Madison Media Digest: Education, Government and Community

(Michael Mirer / Madison Commons)

Here’s what we were reading while attending the World Cheese Championships

Education

Madison’s AVID/TOPS program continues to show good results. The school district reported a drop in the number of citations and arrests near the city’s high schools. Ed Hughes describes the eight things he’s learned in his years on the school board. The Capital Times praised outgoing teachers union leader John Matthews. Dave Blaska was not a Matthews fan. 

Government

The city resolved a number of unpaid citations on Sunday. Madison Mayor Paul Soglin blamed the state’s Republican leadership for not acting to prevent the closing of Oscar Mayer’s century-old plant in Madison. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said city leadership, not the state, is to blame for the loss of 1,000 jobs due to the closing the plant. Fitzgerald has made an open records request that he claims is aimed at determining who said what to whom. City planning director Katherine Cornwell will be stepping down in June. The new Central Business Improvement Director talks about her goals for downtown Madison. A West High grad is spearheading the city’s push to reduce homelessness. Developers presented revised plans for the redevelopment Judge Doyle Square just off the Capitol. Proposed renovations to the Alliant Energy Center could be the most expensive project in Dane County’s history. The city might get its first community solar project. Dane County Circuit Judge David Flanagan is retiring.

Community

The director of the Latino Academy of Workforce Development will be moving on in June. A new report showed that Latin@ workers in Dane County face workplace discrimination. A new study shows Madison is the 10th most racist city on Twitter. LGBTQ+ youth in Dane County are at high risk for homelessness. Madison companies begin to offer childcare for parents with non-traditional schedules. Madison photojournalist Wendi Kent gained national acclaim for her project documenting protesters at abortion clinics. AFRICaide’s International Womens Day celebration brought together a diverse group to speak about their experiences. A proposed development on West Washington stresses studio apartments. A group of neighborhoods are working towards affordable housing in the isthmus area. The Dalai Lama made his 10th visit to Madison.