✈️ ‘Dane County International Airport’?

🏘️ Trump’s Tariffs Could Hit Local Housing and Booze Prices

• President Donald Trump imposed 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada on Tuesday, and experts say they could worsen Madison’s affordable housing crisis. About 25% of America’s building materials come from Canada and the tariff could “significantly raise the cost of new housing in a region where housing costs are already high,” said Matt Wachter, Madison’s director of planning, community, and economic development.
• Another place where a trade war could hit Madison in the wallet? Alcohol. Economists say imbibers could see a swift uptick in prices of everything from Mexican beer to Canadian whiskey. [ 🔒 WSJ, 🎧 City Cast Madison, Daily Cardinal]

✈️ Will ‘Dane County International Airport’ Fly?

• Dane County Regional Airport officials want to extend the airport’s reach to Mexico and Canada. The county is pursuing international designation for Madison’s airport, in the hopes to eventually start offering direct flights to both of those countries.
• The designation would be approved by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and could take years. Last year, the airport had its second-highest passenger travel numbers ever. [WPR, WKOW]

💰 Dane County To Hire Lobbyist To Woo State Officials

• As state budget talks get underway, Dane County is planning to hire a new $135,000 legislative lobbyist. Lacy Fox will serve as a liaison between the county and state government as the Legislature determines how much funding to give local governments.
• 🎧 Dig deeper: Madison recently hired its own lobbying firm to represent the city in the Capitol. On the City Cast Madison podcast today, host Bianca Martin talks with former Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz about the idea, and the city’s sometimes contentious relationship with the state. [ 🔒 WSJ, Cap Times, 🎧 City Cast Madison]

Overture Center’s International Festival is a fun and free way to get to know your neighbors in Madison’s many diverse and vibrant communities. The annual festival takes place on March 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in every part of Overture Center, from the massive Overture Hall to the tiny Rotunda Stage.

The festival includes over 30 free performances from Madison organizations representing cultures all over the world. Add in a bunch of food and craft vendors, and it’s like a trip around the world without leaving the isthmus.

You can check out the full schedule here. And in the meantime, here are a few highlights, although the best way to experience the festival is to wander from place to place, constantly surprised at what you see next.

💃 What To See, From Flamenco to Taiko Drumming

In Overture Hall, Tania Tandias Flamenco and Spanish Dance (1:15 p.m.) will perform fiery flamenco dances from southern Spain, followed by Charanga Agozá (2:30 p.m.) who will get audiences out of their seats with Cuban dance music.

Percussion, dance, and martial arts combine in Japanese taiko drumming by Beni Daiko (1:15 p.m.) in the Capitol Theater. The Afro-Caribbean dance known as capoeira also incorporates elements of martial arts – catch Raízes do Brasil (3:15 p.m.) in the Capitol Theater.

Zhong Yi Martial Arts (10:15 a.m.) will celebrate the Chinese New Year with its lion dance in the Overture Lobby, while the LuLu Quintet (1:30 p.m.) will invoke the spirit of guitarist Django Reinhardt and “hot club” Romany jazz.

⬆️ Last week’s photo

This sculpture, known as “Tree Limb Faces,” is found on the patch of ground where Atwood Avenue and Division Street miss.

🎉 This was a toughie! Congrats to Kate L., Amy K., and Nancy S. for being the first three to guess right!

⬇️ This week’s photo

Can you guess where this statue is located? A few clues:

• The statue is located downtown.
• It’s a statue of UW-Madison running back and Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne.
• If you want to dress like Ron, this is probably the best place in Madison to shop!