🏗️ This will be the tallest building in Fitchburg

🏗️ Fitchburg Is Going To Get Its Tallest Building

• A seven-story building wouldn’t attract much attention in downtown Madison. But for Fitchburg, the mixed-used development that will get underway this summer on Fish Hatchery Road will be the tallest building in the city.
• Developer Ned Hoyt plans to demolish a vacant strip mall that once included a Pancake Cafe. In its place would be a development with 278 apartments and 10,000-square feet of retail space.
• Until construction starts, Fitchburg Police and Fire departments are using the vacant building for training exercises. The second floor of the building, which features a long hallway lined with offices, is giving firefighters the rare chance to simulate an apartment building fire. [🔒WSJ]

🧑‍⚖️ Judge Dismisses Dueling Injunctions Between City Official, Resident

• An escalating dispute between Madison City Council President Sabrina Madison and one of her constituents, Sean Burke, ended up in Dane County Court last week. Judge Ben Jones dismissed injunction petitions filed by each complainant against the other, and urged both to “have nothing to do with each other.”
• Madison testified about a yearslong pattern of harassing behavior from Burke, while Burke testified about “death threats” and other criticism he’d received from the alder’s allies after he filed to run for her seat in the April 2025 election.
• Jones said that there is no evidence that Madison herself has engaged in any harassing behavior against Burke. On the other hand, he said, Burke’s actions did not qualify as harassment because they fell within the context of a constituent seeking help from an elected official. [Fox 47]

🍺 Young Blood Plans To Open New DeForest Tap Room in May

• Madison beer drinkers will soon have a new place to enjoy a Gruber v. Nicolet Cage Match, a Sir This is a Wendy’s, or any of the many creatively-named beers brewed by Young Blood Beer Company.
• The brewery announced on social media that its long-awaited tap room in DeForest will open next month. The $4 million, 6,000-square-foot development at the new DeForest Yards will become Young Blood’s main hub, with a 10-barrel brewing system and full kitchen. [Young Blood, Cap Times]

🪡 New Tattoo Studio Leaves a Mark With Some Local Shops

• Cleopatra Ink, which bills itself as the “World’s Largest Tattoo Company” with more than 100 studios across the globe, is opening a location in the former home of Short Stack Eatery. And some locals aren’t happy about it.
• On a Reddit thread, commenters complained that the “corporate tattoo” shop would compete with Madison’s local tattoo artists, criticizing the quality of the artwork and the Istanbul-based company’s labor practices.
• 🎧Needle drop! On the City Cast Madison podcast, executive producer Hayley Sperling and producer Jade Iseri-Ramos dish on the controversy with comedian Emily Winter (who sports a Daily Cardinal tattoo). They also talk about the joy of swimming in a lake, whether you have two paws or four! [Reddit, 🎧 City Cast Madison]

Meet Chester and Mickey! These two truly share a special bond – they’re both 8 years old, they snuggle together, and they both required dental procedures to make them more comfortable. Now, Chester (orange and white tabby), and Mickey are ready to find a new home together.

They love attention and will purr with happiness as you pet them. Chester will also drop and roll around. Their friendship is very heartwarming, and they have so much love to share with their new family.

Chester and Mickey are looking for a home together where they can hang out, sunbathe in windows, and receive lots of love and treats from their new family.