🥚 Short Stack Eatery makes an eggs-it

🗳️ Evers: Make It Easier For Citizens To Amend Constitution

• In a move that could impact everything from abortion rights to marijuana legalization, Gov. Tony Evers wants to give Wisconsin citizens a more direct path to amending the state’s constitution or changing a state law.
• Currently, only the Legislature can place constitutional amendments on statewide ballots. Evers said Friday that citizens ought to be able to gather signatures to put an issue on the ballot. [WPR]

🥚 Short Stack Eatery To Close Up Shop in May

• In a blow to Madison breakfast lovers, the owners of Short Stack Eatery announced they will close their popular W. Johnson St. spot this year. Owners Alex Lindenmeyer and Sinead McHugh said on social media they would not renew the restaurant’s lease in May, and plan to leave the restaurant business entirely.
• Meanwhile, Taco Local on Willy Street closed its doors at the start of the year. Owner David Rodriguez opened the Latin American restaurant in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, and said it has been a difficult few years to run a restaurant. [Badger Herald, Madison Magazine]

💰 School Safety Office Gets GOP Support in Wake of Shooting

• In the wake of the Dec. 16 shooting at Abundant Life Christian School, the GOP leaders of both legislative chambers said they are open to adding $2.3 million in the state’s upcoming budget to fund the Department of Justice’s Office of School Safety.
• The office was originally created in 2021 using federal pandemic dollars, but that money has run out. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said in 2023 the office could function with reduced dollars, but now says he’s open to full funding in the budget. [City Cast Madison 🎧, Isthmus]

Meet Missy! Missy is an adult dog who can be a little shy when meeting new people, but once comfortable, she’s very friendly and playful. She loves going on walks but needs a little leash training. She can also be vocal when excited, but her foster says she redirects pretty easily to her toys when prompted. She loves meeting other dogs, and is looking for a family with teens or older who can continue working with her on her positive reinforcement training.

Early January used to be awfully quiet on the Madison music scene. But that changed several years ago when Michael Gomoll launched the Joey’s Song benefit concert series to raise money for epilepsy research and awareness. Working with his friend, Garbage frontman and Madison music icon Butch Vig, Gomoll assembled an all-star lineup of nationally-known rock musicians for a sold-out benefit show each year.

Now, Joey’s Song has expanded to become the four-day Freezing Man Festival, running this Wednesday through Saturday at The Sylvee, Majestic Theatre, and High Noon Saloon. Here’s who’s coming to town to rock for a good cause – you can see all of them at Saturday’s big jam session finale or on their own earlier in the week.

Plus, today on the City Cast Madison podcast host Bianca Martin caught up with Gomoll to get the scoop on this year’s shows, hear stories from backstage, and learn more about how the funds they’ve raised are helping families impacted by epilepsy.

Know-It-All Boyfriends

The “world’s best cover band,” featuring Vig and Duke Erikson of Garbage, singer-songwriter Freedy Johnston, and Steely Dane’s Jay Moran, will kick things off with a show Wednesday night at the Majestic Theatre in addition to Saturday’s big finale.

Portugal. The Man.

The band known for a playful indie rock sound and an unorthodox approach to punctuation has been a part of Joey’s Song for several years now, and headlines a big show at The Sylvee on Thursday night.

Also on the bill for Thursday are pop-punk singer-songwriter and Oshkosh native Kenny Hoopla, Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen and his sons’ new band The Nielsen Trust, and ‘90s power-pop band Letters to Cleo. (Fun fact: Letters to Cleo played a cover of Cheap Trick’s “I Want You To Want Me” on the roof of a school during the closing credits to “10 Things I Hate About You.”)

“Hodgson & White’s WI Cheese-Capades”

It’s not just music! “Mystery Science Theater 3000” creator and original host Joel Hodgson are joining forces for a special Wisconsin-themed comedy show and live charity auction Friday night at the High Noon Saloon. Opening will be comedian Dana Gould, who performs stand-up in costume as the ape-man Dr. Zaius from “Planet of the Apes.”