Morning Update: Friday, Jan. 14

Good Morning, Madison!

I love this suggestion from A Room of One's Own.

"Bored? Depressed? Looking to perk yourself up?," the bookstore wrote on Twitter. "I am leaving good reviews for all my favorite local small businesses in Madison. I'm a little elf cheerleader throwing confetti at all my faves. 10/10 would recommend. Sometimes it's just nice to wallow in everything good in ur city."

What a great idea!

Now, here's some news.

— Sam

🚧 Exact Sciences is investing $350 million into its local campus.

The company will receive $18.5 million in tax credits if it makes the investment and creates 1,300 jobs by 2025, the Cap Times reports.
Exact Sciences has received other deals from the state since relocating to Madison about a decade ago. The company has grown tremendously since then, and economic development officials say the company has delivered on its job creation promises (unlike, for example, Foxconn).

⚖️ A Waukesha County judge ruled yesterday that absentee ballot drop boxes can't be used in Wisconsin elections.

As the Journal Sentinel notes, absentee drop boxes have been a thing for a long time, but are receiving renewed attention as Republicans investigate the 2020 election.
- Just so we're clear: A nonpartisan audit released in October found there was no widespread voter fraud in Wisconsin in the 2020 election. A recount completed last year confirmed that Joe Biden won the state. Numerous Republican-backed lawsuits have been filed since the election, but none of them have resulted in any findings of wrongdoing by election officials or voters.

👀 Coming soon: big project updates on the "Imagination Center" that will be built at Reindahl Park.

The city says it will share conceptual designs for the new library and community space during a virtual meeting on Jan. 27.
Related: From civic space to child care, east side residents envision possibilities for proposed Reindahl Imagination Center (Cap Times, from 2020)

🦠 Local health officials say 2.9% of the Dane County population tested positive with a PCR test in the two-week period spanning December 27-January 9.

Covid-19 cases have continued to climb even higher in the days since. Tuesday’s count of new cases was 2,458, the highest one-day total recorded in Dane County since the pandemic began.
These figures don't include positive results from at-home Covid-19 tests, so the real number of cases is certainly higher.

🐕 Puppy break: Local donors contributed more than $5,000 for this rescue dog's surgery.

Farley, a four-month old puppy in care of the Dane County Humane Society, was found badly injured and unable to walk near Buckeye Road.
Time was of the essence since Farley's growth plates were affected by his injuries. Donors quickly raised more than the $5,000 needed for his surgery. The extra funds will be used to help other animals.
Doctors say the surgery went well, but Farley will need time and some physical therapy to completely recover.

♻️ There will be no trash or recycling pickup in Madison on Monday.

City employees have Monday off in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
If Monday's your pickup day, you can expect your pickup on Tuesday instead.

🗳️ Colectivo workers and their supporters are rallying against the company's attempts to block unionization.

Workers at the coffee chain voted to unionize last year, but the company's owners have been trying to appeal the election results for months.
On Wednesday, workers and their supporters marched to the chain's corporate headquarters in Milwaukee to protest and deliver a petition urging management to begin the bargaining process, the Wisconsin Examiner reports.

⛸️ Isn't she lovely? Check out this shot of icy Lake Monona from local photographer Samuel Li.

Li is a frequent chronicler of Madison on his Instagram, and he says he plans to publish more Wisconsin winter content in the coming months.

📚 Your lunchtime read: Hope for a failing planet

In this Isthmus article, Erik Ness explores how a renewed focus on conservation could be a promising area for bipartisan progress in the state.

