Residents of the Mifflin Street neighborhood heard presentations by area developers regarding two proposed apartment complexes on Mifflin and Dayton streets Tuesday evening. The first development, set to be located at 431 W. Dayton St., is a four-story complex divided into four separate units with 23 bedrooms total. Developer Daniel… Read more »

City Council approved two separate items Tuesday evening, removing a 365-day limit from a portion of the city’s Alcohol License Density Ordinance and pursuing the building of a new Central Library at the current West Mifflin Street location. The 365-day limit stipulates a vacated establishment previously holding an alcohol license… Read more »

After City Council formally made Madison the 16th fair trade city in the nation in mid-April, members of the Wisconsin Student Public Interest Research Group’s Fair Trade Committee met with city officials and fair trade representatives to announce the city’s new status. Alds. Bryon Eagon and Mike Verveer, Districts 8… Read more »

A Madison woman awoke to find an unwelcome visitor attempting to enter her home early Sunday morning before the suspect fled as police arrived. Officers from the Madison Police Department responded to the scene shortly before 5:00 a.m. after a 22 year-old Madison woman claimed a man had tried to… Read more »

Although Saturday’s Mifflin Street Block Party may have seen a jump in arrest numbers from last year, numerous city officials and representatives from enforcement agencies agreed this year’s event was one of the largest and most successful in recent years. Arrests for the event totaled 206 as of 8 p.m.… Read more »

The headaches have subsided and the streets are for the most part cleared of aluminum cans, vomit and debris, but despite any outstanding fines or less-than-advisable decisions, Saturday’s Mifflin Street Block Party has passed and everyone seems to have made it out in one piece. Warm weather greeted partygoers as… Read more »

Whether University of Wisconsin students have papers due in the final week of class, presentations to hastily assemble or professors to attempt to appease in the waning hours of the academic year, the Mifflin Street Block Party approaches and their presence is expected. Since 1969, the annual event has attracted… Read more »

A shooting on the city’s east side Wednesday evening left one Madison man dead and has prompted an investigation coordinated between a number of enforcement agencies to find the suspects involved. At approximately 9:43 p.m. Wednesday, officers from the Madison Police Department were called to the 2100 block of Fordem… Read more »

Madison’s Vending Oversight Committee suggested plans for a southeast campus vending area as a way of relieving Broom Street business owners from the issues created by large carts in front of their establishments at a meeting Wednesday. The placement of large vending carts, traditionally limited to the 700 block of… Read more »

Mifflin Street Block Party organizers, neighborhood residents and city staff addressed concerns Tuesday evening regarding expectations for the upcoming event. Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said he was surprised by the low turnout, but added he hoped that meant there were fewer concerns by residents of the Mifflin neighborhood. This… Read more »

The city’s Board of Estimates unanimously endorsed a resolution supporting continued efforts toward the rebuilding of the Central Library Monday. Negotiations between the city and developer Fiore Co. were halted in recent months after the two groups failed to reach an agreement on the price. Recently, many City Council members,… Read more »

Mifflin Street residents, city agencies and event organizers will come together this evening to address any preliminary concerns and expectations for the fast-approaching Mifflin Street Block Party. The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Madison Senior Center located at 330 W. Mifflin St. It is intended to… Read more »

Two would-be thieves had their efforts thwarted early Friday morning after the victim failed to fall for their alleged charade. A Rochester, Minn. man was approached by two men near the corner of Gilman and State streets at approximately 2:19 a.m. Friday, an incident report from the Madison Police Department… Read more »

Pope Benedict XVI and a number of high-ranking Vatican officials are the subject of a lawsuit by an Illinois man claiming they knowingly failed to address a Milwaukee priest’s abuse of children. St. Paul attorney Jeff Anderson filed a lawsuit in a Milwaukee court yesterday naming Joseph Ratzinger, the Vatican’s… Read more »

A county board comprised of representatives from a number of local emergency and enforcement agencies unanimously approved a previously disputed automated attendant system for the county’s 911 Center Wednesday. The system was implemented after an audit of the 911 Center found emergency dispatchers handled a large amount of non-emergency calls,… Read more »

