IJR News

James Madison Accepted Into American ConferenceSports — 2dJames Madison will join the American Conference as its 14th full member no later than July 1, 2028, leaving the Sun Belt after unanimous votes on both sides.

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Holly Madison Backs Jessica Biel’s Upcoming Playmates Film — 4dCrystal Hefner urged Jessica Biel to reconsider a fictionalized Hugh Hefner wife role in Playmates if it romanticizes him, citing abuse she says she endured; Holly Madison backs the film.

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Former Priest Pleads No Contest to Child-Sex ChargesWorld — 1dFormer Madison-area priest Andrew Showers, 38, pleaded no contest and was found guilty in Waupaca County of attempted child enticement, attempted second-degree sexual assault of a child, and possession of child sexual abuse material.

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Dana Whitfield No contest plea on the assault counts means he should face the maximum prison time possible.

Dolan Plans $10,000 Blakeman Fundraiser at MSG — 2dKnicks owner James Dolan is hosting a high-priced fundraiser for Republican New York gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman at Madison Square Garden before the team’s preseason game against Toronto. The event highlights Dolan’s substantial political support for Blakeman, who is trailing Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul in recent polls.

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Wisconsin Judge Allows Ballots Delayed by Election ErrorsPolitics — 1dA Dane County judge ruled that Wisconsin election officials may count absentee ballots held by municipal clerks by the 8 p.m. Election Day deadline even if official errors delay their arrival at polling places. The decision followed the rejection of 23 timely-cast Madison ballots in April and reverses the state elections commission’s position that late-arriving ballots cannot be counted.

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Sam Okafor I don't like changing the rules after the fact, it risks making elections look less reliable even if the intent is good.

AP Top 25 College Football TeamsRankingCollege football fans argue endlessly over which programs deserve the top spots in the AP Poll based on wins, schedule strength, and legacy.

Harry Styles honors Bronx ICE shooting victim — 2dHarry Styles paused his Madison Square Garden concert to honor Oscar Belgal, who was shot by ICE officers during an attempted arrest while his 5-year-old son was in the car. Styles urged the crowd to look after one another and treat people with respect and dignity; accounts of the shooting differ, and local officials have called for further investigation.

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Report Details University of Wisconsin-Madison Ties to Chinese School on Vehicle Technology — Oct 6, 2026A major American public university teamed up with a Chinese military-linked school on traffic technology that Beijing uses as a surveillance tool, a report found.

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Report names Francis Halzen as 2026 Nobel physics laureate — Oct 6, 2026Francis Halzen of UW-Madison wins 2026 Nobel Physics Prize for high-energy neutrino discovery with IceCube's over 5,000 Antarctic detectors.

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Maya Lindstrom It is surprising they announced a 2026 winner this early, but his record with high-energy astrophysics stands out.

States Push Tax Relief, Reshape Local RevenuePolitics — 6dState and local officials are shaping policy across a range of priorities, from economic development and legislative oversight to property-tax relief. The debate also includes how to preserve independent accountability structures, with a Madison board member questioning the process to remove the city’s interim police monitor.

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Princeton, Michigan Plan Nuttycombe Invitational RacesSports — Oct 7, 2026Princeton’s men’s and women’s cross-country teams and Michigan’s men will compete Friday at the Nuttycombe Invitational in Madison, Wisconsin, facing nationally ranked fields. Princeton enters after strong recent team and individual performances, while Michigan is coming off a runner-up finish at the Loyola Lakefront Invite.

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Five Homes Listed Across Three CountriesLifestyle — Oct 6, 2026The articles highlight a range of residential properties: homes listed in Madison and Buffalo, a renovated Victorian-era Brooklyn townhouse, and remaining conserved shophouse-style units at Singapore’s Atlassia development. Separately, a 1970s house in Kalix has sold.

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Most Influential Women in World HistoryYourlist — RankingFrom ancient queens who ruled empires to modern activists who changed laws, these women left indelible marks on politics, science, and culture. Vote for who you think shaped history most profoundly.

Communities Schedule Free Hazardous-Waste Disposal EventsEnvironment — Oct 7, 2026Communities in Washington, Florida and Indiana are offering residents free or fee-waived drop-off events for household hazardous waste, with Madison County, Alabama, also scheduling a free collection day. Hours, accepted items and locations vary, so residents should check their local event details before bringing materials.

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Diners Plan Around Steakhouse Classics Across Five StatesLifestyle — 4dThe features spotlight five old-school steak and supper-club destinations: The Prime Rib in Hanover, known for celebratory dinners and tuxedoed service, and Highland’s Town Club, where prime-rib tacos draw crowds on Wednesdays. They also highlight Hagerstown’s Bavarian-themed Schmankerl Stube, Dayton’s line-forming Paragon Supper Club, and Madison’s reservation-popular Tornado Steak House, each attracting diners with traditional fare and a distinctive vintage atmosphere.

