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| |  | Judge Maria Lazar (left) and Judge Chris Taylor (right) are vying for an open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. (Photos provided) |
| 🗳️ The Spring Election Is Just One Week Away | Believe it or not, April 7 is coming up fast. Have you made your plans to vote in the 2026 nonpartisan spring election? | | We pulled together an election guide to let you know who is on the ballot and how to make your voice heard. Long story short: In-person absentee voting runs through April 5 if you are already registered, otherwise you can register at the polls on Election Day. | - Wisconsin Supreme Court: The big race on the ballot is for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, where there have been relatively few fireworks compared to previous races for the state’s highest court. But the lack of flash doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot at stake.
- On the City Cast Madison podcast, we’re thrilled that both candidates agreed to come on the show and talk about their campaigns. Today on the pod, listen to Maria Lazar, the conservative-backed candidate, and then come back Wednesday to listen to our interview with liberal-backed candidate Judge Chris Taylor.
- Dane County Circuit Court: The circuit court has its first contested race since 2018 for Branch 1. Judge Ben Jones, who was appointed to the seat last year by Gov. Tony Evers when Susan Crawford was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, is facing immigration law attorney Huma Ahsan.
- Madison School Board: We’ve got two contested races for the school board. In Seat 6, incumbent Blair Mosner Feltham faces UW-Madison education researcher Daniella Molle. For Seat 7, incumbent Nicki Vander Meulen is being challenged by IT manager Dana Colussi-Lynde.
- The Cap Times recently held a forum for the four candidates to talk about why their very different backgrounds would make them a strong candidate for the board. They also weighed on several key issues facing the district, such as the idea of banning cell phones in schools.
- And the rest: Even-numbered Madison City Council seats are also up for election, although there are only three contested races in Districts 8, 14, and 20. The Dane County Board has 13 competitive races out of 37 seats on the ballot. Isthmus had a good guide to all of them. [ 🎧City Cast Madison, City of Madison, PBS Wisconsin, Cap Times, Isthmus]
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| What Madison's Talking About |
|  | Goodman’s Jewelers reopened last week after being closed for over two months due to flood damage. (Rob Thomas / City Cast Madison) |
| 💍 Goodman’s Reopens after Flooding: Sixty-five days after a burst pipe flooded its landmark State Street store, the century-old Goodman’s Jewelers reopened last weekend. The store has operated since 1930, and water damaged display cases, flooring, and documents and photos dating back decades. The store now has a small decorative faucet in the back as a cheeky memorial to the flood. [WMTV, Goodman’s] | | 🚣 Hoofers’ Building Getting $2.7 Million Expansion: UW-Madison will build a $2.7 million expansion for Wisconsin Hoofers lake lab on the shore of Lake Mendota, including an expanded rooftop event space, more storage, and a stairway directly connecting Park Street and the lakeshore. Hoofers is the largest student organization on campus, it’s made up of six clubs including scuba, outing, ski and snowboard, mountaineering, sailing, and riding. [Isthmus] | | 🧑🍳 Marigold Kitchen Opens Catering Kitchen on Willy Street: Marigold Kitchen announced on Instagram that its catering business, Marigold Catering, has opened a new kitchen at 1511 Williamson St. The kitchen will offer sandwiches, salads, breakfasts, and other entrees for breakfasts and lunches. They’re planning to start serving food there soon, “Just give us a moment to get settled,” they say. [Instagram] | | 🍳 Vanilla Bean Closing After 43 Years: Vanilla Bean, a baking supplies store that has operated on Odana Road since 1983, is closing its doors in June. The owners said on Facebook that rising costs and competition from online shopping have been a constant challenge and a 30% rent hike from their landlord was the last straw. [WKOW] | |
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| | |  | Was Ruby named after her striking eyes? (Dane County Humane Society) |
| Meet Ruby! This 6-year-old Californian rabbit is very shy upon first meeting people, but has warmed up to her foster family with lots of patience. Now she loves attention, and has started to enjoy sitting on her foster person’s lap to receive pets. | | Ruby loves to dig and chew on fleece blankets, appropriate toys, grass mats, open phone books, and cardboard paper towel and toilet paper tubes. Because Ruby is shy, she’s looking for a home without young children and a patient family who will give her some time to settle in and spoil her with lots of attention and companionship. | | |
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📰 Extra! Extra! Calling all artists! The Madison LakeWay Project needs your talent! The Madison Arts Commission and the LakeWay Public Art Selection Committee are accepting applications from artists to provide site-specific artwork for the project along Lake Monona. The deadline is April 16. 🎨 |
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