The city’s Alcohol License Review Committee unanimously approved the effective repeal of an ordinance requiring vacant alcohol-selling establishments to fill their tenancy within 365 days to maintain their location’s designation under the ordinance. The ordinance, set to expire this coming October, has come under scrutiny in recent months by representatives… Read more »

Following the approval of the implementation of an automated call-taking system, the county’s Public Safety Communications Center Board addressed the possibility of a countywide 311 system that could perhaps better fulfill the automated system’s intentions. John Dejung, director of the 911 Center, said though a 311 system could be beneficial,… Read more »

A Dane County judge decided Tuesday to proceed to a jury trial in the case of a property management company facing allegations by the family of slain University of Wisconsin junior Brittany Zimmermann that they failed to provide adequate security in the student’s residence. Circuit Court Judge Maryann Sumi denied… Read more »

After being turned away from a house party early Saturday morning, a disgruntled would-be guest allegedly took out his frustrations on three fellow partygoers. At approximately 1:00 a.m., Jack Ryan, 18, of Milwaukee, was told to leave a party on Spring Street, an incident report from the Madison Police Department… Read more »

In a recent development there are now four locations that have been tapped by the state’s Department of Transportation as possible sites for the expansion of Amtrak rails into the area. The four possible sites that could host rail lines and further multimodal capabilities include the Dane County Regional Airport,… Read more »

A judge ruled in favor of the city of Madison Friday, following a suit the city brought against Dane County in February, designating which groups have the authority to determine policy within the 911 Center. Judge Juan Colas ruled that it is the Public Safety Communications Center Board, not County… Read more »

Preparations for the upcoming Mifflin Street Block Party are nearing completion with Wednesday’s conditional approval of a street use permit. The permit will likely be granted once the organizers have all their insurance in place, Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said. Event organizers Ny Bass and David Coleman of DCNY… Read more »

A presentation by the designer of the proposed Yahara Station rail terminal Tuesday afternoon was characterized by a low turnout, but despite the attendance, organizers said the issue remains vital to Madison and the state’s continued economic development. Barry Gore, the station’s developer and designer, said the impact of a… Read more »

The owner and operator of Jin’s Chicken and Fish may be forced to cease vending from his usual site on Library Mall if City Council approves a proposal approbated Monday by the city’s Vending Oversight Committee. Jeffrey Okafo, who holds the vending license for operating the cart, received a suspension… Read more »

An attempted armed robbery was foiled last weekend after the victims decided to fight back against their assailants. At around 3:30 p.m. Saturday, a 19-year-old Madison woman, later identified as Breannia Harris, entered the apartment of an acquaintance on the 1600 block of Gilson Street to “hang out,” an incident… Read more »

Members of the city’s Alcohol License Review Committee visited a number of downtown establishments Friday evening in an attempt to better understand the effects of their policymaking and enforcement with respect to the liveliness and occasional mayhem that is Madison’s nightlife scene. Although a number of establishments had lines out… Read more »

Two recent developments regarding the approval of the Edgewater Hotel redevelopment occurred Thursday: the denial of the Mansion Hill residents’ appeal and the postponement of the Landmarks Commission’s decision. A memo by Assistant City Attorney Katherine Noonan said the appeal filed by Mansion Hill residents concerning the Plan Commission’s approval… Read more »

St. Paul’s University Catholic Center could undergo a major improvement in coming years in the form of a complete rebuilding of its facility at the bottom of State Street. Improvement plans for the 723 State St. location, on the University of Wisconsin’s Library Mall, had come before city staff in… Read more »

Brothers Bar and Grill dropped a lawsuit Tuesday against the UW System Board of Regents contesting the board’s use of eminent domain to condemn the bar’s property, just one day before the parties were set to meet in court. Eric and Marc Fortney, the establishment’s owners, along with their attorneys,… Read more »

In response to the approval of the Edgewater Hotel redevelopment proposal last month by the city’s Plan Commission, a group of concerned residents from the city’s Mansion Hill District have submitted an appeal to the commission’s decision. The March 23 meeting where the initial decision was made went late into… Read more »

