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City Cast Madison

Each week, City Cast Madison breaks down the biggest Madison news with some of the best and brightest journalists in town. Find new podcast episodes every Friday.

Rob Thomas

Universities of Wisconsin officials said Monday 

they are willing to freeze tuition at its universities for the 2027-29 biennium

, and restrict any increases to the rate of inflation for two years beyond that.

In exchange for the freeze, the UW system wants the state to invest an additional $190 million in aid. Here’s the details of the plan, and how Wisconsin got here in terms of state aid for higher education. [WPR]

Called the “4-Year Tuition Pledge,” the plan was detailed Monday by Board of Regents President Kyle Weatherly and interim UW system President Renée Wachter. The move is part of the larger budget proposal for the upcoming biennium, and would mean that 

a four-year undergraduate student starting college in fall 2027 would see declining tuition

 (relative to inflation) over their four-year academic career.

But, Weatherly said it would be difficult to implement a freeze without that $190 million commitment.

The idea will be presented during budget negotiations in the fall to the state Legislature, and the decision may likely be up to Wisconsin’s next governor, Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany or 

Democrat Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley

Tiffany pledged that if elected governor he would reinstate the tuition freeze

 in response to recent increases in tuition and state aid. [News 3, 🎧 City Cast Madison, Daily Cardinal]

: Tuition freezes are nothing new in Wisconsin. In 2013, Republican Gov. Scott Walker signed a tuition freeze into law that lasted nearly a decade. The 

Republican-controlled Legislature voted to lift the freeze in 2021

, but the Board of Regents opted to extend it another two years because of expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic that the families of students faced. In 2023, 

the Board of Regents raised undergraduate tuition by 5%

The freeze saved students thousands of dollars, but 

critics say the lost revenue threatened the financial stability and educational quality of UW universities

🎒 Another Way To Make College Affordable:

 University leaders have been criss-crossing the state in the last week in hopes of building support for their budget goals. Weatherly and Wachter are 

also proposing a new program called Wisconsin Work and Learn

, which would eliminate tuition for in-state students who earn at or below the median household income if they commit to work or enroll in an internship, apprenticeship, or some other kind of career prep. [WMTV]

The Universities of Wisconsin propose a 2027–29 tuition freeze and inflation-capped increases, conditional on a $190 million state funding increase.

Will UW-Madison Students Get Another Tuition Freeze? 

UW Floats Tuition Freeze in Exchange For State Aid

On the City Cast Madison podcast, we break down some of the biggest Madison news of the week. Find new episodes every Friday.

City Cast Madison: Madison's News Podcast

Madison News

City Cast Madison staff

Tomorrow is Election Day for the August primary! Are you ready? 

, host Bianca Martin and producer Jade Iseri-Ramos take a deep dive into Tuesday’s election.

They talk about who’s running statewide and in Madison, and 

tell you everything you need to know in order to vote Tuesday

, including polling location hours, what you need to register at the polls, and how to return an absentee ballot. Don't forget, you can also find your ballot, polling, and more election information at the 

What You Need To Know For Tomorrow’s Primary Election

Bianca also revisits clips from our interviews with five of the candidates for governor (the only one who didn’t come on the show was Tom Tiffany – there’s still time, Tom!) If those clips whet your appetite, here are links to our full interviews. Listen to them all, and then make a plan to vote!

There are still seven candidates in the running for Wisconsin governor. Find out where they stand on the issues. 

Interviews with Wisconsin’s Candidates for Governor

Listen to Our Interviews with Wisconsin’s Candidates for Governor

authorities cleared out the memorial and encampment 

that took over the intersection of South Baldwin and Williamson streets in the wake of the July 22 police shooting of Corey Ruiz.

, District 6 Ald. Davy Mayer, who represents the neighborhood and has been in close contact with both protesters and residents throughout, talks to host Bianca Martin about his perspective on the memorial and the lingering effects the 12-day saga will have on his neighborhood. [WPR, 🎧 City Cast Madison]

TKTK

Here’s what happened on Tuesday morning, how things got to this point, and what comes next.