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Alabama Cities Enact Lodging, Vehicle Tax HikesFinance — Oct 6, 2026Several Alabama cities will raise local taxes effective Oct. 1: Moody and Gadsden will charge a 10% lodging tax, while Madison and Huntsville will charge 10% plus $2 per room per night or day. Irondale will impose a 2.25% sales tax on certain vehicles, trailers and semitrailers.

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McCoy Links Herbert Struggles to Beer Attention — Oct 5, 2026With the Chargers at 0-4 and Justin Herbert throwing six interceptions, LeSean McCoy and some fans have speculated that his high-profile relationship with Madison Beer is distracting him. The claim is unsubstantiated; McCoy also criticized Herbert’s decision-making, and fans have pointed to broader team struggles.

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Toy Story vs ShrekYourlist — VS BattleThe toy box vs the swamp: two animation revolutions, one inevitable playground argument.

Golfers earn titles, honors across championshipsSports — Oct 7, 2026Episcopal Collegiate won Arkansas’ 3A boys’ golf title, while Flippin placed 10th; Madison finished 14th at South Dakota’s Class A championship. Stanford won its tournament as Nagore Martinez tied for 14th, and in the Mountain East Conference championship Glenville State took the team title while Wheeling finished second and freshman Cormac Pearson earned Freshman of the Year honors.

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Construction Worker Killed in Madison Hit-and-Run — Sep 24, 2026A road worker was fatally struck by a vehicle while working near Pflaum and Alder roads in Madison, and the driver left the scene. Police say speed may have been a factor, have contacted a person of interest, and are also speaking with the driver of a possible second vehicle involved.

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Roadwork Projects Planned Across Five CommunitiesPolitics — Oct 5, 2026Roadwork is beginning or planned across several communities: New Canaan’s Route 106 repaving is expected to take four to six weeks, while Summerland’s US 101 drainage work will bring overnight lane closures through mid-December. A safety upgrade will close Amarillo’s Hughes-Adams bridge until work is expected to finish in summer 2027; White Plains also has October road maintenance scheduled, and Madison County is resurfacing about 3.5 miles of Wall Triana Highway.

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HVAC Contractors Highlight Services Across Midwest CitiesLifestyle — Oct 1, 2026Homeowners in Columbus, Indianapolis and Milwaukee can consult local lists of vetted HVAC contractors for repairs, replacement and indoor-air-quality services. Seasonal guidance also recommends consistent thermostat settings and checking filters, ducts and plumbing before colder weather, while Madison-area Harker Heating & Cooling promotes its repair, installation and maintenance services.

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Police Find 30 Young Men Packed Into Hot Fraternity Basement During Hazing Probe — Sep 25, 2026Madison police found about 30 young men packed into a hot fraternity basement Wednesday night after receiving an anonymous tip about possible hazing there, authorities said. Accord… — by Andrew Powell

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Jared Kim An anonymous tip was smart here. Fraternities keep pulling this stuff and it is long past time they faced consequences.

WalletHub ranks Buffalo 33rd among top U.S. foodie cities — Sep 28, 2026A WalletHub study ranking more than 180 U.S. cities on 28 food-related measures placed Omaha 38th, Tucson 45th, Madison 53rd, Tulsa 67th and Greensboro 83rd among America’s best foodie cities. The analysis considered factors including grocery costs, access to quality restaurants and food festivals.

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Tom Gallagher Omaha at 38th is a surprise since their steak and casual dining options stand out more than some higher ranks suggest.

Kravitz Family Dances at Styles’ NYC Residency — Sep 24, 2026Lenny Kravitz and Zoë Kravitz enjoyed Harry Styles’ Madison Square Garden concert, where Styles acknowledged the pair from the stage; Zoë’s mother, Lisa Bonet, was also seen dancing at another show. Zoë and Styles are engaged, and reports say they are considering a small winter wedding followed by a larger celebration.

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Six College Football Games Set for Saturday With Heavy Favorites — Sep 19, 2026Wagner lost 87-3 to James Madison before facing California on Sept. 19, 2026, as BYU projects a 41-17 win at Colorado State and Oklahoma State plays after upsetting Oregon 39-31.

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Marcus Bell Virginia looks like the team to back in that matchup given their streak and momentum.

Metallica Announces 12-City 2027 Stadium Tour — Sep 16, 2026Metallica has announced an expanded 2027 M72 World Tour with multiple North American stadium stops, including a June 12 show at Camp Randall in Madison and dates spanning May through June in cities such as San Antonio, Vancouver, Fayetteville, and Salt Lake City, with Limp Bizkit and Avatar as support.

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Rachel Meyers Metallica adding more stadium dates in 2027 looks solid, especially with Limp Bizkit and Avatar opening some shows.