WSUM Daily Newscast

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 LOCAL NEWS,
Sun Prairie and the city’s police department are choosing not to renew its Flock contract on Wednesday. Residents have raised questions about Flock’s plate-reading cameras, with Dane County taking theirs down months ago. Six of the city’s Flock cameras will expire on December 31st and the other three will expire on March 31, 2027. The license plate reading technology can help find stolen vehicles, identify vehicles involved in serious crimes and develop investigative leads. However, as Sun Prairie Police Chief Kevin Waych said, “We have a responsibility to the community to ensure this technology is used lawfully,” . He further claims that the information sharing should be controlled and retention processes should be fully understood when it’s being used. The police department is expected to move from the cameras to automated license readers. With Axon Outpost, the company producing the cameras, the city would own and control its data and its management. A potential contract will be presented to the Public Safety Committee on October 7th.

IN STATE NEWS,
Wisconsin diesel prices continue to reach new highs amidst a rough economic year. Many Wisconsin residents have expressed affordability concerns and report struggles to afford energy and grocery prices. Diesel alone has reached an average of $6.12 per gallon across the state. This is an all time high for diesel fuel in the state. Regular unleaded gas sits at an average of $4.11 continuing to climb towards the all time high of $4.92 set in June of 2022. Gas prices are worst in the northern Wisconsin counties with most coming in above $4.20 per gallon. The average in Madison is $4.05 per gallon which is on the lower end of the state average. Milwaukee-Waukesha is also cheaper than average at $4.04 per gallon. Adams county is the most expensive in the state at $4.33 and Menominee the cheapest at $3.94. Even as gas prices are so high in Wisconsin, the nationwide average is $4.36 per gallon. Wisconsin falls in between the 20th and 40th percentile of all states, with California the highest over $6 and Indiana the lowest at $3.75.
For WSUM News, I’m Nathan Jahn

ALSO IN STATE NEWS,
Wisconsin Rapids’ tap water takes home the top prize at the 2026 Wisconsin Best-Tasting Tap Water Competition. During the 40th annual competition, held at Monona Terrace in Madison, the tap water had to beat out Racine Water Utility, the eventual runner-up, alongside eleven other surface and groundwater systems in a blind taste test. After their victory, they will represent Wisconsin during the American Water Works Association Annual Conference & Exposition, which will occur on June 13-16 in San Diego. Adam Breunig, water superintendent for Wisconsin Rapids Water Works, stated that, quote “"We're very fortunate to have the water quality that we do in our town, and I'm really proud of my operators for the filtration job they do with our water," end quote.
For WSUM news, I’m Elise Hendrickson

IN NATIONAL NEWS,
Fencing surrounded the Kennedy Center after the Trump-aligned board voted to close it for repairs on Wednesday. The main building and a majority of the performing arts center has been shut down. On Tuesday, the board vote came after a federal judge blocked the site from adding Trump’s name to the building. Trump claims the renovations are for safety repairs, however the repairs, which Congress allocated 257 million dollars to cover, would only occur if the board was permitted to add his name to the building. There is no longer any vehicle or pedestrian access to the building. Representative Joyce Beatty, an Ohio Democrat, requested an emergency court hearing on Wednesday to discuss the quote “unlawful closure of the Kennedy Center.

IN ECONOMIC NEWS,
Fed raises interest rates a quarter of a point defying President Donald Trump. Although President Trump and the last Fed Chair Jerome Powell were used to being at odds, it looks like he will be at odds with the Fed chair. President Trump has long argued against raising interest rates, but new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh did not listen. All 12 members voted to increase interest from 3.75% to 4%. Their official statement clarifies that the decision was made in hopes for a quicker return to the goal of 2%. Rates are also expected to increase by at least another quarter point by the end of the year. In the process of choosing Kevin Warsh, President Trump said he would only support a chair who would lower borrowing cost, but also respected his independence. The majority of members on the Fed’s board saw goals for interest rates at or above 4% for both the end of this and next year, although one member believes it should be at 3% by the end of next year.
For WSUM News, I’m Nathan Jahn

OUTRO: THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN! FROM THE WSUM NEWS BOOTH, I’M TALULA HAYES. HAVE A GREAT EVENING MADISON!