Funding for the Overture Center was the hot-button issue in Madison’s 2013 city operating budget, but it was not a new story — debate over the amount of funding the center would receive has faced controversy since it was opened in 2004. Madison Mayor Paul Soglin proposed to cut $1… Read more »

A 28-year-old Madison male reported a theft on the 700 block of University Avenue Saturday afternoon. According to Madison Police Department spokesperson Joel DeSpain, the victim claimed he was picking up an acquaintance to give him a ride, but did not know his name, DeSpain added. According to an MPD… Read more »

A restaurant specializing in the art of hot dogs will be shutting its doors after three and a half years of business. Mad Dogs Eatery, located at 309 N. Henry St., closed Sunday evening, according to owner Steve Nelson. Nelson stated personal issues as the reason for closing. He said… Read more »

The Madison Police Department released a sketch of the suspect who attacked a female as she was walking home last Saturday in the early morning. The 21-year-old victim was walking from the State Street area to her house when she was attacked on the 100 block of East Johnson Street,… Read more »

The season of sickness has hit Wisconsin as state lab tests confirmed more than 50 cases of influenza statewide, but officials are reminding Wisconsinites vaccinations are still available. Anne McCue with Public Health of Madison and Dane County said of the 50 confirmed cases of influenza statewide, one is in… Read more »

Mayor Paul Soglin put forth a number of amendments to the 2013 city budget less than a week after City Council members introduced their own changes. At a news conference Monday, Soglin introduced 16 amendment proposals in a press conference, two key issues being the elimination of the $.25 bus… Read more »

The State-Langdon Neighborhood Association gathered in a meeting Monday night to provide input on a controversial apartment proposal. The proposal would reconstruct three buildings and construct one new building on Henry Street and Iota Court. Ald. Bridget Maniaci, District 2, said the proposal has been passed around several city meetings… Read more »

Two men were attacked by a man dressed as a marijuana “blunt” while walking in the 1700 Block of Madison Street early Saturday morning. According to a Madison Police Department statement, the attacks were reported at 2:20 am, but had occurred an hour earlier. The men, both aged 20, from Madison and… Read more »

University of Wisconsin Dean of Students Lori Berquam has confirmed the death of a UW student in Smith Hall Monday. Berquam said the student died of cardiac arrest, according to the family. UW has not released the name of the student, leaving the release up to the student’s family. Counselors… Read more »

Prominent scholars and professors from around the country convened at a China Town Hall meeting Monday night to focus on the impact of social media on U.S.- China relations. Min Jiang, a Chinese Internet specialist from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and Sida Liu, University of Wisconsin professor… Read more »

Four teens were arrested Tuesday after allegedly attacking a man on a Madison Metro bus. According to a Madison Police Department statement, the suspects are all males from Madison, ranging from ages 14 to 18. The victim, 56, was trying to get to the back of the bus when the… Read more »

A local alcohol and mental illness treatment center hopes to continue its legacy after the passing of a prominent advocate.George McGovern, co-founder of the Teresa McGovern Center, passed away Sunday at the age of 90.The Teresa McGovern Center Director and Founder Mike Florek said the center was founded in 1995,… Read more »

Madison saw a significant increase in voting numbers compared to previous years on the first day of early voting.  City Municipal Clerk Elena Berg said 1,198 ballots — numbers that include both absentee ballots and in-person voting — were cast at the city clerk’s office Monday.Wisconsin’s Obama for America spokesperson… Read more »

Just two weeks after a fire at the University of Wisconsin Memorial Union, a second fire triggered a response from Madison firefighters. The second fire occurred Saturday at 2:47 p.m., Madison Fire Department spokesperson Bernadette Galvez said. Galvez said burnt popcorn in the Rathskeller bar caused flames and heavy smoke,… Read more »

Logan’s Madtown Restaurant and Bar will face two complaints for revocation at the Alcohol License Review Committee meeting this Wednesday, which could spell the beginning of the end for the establishment. Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said the City Attorney’s Office filed two complaints for revocation after the Madison Police… Read more »

Two representatives from the city and county government met with University of Wisconsin students Monday to discuss their respective 2013 budgets and their impact on the city and campus community. Dane County Supervisor Leland Pan, District 5, and Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, both represent UW student districts at the… Read more »

Madison police are looking for suspects in an alleged sexual assault that took place early Saturday morning. According to a Madison Police Department statement, the incident occurred in an alley behind the 1800 block of Monroe Street. According to the statement, the victim, age 21, lost consciousness after the three men… Read more »

A fight at a bar on the 500 block of State Street resulted in one arrest and two citations Sunday morning, according to Madison police. According to a MPD statement, the fight occurred at 1:33 a.m. at Osaka Bar. The suspects are all male, age 21 and from Madison. According… Read more »

An anti-hate group honored a county employee, Stephen Blue, with an annual award that promotes tolerance in the community. A ceremony will be held on Monday to honor Blue, manager of the Dane County Juvenile Delinquency Services, with the Alix Olson Award for the Promotion of a Tolerant and Just… Read more »

