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Morning update: Wednesday, Oct. 13

Where to get a COVID booster

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Happy Wednesday, friends.

We've got a lot of news to cover this morning so let's just dive right in.

— Hayley

P.S. Sam has been working tirelessly to connect with local advertisers to help support our work. Do you know anyone you can introduce him to? If so, fill out this form here.

💉 Alliant Energy Center in the back in the vaccine business.

⚾ Broken bats and broken dreams.

🥒 Get ready to compost.

  • Madison was selected to participate in the USDA's Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction (CCFWR) Project, which will help local governments "develop and test strategies for planning and implementing municipal compost plans and food waste reduction plans."
  • The city's project description, via USDA: "This project will accelerate food waste reduction and meet the City goal to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030 through a community composting initiative and a commercial food waste initiative with restaurants, which both take a multi-sector approach and accelerate economic benefits to community farmers and commercial business owners."
  • This will definitely be a project to keep an eye on in the future!

👶🏾 Democrats in the state legislature want to address the racial disparities in Wisconsin's infant mortality rate.

  • Rep. Shelia Stubbs (D-Madison) and Sen. LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee) introduced the Birth Equity Act yesterday. According to WPR, the legislation "includes proposals to require insurance companies to cover the cost of maternal mental health screenings and in-home wellness visits for mothers within a week of giving birth."
  • CDC data shows that from 2013-15 Wisconsin had the highest infant mortality rate in the country for babies born to Black mothers.
"When Black mothers do better, we all do better. For too long our healthcare system has failed women of color and their children. Now is the time to act, and make Wisconsin a better place to live for everyone.”
— Rep. Shelia Stubbs said in a press release

📍 Mark your calendars: There's a public hearing scheduled this week on new Dane County supervisory district maps.

  • From the Verona Press: "The Dane County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, on a new supervisory district map before its regularly scheduled meeting that night. Following the hearing, the board is expected to take action on approving a new supervisory district map for the next 10 years."

💖 For no reason at all, say hello to Onyx, an adorable (and adoptable!) pup at the Dane County Humane Society.

🏘️ The city is planning on providing funding for three low-cost housing projects.

  • Ten City Council members proposed a resolution to pull $5.9 million from the city's Affordable Housing Fund to support three projects that will provide more than 200 lower-income units.
  • According to the State Journal, the three projects that would receive the funds include:
    • “Courtyard Lofts,” a $23.4 million project to remake the Madison Plaza Hotel.
    • “The Heights Apartments,” a $23.6 million project at 2208 University Ave.
    • “Avenue Square Senior Apartments,” a $17.3 million project at 1802-1818 Packers Ave. and 2102 Schlimgen Ave.
  • The council is expected to deliver a decision on the proposal Oct. 19.
  • Related: Discussions continue on E. Broadway affordable housing proposal (via Monona / Cottage Grove Herald-Independent)

🎨 Meet the 2021 Forward Art Prize winners.

  • Yeonhee Cheong and Alice Traore were both awarded the prize, which honors women in Dane County's visual art community. Each artist will receive a $10,000 reward, the Cap Times reports.

🇦🇫 Some Afghan refugees at Fort McCoy are finally headed to their new homes.

  • WPR tells the story of one Afghan family who arrived at Wisconsin's Fort McCoy Aug. 30 and is now leaving the base and heading to their new home of Utica, New York.

🔥 Your lunchtime read: Wisconsin is not immune from wildfires (via Sun Prairie Star)

🦠 Covid-19 Resources

Wisconsin Vaccination Rate: 54.4%

Dane County Vaccination Rate: 71.4%

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: Wednesday, Oct. 13

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