Morning Update

A winning spirit

Morning update: Tuesday, July 26

In this newsletter

Good morning, Madison!

You might be familiar with Wollersheim for their award-winning Wisconsin wines but today the spotlight is on their distillery.

Wollersheim’s Single Barrel Rye Whiskey was chosen from a pool of hundreds of other spirits from across the country to win a gold medal in the 2022 American Craft Spirit Awards.

The whiskey is made from rye grain grown from local Wisconsin farmers, NBC15 reports. Every barrel that's used in the production also goes through a rigorous to meet the distillery's high standards.

The award-winning barrel is currently out of stock but keep an eye on their website for restocks.

— Hayley

🗳️ In-person absentee voting starts today.

If you're going to vote absentee in person you'll need a photo ID (here's a list of acceptable forms) and, if you need to register or update your voter registration, you'll need a proof of residence document, too.
Voters who have requested an absentee ballot by mail can return their completed ballot to an in-person absentee voting location during its voting hours.
Check out a list of in-person absentee voting locations and their hours here.

Returning your absentee ballot to be counted? Make sure your certificate envelope has everything it needs to be counted! (a thread🧵)#MadisonVotes2022 #VoteByMail pic.twitter.com/Vfavm6xSjL
— Madison WI Clerk (@MadisonWIClerk) July 21, 2022

🎒 East High's former principal is leaving MMSD.

Sean Leavy resigned from the Madison School District last week and will not lead Capital High School in the coming school year.
If you'll recall, Leavy was removed as principal at East High last October following multiple days of student walkouts and protests over how he handled an off-campus sexual assault. He was later given an administrative position with the district and was tapped to lead Capital High School in May.
Neither the district nor Leavy have spoken publicly about his resignation.
The State Journal reports Capital High School is now one of nine schools in the district with an open principal position ahead of the upcoming school year.

A closeup view of Simone Lawrence's anti-racism mural on Monroe Street. Photo by Hayley Sperling

🎨 Madison needs to create space for and protect Black art.

Following the defacement of Black women’s art in Madison, local leaders and stakeholders are trying to advance conversations about whether art created by women of color is safe in Madison.
Some context: In June, local artist Lilada Gee’s installation, “Black Girlhood Interrupted by Beth,” was defaced and stolen from the “Ain’t I a Woman Exhibit” at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. Days later, an anti-racism mural by Simone Lawrence on Monroe Street was spray painted with the words “HATE ART.”
These instances (among others) have people questioning how the city can foster a better environment for artists of color, and especially women of color. The Cap Times reports some local leaders suggest more funding for public art is a good place to start addressing the issue. But beyond that, addressing this issue also means addressing the larger issues of racism and social inequities at hand.

🚴‍♀️ The county is doling out nearly half a million dollars for bicycle infrastructure.

Dane County announced Monday it will distribute $482,516 in grants to support bicycle trail interconnectivity in Cottage Grove, Fitchburg, Madison, and Verona.
Madison will receive $62,500 for its "Shred to School" at Aldo Leopold Park project. The roughly 3,500-foot long trail will be located along the Cannonball Path, consisting of a single track chip seal trail with features like rollers and jumps. The total estimated project cost is $125,000.

💡 The owners of 131 W. Wilson St. are getting sued (again).

Madison Gas and Electric is suing the owners of the downtown structure that has been the subject of recent dispute. The utility company is seeking $220,752.75 in unpaid fees, though the State Journal reports MGE doesn't actually know how long the owners have been skipping their bills.
Some context: 131 W. Wilson St. is the former home to Paisan's restaurant. It's been in the news recently for concerns over its structural integrity. The city's Plan Commission approved a demolition permit for the 12-story building in June after months of disagreement over its condition. Developers hope to replace the troubled building with a 14-story mixed-use commercial and residential structure.

🏍️ Your lunchtime read: Leaving her small Wisconsin town, Bayfield County woman targets motorcycle record.

Via WPR: "Bridget McCutchen is done putting off adventures. Next month, she is setting out to become the youngest woman to circumnavigate the world on a motorcycle — a 2020 Kawasaki Versys-X 300 she named after her late horse, Mab."