Here’s what we were reading while enjoying some music on Capitol Square [1].
Education
The Madison School Board passed its preliminary 2015-16 budget [2], which calls for a 4.9 percent property tax increase (about $100 on the average Madison home). The estimated cut in state aid to the Madison district under the proposed state budget is actually slightly smaller than had been budgeted for [3], although still a 3.5 percent reduction. What does the tax increase say about the district’s priorities [4]?
A program at LaFollette High School reaches out to at-risk young men [5]. Critics of the school district’s discipline plan say kids are getting away with too much [6]. A Madison teacher says this is an important time to be teaching young people about social justice [7]. Madison schools’ new policy against clothing with Indian names, mascots or logos was originally developed by the Native American Student Association [8].
Environment
A state budget provision would block Dane County from requiring Enbridge Energy to carry a $25M insurance policy against spills [9] in return for approval of a high-speed pipeline that would run through the county. The Madison finance committee approved an urban forest charge [10], to help pay for work to protect the city’s trees and deal with the Emerald Ash Borer. We reported on the city’s efforts in dealing with the invasive beetle [11] and the need for landowners to protect their own trees. Researchers are using social media to track foxes and coyotes [12] in the city.
Government
Retired Madison Police Chief Noble Wray discussed implicit bias in policing [13]. Most police-citizen interactions don’t include violence [14] says Chris Rickert. Madison’s police body camera pilot program may be delayed due to delays in setting up the test [15]. One Madison alder wants to prevent paid lobbyists from serving [16] on city committees. Mayor Paul Soglin has proposed significant changes in fees the city charges for outdoor seating at restaurants [17]. Madison’s finance committee approved the framework of a deal with Exact Sciences Corporation [18] as part of a planned development just south of Capitol Square. Dane County should demonstrate the benefits of nonpartisan redistricting [19], says the Wisconsin State Journal. The mayor appointed a permanent director of planning, community and economic development [20]. Driven by millennials and empty nesters, Madison’s apartment boom shows no sign of slowing [21]. A housing development near East Washington including services for the recently homeless [22] will break ground.
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Links:
[1] http://www.channel3000.com/madison-magazine/arts-culture/concerts-on-the-square-kicks-off-summer-series/33832488
[2] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/education/local_schools/madison-school-board-approves-million-budget/article_0ff3fc4a-ad48-5d0f-9aaf-b49d2e3e09b5.html
[3] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/estimate-percent-of-wisconsin-s-school-districts-will-get-less/article_c212d007-2904-58a0-8653-8cd168e64303.html
[4] http://host.madison.com/news/local/columnists/chris-rickert/chris-rickert-in-madison-schools-there-are-priorities-and-then/article_c8a99bb2-538e-52b4-917f-756e7582144b.html?
[5] http://themadisontimes.themadent.com/article/la-follette-program-strives-empower-risk-males
[6] http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/education/bad-behavior-critics-say-kids-get-away-with-too-much/article_2232b13a-1f55-11e5-b02d-7b8d5358976a.html
[7] http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/column/andrew-mccuaig-a-historic-time-to-be-teaching-social-justice/article_16a1ce2b-f5a2-5461-b915-5a939ba0b838.html
[8] http://capitalcityhues.com/062515IndianMascotsBan.html
[9] http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/state-budget-provision-would-exempt-pipeline-company-from-dane-county/article_904f12d0-c13e-5872-900c-86dc63885eb1.html
[10] http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/urban-forestry-charge-will-soon-appear-on-madison-services-bills/article_01d3dfd5-1ce2-5b63-97d8-11c4e6403200.html
[11] http://madisoncommons.org/?q=node/2617
[12] http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/social-media-helps-wildlife-researchers-track-madison-s-urban-foxes/article_106565ee-6cd2-5a95-8ebc-3832d7f27867.html
[13] http://capitalcityhues.com/062515NobleWray.html
[14] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/columnists/chris-rickert/chris-rickert-nothing-to-see-here-when-most-police-contacts/article_e1924d93-3bf9-5fb3-be2b-b93625897e3d.html
[15] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime_and_courts/delays-could-push-back-start-of-madison-police-body-camera/article_b1b1418e-5f96-5eae-9234-8cbeaf8458c2.html
[16] http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/madison-alder-to-propose-eliminating-lobbyists-from-city-committees/article_bc16e48f-dbd5-599b-9562-28f4949258af.html
[17] http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/paul-soglin-proposes-significant-fee-hikes-for-downtown-madison-sidewalk/article_8712b8c2-3f54-5777-910e-68d13aeab531.html
[18] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/city-jds-development-negotiators-produce-basic-terms-of-a-deal/article_4c8c5f63-7e31-5cb7-b561-518938a0f790.html
[19] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/opinion/editorial/dane-county-should-show-state-lawmakers-how-to-draw-fair/article_f121487f-9ce0-5982-9300-42c3ac7e0b40.html
[20] http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/soglin-appoints-natalie-erdman-director-of-planning-community-and-economic/article_d4c0f40d-8db1-5b3f-a902-0e08986cfe6b.html
[21] http://host.madison.com/business/madison-area-apartment-construction-still-booming/article_1b50dd63-8da5-566e-bcce-a53323d05777.html.
[22] http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/writers/bryna-godar/supportive-housing-project-on-rethke-avenue-to-start-construction-this/article_75b6386e-2a2e-5c7d-8705-861581044561.html