Shortly after taking a defiant stance toward a series of immigration-related executive orders signed last week, Mayor Paul Soglin is offering a more cautious tone on related funding threats to Madison posed by state legislators.
Caught between diminishing inmate conditions and budget concerns, Dane County officials find themselves slowing to a yet another standstill on plans to move forward with a jail renovation project that has dragged on for years.
Dane County has been selected as one of 20 sites in the nation to be awarded a grant—along with technical and advisory assistance—to help reform the criminal justice system, county officials announced Wednesday. Providing $50,000 to the county, the grant will support local and surrounding communities on improving law enforcement systems.
A state lawmaker representing the downtown and campus area is seeking support from county officials on a bill aimed at reducing deadly force by Wisconsin police officers. The legislation would require teaching “de-escalation” tactics at police departments, through officer training mandates focused on defusing encounters on the street and reserving lethal force as a last-resort measure. State Rep.
Following a wave of contentious executive orders signed in Washington late last week calling for strict immigration law at both the federal and local level, Madison Police Department Chief Michael Koval announced on Monday two policy changes to how officers will approach immigration enforcement. The changes, including a new standard operating procedure and an updated code of conduct, say MPD will only probe immigration status in cases of serious crimes directly related to public safety, rather than for deportation purposes under Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a federal agency. “It is my hope that these changes will further affirm our commitment to providing qualitative services to ALL of our residents while also providing some measure of comfort that MPD will not be engaging in/with ICE in matters that are only concentrated on deportation,” Koval said in a blog post announcing the policy changes. Under the new standard operating procedure, MPD will only cooperate with ICE in immigration-related investigation or detainment when an individual is engaged in, or reasonably suspected of, terrorism or espionage, participating in a criminal street gang, arrested for any violent felony or is a previously deported felon.
Dane County's sister county of Kassel, Germany, invited one local artist to spend two weeks there in August and participate in an art exhibition, according to a Dane County press release.
Despite federal funding threats, city officials and law enforcement will not target individuals based on immigration status, according to Madison Mayor Paul Soglin. The move is in sync with a band of mayors across the country, who are vowing to denounce an executive order imposing immigration ultimatums on local governments signed by President Donald Trump yesterday.
Residents of Madison could earn $100 by trading in an old toilet for a newer models through a city water conservation program continuing this year. The toilet rebate program allows Madison Water Utility customers to earn credit toward water bills when they replace old toilets—that use a high amount of water—with more efficient ones.
City officials declared Wednesday a snow emergency for all of Madison, including the downtown and isthmus area, that will remain in effect until 7 a.m.
The alderman currently representing campus in Madison’s city council secured on an endorsement for reelection from Tuesday from College Democrats of UW-Madison. The student organization will support incumbent Ald. Zach Wood, District 8, in the race against challenger John Terry Jr. for the council’s heavily student-populated district seat, which constitutes a large portion of downtown Madison.
A digital strategy company says the march in Madison on Saturday had the second-highest ratio of city population who participated. The digital strategy company, Reverbal Communications, released an analysis Monday comparing percentage of city population to turn up at the top-10 largest marches.
A warrant is still out for a conman who calls himself “Commander Hook from the Dane County Sheriff’s Department Montello Unit,” Madison police said in a Monday incident report. The suspect scammed a 69-year-old woman out of more than $1000 in a phone call Sunday, according to Madison Police Department Public Information Officer Joel DeSpain.
Madison Police Department is looking to identify a suspect thought to be involved in a January theft incident in downtown Madison. The suspect, believed to have taken cash, electronics and other items from a North Lake Street apartment, is described by Madison police as a black male around 6-feet tall and between 22 and 25 years old.
Despite looming uncertainty about the future of the Affordable Care Act following President Donald Trump’s inauguration, the city of Madison is encouraging residents to sign up for health care under the federal law.
Suspended UW-Madison student Alec Cook, of Edina, Minn., will proceed to trial on 21 criminal charges including sexual assault, felony stalking and strangulation, a county judge ruled at a Friday preliminary hearing.
Streets around the Madison Capitol and intersecting with State Street may be closed by Madison police Saturday for an organized march where a large crowd is expected, according to city officials. The parade, Women’s March on Madison, is scheduled to march down State Street from noon until 3 p.m.
Three men arrested Tuesday by a special unit of the Dane County sheriff’s office are being investigated for running a large heroin distribution operation throughout the greater Madison area, according to Madison police. Authorities from the Dane County Narcotics Task Force arrested 22-year-old Recardo W.
When the Trump administration officially takes office Friday, Republican legislatures should reciprocate calls on Democrats for national unity, Madison Mayor Paul Soglin said at a Thursday press conference. Soglin said if Republicans—especially those who didn’t treat President Obama fairly during his eight years in office—are calling for unity under Trump; they also have to be open to working across the aisle. “There has to be reciprocity and consultation in consideration for the people in this country who do the work and not just for the rich and the influential,” Soglin said.
A 52-year-old man is suspected of involvement with a series of downtown car thefts, Madison police said Wednesday.
A city council subcommittee member called on citizens to urge city officials to adopt a recently introduced plan to transition city buildings and facilities to entirely clean energy, in an opinion piece for the Capital Times published Tuesday. “The council needs to hear from you, hear that our city is committed to changing and leading,” wrote Madison Sustainability Committee member Bradley Campbell.
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