After months of campaigning, University of Wisconsin senior Analiese Eicher was elected to the Dane County Board of Supervisors’ District 5 seat last night. Candidates called the race between the democratically endorsed Eicher and her opponent, Progressive Dane candidate Michael Johnson, not long after polls closed at 8 p.m. The… Read more »

The Madison Public Library Board approved a resolution Monday to continue with plans to renovate the city’s Central Library after talks regarding the building’s relocation fell apart last month. Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and Library Board President Tripp Widder held two separate presentations yesterday, one for City Council representatives and the… Read more »

Individuals living on or near the University of Wisconsin campus will be casting their votes today to determine their representation on the Dane County Board of Supervisors. At polling places throughout the county’s fifth district, including Gordon Commons, Memorial Union, Holt Commons and Memorial Library, voters are faced with determining… Read more »

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After plans for the construction of a new Madison Central Library were abandoned when the city and developer failed to reach an agreement last month, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and policymakers are working to bring new life to the project by pushing for renovation at its current site. Negotiations between the… Read more »

The Madison downtown area was the site of a high-speed car chase last week. A Madison Police Department officer encountered a stolen vehicle last Monday, March 29. While attempting to pursue and apprehend the driver, a high-speed chase through the downtown area broke out. On March 20, a green 2004… Read more »

A proposed ordinance that could limit consumption of alcohol by those serving it and working under contract with a bar or restaurant received input from representatives of city groups and policymakers at a listening session Friday. The ordinance, known as “Sober Server,” has seen criticism from a number of city… Read more »

After failing to provide a plan compatible with neighborhood standards in November, the Edgewater Hotel redevelopment will once again go before the city’s Landmarks Commission next month in an attempt to assuage some of the concerns regarding the design’s appropriateness. Project developer Bob Dunn, president of Hammes Co., announced yesterday… Read more »

A local Good Samaritan was robbed at knifepoint Sunday evening by the very man he has been helping. Kenneth Pendleton, 46, of Madison, was arrested on charges of armed robbery and unlawful trespass following the robbery of a 22-year-old Madison man on the 500 block of State Street, according to… Read more »

The county’s Green Energy Dane Plan recently received approval of more than $2.2 million in economic stimulus funds from the U.S. Department of Energy. County Executive Kathleen Falk announced the acquisition of funds to go toward energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in a statement Monday. County officials expect the… Read more »

Although many students may be familiar with Madison’s alderpersons or Wisconsin’s representatives and senators, relatively few may be able to name their district supervisor or the individual who serves as the head of the county’s government. This main legislative body of Dane County, the Board of Supervisors, serves as the… Read more »

Nearly six months after assuming the position following the death of John Stanley, Dane County Coroner Ray Wosepka passed away Saturday of heart-related complications, a statement from the Dane County Sheriff’s Office said. Wosepka previously served as the county’s coroner from 1988 to 2000, but retired in 2001 after being… Read more »

Various area activist groups came together Saturday afternoon to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the war in Iraq and protest the United States’ continued involvement in Afghanistan. The rally was organized by the Madison Area Peace Coalition and drew around 200 individuals from the community and representatives from such groups… Read more »

A University of Wisconsin student was allegedly sexually assaulted on Langdon Street last Thursday, the second incident involving a female UW student to take place in the area in recent weeks. An incident report from the Madison Police Department said a 22-year-old Madison woman was walking alone on the 100… Read more »

Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and Fiore Companies Executive Vice President Bill Kunkler brought negotiations between the two parties concerning renovations to the Central Library to a close Thursday after an agreement on project costs failed to be reached. After local media coverage earlier this week hinted negotiations had come to… Read more »

The city’s Downtown Coordinating Committee heard updates Thursday from various city agencies concerning land use and the future of the Downtown Plan along with a report from the Overture Center on its local economic impact. Overture Center Planning and Analysis Director Jennifer Post Tyler opened the meeting with a presentation… Read more »

Organizers from last year’s Mifflin Street Block Party presented initial plans to the city’s Street Use Staff Commission Wednesday morning in one of many steps to be taken in preparation for the annual event. Local production company DCNY PRO, comprised of David Coleman and Ny Bass, is looking to build… Read more »