The Board of Estimates met Monday night to pose questions and address concerns regarding the city’s 2013 Executive Operating Budget, focusing their discussions on rising ambulance rates, the Monona Terrace Convention Center, library funding and police operations. Mayor Paul Soglin unveiled the budget last week with an emphasis on maintaining… Read more »

Members of the Mifflin Street neighborhood met Monday night to provide input on a mixed-use apartment building proposal, which will incorporate the fire administration building. The proposed apartment building would be located at 309 West Johnson under development by Hovde Properties. The building would reach 14 stories with 30 different… Read more »

Several fights broke out in downtown Madison early Saturday morning that required a dozen police officers and pepper spray to quell, according to a Madison Police Department statement. The report said the fight broke out at about 2 a.m. in the State Street and Frances Street area and approximately 200… Read more »

Madison firefighters responded to a downtown apartment after a domestic dispute resulted in a fire call. Madison Fire Department spokesperson Bernadette Galvez said the firefighters responded to an alarm at 303 N. Hamilton Street at 2:36 a.m. Wednesday. Galvez said the fire is under investigation. Although the man and woman… Read more »

The Board of Estimates met Monday night to vote on the 2013 Executive Budget which included an amendment for the addition of surveillance cameras downtown. The board voted unanimously for the addition of approximately 32 surveillance cameras totaling $100,000 to be installed in various locations in the downtown area. Thirty-four… Read more »

In light of a recent spike in crime in the Madison area, city police officers presented the Public Safety Review Committee with an update on a gang-targeting task force Wednesday evening. Madison Police Department Sgt. Amy Schwartz, who has served on the MPD Crime Prevention and Gang Unit for 19… Read more »

As many seniors are starting to think about what they want to do after leaving the University of Wisconsin, the Career and Internship Fair is set for this Thursday and will bring even more organizations than last fall’s event. According to a statement, there will be more than 275 organizations,… Read more »

With Madison the site of another college football game day, the Madison Police Department crashed a total of 26 parties this past weekend.Twenty-four of the parties were broken up Saturday, the same day the Wisconsin Badgers played a game at Camp Randall Stadium, and two occurred Friday, according to Ald.… Read more »

Mayor Paul Soglin announced Friday that Madison earned an AAA bond rating from Moody’s Investors Service, the highest ranking possible, and one that the city has long maintained. According to the statement, “Only a handful of Wisconsin municipalities and governments receive the AAA rating.” David Schmiedicke, the city’s finance director,… Read more »

In the most recent incident in a series of crimes in the downtown and campus area, two men were beaten early Sunday morning after attempting to aid a woman who was being assaulted, according to Madison Police.A MPD report said the incident occurred at a house party on the 600… Read more »

After the revocation of the Orpheum Theatre’s liquor license, the historic theater now faces its next series of complications in court after the Monona State Bank filed to foreclose the renowned State Street business Monday.All Wisconsin liquor licenses expire in June and need to be renewed to continue business. The… Read more »

Three city organizations met in a public meeting Monday night to address the continued pursuit of a Bus Rapid Transit system in the city of Madison.Metropolitan Planning Organization, Capital Region Sustainable Communities and Capital Area Regional Planning Commission presented its study on a new bus service and received feedback from… Read more »

Although it may not be the final solution to the growing trend of heroin use in Madison, a new antidote is being credited for the recent decrease in Dane County deaths from heroin overdose. Last year, 24 people died of heroin overdose, Dane County Narcotics and Gang Task Force Lt.… Read more »

The Urban Design Commission approved the continuation of the development of a Madison College Downtown Campus Culinary Education Center at its meeting Wednesday evening. The project went through the city design team and made changes to the plan according to the team’s recommendations. “This is the final approval that MATC needs,”… Read more »

The City of Madison and Urban Land Interests will no longer be moving forward with the sale and purchase of the former Don Miller property on the 800 North Block of East Washington Avenue. The decision between the city and ULI was mutual, according to a Madison statement. “ULI had… Read more »

Students will likely notice some significant changes to both campus bus routes and moped parking policy and fees this semester. The University of Wisconsin Transportation Services implemented service updates to eight Metro routes, including routes 6, 11, 25, 44, 70, 80, 81, 82 and discontinued route 85. Route 85 has… Read more »

The University of Wisconsin is moving forward with a $75 million renovation project that will upgrade research and teaching facilities in Babcock Hall and build a new livestock and poultry products lab on campus. According to a UW statement, the Board of Regents approved the plan last week. The plan… Read more »

As University of Wisconsin students return to campus and freshmen explore their new home, a recent Kiplinger study has ranked Madison as the number-one city for young adults. According to a City of Madison statement, the Kiplinger study cited the Dane County Farmer’s Market, Badger games at Camp Randall and boating… Read more »

With its reputation preceding itself as a difficult place for development projects to become fully realized, the City of Madison took steps recently to restore confidence in the development community. Led by Mayor Paul Soglin, Madison’s Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development announced several strategies aimed to make… Read more »

The city of Madison looks to the future of development with plans to spend more than $1 million to demolish several buildings on the 800 block of East Washington Avenue. The cleanup will take place in August, after which private developer Urban Land Interests plans to continue work on a… Read more »

