🚰 Getting salty over Madison’s water

🧑‍🌾 How Trump Policies Could Hurt Wisconsin Farmers

• Agriculture experts in Wisconsin are sounding the alarm on how some of President Donald Trump’s policy moves and threats, including tariffs and immigration, could pose significant economic hardships on Wisconsin farmers.
• Trump has threatened 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico by Feb. 1. If those countries imposed retaliatory tariffs, that could hurt prices and demand for U.S. soybean, pork and dairy products. And Trump’s efforts to detain and deport undocumented immigrants, who do 70% of the work on Wisconsin farms, could have “dreadful” consequences.
• On the City Cast Madison podcast today, listen to Cap Times reporter Erin McGroarty talk with Bianca Martin about Gov. Tony Evers’ State of the State address, including his bipartisan call to address immigration issues. [WPR, UW-Madison, 🎧 City Cast Madison]

🚰 Does Your Drinking Water Taste a Little Salty?

• Over a quarter of Madison’s municipal water wells have sodium levels that meet or exceed the EPA’s recommended levels for those on low-salt diets, such as people with a heart or kidney condition.
• The culprit? Road salt, says the organization Wisconsin Salt Wise. Every winter, Madison dumps thousands of pounds of salt when streets become slippery, and much of that salt ends up in soil and waterways.
• Both city and state officials are seeking ways to reduce salt use without compromising road safety. [Cap Times, Madison Minutes]

🏘️ Is Madison Doing Enough For Its Unhoused Residents?

• A former employee at The Beacon, a daytime shelter for Madison residents, said city and county officials aren’t doing enough to address homelessness in the area.
• Lindberg Chambliss said the Beacon was short on staff, especially caseworkers, and insufficient funding. Chambliss said he sent a list of demands to local officials, but never heard back from key stakeholders. [WMTV Ch. 15]

Meet Lola! This two-year-old cutie is pretty nervous and scared after coming to DCHS from an overcrowded facility in Alabama, and she’s looking for a home with some quiet and calm. Once she’s comfortable, she’s affectionate and loves receiving pets and smuggles. Lola would love a home with a patient family and no small children who will give her time to adjust and build her confidence.

The Academy Awards nominations were announced last Thursday, and, aside from “Wicked” and “Dune: Part Two,” the casual movie fan might not be familiar with all 10 movies nominated for Best Picture. (I’ve only seen half of them, and as someone who also writes a movie review newsletter on Substack, it’s kinda my thing.)

But Madison movie theaters have us covered. Here’s how and where to see the Oscar nominated movies in town between now and the Oscar ceremonies on March 2. (If you want to binge all the Oscar movies, Marcus Point and Marcus Palace have marathons scheduled where you can see them all over two days, and AMC Fitchburg 18 has one too.)

The Brutalist

This 215-minute epic (with an intermission!) about a gifted architect (Oscar nominee Adrien Brody) who clashes with his wealthy benefactor (Oscar nominee Guy Pearce) should be seen on the biggest screen possible. AMC Fitchburg is showing it on its IMAX screen as well as in regular theaters, and it’s also screening at Marcus Palace and Marcus Point.

Nickel Boys

RaMell Ross’ immersive film puts the audience in the shoes of two Black teenagers sentenced to a reform school in 1960s Florida. It recently opened at AMC Fitchburg and Marcus Point.

Wicked

Although Jon M. Chu’s vibrant adaptation of the hit Broadway musical (or, at least, the first half of it) opened in theaters over two months ago, it’s still defying gravity and playing in theaters, including Marcus Palace, Marcus Point, AMC Fitchburg, and Flix Brewhouse Madison.

I’m Still Here

Despite the title, “I’m Still Here” is not here yet. The drama about a Brazilian mother and activist trying to find out what happened to her husband who was kidnapped by the government opens in Madison Feb. 7 at AMC Fitchburg.

A Complete Unknown

See Timothée Chalamet inhabit the young, prickly, brilliant Bob Dylan in this hit biopic, still playing at all Madison movie theaters.

Conclave

Who knew a drama about the behind-the-scenes machinations to elect a new Pope could be so entertaining? With Oscar nominees Ralph Fiennes and Isabella Rosselini, “Conclave” is still hanging on at AMC Fitchburg in addition to streaming on Peacock.