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Morning Update: Monday, Jan. 10

Morning Update: Monday, Jan. 10

Good Morning, Madison.

Happy Monday, folks. We've made it to another week, congratulations. Though on this cold, cold Monday, it might not be a bad idea to curl up at home and pretend it's still Sunday — wind chill values will range from -5 to -20 across southern Wisconsin. Brr!!

Stay warm out there.

— Hayley

🗳️ Ron Johnson is officially running for re-election.

🧊 Lake Mendota has officially frozen over for the season.

  • The Wisconsin State Climatology Office made the announcement late last week. To qualify as officially "frozen over" ice must hold over the entirety of the lake for at least 24 hours.
  • While the lake might be frozen, safety officials warn that ice is likely still thin in many areas, so proceed with caution.

🏀 Catching up on Wisconsin sports.

😷 Madison's Boys & Girls Club ordered 200,000 N95 and KN95 masks for Dane County teachers and school staff but needs help paying for them.

  • The organization's CEO Michael Johnson said there has been a renewed need for high-quality masks with the return to in-person learning and the surge of COVID-19 cases across the state.
  • The organization was able to get the masks for about a dollar a piece and is looking to raise $210,000 to cover the costs, otherwise they'll be returned.
  • What you can do: Check out the fundraiser here.

🏫 Tommy Thompson will leave his post at the UW System this spring.

  • Some context: You might know his name from being Wisconsin’s longest-serving governor but for the past (almost) two years, Thompson has served as the interim president of the University of Wisconsin System. Thompson took the role in July 2020 after the system failed to hire a permanent successor for Ray Cross.
  • Thompson submitted his letter of resignation Friday. He plans to officially leave the position March 18.
"I was honored to be asked by the Board of Regents to serve as System President, particularly through what could have been its darkest time. While challenging on many fronts, we worked together to continue to provide the quality of education our students deserve and parents expect." — University of Wisconsin System interim President Tommy Thompson

🎨 Remembering Madison artist Phil Porter.

  • Local artist and beloved community member Phil Porter passed away Jan. 3 at the age of 75.
  • According to the Cap Times, Porter began painting in his early 30s because it brought him joy, calling it “therapy.” His art features bright colors that are sure to enhance the mood of any viewer. He's known best for his paintings of the Wisconsin State Capitol, a building his great-grandfather helped design.
  • Read more on Phil and his art here: With 'vibrancy and vitality,' painter Phil Porter lit the suns in the Madison sky (Wisconsin State Journal)

💸 Your lunchtime read: Lawrence Tabak on how Wisconsin got Foxconned.

From Tone Madison: "Government-backed development projects line the pockets of few to the detriment of most, the Madison-based journalist says in a new book."

🦠 Covid-19 Resources

Looking for the new and improved data visualizations that we teased on Friday?

We have had to hit “pause” on them for now. Yesterday, we discovered significant, unexplained discrepancies between the data that local and state health officials have been reporting for Dane County.

We’re doing everything we can to bring up-to-date, accurate graphs back to the newsletter as soon as possible.

Wisconsin Vaccination Rate: 58.4%

Dane County Vaccination Rate: 76.3%

📅 Events: Monday, Jan. 10

  • Book Talk with Annette Langlois Grunseth, author of “Combat and Campus: Writing Through War.” 12 p.m. Virtual. Free.
  • Mindful Moments: a Drop-In Meditation Group with Gloria K Green. 12:30-1:45 p.m. Virtual. Free.
  • Reception for “Ramshackle," an exhibition of prints by Derek Hibbs at Tandem Press. Work “satirically illustrates working-class survival in the face of American class inequality, particularly now in the midst of a pandemic.” 5-8 p.m. Free. 🟠
  • Non-Alcoholic Beer Dinner at Blind Shot Social Club. Four-course meal featuring non-alcoholic beer from Athletic Brewing Co. 7 p.m. $65.

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.

Sign up for the Tone weekly newsletter here.

(Header image via Flickr user katie wheeler)

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