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Morning Update: Wednesday, Nov. 24

Today's weather: ⛅ Mostly cloudy. High: 51° Low: 31°

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Good morning, Madison.

Happy Wednesday, y'all. A quick reminder: No newsletter tomorrow or Friday!

But if you find yourself with a Madison-Minutes-sized hole in your heart these next few days, consider becoming a member to support the work we do.

Have a great weekend!

— Hayley

😷 There's a new mask order in town (and it looks mostly like the old one).

  • Public Health Madison & Dane County announced it will extend its mask mandate to Jan. 3, 2022.
  • What's in the order? Like past mandates, face covering emergency order #5 requires all individuals ages two and older to mask up when in "closed spaces open to the public where other people are present." Is it any different from past orders?  This mandate allows people to remove their masks if all individuals in an enclosed space are fully vaccinated.
  • The county defines people as "fully vaccinated" once they've reached "two weeks after their second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech’s or Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine or two weeks after their first dose of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine."
  • You might be thinking, "I thought the county said they weren't going to renew the order." You're correct. But COVID-19 case numbers are on the rise and the county isn't taking any chances, especially with the upcoming holiday season upon us.
  • Related: Wisconsin hits highest daily COVID-19 case count of 2021 (NBC15)

❤️ More than $600,000 has been raised to support the victims of the Waukesha Christmas Parade.

💰 American Girl doll founder Pleasant T. Rowland is giving $1 million to the Black Business Hub.

"The disparity in access to entrepreneurial opportunity in Dane County is extreme, and unfortunately has been exacerbated by the pandemic. I am inspired by the Urban League’s vision and pleased that our investment can help bring that vision to life." — Pleasant T. Rowland, local philanthropist and founder of American Girl doll company

💪 Peter Krause, of Bachelorette fame, is opening another gym on South Park Street.

  • The Wisconsin native was runner-up on season 13 of “The Bachelorette” and in 2019 opened Peter Kraus Fitness in Middleton. The Park Street gym was initially set to open in September but due to a variety of issues (the economy! the supply chain!), the new spot will open Jan. 3, Madison Magazine reports.

🏀 The Badger men's basketball team is going to the Maui Invitational championship.

🛍️ Madison's Culture Collective pop-up shops are up and running but have they been successful?

"It’s important to show up and to be present in these moments. To show up in these spaces (that) otherwise we wouldn’t even probably be able to afford to be in. We have to stay encouraged. You know, I sit here some days and sales are pretty low. But I’m not going to allow that to stop me from furthering my business and growing my brand.” — Sarah Denise Peeler, owner of Ocean’s Laugh

🎧 Your lunchtime listen: Thanksgiving Resistance Episode.

  • From WORT: "Thanksgiving perpetuates white supremacy and romanticized notions about Indigenous Peoples. To celebrate the current Thanksgiving mythology is to celebrate the theft of land through ethnic cleansing and enslavement. I interview three Indigenous guests who are pushing back at Thanksgiving through protest or alternative celebrations. "

🏛️ And finally, just for fun, happy Cool Building day.

🦠 Covid-19 Resources

Wisconsin Vaccination Rate: 55.9%

Dane County Vaccination Rate: 72.4%

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.

📅 Events: Wednesday, Nov. 24

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