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Good morning, Madison!

I've got a favor to ask of you — I promise it's small but the impact is huge.

Will you take this quick survey?

If you need a little more convincing, here's the TLDR: We want to make our community events calendar even better and would like your input.

So if you have a spare moment in your day to answer our questions — and there's no wrong answers! — we would be very grateful.

Now let's get to the news.

— Hayley

🍜 Cheers to Morris Ramen.

• Why? The restaurant recently reached its $50,000 fundraising goal. As explained in its GoFundMe, Morris incurred a large amount of debt at the beginning of 2020 so it could continue to pay its employees during the pandemic.

"Morris Ramen enters a new phase now. We are invigorated and elated to be able to continue serving this beautiful Ramen Family we have the privilege if belonging to. We love you all so much." — Morris Ramen, via Instagram

🤑 Tony Evers and the $600 million tax cut.

• Gov. Tony Evers Tuesday announced a plan to tap into the state's multibillion dollar budget surplus to provide more than $600 million in tax relief. Evers' plan also includes $35 caps for insulin copayments, policy changes to lower gas prices, and a 10% income tax cut for individuals earning less than $100,000 and families earning less than $150,000.
• The bigger picture: Evers announced the plan in Milwaukee while his Republican challenger Tim Michels was in Kenosha highlighting the scenes where two years ago riots broke out in the aftermath of the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Michels, along with other high-ranking republicans, called Evers' announcement a ploy to distract from his record before the election.
• What's next? To bring this $600 million plan to life, it must get the OK from the state's GOP-controlled Legislature, which almost certainly will not happen.

🚔 You could be the 'civilian' in the city's Police Civilian Oversight Board.

• Applications are now open for the two at-large seats on Madison's Police Civilian Oversight Board. The deadline for nominations or self-nominations is Sept. 6.
• What's this board? The Police Civilian Oversight Board was created in September 2020 to "make recommendations regarding police discipline, use of force, and other policies and activities," according to the city. The board has been responsible for hiring the city's independent police monitor. After its initial search for a monitor failed earlier this year, the board recently announced four new finalists for the job.
• Neither the board itself or the independent police monitor can fire or discipline police, but it can conduct independent investigations of Madison police, make referrals to the city’s Police and Fire Commission (which can discipline cops), and conduct community outreach on police matters.

❤️‍🩹 Thoughts and prayers for Tai.

• Henry Vilas Zoo made the sad announcement Tuesday that it's eldest red panda Tai has cancer.
• The zoo is working to determine the appropriate type of chemotherapy for the 14-year-old and will continue to provide updates on Tai's treatment.

🦉 Spotted: a Snowy Owl.

• Everyone's favorite local birder Dexter Patterson — better known as @WiscoBirder — announced the discovery of a rare snowy owl in Sun Prairie. Patterson's mom spotted the bird then called her expert son in to investigate, and sure enough, it was a snowy owl. Patterson has dubbed him Sonny, since, well, he lives in Sun Prairie.
• If you'll recall: The city nearly lost its mind last year when a snowy owl took up residence along John Nolen Drive.

🚴 Your lunchtime read: In the aftermath of a fatal bike accident, advocates continue to push for safer roads.

• Via Tone Madison: "Another ghost bike was added to the streets of Madison on Wednesday, August 17.
  
  For those who don’t know, a ghost bike is a bicycle painted all white and chained at the location where a cyclist was killed as a memorial. The first ghost bikes appeared in St. Louis, Missouri, in 2003 and can be seen all over the world, including Madison."

📅 Events: Wednesday

• Ben Sidran Trio at Cafe CODA
• Rob Zaleski in conversation with Doug Moe at Mystery to Me
• Movies with Madison Parks - Ratatouille at Aldo Leopold Park
• Open Mic / Open Jam at The Bur Oak
• Seasaw at Olbrich Botanical Gardens
• The Shape of the Environment at Arts + Literature Laboratory
• Smarty Pints Trivia: Movie Soundtracks/TV theme songs edition at High Noon Saloon
• Two Johns & A Nancy at Dark Horse Artbar

Tomorrow:

• Brew 'n View: Encanto at Majestic Madison
• Concerts in the Park at Rennebohm Park
• Luke Leavitt's Sound Tile Piano Series at Garver Feed Mill
• Madison Jazz Orchestra at The Brink Lounge
• Orton Park Festival at Orton Park
• Revolver Open Mic Comedy at The Rigby
• Supper Club at The Bur Oak
• Thursday's Happier Hour at High Noon Saloon
• UW South Madison Partnership Community Celebration at University of Wisconsin-Madison

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

Bringing home the gold

Morning update: Tuesday, Aug. 23

Madison MinutesHayley Sperling

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