.bsky.social’s August cover, I investigated “that one IT company’s” massive growth and the effect it’s had on dating life in Madison. Read below:

isthmus.com/news/cover-s...

Epic employees flood Madison’s dating scene Epic employees dominate online dating apps like Tinder, Hinge and Bumble, Madison residents say. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, it just is.

I'm big a fan of this article by @liamberan.bsky.social isthmus.com/news/cover-s...

thank you!!

Under Trump, UW-Madison federal lobbying spending already higher than 2024 UW-Madison has already spent $474,000 on federal lobbying in 2025.

UW-Madison has spent more on lobbying the federal government since President Donald Trump took office again than in all of 2024 — including retaining a high-profile firm with clients like Columbia University and UPenn.

@isthmusmadison.bsky.social

isthmus.com/news/news/un...

Budget struggles imperil 24/7 access for new men’s shelter in Madison City and county officials designed the upcoming men’s homeless shelter on Bartillon Drive to operate 24/7. But city, county and private leaders will need to find an additional $3 million annually to o...

Budget struggles imperil 24/7 access for new men’s shelter in Madison

@isthmusmadison.bsky.social

isthmus.com/news/news/bu...

2026 Operating Budget Agency RequestsAgency requests are the first step in building Madison’s budget. These proposals are ideas from agencies on how best to achieve the goals outlined in the Mayor’s budget message. The May...

The City of Madison's 2026 agency operating budget requests have just gone live. You can view them here:

www.cityofmadison.com/finance/budg...

In Madison, five Democratic governors float redistricting, blast Trump budget Governors from Kansas, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Rhode Island and Minnesota blasted Trump’s budget bill and voiced openness to redrawing congressional maps.

In Madison, MN Gov. Tim Walz: “...we're expected to protect the institutions, we're expected to follow the rules on this. We’re not playing with a normal administration.”

More from @liamberan.bsky.social: isthmus.com/news/news/in...

As local news orgs shut down, alt publications step up A need to fill the hole left by legacy outlets was a frequent theme sounded by those attending the annual conference of AAN Publishers conferring in Madison. Common challenges include the need for mor...

Energizing to see that @littlevillage.bsky.social — one of the first outlets to publish my reporting — is expanding its scope as Iowa’s daily newspapers retreat.

As local news orgs shut down, alt publications step up.

isthmus.com/news/news/as... (@liamberan.bsky.social)

Plan Commission unanimously recommended all three of the zoning housing proposals for approval at Common Council next Tuesday. Heck asked staff to map out the role of various commissions in approvals of the apartments that are now permitted uses to avoid misunderstandings about Landmarks/UDC role.

Du-plex the right thing, city officials urge Homeownership and affordable housing will become more accessible under a new package, city officials argue.

Madison's 1966 zoning code discouraged density for nearly 50 years. At the same time, many residents of color were priced out of homeownership — or the city altogether.

It's a story that persists today, and one a new city zoning package aims to confront.

isthmus.com/news/news/du...

Abortion ruled legal in Wisconsin, but significant threats remain The Wisconsin Supreme Court has struck down the state’s 1849 criminal abortion ban. Current restrictions though remain in place.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled today that an 1849 state law doesn't ban abortion. Still, reproductive rights advocates warn federal cuts could mean the loss of basic reproductive care services statewide.

Me & Judy Davidoff @isthmusmadison.bsky.social

isthmus.com/news/news/ab...

More than ten hours after its scheduled start time, the Joint Finance Committee still has not met. Rs are reportedly looking for votes from Dem senators (Nass, Kapenga and Hutton all seem like nay votes as of present).

History of delays: 10 a.m. -> Noon -> 2 p.m. -> 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9:30 p.m..

Professors wary as Republican lawmakers look to slash UW budget The UW System requested $856 million from the state over the next two years. Republicans are unlikely to fulfill that amount.

The Joint Finance Committee is set to vote on UW System funding — alongside seemingly every other remaining state agency — tomorrow.

A look from me at where the UW System has been over the past two years and what's at stake:

isthmus.com/news/news/pr...

@isthmusmadison.bsky.social

MGE denies request from homeless housing provider for cost-saving unified electric meter A state rule demanding that each unit in a housing development has a separate meter is hampering one local developers’ housing project.

Power struggle: MGE denies request from homeless housing provider for cost-saving unified electric meter

@isthmusmadison.bsky.social

isthmus.com/news/news/po...

Heck yeah we are!
@isthmusmadison.bsky.social

Madison nightclub Red Rooster loses liquor license due to drunk driving death The southeast side venue’s owner says he may look at operating the blues club as a dry venue and reapplying for a liquor license in the future.

