Morning Update

From Madison to Turkey

After a massive earthquake decimated part of Turkey Monday, a group of UW-Madison students is looking to help.

In this newsletter

Photo by Hayley Sperling

Good morning, Madison!

After a massive earthquake decimated part of Turkey, a group of UW-Madison students is looking to help.

The university's Association of Turkish Students is collecting donations of blankets, tents, sleeping bags, pocket warmers, winter clothing, and over-the-counter medications.

“A lot of cities were just swept for good and it will be very difficult for Turkey to get back to business unless the outside supports [it] and the support within the Turkish community itself,” UW's Turkish studies Academic Program Manager Deniz Balgamis told Channel 3000.

If you want to help the cause or drop off donations, you can check out the group's Instagram profile for the most up-to-date information on where items are being collected and what's needed.

— Hayley

*Watch out for snow! Photo via City of Madison.*

❄️ Be prepared for rough streets today.

The weather is expected to be pretty icky today and the city's Streets Division is warning commuters that roads will be slushy and slick. Meteorologists expect anywhere between three to eight inches of snow to accumulate by Thursday afternoon.
Related: How to walk, bike, and drive in Madison this winter (Madison Minutes)

🍎 MMSD's superintendent is retiring.

Madison Metropolitan School District's top administrator Carlton Jenkins said he will retire this summer.
Jenkins took the role of MMSD superintendent in August 2020, becoming the first Black person to hold the title. In a statement, Jenkins said he's leaving the position to spend more time with his family, including his three-year-old grandson.

*President Joe Biden snapped a selfie with Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, Dane County Board chair Patrick Miles, and Gov. Tony Evers. Photo via Satya Rhodes-Conway Twitter.*

💼 What the president talked about in Wisconsin.

President Joe Biden spoke at a labor training facility in DeForest Wednesday. Here are some highlights from his speech.
Appeals to the working class: Biden repeatedly noted the importance of unions and creating a strong middle class. He emphasized the "dignity" of labor and touted his job creation record. "The middle class built this country and unions built the middle class," he said.
Infrastructure projects: Biden said a major part of his "blue-collar blueprint to rebuild America" hinges on the creation of jobs focused specifically on building — and rebuilding — the nation's infrastructure. He cited several Wisconsin-based projects including the Wisconsin River bridge repair in Columbia County and the purchase of 46 electric buses in Madison.
Calls for bipartisanship: The president signaled his desire to work across the aisle with Republican lawmakers to accomplish his "blue-collar" agenda. He pointed specifically to the 2021 $1 trillion infrastructure law he signed as an example of his bipartisan accomplishments.

🏘️ Filene House won’t become a landmark (for now).

City Council rejected the Landmarks Commission’s recommendation to designate the two-story structure at 1617 W. Sherman Avenue as a landmark.
The council didn't outright reject the possibility of Filene House becoming a landmark. Rather, it voted to place the landmark designation on file without prejudice, meaning it can be revisited later.
If you'll recall: A Chicago-based developer has plans to raze the building and construct a multi-building housing complex with more than 300 market-rate units. Those plans were called into question when the city's Landmarks Commission unanimously voted to recommend giving the building landmark status in January.
What's special about the building? The building otherwise known as Filene House was the first permanent location of the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) and was dedicated by President Harry Truman in 1950.

*The Feb. 21 primary will determine which candidates advance to the April election. All Madison ballots will include candidates for state supreme court justice and mayor. Image via Wikimedia Commons*

⚖️ Your lunchtime read: How Dobbs made the Wisconsin Supreme Court race one of the biggest elections of 2023.

Via The 19th: "A pivotal race to decide the balance of Wisconsin’s Supreme Court will determine the fate of abortion rights in the state — and could come down to two women judges with markedly different judicial philosophies and approaches."

🗳️

Are you ready to vote? The primary is Feb. 21.

Check out a sample ballot.

Get to know the candidates: State Supreme Court justice, Madison Mayor, City Council.

📬

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🎙️ Today on City Cast Madison

Valentine's Day Hearts Pink Background — Photo by Rinck Content Studio / Unsplash

Madison’s Best Dinner Spots for Valentine’s Day

Friends, it is NOT too late to make a reservation for Valentine’s Day. There’s a number of swoon-worthy new restaurants that have popped up in Madison recently. Lindsay Christians of the Cap Times is here with pro tips for scoring a table and she’s dishing on all of her new favorites, whether you’re looking for fine-dining, cocktails… or butter.

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