MMSD’s Proposed Property Tax Hike, Concerts on the Square Kickoff, and a T-Ball Legend

MMSD’s Proposed Property Tax Hike, Concerts on the Square Kickoff, and a T-Ball Legend

The Madison school board is looking to increase property taxes by 8.5% [https://captimes.com/news/education/madison-schools-draft-budget-proposes-8-5-property-tax-increase/article_f268f5a3-a8af-4acc-b589-49efef17905e.html] for the upcoming school year. City Cast Madison Host Bianca Martin chats with Scott Resnick, a local entrepreneur and former Madison City Council member, about the roughly $700 million MMSD budget, [https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1781106020/madisonk12wius/o2rn1or2fxkxr4wdknfs/2026-2027_MayProposedBudget.pdf] what it will pay for, and how it will impact tax payers. Then, we preview the line up for Concerts on the Square [https://wcoconcerts.org/concerts-tickets/concerts-on-the-square] which starts this Wednesday. Finally, a “Good On You” for Midvale Heights t-ball commissioner Michael Pressman who was recently honored [https://www.cityofmadison.com/news/2026-05-26/tribute-event-scheduled-at-oak-park-heights-parks] after 30 years of organizing the local league. 👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 [tel:608-318-3367] or email madison@citycast.fm [madison@citycast.fm]. We’re also on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/citycastmadison/]!  📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the City Cast Madison morning newsletter [https://madison.citycast.fm/newsletter].  🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program! [https://membership.citycast.fm/madison] Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads [https://madison.citycast.fm/advertise]. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 23rd episode: * Society of St. Vincent de Paul [https://svdpmadison.org/raffle/]

WI Governor Race Updates & Assembly District 76 Forum Takeaways

There are still seven candidates [https://www.therecombobulationarea.news/p/the-state-of-the-democratic-primary-f3b] vying for the Democratic nomination for the Wisconsin Governor’s race. With the August 11 primary less than two months away, the race is heating up. To get a better understanding of the state of the race, host Bianca Martin chats with Dan Shafer, a longtime Wisconsin journalist and founder of The Recombobulation Area [https://www.therecombobulationarea.news/]. Then, producer Jade Iseri-Ramos joins the show to report back on a forum for the 76th Wisconsin Assembly District. You can find a full recording from the June 17 forum here [https://share.descript.com/view/Nab02Kh0wro]. 👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 [tel:608-318-3367] or email madison@citycast.fm [madison@citycast.fm]. We’re also on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/citycastmadison/]!  📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the City Cast Madison morning newsletter [https://madison.citycast.fm/newsletter].  🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program! [https://membership.citycast.fm/madison] Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads [https://madison.citycast.fm/advertise]. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 22rd episode: * Society of St. Vincent de Paul [https://svdpmadison.org/raffle/]

The Ultimate Madison Ice Cream Showdown

There are so many great local spots in town to get ice cream. From Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream to Babcock Dairy Store, Madison is rich with ice cream and custard. But who does it best? We decided to grab some spoons and have a showdown between several local pints to determine our top pick. This episode originally aired on June 5, 2025. 🍦 Speaking of ranking, don’t forget to vote for us in Madison Magazine’s Best of Madison competition [https://madisonmagazine.secondstreetapp.com/Best-of-Madison-2026]. We’re up for best podcast and news website! 👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 [tel:608-318-3367] or email madison@citycast.fm [madison@citycast.fm]. We’re also on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/citycastmadison/]!  📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the City Cast Madison morning newsletter [https://madison.citycast.fm/newsletter].  🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program! [https://membership.citycast.fm/madison] Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads [https://madison.citycast.fm/advertise]. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 18th episode: * Society of St. Vincent de Paul [https://svdpmadison.org/raffle/] * Make Music Madison [https://makemusicmadison.org/]

Police Monitor Blames MPD for Man’s Death, Plus Ridglan Farms To Close

Richard Lee Johnson died on Dec. 31, 2024, after being arrested the previous night. A new ⁠report ⁠ [https://www.cityofmadison.com/independent-police-monitor/blog/2026-06-15/investigative-report-oipm2025-0009]by the Office of the Independent Police Monitor found the arresting officers caused Johnson’s death through prone restraint, excessive force, and failure to render aid. But Madison Police Chief John Patterson ⁠disputes the report⁠ [https://www.cityofmadison.com/news/2026-06-15/mpd-response-to-june-15-report-from-interim-independent-police-monitor]. Madison365 executive editor Rob Chappell has been ⁠reporting on the story⁠ [https://madison365.com/independent-monitor-report-madison-police-caused-mans-death-conclusion-of-drug-overdose-was-wrong/] and joins City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin to explain what we know. Plus, executive producer Hayley Sperling has what might be ⁠the final update⁠ [https://www.wpr.org/news/deal-struck-ridglan-farms-shutdown-transfer-remaining-dogs] on the Ridglan Farms beagles.  Mentioned on the show: ⁠Interim independent police monitor on City Cast Madison⁠ [https://madison.citycast.fm/podcasts/police-monitor-answers-her-critics]⁠Interim independent police monitor on 365 Amplified ⁠ [https://madison365.com/365-amplified-now-that-it-works-they-want-to-kill-it-aeiramique-glass-on-the-pcob-controversy/] 👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at ⁠608-318-3367⁠ [tel:608-318-3367] or email ⁠madison@citycast.fm⁠ [madison@citycast.fm]. We’re also on ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/citycastmadison/]!  📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the ⁠City Cast Madison morning newsletter⁠ [https://madison.citycast.fm/newsletter].  🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. ⁠Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program!⁠ [https://membership.citycast.fm/madison] Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for ⁠podcast and newsletter ads⁠ [https://madison.citycast.fm/advertise]. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 17th episode: * ⁠Society of St. Vincent de Paul⁠ [https://svdpmadison.org/raffle/] * ⁠Make Music Madison⁠ [https://makemusicmadison.org/]

Regent Street Redesign, Tourism Boom, and Juneteenth Events in Madison

After months of public input, Regent Street is getting a major redesign [https://captimes.com/news/government/madison-leaders-approve-regent-street-redesign-fusion-research-funds/article_09890661-aef2-4ab3-987f-a1c5dc34f362.html] which will include wider sidewalks, fewer driving lanes, added parking and loading lanes, and more trees. To some folks’ dismay, though, it will not include dedicated bike lanes [https://captimes.com/news/government/regent-street-plans-call-for-more-pedestrian-space-near-camp-randall/article_0d1d6cd4-efb2-4ec3-b7a0-512e5c5715fe.html]. City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin talks about the plan with executive producer Hayley Sperling and Liz Boyd. In addition to being Madison Public Library digital services and marketing manager, Boyd is a local photographer and outdoor enthusiast, and she brings us the latest tourism numbers [https://www.visitmadison.com/about-us/impact-report/] and her ideal itinerary for a Madison tourist. Plus, how is Madison recognizing Juneteenth [https://captimes.com/news/community/7-ways-to-celebrate-juneteenth-in-the-madison-area/article_477ca47b-42b0-4e68-ba97-b219d2a1b04b.html] this week? 👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 [tel:608-318-3367] or email madison@citycast.fm [madison@citycast.fm]. We’re also on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/citycastmadison/]!  📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the City Cast Madison morning newsletter [https://madison.citycast.fm/newsletter].  🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program! [https://membership.citycast.fm/madison] Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads [https://madison.citycast.fm/advertise]. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 16th episode: * Society of St. Vincent de Paul [https://svdpmadison.org/raffle/] * Make Music Madison [https://makemusicmadison.org/]