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By Chris Rickert, Wisconsin State Journal – The success of Dane County’s private voucher and independent charter schools on the state report cards released this week varied greatly, with scores oftentimes reflecting differences in student body demographics. Among the 10 schools rated, scores ranged from a high of 84.7 at Eastside Evangelical Lutheran Elementary in Madison, to a low of 56.3 at Westside Christian School in Middleton. The scores correspond to a rating of “significantly exceeds expectations” for Eastside and “meets few expectations” for Westside Christian. Read more of this story.

By Barry Adams – Wisconsin State Journal – Paul Lang thought his job was going to be fairly straightforward. In 2022, he began work inside St. Bernard Catholic Church on Madison’s East Side to refurbish the choir loft and create space for pipes behind the alter so two restored vintage pipe organs could be installed. But the $3 million project is now a small part of what has become a $33 million transformation for the nearly 100-year-old church building and the 150,882 members of the Diocese of Madison. In February, the diocese hopes to consecrate St. Bernard’s as a cathedral…

Using biblical principles to save lives is the eligibility criteria for the local ministries that have been recognized and rewarded in the four quarterly gatherings this year sponsored by United Madison Christian Givers, the organization that evolved and merged a year ago from the Madison Christian Giving Fund and United Madison. The fourth and final Grant Award Event of 2025 was held October 28th at the InterVarsity building. Six pre-selected ministries presented their mission and were rewarded with financial support to further their work. When the votes of the 40 members were counted, the top three ministries were awarded checks…

By Nicole Pollack – Wisconsin State Journal – Luther Memorial Church on Madison’s Near West Side is asking the developer of a planned 15-story student apartment building to compensate it for what it projects will be lost output from the church’s new solar panels and damage to its century-old sandstone exterior by leaving the church covered in shadow for much of the day. The apartment building would be taller than the peak of the church roof, and church officials said it would shade the church — and the church’s solar panels — far more than the four-story structure the building…

By Juliana Tornabene and Leigh Mills MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – It’s a parent’s unending love and faith in God, that’s held the Garduno-Martinez family together in the 10 months since the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School. The Madison family has experienced some of the most painful times imaginable, as then 17-year-old Samy Garduno-Martinez, who loved cross country and spending time with friends, was one of the students critically wounded following the school shooting. Read more of this story.

By Christ Rickert – Wisconsin State Journal – Becky Mack had a rough start to life. Raised along with her four siblings by a drug-addicted, “nomad” father, she suffered abuse and was intermittently removed from his care by child welfare workers until she went into foster care for good at the age 8 when the family moved to Madison. But 28 years later, Mack is proof that a rough start doesn’t have to define the finish. With some help from sources both earthly and divine, Mack got her high school diploma, then her certified nursing assistant license, then her nursing…

Nationally recognized Christian Hip Hop artists Steven Malcolm and George.Rose are headlining an afternoon of music at Madison’s Olin Park this coming Saturday, September 27. The concert runs from 11:00 am to 5:00pm, and will also include local artists. Clear Hits Radio, an internet radio station is sponsoring this concert, with financial support from United Madison Christian Givers. Clear Hits Radio was one of the first winners in a new granting procedure started earlier this year by United Madison Christian Givers, formerly the Madison Christian Giving Fund. Their winning proposal featured a “Welcome Back Hip Hop” concert for UW students…

By Cara Buckley – New York Times The prairie sisters of Wisconsin would never call themselves renegades. Not in their decision to open their Roman Catholic community to Protestants. And not in their decades-long work restoring 170 acres around their monastery to ecological health, transforming lawns and farm fields into thriving oak savanna and native prairie that is riotous with wildflowers and grasses, insects, rabbits and birds. The sisters of Holy Wisdom Monastery outside Madison, Wisc., say these actions fulfill their highest calling: to welcome all people and care for the Earth as a sacred place. The sisters have won…

In a message at the beginning of the 2025 fall semester, the University of Wisconsin urged students to review their class schedule and “note with your instructors any need for academic flexibility due to religious or cultural observances.” The note added that relief from an exam or assignment should be requested within the first two weeks of classes. The university and other state schools have a religious observance policy as mandated by state statute. The UW policy states: “A student’s claim of a religious conflict, which may include travel time, should be accepted at face value. A great variety of…

By Nicole Pollack – Wisconsin State Journal – The former Lakeview Moravian Community Church has stood for about 70 years on a triangular block in Madison’s Eastmorland neighborhood. Now empty, the single-story building at 3565 Tulane Ave. will soon be demolished for 26 lower-cost apartments and a new Eastmorland Community Center. The church’s two congregations, known collectively as Common Grace, have relocated temporarily to St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Monona but will return after construction to worship in the community center’s multi-use performance space. Upwards of 75 people showed up Wednesday to celebrate the church and community center breaking ground…