This Week in Madison: The Race to Recall Walker Begins by The Badger Herald Matt Huppert breaks down the unique beginnings of the effort to recall Gov. Scott Walker, capping off a landmark year in Wisconsin history.… Read more »

After a controversial Wednesday night meeting, some former Associated Students of Madison leaders have begun to question the future of the student government. Ryan Rainey and Katherine Krueger discuss the latest developments in this week’s podcast. This Week In Madison: Controversy overtakes ASM by The Badger Herald… Read more »

This week in Madison: Bar IDs, Occupy Madison by The Badger Herald Ryan Rainey and Pam Selman break down the Occupy Madison protests and some new rules at city bars prohibiting patrons from using state ID cards for valid entry.… Read more »

Student Council Meeting for 10-5-2011… Read more »

Student Services Finance Committee Meeting 9-22-11… Read more »

Badger Herald Monday Morning Podcast by The Badger Herald Last week was a busy one for the University of Wisconsin. With less than two weeks of classes under their belts, students in Madison were treated to a major controversy almost immediately when the Center for Equal Opportunity came to… Read more »

Summer’s over, football has come back to town and an early September chill has descended over Madison.Students are back and freshmen have moved in, many of them oblivious to the non-University of Wisconsin activities they can participate in. We’ve broken down some of the biggest official and unofficial events in… Read more »

Wisconsin and Oregon have more in common than most residents of the states would admit. Both have one major city accompanied by mid-sized cities dotted throughout the state, a wealth of natural resources in a wide back country and a public flagship university that fulfills dreams for in-state and out-of-state… Read more »

An exceptional level of violence at Saturday’s Mifflin Street Block Party led Mayor Paul Soglin to say the future of the event could hang in serious jeopardy. At a Monday press conference, Soglin reacted to the stabbing of a 21-year-old University of Wisconsin student and what he said was a… Read more »

One glance at a newspaper suggests difficult economic times and discontent on Wall Street. But one student group has actually found success in investing after beginning in one of the economic crisis’ most trying periods. The Capital Management Club began as a class project in Professor Mark Fedenia’s finance class.… Read more »

Five of the University of Wisconsin’s most prominent alumni in journalism addressed growing technological and ethical changes to television news media at a panel discussion Wednesday evening. The five-person panel, which included employees at CBS News, ABC News, the Poynter Institute and the Fox News Channel, tackled many of the… Read more »

City officials said student representation on Madison’s City Council could become more consolidated if redistricting efforts extend a student-heavy district further west. Members of the city’s Ad Hoc Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee delved further into drawing revised aldermanic districts after the 2010 Census found Madison’s population had risen to approximately… Read more »

DAYTON STREET Sexual Assault A Madison Police Department report said police are searching for a man who sexually assaulted, punched and choked an 18-year-old woman on the 300 block of West Dayton Street Sunday evening. When the victim turned down the man’s suggestions they engage in sexual acts, the suspect… Read more »

 Paul Soglin announced his campaign for mayor, telling Madison’s voters he is “happier as mayor.” After going back to work at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning to meet with his transition staff and alders after a long night of watching election results Tuesday, Soglin has proven that claim must be true… Read more »

One of the most contested seats on Madison’s City Council will belong to Ald. Bridget Maniaci for two more years after a hard-won campaign to continue representing the city’s near east side. Maniaci won the race for District 2 alder over her challenger Sam Stevenson by four percentage points, taking… Read more »

Madison’s City Council approved a new zoning code that would maintain height restrictions and change downtown density at a Tuesday night meeting, ending years of deliberation on the policy. Alders debated the new code until about 1 a.m. Wednesday morning, when they voted 18 to 1 to approve the ordinance.… Read more »

The Wisconsin State Assembly passed limits on collective bargaining rights for public employees in another chaotic vote that prompted jeers from Assembly Democrats and members of the gallery. Assembly Republicans and the only independent, Rep. Bob Ziegelbaur, I-Manitowoc, voted for the bill. Representatives began debating the bill, which the Senate… Read more »

Thousands of demonstrators against Gov. Scott Walker’s budget repair bill marched down State Street, around Capitol Square and up the Capitol’s steps to hold a “funeral procession” Thursday night. Shortly after arriving at the Capitol, several dozens entered the Capitol after one of the doors at the State Street entrance… Read more »

With lawmakers at the Capitol inching closer to adopting a voter identification law, the student government’s Legislative Affairs committee said at a meeting Monday night they will attempt to continue lobbying legislators for amendments to allow student IDs as proper credentials. Last week, the Senate voted to bar any… Read more »

As clocks struck 6 p.m. inside the Capitol rotunda, the four televisions in the building’s North Gallery carrying a live feed of the Wisconsin State Assembly’s floor session went black. Five seconds later, Gov. Scott Walker appeared onscreen to what seemed like the loudest jeers in the short history of… Read more »

Union protesters at the Capitol may have been worried about the arrival of conservative groups at Saturday morning’s historic collective bargaining rallies, but tens of thousands of protesters from across the political spectrum peacefully gathered in support or opposition to Gov. Scott Walker’s budget repair bill. Doors to the Capitol… Read more »

A January memo containing explicit details on the University of Wisconsin’s plan for increased flexibility was a hypothetical response to hypothetical questions, Chancellor Biddy Martin said Thursday. Earlier Wednesday, the UW System sent a letter to Gov. Scott Walker urging him not to include a complete separation of UW-Madison from… Read more »

In their most extreme display of student opposition to Gov. Scott Walker’s budget repair bill so far, teaching assistants at the University of Wisconsin announced they will hold an off-campus “teach-out” to continue protests against the legislation. Teaching assistants will hold their classes away from the UW campus for the… Read more »

After the Joint Finance Committee recessed at 3 a.m. Wednesday morning following more than 17 hours of public testimony, Assembly and Senate Democrats convened a separate, informal session to hear more testimony from union employees opposed to Gov. Scott Walker’s budget repair bill. The JFC recessed its hearing on the… Read more »

Two long-serving Dane County politicians from notably different political backgrounds will race against each other for the open county executive’s office, whittling the field of candidates from six to two. State Rep. Joe Parisi, D-Madison, and Sup. Eileen Bruskewitz, District 25, won Tuesday night’s primary with a combined total of… Read more »

With the United States’ threatened economic dominance in the world becoming an increasingly debated topic, members of the University of Wisconsin administration met with students Thursday night to offer insight into the rapid changes affecting millions of Americans. At a “Fireside Chat” organized by the Wisconsin Union Directorate’s Society and… Read more »

As student momentum opposing the construction of a new high-end apartment complex on Mifflin Street grows, residents of one of Madison’s most famous downtown neighborhoods have brought their fight to city committees and the student government. At a Monday night meeting of the Associated Students of Madison’s Legislative Affairs committee, Ald.… Read more »

