Morning Update

If the duck suit fits...

Morning update: Wednesday, Oct. 12

In this newsletter

Photo by Zdeněk Macháček / Unsplash

Goooooood morning, Madison!

Do you love baseball? Have you ever dreamed of being a giant mallard?

If you answered yes to the above questions, we have a job listing for you.

The Madison Mallards are looking for someone to suit up as their next Maynard G. Mallard.

A slice of history: The Mallards first came to town in 2001. The team is part of the Northwoods League, which features college baseball players playing in their off season. The Mallards plays at the “Duck Pond” AKA Warner Park and have no shortage of dedicated fans. According to Ballpark Digest, the Mallards routinely lead the nation in attendance for collegiate summer baseball teams.

You can apply to be the giant mallard here.

A bit of housekeeping: We forgot to include the link with yesterday's lunchtime read. Check out the story on Wisconsin workers' renewed push for unionization from Wisconsin Watch below.

It's a pretty timely story! (See: Starbucks, Raven, UW Health.)

— Hayley

P.S. Don't forget today marks the return of the CurderBurger. If you get one, tag us on social! I want your honest reviews.

Madison Minutes thanks our advertising partners. Become one.

🚨 Meet Madison's first independent police monitor.

But first, some context: Hiring someone to fill this job has been years in the making. The city first created the position along with the Police Civilian Oversight Board following the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. The Independent Monitor is tasked with investigating complaints against the Madison Police Department, recommending policy changes, and engaging with the community.
If you'll recall: In December 2021, the Police Civilian Oversight Board offered the position to Madison civil rights administrator Byron Bishop, who turned down the job after past allegations of workplace discrimination surfaced.
The news: The city announced Monday the Police Civilian Oversight Board selected John Tate II for the job. Tate has a master's degree in social work and currently serves as president of the Racine City Council. He previously chaired the state’s parole commission. Pending approval from City Council, Tate will start in his new role Dec. 5 with a $125,000 salary.

⚖️ Where Wisconsin's gubernatorial candidates stand on abortion.

Gov. Tony Evers announced Tuesday he would not support legislation that updates Wisconsin's 1849 abortion ban to include exceptions for victims of sexual assault or incest. Instead, Evers doubled down on pushing for the law's total repeal, Cap Times reports.
Republican candidate for governor Tim Michels recently shifted his stance on the matter. Michels had in June called Wisconsin’s existing ban an “exact mirror” of his position. In September, the Republican softened his stance on abortion, saying he would support legislation that bans abortion but includes exceptions of cases for rape and incest.

🗳️

Are you ready to vote? The election is Nov. 8 and MyVote.wi.gov is your one-stop shop for all election information. We've also pulled a few extra links for specific questions. Happy voting!

Check your voter registration here.
Get the details on voter IDs here.
Meet the candidates here.

🏗 A look at the proposed $90 million apartment project near Tenney Park.

A Chicago development group wants to demolish the two-story office building at 1617 Sherman Ave. in favor of a six-story, 445-unit apartment building. The current building has outlived its useful life and isn't a good candidate for renovation, the State Journal reports.
The apartments would all be market rate but offer "a mix of unit sizes and amenities" that would lead to varying rent prices, the news outlet writes. District 12 Ald. Syed Abbas who represents the site has yet to take a position on the proposal but welcomed the idea of a dense housing project.
The proposal is still in its early stages but developers hope to submit formal land use plans to the city next month with hopes of starting construction in fall 2023.
Related: Harry Truman helped dedicate CUNA building on site of proposed new $90 million development (Wisconsin State Journal)

Advertisement from Madison Public Library

📅 Remember when we told you about Library Takeover?

Don't forget to apply before Saturday, Oct. 15 to bring your idea to the library!
Each year, Madison Public Library selects three teams of 3-4 people and provides training, money, space, and resources to host an event at the library. Selected teams receive a $2,000 event budget, a $400 stipend for each team member, free space, and mentorship from local event planners like Rob Dz and T.S. Banks to bring their idea to life in Spring 2023.
Learn more + apply online at madpl.org/librarytakeover.

🎦 The Fitchburg AMC is back open following a mouse sighting.

It's officially horror movie season but any plans at the 18-screen AMC movie theater in Fitchburg were temporarily put on hold last week by order of the public health department.
The Wisconsin State Journal reports the theater was issued five citations and forced to close last Tuesday. Inspectors found mouse droppings and issues with the building's front door that that could lead to further unwelcome rodent and insect guests. By Friday, all but one of the citations had been resolved and the theater was allowed to reopen.
The health department plans to return next month to make sure all violations remain fixed.

🌊 Your lunchtime read: Dane County fights climate change by restoring and protecting wetlands.

Via Isthmus: "The state has roughly five million to six million acres of remaining wetlands, down from about 10 million originally. Some 75 to 80 percent of these wetlands are in private hands.

'Wetlands conservation work is most effective when a community has specific objectives in mind and the information needed to identify which wetlands to protect and restore to address local priorities,' says Erin O’Brien, policy programs director for the Wisconsin Wetlands Association. 'Identifying priorities that position wetlands as solutions is a really effective way to engage landowners, policymakers, and funders in wetlands conservation work.'"

📬

Did someone forward you this email? Sign up here.