📝 Your February guide awaits

⚖️ The Fight for Election Maps Heats Up

• Gov. Tony Evers has vetoed the redistricting proposal that Republicans in the statehouse passed earlier this month. Republicans don’t have enough votes in the Legislature to override the veto, which means the liberal-controlled state Supreme Court will decide between six maps submitted by Evers, Republicans, Democrats, and others.
• Why it matters: Republicans have had a stronghold on the Legislature since their maps were implemented in 2011. Those maps have been called some of the most extreme partisan gerrymanders in the country.
• How did we end up here? City Cast Madison explains everything. [PBS Wisconsin, City Cast Madison 🎧]

🗳️ Have a Valid Voting ID?

• Believe it or not, there’s a primary coming up. Though most Madisonians won’t cast a ballot in the Feb. 20 primary, Dane County residents in districts 13 and 36 and voters in the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District will.
• To complete your civic duty, you’ll need the proper identification. That can include a state-issued driver’s license or ID card, U.S. passport, and more. Here’s a full list. [City of Madison, My Vote Wisconsin]

🥕 Fresh Mart Madison Comes to University

• A local grocer selling international foods is preparing to open a second location in the former Whole Foods on University Avenue. Fresh Mart Madison currently has a store in Sun Prairie and its owners also run the Istanbul Supermarket and Café at 745 S. Gammon Road. They hope to open the new Madison location in March. [Wisconsin State Journal]

🍦 A Heaping Scoop of OSHA Violations

• Schoep’s Ice Cream in Madison is facing more than $145,000 in fines after the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined the East Side ice cream plant lacked sufficient safety procedures and exposed workers to anhydrous ammonia. Exposure to the chemical can cause respiratory injuries and burns to the skin and eyes.
• The ice cream plant is located at 2070 Helena St. in the SASY neighborhood and employs roughly 250 people. [Wisconsin State Journal, Madison Minutes]

Your Guide to February in Madison

Winter fans rejoice! We get one extra day in February this year. For everyone else who might be looking for a little, ahem, inspiration this time of year, fear not. Host Bianca Martin and Madison Minutes newsletter editor Hayley Sperling have you covered on the coolest things going on in Madison this February.