With budget cuts likely for county and university services throughout the next several years, the candidates for the highest office in Dane County have a wide range of opinions on how the county should interact with the University of Wisconsin. The five most prominent candidates running to replace current Dane… Read more »

For many Madisonians, home seems immune to recession. Local leaders often point to the University of Wisconsin and state government as a reason for Madison’s broad employment base, giving the city one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. But drive to any other major city in Wisconsin —… Read more »

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk’s announcement she would step down from the seat she’s held for 14 consecutive years shook up the county’s political landscape last fall, but after the initial surprise came a sea of opportunity for a crew of well-known Dane County politicians vying for the office.Not long… Read more »

A prominent progressive member of Madison’s City Council is under investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice for an alleged sexual assault. The night in question was in April 2010, when a group of city employees gathered at a bar following a City Council meeting. Ald. Brian Solomon took a… Read more »

One of the most debated political dramas in recent Madison history ended Tuesday night when members of the City Council voted to approve a financial model to relieve the Overture Center for the Arts’ mounting debt. The 14-5 vote in favor of the new proposal marks the culmination of approximately… Read more »

STATE STREET: Arrested Person A 33-year-old McFarland man and his family were harassed after declining a State Street panhandler’s request for 38 cents Monday afternoon, according to a Madison police report. Amen Toomey was reportedly intoxicated and attempted to instigate a fight and called the women accompanying the victim a… Read more »

The end of the political year in Madison will likely bring the end of another political drama tonight when members of the City Council will vote on the fifth and final proposal to restructure the governance and finances of the Overture Center for the Arts. The Overture issue, which has… Read more »

Multiple Madison officials said they were angry and unsure of the future of downtown Madison’s economic development after the federal government’s announcement Wisconsin’s high-speed rail funds have been canceled. Because of Washington’s decision to send the approximately $810 million in federal funds to other states, officials said the future of… Read more »

The actions of a Monona Police officer are under investigation after police confirmed Thursday afternoon the suspect in a Madison area kidnapping and robbery was shot and killed by police at the University of Wisconsin Credit Union’s Monona branch. Acting Dane County Coroner Barry Irmen said the suspect in the… Read more »

MONONA — A shooting at a branch of the University of Wisconsin Credit Union left a major street closed to traffic and one person in the hospital Wednesday afternoon. The shooting occurred near the credit union’s Monona branch adjacent to the Pier 39 shopping center immediately off the Beltline Highway.… Read more »

After several days of closed negotiations and speculation, a group of City Council members revealed a plan for the Overture Center for the Arts’ financial recovery they hope will gain enough votes from alders previously on the fence. At an open meeting Tuesday, City Attorney Michael May explained the new… Read more »

The plan to redevelop downtown Madison’s Central Library moved closer to entering the city development process Tuesday night when the new structure’s architects revealed the final design for the new facility. After receiving feedback from four previous public meetings over the last five months, Central Library architect Jeff Scherer… Read more »

For an animal commonly associated with overwhelming cuteness drawing thousands to zoos throughout the world, pandas definitely live up to the hype. Sha-Lei, a red panda and the newest arrival at Madison’s Henry Vilas Zoo, is no exception. She follows the cardinal rules dictating what makes an animal cute—she “poses”… Read more »

The University of Wisconsin student accused of killing his mother in June will have to pay a hefty bond if he wants to come back to Madison for classes. At a preliminary court hearing Wednesday, UW junior Chase Boruch was slapped with a $2 million bail. Lincoln County prosecutors said… Read more »

What began this summer as an attempt to solve the Overture Center for the Arts’ financial woes by mid-November has evolved into an ongoing and increasingly complicated effort to come to a decision before the year’s end. Early Wednesday morning, members of the City Council decided to postpone their final… Read more »

A second candidate has entered the race to replace outgoing Ald. Bryon Eagon for the District 8 seat on Madison’s City Council. State-Langdon Neighborhood President Scott Resnick announced in a statement Tuesday evening he will challenge UW student Kyle Szarzynski for the seat Eagon has held since 2009. Resnick recently… Read more »

A University of Wisconsin junior was arrested in Madison Monday and accused of murdering his mother, who drowned in a lake in Northern Wisconsin in June. Chase Boruch, 24, was brought in on charges of first-degree intentional homicide at his apartment on the 300 block of West Washington Avenue, according… Read more »

Strong-Arm RobberyJenifer Street A Madison woman became the victim of a strong-arm robbery last week, a Madison Police report said. According to the report, a 53-year-old woman walking Wednesday on the 1100 block of Jenifer Street started a “tug of war” match with a 20- to 30-year-old man for her… Read more »

After a quick turnaround to submit a report and fly to Madison after being hired no more than two weeks ago, a consultant to evaluate a financial model to save Madison’s Overture Center for the Arts explained his recommendations to members of the City Council Monday. Dr. James Undercofler, a… Read more »

Dane County officials and the estate of late University of Wisconsin student Brittany Zimmermann settled last week, a law firm representing Dane County announced. According to a statement from Madison law firm Bell, Moore & Richter, Dane County will donate $5,000 to the Zimmermann reward fund and $2,500 to the… Read more »

With a possible marathon City Council meeting approaching for a final decision on the fate of Madison’s Overture Center for the Arts, a growing number of financial models have begun floating just days before the decision. While many had previously considered the Overture focus model to be the go-to model… Read more »

University of Wisconsin senior Bryon Eagon, who has served as the campus-area representative on Madison’s City Council for a single two-year term, announced today he will not run for re-election come spring. In a statement, Eagon, who represents Madison’s District 8 on the council, said he decided against running for a… Read more »

With states throughout the country salivating at the chance to inherit Wisconsin’s more than $800 million for a high-speed rail connection between Madison and Milwaukee, local politicians and business leaders rallied Saturday to pressure Gov.-elect Scott Walker to rethink his stance on the funding. Hundreds of protestors gathered at a… Read more »

Although homeowners throughout the United States continue to face economic hardship and a wide range of foreclosures, a major newspaper has said Madison is one of the lowest risk housing markets in the country. According to a study from the Wall Street Journal, Madison ranks as one of the most… Read more »

Members of Madison’s City Council debated into the early hours Thursday morning and eventually approved the city’s 2011 operating budget in a 16 to 4 vote. Under the new budget, the overall tax levy for the city for the 2011 fiscal year will be approximately $179.5 million, a 5.08 percent… Read more »

The marathon isn’t over yet, but members of Madison’s City Council voted Tuesday night to approve the city’s 2011 capital budget with several amendments. The approval came with voice vote after approximately six and a half hours of debate and public comment. Four alders asked to be recorded as voting… Read more »

