📝 Exclusive: Gamma Ray is coming soon

🐼 A New Adorable Face at Henry Vilas Zoo

• There’s a new red panda at the Henry Vilas Zoo! Her name is Betty and she arrived from the Lincoln Children’s Zoo in March. This sweet girl actually has a Madison tie already as the great, great granddaughter of Tarrei, the 19-year-old red panda the zoo lost in December 2021. [Facebook]

🎶 From Frequency To Gamma Ray

• Local musician and entrepreneur Kevin Willmott II is opening a new bar and venue in the former home of the Frequency (which was most recently Barely Pop Live). Gamma Ray Bar is set to open this summer and City Cast Madison caught up with Willmott in today’s podcast to get the inside scoop on what to expect from the new spot. [City Cast Madison 🎧]

📚 Asian American History Classes Coming to Wisconsin Schools

• Last week Gov. Tony Evers signed off on bipartisan legislation that will require schools to teach Asian and Hmong American history classes. Current Wisconsin law requires K-12 schools to teach Black, Hispanic, and Native American histories.
• Wisconsin is home to the third largest population of Hmong Americans in the U.S., behind California and Minnesota.
• “The Hmong and Asian American communities are a critical part of our state’s history, culture, economy, and our future,” Evers said in a statement. “It’s important that we celebrate our shared histories and honor the people who help make Wisconsin the state it is today.” [Cap Times, Gov. Office]

🗳️ Former Mayoral Hopeful Is Headed to Minnesota

• Gloria Reyes has been named the next deputy county manager of the Safety and Justice Service Team in Ramsey County, Minnesota. In 2023, Reyes ran for mayor against incumbent Satya Rhodes-Conway, ultimately earning 44% of the vote. She currently serves as deputy director of the Dane County Department of Human Services.
• Related: Hear from Reyes herself on her time as a Madison Police Officer, school board president, and deputy mayor in the Soglin administration. [Madison365, City Cast Madison 🎧]

Downtown Madison’s Getting A New Independent Music Venue

Madison’s getting a new live music venue. Kevin Willmott II is soon opening the Gamma Ray Bar in the former Barley Pop Live and The Frequency music venue space on West Main Street. You may know long-time local musician and live event host Kevin from his storytelling on the Moth Story Slam, his band Don’t Mess With Cupid or from his time working at the High Noon Saloon. Host Bianca Martin sits down for an exclusive with Kevin to learn about his plans for Gamma Ray and his vision for how it might serve Madison local arts.