Madison Media Digest: Tony Robinson, Education, Business and Community

Our weekly look at the headlines in Madison

Here’s what we were reading while enjoying another wonderful winter day in the 24th best city in the nation.

Tony Robinson

Community members gathered to mark the one-year anniversary of the shooting death of 19-year-old Tony Robinson by Madison Police Officer Kenny. Robinson’s death was another in a line of police killings of black people, and forced Madison to grapple with some difficult truths. Many people say they have changed their view of the police in light of the shooting. The Madison Police Department says it is taking a hard look at its own practices. Many hope the activism Robinson’s shooting inspired continues to bring about positive changes. The Capital Times posted a gallery of photos from last year’s protests immediately following the shooting.

Education

Shorewood Hills Elementary students worked with robots. Madison Schools’ work with parents is a good idea, writes Chris Rickert. The group 100 Black Men of Madison started a mentoring program for boys aimed at improving educational outcomes and reducing truancy. Leopold and Mendota elementaries will become community schools next school year. Students at Edgewood College protested the school’s handling of a sexual assault case. Will UW-Madison leadership be on the right or wrong side of discussions of the campus racial climate?

Business

UW Health and Meriter Hospitals are discussing a closer partnership. Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce dissuaded state officials from meeting with representatives of Kraft Heinz about rumors the company planned to close its facility in Madison; the company did so, cutting about 1,000 jobs. Mayor Paul Soglin wants to know why, and city representatives at the Capitol wonder as well. The City Council overruled objections from South Side residents to a proposed development in the Bridge Lake Point neighborhood. The Dane County Board overrode County Executive Joe Parisi’s veto of a study on changes to the Alliant Energy Center. Lothlorien Co-Op reopened after a fire had threatened its long term future. We wrote in 2014 about an effort to sell the property that residents opposed. Sundance Cinemas at Hilldale have been sold to AMC, the second time in a year the theater’s corporate parent has been sold. Ho-Chunk Nation seeks a liquor license for its Madison casino.

Community

Elver Park’s fireworks on July 4 are being replaced by a Community Day on Aug. 27. One resident said it highlighted the city’s flawed priorities. The Emerald Ash Borer continues to infest Madison trees. The Dane County Circuit Court aims to reform its pretrial incarceration policy. The Police Policy Committee will eventually conduct a full review of the Madison Police Department. Seven Madison-area bike path proposals are up for federal grants. The State Journal called for the city and county to prioritize opening a long-planned and often-delayed homeless day center. Local groups are pushing an effort to make sure voters have the necessary ID they need for April’s presidential primary and state supreme court elections. Madison365 picks the winners of its three Black History Month awards: The Eugene Parks Disruption Award, the Milt McPike Education Award and the Ben Parks Small Business Award. Madison’s African-American firefighters will hold a fundraising ball to benefit the Jones-Robinson scholarship fund. Poverty in Wisconsin is the worst it has been since 1984. A report on Latin@ and immigrant workers in Dane County was released on Thursday. The Madison Symphony is embracing multimedia technology. Geek Craft Expo will come to Madison.