.@isthmusmadison.bsky.social staff writer @liamberan.bsky.social has had a busy week already and published two stories this morning that are worth your time.

First, an informed look at the Red Rooster nightclub losing its liquor license at Tuesday's city council meeting:
isthmus.com/news/news/ma...

Dane County judge strikes down rezoning for Old Sauk Road development The city council ‘failed to consider’ factors required by the city’s comprehensive plan, according to the judge.

Opponents of a 144-unit development on Old Sauk Road were handed a victory Tuesday after a Dane County judge ruled that Madison’s city council used “immaterial” criteria when rezoning for the project.

Another vote will be required for it to move forward.

isthmus.com/news/news/da...

Madison nightclub Red Rooster loses liquor license due to drunk driving death The southeast side venue’s owner says he may look at operating the blues club as a dry venue and reapplying for a liquor license in the future.

Madison’s city council voted unanimously to not renew the liquor license of one of the city’s few blues-focused venues, The Red Rooster, after an investigation into the death of a motorist by a drunk driver revealed several violations.

@liamberan.bsky.social reports:

isthmus.com/news/news/ma...

UW-Madison to renovate Science Hall One of the most iconic buildings on UW-Madison’s campus is set for a $81 million renovation fully funded by grants and gifts.

UW-Madison officials are planning to renovate one of the university’s most iconic buildings.

@isthmusmadison.bsky.social

isthmus.com/news/news/uw...

April ridership toppped 1.3M. In 2024, ridership for the whole year was 9.2 million.
It appears many people like and use BRT.

Metro Transit ridership in April surpasses pre-pandemic numbers for first time Ridership in April hit 1.3 million, the highest number recorded in nearly a decade.

Bus ridership in the Madison area surpassed pre-pandemic levels for the first time this April. Ridership on Metro Transit last month hit more than 1.3 million, the highest recorded that month in nearly a decade.

@liamberan.bsky.social reports:

isthmus.com/news/news/me...

Metro Transit ridership in April surpasses pre-pandemic numbers for first time Ridership in April hit 1.3 million, the highest number recorded in nearly a decade.

NEW: Bus ridership in the Madison area surpassed pre-pandemic levels for the first time this April. Other cities have struggled to recoup pre-pandemic ridership; Metro's outgoing GM attributes the success to the BRT launch in September.

@isthmusmadison.bsky.social

isthmus.com/news/news/me...

The co-founder of Isthmus, described as one of Madison’s best writers, has died Fred Milverstedt, a Madison native who teamed up with Vince O’Hern to launch Isthmus in 1976, has died.

"Freddie the Mil"
Fred Milverstedt, co-founder of @isthmusmadison.bsky.social, has died. He was considered one of the city's great writers. Five of his stories are linked here: isthmus.com/news/news/th...

The co-founder of Isthmus, described as one of Madison’s best writers, has died Fred Milverstedt, a Madison native who teamed up with Vince O’Hern to launch Isthmus in 1976, has died.

Fred Milverstedt, co-founder of Isthmus and one of Madison's great writers, has died.
isthmus.com/news/news/th...

City eyes financing assistance for Voit Farm development Under the agreement, the city will purchase four lots of the thirteen-lot property, which is estimated to yield more than 1,000 housing units.

The City of Madison is eyeing using $8 million in potential TIF funding to assist in developing more than 1,000 housing units at Voit Farm, one of few remaining large swathes of undeveloped land in Madison.

@isthmusmadison.bsky.social

isthmus.com/news/news/ci...

via @isthmusmadison.bsky.social / Judith Davidoff

‘Hooked’ loon on Lake Monona rescued after eluding capture for two days News of a ‘hooked’ loon on Lake Monona went viral on social media. The loon eluded capture for two days until Andy Swetz, a Madison resident, got in the lake and caught it with his bare hands. X-rays ...

In this story: the rescue of an injured loon and a late-night relay from Madison to Merrill to Antigo to get it treatment.

"I think it’s important that the rural and Northwoods people know how deeply this got into the awareness and psyche of [Madisonians]."

isthmus.com/news/news/ho...

‘Hooked’ loon on Lake Monona rescued after eluding capture for two days News of a ‘hooked’ loon on Lake Monona went viral on social media. The loon eluded capture for two days until Andy Swetz, a Madison resident, got in the lake and caught it with his bare hands. X-rays ...

The loon evaded many attempts at capture by diving and swimming away when anyone got too close.

isthmus.com/news/news/ho...