This week, we’re asking for support

Stress-free morning news

• “Alice by Heart” | Thursday, May 2-Saturday, May 4 | 7 p.m. | Waunakee High School Performing Arts Center, 301 Community Dr., Waunakee | $12 | Don’t be late for this “Alice in Wonderland"-inspired musical from Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater, the creators of “Spring Awakening.”

• Wisconsin Badgers Softball | Friday, May 3-Sunday, May 5 | Times vary | Goodman Diamond, 2415 University Bay Dr., Madison | $2-$5 | Cheer on the team as they take on the Terrapins.
• “Hope Lingers Here” | Friday, May 3 | 7:30-9 p.m. | First Unitarian Society, 900 University Bay Dr., Madison | $25 | Listen to the Philharmonic Chorus of Madison perform works by such greats as William Byrd, J.S. Bach, and Randall Thompson.

• Hill Farms Art Walk and Sale | Saturday, May 4 | 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. | Hill Farms Neighborhood, 5027 Marathon Dr., Madison | Free | Stroll through a pop-up outdoor gallery featuring original works by more than 30 artists.
• TazzBash | Saturday, May 4 | 1-11 p.m. | Red Rooster Madison, 2513 Seiferth Rd., Madison | $20 | Rock to local acts like Fiberweed, King Cobra, and Electromag in support of the local Music Makes a Difference nonprofit.
• Lilac Walk | Saturday, May 4 | 1-3 p.m. | UW-Madison Arboretum, 1207 Seminole Hwy., Madison | Free | Take a guided walk in the third largest collection of lilacs in the country.

• Madison Comic Con | Sunday, May 5 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, 1 John Nolen Dr., Madison | $8 | Be a hero and take your family to this comic book show that will have vendors, artists, and special guests.

• Boom. Festival Foods Lights the Isthmus returns to Breese Stevens Field this summer on Saturday, June 29. The fireworks show will be accompanied with food, games, and live music. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, May 3 at 10 a.m.

• Madison is the nation’s No. 1 midsized metro city (and No. 21 overall), for being energy efficient and reducing emissions in the 2024 City Clean Energy Scorecard. It scored highest in the community energy infrastructure category.

• Brian Counselman, a science teacher at Madison’s Shabazz High School, is a Wisconsin Teacher of the Year. It’s the first time since 2010 that a Madison Metropolitan School District teacher has earned that honor. (WMTV)

• Nearly 19,000 people responded to the DNR’s survey about desired fishing and hunting changes. Earlier trout season and wake boat regulations were overwhelmingly supported. The responses are only advisory. Final decisions will be made this summer. (WKOW)

• The Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team’s 2024-25 Big Ten Conference schedule is set. With the Big Ten now having grown to 18 teams, the Badgers will play Oregon and Washington at the Kohl Center.

• 373,000. That’s the amount of forested acres the invasive spongy moth ate last year in Wisconsin, a record. This year, the DNR is expecting the moths to potentially break that record, feeding off of nearly 300 species of tree. (Wisconsin Public Radio)

• The Kentucky Derby is on Saturday, May 4, and a bit of Verona will be at the race. A memorial sculpture, honoring racehorse Barbaros and jockey Edgar Prado, was created by Verona artist Alexa King. It sits outside the Kentucky Derby Museum. (WMTV)

• Congratulations to the Hefty Horned Lark, 2024’s Fat Bird Week winner. The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin crowned the bird after it claimed victory over the Gluttonous Golden-Crowned Kinglet.

• Rev your engines — Thursday Bike Night is back — and better than ever. Ride to the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee every Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. (now through September) to jam out at the free concert series featuring music of all genres. See the full lineup.*

Eagles

Falcons

Other feathered friends

• Madison Parks Division | Attend one of the recurring 90-minute birding walks.
• Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance | The organization hosts a multitude of local field trips.
• BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin | Dexter Patterson is a co-founder of the group, known as the “Wisco Birder.”