🏫 Another school referendum in 2028?

🗳️ Can Wisconsin Unrig Its Voting Maps?

With the U.S. Supreme Court allowing Southern states to redraw their congressional maps to eliminate Black-majority districts, pressure is increasing on Wisconsin to address its 15-year-old maps, which were once called the most gerrymandered in the nation. [NPR]

Here’s how activists are working for fair maps in Wisconsin – in the Supreme Court, in the Legislature, and in the streets.

How we got here: As chronicled on the Wisconsin Public Radio podcast “Mapped Out,” in 2011, Republican Gov. Scott Walker and the GOP-controlled Legislature approved maps that heavily favored Republicans. For example, the maps created six Republican-leaning congressional districts and only two Democratic-leaning districts, despite the state’s largely consistent 50-50 partisan split in statewide elections.

Those maps have largely stayed in place ever since – in 2022, the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which at the time had a conservative majority, said Democratic Gov. Tony Evers had to make the “least change” possible to the GOP maps. [WPR]

Going back to the court: Now that the state supreme court has a liberal majority, advocates are hoping for change. The court overruled the “least change” decision in 2024 for legislative maps, which many believe will lead to more competitive statehouse elections this fall. Last week, the court agreed to hear an appeal of a lawsuit claiming that the congressional maps give Republicans an “anti-competitive gerrymander.” [WPR]

Taking it to the streets: As several redistricting cases are making their way through the courts, the Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition hosted “Our Maps, Our Say” rallies across the state Thursday, including in Madison. The protesters called on the state Legislature to take redistricting out of the hands of politicians and create an Independent Redistricting Commission before the 2030 census. [Civic Media, WBAY]

‘It’s About Fairness’: In March, Nick Ramos, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, spoke at a ceremony where Evers signed an executive order banning gerrymandering. “It’s about fairness. It’s about equity. It’s about honoring the principle that every voice in Wisconsin deserves an equal say.” [Wisconsin Democracy Campaign]

Ramos comes on the City Cast Madison podcast today to talk to host Bianca Martin and producer Jade Iseri-Ramos (no relation) about this week’s rallies, and where the fair maps campaign goes from here.

They also talk about big news for fans of passenger rail coming back to Madison and the state of Wisconsin’s crowded race for governor. Plus, for our members only, they talk about summer theater that’s not to miss! [ 🎧 City Cast Madison]

🏌️Street Closures for AmFam Championship: Roads around the TPC Wisconsin golf course on Wisconsin’s north side will be closed this weekend for the American Family Insurance Championship.

• North Sherman Avenue north of Wheeler Road is closed to non-local traffic, Comanche Way is closed to non-local traffic Friday through Sunday, and Hoffman Street north of Anderson Street will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day. All roads should reopen by 8 p.m. Sunday. [City of Madison]

🏠 City Wants to Buy East Side Properties: The city of Madison wants to buy four properties on the former Voit Farm on Madison’s East Side for $4.2 million. The lots are suitable to be developed into townhomes or other low-density housing – about 10 to 20 units per property. [ 🔒WSJ]

💸 Another School Referendum in 2028? While the Madison school district is in good financial shape after voters approved a pair of referendums in 2024, a new report says the district may face a budget gap in 2028. The Wisconsin Policy Forum report said increased staffing costs and insurance may cause issues, especially as state school aid continues to decline. [Cap Times, Wisconsin Policy Forum]

🏈 High School Girls’ Flag Football League Kicks Off: Madison School & Community Recreation has launched the first season of its new girls’ flag football league, funded by a grant from the Green Bay Packers and Football USA. The first game is Sunday at Memorial High School. [WKOW]

🍝 Cafe Porta Bella Demolished: It’s the end of an era. [Reddit]