Here’s what we were reading while not taking our cars to work [1].
Police
The family of Tony Robinson, who was killed by Madison Police Officer Matt Kenny on March 6, filed suit against the city [2]. The city settled a civil suit filed by the family the of Paul Heenan, who was killed by Madison Police Officer Stephen Heimsness in 2012, for $2.3M [3], the largest settlement for a police shooting in state history. The Isthmus investigates the militarized Madison SWAT team [4]. Madison Young Gifted and Black leaders travelled to Case Western University to discuss police violence in their communities [5].
Homelessness
Mayor Paul Soglin is trying to reframe efforts his critics say are targeted at homeless individuals around behaviors [6]. City committees will take up Soglin’s plans to limit the time people can spend on benches [7] and other limits. The Dane County Democratic Party opposes the measures [8]. The ACLU believes Madison’s panhandling ordinance is unconstitutional [9]. The president of Downtown Madison, Inc. thinks the city needs more stringent enforcement of public conduct laws [10]. Metro Transit is removing a bus shelter at the top of State Street [11], which has been seen as a site of behavior issues. A concert tonight will feature homeless or formerly homeless singers and support local shelters [12]. Philosopher’s Grove, a frequent gathering spot for many of Madison’s homeless, is being removed [13]. During protests about the removal of Philosopher’s Grove, staff at the City County Building threw out homeless people’s property [14], reports Brenda Konkel.
Business
Kraft is cutting 165 jobs in Madison and 2,500 nationally [15]. Questions still remain on how the city will support a planned development in Judge Doyle Square [16]. Africafest celebrates the role of the marketplace in African life [17]. A Willy Street business is recreating the general store [18]. The Pressure Chamber is a competition for local start-ups to win a chance for a trip to California where they will meet with potential investors [19]. Five other start-ups made their pitches to investors here in Madiso [20]n. An educational video game company has opened new offices downtown [21]. Dane County could ban e-cigarattes in workplaces [22]. A developer is proposing a 60-unit building at the corner of Fordem and Sherman [23]. Another developer plans to build affordable housing on the south side [24]. Legal poker will not be coming to Dane County [25].
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Links:
[1] http://host.madison.com/news/local/city-life/madison-area-has-one-of-nation-s-largest-declines-in/article_f45f5a56-42a9-11e5-b02c-5b70997de216.html
[2] http://host.madison.com/news/local/writers/bryna-godar/tony-robinson-s-mother-says-lawsuit-is-a-chance-for/article_2a726dbb-42a9-5085-ab20-db0f3ff64aac.html
[3] http://host.madison.com/news/local/crime_and_courts/city-agrees-to-pay-paul-heenan-s-family-million-for/article_cccdb0f8-e7b5-5985-afcb-3fca59d6689b.htm.
[4] http://www.isthmus.com/news/cover-story/madisons-swat-team-militarizing-police-force/#sthash.WoGg0R4w.dpuf
[5] http://themadisontimes.themadent.com/article/madison-ygb-leaders-convene-in-cleveland-for-black-lives-matter-movement/
[6] http://host.madison.com/news/local/columnists/chris-rickert/chris-rickert-paul-soglin-avoids-the-h-word-focuses-on/article_4ade25c5-9f8b-5535-88b1-536c48d7b9cc.html
[7] http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/debate-on-paul-soglin-s-downtown-madison-bench-ordinance-to/article_98d46788-7853-5ed3-9a1d-222641de6492.html
[8] http://www.forwardlookout.com/2015/08/dane-dems-against-bench-ordinance/23703
[9] http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/aclu-says-madison-s-panhandling-law-is-unconstitutional/article_20b7d5cb-ac0d-50af-80ed-b7298044af98.html
[10] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/opinion/column/guest/susan-schmitz-madison-needs-standards-for-acceptable-behavior-downtown/article_b633e7ce-2143-5264-8de8-e2fa13008102.html
[11] http://host.madison.com/news/local/writers/bryna-godar/metro-transit-sets-date-to-remove-bus-shelter-at-the/article_dfd32214-9d4f-5404-bb9a-ce40578e63ce.html
[12] http://host.madison.com/news/local/concert-will-feature-homeless-and-formerly-homeless-singers-alongside-professional/article_52e8fa4a-4545-5883-aa2a-cbec5cf1b69a.html
[13] http://www.isthmus.com/news/news/removal-of-remaining-philosophers-stones-begins-this-week/
[14] http://www.forwardlookout.com/2015/08/county-throws-out-homeless-property/23701
[15] http://host.madison.com/business/kraft-heinz-cuts-jobs-in-madison/article_8dcc70fe-ef83-5cbe-b0e1-764086762cac.html
[16] http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/madison-s-finance-comittee-voices-questions-on-judge-doyle-square/article_d0cb897f-23ea-5c2c-bec5-9287496c7f9c.html
[17] http://capitalcityhues.com/080615AfricaFest.html
[18] http://host.madison.com/lifestyles/fashion-and-style/madison-style-willy-street-shop-embodies-community-connection-of-original/article_0bacee1c-895a-5016-8617-3b7c8a4d72f2.html
[19] http://host.madison.com/news/local/writers/laurel-white/six-local-startups-to-compete-in-pressure-chamber-during-forward/article_86a4171a-5648-5325-846f-d1115d1bca5b.html
[20] http://host.madison.com/news/local/writers/laurel-white/brand-new-gbeta-accelerator-program-launches-five-madison-based-startups/article_ec04bea8-65e3-5e0a-ab1b-d8d8ff2c3324.html
[21] http://host.madison.com/news/local/writers/laurel-white/filament-games-moves-cool-workspace-into-old-at-t-building/article_cb203c45-d4a8-5e73-88b4-d87eb8d09e45.html
[22] http://host.madison.com/news/local/e-cigarettes-could-be-e-liminated-in-dane-county-workplaces/article_e3f8e367-5981-5f64-ae27-9fd804ffedcf.html
[23] http://host.madison.com/news/local/writers/todd-milewski/unit-apartment-building-proposed-for-corner-of-fordem-and-sherman/article_3b39a77e-8f02-5255-9729-90f27c05e28b.html
[24] http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/developer-eyes-affordable-housing-project-on-south-side/article_9de2fb94-e499-576d-8c58-708f5141e420.html
[25] http://www.isthmus.com/news/news/judge-shoots-down-effort-to-legalize-poker-in-wisconsin/