News

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CITY NEWS

Arrests, shots fired down in last quarter of 2018, police say

By Jon Brockman | Feb. 6, 2019

In his quarterly update presented to the Madison city council Tuesday, police chief Mike Koval reported a drop in arrests and shots fired in the last four months of 2018. Arrests in the fourth quarter of 2018 dropped by a count of 100 when compared to the same period in 2017, a decrease of about 5 percent. The number of shots fired incidents also decreased, with police reporting 42 in the last quarter of the year, down from 53. 

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STATE NEWS

Concerns and intentions for middle class tax cut legislation voiced at public hearing

By Jessica Lipaz | Feb. 5, 2019

The Joint Committee on Finance hosted a public hearing Tuesday afternoon allowing legislatures on both sides of the aisle to address their concerns regarding a proposed middle class tax cut at the Capitol. 

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CITY NEWS

Community looks to past floods, prepares for future

By Sydney Widell and Will Husted | Feb. 4, 2019

The Lake Levels Task Force and concerned citizens heard presentations from assistant Dane County Land and Water Resources Director John Reimer and Wisconsin Resource Engineering Division Manager Jeremy Balousek, who contributed to the report. 

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NEWS

SSFC pushes for more mental health services at UHS

By Morgan Lock | Feb. 4, 2019

SSFC recommends expansion of mental health services.

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STATE NEWS

Supreme Court candidate addresses disputed blog, emphasizes impartiality

By Jessica Lipaz | Feb. 4, 2019

Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Judge Brian Hagedorn spoke out about his controversial blog on WTAQ’s John Muir radio talk show in Green Bay Monday. 

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CITY NEWS

Lyft driver arrested after sexually assaulting woman

By Jon Brockman | Feb. 4, 2019

A Lyft driver was taken into custody early Sunday morning for sexually assaulting a woman on Langdon Street, the Madison Police Department said. 

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CITY NEWS

Madison man charged with sexual exploitation, teen found safe, adoptive father arrested

By J. Adam Wigger | Feb. 4, 2019

A Madison man was charged in federal court Monday for knowingly persuading a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct with the intent to visually depict the acts. The minor involved had been missing from her Tennessee home since Jan. 13 and was found safely in Madison Thursday.  The man accused, Bryan D. Rogers, allegedly came into contact with the 14-year-old girl through an online game according to an affidavit. Through the game, the girl told Rogers that she was being sexually assaulted by her adoptive father.

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CITY NEWS

Oregon schools put on lockdown over gun threat

By Grady Gibson | Feb. 4, 2019

Three schools in Oregon, Wisconsin, a village 10 miles from Madison, were placed on a “soft lockdown” after rumors of a student bringing a gun to school surfaced Monday morning. According to the Oregon Police Department, police received information that a student overheard other students talking about a gun they brought to school.

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CITY NEWS

As city plans for future flooding, new lake association president emphasizes science-based solutions

By Sydney Widell | Feb. 4, 2019

With the region emerging from a polar vortex and the burying of the Yahara Lakes beneath feet of snow and ice, summertime flooding might feel like a lifetime away.

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CITY NEWS

City council considers fining businesses for running air conditioning with windows open

By Jon Brockman | Feb. 4, 2019

Madison businesses may receive fines for cooling down with both air conditioning and windows if the city council passes a bill later this month. The bill, proposed by Ald. Ledell Zellers, District 2, aims to lessen the city’s greenhouse gas emissions by reducing energy use, as much of the city is still reliant on non-renewable sources of energy like fossil fuels. Businesses found in violation of the rule would be fined $50 for their first offense, $100 for their second and $250 for every subsequent offense. 

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CITY NEWS

Madison police arrest teen for cab robbery, call in SWAT for weapons violation

By Jon Brockman | Feb. 3, 2019

Madison police were forced to pause some services during the polar vortex, but as ice melted this weekend, violent crimes across the city had them out in full force. 

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STATE NEWS

Legislative Black Caucus, Barnes encourage resilience, renewal

By Jessica Lipaz | Feb. 3, 2019

In celebration of the first day of Black History Month, state legislatures acknowledged the challenging story of America’s foundation by highlighting the strong resilience of African American people and the unfinished work to achieve equity across the state. 

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CAMPUS NEWS

MPD investigates attack near Langdon

By Grace Wallner | Feb. 3, 2019

Madison Police Department is investigating an attack of a woman that occurred early this morning. 

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CITY NEWS

Pumping and dredging more effective for flood mitigation than lowering lake levels, report finds

By Sydney Widell | Feb. 2, 2019

Contrary to earlier proposals, lowering lake levels may not in fact be the best way to lessen the impacts of future flooding, according to a new report. 

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CAMPUS NEWS

Pronouns key to a reimagined, re-animated nature

By Sydney Widell | Feb. 1, 2019

The idea of granting personhood to a lake might seem far-out by Western logic, but consider that, at least in the U.S., corporations can be legally defined as citizens. In many nations around the world, governments are taking a stand to protect their waters and lands by granting them personhood too.

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NEWS

Polar vortex, Lake Mendota ice demand discussion on climate change

By Michael Makowski | Jan. 31, 2019

Universities across Wisconsin canceled classes Wednesday due to extreme weather conditions, giving students the day off, but also bringing attention to a pertinent issue affecting the state —  climate change. Windchill temperatures accompanying a “polar vortex” reached 50 degrees below zero, prompting Gov. Tony Evers to sign an executive order that declared a state of emergency and closed non-essential state government offices.

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CITY NEWS

Madison malls, parks latest to feel effects of winter storm

By Jon Brockman | Jan. 30, 2019

As Madison braces for a day with record-setting low temperatures, the city government is effectively shutting down operations until warmer weather prevails.  Madison Mayor Paul Soglin announced Tuesday all city offices would be closed Wednesday, when temperatures are expected to reach as low as -25 degrees, as well as Thursday. Though the offices will be closed, Soglin said city staff would be given the option to either go in or work from home. 

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NEWS

Proposed bill provides offenders second chance to clear criminal records

By Ben Brod | Jan. 29, 2019

Legislators proposed a new bill to support non-violent offenders’ ability to re-enter the workforce after fulfilling their sentences by extending criminal record expungement policies. The legislation will allow non-violent, low-level criminal offenders the opportunity to clear their record, regardless of their age, after their sentence has been completed at the discretion of a judge. 

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NEWS

UW-Madison transit, child care budgets up for hearing

By Sydney Widell | Jan. 28, 2019

The UW-Madison Student Services Finance Committee heard budget requests from the Child Care Tuition Assistance Program and the ASM Transportation Board during their meeting Monday night.

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NEWS

Gov. Evers calls for state of emergency due to weather, UW pending class cancellation

By Sarah Jensen | Jan. 28, 2019

In response to the record-low temperatures and wind chill forecast this week, Gov. Tony Evers signed his fifth executive order on Monday, calling for a state of emergency in all of Wisconsin. Due to the life-threatening temperatures and extreme snowfall, Evers informed the public about the potential dangers of spending too much time outside. The executive order was put in place to prepare the state to take necessary precautions.