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Morning Update: Monday, Nov.1

A whole new month

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Good morning, Madison!

It's Monday, and the start of a new month. Crazy how times flies.

How was your Halloweekend? Despite the the University of Wisconsin's homecoming also falling on the spookiest of weekends, another year without Freakfest bringing thousands of costume-clad partygoers to State Street led to a pretty chill weekend for the city.

Madison Police reported people were generally well behaved this year. Cops issued roughly 42 citations over the weekend for infractions such as "drinking on the street or sidewalk, underage drinking, disorderly conduct, battery and urinating in public."

Congrats on not starting any riots, y'all. Now let's dive into the news.

— Hayley

🏀 A weekend of Wisconsin sports.

📣 PSA: The Wisconsin DOT is closing this Beltline ramp tomorrow.

  • The agency announced the westbound ramp from the southbound lane of I-39/90 will be closed for over a day beginning Tuesday, Nov. 2, at 2 a.m. for construction. The ramp is expected to reopen on Wednesday, Nov. 3, at 5 a.m. but expect possible traffic delays.

🎭 New lineups are out for the American Players Theater and Overture Center.

  • The American Players Theater 2022 season includes nine shows, five of which were scheduled to run during the 2020 season. The company plans to return to full audience shows in both its outdoor Hill Theater and indoor Touchstone Theater (assuming the pandemic doesn’t take a turn for the worse).
    • Shows include: Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labour’s Lost”; Jane Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility"; Tarell Alvin McCrainey’s “The Brothers Size"; Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”; and more. For the full lineup, check out ATP's schedule here.
  • The Overture Center for the Arts announced several upcoming shows including: "Nat Geo Live," Leanne Morgan, Mike Birbiglia, and a DĂ­a de Los Muertos: Community Altar Project. See more here.

🩺 UW Health nurses are speaking out about their staffing issues online with #whyuwnursesneedaunion.

⚖️ Nine Madison East students are filing suit against their former teacher and the school district over hidden camera use.

  • Some context: Former Madison East teacher David Kruchten was arrested in January 2020 for federal crimes after it was discovered he placed hidden cameras in students' hotel rooms during a school trip to Minneapolis. Krutchen was recently sentenced to 12 years of prison time, followed by 20 years of extended supervision
  • Now, some of Kruchten's former students are suing him and the district for allegedly violating their fourth and 14th amendments rights. Isthmus reports that the new civil suit seeks to hold the district and Krutchen accountable for his actions.

🌊 Your lunch time read: ‘The water always wins’: Calls to protect shorelines as volatile Lake Michigan inflicts heavy toll.

  • From Wisconsin Watch: "Wisconsin’s Great Lakes communities expect to spend $245 million in five years to protect shorelines as a climate ‘tug of war’ drives extreme shifts in water levels."

🦠 Covid-19 Resources

Wisconsin Vaccination Rate: 55%

Dane County Vaccination Rate: 71.8%

Here's where to find a COVID-19 vaccine near you.

Need a COVID-19 test? PHMDC has you covered.

Are you eligible for a third dose of Pfizer or Moderna? Find out here.

📅 Events: Monday, Nov. 1

  • Memoir Writers Salon at Goodman South Madison Library. Read work and receive group feedback. 6 p.m. Free.
  • Pundamonium, a pun slam, at High Noon Saloon. Door at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m. $7. All ages.
  • Open Mic Comedy at the Bur Oak. 7-10 p.m. Free admission.

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