Environment

Pollinator Protection work group aims to address City’s pesticide use

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The Madison Food Policy Council’s Pollinator Protection work group introduced a resolution to the Common Council last week allowing the creation of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Policy Review Task Force.  

The task force will revisit policies on pesticides and integrated pest management. Their goal is to explore ways to eliminate or reduce pesticide use to improve the habitats of pollinators on city-owned land. Currently, the resolution is being referred to five to six committees, and the Council is expected to adopt the resolution by July. If approved, the task force will convene and begin reviewing recommendations and then dismiss by early 2019.

City Life

Drug Take Back Day offers Madison residents a safe option to dispose of prescription drugs

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The Wisconsin Department of Justice will be holding a citywide Drug Take Back event on Saturday, April 28th, operating collection stations for citizens to safely dispose of prescription drugs and other controlled substances. 

Drug Take Back day is a project of the Wisconsin DOJ’s Dose of Reality prescription painkiller abuse initiative. In addition to safe disposal services, the initiative also offers community members to learn more about abuse and treatment for controlled substances, and the importance of safely storing such medications. The program is managed as a partnership between the Wisconsin DOJ, the Drug Enforcement Administration and local law enforcement agencies, and aims to combat illicit recreational use of controlled substances. “More than two thirds of people who have abused prescription painkillers got them illegally from a friend or family member,” said Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel. “Wisconsinites can help cut down on prescription drug abuse by storing prescription drugs securely and disposing of unused medication through proper methods, like DOJ’s biannual Drug Take Back Day.”

There are sixteen collection locations across greater Madison that will accept and dispose of prescription, non-prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals.

City Life

Media Digest April 24, 2018

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Top Story

Madison law enforcement agencies say there is a large need for more crisis mental health services. Education

The public is invited to hear a presentation about the results of research into Madison schools’ 4K early learning program. Madison teachers marched Friday from East High School to the Capitol to ask for the state to do more to prevent gun violence in schools. John Muir Elementary was put on lockdown after a suspect being chased by police walked into the school’s gym. Development

Groups are looking to provide more housing services for female veterans, including a project on East Washington.

Achievement Gap

New Mount Horeb High School mural supports mental wellness

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“You are brave,” “You are worth it,” “Breathe,” “Create;” these are a few of the uplifting words and phrases that adorn Mount Horeb High School’s new mental wellness mural. After witnessing the effects of mental illness on peers, a group of seniors at Mount Horeb High School wanted a to create a mural with the power to soothe, uplift, and give hope. Between March 19 and 23, Dane Arts Mural Arts (DAMA) assisted 1,000 students, as well as many community members, in fulfilling that artistic vision. An official mural dedication will be held at the school on May 8. Lead artist Amy Zaremba was touched by the project’s overwhelming support and said the turnout of volunteers was “really amazing.”

“And the kids didn’t just come here and sit around,” Zaremba added.

Food

Get a Taste of the Madison Public Market!

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The Madison Public Market Foundation is hosting a spring Taste of the Madison Public Market event on April 21, 2018, which offers the opportunity to meet some of the vendors that will launch their businesses in the market. The event will feature free samples and larger portions for purchase from 20 local businesses participating in the multicultural MarketReady program, which provides training and micro-grants for new and existing small businesses interested in joining the Madison Public Market. The family-friendly event is free and will offer kids activities sponsored by Madison Public Library and a free award-winning cheese tasting sponsored by the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, whose mission is to preserve the history of dairy farms across the state. The event will take place on Saturday, April 21 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Madison College downtown campus on 211 N.Carroll Street in the 2nd floor community room. Parking is available across the street in the City parking ramp.

Featured in Category

Deregulation of Wisconsin taxi companies fails to pass State Assembly

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A bill that would take the regulation of taxicabs from local governments and give it to the state failed to pass during legislative session after receiving strong backlash from cities and cab companies. The bill, AB 918, would remove the authority of local governments to license and regulate taxicab operators and businesses. Instead, the state agency the Department of Safety and Professional Services would handle all licenses and regulations. The legislation is similar to a bill passed in the previous session that banned municipal legislation for companies like Uber and Lyft, which are referred to in the bill as Transportation Network Companies. According to a statement from the bill's author, Rep. Dan Knodl (R-Germantown), this legislation is needed to create a statewide regulation and ensure that taxicabs can compete with TNCs.

City Life

Media Digest April 18, 2018

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Market Square Theater expects it will close if the sale of a parking lot is finalized and moviegoers are left without convenient parking. Education

A food truck serving locally sourced meals will rotate between Madison’s high schools this spring. A bowlathon is raising money to end food insecurity for Madison students. The president of MATC is leaving his position for Illinois. Development

The state announced last week tax reductions for affordable housing, which means a $20 million project on Cottage Grove Road can move forward.

City Life

Protect against identity theft at Shredfest

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In an effort to fight against identity theft, WISC-TV, the Better Business Bureau, and McFarland State Bank have partnered to help Madison residents shred documents that contain confidential information.  

To help identify what documents need shredding, the BBB released a checklist of what types of information lead to identity theft, which includes social security numbers, birthdates, PIN numbers or passwords, banking documents and other financial information, leases, contracts or letters that include signatures, pre-approved credit card applications, medical or dental bills, travel itineraries and used airline tickets. Only paper products can be shredded. Madison residents are limited to three small boxes, or 50 pounds of paper. Rubber bands, staples and paper clips do not need to be removed.

Featured in Category

Café Social connects Colombia and Madison

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When he arrived in Madison in 1999, Omar López did not know English. He had never seen snow before. But he did know one thing definitively, he could not find a cup of coffee in Madison that would compare to what he knew in his native Colombia. López opened Café Social in August 2016 with his partner Douglas Swenson. Enter the shop, you are greeted by the sweet aroma of freshly brewed Colombian coffee. Almost every day, López, 50, prepares his coffee shop for the day, then mans the counter.

City Life

Media Digest April 12, 2018

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Madison police expect to spend $3 million on overtime this year as the number of responses and special duties grows. Education

High school students came to Madison and other Dane County locations for Youth Leadership Derby held by the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin. Gloria Reyes won a spot on Madison school board after besting incumbent Anna Moffit in last week’s election. Education doesn’t stop for Madison’s south side with a classes at South Madison Partnership. Development

More than $13 million in tax breaks was delivered for an eastside affordable housing project.