Morning Update

Cat O'Clock

This cat is TikTok famous and thats pretty cute.

In this newsletter

Goooooooood morning, Madison!

Let's kick off this morning with a little fun "mews," shall we?

The Janesville cat is having a viral moment on TikTok where the furry actor plays a range of roles, from news anchor (AKA mews anchor) to Culver's cashier and Kwik Trip clerk.

"I ended up making a little desk for her just to have fun and play in because cats like to have boxes anyway to play... She got in there and kind of sat down and I went ‘wouldn’t it be kind of funny if she was doing the news?’" Kokonut's owner told NBC15.

If you need me, I'll be scrolling this cat's feed until further notice!

— Hayley

🏥 Overdoses are spiking in Dane County.

Local paramedics have responded to nine overdose incidents over the past few days, prompting Public Health Madison & Dane County to issue a public health alert.
PHMDC said it's not sure what exactly is driving the spike. Two people died in the recent incidents.
"When we talk about overdose trends and statistics, it's important to remember that every number represents a life. It represents someone's brother, friend, daughter, or neighbor. It represents someone who urgently needs to know this information," Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said in a statement.
Take action: You can find out where to get Narcan and fentanyl test strips here. Sign up to get email or text alerts about overdose spikes here.

✨ Meet the new pop-up shop coming to Hilldale.

Willow and Weld, a permanent jewelry company, will be at Hilldale in June and July.
What “permanent jewelry” means: You choose your jewelry that is then welded together to wear forever (more or less).
Dive deeper: Permanent Jewelry: How It Works And If It's Safe (theSkimm)

🚮 No trash or recycling pickup on Memorial Day.

There will be no recycling, trash, brush, or large item collections in Madison on Monday in observance of Memorial Day. Streets Division drop-off sites will also be closed.
Residents who normally have trash and recycling collected on Mondays should put their carts out for pickup by 6:30 a.m. Tuesday.

🏖️ Blue-green algae has already forced the closure of a Madison beach.

Public Health Madison & Dane County closed Spring Harbor Beach Wednesday due to a large blue-green algae bloom at the West Side beach. Blue-green algae can cause illness in both people and animals. The blooms typically appear like "spilled paint" on top of lake water.
"We’re seeing early-season blue-green algae blooms this year — a trend we're noticing more often with changing weather patterns due to climate change," PHMDC microbiologist Jennifer Lavender-Braun said.

🐯 Your lunchtime read: Why can't you swear at Le Tigre?

Via Madison Magazine: It’s a rule that doesn’t match the seediness you’d expect from a strip mall bar right off the highway on the westside outskirts.

📬

Did someone forward you this email? Sign up here.

🎙️ Today on City Cast Madison

How to Find Morels in the Madison Area

Each May, we Wisconsinites scour the woods for a seasonal delicacy: the morel mushroom. Discovering a flush of them can feel like finding hidden treasure. They can fetch $50 per pound at your local farmers’ market, but are free to pick in state parks and forests - if you can find them. So where do you look?

“Everywhere and nowhere,” according to Melissa Klotka, President of the Wisconsin Mycological Society. But don’t worry, she’s got tips for you.

Listen now