⛄ Time to bust out the snow shovels

Victims Identified, Links To California Man Investigated

• The Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office released the names of the teacher and student who were killed in Monday’s shooting at Abundant Life Christian School.
• Erin M. West was a 42-year-old substitute teacher who worked part time at the school, and Rubi P. Vergara was a 14-year-old freshman who loved music and her pets. United Way of Dane County has set up a fund to help those affected by the attack, including the six people injured.
• Authorities are investigating a California man who they say was in contact with the 15-year-old shooter, and was planning his own attack against a government building.
• Dig deeper: On the Friday news roundup on the City Cast Madison podcast, the team talks about the latest on the shooting investigation and the new felony charges against Ald. Charles Myadze. [WPR, United Way, WMTV, 🎧 City Cast Madison]

Another Setback For UW Engineering Building

• Plans for a new engineering building on the UW-Madison campus hit another roadblock Wednesday after a state commission voted against a request needed to adjust funds and approve construction.
• The price tag of the project increased to $419 million due to design changes and building materials. The State Budget Commission denied the request, with several members saying they weren’t told early enough about the change.
• University officials said they hope to work with the Legislature to resolve the issue so that the project, which advocates have called for for years, won’t be delayed further. [Cap Times]

Report: Former Oversight Chair Interfered With Police

• Shadayra Kilfoy-Flores, the former chair of Madison’s Police Oversight Authority Board, abused her authority last year while intervening with police arresting her daughter, the city’s Ethics Board concluded.
• When her daughter was arrested in October 2023, Kilfoy-Flores told the arresting officers “Do you know who I am?” and threatened to use her position on the board to investigate past arrests they had made. She later texted Police Chief Shon Barnes asking that the charges against her be dropped. [ 🔒 WSJ]

Sisters Marge and Millie are big bundles of love! Marge loves to lay on her back and show off her big furry belly, and Millie loves to nuzzle her nose in her humans' faces! Their companionship is heartwarming, and they make their people laugh and smile every day.