📝 What’s cookin’ good lookin’?

⚖️ Key Takeaways from the State of the State

• Gov. Tony Evers dubbed 2024 the “Year of the Worker” in his State of the State address Tuesday, noting that one of the biggest challenges facing the state is its difficulties with retaining, attracting, and training workers to address the workforce shortage.
• In the speech, the Democratic governor laid out his goals for 2024 and called on Republicans to work across the aisle to fund priorities like expanded family leave and child care programs, access to affordable housing, and PFAS mitigation.
• In his speech, Evers also vowed to protect reproductive rights by promising to “veto any bill that takes away your reproductive freedom or makes reproductive health care any less accessible in Wisconsin than it is today. Period.” [Wisconsin Examiner, Wisconsin Watch, WisPolitics]

💼 High-Level Turnover at Several Local Organizations

• Madison Children’s Museum: Deb Gilpin, the Madison Children’s Museum CEO, has announced she will retire this summer after being the museum’s leader for 11 years.
• YWCA: Vanessa McDowell-Atlas is leaving her role as YWCA Madison’s CEO after nine years on the job. McDowell-Atlas made history when she became the organization’s first Black woman CEO in its more than 100-year history. She’s leaving to take on a leadership role at a new organization called Black Girl Ventures.
• Latino Academy: Baltazar De Anda Santana will step down as executive director of the Latino Academy of Workforce Development, Inc. in March. De Anda Santana is co-founder of the organization and served the Latino Academy for 12 years. [WMTV15, Madison365, Black Girl Ventures, Madison365]

🗳️ City Council’s Newest Member

• Madison’s City Council unanimously chose John Guequierre to fill the vacancy in District 19 following Kristen Slack’s resignation (due to an illness in her family). Guequierre works as a consultant in the construction industry but is no stranger to politics. He ran against Slack in the election for the seat last year, ultimately winning 34% of the vote.
• Guequierre said one of the main issues facing District 19 is disagreements among residents over housing density. District 19 covers parts of the city’s West Side bordering Middleton.
• Who’s your alder? Find out here. [Wisconsin State Journal, City of Madison]

Your Guide to Cooking Classes in Madison

Did you resolve that 2024 would be the year you took better care of yourself? Are you hoping to eat better and cook more homemade meals? Maybe you’re in a cooking rut and want to learn something new, from making your own pasta or soup broth to using more herbs.

Cap Times Food Editor Lindsay Christians is here to help. Bianca Martin and Lindsay discuss the dizzying array of options in Madison.