With state elections over, the more localized races for seats on Madison’s City Council became more active Monday when two candidates announced they would run to be alders in two different districts heavily populated by University of Wisconsin students. Former Badger Herald columnists Sam Stevenson and Kyle Szarzynski announced Monday… Read more »

Members of the Dane County Board voted to approve both the county’s operating and capital budgets at a meeting Monday night, sending the budgets and their amendments to Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk for her final budget signature as executive. Under the new budgets, the Dane County tax levy will… Read more »

A young Madison man who violently resisted arrest outside of a downtown bar last weekend has now become an example of what not to do when drunk at bars. According to a Madison Police report, 21-year-old Chauncey Vacek drunkenly began to threaten patrons at Wando’s bar on the 600 block… Read more »

A proposal to build a new high rise Catholic Student Center on Library Mall hit its second roadblock Wednesday night when another city commission was highly critical of the new mixed-use residential and religious facility. At a meeting of the city’s Urban Design Commission, local architects and designers told design… Read more »

Two weeks after rejecting the same proposal, members of Madison’s City Council voted to hire a second independent consultant to evaluate a new financial model for the financially-embattled Overture Center for the Arts. At a meeting Tuesday night, alders on the City Council voted 16-3 to hire James Undercoffler, an… Read more »

Six presidents, six University of Wisconsin chancellors and one presidential visit later, a downtown Madison fixture closed up shop Tuesday afternoon after 31 years weathering a constantly changing Madison landscape. Eric Roang said he decided to close The Fruit Stand, which he has owned and operated between Memorial Library and… Read more »

The election of Scott Walker to the governor’s office may have halted any further progress of a federally-funded high-speed rail line between Madison and Milwaukee, but local officials have said they still believe the project could come back to life. Throughout the last several months, several city offices have developed… Read more »

Police have arrested an employee of a downtown massage parlor for the second time since they began investigating the location for alleged prostitution last month. Madison police arrested an unidentified woman who was an employee of the Rising Sun massage parlor on West Main Street, near Capitol Square, on 10… Read more »

Nearly two months after the first Taser deployment on the University of Wisconsin campus in several years, conflicting reports about what happened that evening have emerged. According to a UW police report, the two women involved in the Taser deployment were UW-Whitewater student Shanee Alston and Central State University student… Read more »

After winning three elections in less than one year, Representative-Elect Brett Hulsey, D-Madison, has said he will simultaneously serve in the Wisconsin State Assembly and as a supervisor on the Dane County Board. “It is my goal to try to continue my term,” Hulsey said. “I promised to serve two… Read more »

A city ordinance that would restrict elected officials from accepting third-party offers hit a snag Wednesday night when members of a city board decided to reconsider an ethics proposal passed last month. Ald. Bridget Maniaci, District 2, told the city’s Ethics Board she was confused with a resolution passed last… Read more »

Dane County Supervisor Brett Hulsey will replace Spencer Black as the voice of many University of Wisconsin students in the Wisconsin State Legislature, despite a late surge from Green Party candidate Ben Manski. Hulsey, a Democrat, won the seat with approximately 49 percent of voters in the district which includes… Read more »

For the first time since 1984, voters in Wisconsin’s 77th Assembly District will send someone other than Spencer Black to the Capitol. The district, which encompasses parts of the University of Wisconsin campus, Madison’s West Side and parts of Middleton, has become the scene of an increasingly contested race between… Read more »

With one day remaining until the Nov. 2 elections, one local race became heated this weekend over a continuing endorsement controversy. Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, said in a statement he is now reconsidering his endorsement for his successor in the District 77 assembly seat after Democratic candidate and Dane County… Read more »

With the possible exception of an abundance of Waldo costumes defeating the purpose of the game “Where’s Waldo,” Madison’s Halloween weekend was a public safety and entertainment success, officials said. Police spokesperson Joel DeSpain said arrests and major incidents for Madison’s annual Halloween celebration decreased in what police and city… Read more »

With a consequential midterm election quickly approaching, University of Wisconsin student political leaders held an informational session Thursday night to debate and further educate UW voters on the ins and outs of the election. At a small gathering in the lobby of the Towers on State Street, representatives from College… Read more »

Just a few years ago, the most common Halloween garb on State Street for Madison’s traditional celebration was not Lady Gaga or a political candidate, but instead a line of police officers decked out in riot gear. In the early 2000s, a violent and tear-gassed ending the Saturday before Halloween… Read more »

Members of Madison’s City Council could receive opt-in health insurance if a proposed budget amendment passes through later this year. Ald. Bridget Maniaci, District 2, said the new insurance would provide additional benefits for what she calls a relatively low-paying yet demanding job which does not offer full benefits. Maniaci… Read more »

With names like Scott Walker and Russ Feingold on the tips of many Madison residents’ tongues in the week leading up to the Nov. 2 election, one interesting local race has largely gone unnoticed. The race between incumbent Sheriff Dave Mahoney and Sean Haney, while not as highly publicized as… Read more »

A redeveloped Edgewater hotel is no longer just a proposal — it became a full-fledged project Monday, scheduled to begin construction in Spring 2011. At a meeting of the city’s Landmarks Commission Monday night, experts on historic properties in Madison decided to approve three changes to the original 1940s Edgewater… Read more »

The aging Catholic Student Center on Library Mall will become a large high-rise learning community in the future if Madison officials approve a plan to rehabilitate the facility. Father Eric Nielsen, Pastor of Saint Paul’s Catholic Student Center between Pres House and the University Bookstore, said the proposed structure, which… Read more »

The four candidates to replace veteran Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, in the Wisconsin State Assembly debated taxes, green jobs and the future of the University of Wisconsin at a debate Thursday night at the Education Building. Green Party candidate Ben Manski and Democratic candidate Brett Hulsey, the two candidates receiving… Read more »

A downtown massage parlor which has been the subject of controversy and investigation for several years is now under police investigation for alleged prostitution activity. A report from the Madison Police Department released Wednesday said police are currently investigating the Rising Sun on 117 West Main Street, near the Capitol… Read more »

The process to alleviate Madison’s Overture Center for the Arts from potentially paralyzing debt became more complicated Tuesday night when members of Madison’s City Council voted against hiring an outside consultant to analyze a new financial model for the facility. The proposed focus model would allow the city to buy… Read more »

A summer special election to fill the seat of County Executive Kathleen Falk could cost up to $300,000 according to the Dane County Clerk Office. Supervisor Eileen Bruskewitz, District 25, said members of the Dane County Clerks’ office told herself and other Dane County Board members the election, which would… Read more »

A local state representative often mentioned as a possible Republican candidate to replace Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk in April is still weighing his decision despite the high amount of speculation about his candidacy. Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, said he will wait until after November’s general election to announce if… Read more »

With the final vote on a new financial model for Madison’s Overture Center for the Arts approaching, the possible consequences of not passing a new model are now becoming increasingly pressing to both city officials and Overture operators. According to members of the Madison Cultural Arts District Board of Directors,… Read more »