The city’s Alcohol License Review Committee approved licenses for a number of area establishments Wednesday along with formally requesting an audit of Africana’s financial records in the face of recent neighborhood disturbances. Africana Restaurant and Lounge, located at 2701 Atwood Ave., had faced scrutiny in recent months as a result… Read more »

A city committee approved a revised design for the new Gordon Commons Monday that includes an expanded plaza, among other aesthetic changes. Committee members were supportive of much of the project, but originally took issue with many of the features of the building when plans were presented Jan. 25. Gary… Read more »

Birds are singing, the snow has melted, Saturday marks the first day of spring and, in true Madison fashion, construction throughout the city will soon resume. Local business owners and city staff were invited to view a presentation Monday by Chris Petykowski of City of Madison—Engineering Division. Petykowski covered various… Read more »

Madison residents were invited to take part in the first public discussion regarding the city’s desire to host Google’s new high-speed fiber Internet Thursday evening. The presentation, hosted at Olbrich Botanical Gardens, saw nearly 100 Madison residents come out to voice their support and submit their ideas to sway Google’s… Read more »

Members of Madison’s Tibetan community gathered Wednesday to commemorate and celebrate the 51st anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising against the Chinese government. Assembling on Library Mall, the group took up flags, banners and signs bearing Tibetan rights slogans before heading down State Street toward the Capitol. Leading the procession… Read more »

A burglar found himself on the business end of a baseball bat early Sunday morning after one of the residents caught the suspect in the middle of the act. An incident report from the Madison Police Department said just before 3 a.m. a 19-year-old Madison man arrived home to find… Read more »

The city of Madison’s efforts to host Google’s new high-speed Internet technology will be opened to public comment and contribution Thursday. City Council declared its support last week for Google Fiber, the broadband Internet technology that could offer up to one gigabyte per second to communities found to be acceptable… Read more »

A Madison man was killed early Monday morning on the city’s south side, the victim of an apparent homicide. Lofton V. Sprouls, 27, of Madison, was pronounced dead shortly before 4 a.m. after being transported to an area hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound and resuscitation efforts had failed,… Read more »

The city’s Plan Commission adopted a resolution Monday that would put developments regarding the proposed Central Park another step closer to fruition. The final report of the Central Park Design and Implementation Task Force was greeted with enthusiasm by commission members who felt the report’s role as a supplement to… Read more »

After a report showed Tasers are disproportionately used on black males by police officers, the Equal Opportunities Commission’s Executive Committee decided Monday to continue looking into use of the weapon. Taser usage by the Madison Police Department, online criminal records and efforts to minimize racial disparities in Dane County were… Read more »

A late night car chase led to a fatal crash early Sunday morning on the University of Wisconsin campus’ west side, leaving the vehicle operator dead. The crash took place on University Avenue near Babcock Hall; the victim was taken to UW Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 12:54… Read more »

The Dane County Executive Committee saw updates Thursday regarding the implementation of the new 911 Center automated attendant system and a proposal to assemble a task force to address racial disparities in the county’s criminal justice system. The automated attendant system, which went into effect last Saturday, has been surrounded… Read more »

Tuesday’s meeting of the Madison City Council saw the approval of a zoning ordinance that could place the Edgewater Hotel redevelopment proposal another step closer to completion amid numerous recent delays in the review process. The recent council meeting was expected to determine the fate of the project after it… Read more »

A Dane County judge ruled in favor Friday of a postponement of the implementation of certain parts of the 911 Center’s newly introduced automated-attendant call handling system. Dane County Circuit Judge Juan Colas determined that though the system itself could be implemented, a new dispatching system that handles parking enforcement… Read more »

Advertisements in the student newspapers and a particularly large banner, which the city forced to be taken down Thursday, have highlighted new strategies implemented by Brothers Bar and Grill owners Eric and Marc Fortney. The banner was put up Wednesday evening, and depicts a large target on the side of… Read more »

Edgewater developer Hammes Co. presented changes to its proposed redevelopment to the Urban Design Commission Wednesday evening, centering on the building’s footprint, the layout of the public plaza and how vehicles are brought into the site. Three main changes were made to the design based on the recommendations of the… Read more »

