Liam Beran
@liamberan.bsky.social
former isthmus staff writer. Daily Cardinal alum and UW-Madison English department grad. Avid runner, photographer and coffee-enjoyer. tips: lberan@isthmus.com | he/him | 🇬🇧🇫🇷🇳🇱
Dim skies in the Netherlands, where thousands are currently watching the biggest solar eclipse the country's seen in 27 years; the next comparable one is expected in 2081. Here at Utrecht's Park Lepelenburg, hundreds of people are hanging out to watch. #photography #eclipse
Some #photography from my first few months in Utrecht/a Substack where I'll be posting some media/lit criticism, photography, and newsy odds and ends. Give it a follow! substack.com/home/post/p-...
Some personal news: After 2 years, my last day at @isthmusmadison.bsky.social will be May 8. I'm moving to the Netherlands later this month to pursue graduate studies in literature. I'm so grateful to my colleagues, and I'll miss so much about this job — seven hour city council meetings included.
The 37,000 square ft. Center for Black Excellence and Culture, located on West Badger Road in Madison, opens May 6. @isthmusmadison.bsky.social contributor Lauren Hafeman visited the space and chatted with performing arts coordinator Dana Pellebon about its programming. isthmus.com/arts/arts-be...
'A space that feels like us, that looks like us'
The Center for Black Excellence and Culture opens on May 6, with new performing arts and gallery spaces.
isthmus.com
Pretty cool to see how well many of this year's Wisconsin Film Fest entries & showings are doing with audiences. Linda Falkenstein @isthmusmadison.bsky.social isthmus.com/arts/arts-be...
‘Winter Hymns’ to return to Flix Brewhouse with three encore screenings
Did you miss seeing 'Winter Hymns' at the Wisconsin Film Festival? Director Nathan Deming has created a slate of Wisconsin showings, with three more screenings at Flix Brewhouse.
isthmus.com
Greg Gelembiuk, data analyst for the Madison Office of the Independent Police Monitor, testified that he’s been undergoing a hunger strike to advocate for the office. "I've been fasting with only water since early yesterday afternoon..." More from @liamberan.bsky.social: isthmus.com/news/news/ma...
Madison’s police monitor office threatens legal action against the city
Despite a new independent monitor, tensions are still high between Madison’s police oversight office and city hall.
isthmus.com
new: Madison alders' proposal to tighten regulations on its police oversight office — the first in Wisconsin — has prompted the office's leader to threaten legal action against the city. It also prompted a hunger strike by the office's data analyst. isthmus.com/news/news/ma...
Madison’s police monitor office threatens legal action against the city
Despite a new independent monitor, tensions are still high between Madison’s police oversight office and city hall.
isthmus.com
Referral of PCOB changes to 6/17 PCOB meeting and 8/4 Council passes 16-4. Ochowicz, Tishler, Field, Figueroa Cole vote no.
Wondering what's up with the Madison Public Market? Same here! Isthmus has tried since late December to schedule an interview with market CEO Keisha Harrison, who came on board with the market in July 2024. All interview requests have either been ignored or declined. isthmus.com/food-drink/q...
Questions we have about the Madison Public Market
People have questions about the opening of the Madison Public Market, and answers are in short supply.
isthmus.com
Centro to establish tech, workforce development hub with $3 million grant isthmus.com/news/news/ce...
Centro to establish tech, workforce development hub with $3 million grant
The nonprofit has responded to the second Trump administration with a legal defense fund. But it’s also trying to build up resources to promote workforce development for the Latinx community.
isthmus.com
new: After selling its Bakers Place property for $37 million, Madison developer Neutral has paid some of its long overdue bills, including $54,000 it owed Milwaukee muralist Janson Rapisarda. isthmus.com/news/news/ne...
Neutral sells Bakers Place for $37 million, pays mural artist
After selling its Bakers Place property, Madison developer Neutral is finally getting around to paying its bills.
isthmus.com
We have four stories up about Tuesday's spring election: From @liamberan.bsky.social: "In beating the conservative-backed candidate for state Supreme Court, Chris Taylor didn’t just win in reliably blue counties; she won handily in some red ones." isthmus.com/news/news/th...
The Wisconsin GOP puts up little fight as Chris Taylor cruises to victory
Taylor didn’t just win in reliably blue counties; she won handily in red ones such as Jefferson and Ozaukee.
isthmus.com
The one conservative on the Dane County Board lost his re-election bid.
The biggest difference for Madison’s city council from the April 7 election: one of the council's most NIMBY members was replaced by a resolute YIMBY. Two new members will join the Madison city council and both school board incumbents survived challenges. isthmus.com/news/news/tw...
Two new members join Madison city council: school board incumbents survive challenges
Noah Lieberman and Ellen Zhang will join the city council; incumbents Nicki Vander Meulen and Blair Mosner Feltham will remain on the school board.
isthmus.com
The Wisconsin GOP puts up little fight as Chris Taylor cruises to victory @isthmusmadison.bsky.social isthmus.com/news/news/th...
The Wisconsin GOP puts up little fight as Chris Taylor cruises to victory
Taylor didn’t just win in reliably blue counties; she won handily in red ones such as Jefferson and Ozaukee.
isthmus.com
Hoofers' building at Memorial Union to get $2.7 million expansion via @isthmusmadison.bsky.social isthmus.com/news/news/ho...
