City Cast Madison
👋 Bandit the panda is leaving the zoo
April 22, 2026 · — Rob Thomas
Good morning, Madison! Is Madison your happy place? A recent survey by WalletHub ranked our city the 12th happiest city in the country. But that might not reflect the, shall we say, complicated feelings many of us have about Madison.
On the City Cast Madison podcast today, we talked to a lot of our readers and listeners to hear about what makes them happy about Madison, and what makes them unhappy. We got a wide range of thought-provoking responses.
It’s those kinds of conversations about Madison – sometimes celebratory, sometimes brutally honest – that we think are important to have at City Cast Madison. If you want to join that conversation and talk about what’s working in Madison and what isn’t, we’d love to have your support as a City Cast Madison Neighbor.
Our members get lots of perks – member-exclusive events, Neighborhood Shoutouts, and, during our spring membership campaign, a special City Cast Madison pennant. We’d love to have your support, and your thoughts on what makes Madison special.
What's CITY Talking About
🐼 Bandit the Red Panda Steals Away From Zoo
- Do you love Bandit the red panda at Henry Vilas Zoo? Today is the last day to visit Bandit before the zoo sends him to another accredited zoo for a conservation breeding program. Red pandas are considered endangered, with fewer than 2,500 in the world.
- The zoo is hosting a going-away party for Bandit at noon Wednesday at his exhibit. Visitors can sign his goodbye card and watch as Bandit feasts on his favorite treats, red grapes and apple slices.
- Don’t feel too bad for Betty, the zoo’s female red panda. Zoo officials plan to bring a new red panda to Madison later this year. [WKOW]
☀️ Madison College Unveils Solar Storage System for Earth Day
- Today is Earth Day, and organizations in Madison have been celebrating ways to help the planet all month long. Madison College debuted a new 180-kilowatt solar array that works with a new battery storage system on the college’s Truax Campus.
- Students from the college’s energy technology department helped design the solar storage system, which will provide energy to the Protective Services Building, including a proposed fleet of EVs for the police and fire sciences program. The system uses AI to track energy use patterns to provide energy when and where it’s most needed.
- 🎧 More bright ideas: Don’t have a team of smart engineering students at your disposal? Making your home solar-powered is easier than you think. [City Cast Madison, Madison College, WKOW]
🥶 Three UW-Madison Dorms May Finally Get AC
- Heeding the requests of generations of sweaty college students, the UW-Madison wants to spend $79 million to renovate three of its dorms, in particular adding air conditioning.
- The renovations would take place at Kronshage, Jorns and Humphrey residence halls, and would slightly reduce the number of beds in each dorm. If the state signs off on the plan, work could start this summer when the dorms are less populated.
- Meanwhile, the university has been given $25 million from Badger alumni John and Tashia Morgridge for the Philip A. Levy Engineering Center currently under construction. The Morgridges have previously funded several new facilities on campus, including the new Morgridge Hall that houses the new College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence. [Cap Times, 🔒WSJ, Daily Cardinal]
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Where Is It?
⬆️ Last Week’s Photo
This mural is on Dickinson Street! It’s outside Chrysalis, which promotes mental health and substance use recovery through work opportunities.
🎉 Congratulations to Kendell G., Janet C., and Nyla T. for being the first three people to guess correctly!
⬇️ This Week’s Photo
Where are these statues? A few clues:
- They’re on the east side
- They’re sculptures by east side sculptor Sid Boyum called “Blue Urn with Dragon” and “Smiling Mushroom.”
- They’re easy to spot whether walking, biking or driving!
What To Do
Wednesday, April 22
- 💬 1 Million Cups at StartingBlock
- 🧘 All Levels Yoga with Kelsey at Goodman Community Center
- 🎹 All request, sing along piano show at Ivory Room Piano Bar
- 💭 Crossroads of Ideas: Memory in Motion at Discovery Building
- 🌎 Earth Day Concert w/ Ken Lonnquist & Doug Brown at Harmony Bar
- 😆 Free Verse: the improv comedy and poetry mashup at The Forward Club
- 🎻 Hunt Quartet Recital at First Unitarian Society Landmark Auditorium
- 🎹 Lee Kanehira at North Street Cabaret
- 🧒 Music Time with Tim at Madison Children's Museum
- 🔭 WiCOR Lecture: The Search for Living Worlds Beyond the Solar System at Union South
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📰 Extra! Extra! We’ve been getting such nice notes from folks as they sign up to become City Cast Madison Neighbors!
Kelly B. said, "I became a member because I’m an avid listener and want to support local journalism.” And Bob P. said, "I don't live in Madison, but I enjoy listening to your podcast as often as I can. I wanted to support you in some way. Thank you!"
Wow, thank you Kelly and Bob, and to Karen R. and Belinda O. as well for becoming members! If you also want to support your local City Cast Madison team and help us keep making great podcasts and newsletters, become a City Cast Madison Neighbor!
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