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk announced the implementation of new technology in its 911 Center to better prioritize and handle incoming non-emergency calls at a press conference Tuesday. A release from Falk noted that based on the findings of an audit by Matrix Consulting Group, 72 percent of calls received… Read more »

Tuesday’s spring primaries saw low voter turnout and few local officials up for election, with the day’s most prominent primary being the race for a seat on the Fourth District Court of Appeals. Voter turnout in primarily student districts was minimal. In all, 39 votes were cast in the six… Read more »

The controversial Edgewater proposal took one more gradual step toward approval Monday night by way of the Board of Estimates. Amendments to a 1965 ordinance regulating the site of the proposed Edgewater redevelopment were approved Monday with no opposition voiced, save one alder. Though the agenda’s main item regarding Tax… Read more »

Hopefuls for the Dane County Board of Supervisors’ fifth district, containing much of the campus area, have received numerous endorsements in recent weeks, highlighting both the continuation of organizational ties and new territory for at least one group. District 5 candidates Analiese Eicher and Michael Johnson are looking to fill… Read more »

A December newsletter from the Madison Police Department notes that although numerous forms of crime have become less frequent during 2009, thefts from automobiles and drug incidents saw a significant increase throughout the year. Compiled by MPD Central District Captain Mary Schauf the newsletter is essentially a year in review… Read more »

Early Friday morning a University of Wisconsin student was struck by a vehicle while crossing a road near campus, and was subsequently given a sudden pedestrian movement ticket for her part in the incident. A report from the Madison Police Department said at approximately 7:15 a.m. Friday, an oncoming vehicle… Read more »

After garnering considerable attention over their ongoing legal battle with the Board of Regents, the owners of Brothers Bar and Grill are hoping the new support will help them combat the university’s eminent domain claim on their property. . The Board of Regents announced plans in 2008 to use eminent… Read more »

The Associated Students of Madison approved a University of Wisconsin student Tuesday to represent Madison’s student population on the Alcohol License Review Committee. ASM Chair Tyler Junger approved UW sophomore Austin Buerosse to fill the position. Junger formally appointed Buerosse to the position of non-voting student technical adviser after 16… Read more »

Members of the city’s Transit and Parking Commission saw proposed amendments to the city’s Low Income Bus Pass Program’s eligibility requirements Tuesday. Brought forth by Ald. Shiva Bidar-Sielaff, District 5, and member of the Low Income Bus Pass Committee, the proposal seeks to change the qualifications for Madison citizens to… Read more »

The Plan Commission approved amendments to city zoning legislation Monday that would prevent new lakefront redevelopments, including the Edgewater Hotel, from building closer to lakes. The amendment, proposed by Ald. Lauren Cnare, District 3, states that the lakefront setbacks of existing buildings cannot be exceeded by new buildings, redevelopments or… Read more »

The March issue of Men’s Health magazine will contain a ranking of “America’s Drunkest Cities,” and coming in at No. 15 is Madison, Wisconsin with a grade of D-. One hundred cities across the nation were graded and assigned a rating based on a variety of factors including alcohol-related crash… Read more »

A new state bill proposed in the wake of University of Wisconsin junior Brittany Zimmermann’s murder would stop individuals and media outlets from accessing audio recordings of 911 calls to protect the victims and their families. Currently, an audio recording can be requested through open records requests after a “balancing… Read more »

Madison residents will soon be able to enjoy a new range of barbeque styles and comfort foods with the opening of Brickhouse BBQ later this month. Set to open Feb. 17, Brickhouse BBQ bar manager Ian Gort said the establishment intends to offer a variety of barbeque styles, from Kansas… Read more »

Designs for the Mendota Court apartment building saw final approval at Wednesday’s Urban Design Commission meeting, where modified plans for the Edgewater Hotel redevelopment were also contemplated and a decision on the Hilldale Target was referred to a future meeting. Apartment developer Patrick Corcoran came before the commission and, in… Read more »

A report commissioned by the fundraising organization of the Overture Center for the Arts has noted a variety of increases in values and revenues across the city since the time of the launching of the Overture project. Besides the $1.9 billion increase in aggregate property value in the downtown area… Read more »