A 25-year-old Madison man died Tuesday night after a domestic dispute call which ended with a Dane County Sheriff’s Deputy opening fire. According to a statement from the Sheriff’s office, Eugene Walker was involved in a domestic dispute in Fitchburg at around 9 p.m. Tuesday evening.Walker was allegedly involved in… Read more »

A nearly year-old proposal to place showing regulations on Madison landlords will wait another two weeks to come up for a final vote in the City Council. Ald. Bridget Maniaci, District 2, told The Badger Herald she has decided again to refer a proposed ordinance which would prevent property owners… Read more »

Despite a nearly one-month long delay because of extra construction, the renovated Lisa Link Peace Park opened Friday and has already become a center for outdoor activity downtown. The park now includes a newly constructed visitors’ center with a Madison Police kiosk, information center and, most controversially, an ATM that… Read more »

RACIAL CRIME: Martin Luther King Boulevard Two homeless individuals were arrested near Capitol Square Saturday, an MPD report said. The report said two suspects were making slurs to a mixed-race couple walking with their two children. Richard Epperson, 52, urinated near the couple’s 1-year-old daughter’s stroller, the report added, while… Read more »

Just months after the family of slain University of Wisconsin student Brittany Zimmermann decided to drop their wrongful death lawsuit against Dane County, a group of media outlets have settled their open records lawsuit against the county related to the case. George Stanley, managing editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,… Read more »

After several delays for financial reasons, the proposal to build a women’s hockey facility near the Kohl Center will now advance out of developmental stages and into the city approval process. In a letter to city planners, University of Wisconsin spokesperson Gary Brown said in a letter the new facility… Read more »

Madison Police and the Dane County Sheriff’s bomb squad unit investigated two suspicious packages in downtown Madison Wednesday night, just one day before Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to the city. Police responded to the two calls in the late evening hours; approximately seven officers blocked off access to West… Read more »

Two days after Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk’s announcement she would step down from her position this April, the state says Falk may not be able to carry out her resignation as originally planned. Reid Magney, spokesperson for Wisconsin’s Government Accountability Board, said the special election for Falk’s replacement she… Read more »

Regardless of whether they are ignoring their professor in the classrooms of Humanities or the walking through the autumn leaves of Bascom Hill, thousands of University of Wisconsin students are glued to their smartphones. Professors and teaching assistants may love them or hate them, but with Apple introducing new models… Read more »

Five years after Mayor Dave Cieslewicz decided to limit access to State Street at Halloween for the first time, city officials have said they are making few changes to the Freakfest plan compared to last year. At a meeting of State Street-area business owners Tuesday, representatives from Cieslewicz’s office, the… Read more »

One of the stars of MTV’s “College Life,” the infamous Kevin Tracy, was one of three University of Wisconsin students whose North Brooks Street party was busted on Sept. 11 by Madison Police. The fine? A whopping $86,000. Tracy, along with roommates Travis Ludy and Mitchell Klatt, hosted a house… Read more »

With the final vote over the fate of the Overture Center for the Arts quickly approaching, members of Madison’s City Council are unlikely to approve the current focus model as it stands today. Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, a member of the city’s Overture Center Ad Hoc committee, said he… Read more »

After nearly 14 years of service, Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk announced today she will step down from her position this April. Falk said in a statement she did not decide to step down for any political reasons but instead so she could explore other options as she approaches her… Read more »

After nearly 14 years of service, Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk announced today she will step down from her position this April. In a statement, Falk said she did not decide to step down for any political reasons but instead so she could explore other options as she approaches her… Read more »

As Madison and Dane County begin to emerge from the nationwide economic crisis, the Dane County budget will bring more money to some county agencies but likely will still mean layoffs for some county employees. Dane County executive Kathleen Falk released her recommended budget for the 2011 fiscal year Friday,… Read more »

A parking lot on the University of Wisconsin campus briefly turned into a scene from The Horse Whisperer Tuesday night when two Madison Police horses became startled and damaged several parked vehicles. MPD spokesperson Joel DeSpain said two mounted officers were patrolling a parking area near the Kohl Center due… Read more »

A Wisconsin advocacy group has officially filed a lawsuit against the Madison Police Department after an incident in which five men received tickets for disorderly conduct for openly carrying firearms in an east-side Culver’s restaurant. Wisconsin Carry, Inc. President Nik Clark hinted WCI may file a lawsuit against MPD last… Read more »

In the ultimate step for the Edgewater Hotel redevelopment’s approval process, a joint city-county committee voted to approve a Tax Increment Financing district extension for the renovation. Members of the Joint TIF Review Board, which includes representatives from Madison, Dane County, Madison College and the Madison Metropolitan School District, voted… Read more »

OBAMA VISIT STATISTICS Library Mall After approximately 25,000 people turned out for President Barack Obama’s rally on Library Mall Tuesday night, University of Wisconsin police said no crime issues were present at the event. According to a UWPD statement, the crowd at the rally was “exceedingly well-behaved” and responders only… Read more »

After visiting Madison two years ago for the All Campus Party, American rock band OK Go will return to Madison to headline the annual Freakfest festival on Oct. 30, the event’s organizers confirmed with the Herald Sunday. Dave Maynard, a spokesperson for Freakfest promoter Frank Productions, told the Herald OK… Read more »

The next several decades will likely see the development of major urban parks along Lake Monona and throughout downtown Madison if area residents and city officials give the green light to major proposals in the city’s Downtown Plan. The plan, revealed last night, projects the future of public and private… Read more »

After an incident in which Madison Police cited five men for openly carrying their handguns in an east-side Culver’s, open carry activists around Wisconsin are pursuing legal action against the Madison Police Department and denouncing their reaction to the incident. An MPD statement released yesterday said a Madison woman at… Read more »

As next year’s municipal elections approach, one more member of Madison’s City Council has announced he will not run to retain his seat on the council. Ald. Michael Schumacher, District 18, said he will not run for reelection for his seat on Madison’s northeast side. Schumacher said his business commitments… Read more »

More than 20 years have passed since Madison last drafted a new plan for the downtown area, but tonight city planners will introduce a fresh plan for public consideration. Downtown Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said downtown residents will be able to publicly scrutinize Madison’s Downtown Plan, which the city… Read more »

After Dane County Supervisor Brett Hulsey won the Democratic nomination to replace Spencer Black in the Wisconsin State Assembly’s 77th District, many political observers automatically penned Hulsey in as the likely victor in the general race considering the district’s progressive history. However, Madison-area lawyer and environmentalist Ben Manski has recently… Read more »

The Terry Family Foundation announced that Madison’s only arts residency, Edenfred, will close in December 2010 after encountering insurmountable legal obstacles. The residence, located on Highlands Avenue on the city’s far west side, is “a place to create,” according to a statement from the Edenfred. The home provides workspace and… Read more »

