Welcome to the Madison Commons, a website designed to provide news and information about all of Madison's neighborhoods and a crossroads for the discussion of community issues. The name comes from the idea of a village commons, a place for news, talk, debate, and some entertainment, too, that's open to everyone.
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Top story
A deep dive into the protest history of the Wisconsin capitol building [2] shows just how strong the city’s roots of dissent run.
Education
Got student loan debt? Madison-based student loan servicer Great Lakes was purchased [3] by a Nebraska company that will slowly merge the portfolios. Folk schools [4], where handcrafts and trades are taught, are making a comeback. A successful driver’s education program [5] backed by Dane County’s executive is expanding beyond Madison’s high schools to several nearby schools.
Development
Education Analytics, a Madison nonprofit, received more than $7 million [6] from the federal government to expand early literacy programs with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Madison was among 238 communities that submitted bids asking Amazon to put its next headquarters [7], and all the jobs and development that would come with it, here. The Carbon Apartments on the city’s East side are designed to look upscale while providing affordable housing [8] to low income renters.
Community
A Madison game developer joined with one-time governor hopeful Mary Burke to build a social network [9] that aims to empower women. Henry Vilas Zoo will get a $2.2 million makeover [10]. A Harry Potter festival this past weekend was popular [11] – so popular its 50,000 attendees overwhelmed infrastructure.
