Morning update: Thursday, Sept. 16

Schools in session, so is COVID

Good morning, Madison!

For anyone keeping track, it's Thursday.

If there are still people in your circles who need to get a COVID-19 vaccine, this Saturday would be the perfect day to do it. Why? It's International Red Panda Day and Henry Vilas Zoo is hosting a vaccine clinic. Anyone who gets vaccinated at the event will be able to go to the zoo’s Education Pavilion "where workers will have animal ambassadors out to see and interact with" and will be entered in a drawing to win a behind the scenes tour of the Zoo.

Like people, many of the animals at the zoo are susceptible to COVID-19. Getting vaccinated helps protect yourself, and perhaps more importantly, the vulnerable people and animals around you.

Now to the news.

— Hayley

🦠 MMSD is grappling with a spike in COVID-19 cases and quarantining students.

The number of students who have been forced to quarantine due to close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 has increased four-fold from last week, the district announced.
The numbers: As of Wednesday, the district had 83 positive cases and 407 close contacts required to quarantine in the last 14 days. For context, last week the district reported 45 positive cases and 106 close contacts.
The State Journal reports more rapid testing sites are expected to open in buildings across the district over the next week.
Related: Madison's new superintendent faces steep challenge as he tackles the "two pandemics" (via Wisconsin State Journal)

🇦🇫 An update on Fort McCoy and the status of refugee resettlement in Wisconsin.

U.S. Reps. Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) are calling on the secretary of defense to investigate “possible mistreatment and/or neglect” of Afghan refugees currently residing at Wisconsin's Fort McCoy.
This announcement comes on the heels of a story published in the Wisconsin State Journal claiming refugees at Fort McCoy have not been able to get new clothes or easily access food. As of Tuesday, there are 12,500 Afghan refugees living at the base.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has stopped bringing Afghan evacuees to Fort McCoy and other domestic military bases after identifying several cases of measles, WPR reports. So far, six cases have been reported nationally and one has been confirmed at Fort McCoy.
Yesterday, President Biden began notifying states of how many refugees each will resettle. California is projected to take 5,255 individuals, the most of any state. Wisconsin is expected to resettle 399 refugees, AP reports.
All evacuees will undergo a health screening before resettling and all evacuees ages 12 or over will be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

🏀 The Bucks just made history with their latest hire.

Lisa Byington will be the Bucks new play-by-play TV announcer, following the retirement of longtime broadcaster Jim Paschke. Byington is the first woman to hold such a position for a major men's professional sports team.

❌ He's not running.

Long-rumored potential 2022 gubernatorial candidate Bill McCoshen announced yesterday that he will not run for governor.
McCoshen is a veteran Republican strategist and just this week announced the sale of his lobbying firm, a move that many speculated was his first step to joining the race.

🎥 Wanna see a movie?

Madison's Market Square Cinema announced it will re-open this Friday after shutting down for pandemic reasons in March 2020.
Screening on Friday: The Green Knight, Pig, Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain, Boss Baby - Family Business, and The Suicide Squad.

🎭 The Children’s Theater of Madison is reopening this week.

For the first time in 18 months, the Children's Theater will open to host a benefit event this Friday. The "SEPTACULAR" event will celebrate the return of in-person programming and feature live performances, cocktails, and hors d’oeuvres, NBC15 reports. Tickets are $100 each.

🍸 A new craft cocktail bar is headed to South Park Street.

It's called Cordial and will move into the former site of the Rustic Tavern at 516 S. Park St. Isthmus reports that the bar will focus on affordable, classic craft cocktails, and have a speakeasy-type vibe. The owners hope to open the new spot by the end of the year.

🎧 Your lunchtime read: Audio engineer Justin Perkins returns to Madison