Sign up
Morning Update

Friday forecast

Morning update: Sept. 9

In this newsletter

Friday forecast

Happy Friday, friends.

We've made it through another week and if you'll be on the isthmus this weekend, buckle up because it's going to be busy.

What's up? Well first off, there's a football game Saturday. Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m., which means you should expect to see at least half a dozen flabongos by 9 a.m.

The Badgers will take on the Washington State Cougars at Camp Randall. Expect the usual game day traffic and shenanigans.

Then come Sunday, it's IRONMAN time. You know, that thing where people braver than I swim 2.4 miles, hop on a bike for a leisurely 112-mile ride, and top it all off by running a literal marathon (26.2 miles, in case you didn't know).

Expect to see large crowds and closed streets. The race starts at 6:45 a.m. and lasts until about midnight. During that time, police and volunteers will help maintain local access across the biking and running routes but through traffic will not be allowed.

Check out this map for a full list of street closures.

— Hayley

Madison Minutes thanks our advertising partners. Become one.

Sponsor logo
Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine booster dose
Photo by Parang Mehta / Unsplash

💉 Let's talk about that new Covid-19 booster.

🥒 The south side is one step closer to having a permanent grocery store.

London Pride 2019
Photo by daniel james / Unsplash

🏳️‍🌈 "An anti-gay senator in 2022? In a purple state? Interesting strategy!"

  • That was Sam's reaction upon learning Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson won't support U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin's efforts to codify same-sex and interracial marriage through the Respect for Marriage Act.
  • Baldwin, a Democrat, has been working with Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine to rally support for the legislation across party lines. The bill passed the House of Representatives in July, but will require the support of 10 Republicans in order to overcome a filibuster in the Senate.
  • Johnson previously said he did not "oppose" the legislation but has since changed his mind. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports Johnson now will not support the Respect for Marriage Act and believes the Supreme Court case giving same-sex couples the right to marry was "wrongly decided."

🍔 RIP Five Guys.

  • Madison's oldest Five Guys quietly closed its doors at the end of August. The shop first opened on State Street in 2007.
  • The State Journal reports the company decided not to renew its lease at 517 State St. because the aging building itself isn't in great condition and that often interfered with operations at the restaurant.
Advertisement 🏦 Bank of Sun Prairie just opened a branch inside Sun Prairie West High School.
  • The new location is a limited-service branch open to students, staff, and teachers. A major emphasis of the work done there is giving students the opportunity to learn more about money, banking, and planning for the future.
  • "The opening of the bank branch in West High School highlights our mutual support of our students, and their understanding of fiscal literacy, not just in a class but in actuality with a trusted partner. We are fortunate to have this opportunity as we serve kids and families,” commented Sun Prairie Area School District Superintendent Brad Saron.
  • Read more.
Prescription drugs
Photo by Olga DeLawrence / Unsplash

💊 The county's plan for addressing the opioid epidemic.

  • Dane County Executive Joe Parisi proposed a nearly $740,000 initiative to combat opiate and fentanyl emergencies as part of his 2023 budget Thursday.
  • The Harm Reduction and Prevention Act proposes six key actions to address overdoses in the county, including partnering with community organizations to distribute Narcan and fentanyl test strips, and bringing new education courses to schools on identifying risk, being safe, and building resiliency.
  • In Dane County, opiate-related deaths have increased more than 30% in the past five years and fentanyl-related deaths are up 70%.

🌈 Just for fun: The city has a gay crosswalk now.

  • City officials gathered Thursday evening to to unveil a "Rainbow Crossing" at the top of State Street. The painted Pride flag is meant to serve as a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community and foster inclusivity in the city.

💟 Your lunchtime read: Letesha Nelson is growing community at Goodman.

  • Via Madison Magazine: "Letesha Nelson was sitting in the kitchen of her home in Mississippi — just over the state line from Memphis, where she worked — when a phone call from Madison changed her life.

    It was December 2020. The caller was Souphaphone Maddox, president of the board of directors of the Goodman Community Center in Madison.

    Maddox offered Nelson the center’s executive director position following Becky Steinhoff’s decision to step down after 31 years in the job."
📬
Did someone forward you this email? Sign up here.

🦠 Covid-19 update

📅 Events: The weekend

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

🗓️
Check out more events on our community calendar!

🐶 Friday Floof

Are you freaking kidding me?! Look at these two. Finn (bottom) and Poe (top) are littermates and literal angels. Finn is the athlete of the two and loves to play fetch. Meanwhile Poe would rather chase Finn. While the two like to play rough, there's nothing but love between the pair, they've never spent a day apart.

😸 Do you have a floof to share with the Madison Minutes community? Fill out this form for the opportunity to be featured.

📝 Miss a Minute? Check out yesterday's newsletter.

Last call for night market
Morning update: Thursday, Sept. 8
Madison MinutesHayley Sperling

🗣️ Want your message to reach Madison? Learn about our advertising options.

⏪ Miss a day? Catch up on past newsletters here.

💙 Did a friend forward you this? Sign up for our email newsletters here.

📨 Need something else? Email us at contact@madisonminutes.com.

Read next

Local events