Wisconsin Life

12/09/2025

Snowmobile watercross racing turns winter machines into warm-weather thrill rides. Riders skim across lakes on snowmobiles built for snow, but tuned to fly over water with precision and power.
It’s part engineering, part balance, and all Wisconsin energy.

12/09/2025

12/08/2025

12/05/2025

"You’ve normalized reading for my daughter. Whereas, like with her peer group, enjoying reading is not seen as cool...When she saw you do it during your free time and not watch TV, not use your phone, where you always had a book in your bag, or you had a book in every room or a book — for her, she’s like, 'I can put a book in every free space?' I just really appreciate that."

Beth Lo grew up spending most of her free time immersed in books. Now living with her sister Mai J. Lo Lee of Appleton, Wisconsin, she has come to find that her love for reading has had a positive influence on her family, despite how her parents felt about it. ...

12/03/2025

"When you’re driving a semi-truck there are so many things you need to be aware of: Your speed, the size of the vehicle, the traffic all around you, where the trailer is behind you. Dad did this all without thinking. But my mind had trouble with that high-level multitasking." - Writer Keith Uhlig of Wausau

Writer Keith Uhlig of Wausau often wondered if he should have taken a different career path. So when he was able to pivot professionally, he finally gave truck driving a shot.

12/03/2025

For centuries, Ho-Chunk people have created small lodges called ciiporoke for sleeping, cooking and gathering as a community. Now, a Ho-Chunk builder is helping Wisconsin students construct their own structure.

WPR's Richelle Wilson visited Wingra School in Madison as students refurbished the school’s ciiporoke this fall, for Wisconsin Life.

https://www.wpr.org/culture/ho-chunk-traditional-ciiporoke-wisconsin-students-lightning-new-rider

11/29/2025

For centuries, Ho-Chunk people have created small lodges called ciiporoke for sleeping, cooking and gathering as a community. Now, a Ho-Chunk builder is helping Wisconsin students construct their own structure.

“These were built to last,” artist and horticulturist Lightning New Rider told Wisconsin Life.

https://www.wpr.org/culture/ho-chunk-traditional-ciiporoke-wisconsin-students-lightning-new-rider

Reporting and photos: Richelle Wilson

11/26/2025

For centuries, Ho-Chunk people have created small lodges called ciiporoke for sleeping, cooking and gathering as a community. Now, a Ho-Chunk builder is helping Wisconsin students construct their own structure.

11/24/2025

11/24/2025

This Indigenous Peoples Month, we highlight . As a designer and jingle dress dancer, she honors Ojibwe history while shaping a future rooted in culture, resilience, and pride.

11/21/2025

"Deer sign was abundant so I searched for a likely spot to take up watch. The group of cedars seemed perfect so I took a seat amongst them. It was impossible at 15 to realize how the aspen and the cedars would weave themselves into the fabric of my life." - Writer Ron Weber on his favorite hunting spot, just ahead of the gun deer season opener

As hunters flock to the woods for gun deer season, their days will be steeped in tradition and contemplation. For writer and forester Ron Weber, this time has always been about more than the hunt. It’s about appreciating the world and memories swirling around him.