Morning Update: Wednesday, Feb. 16

Good morning, Madison!

Welcome to Wednesday.

Yesterday we celebrated local legend Chris Farley's birthday and in the editing process, a crucial piece of information on the comedian got cut. But reader, I believe you deserve to know all of the fun facts we have access to.

So, what got cut?

Well, we're all familiar with the blockbuster movie Shrek. But, did you know that Chris Farley was initially set to play the film's titular character?

Farley recorded nearly all of the ogre's dialogue before his untimely death in 1997.

“Originally the Shrek character was a little bit more like Chris, like a humble, bumbling innocent guy,” Farley's brother Kevin told Yahoo back in 2015.

Ultimately Mike Myers went on to voice the grumbling green ogre we know and love but you can hear Farley's version in the clip below. Enjoy.

— Hayley

⚖️ Key takeaways from Tony Evers' State of the State address.

• Gov. Tony Evers gave his annual State of the State address last night, his final in his first term as governor. All in all, nothing in the speech was too groundbreaking but here's a look at the highlights.
  • Evers touted the state's Republican-written tax cuts he signed into law last year. Republicans were quick to jump on this talking point, saying Evers was taking credit for their actions.
  • Evers also boasted about the state’s unemployment rate drop, which sat at 3.1% in January of 2019 and currently hovers around 2.8%.
  • The governor encouraged Republicans in the Legislature to pass legislation he proposed last month that would send would send every Wisconsinite a $150 “surplus refund” check and provide nearly $750 million in additional education funding for education in the state.
  • To accomplish the above, Evers announced he would sign an order today calling a special session for the Legislature to consider his surplus spending plan. But the Cap Times reports Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu said GOP lawmakers plan to gavel in and gavel out without considering Evers' proposals.

✊ La Follette students staged a walkout in support of Quadren Wilson.

• Some context: Quadren Wilson was shot in the back five times by law enforcement during an arrest Feb. 3. He is currently incarcerated in the Dane County Jail on a probation violation.
• Dozens of high schoolers at La Follette walked out of class Tuesday in a show of solidarity with Wilson. They called upon law enforcement for answers and changes to the justice system.
• Wilson's brother Mane Morris also attended the rally along with Madison deacon John Brown and the Original Milwaukee Black Panthers, WORT reports.

"The man was shot five times and they won’t even tell us anything and that man is in jail. So really, we’re out here because we’re tired of people giving us the information they please instead of the full story. And that man does not deserve to be in jail while he is suffering in pain, so we’re out here so they can hear us." — Jayla Hogans, member of the La Follette High Black Student Union

🐶 Happy Take Me Home Tuesday, the Wednesday edition!

• Meet Arthur: This 5-month-old arrived at Dane County Humane Society from an overcrowded shelter in Oklahoma. Arthur is shy, but once he’s comfortable, he’ll show you what a fun and loving boy he is. He enjoys playing with ALL the toys. Arthur is fearful of other dogs, so he needs a home where he can be your one and only fur baby. Arthur is looking for a patient and loving family comprised of humans who are teen-aged and older who will teach him the world is not so scary a place. Arthur has been at DCHS longer than we would like, so he is a member of our Lonely Hearts Club and his adoption fee has been reduced.
• To learn more about Arthur, click here.

🚲 BCycle is gearing up for its biggest year yet.

• BCycle bikes will be back on the streets starting March 15.
• The company added nine stations last year and plans to add another eight by the time the bikes return. Additionally, 75 more e-bikes will join the fleet this year.
• Starting this year, ride times for annual and monthly members will increase from 60 to 90 minutes per trip. Membership prices will also see a slight increase, from $120 to $135 and from $20 to $30 for annual and monthly memberships, respectively.

📣 PSA: Changes are afoot at the city's waste drop-off sites.

• Madison's Streets Division’s drop-off sites will be seeing some big changes this year. Here's what's coming up:
  • The site at 1501 W. Badger Road site will close March 25 and remain closed through at least Spring 2023.
  • A temporary drop-off site will open at 121 East Olin Avenue April 4. It will remain open through Nov. 27.
  • Of note: You will not be able to purchase fee stickers in person at 121 E. Olin Avenue site.
• For further details and site hours of operations, head here. This Reddit thread also has some good information.

🛍️ Have any extra paper or plastic bags? The Goodman Community Center is in need.

• The Goodman Community Center's pantry is down to its last few paper and plastic bags. If you, like me, have a stash of them hidden in a cupboard somewhere, now is your time to shine.
• Donations can be brought to their Ironworks building at 149 Waubesa Street during regular business hours.

🏀 Your lunchtime read/watch: Four Games in 48 Hours: Meet the Kohl Center conversion crew.

• From NBC15: "The Kohl Center hosted back-to-back doubleheaders on February 12 and 13. Men's and women's basketball tipped off in the afternoon, and then, men's hockey dropped the puck later at night. [...] Kohl Center playing surface supervisor Kevin Schneider says the weekend was 'exciting' and that his crew moves so fast, they're 'too busy to think about it.'"

🦠 Covid-19 Update

Source: Public Health Madison & Dane County

Wisconsin Vaccination Rate: 60%

Dane County Vaccination Rate: 78%

Resources

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 pick up free masks from the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program
• Where to Buy N95s, KN95s, and Surgical-Style Masks in 2022 (Wirecutter)
• What to Do if You are Sick or Possibly Exposed (PHMDC)

📅 Events: Wednesday, Feb. 16

• 0-5000 in 6 (Months): A Madison Minutes Case Study with Social Media Breakfast Madison and yours truly!!! 8 a.m. Virtual. Free.
• 5 Flights Up (2014) screening at Alicia Ashman Library. From IMDb: “A long-time married couple who've spent their lives together in the same New York apartment become overwhelmed by personal and real estate-related issues when they plan to move away.” 1:30 p.m. Free.
• Vinyl Night at Bierock. Bring your own vinyl records to spin. Every customer that brings in a record will receive Happy Hour pricing on beer and one half price appetizer. 6-10 p.m.
• Cocktails with the Author: Matthew Anderson at Leopold's Books Bar Caffè. Meet Anderson and purchase a signed copy of his debut book “Signs of Deception.” 6-8 p.m.
• Dylan Doyle at the Brink Lounge. 8 p.m.
• Talisk at the Bur Oak. Show at 8 p.m. $20 advance, $25 at door.
• Nerd Nite at High Noon Saloon. 8 p.m. Free.