The Human Resources Design project at the University of Wisconsin is now in phase two after the department held forums, web chats and online polls to receive feedback that shaped the work teams’ final drafts which were completed earlier this summer. The Human Resources Design project is part of the… Read more »

In Tuesda’ys historic recall election, Madison voting wards saw a decrease in student turnout compared to previous gubernatorial elections. According to Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, the election’s timing in early June significantly affected low student turnout, despite the high publicity of the recall election that pitted incumbent Walker against… Read more »

In the 1960s, social change and student activism — both violent and non-violent — defined the University of Wisconsin campus, and now that history echoes weakly as attendance dwindled at the Mifflin Street Block Party this weekend. Evan Stark, now a resident of New Haven, Conn., was one student who… Read more »

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s student government was recently thrown into turmoil when its vice president was accused of sexually assaulting a fellow student officer and was subsequently pressured to resign. According to a timeline documenting the case compiled by UW-M student newspaper The UWM Post, former Student Association Vice President… Read more »

Dane County Executive Joe Parisi unveiled the formation of a task force Wednesday that will review the community’s needs and decide on a plan of action as the county looks to expand the Alliant Energy Center. The Alliant Energy Center currently is as a key economic server in Dane County,… Read more »

A city committee considered proposals outlining development and cultural plans in Madison’s downtown area Monday. Co-project Manager William Fruhling presented the city’s Downtown Plan at the Plan Commission meeting, laying out nine keys to the future of downtown Madison, emphasizing the importance of the plan’s first tenet: celebrating the lakes.… Read more »

City Council recently approved a resolution to recognize housing as a human right and announce the city’s commitment to developing a housing plan in Dane County to address homelessness and inequality in housing. According to the resolution, homelessness affects a wide range of citizens and in Madison, families have been turned… Read more »

The Alcohol License Review Committee referred legislation concerning penalties associated with student-hosted house parties to next month’s meeting in order to give the Madison Police Department time to prepare a plan for it during a meeting Wednesday. The new bill aims to restructure city ordinances in order to deter students… Read more »

With the brisk November air of a Wisconsin autumn, camouflage and blaze orange become not only permissible, but encouraged for hunting season.Nov. 19 at dawn is considered akin to Christmas morning for avid deer hunters. Men, women and children pack up the car and head north for a relaxing weekend… Read more »

The proposal for Madison’s new charter school, Madison Prep, is facing criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin for its same-sex education strategy, which is unique in the area. ACLU released a letter outlining the concerns over the legality of the same-sex education plan Madison Prep is proposing.… Read more »

A new ID policy put in effect by a handful of Madison bars to only allow entry with a valid driver’s license or passport has led some city officials to take concern about possible racial discrimination. Recent research done in Madison shows that about 15 percent of Caucasians do not… Read more »

With a continuing increase in the achievement gap, the Urban League of Greater Madison believes the proposed Madison Prep charter school will provide underrepresented students in the Madison area with an opportunity to bridge the gap. Madison Prep will consist of two schools, one for boys and one for girls.… Read more »

With Madison’s Central Library set to close next month for renovations, there is uncertainty about where the city’s homeless will be able to find shelter during the winter. Steve Schooler, executive director of Porchlight, Inc., is suggesting the former Don Miller properties on East Washington Avenue be turned into a… Read more »

NAKOOSA TRAIL: Battery Madison resident Dandrea Fultz, 19, was arrested for battery and disorderly conduct in the Wal-Mart parking lot on Nakoosa Trail. Fultz’s victim, an 18-year-old woman, suffered several small cuts on her face and one inside an ear, an MPD report said. According to the report, the suspect… Read more »

Seven families on Madison’s east side filed a lawsuit against a local producer of machinery and parts, claiming the company has released chemicals that are contaminating their homes. The families allege the chemical releases have contaminated the groundwater beneath their homes and migrated up through the soil, allowing the chemicals… Read more »

A board of Madison business owners voiced concerns about recent crime outside of State Street establishments and reservations surrounding the implementation of the concealed carry law in November.The Greater State Street Business Association met last night to discuss the mayor’s decision to replace the benches on the 500 Block, Halloween… Read more »

After the R’ Place bar on South Park Street ignited controversy for the past several months, ultimately resulting in the city mandating the establishment’s closure, regular patrons and city officials are questioning the next steps for the bar and its owner. After a shooting outside R’ Place injured three during… Read more »

Dane County Executive Joe Parisi released the 2012 preliminary county budget Friday, which aims to make conservation and some social programs a priority while dealing with the deep cuts affecting governments at all levels in the state. The total budget is $490.7 million, a $9.2 million decrease over last year.… Read more »

The City of Madison’s budget conversation shifted away from deep cuts this week after the city received $10 million more in borrowing than the city had original asked for. Last week the city asked to borrow $67 million, according to Madison’s Finance Director David Schmiedicke. The city sold bonds to raise this… Read more »

Enrollment at University of Wisconsin Colleges increased for the seventh straight year this September, according to a statement from UW Colleges. Fall enrollment for 2011 increased 1.6 percent from last fall and its enrollment currently stands at 14,614, the statement said. There’s a reason for the increase, UW Colleges spokesperson… Read more »