City Cast Madison
📝 Investigation at MMSD
June 7, 2024 · ✏️ Thanks to City Cast editor Bryan M. Vance!
Happy Friday, Madison! It’s still my birthday week and if you want to give me the best gift I could ask for, all you have to do is vote for Madison Minutes and City Cast Madison in the Best of Madison contest.
Our humble newsletter is up for Best Local News Website, and City Cast Madison is in the running for Best Local Podcast. Last year, the Minutes came in third (not bad, if I say so myself) and the podcast came in first. This year, we’re going for gold across the board!
Voting runs through the end of the month, and you can only vote for your favorites once, so why not knock it out today?
— Hayley
What's CITY Talking About?
⚕️ Overdoses Spike in Dane County
- Public Health Madison & Dane County has issued an overdose spike alert following a recent surge in local drug overdoses. At least 10 people received medical treatment for suspected opioid overdose in Dane County in the past two days. Additionally, first responders treated seven people this week who reported overdose symptoms after consuming crack cocaine.
- PHMDC said it’s been monitoring similar incidents reported by health officials in Milwaukee and Chicago linked to a synthetic drug called Medetomidine. Typically, drug traffic patterns in neighboring cities eventually affect Madison.
- Dig deeper: You can help prevent fatal drug encounters. [PHMDC, NPR, Madison Minutes]
🏫 MMSD Investigates Southside Elementary Complaints
- More than 60 parents at Madison’s Southside Elementary School have filed a complaint with the Madison Metropolitan School District against the school’s top officials. The group outlined an array of troubling behavior from Principal Candace Terrell and Assistant Principal Annabel Torres related to disciplinary actions against students, and retaliatory behavior against staff members who spoke out against the admins.
- MMSD has hired a local employment firm to investigate the matter. (We dug into this story on today’s City Cast Madison podcast, too!) [Cap Times, City Cast Madison 🎧]
🌾 Your Lunchtime Read: Can Miracle Grain Kernza Help Wisconsin in a Climate-Changed World?
- “Agriculture accounts for 10% of America’s greenhouse gas emissions, much of that coming from the cultivation of annual crops, including grains. Private companies, federal and state governments, researchers and farmer groups have been testing and funding ways to farm in more environmentally sustainable ways. There are a slew of emerging crops that could naturally support that effort and many of them are perennials like kernza.”
- Related: Southern Wisconsin has recently seen a revival of interest in small farming. From tortillas to bread to spirits, more folks are sourcing their grains locally. [Cap Times, City Cast Madison 🎧]
Friday Floof
We’ve made it through another week! Yahoo! Here’s your treat — meet Benito.
This lil’ guy came all the way from New Mexico, but is now a proud Madisonian. According to his human, Pamela D., Benito has specific rivalries, particularly with squirrels and diesel engines.
When he’s not feuding, he loves picnics at James Madison Park and photoshoots at the Capitol.
Do you have floof to share with the Madison Minutes community? Submissions are open!
What To Do
Friday, June 7
- Alex Wilson Band at Red Rooster Madison
- Baroness at Majestic Theatre
- B.I.T. Duo performs "Puccini, My Love" at Arts + Literature Laboratory
- Chad McCullough's Firestarter at North Street Cabaret
- Chamber Music Festival: High Fidelity at Hamel Music Center
- First Friday at Wingra Boats
- Garver Food Truck Friday ft. The Real Roots Rockers at Garver Feed Mill
- Happy Hour presents Gerri DiMaggio Trio at Cafe CODA
- Hike and Brew with Outdoor UW at Memorial Union
- Hot Flash: An early dance party at The Cardinal Bar
- Ill-Lumination at Crucible
- Infected Mushroom at Liquid Madison
- LIVE MUSIC: Calamity, Motion Sick, and More at The Rigby
- Lovestruck Balladeers + Troubadours of Rhythm at The Bur Oak
- Madison Bike Week 2024 across Madison
- NORTHSIDE SOUL CLUB with THE OTHER ADAM at Lola's
- Opening of Three New Shows at Abel Contemporary Gallery
- POTUS: Or Behind Every Great Dumbass Are 7 Women Trying To Keep Him Alive at Bartell Theatre
- Rooftop Opening Party at The Rigby
- Sabrina Wu at Comedy on State
- Wisconsin Supper Club at The Deliciouser
Today on City Cast
Wisconsin Charges Trump Allies, Pricier Parking, & School Drama
The City Cast Madison team is here to round up the news of the week. Podcast host Bianca Martin and I break down the complicated legal case brought against Trump allies’ fake elector scheme.
Plus: why will it cost more to use Madison’s parking garages during special events, and a father in Baraboo charged with disorderly conduct after he charged the school’s Black superintendent.
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