In a meeting lasting until early this morning, the City Council voted to extend a Tax Increment Financing district financing the Edgewater Hotel redevelopment, one of the project’s final hurdles before the beginning of construction.  Hammes Co. spokesperson Amy Supple told council members experts project the TIF district will bring… Read more »

After spending nearly a year in city committees and recently gaining a strong student following, a proposal to limit city landlords from showing apartments will spend another month on the docket now that Madison’s City Council has voted sit on the ordinance until October. The proposal, which Ald. Bridget Maniaci,… Read more »

Battery on Dayton A college-age student literally knocked the teeth out of a middle-aged security guard on the 1000 block of W. Dayton Street early Sunday morning after a dispute over mopeds. According to a Madison Police incident report, a 19- to 21-year-old white male with a buzz cut and… Read more »

As crunch-time approaches to renew and expand Madison’s Alcohol License Density Ordinance, those in charge of Madison’s alcohol policy are beginning to question the ordinance’s effectiveness. After considering a proposal from Ald. Julia Kerr, District 13, to extend the ALDO district south to include the Vilas neighborhood and the south… Read more »

Two women were on the receiving end of a Taser after an altercation broke out just outside Memorial Union Friday night. UW police spokesperson Sgt. Aaron Chapin told The Badger Herald police deployed the Taser in response to a fight directly outside the Union following an Alpha Phi Alpha social… Read more »

Game Day Stats Unlike last week’s victory over San Jose State, the number of ejections in the Badgers’ latest victory against Arizona State greatly exceeded the total of the game’s final score. According to a statement from the University of Wisconsin Police Department, police ejected 71 people at Saturday’s home… Read more »

As Madison’s Overture Center for the Arts continues to add patrons and watch ticket sales increase, it also continues to fall into financial melancholy. In an effort to prevent Overture’s doors from closing, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz pressed Madison officials to present a new ownership model this summer. At a Thursday… Read more »

After winning her seat on the City Council almost two years ago, Ald. Bridget Maniaci, District 2, could face a wall of opposition in next year’s municipal elections. Maniaci, who defeated Tenant Resource Center director and former alder Brenda Konkel, confirmed she will run for re-election and said she anticipates… Read more »

Suspect at Bassett Street Arrested Madison Police recently arrested a teenager in connection with an August strong arm robbery on N. Bassett Street. According to an MPD report, a 15 year-old male teen came into custody earlier this week after police tracked down his license plate number seen at the… Read more »

After a heated primary campaign to replace renowned environmentalist Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, in the state Assembly, Dane County Supervisor Brett Hulsey will move forward as the Democratic nominee in one of Wisconsin’s most liberal districts. Hulsey carried multiple precincts throughout Madison’s west side while opponent and County Board Supervior… Read more »

As voters chose Wisconsin politicians including Brett Hulsey and Scott Walker to advance to the general election in November, campus-area poll workers did not report a great change in the number of University of Wisconsin student voters. As of press time, statewide turnout for both governor’s primaries was estimated at… Read more »

Although construction has not yet started on Madison’s soon-to-be renovated Edgewater Hotel, local union workers announced a partnership Monday to work closely with the city and private developers for job creation related to the redevelopment. Steve Breitlow, president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of South Central Wisconsin, announced… Read more »

In addition to the suspension of a liquor license and being forced to relinquish the ownership of one of their properties this week, a downtown business-owning family will face another license suspension this January because of tax evasion convictions. A suspension forcing Hyungirl and Jongyean Lee to close down went… Read more »

As Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, prepares to exit the Capitol after decades of service, the fight to replace him has caused friction between prominent Dane County politicians. Democratic Dane County Supervisors Dianne Hesselbein and Brett Hulsey have engaged in a back-and-forth debate during the past two weeks about which candidate… Read more »

Concerns about gang activity in Madison have grown throughout the last year in response to several gang-related violent crimes, but many city officials say there is no immediate threat to the downtown area. Madison Police spokesperon Joel DeSpain said recent violent crimes including the April homicide of a Near East… Read more »

After what city officials called a successful Freakfest event on State Street for Halloween 2009, local planners are anticipating a high turnout and prominent headliner for the 2010 installment. City officials have decided to essentially keep the status quo for Freakfest planning, said Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4. Dave Maynard… Read more »

Football season is not the only important thing beginning in Madison this week; budget season began Tuesday night when Mayor Dave Cieslewicz unveiled his capital budget for the next fiscal year. The approximately $238.2 million budget lays out the city’s long term fiscal plan and includes funds set aside for… Read more »

Despite some hang-ups with a proposal to construct a high-speed rail station at downtown Madison’s Department of Administration building, the plan continues to advance and has begun to undergo public scrutiny. At a Tuesday night meeting of Madison’s city council, city officials presented plans to overhaul the base of the… Read more »

After a traffic stop gone awry left a Dane County Sheriff’s deputy in the hospital and led to shots fired Sunday evening, different accounts of the incident are surfacing from witnesses and the Sheriff’s office. A statement from the Dane County Sheriff’s Department said a deputy was injured after shots… Read more »

REGENT STREET Robbery Madison police responded to a robbery at the Open Pantry on the 1300 block of Regent Street Saturday night. According to a MPD incident report, a man approximately 40 years old wearing a purple hoodie entered the store, grabbed a soda and showed a handgun. He then… Read more »

Supporters of a city proposal to regulate the showing of apartment units were dealt a blow last week when the city’s Housing Committee voted against recommending the ordinance to the city council. The ordinance, which would prevent landlords from entering units for showing purposes until February 15, was assailed by… Read more »

Changes in city law could be on the way for downtown bars and entertainment venues, but businesses will need to wait an extra five months before the city officially changes the downtown Alcohol License Density Ordinance. Alcohol License Review Committee member Mike Verveer, the District 4 alder, said the sunset… Read more »

Critics of Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz have begun exploring their prospects for running to unseat him in the 2011 mayoral election, causing Cieslewicz to respond to several attacks against his administration. Several prominent Madison politicians, including former Dane County supervisor Stu Levitan and former alders Noel Radomski, Ken Golden and… Read more »

The student operators of a local alcohol delivery business remain in hot water after being accused of delivering alcohol to underage Madison residents, causing the early August suspension of a downtown liquor store’s license. Mark Woulf, a member of the city’s alcohol licensing committee, said University Avenue Liquor’s license was… Read more »

A new entertainment and sports-focused bar still must jump one hurdle in its application to serve alcohol. Sconnie Bar, a venture of Sconnie Nation founder Troy Vosseller, applied for a liquor license in the former location of Cue-nique, above the current location of Chaser’s on the 300 block of W.… Read more »