Following a late-January robbery of a Chase Bank on Madison’s east side, the FBI apprehended the alleged perpetrator and an accomplice last week. Sarah Dupleasis, 23, of Stevens Point and Daniel Needham, 25, of Wausau are facing charges in the Jan. 28 robbery of Summit Credit Union in Sun Prairie… Read more »

Tuesday’s meeting of City Council saw approval of the proposed apartments at 617 and 619 Mendota Ct. The project will go before the city’s Urban Design Commission today to gain final approval for the apartments’ designs and aesthetics. Developer Patrick Corcoran laid out a brief synopsis of the project’s history… Read more »

Draft amendments to the city’s Alcohol License Density Ordinance and the “Sober Server” ordinance were approved by subcommittee members and representatives from Madison’s Central Business Improvement District Tuesday. Members addressed concerns with the difficulties brought about by ALDO’s 365-day grace period requiring new licensees to apply within the time period… Read more »

Members of the city’s Plan Commission expressed the need to balance the character of the city with development and growth at a meeting Monday regarding Madison’s Downtown Plan, which will determine the face and operation of the city in coming years. City planner Bill Fruhling presented maps and charts detailing… Read more »

A mugging on Madison’s north side went awry when the would-be victim had nothing to give to his assailants early Monday morning. Around midnight, while walking on Forster Drive smoking a cigarette, the victim was approached by three individuals. One of the suspects asked the man for a cigarette and… Read more »

Police responded to the 100 Block of State Street around 2:15 a.m. Sunday to a report of a man having been stabbed. Upon their arrival a man approached Madison Police Department officers claiming to have been stabbed. The officers then observed what appeared to be a stab wound, the… Read more »

A string of crimes across Madison last week was highlighted by a man allegedly stuffing his pants with steak and mustard bottles at an area market, as well as a bank robbery suspected to be connected to another in the past week. An incident report from Madison Police Department details… Read more »

Edgewater developer Hammes Company presented new designs and project outlines to City Council Thursday, making Hammes one step closer to advancing their project before the proposal once again goes before the City Council on Feb. 23. Among the designs altered are increased green spaces, access to the lake, aesthetics more… Read more »

J.D. Salinger is dead. The insular writer passed away at the age of 91 in his Cornish, New Hampshire home Wednesday, the New York Times reported. Perhaps best known for his novel “The Catcher in the Rye,” Salinger, amid his growing popularity at the time, fled the spotlight and lived… Read more »

The Dane County Sheriff’s Office received five separate grants in 2009 that will train deputies and traffic enforcement on Dane County’s roads. Of the five grants received by DCSO, four came from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The fifth was aimed solely at Operating While Intoxicated enforcement. According to a… Read more »

The city’s Committee on Sweatfree Purchases is looking to make Madison part of a larger consortium that would allow them better transparency and follow-through with regards to purchases from suppliers to the city, officials said during their meeting Wednesday. Wednesday was only the second meeting of the committee established to… Read more »

The city of Madison intends to increase the fees associated with a range of parking violations by $5 in the coming month to increase revenue for the city’s budget. After being unanimously approved Monday by the Board of Estimates, the ordinance will go to city council next week for final… Read more »

Officials are highlighting the necessity of maintaining vigilance when traveling alone after one woman was robbed at gunpoint and another woman was battered on local bike paths this weekend. Representatives from both the University of Wisconsin and the Madison Police Department have advised students and area residents to use common… Read more »

University of Wisconsin campus planners revealed more details about the construction of a new Gordon Commons and the relocation of the McBurney Center at a meeting of the Joint Southeast Campus Area Committee Monday night. The new 98,000 square foot, three level facility would be constructed on the former site… Read more »

Crowds of people gathered Saturday to celebrate the grand opening of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin’s new South Madison Family Planning and Education Center. Representatives from PPWI’s management, County Executive Kathleen Falk and Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-WI, were present to show their support for the facility at 2222 S. Park St.… Read more »

Members of the city’s Downtown Coordinating Committee heard presentations concerning the state of Madison’s Metro Transit service and a proposal regarding the committee’s position on the intercity passenger rail service Thursday. Transit General Manager Chuck Kamp brought figures before the committee, highlighting the success of the relationship between the University… Read more »

