City Cast Madison
📝 Quit buggin’
May 22, 2024 · ✏️ Thanks to City Cast editor Bryan M. Vance!
Goooooooood morning, Madison! There’s a lot of bug content in this newsletter today, hope you’re not squeamish!
— Hayley
What's CITY Talking About?
🏥 A Contract for Meriter Workers
- Union workers and management at Madison’s UnityPoint Health-Meriter Hospital have reached a tentative deal that will lead to raises for the hospital’s lowest-paid workers.
- The two-year contract is the product of months of negotiations and will raise pay by an average of 9.55% over two years. [Cap Times]
🪲 They’re Here …
- The cicadas, that is. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the first sighting of Brood XIII 17-year cicadas in Lake Geneva.
- The bugs don’t sting or bite and they feed off plant fluids. But they are loud — their mating calls have been labeled everything from “annoying” to “deafening.” And it’s not uncommon for thousands of them to pop up per acre.
- This is the first time since 2007 that the 17-year cicadas have emerged in Wisconsin. [Wisconsin State Journal]
🥎 Meet the Night Mares’ (New) Head Coach
- Madison’s favorite softball team, the Night Mares, has hired a new head coach. Aaron Moore will lead the team in its inaugural season, following the resignation of former head coach Raquel Savoy. Moore has years of coaching experience at the collegiate level and most recently served as the assistant coach at Trinity Christian College.
- The Night Mares kick off their season on the road in La Crosse June 15, but the following day the team will host their home opener at Warner Park.
- Dig deeper: Meet the woman behind Madison’s baseball and softball teams. [Night Mares, City Cast Madison 🎧]
What To Do
Wednesday, May 22
- Brews and Q's Taproom Trivia at Young Blood Beer Company - North Street
- Cork N Bottle String Band at The Harmony Bar and Grill
- Madison Black Chamber of Commerce Grand Opening at Madison Black Chamber of Commerce
- Mark Croft Duo at Olin-Turville Park
- Music for Gaza Relief: Ft. Moonboot, 20 Minute Mission & The Takeaways at The Bur Oak
- Premier Trivia at Delta Beer Lab
- Public Meditation at Diamond Way Buddhist Center of Madison
- Queer Night at Great Dane
- Rhapsodie Quartet Recital at Overture Center
- Spring Italian Gnocchi Class at The Deliciouser
- Strictly Discs Presents: VINYL LISTENING SESSION • BILLIE EILISH - "Hit Me Hard & Soft" at Lola's
- Third Space Open Days at Ethical Trade Co
- Too Sick Charlie at Red Rooster Madison
- Trivia at Starkweather Brewing Company
- Two Films by Ja'Tovia Gary at Arts + Literature Laboratory
Today on City Cast
Raising Taxes or Cutting Services: Madison’s Budget Dilemma
Madison says it is facing a projected $27 million budget shortfall for 2025, and has to make hard decisions. Between a referendum to raise property taxes and cutting city services, the potential solutions elicit strong opinions, and the city’s been trying to hear them all. City Cast Madison podcast host Bianca Martin spoke with the City Council President Yannette Figueroa Cole about what Madisonians say are the most critical services for them, and how the Council is approaching this moment.
❗ P.S.: Got a minute? Don’t forget to fill out our annual audience survey!
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