📝 Biden unveils loan forgiveness in Madison

💰 Biden Touts Student Debt Forgiveness Plan in Madison

• In a visit to Madison College Monday, President Joe Biden unveiled a new plan to provide student debt relief to millions of Americans. Under the proposal, more than 4 million borrowers could see all of their debt wiped and more than 10 million could get $5,000 or more in relief.
• If you’ll recall: This isn’t Biden’s first attempt to cancel student loan debt. His previous plan was blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court last June. That plan would have canceled up to $10,000 in federal student loan debt for borrowers who earn less than $125,000 annually.
• The announcement is a big one for Wisconsin, which is expected to be a key state for either candidate to claim victory in the 2024 election, and is home to more than 700,000 borrowers with roughly $21.4 billion in federal student loan debt. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]

🚣 An Early Season for Brittingham

• Brittingham Boats is officially open for the season. The local boat (and paddle board, etc.) rental shop opened Saturday, marking the earliest opening date the business has had in its 11 years. [WMTV]

💉 State COVID-19 Treatment Program Ending

• The Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced its free COVID-19 Treatment program will end April 10. The program was initially set to end at the close of 2023 but was extended because of rising COVID-19 case numbers. These days, transmission of the virus is at low levels and declining, though DHS officials still urge people to still take precautions. Meanwhile, Public Health Madison and Dane County reports that flu levels are currently trending high.
• “As the program ends, we urge Wisconsinites to remember COVID-19 has not gone away. We now have better tools to protect, prevent, and ensure access to COVID-19 vaccination, testing, and treatment through your healthcare provider, community clinic, or pharmacy,” DHS Deputy Secretary Deb Standridge said in a statement.
• Related: You can still get Paxlovid for low or no cost. [WPR, PHMDC, DHS, Madison Minutes]

🎨 Help Make the State Street Pedestrian Mall

• The city is looking for volunteers to help paint murals on State Street as part of its (experimental) conversion into a pedestrian mall. On April 21, all Madisonians are invited to help local artists paint four 20-foot circle murals on State Street between Gorham Street and Hawthorne Court and more than 150 whimsical Madison-themed stencils.
• Some context: Back in 2023, City Council approved a plan experiment with turning the 400-600 blocks of State Street into a pedestrian mall — AKA the area is closed to virtually all non-emergency traffic. The blocks will also feature new planters, benches, and other public art. The change is expected to begin this May. [City of Madison]

Happy Take Me Home Tuesday! This week, Dane County Humane Society would like you to ​​meet Munchies.

This 10-year-old pup came to DCHS in March. He can be a little nervous at first, but as he becomes more comfortable, all he wants are pets, snuggles, and belly rubs. Munchies walks well on leash and his previous family says he is a “love bug” who knows sit, lie down, come, stay, shake, and more. Munchies is looking for a home with no cats or small children. He’s looking for a family who will spoil him with companionship, snuggles, and walks.

Inside WYSO’s Cool New Building on East Wash

If you’ve driven down East Washington Avenue in the past year, you’ve probably seen the building under construction: a large wall of glass flanks the front of the building, nestled under the swooping curves of arched roofs. This is the new home of the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras. Since the 1960s, WYSO has trained and inspired thousands of young musicians across Madison, and they did so from borrowed rooms across town. Now, they’ve got a state-of-the-art rehearsal facility to bring all their orchestras under one roof.