As cities across the country cut their public safety budgets and lay off police officers, Madison has asked to hire more officers under new requests submitted to both the federal government and city. According to their budget request, the Madison Police Department has asked for supplemental funding for more officers… Read more »

Madison’s second Ride the Drive event this summer drew cyclists from across the Wisconsin and the country, including the world’s most famous cyclist: Lance Armstrong. The city of Madison closed off a downtown loop to automobile traffic to hold the event. Rachel Strauch-Nelson, spokesperson for Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, said approximately… Read more »

Students and police gathered near the University of Wisconsin power plant at Spring and Charter Streets early Friday evening to witness the detonation of a suspicious device. Madison police officers responded to a call of a suspicious package at around 5 p.m. Friday, eventually dispatching a Dane County bomb squad… Read more »

Dane County authorities have identified a body found Sunday evening as the body of a Madison woman who disappeared this June in Lake Mendota. A statement from Dane County Coroner Barry Irmen said an autopsy confirmed Sarah E. Carpenter, a 30-year-old Madison woman, was found in Lake Mendota with… Read more »

An inmate being held by Dane County died in the City County building this week in an apparent suicide, the county’s first since 2005. According to a statement from Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney, county inmate Lonnie Johnson, who was being held on the 7th floor of the City-County Building… Read more »

A suspect is in custody after a string of sexual assaults struck the downtown and campus area Sunday night. University of Wisconsin police spokesperson Ruth Ewing said Robert Rickaby, a 22-year-old Portage man, allegedly sexually assaulted nine women in the downtown and campus area throughout the night. Ewing said it… Read more »

A recent report has again singled out violations in the University of Wisconsin’s research practices with animals. Eric Sandgren, chair of the All Campus Animal Care and Use Committee, told The Badger Herald the United States Department of Agriculture recently performed follow-up tests on UW testing facilities, which were deemed… Read more »

Moving to a political epicenter like Madison can be simultaneously exciting and overwhelming for incoming University of Wisconsin freshmen. Along with state government, Madison has an active and sometimes controversial city government that often impacts the lives of UW students. For many incoming freshmen, the pages of The Badger Herald… Read more »

Major changes could be in store for Madison’s Overture Center for the Arts throughout the next several months if the city decides to overhaul the facility’s current funding structure. Rachel Strauch-Nelson, spokesperson for Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, told The Badger Herald a proposed model for the Overture Center would grant ownership… Read more »

Recent crimes in the downtown area have brought attention to some persistent crime issues that still bother neighborhoods throughout the city. James Madison Park Two recent alcohol-related crimes have affected the James Madison Park area on the east side of downtown, causing a series of some unusual circumstances for Madison… Read more »

While many students may be doing the majority of their drinking at home rather than on the streets of downtown Madison this summer, city officials have made many decisions affecting alcohol policy this summer. In a move that avoided the closure of downtown liquor stores such as Badger Liquor and… Read more »

As the nationwide debate over illegal immigration continues, Madison’s City Council has made immigration reform a local issue. At a meeting Tuesday, the council unanimously voted to adopt a resolution disapproving of Dane County Sheriff David Mahoney’s policy of contacting the authorities from Immigration and Customs Enforcement when someone… Read more »

It’s already one of the most densely populated areas of Downtown Madison. But the high-rise corridor near West Gorham Street and University Avenue could soon be home to even more students if a Madison-area developer gains approval to build a hotel and apartment complex at the corner of Johnson… Read more »

Hammes Co.’s odyssey searching for approval to redevelop Madison’s Edgewater Hotel came to an end in the early hours of Wednesday morning when the City Council voted to approve plans to redevelop the hotel. After over a year of planning, changes in design and resilient opposition to the plan… Read more »

Finishing a search process that lasted several months, the University of Wisconsin has hired a new director of undergraduate admissions. Adele Brumfield, currently an associate director of admissions at the University of Chicago, will take over for current interim director of admissions Tom Reason, according to a statement from UW.… Read more »

The plan for a new campus area high-rise apartment complex on Spring Street came closer to fruition Wednesday night after the city’s Urban Design Commission voted to give the project initial approval. In a unanimous vote, the commission decided to give the first green light to the project that would… Read more »

Residents of Madison will soon know the location of the city’s high-speed rail station on the line to Milwaukee when the Wisconsin Department of Transportation announces their decision later this month. Gov. Jim Doyle and Wisconsin Secretary of Transportation Frank Busalacchi plan to announce where they will locate the Madison… Read more »

Madison Police are still searching for suspects wanted for a gang-related east side homicide after arresting one suspect over the weekend. According to an MPD statement, Karen Gir�n-Cruz of Madison was arrested this Friday on charges of being party to the murder of a 19-year-old Madisonian last Thursday. Officers arrested… Read more »

After nearly one year of deliberation, the proposal to redevelop the Edgewater hotel could come before City Council for final approval in May. Ald. Bridget Maniaci, District 2, said the application for a Tax Incremental Finance district was signed and filed with a recommendation for the City Council to refer… Read more »

Madison police are advising area residents to be careful on the streets after a downtown battery left a man unconscious over the weekend. Two men from Evansville visiting the downtown area for the night were punched around 3:20 a.m. Sunday after a dispute, an incident report from the Madison Police… Read more »

University of Wisconsin fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon made further steps toward rebuilding its house that burned down in 2008 when the city’s Landmarks Commission approved its plan to construct a new house Monday. The commission unanimously decided to advise the city’s Plan Commission that the project would have no adverse… Read more »

New members of the Dane County Board of Supervisors were sworn in at an administrative meeting Tuesday night. In the board official elections, current County Board Chair Scott McDonell, District 1, won reelection in a 24-13 vote against Supervisor Dave Ripp, District 29. Other elected officers included Supervisor John Hendrick,… Read more »

Students from the University of Wisconsin’s Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and the LaFollette School for Public Affairs presented possible sustainability and greenhouse gas reduction solutions at a meeting of the city’s Sustainable Design and Energy Committee Monday night. The graduate students told the committee their plans for bettering sustainability… Read more »

Conservatives from around Wisconsin spoke out against taxation, government spending and the current political establishment at a Tea Party rally Thursday afternoon in front of the Capitol. Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, one of the highest-profile politicians at the rally, gave a highly anticipated speech to the crowd, which Capitol… Read more »

Developers presented plans for a proposed 33-unit apartment complex at the site of the old Planned Parenthood building at a West Mifflin Street neighborhood meeting Wednesday night. Jerry Connery, a developer based in Sun Prairie, said he plans to collaborate with area architect Gary Brink to construct a new student… Read more »

Members of the city’s Downtown Alcohol Issues and Ordinances subcommittee decided Thursday to lift an existing 365 day limitation on occupying vacated alcohol-selling establishments. The committee did not have an opportunity to address all issues on the agenda for discussion, which included the expansion of the current Alcohol License Density… Read more »

