📝 The latest public market hiccup

👋 Meet the New Dane County Supervisors

• Three people have been appointed to fill vacancies on the Dane County Board of Supervisors. Steven Peters will represent District 9, which covers much of Madison's far west side; Jay Brower will represent District 13, which includes a large portion of the UW-Madison campus; And Chad Kemp will represent District 32 in the Verona area. [Dane County]
• The full board will vote on the appointments this week. If confirmed, the three will serve through the remainder of the term, which ends in 2024.
• Brower and Kemp are both new to the board, while Peters represented District 15 until last year.

🏫 Republicans Fight DEI

• Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has threatened to block pay raises for more than 30,000 UW System employees unless the schools cut diversity, equity, and inclusion spending by $32 million. [WPR]
• The bigger picture: Earlier this year Republicans in the Legislature voted to cut $32 million from the UW System's budget and eliminate 188 staff positions related to DEI efforts. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers used his veto to save the jobs, but the funding cut remained. [AP]

🏀 Ready to Ball?

• The Big Ten Conference released the 2023-24 men's basketball schedule this week. Wisconsin's regular season will have 17 home games, including 10 Big Ten conference matchups. The Badgers will host an exhibition on Nov. 1 against UW-Stevens Point, before officially opening their season on Nov. 6 at the Kohl Center vs. Arkansas State. [UW Athletics]
• New this year: Booze. Wisconsin will now offer beer, wine, and pre-packaged alcoholic beverages like hard seltzers in general seating areas at the Kohl Center and LaBahn Arena.

🎥 Your lunchtime read: Enter the glitchy, experimental world of Alex T. Jacobs’ video art

• City Cast Madison’s very own Bianca Martin is the star of a new short film that will make its premiere at the Art Lit Lab tonight! Take a glimpse at the local director’s work in this preview from Tone Madison.
• “During the pandemic, [filmmaker Alex T.] Jacobs moved back to Madison from movie mecca Los Angeles to be closer to family, and he’s proud of the varied creative work he’s seen here as regular events and screenings resumed. He’s become fervently curious about all the lurking local talent that can sometimes seem hidden.”

Wednesday, Sept. 20

• Accessible Playground at Rennebohm Park Ribbon Cutting at Rennebohm Park
• Brews and Q's Taproom Trivia at Young Blood Beer Company - North Street
• Trivia at Starkweather Brewing Company
• Gib's Give & Takeaway Comedy Show! at Gib's
• KFC Radio: Presented by Barstool Sports at Comedy on State
• Project Projection Fall 2023: Local Film and Video at Arts + Literature Laboratory
• Socks in the Frying Pan at The Bur Oak
• Dance Around Molly at State Line Distillery

What’s Happening With the Madison Public Market

The Madison Public Market has been a dream for decades. Three mayors have tried. With a proposed opening in 2025, it’s now the closest it’s ever been to becoming reality.

The city plans to remodel its former Fleet Service building on 200 N. First Street and turn it into a business incubator and mall for food-related businesses. They’ve secured the space, hired architects and have building designs in hand. They’ve spent years recruiting and prepping vendors to be ready to fill it. They’ve raised millions in both public and private funds.

But now, costly construction bids are threatening to derail the project. We speak with Madison Public Market Foundation Board President Karen Crossley about the vision for the market and where they are in the process.

Note: We spoke to Karen Crossley on September 15, 2023, before she had reviewed the project construction bids.