DANE COUNTY, Wis. — How would you feel if police officers in any agency across the country had access to a surveillance camera conveniently located in the heart of your community? That’s what Flock Safety cameras are — automatic license plate readers (ALPR) that note vehicle characteristics and track movement and other information which could be available at the drop of a dime to any officer with access.

The Dane County Sheriff’s Office is planning to replace and install 26 Flock Safety cameras and I made a map of the proposed locations. They’re in the process of picking a vendor and the budget is $80k, and several other local police departments have been canceling their contracts with Flock since their countywide access was revoked.

www.google.com

The Dane County Sheriff's Office removed its two dozen Flock Safety cameras and plans to replace them with another Automatic License Plate Reader provider. Here are the approximate locations for the 26 cameras, according to the county's contract proposal.

Read the full article on the captimes.com

My Reporter’s Notebook

A behind-the-scenes look at my work as a local government reporter, covering Madison, Dane County and the people, policies and decisions shaping our community.

Here, I’ll share new newsletter posts, reporting notes, story links, civic explainers, interesting documents and data, and occasional peeks into the reporting process. Think of it as the notebook beside the newsroom desk: a place to follow what I’m working on, what I’m learning and what I’m watching next.

Someone recommended I read this book by Alec Karakatsanis about police-propaganda with everything going on in the Madison community since a police officer shot and killed Corey Ruiz on July 22.

This book offers an examination of how the media and law enforcement officials use the news to influence public perception of police and the government. As a local government reporter, it seems like the type of book I should read, so I bought it. There were surprisingly no available copies in the library and I wanted to get a jump start on reading it for an upcoming radio show.

If you’re reading, follow along with me and share your thoughts. 💭 Otherwise I’ll try and post real world examples that I think people should examine from a person who’s unfortunately part of the machine.

happy august!

i went to the library today 📚 and i got the 2nd season of parks & rec, my new fav comfort show, and two new books. one stuck out to me in particular on the new nonfiction shelf: a book about “good daughter-ing” by Allison M. Alford, PhD.

ngl, it’s definitely timely find for the ongoing currents of my family life right now, and since it’s pink, i figured i would give it a read. the title of being eldest daughter to an eldest daughter is enough to get the point without getting into details. 👩🏾‍🦱

the other book i checked out is called “on liberalism: in defense of freedom” by Cass R. Sunstein. this one talks about freedom of speech, the political commitments of Pres. Obama and Biden and touches on john stuart mill, an old political economic and utilitarian philosopher guy i’ve been wanting to read…

we love a black romance | no ordinary love by myah ariel

Comic books have transformed from simple comic strips in newspapers to a global cultural phenomenon. Originating in the early 20th century, they quickly gained popularity with superhero characters like Superman and Batman. These stories not only entertain but also reflect societal values and issues of their times. Over decades, comic books have expanded into various genres, including horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and manga, appealing to diverse audiences worldwide. Digital comics and graphic novels have further revolutionized the industry, making comics more accessible. Today, comic books influence movies, television, and merchandise, creating a multimedia empire. Their evolution highlights their importance as both entertainment and cultural artifacts, demonstrating how visual storytelling continues to adapt and thrive in modern society.

The Art and Storytelling of Comic Books

Comic books uniquely blend visual art with narrative storytelling, creating immersive experiences for readers. Artists use illustrations to convey emotion, action, and atmosphere, while writers craft compelling…

(trigger warning: kkk)

immediately after seeing sinners in the movie theater when it first came out, i was desperate for more black, historical, racial, mythological content— lovecraft country and vampire in brooklyn vibes. i’m a big fan of whatever the hell that genre is 🖤🎞️

then i went to the public library and saw this cover:

i checked it out.

it’s not that long, the book is less than 200 pages, but whew— what a plot. here’s what the front flap says:

this book talks about abortion, marriage, Indian culture, psychology, and the expectations society places on women of color.

an excerpt:

I'm enjoyiana, welcome to my book club!

we're simplifying, this is a space to reflect on things I've read recently and give book recommendations!