Here’s what we were reading while donating a bit of money to prevent the summer slide [1].
Community
A task force released recommendations about the use of force by police [2]. Leaders of color worked with local law enforcement leaders [3] to help form the new guidelines. The recommendations stress de-escalation [4]. Protesters gathered in the Capitol Square for a Day Without Latinos [5], to protest proposed legislation they say targets the Latino community in Wisconsin. Madison students comprised a large share portion of the protesters [6]. Race to Equity released a roadmap for tackling the city’s racial disparities [7]. A theater project helps tell stories about race [8]; we covered this project as well [9]. Solstice House, a respite location for people addressing mental health or substance abuse challenges opened on the East side [10]. Madison365 bestowed the first of three awards they will give to members of Madison’s black community [11] in celebration of Black History Month.
Government
The County Board is split on how to go about redeveloping the Alliant Energy Center [12]. Dane County Executive Joe Parisi wanted to find private developers to pay for a renovation of the Alliant Energy Center [13]. The County Board instead voted to move ahead with the planning process [14].
Dane County doubts its planned homeless day center will open until 2017 [15]. Closed planning sessions for the proposed day center leave out important contributors [16]. Homeless Services Consortium is hosting a three-day event focused on the Community Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness in Dane County [17].
Tuesday’s primary election was first with the state’s voter identification law in effect, and election officials reported few snags in Madison, which saw low turnout [18]. Dave Blaska said the smooth rollout statewide vindicates the law [19]. Others think the reports leave out those who chose not to vote in face of extra hurdles [20], and described at least two voters turned away [20].
Some 14 people applied to represent the 11th district on the Common Council [21], after Alder Chris Schmidt leaves his post. Developers offered two very different plans for Judge Doyle Square [22], and the city will examine both after an initial deal fell through last year. Parking likely will determine which plans goes forward [23]. A planned six-story apartment development on Broom Street at West Washington would see six century-old houses demolished or moved [24]. The city’s efforts to take on the Emerald Ash Borer continue [25].
Education
Some Madison School Board members say the current disciplinary system is too rigid on questions of expulsion [26]. An online charter school focused on vocational training will be based in Dane County [27]. Madison’s alternative education programs reach [28] a range of students, with a variety of concentrations [29].
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Links:
[1] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/opinion/editorial/help-stop-the-summer-slide-in-reading/article_8ee997a2-9b30-5f88-b15b-069932e5b0cf.html
[2] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime-and-courts/recommendations-seek-to-reduce-police-use-of-force/article_4f78e065-0911-5b65-9bf7-f3222504b513.html
[3] http://madison365.com/index.php/2016/02/19/special-communitypolice-task-force-issues-call-to-action/
[4] http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/crime-and-courts/task-force-formed-after-tony-robinson-shooting-unveils-use-of/article_cce2b0e9-6099-5dc0-a619-6675a5f347c6.html
[5] http://isthmus.com/news/news/latinos-flood-capitol-to-protest-proposed-legislation/
[6] http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/education/local_schools/madison-students-expected-to-protest-immigration-bills-thursday-morning/article_87713514-c853-5448-b6b6-9e0eba3bc47a.html
[7] http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/education/university/race-to-equity-releases-roadmap-to-progress-on-racial-justice/article_36d7cb7f-9359-51e1-a7fd-e18d35d22fe2.html
[8] http://host.madison.com/ct/entertainment/arts_and_theatre/theatre/theater-of-color-with-theatre-lila-madisonians-tell-real-stories/article_753e2ebd-6226-59fd-b873-7c0d4201d12c.html
[9] http://www.madisoncommons.org/?q=content/workshop-helps-participants-share-their-personal-stories-about-race
[10] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/health-med-fit/mental-health-respite-center-in-madison-offers-help-from-peers/article_766e7e64-0e5a-5f20-a864-cadc97d2e23a.html
[11] http://madison365.com/index.php/2016/02/15/black-history-month-madison365-will-name-eugene-parks-disrupter-award-winner/
[12] http://isthmus.com/news/news/alliant-energy-center-county-board-vote/
[13] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/joe-parisi-seeks-private-development-proposals-for-alliant-energy-center/article_e7bea3b3-8786-5670-a241-320e46aab596.html
[14] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/dane-county-board-approves-market-study-planning-process-for-alliant/article_6bdf5fb4-bf7e-549f-aa74-39312c1db69e.html
[15] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/dane-county-s-homeless-day-resources-center-unlikely-to-open/article_8426d7a7-bcd4-5d1d-8b50-9c66a3add422.html
[16] http://www.forwardlookout.com/2016/02/who-gets-to-decide-next-steps-on-the-day-center/24744
[17] http://www.forwardlookout.com/2016/02/2-5-days-to-talk-about-homelessness/24731
[18] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/first-test-of-voter-id-law-produces-few-major-problems/article_bf5548e5-a952-56e3-a914-9ec0c8633a23.html
[19] http://www.ibmadison.com/Blogger/Bring-It/February-2016/What-if-voters-were-asked-to-prove-their-identity--and-they-did/
[20] http://host.madison.com/wsj/opinion/mailbag/voter-id-creates-barriers-to-voting----ellen/article_6285d03f-f1b4-5bdb-a490-726c5d66a6f5.html
[21] http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/fourteen-candidates-seek-to-fill-vacancy-in-city-council-s/article_fee7184c-3a02-5386-a246-4112c1360301.html
[22] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/madison-will-continue-to-court-both-developers-for-judge-doyle/article_791ffdcb-16fe-531f-92b2-f817ec222ce0.html
[23] http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/parking-a-pivotal-issue-in-latest-round-of-judge-doyle/article_ebf402bf-bf19-59ae-944b-600cbfca602c.html
[24] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/developer-proposes-razing-vintage-houses-in-capitol-gateway-for-apartment/article_c95568b7-0477-5498-8b7c-fa02ca38ee22.html
[25] http://host.madison.com/news/local/ask/catching-up/catching-up-madison-continues-battle-against-emerald-ash-borer/article_1c518f32-45dc-58f0-8047-655f7120e14b.html
[26] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/education/local_schools/madison-school-board-signals-desire-to-add-more-discretion-into/article_8d7db9ec-0678-5c77-bee8-bb1305cdee70.html
[27] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/education/local_schools/state-s-first-online-technical-education-high-school-to-be/article_3befc968-a046-55d7-9c0f-3274855858bf.html
[28] http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/education/local_schools/there-s-no-judgment-supportive-environment-boosts-learning-for-students/article_68897b7c-c967-5e1b-bd70-cbacc9c67410.html
[29] http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/education/local_schools/what-alternative-programs-are-available-for-students-in-the-madison/article_cd57b47c-8d99-5ad9-b11e-b606ed9a5e3c.html