Madison’s police monitor office threatens legal action against the city Despite a new independent monitor, tensions are still high between Madison’s police oversight office and city hall.

Greg Gelembiuk, data analyst for the Madison Office of the Independent Police Monitor, testified that he’s been undergoing a hunger strike to advocate for the office.
"I've been fasting with only water since early yesterday afternoon..."
More from @liamberan.bsky.social:
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Madison’s police monitor office threatens legal action against the city Despite a new independent monitor, tensions are still high between Madison’s police oversight office and city hall.

new: Madison alders' proposal to tighten regulations on its police oversight office — the first in Wisconsin — has prompted the office's leader to threaten legal action against the city.

It also prompted a hunger strike by the office's data analyst.

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Referral of PCOB changes to 6/17 PCOB meeting and 8/4 Council passes 16-4. Ochowicz, Tishler, Field, Figueroa Cole vote no.

Questions we have about the Madison Public Market People have questions about the opening of the Madison Public Market, and answers are in short supply.

Wondering what's up with the Madison Public Market?

Same here!

Isthmus has tried since late December to schedule an interview with market CEO Keisha Harrison, who came on board with the market in July 2024. All interview requests have either been ignored or declined.

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Centro to establish tech, workforce development hub with $3 million grant The nonprofit has responded to the second Trump administration with a legal defense fund. But it’s also trying to build up resources to promote workforce development for the Latinx community.

Centro to establish tech, workforce development hub with $3 million grant

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new: After selling its Bakers Place property for $37 million, Madison developer Neutral has paid some of its long overdue bills, including $54,000 it owed Milwaukee muralist Janson Rapisarda.

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The Wisconsin GOP puts up little fight as Chris Taylor cruises to victory Taylor didn’t just win in reliably blue counties; she won handily in red ones such as Jefferson and Ozaukee.

We have four stories up about Tuesday's spring election:
From @liamberan.bsky.social: "In beating the conservative-backed candidate for state Supreme Court, Chris Taylor didn’t just win in reliably blue counties; she won handily in some red ones."
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Text from the Dane County website that shows Paula Brandermeier at 57.3% and conservative Jeff Weigand at 42.6% for Dane County Supervisor District 20.

The one conservative on the Dane County Board lost his re-election bid.

Two new members join Madison city council: school board incumbents survive challenges Noah Lieberman and Ellen Zhang will join the city council; incumbents Nicki Vander Meulen and Blair Mosner Feltham will remain on the school board.

The biggest difference for Madison’s city council from the April 7 election: one of the council's most NIMBY members was replaced by a resolute YIMBY.

Two new members will join the Madison city council and both school board incumbents survived challenges.

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The Wisconsin GOP puts up little fight as Chris Taylor cruises to victory Taylor didn’t just win in reliably blue counties; she won handily in red ones such as Jefferson and Ozaukee.

The Wisconsin GOP puts up little fight as Chris Taylor cruises to victory

@isthmusmadison.bsky.social

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Hoofers' building at Memorial Union to get $2.7 million expansion The student organization’s sailing club could get a new space soon. But it could entail removing some bike parking and impacting summer operations in 2027.

Hoofers' building at Memorial Union to get $2.7 million expansion

via @isthmusmadison.bsky.social

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Legal troubles mount for real estate development firm Neutral Neutral, a Madison-based development firm, is coming under fire for unpaid bills. One mural artist is waiting for more than $54,000 in fees.

Around two years ago, Madison developer Neutral was pitching itself as a future-forward firm emphasizing sustainability and accessible investment.

It’s now facing upset contractors who say they haven’t been paid for $15 million+ in work.

@isthmusmadison.bsky.social

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Could Trump ‘nationalize’ elections in Dane County? President Donald Trump has called on Republicans to ‘take over the voting’ in several jurisdictions.

The Dane County clerk's response to Trump's calls to "take over the voting" in local jurisdictions: "There is no ‘nationalizing’ the elections.”

Still, some local officials are worried, even given notable political and legal blockades to such an effort.

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This was a fun convo! Give it a listen

What to do if a large data center comes knocking? A Dane County committee has been tasked with ‘impartial fact-finding, researching, analyzing, and recommending the implications of data center development in Dane County.’ Their work will last through...

A new committee is looking to get ahead of data centers in Dane County. They're trying to make a roadmap for local communities, and their work will continue through 2026.

New from me in your favorite local newspaper, @isthmusmadison.bsky.social!

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Does ICE have access to Flock data? Flock data captured in Dane County has been shared as far away as Tennessee. That raises some flags for those worried about immigration enforcement.

new: Dane County Flock data has, per sharing agreements made by the sheriff's office, been shared with law enforcement agencies in 7 states (as far as Tennessee).