🦠 Covid-19 Resources

Source: PHMDC

Wisconsin Vaccination Rate: 58.6%

Dane County Vaccination Rate: 76.5%

Links you can use

Here's where to find a COVID-19 vaccine near you.
Need a COVID-19 test? PHMDC has you covered.
Do you still need your flu shot? Start here.
Request an at-home testing kit from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
Where to Buy N95s, KN95s, and Surgical-Style Masks in 2022 (Wirecutter)
What to Do if You are Sick or Possibly Exposed (PHMDC)

📅 The weekend

Friday, Jan. 14

Lil' Explorers program at the Lussier Family Heritage Center. "We will use our five senses, be active in the outdoors, learn how to work together, and so much more!" Designed for kids ages 3-6. 10-11:30 a.m. Free.
Houseplant Happy Hour at Klein’s Floral and Greenhouses. 20% off all houseplants. 3-6 p.m.
Grove and Glide at Westmorland Park. Ice skating, but at night. 6-8 p.m. Free.
Western and Ayurvedic Herbal Fusion Beverage Blending Class at Garver Feed Mill. “Discover a new way to mix up your cocktail repertoire with these non-alcoholic sweet and savory herbal infusions designed for the qualities of the dry Winter season.” 6 p.m. $140 for two people.
Healthy houseplants class with Olbrich Botanical Gardens. 6 p.m. Virtual. $18 for members, $22 for nonmembers.
Wisconsin Funk Fest at High Noon Saloon. Featuring Mama Digdown’s Brass Band, Better Yeti, and The Pocket Kings. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. $15.
The Only & Earth to Clark at The Bur Oak. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. $8 advance, $10 at door.
96.3 Star Country “Class of 2022” at the Barrymore. Kameron Marlowe, Frank Ray, Laci Kaye Booth, Ray Fulcher, and Drew Parker. 8 p.m. Tickets start at $27.
OCCUPATION 2: Nothin' but Funk with The Civil Engineers; Karate Chop, Silence; Wurk at Harmony Bar & Grill. 8 p.m.
Pillow Talk Quarterly Cosplay Edition at Crucible. $5 if dressed to theme, $10 otherwise. 9 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 15

Dane County Farmers’ Market Late Winter Market at Garver Feed Mill. 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Free admission.
Brazen Dropouts Bike Swap at Alliant Energy Center. "Over 125 vendors register to sell stuff like cycling attire, shoes, frames, forks, cranks, pedals -- you name it, it's probably at the Swap." 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Yid Vicious concert. Part of the Kids in the Rotunda series. 9:30 a.m. Virtual. Free.
MLK Community Meal at three sites (Goodman Community Center, Boys & Girls Club - Allied Drive, and East Madison Community Center). Organized by Little John's, Feeding the Youth and Black Men Coalition of Dane County. Pick up an individual or family meal. 1-3 p.m. Pre-registration strongly encouraged.
Candlelit Snowshoe Hike at Aldo Leopold Nature Center. Food trucks on site. 4:30-7:30 p.m. Free admission.
Wisconsin Bluegrass Fest at the Sylvee. Featuring Armchair Boogie, Chicken Wire Empire, The Millbillies, Dig Deep, and the Honeygoats. Doors at 5 p.m., show at 6 p.m. $15.
Opening Night! Roberto Torres Mata Art Exhibit at Giant Jones Brewing Company. 5-9 p.m. 🟠
Full Moon Night Walk at UW Arboretum. 6:30 p.m. Free.
Alabama's 50th Anniversary Tour at Alliant Energy Center. 7 p.m. Tickets start at $25.
Wisconsin Metal Fest at High Noon Saloon. Featuring Bongzilla, Casket Robbery, TUBAL CAIN. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. $15. 🟠
Monkey Business Institute Improv Show at Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center. 7:30 p.m. $15.
Masquerade: Winternight IV at Crucible Madison. "Winternight is the club's unofficial anniversary party, and is a night dedicated to the darker side of all things fae." 9 p.m. $8.

Sunday, Jan. 16

Learn to Play Hockey. “Join Madison Capitols Hockey and learn to play hockey at Tenney Park.” Equipment provided, including skates. 9 a.m. Free.
Waterfowl ID at Lewis Park with the Feminist Bird Club. 9 a.m. Free.

Wondering what that 🟠 means?

That symbol next to an event listing means that Tone Madison’s team of writers and editors recommends checking it out. Tone knows Madison’s arts and music landscape better than anybody else.

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