Monday, Aug. 1
Jazzcat, a short-lived mascot for a marketing campaign promoting Madison’s Jazz at Five concert series, is euthanized after local musicians voice concern that the character promotes racist stereotypes and demeans jazz musicians, Tone Madison reports.
Tuesday, Aug. 2
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump says he’s “just not there yet” when it comes to endorsing House Speaker Paul Ryan in the GOP primary. Trump also praises Ryan’s opponent, Paul Nehlen, giving the underdog candidate a boost of free publicity. Is it enough for an upset?
Gov. Scott Walker wants to extend the UW System tuition freeze through the 2017-19 state budget, and state higher education officials are not happy about it. System President Ray Cross issues a plea: “Continued budget cuts and frozen tuition cannot be sustained.”
David Michael Miller
An anti-gentrification vandal spray paints “CONDOS KILL WILLY” on the side of a new development at the corner of South Paterson and Williamson streets. They’re actually apartments, but nice try.
A body, later identified as Megann Schmitt, 35, is discovered in Lake Monona near the 1500 block of Morrison Street. Foul play is not suspected.
Wednesday, Aug. 3
Mayor Paul Soglin tells the Wisconsin State Journal that he’s considering having the city take over the Oscar Mayer property when the facility closes in 2017. The buildings would be demolished and cleaned up with the help of federal funds, but not city tax dollars.