That's raising concern among cybersecurity and civil liberties advocates.

@isthmusmadison.bsky.social

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Hong Kong Café, Choles Floral could be demolished for 113-unit apartment building on Regent Street Development continues to transform one of Madison’s busiest corridors, as Chicago-based developer Peerless Development plans to build a mixed-use apartment building on the sites of Hong Kong Café and ...

Hong Kong Café, Choles Floral could be demolished for 113-unit apartment building on Regent Street

@isthmusmadison.bsky.social

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obligatory: this is why every vote counts!

There were also three Dane County board primaries. Each incumbent took the lead, including interim District 15 supervisor Amy Larson.

The race between Sean Burke and Otis Harris Jr., both challenging incumbent Tommy Rylander, came down to 11 votes; Burke came out on top.

In an interview Tuesday night, Jones says he plans to "get out and meet as many voters as I can" to secure the victory.

“Nothing about my message changes. I'm as fair, as impartial as I was before tonight, as I'm going to be tomorrow.”

Ahsan notes that she would be the first Muslim-American judge in Wisconsin and one of the few Asian judges. She says "so much of our court system, particularly in Dane County, has been controlled by the powerful and the elite.”

Huma Ahsan vows grassroots challenge in Dane County Circuit Court race Incumbent Dane County Circuit Court Judge Ben Jones had a sizable lead over challenger Huma Ahsan in Tuesday night’s primary.

Incumbent Dane County judge Ben Jones led last night's primary with a 17-point lead.

Challenger Huma Ahsan tells me she plans to make up the difference by April 7 with grassroots campaigning: "We are the Mamdani of this whole campaign."

@isthmusmadison.bsky.social

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source request: If you or anyone you know has received an invite to the new Harry Styles album listening party in Madison, shoot me a DM!

Democratic lawmakers propose data center moratorium • Wisconsin Examiner Wisconsin Democratic lawmakers on Thursday proposed legislation that would put a moratorium on data center construction.

As opposition to data centers in Wisconsin grows, Democrats propose statewide moratorium via @henry-redman.bsky.social wisconsinexaminer.com/2026/02/12/d...

College athletes’ NIL deals would be exempt from public records law under Wisconsin bill An Assembly bill would establish regulations in Wisconsin regarding name, image and likeness deals. It would hide such deals from the public eye.

College athletes’ NIL deals would be exempt from public records law under a bill supported by UW-Madison and recently introduced in Wisconsin.

Universities have scrambled to keep such records private, citing "competitive interests."

@isthmusmadison.bsky.social

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Madison mayor: paying damages for uncounted votes sets a dangerous precedent Madison’s argument that leaving absentee votes uncounted does not represent a constitutional violation drew sharp backlash. In response, Madison’s mayor suggests that perhaps the state should change i...

Madison mayor: paying damages for uncounted votes sets a dangerous precedent

@isthmusmadison.bsky.social

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Disclaimer missing on likely AI-generated Tom Tiffany campaign ad Though a campaign ad for gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany contains irregularities that ‘point toward an AI-generated video,’ the ad contains no disclaimer, as is required by Wisconsin state law.

A Dec. Tom Tiffany campaign ad contains irregularities that “point toward an AI-generated video,” an AI expert told @liamberan.bsky.social of @isthmusmadison.bsky.social.

But it contains no disclaimer that generative AI was used, as is required by Wisconsin law.

isthmus.com/news/news/di...

Disclaimer missing on likely AI-generated Tom Tiffany campaign ad Though a campaign ad for gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany contains irregularities that ‘point toward an AI-generated video,’ the ad contains no disclaimer, as is required by Wisconsin state law.

SCOOP: An ad for Tom Tiffany's gov campaign contains anomalies that "point to an AI-generated video," per a UW expert. But the ad doesn't contain a disclaimer required by state law.

Tiffany's campaign didn't respond to a request for comment.

@isthmusmadison.bsky.social

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DeForest announces it won’t move forward with controversial $12 billion data center The village president had said the board had only known about the project for weeks, but records obtained by Wisconsin Watch showed it had been discussed by staff for months.

NEWS: DeForest says it will drop controversial $12 billion data center plan.

The village president had said the board had known about the project for only weeks, but @tomkertschernews.bsky.social obtained records showing it had been discussed for months. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/01/defo...

What is Madison doing to prepare for ICE? There is no indication that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is currently planning operations in Madison. City officials are preparing for what they’d do if such a situation arose.

What is the Madison doing to prepare for ICE?

One option the mayor's office is currently examining: "Options for restricting the use of city-owned property for federal enforcement purposes available within local, state and federal law."

@isthmusmadison.bsky.social

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