Media Digest, July 20th 2017

Development

Construction around Capitol Square means many of your favorite food carts have probably moved. MATC has been granted initial approval for the redevelopment of their downtown campus. The city is eyeing a massive redevelopment of south Park St. After 6 years of disuse, the library mall fountain has been restarted. The Judge Doyle Square redevelopment project has received final approval. Monroe St. businesses hope to get ahead of the 2018 construction projects.

Local Government

A jury has awarded a Madison family $7 million for police use of unreasonable force in a 2014 shooting. A new report from the Madison Regional Economic Partnership shows slow progress towards racial equality in job settings in Madison. Mayor Soglin is offering a bounty program for guns used in violent crimes; he has  offered to pay for it out of his own office’s budget. The city council rejected the proposal to use officers on city buses to catch texting drivers. Madison will absorb the Blooming Grove water and sewer district. A new program proposes turning mundane utility boxes into canvasses for local artists.

Community

Sun Prairie and Elver’s Park have become home to new farmer’s markets. Youth curfew at Madison malls begins at the end of July. One City Early Learning Center has a new director of family and community initiatives. Madison establishments are now offering beer massages as well as beer yoga. The Ugly Apple food cart is fighting food waste by using ingredients that are not aesthetically perfect but tasty nevertheless. Stoughton schools are getting a mental health crisis team. Local chain Brennan’s Market will close all stores.