🚨 ‘Disgusting’ old jail will stay open, sheriff says

🗳️ David Crowley Drops Out of Guv Race

• Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley ended his campaign Wednesday for the Democratic nomination for Wisconsin governor.
• Crowley said it was clear from recent polling that he would not win the primary. He declined to endorse any of the other five Democrats running for governor – state Rep. Francesca Hong, state Sen. Kelda Roys, Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, and former Dept. of Administration Secretary Joel Brennan.
• Crowley will continue to serve as county executive.
• 🎧 ICYMI: Roys was on the City Cast Madison podcast this week discussing her campaign and platform. Make sure you're subscribed to the show so you don't miss any of our future gubernatorial candidate interviews. [News 3, 🎧 City Cast Madison]

🦅 Monarch the MG&E Falcon Recovering After Crash

• Monarch, one of the peregrine falcons who lives on top of the MG&E Blount Generating Station, is being treated by Dane County Humane Society staff after injuring its leg recently while learning to fly.
• The falcon underwent surgery late last week, with surgeons installing an external fixator and pins to the leg to stabilize it. Monarch will be on “cage rest” for the next three to six weeks while the injury heals, and will hopefully recover in time to join the rest of his falcon family for fall migration.
• MG&E has donated $15,000 to build two new raptor rehabilitation enclosures at DCHS, and the society is accepting public donations for Monarch’s recovery. [WMTV, DCHS]

🚨 Sheriff Won’t Close Old Jail Once New One Opens

• Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said that some floors of the Dane County Jail are in such poor condition that they’re “borderline unconstitutional.” But he said his department won’t close those floors in the City-County Building as planned once a new jail opens because of capacity issues.
• A new jail has been a subject of debate for decades. A six-story addition to the county Public Safety Building was finally approved in 2022 after the Dane County Board agreed to reduce the overall total number of jail beds from 1,013 to 825, with the idea of pushing the county towards focusing on alternatives and reducing incarceration disparities.
• But now, Barrett said he won’t close the old jail floors as planned. He said that would leave jail space at maximum capacity with no room for additional inmates as the county population rises. [Cap Times]

👋 District 1 Alder To Leave July 31

• John W. Duncan, the Madison City Council alder representing District 1, told his constituents that he will be leaving the position on July 31.
• Duncan wrote that he and his husband have decided to leave the Madison area. “While we are excited for this next step, leaving this community is bittersweet,” he said. “Madison has been our home, and serving here has truly meant a lot to me.”
• District 1 is located on the far west side of Madison, bordering Verona. [City of Madison]

One of the many cool perks of being a City Cast Madison Neighbor is the chance to send out a Neighborhood Shoutout! Our members tell us about something great in town that they think more people should know about – a business, a nonprofit, maybe even a favorite public place. We let everybody know about it on the podcast and in the newsletter!

📣 Deb N. wants you to get Austen-tacious with Groundlings Theater in Waunakee! “Groundlings Theater in Waunakee is producing ‘Pride and Prejudice’ July 17-19 and July 24-26 for just $5 tickets!”

📣 Sean S. wants to shout out Wisconsin Weekly Harvest! “They bring Wisco farmers’ goods to your door, all via an easy-to-order online website.”

📣 Sarah W. wants to send some love to her co-workers at the Olbrich Gardens Gift Shop! “What an amazing group of smart, creative, silly humans! You make everything brighter.”

Do you work with some “smart, creative, silly humans” (like I do) and want to shout them or anything else out? Become a City Cast Madison Neighbor and let us know!