🍸 Public Parking makes ‘Best New Bars’ list

Why Are There So Many Car Crashes on Willy Street?

• After a car crashed into Mother Fool’s Coffeehouse last month for the third time, city officials are looking for ways to improve safety on Williamson Street.
• City records show there have been nine car crashes on the east side street since 2016. “There really isn’t a similar location that has this same problem in Madison,” Assistant Director of Traffic Engineering Tom Mohr said.
• Residents with the Marquette Neighborhood Association discussed possible solutions Monday with city officials, including adding speed bumps or protecting buildings with sturdy poles. [Ch. 3000, WMTV]

🏳️‍🌈 Was Pride Flag Decision Tied to Funding?

• As the Wisconsin Historical Society faces internal and external criticism for not raising the Pride flag over its headquarters, one anonymous employee suggested the decision may have been connected to the society’s attempt to get state funding for its new history center.
• The employee shared a May 8 email that announced a Pride flag raising ceremony on June 2, but CEO and Director Christian Overland cancelled that event a couple of weeks later. It’s the first time since 2019 that the flag has not flown during Pride Month.
• The decision came at a time when the Historical Society asked for funding in the state budget for $160 million for a new history center in Capitol Square. Overland reportedly told employees the funding was not threatened over the flag.
• 🎧 Dig deeper: City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin and I get into the controversy on the Friday news roundup today. We also talk about Meriter nurses’ big win on the picket lines, and a new bar the owners of Ahan are opening on Willy Street. Listen in! (Ch. 3000, 🎧 City Cast Madison]

🏫 Southside Elementary Will Get New Leadership

• Following an investigation, Southside Elementary will have a new principal and assistant principal when school resumes this fall.
• Superintendent Joe Gothard shared the news with families at the school. An outside agency had been looking into allegations by parents that former Principal Candace Terrell and Assistant Principal Annabel Torres had created an unsafe environment for students. Both were removed from their positions last October.
• District officials did not disclose any more information about the investigation, describing it as a confidential personnel matter. [Ch. 3000]

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