Watch these streets

Happy Monday. I hope everyone got to spend as much time outside as humanly possible over the weekend because it’s about to get chilly again — gotta love that Midwest weather, right?

If you’re someone who commutes to work, or just drives in general, there are a couple of recent street closures you should be aware of this morning.

According to the city, starting today construction crews will begin resurfacing work on Old Middleton Road between N Eau Claire Ave. and Capital Ave. on the West side. The city noted this closure will have a few implications for traffic and notably, Metro Transit will detour its eastbound Route 15 to Regent Street during the closure. This is construction is considered a “major” project and will last into the fall. Check out the city’s website for more information on the construction and its traffic impacts.

Additionally, the intersection of Odana Road and Dearholt Road also closed this morning to connect new sanitary and storm sewer utilities. This closure is expected to last through May 3, according to the city. During this time Metro Transit will detour Route 7 to Tokay Blvd.

On top of these street closures, the Capital City Trail between Dunning and Waubesa streets will also be closed starting today for construction. Detour signs will be posted but you can get more information and maps from the city here.
Now on to the rest of the news.

— Hayley

💉 PHMDC wants you to get a second Covid-19 booster.

• Here's why: According to the Centers for Disease Control, Covid-19 transmission levels in Dane County have increased to "medium."
• With this information, Public Health Madison & Dane County is encouraging all who are eligible to get a second Covid-19 booster shot to do so. You can check your eligibility here.
• PHMDC Director Janel Heinrich said while the increase in transmission levels is "a cause of concern and caution, it is not a cause for alarm.”

🖋️ Alder Lindsay Lemmer has announced her resignation.

• Lemmer, who represents Madison's District 3, announced she will leave her post May 11.
• The move comes as she and her partner have accepted new career opportunities. Lemmer was first elected to the council in 2019 and re-elected in 2021.
• The council president will oversee the process to fill the vacancy. An interim District 3 Alderperson will serve until a new alder is elected and sworn in next April.
• The process of filling Lemmer's vacancy will begin soon, at which time further information and applications will become available.

🗳️ Republican Tim Michels is running for governor.

• Who? Michels, 59, is the co-owner of the Michels Corporation and former U.S. Senate candidate. Cap Times reports he filed paperwork last Friday to join the state's gubernatorial primary.
• Michels is now the fourth Republican candidate in the GOP primary, joining former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, Veteran and businessman Kevin Nicholson, and state Rep. Timothy Ramthun in the race.
• The GOP primary is Aug. 9. The winner of that election will face off against incumbent Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.

🍝 Longtime Madison chef Patrick O'Halloran is leaving Lombardino's.

• O'Halloran has been the chef/owner of Lombardino's for more than two decades. But now, Cap Times reports O'Halloran is leaving the 70-year-old Italian American restaurant to pursue a new business venture: a family-run spice company called The Deliciouser.
• The new project is a 2,000-square-foot manufacturing and event space located at 931 E. Main St. (next to Old Sugar Distillery). They hope to become "a regional player in the spice market" with their creative blends and plan to open by the fall.

⚽ Scores you should know.

• Forward Madison FC: The 'Mingos took on the Badgers Saturday at Breese Stevens Field to determine which hometown team would reign supreme. Turns out, it's both of them. For the second year in a row, the "Battle for Madison" ended in a 1-1 draw.
• Bucks: It's playoff season, y'all. The Milwaukee Bucks beat the Chicago Bulls 119-95 taking a 3-1 lead in their first-round series. The defending NBA champs will attempt to wrap up the series Wednesday in Miwaukee.

🖤 In celebration of Black hair.

• A new sculpture exhibit at Madison College's Truax campus is an exploration of Black hair.
• Artist Austen Brantley told Madison365 the collection, titled "Coarse", is "about turning the concept of black hair into landforms and just giving it a new perspective." Much of the work in the exhibit was inspired by the artist's recent travels to Mexico, Columbia, and Greece "where he paid special attention to the varied textures of the mountains and natural landforms."

📝 Your lunchtime read: One year of Minutes.

• I wrote this piece for Tone Madison reflecting on Madison Minutes' first year of existence (a bit meta, I know). If you'll recall, I teased this piece in last Wednesday's newsletter. If you want to read the origin story of Madison Minutes in full, here's your chance.