Eyewitnesses said city crews with forklifts, buses, and garbage trucks

 arrived at the encampment at 4:30 a.m. and asked people occupying the site to leave.

police in riot gear moved in, and multiple people were arrested

 for allegedly trying to impede the teardown, while others were cited and released. Bystanders' videos showed protesters throwing objects at city workers and police, and police deploying pepper spray.

City crews and police officers took down tents and removed items from the site, carting them away in city trucks. Many items were moved to nearby Demetral Park, including the raised fist statue donated from George Floyd Square in Minneapolis.

City sweepers moved in at 8 a.m. to clean the intersection, and a small memorial was set up on the sidewalk on South Baldwin Street. By 9 a.m., traffic was flowing through the intersection for the first time in nearly two weeks.

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said 50 or so unhoused people who were living at the site were given the option of being taken to a hotel and a “significant majority” chose to do so.

“Let's focus our energy on the hard work of sustainable change,” Rhodes-Conway said 

in a video message released after the encampment was taken down

. “Holding government accountable for progress should not mean harming the community we all share.” 

The intersection remained open for about five hours until it closed at 1:30 p.m. Police said people were in the roadway and engaged verbally and physically with officers. Police released aerial footage of 

one altercation between officers and interim independent police monitor Aeiramique Glass

. [Cap Times, Instagram, City of Madison, News 3]

The memorial site, which some called the Corey Ruiz Autonomous Zone, grew organically out of the protests that filled the intersection of South Baldwin and Williamson streets on 

 after Ruiz was shot and killed by a Madison police officer.

In addition to protesting the killing and calling for the arrest of the officer involved, protesters set up tents, distributed mutual aid, and even set up Little Free Libraries with revolutionary literature.

For the first few days, city officials expressed support for the memorial encampment as being a place for supporters to grieve. But after about a week, the tide of public sentiment seemed to start to turn.

While owners of many nearby businesses expressed public support for the protesters, they started to complain that having one of Madison’s most-traveled intersections blocked was causing them to lose money. 

 were set up to accept donations to those businesses.

City officials began escalating statements at about the same time as well calling for the encampment to end. On 

said in a statement that the encampment was not “sustainable or safe

,” saying emergency vehicles had to be rerouted around the intersection, and pointing to rising health and safety concerns at the intersection.

 after allegedly punching a protester, kicking signs and shouting racial slurs at other protesters. [GoFundMe, City of Madison, Fox 47]

Rhodes-Conway openly called on the encampment to end

, and said the city was planning for a “peaceful transition.” State Rep. Francesca Hong, currently the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination in the governor’s race, 

 that the protest movement needed “a transition from the physical boundaries of the encampment to advocacy for durable change.”

One of the lead organizers of the protest, Clyde Mayberry, posted a message on social media Monday purporting to be a statement from Ruiz’s family, 

saying it was time to downsize and relocate the memorial

The next day in the early morning hours of Aug. 4, city crews moved in to swiftly dismantle the memorial and reopen the intersection. [City of Madison, Instagram, Facebook]

Ruiz’s family says they want to create a temporary memorial at the intersection, as well as a permanent memorial at a location meaningful to Ruiz and his family. 

A GoFundMe has been set up for the family

All four officers involved in the shooting are on administrative leave while Ruiz’s death is being investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Madison’s interim independent police monitor Aeiramique Glass 

is also conducting an investigation and has subpoenaed Madison police for records

And while the memorial may be gone, it’s clear the protests in Ruiz’s name will continue. On Monday night, 

a protest outside the Capitol organized by Freedom Inc.

 moved to Madison City Hall, where protesters used ladders to climb the building and display a large sign reading “Arrest the Killer Cop.” [GoFundMe, 🎧 City Cast Madison, WKOW]

Madison authorities dismantle the Corey Ruiz encampment at Baldwin & Williamson. District 6 Ald. Davy Mayer discusses the fallout on City Cast Madison.

Corey Ruiz Memorial Site Taken Down By Madison Police

Madison Police Clear Ruiz Memorial and Encampment Site

The intersection of South Baldwin and Williamson streets in Madison has been transformed in the week since Corey Ruiz was shot and killed there by a Madison police officer. Protesters have closed down multiple blocks and turned the space into a memorial site with barricades, flowers, signs, and mutual aid stations.

