News

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CITY NEWS

Dane County sheriff looking for inmate who ran away from jail

By Jon Brockman | Feb. 18, 2019

The Dane County sheriff’s office is searching for a prisoner after he failed to return from a work release program Saturday. According to multiple local news outlets, inmate Aaron Kiel was participating in a work release program at Just Bakery in east Madison, but did not return to the jail by the end of the day. He is serving time for possession of cocaine, criminal damage to property and battery.  

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CITY NEWS

Fitchburg mayor’s past reveals suspension, grievance filed

By Jon Brockman | Feb. 18, 2019

In the midst of a re-election bid, Fitchburg Mayor Jason Gonzalez faces exposure of a work suspension in 2007 which said he made a sexually harassing phone call to a coworker. Documents obtained by the Wisconsin State Journal showed Gonzalez, working as an EMT at the time, was suspended for 30 days by the Oregon, Wisconsin Fire Department because he and two coworkers made an “unwelcome” late-night phone call to a colleague who claimed it was sexually harassing.  

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STATE NEWS

Evers proposes marijuana legalization, decriminalization

By Molly Davis | Feb. 17, 2019

Gov. Tony Evers announced his intention to legalize medical marijuana and decriminalize recreational use for Wisconsinites with a number of medical conditions Sunday. This proposal will be included in his upcoming state budget, which has a deadline of Feb. 28. 

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IN-DEPTH

Since Parkland: How the gun control debate has changed in Madison

By The Daily Cardinal News Team | Feb. 15, 2019

A year following the mass shooting in Parkland, staggering numbers of student activists, local lawmakers and gun control advocates have demanded reforms to be set in motion — a movement sweeping not only in the state, but throughout the nation. 

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CITY NEWS

Teen charged with felony for second time in eight days

By Jon Brockman | Feb. 15, 2019

For the second time in eight days, a 19-year-old faces felony charges for his involvement in a variety of crimes related to car thefts, according to Madison police.  He was arrested last week after blowing a red light and crashing a stolen car. He and three other passengers were chased down by police, who found a number of stolen items in the car, including a credit card belonging to a man whose home was recently burgled.

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CITY NEWS

Drunk man threatens entire city bus, punches passenger

By Jon Brockman | Feb. 15, 2019

An altercation on a city bus Wednesday evening ended with one passenger requiring a ride to the hospital and another to jail, Madison police said. The passenger reportedly caused a scene as soon as he stepped on the bus, flirting with an uninterested woman who brought his behavior to the attention of the bus driver. Clearly drunk, he fell as soon as the bus started moving and chose a seat next a man who told police he spent the entire ride staring straight ahead, hoping to avoid eye contact. 

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CITY NEWS

Madison public schools add two days, extend hours to make up for weather cancellations

By Jon Brockman | Feb. 15, 2019

Madison area students are not off the hook for the cancelled school days this semester, as the Madison Metropolitan School District unveiled plans Tuesday add two days to the school calendar in order to make up for the lost time.  Six days of class have been cancelled so far this year in response to “extraordinary winter weather,” leading to the district’s decision to extend instruction hours. 

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STATE NEWS

Report shows increasing special needs education funding benefits all students

By Elizabeth Parker | Feb. 14, 2019

Known as the “education governor,” Gov. Tony Evers is expected to respond to the increased demand for K-12 special education programs in his upcoming biennial budget. 

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STATE NEWS

Culver’s v. In-N-Out: Survey ends meaty debate

By Jessica Lipaz | Feb. 14, 2019

Culver’s grills In-N-Out by 0.4 points in a new restaurant business survey aimed at determining the most popular fast food chains in the country. 

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IN-DEPTH

‘We are not for sale:' Students say activism could save the Wisconsin Idea from Foxconn

By Sydney Widell | Feb. 14, 2019

Less than a minute after student protesters draped their hand-painted banners over the second floor railing at Union South, campus security forced the small group to roll up their flags and issued some of them warnings. 

