Morning Update: Monday, Nov. 22

Today's weather: ☀️ Sunny and chilly. High: 33° Low: 20°

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Good morning, Madison.

One quick housekeeping note: There will be no newsletter this Thursday or Friday morning. (Don't worry, you'll still get an events email on Sunday.) Sam and I would like to take the holiday weekend to enjoy time with our respective families and simply because everyone needs a little vacation now and then!

If you find yourself missing Madison Minutes in your inbox Thursday and Friday, consider becoming a member, it's the best way to support our work and keep us going.

Now let's get to the news.

— Hayley

🚨 Multiple are dead and dozens injured after a car plowed through a Christmas parade in Waukesha Sunday.

• Content warning: Some links include graphic images. This is a developing story, more information will be released at a press conference this afternoon but here is what we know now.
• The incident occurred at about 4:39 p.m. in downtown Waukesha when an "SUV sped through a barricade and slammed into a Christmas parade in suburban Milwaukee as spectators watched in horror," WPR reports. Officials say at least five people are dead and more than 40 are injured.
• A person of interest has been taken into custody but few other details are available. The FBI is assisting local authorities with the investigation.
• City officials are still collecting information. Roads around the area will continue to be closed and the School District of Waukesha canceled classes for Monday. President Joe Biden has reportedly been briefed on the situation. Gov. Tony Evers has ordered flags to fly at half-staff today.
• A reunification center has been set up at Waukesha South High School for those in search of family members, a phone line can also be used for more information (262) 548-7122.

⚖️ Community members speak out after Rittenhouse verdict.

• After four days of deliberations, a jury found Kyle Rittenhouse, 18, on Friday not guilty of first-degree reckless homicide, first-degree intentional homicide, two counts of reckless endangerment, and attempted first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of two protesters.
• Madison's Freedom, Inc. held a "community speak out" at Penn park in response to the acquittal in effort to create a safe space for Black people in the community.
• John Huber and Karen Bloom, the parents of Anthony Huber who was killed by Rittenhouse released a statement following the verdict saying no justice was delivered for their son or Rittenhouse's other victims, Joseph Rosenbaum and Gaige Grosskreutz.

"We are so proud of Anthony, and we love him so much. He is a hero who sacrificed his own life to protect innocent civilians. We ask that you remember Anthony and keep him in your prayers." — John Huber and Karen Bloom

🏒 The winners and losers of Wisconsin sports.

• The Wisconsin women's hockey team swept the St. Thomas Tommies over the weekend. The top-ranked Badgers beat the Tommies 7-1 Saturday, and again 5-1 Sunday.
• The Badger volleyball team managed to make a massive comeback against the No. 9 Minnesota Golden Gophers, winning the border battle matchup 24-26, 25-19, 25-27, 28-26, 15-12 Sunday.
• The Badger football team bested Nebraska Saturday 35-28, securing their hold on the Freedom Trophy.
• The Bucks beat the Orlando Magic 117-108 at home Saturday. This is the third consecutive victory for the 2020 champs.
• Badgers women's soccer made it to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 but fell to No. 12-ranked Santa Clara. The team put up a fight but lost 2-1 at Shaw Field in Washington, D.C.
• Wisconsin's women's basketball team also had a tough weekend, falling 64-57 on the road to Bradley Friday night.
• Badger men's hockey had a losing weekend, falling twice to the Michigan State Spartans. Despite a hard-fought comeback effort, the team lost 3-2 on Friday and 5-2 Saturday.
• Last, and possibly least, the Packers lost to the Minnesota Vikings Sunday. Aaron Rodgers threw three of his four touchdown passes in the second half but it wasn't enough, the packers took a 34-31 loss.

💉 The Madison Children's Museum is offering COVID-19 vaccines and free playtime today.

• All vaccines are free and available for children ages 5–11. The shots will be available today from 1-7 p.m. and again Dec. 13. Following their vaccinations, children are welcome to take advantage of free playtime on the museum’s second floor.

🔔 The United Way of Dane County needs volunteers this holiday season.

• During this winter season, the United Way is looking for volunteers to help with more than 500 local opportunities. You can find a full list of volunteering opportunities here.

🏠 Residents have begun moving from "unsafe" Reindahl Park into city-sponsored tiny homes.

• Some context: In an attempt to shut down the growing homeless encampment at Reindahl Park, the city fast-tracked the construction and opening of its own residential encampment on the South Side. The city-sponsored encampment is managed by Madison Area Care for the Homeless (MACH) OneHealth and hosts 30 tiny homes fitted with windows, fold-up beds, shelving, electricity, heaters, and mini-refrigerators.
• The State Journal has a great story following one Madison man's move from a homeless encampment at Reindahl Park to the newly constructed shelter encampment at Dairy Drive.

🚌 PSA: Metro transit will have some schedule changes this week.

• On Thursday, 11/25 buses will follow holiday schedules. And on Friday, 11/26 buses will follow Saturday schedules. You can get all of the route details here.

🍕 Your lunchtime read: When a portal hides in plain sight.

• From Tone Madison: "[T]he Regent Street Rocky Rococo's is an experience. When you walk into this particular Rocky's, you'll find some old novelty quarter machines, ready to distribute temporary tattoos, bouncy balls, and other trinkets. But if you look up, you'll see a fully-furnished bar hiding in the back corner. You'll find your eyes drawn up to a large marble mural of a bare-breasted pizza maven and a curved, flowing figure sharing in the mural's centerpiece: a pan pizza. [...] Kitschy, Mad Magazine-esque cartoons dot the pizzeria's perimeter, lovingly framed and perfectly attuned to the store's unapologetic boldness."

🦠 Covid-19 Resources

Wisconsin Vaccination Rate: 55.5%

Dane County Vaccination Rate: 71.9%

Here's where to find a COVID-19 vaccine near you.

Need a COVID-19 test? PHMDC has you covered.

Are you eligible for a third dose of Pfizer or Moderna? Find out here.

Do you still need your flu shot? Start here.

📅 Events: Monday, Nov. 22

• Webinar: "The Standing Rock Sioux and the No Dakota Access Pipeline Movement" with the Wisconsin Energy Institute. 3:30 p.m. Free.
• Madison school board meeting. 6 p.m. Virtual option.
• Webinar: "Harvesting Our Heritage" with Wisconsin Native Vote. "Attendees will learn about the significance of many of our traditional foods, the ways in which those foods continue to be used to this day, and how the current climate crisis impacts those food sources." 6 p.m. Free.
• Murder By Death with Shawn James at the Majestic. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. $20 advance, $25 at door.

For more happenings this week, check out our full events guide here.

📝 Miss a day? Read past newsletters here.

📅 Want to share an event with us? Submit details here.

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(Header image via Wikimedia Commons)