Hoofers' building at Memorial Union to get $2.7 million expansion
The student organization’s sailing club could get a new space soon. But it could entail removing some bike parking and impacting summer operations in 2027.
isthmus.com
Around two years ago, Madison developer Neutral was pitching itself as a future-forward firm emphasizing sustainability and accessible investment. It’s now facing upset contractors who say they haven’t been paid for $15 million+ in work. @isthmusmadison.bsky.social isthmus.com/news/news/le...
Legal troubles mount for real estate development firm Neutral
Neutral, a Madison-based development firm, is coming under fire for unpaid bills. One mural artist is waiting for more than $54,000 in fees.
isthmus.com
The Dane County clerk's response to Trump's calls to "take over the voting" in local jurisdictions: "There is no ‘nationalizing’ the elections.” Still, some local officials are worried, even given notable political and legal blockades to such an effort. isthmus.com/news/news/co...
Could Trump ‘nationalize’ elections in Dane County?
President Donald Trump has called on Republicans to ‘take over the voting’ in several jurisdictions.
isthmus.com
A new committee is looking to get ahead of data centers in Dane County. They're trying to make a roadmap for local communities, and their work will continue through 2026. New from me in your favorite local newspaper, @isthmusmadison.bsky.social! isthmus.com/news/news/wh...
What to do if a large data center comes knocking?
A Dane County committee has been tasked with ‘impartial fact-finding, researching, analyzing, and recommending the implications of data center development in Dane County.’ Their work will last through...
isthmus.com
new: Dane County Flock data has, per sharing agreements made by the sheriff's office, been shared with law enforcement agencies in 7 states (as far as Tennessee). That's raising concern among cybersecurity and civil liberties advocates. @isthmusmadison.bsky.social isthmus.com/news/news/do...
Does ICE have access to Flock data?
Flock data captured in Dane County has been shared as far away as Tennessee. That raises some flags for those worried about immigration enforcement.
isthmus.com
Hong Kong Café, Choles Floral could be demolished for 113-unit apartment building on Regent Street @isthmusmadison.bsky.social isthmus.com/news/news/Re...
Hong Kong Café, Choles Floral could be demolished for 113-unit apartment building on Regent Street
Development continues to transform one of Madison’s busiest corridors, as Chicago-based developer Peerless Development plans to build a mixed-use apartment building on the sites of Hong Kong Café and ...
isthmus.com
Incumbent Dane County judge Ben Jones led last night's primary with a 17-point lead. Challenger Huma Ahsan tells me she plans to make up the difference by April 7 with grassroots campaigning: "We are the Mamdani of this whole campaign." @isthmusmadison.bsky.social isthmus.com/news/news/hu...
Huma Ahsan vows grassroots challenge in Dane County Circuit Court race
Incumbent Dane County Circuit Court Judge Ben Jones had a sizable lead over challenger Huma Ahsan in Tuesday night’s primary.
isthmus.com
source request: If you or anyone you know has received an invite to the new Harry Styles album listening party in Madison, shoot me a DM!
As opposition to data centers in Wisconsin grows, Democrats propose statewide moratorium via @henry-redman.bsky.social wisconsinexaminer.com/2026/02/12/d...
Democratic lawmakers propose data center moratorium • Wisconsin Examiner
Wisconsin Democratic lawmakers on Thursday proposed legislation that would put a moratorium on data center construction.
wisconsinexaminer.com
College athletes’ NIL deals would be exempt from public records law under a bill supported by UW-Madison and recently introduced in Wisconsin. Universities have scrambled to keep such records private, citing "competitive interests." @isthmusmadison.bsky.social isthmus.com/news/news/co...
College athletes’ NIL deals would be exempt from public records law under Wisconsin bill
An Assembly bill would establish regulations in Wisconsin regarding name, image and likeness deals. It would hide such deals from the public eye.
isthmus.com
Madison mayor: paying damages for uncounted votes sets a dangerous precedent @isthmusmadison.bsky.social isthmus.com/news/news/ma...
Madison mayor: paying damages for uncounted votes sets a dangerous precedent
Madison’s argument that leaving absentee votes uncounted does not represent a constitutional violation drew sharp backlash. In response, Madison’s mayor suggests that perhaps the state should change i...
isthmus.com
A Dec. Tom Tiffany campaign ad contains irregularities that “point toward an AI-generated video,” an AI expert told @liamberan.bsky.social of @isthmusmadison.bsky.social. But it contains no disclaimer that generative AI was used, as is required by Wisconsin law. isthmus.com/news/news/di...
Disclaimer missing on likely AI-generated Tom Tiffany campaign ad
Though a campaign ad for gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany contains irregularities that ‘point toward an AI-generated video,’ the ad contains no disclaimer, as is required by Wisconsin state law.
isthmus.com
SCOOP: An ad for Tom Tiffany's gov campaign contains anomalies that "point to an AI-generated video," per a UW expert. But the ad doesn't contain a disclaimer required by state law. Tiffany's campaign didn't respond to a request for comment. @isthmusmadison.bsky.social isthmus.com/news/news/di...
Disclaimer missing on likely AI-generated Tom Tiffany campaign ad
Though a campaign ad for gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany contains irregularities that ‘point toward an AI-generated video,’ the ad contains no disclaimer, as is required by Wisconsin state law.
isthmus.com