As Madison continues to grow and area officials consider more transit options, the Regional Transit Authority has the sole responsibility of determining the best form of public transit for the area. The Madison-area RTA, which state authorities established last year after increased interest on the County Board, had its first… Read more »

Supporters of the redevelopment of the Edgewater Hotel were once again successful after the city’s Plan Commission approved the newest plans for the historic hotel. In a meeting lasting until nearly 2 a.m. Tuesday, the commission approved, with only two dissenting votes, the revised Edgewater plans, which include further underground… Read more »

Madison residents will be able to host bands or large backyard parties without the threat of a ticket if city officials decide to approve a proposed ordinance creating noise permits. The ordinance, proposed by Ald. Bridget Maniaci, District 2, would exempt the owners of private houses from having events that… Read more »

The proposal to redevelop the Edgewater Hotel received a boost when it was given approval at the city’s Urban Design Commission meeting Wednesday night. In a 5-4 decision that required a tiebreaker from Chair Bruce Woods, the UDC voted for initial approval of a revised Edgewater plan. Developers announced they… Read more »

Two crimes targeting women have struck the University of Wisconsin campus area this week, with one sexual assault being reported near James Madison Park. Sexual assault According to a Madison Police Department report, a 24-year-old woman was groped on the 300 block of Norris Court Monday night. The woman screamed… Read more »

The University of Wisconsin Department of Classics hosted a distinguished professor of classics for a lecture about the ancient Roman city of Pompeii at the Chazen Museum of Art Thursday night as part of the Year in Humanities. Mary Beard, a professor of classics from Cambridge University in England, told… Read more »

After several days under a clean air advisory because of fine particle pollution in Southern Wisconsin, county and state authorities are asking area residents to take measures to reduce pollution. Lisa MacKinnon, coordinator of the Dane County Clean Air Coalition, said the current weather, combined with fine particles released by… Read more »

Downtown area residents concerned about the opening of a new restaurant at the former location of Cafe Montmartre gathered at the Bartell Theatre Tuesday night for a neighborhood informational meeting about the new business. Along with Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, and the three future owners of the new Underground… Read more »

The first meeting of the Madison Area Regional Transit Authority today will be mostly an organizational meeting that will introduce a resolution to impose a sales tax referendum, members of the Madison Area Transportation Planning Board said. At a meeting Wednesday night, the board previewed today’s RTA meeting, saying though… Read more »

Madison Police are urging caution after a bizarre crime involving a University of Wisconsin student struck the area surrounding campus last week. A 20-year-old UW student stirring cheesecake batter in the living room of his Fahrenbrook Court apartment at 3:30 a.m. Thursday was interrupted by a mysterious creaking door, the… Read more »

University of Wisconsin students laughed for two hours Wednesday night at two different viewpoints of race and ethnicity during a performance of the “Post-Racial Comedy Tour,” presented by the Wisconsin Union Directorate’s Distinguished Lecture Series. The show featured Christian Lander, the author of the blog “Stuff White People Like,” and… Read more »

County officials are hoping the Madison area lakes will be healthier and safer in the future with the construction of a new pollution treatment plant in the town of Vienna near Waunakee. According to Supervisor Brett Hulsey, District 4, the new plant will reduce up to 100,000 pounds of phosphorus… Read more »

The proposal to build a new Target store near the Hilldale Mall moved closer to approval Monday night at a meeting of the city’s Plan Commission. The commission unanimously voted for final approval of the Planned Unit Development of the store at the corner of University Avenue and Segoe Road… Read more »

Mayor Dave Cieslewicz announced Thursday the Madison City Attorney’s office will file a temporary restraining order to prevent Dane County from following through with changes to the county’s 911 dispatch system. Surrounded by leaders of other Dane County communities including Waunakee, Middleton and Oregon, Cieslewicz said at a press conference… Read more »

The proposal for a new high-speed rail station on the east side of Madison’s downtown received a boost Thursday at a meeting of the city’s Downtown Coordinating Committee when the recommendation was unanimously approved. The committee heard proposals from urban planning experts who said the proposed Yahara Station has the… Read more »

Madison’s Alcohol License Review Committee questioned the owner of local bars Segredo and Johnny O’s over his request to have a specialized 18-and-over license for special events at a Wednesday meeting, but decided to postpone the decision until at least June. Jon Okonek, who previously operated Madison Avenue before converting… Read more »

The ongoing struggle between Brothers Bar and Grill and the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents intensified Thursday after the owners of Brothers released an open letter to an anonymous donor to the University’s project for a new music performance facility. In the letter released in the campus newspapers and… Read more »

After receiving numerous complaints about traffic flow in wake of last December’s blizzard, the city of Madison made some changes to its snow removal techniques during this week’s snow emergency. The snow emergency, which will remain in effect until at least 7:00 a.m. today, requires all vehicles to be parked… Read more »

Members of the city’s Plan Commission considered changes to the language of an existing shoreline zoning ordinance at a meeting Thursday, which could have implications for the Edgewater Hotel proposal and other future buildings on the lake. The change in language, proposed by Ald. Mark Clear, District 19, would mandate… Read more »

The Madison Board of Public Works approved a $746,000 contractor bid for the renovation of Elizabeth Link Peace Park at its meeting Wednesday. Six of the eight bidders for the project were considered non-responsive for failing to show effort to meet the city’s affirmative action requirements, which require developers to… Read more »

Downtown street vendors accused JD’s Express of allegedly selling drugs from its location and vandalism at a meeting of the city’s Vending Oversight Committee Wednesday. Juan Hernandez of Johnny Rockets Hotdogs on Broom St. accused JD’s of illegally setting up a tent alongside their Broom Street location to cover up… Read more »

Madison police say drugs and alcohol were the primary motives for two recent campus-area crimes, which left one man unconscious and another with a damaged apartment. According to a Madison Police Department report, Timothy A. Collins, 42, of Madison, allegedly pounded on the apartment door of a 27-year-old resident of… Read more »

A proposed city ordinance which would decrease the amount of time a landlord may show a property came under scrutiny by campus area landlords Thursday in a meeting of the Landlord and Tenant Issues Subcomittee. The current language of the ordinance would limit landlords’ ability to show units to prospective… Read more »

Members of the city’s Urban Design Commission listened to new proposals for the Hilldale Target location and the Edgewater Hotel at a meeting Wednesday. Representatives from Target’s headquarters in Minneapolis presented changes to their initial store proposal that included a new location for the entrance to a truck loading bay… Read more »

Wisconsin lawmakers will return to the floor Wednesday as they debate both reform of drunken driving laws and a change in structure of Milwaukee Public Schools, two issues that have been developing for months. In an extraordinary session called by members of the Legislature, both the Assembly and Senate will… Read more »

