Your Daily Guide

🌳 County to Donate Purchased Land to Ho-Chunk Nation

• Dane County has approved the purchase of 165 acres of land near Lower Mud Lake for $6.41 million, with plans to permanently protect and donate the land to the Ho-Chunk Nation.
• The land includes wetlands, woods, and archaeological sites, many of which are sacred to the Ho-Chunk people and tied to their history in the region. The property is within Dunn, south of Babcock County Park.
• The county will place a permanent easement to ensure the land can never be developed, while preserving public access and protecting the area’s ecological value. The partnership among Dane County, Ho-Chunk Nation, and the Groundswell Conservancy also aims to foster education and long-term stewardship of the land.
• Dig deeper: On today’s podcast, host Bianca Martin and producer Jade Iseri-Ramos talk about this land donation. They also discuss changes to MMSD’s parental leave and the independent police monitor’s findings regarding a high-profile arrest from December. [WKOW, 🎧 City Cast Madison]

🪲 Should We Be Worried About Deer Ticks and Lyme Disease?

• Wisconsin researchers behind a citizen science project have found that just over half of deer ticks tested carried the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. People across the state and surrounding regions mailed in nearly 12,500 ticks over the past two years.
• Researchers say they were surprised by the bacteria’s prevalence. Just over 50% of adult females tested are carrying the bacteria. But, this doesn’t mean people have a 50% chance of getting Lyme disease from a deer tick bite. The ticks have to be attached for at least 24 hours to pass the bacteria.
• Last year also saw the highest number of documented Lyme disease cases on record. Here’s how to stay tick-safe. [Wisconsin Public Radio]

🧒 State Childcare Funding Ending this Summer

• With the state’s pandemic-era childcare funding ending in June, which is credited with keeping childcare centers open and boosting provider numbers, experts are raising concerns of childcare center closures, tuition hikes for parents, and workforce disruptions statewide.
• The Child Care Counts program was originally funded by federal relief. The latest iteration, the Child Care Bridge Payments, was state-allocated funds, where more than 4,100 providers received over $90 million. More than 450 providers in Dane County received a total of $13.3 million.
• Wisconsin parents have long struggled with high childcare costs, long waitlists, and limited options. Now, many are considering delaying having children or seeking alternative care, which has providers bracing for possibly reduced hours, raising rates, and increased financial losses. In a recent survey, 25% of providers said they’ll likely shut down after funding ends this summer.
• Lawmakers and advocates say they’re debating new funding sources, such as a weed sales tax. That is, if cannabis were to become legal in the state. [Cap Times]