While many surrounding businesses and neighbors support the goals of the protesters, others are complaining the encampment is a safety hazard and an impediment to traffic. And how long the memorial will remain is unclear. As far as the investigation into the shooting goes, MPD Chief John Patterson 

🚧 Traffic Rerouted Until Further Notice: 

City officials said the intersection would be closed until further notice

 and detour signs are rerouting traffic onto East Washington Avenue. Bus routes have also been 

: District 6 Ald. Davy Mayer, who represents the area, said 

he’s been meeting with both protest organizers and locals

 to provide municipal services and driveway access to residents. He said trash bins originally taken by protesters to build the barricades have been returned to residents and 

there will be a special trash collection on Thursday in the area

🛑 Businesses Back Protesters, Even With Fewer Customers

: Some stores in the area have closed, while others are staying open. 

Lazy Jane’s Cafe manager Alex Gaspar said he wants his restaurant

 to be a haven for protesters, especially during the heat wave. Meanwhile, Kool Things Vintage Clothing owner Joel O’Donnell said he is keeping his store closed so as not to be a distraction.

the African restaurant has definitely seen a slowdown in traffic

. Spokesman Brendon Smith at the Willy Street Co-op said 

business at the store has “been a little quieter,”

 but the store remains open and continues to back peaceful community expression. [WKOW, WMTV, Cap Times]

✊ George Floyd Fist Donated From Minneapolis

: A symbol from the 2020 Black Lives Matters protest in Minneapolis now appears at the center of the intersection. 

The statue of a raised fist that sat in Minneapolis’ George Floyd Square was donated by organizers

 who wanted to show solidarity between the two cities. [🎧 City Cast Twin Cities]

🗳️ Encampment Becomes an Issue in Gov Race

: On Monday, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, the overwhelming favorite to become the Republican nominee in the governor’s race, 

Protesters close Madison blocks for a Corey Ruiz memorial site, sparking debate over safety and traffic. Chief Patterson shares no new updates.

The Latest From the Corey Ruiz Memorial on Willy Street

Site of Corey Ruiz Shooting Becomes a Living Memorial

The fatal shooting by Madison police of Corey Ruiz last week has the city in an uproar. Here’s the latest news on what’s been happening, from the legal proceedings to a wave of high-profile event cancellations.

⚖️ Corey Ruiz Family Hires High-Profile Attorney: 

Ben Crump, a nationally-known civil rights attorney

, has been retained by the family of Ruiz. Crump represented the families of two other victims of police-involved shootings, George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. [WMTV]

Festival organizers decided on Friday to cancel AtwoodFest

. The east side community festival was to take place Saturday and Sunday.

The cancellation joined several other summer events, including Concerts on the Square and 

Monona Terrace’s Concerts on the Rooftop

, although the Dane County Farmers Market went on, with organizers saying the market was a “

crucial distribution point for our local food system

 to make room for protests. [News 3, WMTV, 🔒WSJ, WKOW]

🏥 Medical Examiner Hasn’t Determined Cause of Death: 

The Dane County Medical Examiner’s office said that 

a determination of Ruiz’s cause and manner of death is still pending

. The examiner said additional tests will be required following last week’s forensic autopsy. [News 3]

⚖️ Independent Monitor Will Subpoena Police:

 Independent Police Monitor Aeiramique Glass said Madison police have stonewalled attempts by her office to access records relating to the case. 

She said her office will file subpoenas for the first time against the MPD

 to get a full picture of the incident. [WKOW]

🚧 Williamson Street Intersection Remains Closed:

the City of Madison has still not reopened the intersection

 where the shooting happened at South Baldwin and Williamson streets. 

The site has become a hub for protesters, and hosted numerous protests over the last few days, 

such as a candlelight vigil last Thursday

is a large statue of a raised fist that was taken from George Floyd Square

Additionally, St. Vinny’s announced their Willy Street location near the intersection will be 

, noting both employees and customers don’t have access to the store. Bus routes

🪧Protests Continue Throughout Weekend:

 Peaceful demonstrations against the killing of Ruiz continued throughout the weekend and only seem to be growing in size. On Saturday night, 

dozens of vehicles joined a large crowd of protesters in marching down State Street

, and sit-ins were organized in front of several businesses. [WMTV]

AtwoodFest and local concerts are cancelled following the Corey Ruiz shooting. Plus, Willy Street remains closed as police records are subpoenaed.

