On this week's episode, the team talks through two in-progress stories. First, a bankrupt donation platform owes almost $408,000 to more than 50 nonprofits in Wisconsin. Then, Dane County Executive Melissa Agard has announced a comprehesive review of the County's contracting promise, and we consider why and what that means. Next up, Improve Your Tomorrow has started a Wisconsin chapter to capture students with potential and facing obstacles, and Madison College has opened a new early learning center for the children of students and staff. Finally, Assembly candidate Isaiah Ben-Ami joins the show to talk about his campaign, the imporant issues facing the downtown Madison district, and how the Democratic Party can reclaim "Freedom."

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On this week's 365 Amplified, we have yet another Sun Prairie schools update, where the former West High School principal now faces charges of failure to report child abuse -- including in a case not previously known. Plus, the Forward Madison Academy was in Minneapolis for a match last weekend, and immigration authorities grabbed the mother of one of the players. The club and soccer community have rallied to the player's aid while his mom remains in custody. Then, former Badger Freddie Owens joins the show to talk about his memoir, Echoes of Stark Park, set to be publised next month.

365 Amplified is produced by Rob Chappell for the 365 Media Foundation, a nonprofit local media organization in Madison, Wisconsin. Follow Madison365 on Bluesky, Facebook, LinkedIn and Threads, and check Madison365.org every day for the latest news.

It's a long one today -- we've been off for a couple weeks and have a lot to catch up on!

First, Omar talks through a few highlights of the upcoming Martin Luther King, Jr Day celebrations and activities around Madison.

Then, Rob has an update from Sun Prairie, where the school district released the results of the investigation into the dean of students who was arrested on 16 charges of child pornography and exploitation in July, and how district administrators responded. We learned that allegations started six months earlier than previously known, and that the first student who made them was suspended for doing so.

Next up, a harm reduction drop-in center proposed for the East Side has prompted pushback and stirred controversy due to a potential conflict of interest, a questionable proposal process and some potential cultural competency issues. We have the full rundown.

Then, Green Bay Police posted a photo of their new recruits, one of whom had a tattoo representing an extremist militia movement. We have some thoughts.

And before the break, an alert listener flagged a Cap Times column for us called "When we were a happier country," which prompts us to ask: happier for whom?

Then, we talk to Quentin Riser and Quinlan Riser, twin brothers -- one a professor of child development, one a financial adviser -- who have published a children's book on personal finance, hoping to get parents talking with their kids about money early.

And finally, as promised at the end of last year, our top albums of 2025!

This week on 365 Amplified, Rob Chappell, Omar Waheed, and Stephanie Díaz de León dig into Wisconsin's latest school district report cards and ask a hard question: who actually benefits from how schools are graded? The conversation explores racial achievement gaps, how DPI weights "economically disadvantaged" students, and why some districts can earn top scores while deep racial disparities remain.

The crew also reacts to the newly announced women's soccer team, Rally Madison, unpacking the name, branding, symbolism, and fan response — plus what it says about women's sports, marketing, and who teams are really built for.

Later, Rob sits down with Fitchburg City Council member Donald Dantzler, who's running for re-election and for Dane County Board. Dantzler reflects on his first term, major city projects, housing and transportation challenges, and why county government plays such a critical — and often overlooked — role in people's daily lives.

The episode wraps with the weekly question: if you had a warning label, what would it say?

As promised after last week's grammar discussion, Rob talks through the etymology of the word "sincere" and Omar coins a new slang term. All that only after:

• We get updates on stories we've been following in the Sun Prairie Area School District and the Dane County Department of Human Services.'
• We look ahead to the CEOs of Tomorrow "Pitch and Launch" event this weekend
• We note a few local elected officials who announced this week that they're running again
• Rock County Board Supervisor Genia Stevens joins us to tell us why she's not running again, how Rock County JumpStart is expanding and what new endeavor she's launching
• We make note of the "Color of the Year" and the issues with this year's selection

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In this week's episode of 365 Amplified, the team dives into a busy stretch of community events, local politics, sports news, and a thoughtful conversation with the leaders of the Urban League of Greater Madison Young Professionals.

• Holiday Black Bazaar returns bigger than ever, featuring 50+ Black-owned vendors, performances, and community gathering space at the Hub.

• Profile: Percy Brown — Omar talks about the new Carey Middle School principal and his winding journey through education and DEI work.

• Governor's race update — Mandela Barnes enters; the crew discusses timing, name recognition, new potential candidates, and what redistricting could mean for 2026.

• Judo phenom — Seventh-grader Ilion Hoskins heads to Peru to represent Team USA at the Pan American Championships.

• Sports roundup — Badger volleyball advances in NCAA play; Forward Madison re-signs Derek Gebhard and adds veteran defender Mark Segbers; the new Madison women's team unveils its branding December 12.

• Milwaukee soccer stadium — Still in the works, but no ground broken yet.

Current and incoming YP presidents Kayla Conklin and Déja Mason join the show to discuss:

• YP's growth and Central Region Chapter of Excellence recognition

• Why affinity spaces matter for young Black professionals

• Goals for 2026, including community service, advocacy, leadership development, and food security work

On the podcast today, Rob talks through a few news items before chatting with Rodney Rave, who's running for Congress in Wisconsin's Third Congressional District, which covers most of Western Wisconsin. A former Ho-Chunk Nation legislator, Rave could become the first Indigenous person to represent the state in Washington.

Today's episode is brought to you by Steinhafels.

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Rob's flying solo today, with a few news updates: a new Congressional candidate in western Wisconsin, an effort to support a beloved local musician who collapsed on stage after a heart attack last week, a recap of Madison College's first-ever trip to the national junior college men's soccer tournament, and a review of "Planets as Stars," the poetry-driven performance we previewed on the podcast last week.

Then, he talks to Kynala Phillips, the editor of a new community journalism project at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and an alum of Madison365's internship. Finally, he offers a bit of the Madison365 origin story, our philosophy, what community journalism means to us, and why we need you your support.

All donations are doubled when you give now at Madison365.org/Donate.