🛑 School changes busing after fatal crash

🛑 Schools Shift Park Street Bus Route After Fatal Crash

• Following a fatal crash on Feb. 5 that killed 17-year-old West High School student Sasha Rosen while he was crossing Park Street to catch a bus to school, Madison Metropolitan School District is adjusting the bus route on the street.
• MMSD is designating Park Street as an “Unusually Hazardous Transportation” location, and Wright Middle School students who live east of the street will now be bussed to school. The change would not have affected Rosen, because high school students ride Metro buses.
• Madison School Board member Martha Siravo said school and city officials need to do a better job communicating and coordinating to keep students safe.
• On Monday, 51-year-old Kathleen Borgwardt was booked into the Dane County Jail on a tentative charge of homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle related to that crash. Investigators say Rosen was in the crosswalk, with the pedestrian warning lights activated, when the crash occurred. [ 🔒WSJ, DPI, Cap Times, WMTV]

💰 Evers Calls For School Funding and End to Gerrymandering

• In his eighth and final State of the State address Tuesday, Gov. Tony Evers made one last push for the state to increase funding for Wisconsin schools.
• Evers has been negotiating for weeks with legislative Republicans in an attempt to address chronic underfunding of schools, which has resulted in steep property taxes as local school districts have passed their own referenda. He rejected a $2.3 billion plan offered by GOP leaders this week that included tax relief and money for special education, but no additional general school aid.
• Evers also said he would call a special legislative session in the coming weeks to end partisan gerrymandering in Wisconsin. In 2024, Evers approved new voting maps that gave Democrats more representation in the Capitol. [WPR]

🍝 After 58 Years, Porta Bella Will Close This Month

• With developers eyeing its Francis Street location for a new student apartment comples, the owners of Porta Bella Italian restaurant said they will close Feb. 28.
• Co-owners Wally Borowski and Ed Shinnick are selling the building to Villas Student Housing, who want to build a 16-story building on the site. Both men are in their 70s and will retire after the sale, scheduled for April 1.
• Porta Bella has operated since 1968, known for its Tuscany-style design, upholstered booths, and traditional menu that feels like a throwback to an earlier era of Italian dining. “We will deeply miss all the customers that we have come to know over the years and hearing how our restaurant has become a part of their family traditions.” [ 🔒WSJ, Facebook]

What’s for breakfast? In Madison, we have a dizzying array of options for the most important meal of the day. We could line up for brunch at a buzzed-about place, belly up to the counter for a classic diner staple, or kick back and have an elegant locally-sourced breakfast at one of Madison’s finest restaurants.

On the City Cast Madison podcast today, executive producer Hayley Sperling talks to Cap Times food and culture editor about how Madison does breakfast.

One of my favorite ways to start the day in Madison is with a breakfast sandwich, whether it’s a quick grab-and-go option or a big, messy, cheesy creation you have to wrap both hands around. Here are a few of my favorites.

Did I miss your favorite Madison breakfast sammie? Drop me a line at [email protected] and let me know and I’ll collect them for a future article!

The Capital City Breakfast Sandwich at Barriques

My Saturday morning tradition is to pick up this somewhat unorthodox take on the breakfast sandwich, which includes egg, bacon, Wisconsin-aged cheddar, spinach, and a tomato-sriracha spread on a rosemary cheddar scone.

The Breakfast Sandwich at Zippy Lube

There’s nothing that can’t be improved by the addition of a doughnut, and a breakfast sandwich is no exception. As she says on the podcast, Hayley is a big fan of Zippy Lube’s sandwich, which features a hot ‘n’ fresh donut with egg, cheese, and bacon, sausage or veggie sausage.

The Drew Sandwich at Madison Sourdough

You can’t go wrong with anything at this Willy Street institution, but my go-to is the Drew, with an Italian sausage patty, fried egg, cheddar, and chili-maple aioli on the bakery’s in-house Italian bread.

The Speedy Eggwich at Lazy Jane’s

There’s a reason why there’s a line out the door every weekend. It’s worth it even for Lazy Jane’s affordable no-frills classic, featuring a sunny-side up egg, sausage patty, and cheddar on a toasted English muffin.

The Egg Sandwich at Bagels Forever

By far the cheapest option in town, the University Avenue bagel factory makes a great little sandwich to order when you’re commuting in or out of town. And the bagels of course cannot be beat.