Gov. Jim Doyle announced Thursday select Wisconsin industrial firms will receive more than $14.5 million in federal funds to increase energy efficiency and save and create jobs. Doyle said in a statement several Wisconsin paper companies — along with mining companies and small engine producers — will receive monetary awards… Read more »

Due to hazardous blizzard conditions, the city of Madison declared a snow emergency Tuesday and shut down all non-essential services for today. Most city agencies and services will be closed, with only emergency services operating Wednesday. “For the safety of our residents and our employees, only the city’s essential and… Read more »

Wisconsin lawmakers announced an agreement on drunken driving reform Monday, combining Senate and Assembly versions of the legislation to cut costs and agree on appropriate penalties for offenders. In a press conference Monday, Rep. Tony Staskunas, D-West Allis, and Sen. Jim Sullivan, D-Wauwatosa, announced the joint deal and said the… Read more »

The first phase of installation for experimental solar panels on the Capitol roof began Friday in an effort to make the building more efficient and make the public more aware of green energy. According to a statement released Friday by the office of Gov. Jim Doyle, 48 solar electric… Read more »

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services started a new advertising campaign Monday called “Let’s Get Vaccinated,” which will encourage more Wisconsin children and families to get swine flu vaccines. A statement released Monday by DHS said television, online, outdoor and radio advertisements — running in Spanish, English and Hmong to… Read more »

President Barack Obama said Monday his administration will focus heavily on strengthening math, science, technology and engineering education in the United States in order to rise from the middle to the top of rankings in international education. According to a White House statement, Obama’s new “Educate to Innovate” campaign will… Read more »

A campaign finance reform bill expected to be signed into law by Gov. Jim Doyle has recently come under fire from a group claiming the legislation is unconstitutional. In a letter to Doyle sent Wednesday, Sean Parnell, president of the Center for Competitive Politics, said the he expects Doyle… Read more »

Following the lead of neighboring states Minnesota and Michigan, Wisconsin lawmakers introduced a bill Monday that could legalize marijuana for medical use. At a press conference Monday, Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, and Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, introduced the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act, which would allow people suffering from diseases… Read more »

The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board voted Monday to postpone a decision on implementing controversial new electronic voting equipment to a later date, citing possible confusion for voters as the reason for its decision. According to Reid Magney, spokesperson for the GAB, the board made a 4-2 decision to delay action… Read more »

In a session that lasted late into Thursday night, the state Legislature passed a bill that will allow public financing in races for seats on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. According to Jay Heck, executive director for Common Cause Wisconsin, the bill will create a check-off option on Wisconsin income tax… Read more »

The Wisconsin Supreme Court heard oral arguments Tuesday for a case that has the potential to overturn a 2006 constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and civil unions in Wisconsin. With the lawsuit McConkey v. Van Hollen, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh professor William McConkey is contesting the constitutionality of a 2006 referendum… Read more »

Stimulus funds have created or retained 6,320 jobs in Wisconsin since February this year and 398,200 jobs nationwide, according to a report released Monday by the U.S. Department of Education. The report also said Wisconsin has received more than $561 million out of the approximately $1.034 billion in stimulus funds… Read more »

President Barack Obama announced Tuesday three Wisconsin electric companies will receive more than $21 million in stimulus grants for the development of safer, modernized electric grids. A White House statement said Wisconsin energy companies Madison Gas and Electric, Alliant Energy subsidiary Wisconsin Power and Light, and American Transmission Company, LLC… Read more »

Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton withdrew her candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the 2010 Wisconsin gubernatorial race Monday. Lawton said in an e-mail to supporters her decision was based on personal reasons. “My deep commitment to our state is second only to my commitment to my family,” Lawton said in… Read more »

Two grassroots pro-nuclear power groups from Wisconsin and Minnesota plan to hold a conference Monday that will feature a discussion on the future of nuclear power in both states. The objective of the event being hosted in Hudson, Wis., is to draw attention to the need for Wisconsin to lift… Read more »

Wisconsin first lady Jessica Doyle encouraged University of Wisconsin students to engage in volunteer activities during and after their time in Madison Tuesday, when she came to campus to share her experiences as a Peace Corps volunteer. Doyle, who served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Tunisia with husband Gov.… Read more »

The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board announced its plans to research the rise of online campaign advertising with media such as Facebook, Google and Twitter to propose campaign reform.According to Reid Magney, spokesperson for the GAB, the idea of adding a common disclaimer to the end of a Google or Facebook… Read more »

A Wisconsin right-leaning think tank released a report Thursday calling for 12-year term limits on state legislators due to the growing average age of legislators and their low election turnover rates. The report, authored by Wisconsin Policy Research Institute Senior Fellow Christian Schneider, said job security for Wisconsin legislators is… Read more »

After last weekend’s Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival protest on the Capitol steps brought attention to the issue of medical marijuana, two Wisconsin Democrats have proposed legislation that would legalize cannabis for medical purposes in the state. According to a statement from advocacy group Is My Medicine Legal Yet?, Rep.… Read more »

A Wisconsin-based tool company will relocate a portion of their existing operations from Texas to Wisconsin, consolidating them into an operation that will create 28 jobs and retain 140 in the state.According to a statement released Friday by the office of Gov. Jim Doyle, A&E Incorporated has decided to consolidate… Read more »

Students at UW-La Crosse protested the presence of coal-fired power plants at their school through a rally involving students, faculty and other members of the La Crosse community, including Mayor Matt Harter. The rally was a part of Sierra Club’s National Day of Action, which involved rallies all over the… Read more »

Gov. Jim Doyle announced the formation of a task force at a press conference Friday that will look into issues surrounding the state’s sex offender registry and DNA fingerprint database.The task force will begin looking into the missing DNA of between 3,000 and 4,000 convicted felons.While some of these samples… Read more »

Wisconsin State Super-intendent Tony Evers spoke to Wisconsin legis-lators and other officials Thursday in his first State of Education address at the Capitol. The main theme of Evers’ speech was Wisconsin’s need to adapt to the changing economy by focusing on public education. Evers said he is optimistic about the… Read more »

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced Monday that Wisconsin will receive millions in stimulus funding for various state transportation projects. In a statement, Gov. Jim Doyle’s office announced the state will receive $2 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to go toward the reduction of common, contract and… Read more »

Wisconsin State Assembly Democrats announced their “Standing Up for Wisconsin Families” legislative agenda Tuesday, listing green jobs, slowing home foreclosures and increasing penalties for drunken drivers as their top priorities. Assembly Speaker Michael Sheridan, D-Janesville, repeatedly said, “Wisconsin is open for business,” and much of this session’s legislative agenda will… Read more »

The United States Department of Energy has designated Wisconsin as a recipient of nearly $12 million in federal energy grants distributed under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The DOE said in a statement Wisconsin is one of 22 states to receive stimulus funds from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation… Read more »