Madison Media Digest: Earth Day coverage, politics, diversity

To mark Earth Day, and the brief appearance of nice weather, the environment took center stage in Madison media this week.

Environmental News

Regarding the health of Madison lakes, The Cap Times, working in conjunction with the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, began a four-week investigation. Their first story discussed how algal blooms and bacteria in water have led to nearly 1,300 days of beach closures over the last two decades. The Daily Cardinal also reported on the invasion of the spiny water flea.

In other news on water and sustainability, The Badger Herald examined lake health throughout the state, reporting on plastic pollution in the Great Lakes, and Capital City Hues featured a profile of Shalini Kantayya, an activist and filmmaker who has produced the first “A Drop of Life” about the world water crisis. Earlier in the week, the Wisconsin State Journal also called on the state government to set ambitious clean energy goals. Also at the State Journal, another discussion on ecosystem maintenance focused on local bat habitats. In an editorial the WSJ agreed in principle with federal plans to protect bat habitats in Wisconsin because the flying rodents prevent crop damage, although it hoped those restrictions would not go too far.

 In Politics

Southern Exposure, a newspaper published by the South Metropolitan Planning Council, praised outgoing alder Sue Ellingson’s work. Her replacement, Lucas Dailey, has been active in city government for more than a decade and was nominated to fill her 13th District seat on the Common Council. The Isthmus termed the selection surprising, given other veteran council members in the running for the job. Meanwhile, in an editorial The State Journal said that in terms with more than a year remaining, special elections should be used to choose new representatives.

Also in politics, Rep. Brett Hulsey (D-Madison) announced he was entering the Democratic Gubernatorial primary. Blogger Dave Blaska at In Business enthusiastically welcomed Hulsey to the race, if only to see some discord between Democrats.

On Diversity

Thursday’s Together Apart discussion race, sponsored by the Cap TImes, was live tweeted and brought hundreds of people together to discuss diversity, race and ethnicity, exploring how to reach across social divides using dialogue.