Wisconsin Public Radio

06/20/2026

Social Security insolvency would lead to a projected 22 percent cut in benefits by 2032.

The Social Security trust fund is projected to reach a shortfall by the end of 2032, and Wisconsin could feel a significant economic impact if the insolvency leads to reduced benefit payments.

06/20/2026

The minority grant program was established by state Legislature in 1985.

In a unanimous ruling Thursday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court declared undergraduate retention grants for certain minority students are unconstitutional.

06/20/2026

Superior is not facing a data center proposal, but city council members want to study effects of such projects.

The city of Superior has passed a moratorium on data centers as a nearby Duluth suburb weighs a massive data center complex proposed by Google.

06/20/2026

The MariBell Transmission Project could improve power across the Midwest for data centers, but it may not offer connections to the towns selected for 200-foot power poles.

A proposed upgrade to the electric transmission line in Wisconsin’s Driftless region is facing opposition from local farmers and homeowners, and a group's lawsuit is trying to stop its construction.

06/20/2026

Serviceberry enthusiasts are hoping to expose more people to this largely unknown berry. Though the native fruit is commercially harvested in Canada, experts say building a U.S. market could be a challenge.

Serviceberries, or juneberries, are a native fruit beloved by wildlife. But now they’re moving from backyards to farms, and some hope they’ll soon be on your plate.

06/20/2026

Inside Wisconsin Politics reporters Shawn Johnson, Anya van Wagtendonk and Rich Kremer discuss references to President Trump and Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany from gubernatorial candidates at the state Democratic convention.

06/20/2026

Scientists and filmmakers are using a robot to venture into Superior Maximus, the deepest area in the Great Lakes at more than 1,300 feet below the surface.

They’re hoping to learn more about the wildlife that lives where no light can pe*****te and only a handful of species can survive.

The expedition team is also gathering information about a recent phenomenon of emaciated Siscowet lake trout, which live in depths of 250 feet and deeper. Some are becoming so thin scientists refer to them as “zombie fish.”

Filmmakers Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick also hope the images help people gain a greater appreciation for the Great Lakes. They plan to turn the expedition into a documentary called “Hidden Below: The Great Lakes,” set to debut in 2028.

Read more from WPR's Mackenzie Krumme: https://www.wpr.org/news/researchers-explore-the-deepest-part-of-lake-superior

Footage courtesy of Inspired Planet Productions
Photos courtesy of Zach Melnick

06/20/2026

Spring officially ends at 3:24 a.m. on June 21 with the summer solstice, which is Latin for “sun stands still.” Writer Chris Hardie reminds us of summer’s simple joys and how to make the most of the season before it slips away.

A Wisconsin writer reflects on the summer’s simple joys and how to make the most of the season before it slips away. The essay is featured in his book "Back Home: Country Tales Through the Seasons."

06/20/2026

Scott Martin rebuilt his body, mind and identity after losing both hands and parts of both feet.

As his soccer career was taking off, Scott Martin contracted a rare illness and was placed in a coma. To save him, surgeons had to amputate Martin’s hands and parts of both feet. He writes about the experience in his new memoir.

06/20/2026

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