🥁 Giving this prolific Madison drummer his flowers

🏥 Nurse Union: Hospital Not Meeting Demands

• A year ago, UW Health nurses and the hospital management reached an agreement, brokered by Gov. Tony Evers, to address concerns that had led to a union drive by the nurses. The nurses' union claims that the hospital has failed to live up to the agreement, citing ongoing issues with insufficient pay, understaffing, turnover, and burnout. [Wisconsin Examiner]
• Discussions between the union and hospital management are ongoing.

🦃 Theater Sale Gobbled Up by Purchaser’s Fall

• The famous turkey-shaped theater off I-94 in Johnson Creek is up for sale again after Steve Paulet, one of the soon-to-be owners, injured both of his knees in a fall just before closing the sale. Steve and his wife Rachel decided to forego the sale, given the long recovery time. The property is back on the market for $1.4 million, with refunds for sold concert tickets. [Wisconsin State Journal]
• Steve Paulet and Rachel Bauer planned to buy and revive the Gobbler as the Galaxie Theater for live music and recording sessions.
• While we wait for the revival of the Gobbler Theater, here are some of Madison’s best concert venues. [Madison Minutes]

📲 Indigenous Language Revival in the Digital Age

• Tribal leaders are collaborating with nonprofit Language Conservancy to develop an app that will help revive the indigenous Hoocąk language by taking recordings and creating a platform for future generations to practice the dialect. [WPR]
• Tribal leaders estimate there are fewer than 40 native Hoocąk (pronounced “Ho-Chunk”) speakers left in the entire country. Hoocąk is one of at least 2,900 languages that is considered endangered.
• Ho Chunk Public Relations director Casey Brown says, “[a]ll the Ho-Chunks that are alive today have a family member that went through being put in Indian schools where they weren't supposed to speak their language. They were supposed to forget their culture.”

🔌 Sounding Off on Proposed Utility Rate Hikes

• Alliant Energy, Xcel Energy and Madison Gas and Electric proposed rate increases this spring, but consumers are pushing back, raising concerns that the current rates are already difficult to afford and higher bills could make it difficult for them to afford essential services. Utilities argues that the rate increases are necessary to support the clean energy transition and modernize infrastructure. [WPR]
• Consumers also fear that changes to solar incentives will slow down residential solar adoption if approved.
• Alliant customers can continue to submit written comments to the PSC through October 4. Xcel customers have until September 29. MGE customers have until September 26.

Tuesday, September 19

• Astronomy on Tap Madison: Cosmic Confections, Constructions, & Consumptions at Northstreet
• Beyond Earth: The Quest for Life on an Icy Moon at Overture Center
• Burn It Down: Two Plays from the Edge at Arts + Literature Laboratory
• Concert Ticket Bingo at High Noon Saloon
• ZZ Ward at Majestic Theatre

The Most Sampled Drummer Lived in Madison. Why Don’t You Know His Name?

Clyde Stubblefield was best known as James Brown’s drummer, and came up with iconic backbeats that changed the course of music. But he wasn’t credited or compensated for his musical innovation and faced mounting medical debts later in life. Host Bianca Martin speaks with filmmaker Trevor Banks about why Stubblefield should get his due  — and the documentary that aims to tell his story.