Tax fraud committed by a prominent downtown business owner had Alcohol License Review Committee members questioning Wednesday whether she misrepresented her crimes to city officials. After pleading guilty Aug. 21 to a charge of submitting a false purchase journal to an IRS agent, Jongyean Lee was sentenced to serve one… Read more »

The State Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection awarded Dane County $35,000 to continue its efforts to connect local farmers and producers with commercial buyers and distributors as part of the “Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin” Grant. The department’s website defines the criteria for receiving the grant as a project… Read more »

After the Edgewater Hotel redevelopment project failed to pass at a marathon Madison City Council meeting Dec. 15, the project received a second chance Jan. 5 when the council voted to reexamine the project, referring its final decision to a future meeting. Proposed by Ald. Bridget Maniaci, District 2, the… Read more »

Students and Madison community members now have a full-service grocery store within walking distance of the University of Wisconsin campus since the Fresh Madison Market in University Square had its grand opening Jan. 9. Owner Jeff Maurer said he hopes his store’s focus on organic products, a number of them… Read more »

Dane County has begun to explore the creation of a food waste facility to create jobs and generate green energy by processing discarded food collected throughout the county from commercial sources. County estimates place the projected gains from the construction and operation of the facility at up to $4 million… Read more »

City officials have begun work with student organizations to plan for this year’s Mifflin Street Block Party, looking to the perceived success of recent years for direction in the upcoming months. Law enforcement officials and city staff have attributed much of the success to sponsorship of the event and coordination… Read more »

Following the snowstorm Dec. 8 and 9 that cancelled classes, services and even government operations in Madison, citizens, a state senator and former Madison mayor raised concerns as to whether the city’s snow removal was properly handled by Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and city staff. In response to criticism and… Read more »

An agreement between Dane County, the Dane County Sheriff’s Deputy Supervisors and the Deputy Sheriff’s Association has been reached regarding their contracts for 2010-2011, Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk announced in mid-December. All other county unions had previously agreed to a 3 percent salary reduction, with the 45 Deputy Supervisors… Read more »

Segredo owner Michael Hierl hopes to bring some of the flavor and vibrancy of Brazil to Madison with the opening of his bowling lounge and restaurant Segredo. After being inspired by the Boutique Bowling Lounge and Restaurant in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Hierl’s vision and opportunity came to fruition Jan. 15… Read more »

Two people were robbed in separate incidents Thursday after having friendly interactions with the alleged suspects. The first robbery of the evening involved a Madison woman being followed home after speaking briefly to a man at the BP station on Packers Avenue. The assailant — described in the police report… Read more »

In the wake of the winter storms that enveloped much of the upper Midwest, Madison residents and local agencies were forced to respond to the hazardous conditions, including suspending bus services for Wednesday. Madison Metro Transit General Manager Charles Kamp said Metro intends to resume its regular schedule by Thursday.… Read more »

Two District 5 seat hopefuls for the Dane County Board of Supervisors officially announced their candidacies Tuesday. Michael Johnson and Analiese Eicher both held press conferences formally announcing their candidacy for the position of District 5 supervisor, the district that contains the University of Wisconsin campus area. Johnson co-founded the… Read more »

Current managers of the Nitty Gritty hosted an informational session Monday to address issues of their proposed takeover of the establishment’s ownership. Despite the meeting’s informal nature and the minimal turnout by members of the public, the current managers of the Madison location, Eric Suemnicht and Lee Pier, were optimistic… Read more »

The city’s Housing Committee worked to clarify and amend city ordinances regarding the notification of tenants and the scheduling for rental property showings Wednesday. The committee also addressed the specifics of photographic evidence by landlords of damage to rented properties. Currently the legislation states a landlord may choose to enter… Read more »

A new Planned Parenthood facility opened Tuesday on Madison’s near south side, replacing the centers at the former Park and Mifflin Street locations. The new facility at 2222 S. Park St. will offer the same services as the former locations. Officials from Planned Parenthood described the move as having been… Read more »

The Board of Estimates approved the use of the city’s reserve fund to help offset this year’s budget shortfall of nearly $3.6 million on Monday. The board also approved the use of Tax Incremental Financing toward the Capitol Square Revitalization and expansion of Metro Transit contracts in the area. Of… Read more »

