City Cast Madison
🤖 What's Up With UW-Madison's New AI School?
December 8, 2025 · – Francisco Kilgore
Good morning, Madison! Today we're kicking off our year-end membership campaign and we'd be so grateful if you'd think about officially becoming our City Cast Madison Neighbor.
We love this city because of you. Because we believe being deeply engaged with where you live builds connection and understanding like nothing else. This counts double in an increasingly disconnected world.
We know there are thousands of people in Madison who want to laugh together, argue together, and root for this place and each other.
If you believe in a more connected, curious, compassionate city – we sure do! – become a City Cast Madison Neighbor today and help us make it happen.
City Cast Neighbors is our way to help you get – and give – more to your city. There are perks like members-only events, a chance to shout out the people and places you love, and even more. (Maybe even a beanie? 👀)
Join us for $10 bucks a month or $100 a year.
What's CITY Talking About
🚉 How Passenger Rail Could Come To Madison
- We could've had passenger trains in Madison 15 years ago but then recently elected Gov. Scott Walker turned down the opportunity and rejected $810 million of guaranteed federal funding.
- But as of 2021, we have another shot. Amtrak and the State of Wisconsin are trying to figure out if we'll be their latest stop in 2035. Today, host Bianca Martin sits down with city transportation director Christof Spieler to talk about what the City of Madison can do to secure this new station, and to find out what else is new in city transportation. [ MSJ, 🎧City Cast Madison]
🤖 There's Going To Be a New AI-Focused College. Why?
- Though UW-Madison has announced budget cuts to a wide range of departments, the university will soon have an AI-focused college. The College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence will be located in the campus's sleek new Morgridge Hall building. It's part of Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin's efforts to increase AI offerings, a reflection of the changing academic environment.
- In 2019, UW-Madison launched the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences within the College of Letters & Science. Since then, things have grown significantly – enrollment in the school has doubled to more than 6,000 students. Given that growth, the school is becoming a full college on its own.
- It helps that much of the funding has come from private donations. Cisco CEO John Morgridge donated more than $140m to the new building, and Epic Systems donated a lecture hall. [Cap Times]
🚧 WisDOT shows off New Ho-Chunk Highway Signs
- More Wisconsin highways will soon have signage that identify Ho-Chunk Nation communities and the Mississippi River in both the Ho-Chunk and English languages.
- The dual language signs were revealed at Ho-Chunk House of Wellness in Baraboo, a continuation of efforts that began in 2021 which works with native nations to have better sign representation on tribal lands. [Madison365]
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This Week's Madison News Quiz!
The City of Madison Proposed an Amtrak Station Where?
a. On Lake Waubesa
b. On State Street
c. On John Nolen Drive
d. On University Ave.
What To Do
Monday, Dec. 8
- 🩸 Blood Drive with Impact for Life at GiGi's Playhouse
- 🐶 Busy Dog: Drink with your Dog Class at Karben4
- 🍺 Lego Night at Working Draft Beer Company
- 🏳️⚧️ Trans Social Night at Crucible
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Give for Maximum Impact
Use Madison Community Foundation’s philanthropic expertise to achieve your charitable goals. Support the causes you care about, start a donor-advised fund, or create a lasting legacy. Madison Community Foundation is here to guide every step. Visit MadisonGives.org/giving to learn more and get started today.
Oh and if you want to become an official City Cast Neighbor, there might even be a City Cast Madison beanie with your name on it. (Not literally with your name, but it's an amazing beanie…)
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