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Morning update: Tuesday, Aug. 31

Morning update: Tuesday, Aug. 31

Good morning, Madison!

It's Tuesday and we've got a lot of news to talk about so let's get to it.

— Hayley

💉 Madison public schools are one step closer to a vaccine mandate for staff.

🖥️ UW will reassess how it handles online teaching requests.

  • Some context from the State Journal: "Multiple faculty groups have expressed concerns about the accommodations process after hearing from vulnerable instructors who said they were told UW-Madison is denying most remote teaching requests because of a need to offer in-person classes."
  • The university has received 31 online teaching requests, about half of which have been approved or resolved. But some instructors feel "discouraged" from participating in the review process because of stories from others that the university is "denying nearly all requests." University officials have chalked the issue up to a matter of miscommunication.
  • Related: What accountability will look like this fall at UW-Madison (via Cap Times)

🤑 The rich got richer during the pandemic.

  • Analysis from Citizen Action of Wisconsin shows the state's eight richest residents have seen their wealth grow by 50% since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wisconsin Examiner reports.
  • CEO of Epic Systems Judy Faulkner saw the biggest growth in wealth, according to the report, Faulkner's fortune rose 167%, from $2.5 billion in March 2020 to $6.7 billion in August 2021.

🇦🇫 For McCoy is now home to more than 2,000 refugees fleeing Afghanistan.

🚌 Madison is set to get $5.2 million in transit funding.

  • Some context: Republicans in the Legislature cut transit funding in half for Madison and Milwaukee when drafting the 2021-23 state budget, citing incoming federal funds.
  • In total the state will receive $25 million in funds from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. $19.7 million will go to Milwaukee county.

🎒 Say hello to Milele Chikasa Anana Elementary School.

  • Community members gathered last week to celebrate the name change. Formerly Falk Elementary, Milele Chikasa Anana Elementary School is now the second recent Madison school renamed to honor a Black Madison woman, Madison365 reports.
  • In 1974 Anana became one of the first Black elected officials in Wisconsin when she won a seat on the Madison School Board. She served nearly 30 years as the publisher and editor of UMOJA magazine, and also served as Madison’s first Black affirmative action officer, and  interim director of the Madison Equal Opportunities Commission.

🏈 Game days are (almost) back!

  • The No. 12 Badgers will return to Camp Randall Saturday to take on No. 19 Penn State. Kickoff is at 11 a.m. ( if you live downtown, be prepared to hear your neighbors blasting "Jump Around" bright and early).
  • Per UW Athletics, fans are required to wear masks in indoor areas of Camp Randall, and are encouraged to wear them outdoors as well.
  • Related: Here's what might make it harder to get a brat inside Camp Randall at Badgers' football opener (via Wisconsin State Journal) (Spoiler: it's a staffing shortage)

⚾ Brewers win again. Nice.

  • The Milwaukee team bested the San Fransisco Giants 3-1 Monday.
  • The two teams will face off again tonight and tomorrow, with both games at 8:45 p.m.

🗓️ Events, events, events: Tuesday, Aug. 31

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