Public Health Madison and Dane County issued its 2008 Environmental Health Report Card, outlining improvements in food safety and addressing a sharp decline in the grade received for air quality in a national report. Relying on information from city, county, state, federal and private agencies, the report hopes to accurately… Read more »

The City of Madison and Dane County will be recognizing outstanding individuals in the fields of public service and promoting understanding and mutual respect between the area’s many diverse groups through several awards which are to be awarded to community members in the coming months. The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther… Read more »

At least one shot was fired during an attempted robbery at the East Washington Street Walgreens early Friday morning. Several officers from the Madison Police Department responded to reports of an attempted armed robbery at 3710 E. Washington St. The suspect has not been apprehended and the investigation is ongoing.… Read more »

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk approved and signed the county’s 2010 budget — totaling roughly $490 million — Wednesday after approval Monday by the County Board. Described by Falk as one of the most challenging budgets facing the county since the Great Depression, the budget was approved by Falk without… Read more »

Madison street vendors will be subject to increased licensing fees after a decision by City Council Tuesday. Adoption of the ordinance, sponsored by Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, was opposed by fellow Vending Oversight Committee member Ald. Thuy Pham-Remmele, District 20, who argued the measure puts unfair pressure on local… Read more »

The first targeted community clinics are doling out vaccinations against the swine flu today and tomorrow, catering to specific high-risk groups. Approximately 5,000 doses will be given out free of charge at each of the scheduled clinics. Public Health Madison & Dane County will administer the vaccines in both injection… Read more »

A string of arrests have been made following two incidents Monday involving a fight on University Avenue and an older man allegedly soliciting a young girl for sex. Police were called to the 600 block of State Street Monday evening after a man allegedly solicited an 11-year-old girl for sex.… Read more »

City planners presented the city’s long-term downtown building projects to the Plan Commission Monday, including plans to implement an updated mass transit system, address population density, and maintain and update green spaces throughout Madison. The Downtown Plan is the latest incarnation in a series of proposals aimed at laying out… Read more »

A new, eight-story apartment complex could be in store for Mendota Court, as the developer’s plan came before the Urban Design Commission Wednesday. The revised Edgewater plans — seeking initial approval from the commission — were also deferred to future meetings. The informational presentation laid out the architectural and… Read more »

After a current owner of The Pub denied plans to sell the establishment, a State Street businessman has confirmed he has plans to buy the bar. Gus Paras, owner of The Comedy Club, has submitted a beer and liquor license application for what is currently The Pub, owned by David… Read more »

The approval to repeal the city’s expiration of the Chronic Nuisance Premises Ordinance by the Housing Committee Wednesday will allow police to continue to become more involved with issues regarding repeated offenses of lack of maintenance and behavioral problems from landlords and tenants. When the ordinance was initially approved, it… Read more »

The Madison Police Department’s K-9 unit received a donation Wednesday that would make any dog’s tail wag.Madison Police Department Chief Noble Wray, on behalf of the department’s K-9 unit, accepted $5,000 from Del Monte Pet Products and Milk-Bone as part of the Milk-Bone Canine Heroes Program at a ceremony Wednesday.… Read more »

Major renovations to the Lisa Link Peace Park on State Street are the subject of a meeting set for tonight; opinions favoring the renovations are expected to clash with those fearing the plans are merely an attempt to remove its current users. Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said the park… Read more »

Dane County is facing at least $20.3 million in property tax delinquencies as of Sept. 1 — a figure well above that of recent years, according to a recent statement by the office of Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk. While the current economy can be blamed in part for the… Read more »

The heads of various Dane County departments gathered Monday evening to outline how budget cuts would affect their respective agencies for the coming year. From cutting positions and salaries to program funding and the programs themselves, few department heads appeared before the supervisors and said they met the necessary cuts… Read more »

Dane County Coroner John Stanley died at his DeForest home Sunday afternoon of what appear to be natural causes. An investigation as to the cause of death, coordinated between the Dane County Coroner’s Office, the DeForest Police Department and the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, has determined that the 63-year-old Stanley’s… Read more »