📝 Regents Redux

🏫 Regents Reverse Course

• Days after narrowly rejecting the notion, the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents voted to approve a controversial deal with Republican legislators to unlock funds for employee pay raises and infrastructure projects in exchange for scaling down its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
• In practice, this means a freeze on hiring DEI positions at all UW schools and “realigning” 43 current positions to become “student success” roles.
• UW President Jay Rothman negotiated the deal with Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin supported it from the start. Some student groups and legislative Democrats, however, criticized the deal for not consulting those who would be most impacted.
• How we got here: Three regents who initially voted against the deal flipped sides Wednesday evening, resulting in an 11-6 vote to approve the deal. Dig deeper into the story on today’s episode of City Cast Madison. [Cap Times, Madison365, City Cast Madison]

🍎 Little John’s Lives On

• After abruptly scaling back its operations earlier this year, the local nonprofit Little John’s Kitchen has teamed up with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County to use its commercial kitchens and make meals for the community.
• Through the partnership, Little John’s will provide food for Boys & Girls Club members and other community partners like the Madison Children’s Museum’s pay-what-you-can café, the Evening Meals on Wheels program, and the homeless encampment on Dairy Drive.
• If you’ll recall: Little John’s was forced to suspend operations and lay off over half its staff in January after issues with their lease and problems with food quality and standards. [NBC15, Cap Times]

🛍️ Still Shopping?

• If you still need to do your holiday shopping, you’re in luck. There are five local markets happening across town this weekend and I rounded them up just for you. [Madison Minutes]

🏘️ Your Lunchtime Read: Can ‘social housing’ help address Madison’s affordability crisis?

• “As Madison faces continued growth and a housing shortage, the city is taking a more active role in developing projects on city-owned land.” [Isthmus]

Another week, another floof. Meet Evie. This sweetie is a 6-year-old rescue from Alabama. She loves to be the center of attention, watching TV, and helping her humans quilt by holding down the fabric (as pictured ;)).

Want to see your floof in the Minutes? Fill out the form below.

4 Train Routes Funded, 3 Regents Flipping, 2 Journalists Talking… and a Poor Elk Meets an Untimely End

The City Cast team is here to round up the news of the week. Bianca Martin and Hayley Sperling discuss the potential for new Amtrak train routes across Wisconsin, including service from Madison to Milwaukee. Also, it’s been a week of surprising votes from the UW Board of Regents.