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NEWS

Middle class tax cut bill passes in Assembly, moves to Senate for second vote

By Michael Makowski | Feb. 13, 2019

Before moving to the Assembly Chamber, Democratic legislators previewed the Assembly floor session with a media availability to express their concerns about the Republican-sponsored bill.

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STATE NEWS

Evers commits to multi-state governor alliance in favor of Paris Agreement

By Jessica Lipaz and Saya Inoue | Feb. 12, 2019

Today Gov. Tony Evers announced his commitment to join the U.S. Climate Alliance to include Wisconsin in the fight for sustainability and against the implications of climate change.

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CITY NEWS

Snow emergency declared for Madison, schools close as flurries continue

By Jon Brockman | Feb. 12, 2019

Following a night that brought more than half a foot of snow to Madison, the city declared a snow emergency Tuesday in anticipation of more accumulation and anticipated plowing difficulties.  The snow emergency, Madison’s second in the past two weeks, will remain in effect until at least Thursday morning as plowing crews continue to clear the streets. To make plowing easier, all cars parked on the street overnight will have to move to the odd-numbered side or run the risk of receiving a ticket or being towed.

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STATE NEWS

Proposal to roll back tax on unmarried pregnant women creates controversy

By Kylie Ver Kuilen | Feb. 11, 2019

Monday at the Capitol the Legislative Council on Child Support Placement discussed a proposal to repeal a bill requiring unmarried pregnant women who are insured under BadgerCare to pay a birth cost recovery tax.

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CITY NEWS

Judge determines Cephus case ‘not ripe,’ delays trial

By Jon Brockman | Feb. 11, 2019

On the day it was scheduled to begin, the trial of suspended Badgers football player Quintez Cephus was suspended Monday after the judge determined it was “not ripe for trial.”  Dane County Circuit Court Judge William Hanrahan, who was to preside over the trial, chose to allow Cephus to remain out on bail while the trial dates are reset. 

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CITY NEWS

Madison to salt all residential roads in preparation for winter storm

By J. Adam Wigger | Feb. 11, 2019

In preparation for a snowstorm Monday night, the City of Madison announced that throughout the day the Streets Division will be salting all residential roads, an announcement breaking with the usual protocol of using a salt-and-sand mixture on most streets. The National Weather Service declared a winter storm warning for Dane County Monday, expecting between 6 and 10 inches of snowfall between 6 p.m. and midnight.

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CITY NEWS

Woman robbed on Dayton Street

By Jon Brockman | Feb. 11, 2019

A woman lost her purse to a mugger downtown Sunday night, Madison police said. The 58-year-old woman was walking on West Dayton Street, about two blocks from the Capitol, when she was accosted by an “aggressive panhandler” who proceeded to follow her. When she pulled out her phone and threatened to call the police, the man stole her purse and ran away. 

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STATE NEWS

Wisconsin Republicans speak out against abortion policy across the country

By Jessica Lipaz | Feb. 10, 2019

Over the past week, U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Wisconsin, released a statement addressing new federal legislation, and Republican assembly members held a press conference to publicly voice concern and lack of support toward pro-choice abortion policies. 

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CITY NEWS

Madison’s mayoral candidates meet for forum in Humanities building

By Griffin Blue Emerson | Feb. 10, 2019

Four of the five candidates for Madison’s mayor answered questions about the city’s future at a mayoral forum in UW-Madison’s Humanities building Thursday. The Feb. 19 primary is quickly approaching, putting pressure on the candidates to get their message across.

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CITY NEWS

Sexual assault trial against Quintez Cephus set to begin this week: What you need to know

By Jon Brockman | Feb. 10, 2019

The trial of Quintez Cephus, the former Badgers wide receiver suspended from the team after being charged with sexual assault, is scheduled to begin Monday with jury selection and opening statements. Cephus, 20, was suspended indefinitely by the team in August after the District Attorney announced charges would be filed against him.