📝 This church is becoming a music hall

🚍 North-South BRT Line Alterations Causing Complaints

• Business owners along South Park Street are worried that Madison’s second North-South Bus Rapid Transit line will eliminate parking for their customers, and were concerned it could put them out of business.
• In response, the city says street parking will remain in three areas on Park Street, meaning that buses won’t always have a dedicated lane in those areas.
• The planned North-South BRT Line will run along Northport and Troy drives, across the isthmus and then down Park Street. The end of the line will be near McKee Road.
• Last month, the city secured $118 million in funding for the North-South line. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with service starting in 2028. [Wisconsin State Journal]

🧑‍🚒 Firefighter Charged with Selling Drugs at Madison Station

• Trevor Wiggins is facing four felony charges for allegedly using a city fire station to traffick drugs and possession and distribution of cocaine and narcotics.
• Police have been investigating Wiggins since 2021 after an anonymous source alleged he was a drug trafficker.
• Wiggins was arrested at his home on April 10. A house search that day allegedly discovered guns, ammunition, drug paraphernalia, cocaine and fentanyl, and more.
• Madison Fire Chief Chris Carbon announced Wiggins was immediately placed on administrative leave. [WMTV15]

🍌 Food Scraps Recycling at Eastside Farmers’ Market is Back!

• Drop-offs at the Eastside Farmers’ Market are back starting Tuesday, April 30.
• And the best part? Drop-offs are free! You can drop off your scraps every Tuesday evening from 4 to 7 p.m. through the end of October.
• The program accepts scraps you would generally compost, like coffee grounds, raw fruits and vegetables, etc. They cannot accept compostable plastics, meat products, and grease, among others.
• Check here for more info. [City of Madison]

Madison Churches Are Selling. Here’s Why It Matters.

It’s no secret Americans are becoming less religious. Many congregations are shrinking and re-evaluating whether they need their large buildings anymore, or if they should sell them. All the while, Madison continues to be pressed for housing.

Reverend Mark Elsdon, executive director of the Pres House Presbyterian campus ministry, predicts the Madison area could lose a third of all churches, which serve as free gathering places for the community. Bianca Martin catches up with the Reverend to discuss what this coming wave means for our city.