Corey Ruiz Madison Police Shooting: Family Hires Ben Crump

Here’s the Latest on the Corey Ruiz Shooting

On July 22, protesters took to the streets of Madison 

after the fatal shooting by police of a young Black man

 at the intersection of Williamson and Baldwin streets.

City Cast Madison executive producer Hayley Sperling was there, and took photos of the protesters who gathered to decry the shooting. She also followed as a group of over 100 protesters marched down East Washington Avenue to the Capitol Square to protest at Wednesday’s Concerts on the Square. The concert was eventually cancelled.

Here are some of the photos that Sperling took of both protests. Also, 

listen to Sperling and City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin share their immediate thoughts

 about the shooting on the City Cast Madison podcast.

Rob Thomas and Beck Henreckson contributed to this article.

On July 22, protesters took to the streets of Madison after the fatal shooting by police of a young Black man at the intersection of Williamson and South Baldwin Streets. City Cast Madison executive producer Hayley Sperling was there, and took photos of the protesters who gathered to decry the shooting.


Madison Protesters Take to the Streets After Police Shooting

Photos: Madison Reacts To Deadly Police Shooting

Elizabeth Kauma

The police killing of a man on Wednesday afternoon on South Baldwin and Williamson streets have left many 

upset and frustrated with the Madison Police Department’s conduct

. In a Wednesday press conference, Madison Police Chief John Patterson said the man entered a physical altercation with four police officers and reportedly had a knife that injured an officer. The man was tasered, which Patternson said was not effective, and according to bystander videos, three seconds after he was tasered an officer shot the man three times.

Community protests were held Wednesday night as the community absorbed this news. Originally

 was set to be held on Thursday night, but it was postponed to accommodate a vigil that was scheduled at the same time. Madison Public Market also 

, which was set for Thursday evening. Another protest is 

 on the corner of Williamson and Baldwin streets. [ 🎧 City Cast Madison, News 3, Instagram]

 saying she was “angered and saddened” by the killing and that “as a city, as a community, as a society, we need to do better.”

, Dane County Executive Melissa Agard said “A family is grieving an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with them, with everyone affected by this tragedy, and with the bystanders and emergency personnel who responded to an incredibly difficult situation.” She said the public deserved “a full accounting of what occurred, and everyone involved deserves a process guided by facts, evidence, and accountability.”

Common Council President Sabrina Madison 

“Like many of you, I have now seen the videos circulating on social media of today's officer involved shooting on the east side of Madison. Straight up, these videos are very difficult to watch. They are both disturbing and painful,” she said. I've received several calls from alders with questions and what I can say without a doubt is that I expect a full, comprehensive, and transparent independent investigation into today's shooting of a community member.”

At a press conference Thursday, Rhodes-Conway identified the man who was killed as Corey Ruiz. While she said that he was in his 30s, she did not specific his exact age or date of birth. Rhodes-Conway also pledged that funding for 

body-worn cameras for Madison police officers will be part of her next executive budget

Thursday's press conference was disrupted by protesters

, one of whom identified himself as Carlos Dixon. Dixon seized the microphone during the conference for a few minutes and demanded immediate charges against the officer. [City of Madison, Dane County, News 3, TMJ]

What are the Candidates for Governor Saying?

Democratic primary candidates have also weighed in. Francesca Hong, who currently represents Madison’s 76th Assembly District, said

 and referred to the killing as an “execution.” She called for the police to immediately release all of the footage of the event and answer to the public for why this escalated to a death.

A Madison police officer killed a man on July 23 sparking community protests. Here is what local Politicans' and candidates for Wisconsin Governor are saying. 

Madison News

UW Floats Tuition Freeze in Exchange For State Aid

Listen to Our Interviews with Wisconsin’s Candidates for Governor

Madison Police Clear Ruiz Memorial and Encampment Site

Latest articles

Site of Corey Ruiz Shooting Becomes a Living Memorial

Here’s the Latest on the Corey Ruiz Shooting

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Early Voting Begins, Obama’s Mega Rally, and Flamingos’ Playoff Run!