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Morning update: Monday, Oct. 11

Morning update: Monday, Oct. 11

Monday in Madison

Madison Minutes is a free daily morning newsletter. Sign up here to get the scoop on news and events in our community.

Good morning, Madison!

Last week we spent some time looking at the mayor's proposed 2022 operating budget, which includes $1.4 million to fund a smooth transition for Town of Madison residents who will soon become City of Madison residents after the town's dissolution Oct. 31, 2022.

This raised the question for at least one Madison Minutes reader who reached out to ask: What exactly is the Town of Madison?

This simple question, as it would turn out, doesn't have the simplest answer. So I set out to find one, resulting in this article.

So please, always feel empowered to send us your questions! Who knows, it might lead to our next big story.

— Hayley

🏒 A winning weekend for Wisconsin sports.

🚨 A Madison Police officer was shot in the line of duty for the first time in more than 20 years over the weekend.

🕯️ The Madison and Middleton communities gathered in mourning to remember three local teens who died in a car crash last weekend.

  • Some context from the State Journal: "Simon Bilessi, a senior at Madison West High School who formerly attended Middleton, and Middleton seniors Evan Kratochwill and Jack Miller were killed after their vehicle was hit from behind in the town of Middleton, sending it into a field where it was engulfed in flames on Oct. 2."
  • Community members filled the Middleton High School auditorium Sunday to celebrate the lives of the three men. A GoFundMe page set up to support the teens' families has raised over $118,000.
  • Charges are currently pending against the driver who rear-ended the teenagers’ vehicle, causing the crash.

⚖️ The U.S. Department of Justice will not file civil rights charges against the officer who shot Jacob Blake in Kenosha last year.

  • If you'll recall: Blake was shot seven times in the back while walking away from an officer toward a parked vehicle where his children were. The incident left him paralyzed and massive protests and civil unrest followed — resulting in millions of dollars of damage and the deaths of two unarmed protesters.
  • According to WPR, the U.S. DOJ announced last Friday it won't pursue charges against Rusten Shesky, the Kenosha police officer who shot Blake, saying there was not enough evidence to prove he used excessive force. A video of the incident had previously shown Blake was armed with a knife.

😻 A momentary interruption of this heavy news to bring you...sleeping kittens at the Dane County Humane Society.

📚 A Madison West Spanish teacher will be allowed to teach remotely after students protested her removal.

  • Some context from Madison365: "Deana Zorko, who has received two organ transplants and takes medicines that suppress her immune system, had been teaching senior-level Spanish and Advanced Placement Spanish literature by remote video since schools re-opened last spring. Last week, she was abruptly moved to the Madison Promise Academy, the district’s all-virtual option."
  • Students walked out in protest over her removal last week. Now, in a reversal of its decision, the school district will allow Zorko to return to remote teaching at Madison West. The situation, however, is only temporary. The district has reportedly not yet agreed to let her teach remotely next semester.

🎨 MMoCA presents “Caja de visiones."

  • The latest exhibit at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art highlights modern contemporary Mexican art in "Caja de visiones," or “Box of Visions.” The exhibit features pieces from Mexico's artistic renaissance in the first half of the 20th century alongside the work of present-day Mexican and Mexican-American artists in the midwest, Madison365 reports.

🤑 A Madison woman wants to change the way we fundraise for cancer research.

  • Niketa Rae founded the Ebony Eyes Foundation, a non-profit that earned its 501c3 status in August. Tired of the typical 5k, fun-run, type of events, Rae founded Ebony Eyes to raise money for pancreatic, colon, and brain cancers. The organization’s first event will be an adult prom later this month. She's also planning volleyball, bowling, and shuffleboard tournaments.
  • Rae told Channel 3000, “Our slogan is ‘Cancer sucks, but raising awareness doesn’t have to.'"

🖼️ Your lunchtime read: A modern-day renaissance: How fine arts in Madison continue to rebound in COVID-19 era (via Badger Herald).

🦠 Covid-19 Resources

Wisconsin Vaccination Rate: 54.2%

Dane County Vaccination Rate: 71.3%

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: Multi-day

Monday, Oct. 11

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