📝 Visit Madison’s most haunted places, if you dare

🎒 Madison School Board Considering Busing Changes

• Seven weeks into the school year, First Student, the bus provider for the Madison School District, continues to struggle with transporting students. Buses have frequently run up to an hour behind schedule since the start of the academic year. First Student considers a bus to be on time when it arrives 10 minutes before or after the set arrival time.
• Families are frustrated, and the Madison School Board said they are considering substantial changes to school schedules and amending their contract with First Student. First Student has also noted that a nationwide driver shortage is the main cause of delays. [Wisconsin State Journal]

🛍️ Additional $1M for Madison Public Market

• The Dane County Board approved the final piece of financing last week that will allow for the project to break ground in 2025. This comes shortly after the Madison City Council narrowly voted to borrow an additional $1.6 million. The project has been stalled since September after higher construction bids came in.
• Now with the necessary funding, the Madison Public Market Foundation will be hiring an executive director and staff, as well as finalizing the vendor list. [Wisconsin State Journal]

🗺️ Could the State Legislature Pass an 'Iowa-Style' Redistricting Bill?

• At its first public hearing, Republicans say a redistricting bill that reflects Iowa’s redistricting model would bring Wisconsin closer to a nonpartisan mapmaking model. But Democrats say the GOP bill gives Republicans too much control. They also say the bill passed the Assembly in September without a public hearing.
• This latest Wisconsin proposal would mirror Iowa’s model to allow lawmakers to amend redistricting proposals if the first or second attempts by a nonpartisan agency aren’t approved. [Wisconsin State Journal]

🏥 Rise in Syphilis Cases Statewide

• Doctors throughout Wisconsin are urging parents in particular to discuss safe sex and sexual activity with their children after the Wisconsin Department of Health Services has raised concerns over a significant increase in cases of Syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections. While overall cases of STIs have decreased in the state, syphilis continues to rise at a faster rate than chlamydia and gonorrhea.
• “If there are more cases out here, then the risk of being infected during an episode of sex will increase,” said Dr. Joe McBridge with UW Health. “Teenagers and young adults know a lot more about being sexually active than parents like to admit. [WKOW]
• Visit the Department of Health Services for more resources.

Monday, Oct. 23

• An Evening with David Sedaris at Overture Center
• Hire Badgers: Student Staffing Opportunities for Small Business. Virtual.

Madison’s Most Haunted Places

Madison has its fair share of poltergeists, lingering spirits, and maybe even a few lake monsters. You just need to know where to look.

City Cast Madison’s podcast host Bianca Martin learns more about Madison’s haunted places with Lisa Von Buskirk and Mike Huberty from Madison Ghost Walks.