🧑‍🌾 UW Extension could lay off 160 people

🏫 UW Extension Could Lay Off 160 Employees

• UW-Madison administrators said in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture that the university may need to lay off 160 employees in the College of Extension if it doesn’t get greater clarity about federal funding rules.
• The suit, filed by 21 attorneys general including Wisconsin’s Josh Kaul, asks a judge to block the new rules for USDA awards related to immigration and DEI as “unlawful.”
• UW uses USDA money to advance agricultural research, educate food scientists and help farmers and foresters develop better practices, among other things.But UW isn’t using any of those funds until it gets a better understanding of what the new federal restrictions entail. Without that money, layoffs to Extension employees could start in August, officials said. [Cap Times]

🪧 Teachers and Students Walk Out For Pro-Immigrant Rally

• Madison schools will be closed Friday after 70% of teachers told the district they plan to be absent to demonstrate in support of immigrants.
• Joining events going on nationwide in honor of May Day, Voces de la Frontera is organizing a march starting at 1 p.m. Friday at Library Mall that will head up State Street for a 2 p.m. rally at the Capitol. Students from the area’s four high schools are planning to join the rally.
• In honor of May Day’s roots in fighting for worker rights, Giant Jones Brewing will host a screening of the silent Russian film “Strike” on Thursday night, with local experimental trio Wonderporium providing live musical accompaniment. [WPR, May Day Action, Voces de la Frontera, Isthmus]

🌎 Judge Dismisses Youth Climate Lawsuit

• A Dane County judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by 15 Wisconsin youth who say that laws passed by the state have worsened climate change and violated their constitutional rights.
• Judge Julie Genovese said she sympathized with the children’s goals, but said their fight belonged in the political arena, not in a courtroom.
• One of the plaintiffs on the case, West High School student Madeleine Bohn, and lawyer Skylar Harris of Midwest Environmental Advocates were on the podcast recently to make their case. [Wisconsin Examiner, 🎧 City Cast Madison]

We’re so grateful for all the new City Cast Madison Neighbors that came on board during our spring membership drive. In part because it means we’ll get a bunch of new Neighborhood Shoutouts!

The shoutouts are a member perk where our Neighbors get to call out a business, a nonprofit, or some other neat thing that makes Madison shine just a little brighter.

📣 Angela T. wanted to shout out the Green Room Public House! “Finally someone got it right at that corner. I always meet friendly people there.”

📣 Shahayra M. wants to celebrate Hydrate IV Bar! “Great service and donating IV proceeds to Clean Lakes Alliance, keeping Madison’s lakes and people healthy!”

Speaking of our Neighbors, we wanted to welcome our new members Dee R., Megan D. and Alyx S.! If you want to send a Neighborhood Shoutout of your own, join them and become a City Cast Madison Neighbor!

It’s only $10 a month (or $100 a year) and I think we’ve got a few of our new City Cast Madison pennants left for new members, while supplies last!