UP: Marquette. The elementary school on Madison's near east side will remain open. The school board, on a 5-2 vote, reverses its earlier decision to consolidate Marquette with Lapham Elementary. To free up funds this move would have saved, the board cuts $50,000 from business services, $32,000 from the teaching and learning unit, and eliminates an assistant principal position. Board members Beth Moss and Maya Cole switch their votes in response to an outpouring of negative reaction. Arlene Silveira and Lawrie Kobza vote for consolidation.
DOWN: UW-Madison. The university is already being sued by the Sierra Club for not upgrading its aging power plant on Charter Street. Now the state Department of Natural Resources has warned the UW that coal dust from the plant is washing through storm sewers into Monona Bay, a popular fishing spot, in violation of the Clean Water Act. The UW faces fines of up to $10,000 a day if the situation is not resolved. Chancellor John Wiley rejects calls to close the plant, saying the university will fix the problem.
