Morning Update

Is Coke ok?

Coke vs. Pepsi — Culver's has taken a new side.

In this newsletter

Happy Monday, Madison!

ICYMI: Culver's recently announced it will make the switch from Pepsi to Coca-Cola products at its restaurants.

Earth shattering, I know.

Before you freak out, Culver's Signature Root Beer, Diet Root Beer, Dr. Pepper, and fresh brewed sweetened and unsweetened tea will still be available.

What do you think of the switch? Personally, I'm team Diet Coke all the way and welcome a shakeup.

— Hayley

📣 The Women's March on Madison.

Thousands gathered at the Wisconsin State Capitol yesterday to mark the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and protest Wisconsin's 1849 abortion ban.
Organizers from the National Women's March picked Wisconsin for the protest because of our upcoming Supreme Court Election. Currently, the court has a 4-3 conservative majority.
Take action: The primary is Feb. 21 and the general election is April 4.
Related: Meet the candidates running in the 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court primary (PBS Wisconsin)

🧦 Looking to donate winter clothes?

Madison Parks, in partnership with the Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin is collecting winter clothing through Jan. 29.
You can drop off winter coats, snow pants, boots, hats, scarves, mittens, and gloves at select locations throughout the city including the Elver Park Shelter, Odana Hills Clubhouse, Tenney Park Pavilion, Vilas Park Shelter and Warner Park Community Recreation Center.
Related: Ways to get (and give) help this winter (Madison Minutes)

🥡 Happy Restaurant Week!

What's Restaurant Week? The event is organized by Madison Magazine and dates back to 2007. The semi-annual event offers special deals to incentivize people to visit local restaurants during historically slower times of the year.
At its peak, 50 local eateries took part in Restaurant Week. This year, just over 20 restaurants around town are participating. Restaurants offer a prix-fixe menu with three courses starting at $30. Some places offer a lunch deal for $20.
Hungry? See the full list of participating restaurants here.

*A rendering showing a proposed jail tower that could replace the old City County Building jail in downtown Madison.* Credit: Potter Lawson (architectural firm)

💰 The jail project is in limbo (again).

The Dane County Board of Supervisors rejected a proposal last week that would have let voters decide an important jail funding question in April.
The bigger picture: The county has been working for years to consolidate and update its jail facilities so it can shut down the troubled 1950s-era jail at the City-County Building.
The funding gap: The board has so far approved $166 million in borrowing for new jail construction, but inflation has added roughly $13.5 million to the project's final cost. There are two paths to approving the additional funding: approval of three-quarters of the board or a referendum.
Related: Dane County Sheriff: ‘Trust Me’ on Jail Closing (City Cast Madison)

🎶 Your lunchtime read: ‘He made the best of life’: How a family turned a tragedy into hope with nonprofit Joey’s Song.

Via Wisconsin Life: "Mike Gomoll is not a rock star, but he knows how to get them to rally around a cause.

'You start out an email or a phone call with, ‘My five year old son died and I need your help,'’ he said, adding, 'it doesn’t cost anything to ask people.'

In 2010, his son, Joey Gomoll, died – just one week shy of his fifth birthday – of a severe and rare form of epilepsy called Dravet syndrome. Epilepsy, most common in young children and older adults, is a chronic neurological disease that causes seizures."

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