John Waters
Madison Urban Design Commission gets first look at the Hub proposal for State Street's 500 block
Developers for the Hub, a proposed mixed-use development on the 500 block of State Street, addressed Madison's Urban Design Commission for the first time Wednesday night. The nearly 500,000 square-feet project proposed by Core Campus Communities has caused some residents to raise concerns about a large building overshadowing its neighbors in what is arguably the city's most vital neighborhood. Read more
UW-Madison students frustrated, unmoved by MPD's Mifflin Street Block Party crackdown
UW-Madison senior Matt Warnert was stabbed at the 2011 Mifflin Street Block Party, but he describes efforts on the part of the Madison Police Department to shut down the annual festival as an "iron fist" approach. Read more
Proposed State Street changes by Library Mall inspires city, UW-Madison to address connections
Representatives from the city and the UW-Madison kicked off plans to redevelop the 700 and 800 blocks of State Street near Library Mall Tuesday with a public input meeting. The plan is part of a larger series of developments that could drastically change the appearance State Street, with the 100 block currently under construction and the Mullins Group recently announcing broad changes to the 500 block. Read more
Pot policy experts criticize drug war mentality at Isthmus Green Day
Experts in industrial hemp, law enforcement and recreational cannabis weighed in on the evolving conversation of pot policy Saturday afternoon on the main stage at Isthmus Green Day at Monona Terrace. This year's eco fair coincided with 4/20 observations. Read more
City committee recommends Gebhardt/Metcalfe's proposal for 800 block of East Washington
A city committee charged with vetting development proposals for the 800 block of East Washington Avenue chose the Gebhardt/Metcalfe's plan at a Tuesday meeting. The proposal had been recommended by city staff last week and also has the support of the adjacent neighborhood association. Read more
City staff favors Gebhardt proposal for 800 block of East Washington Avenue
The process for the development of the 800 block of East Washington Avenue continues, with Madison's planning and economic development staff recommending the Gebhardt project, one of three proposals, to the selection committee in a meeting Thursday. Read more
Ledell Zellers edges Bryan Post in Madison's District 2 council race
Many local political observers predicted that Madison's District 2 Common Council race would be close and they were right. Ledell Zellers narrowly defeated Bryan Post Tuesday night to represent the downtown district that stretches to the east between Lake Mendota and East Washington Avenue. Read more
Closing reception celebrates community at East Washington daytime warming shelter
Downtown Madison's daytime warming shelter on East Washington Avenue is closing on March 31, but the atmosphere at Thursday afternoon's volunteer appreciation reception is positive, reflecting a group that is proud to show off its unique community. Read more
Students put their social media skills to work benefiting UW journalism school
Instead of hightailing it out of Madison this week, two School of Journalism and Mass Communication seniors are offering up their digital and social media expertise for the week, and they are doing it to help their school. Read more
Madison residents address height in discussing 800 East Washington proposals
The selection process for deciding which proposal will win the opportunity to develop the 800 block of East Washington Avenue continued Tuesday night with a public meeting at the Madison Municipal Building. About 60 people attended the meeting, including representatives of the three development teams and residents looking to weigh in. Read more
Three proposals for 800 block of East Washington Avenue to receive public hearing
Plans continue to move forward for development of the 800 block of Madison's East Washington Avenue, with three different proposals being heard by the 800 North Block Selection Committee last Thursday night. The proposals will receive a public hearing Tuesday, March 12. Read more
Multiple candidates involved in Wisconsin Capitol protests running in Madison's spring 2013 elections
On his city council campaign Facebook page, a photo of Christian Hansen shows him posing in the Wisconsin Capitol rotunda wearing a button bearing the red-and-blue logo of the #wiunion movement. The message Hansen is trying to convey is clear even if the connection between the Capitol protests of two years ago and the Madison Common Council is not. Read more
Despite setback, Occupy Madison hopeful about raising money to buy a facility
Occupy Madison is doing whatever it can to help create housing opportunities for the homeless, and that includes selling pie. Occupy activists and members of the community came together Tuesday at the Fountain on State Street for "Occu-Pie," a fundraiser for the group that is focused on serving the needs of the homeless by creating a permanent facility called "OM House." Read more
Education, camaraderie and, well, beer at the 2013 Isthmus Beer & Cheese Fest
"Pace yourself" is my editor's advice as I walk into Alliant Energy Center's Exhibition Hall Saturday. Got it. I add that to my two goals for the day: try as many booths as possible and don't drop my glass. Read more
Wisconsin marijuana activists encouraged by developments in Colorado, Washington
Marijuana lobbying organizations National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and Is My Medicine Legal Yet? spent Wednesday at the State Capitol for their Wisconsin State Cannabis Lobby Day talking to legislators about legalizing medical marijuana in Wisconsin. Read more
First-time voters at UW-Madison turn to news outlets, Twitter, parents for election info, avoid commercials
Dodging the first snowflakes of the season, many first-time voters turned out at Gordon Commons on the UW-Madison campus Tuesday to cast their ballots. The question of how they came to such an important decision for the first time yielded a variety of answers and, surprisingly, not one of them included campaign ads as a means of persuasion. Read more