What can you find in this week's Isthmus? Highlights from the latest issue follow:
- Nora G. Hertel profiles Ronda Schwetz, the recently hired director of the Henry Vilas Zoo.
- Joe Tarr conducts an exit interview with departing County Board Chair Scott McDonell.
- Joe Tarr reports on the crowded races for the Madison school board.
- Ruth Conniff reports on Wisconsin Republicans' plans to push for private school vouchers and more charter schools in the upcoming legislative session.
- Ruth Conniff argues that the fiscal cliff deal stacks the deck against the middle class.
- Aaron R. Conklin asks six local arts leaders look to 2013 by sharing the most important lessons they learned in 2012.
- Marie Loeffler interviews Wisconsin's new poet laureate, Max Garland.
- Alan Talaga recaps his five favorite comedy shows of 2012.
- Jessica Steinhoff checks in with local blues singer Kyle Henderson, who starred in one of MTV's inaugural music videos with his new-wave band the Producers.
- Jessica Steinhoff chats with Mike Reeb, a folk rocker from Chicago set to perform at the Frequency.
- Dean Robbins thinks Shirley MacLaine saves the new season of Downton Abbey.
- MaryAnn Johanson tries to figure out who the villain is in Matt Damon's latest movie, Promised Land, and Scott Renshaw is enthralled by the tension in The Impossible, the tale of a family that gets separated during the 2004 tsunami.
- André Darlington seeks Madison's best Reuben -- and finds it.
- Jay Rath celebrates the opening of Madison's ice rinks.
- IsthmusParents.com: Linda Falkenstein reports on Camp HOPE, a special place for grieving children -- and their parents.
- Tell All sympathizes with Suzy Favor Hamilton in her prostitution scandal.
- Jason Joyce examines the NFL playoff matchups.
