Your Daily Guide

Beware of Extreme Heat This Week

The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Warning for today, and predicts hot and humid weather for the rest of the week. We’ve got the latest to keep you cool and informed on the heat.

On the City Cast Madison podcast today, executive producer Hayley Sperling and newsletter editor Rob Thomas share some tips for staying cool. Plus they dish on some of the unspoken rules of the Dane County Farmers’ Market and the end of a bipartisan conservation fund.

🥵 It’s Getting Hot In Here

Heat indexes (a value that considers temperature and humidity) will be as high as 108 degrees with overnight heat index values remaining in the upper 70s this week.

UW-Madison is temporarily closing 34 buildings today due to a broken chilled water line. Affected classes are being relocated and staff are relocating or working from home, if possible. Repairs are expected to take at least a month. You may notice some buildings will be warmer than normal during this time too.

Madison Metropolitan School District has cancelled all elementary summer school classes and summer camps today due to the heat. Middle and high school classes will run as scheduled, and summer meals are still being served at MMSD high schools. [WKOW, MMSD]

💧 Cool It Down

Severe heat can be deadly, so be sure to take precautions:

• Stay in air-conditioned buildings. If your home is too warm, find a library, mall, or community center to cool down in.
• Limit outdoor activity. If you must be outdoors, take breaks and stop if you’re feeling dizzy or lethargic, which are the first signs of mild heat exhaustion.
• Drink plenty of water, and stay hydrated throughout the day.
• Check on your neighbors to make sure they’re also staying hydrated and cool. [NPR, WPR]

😎 Soak Up the Sun (Safely)

You’re staying hydrated, you’ve checked on your neighbor, and you’re getting a little stir-crazy indoors, here are tips for smart (and cool) outdoor recreation.

• Slather on the SPF before sun exposure and throughout the day.
• Take a dip at the Goodman Pool, or rent a kayak from UW Paddle Rentals.
• Get a sweet treat: our favorite ice cream spots include Monona Bait & Ice Cream Shop and Good News Ice Cream. [City Cast Madison, NPR]

🌱 Land Stewardship Funding Ends Amid Statehouse Gridlock

• The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program has put $1.3 billion into state efforts to conserve 750,000 acres of land over the last 37 years, but the Republican-led Legislature and Democratic Gov. Tony Evers have disagreed over how to continue the program. Without a path forward, funding expires today.
• Stewardship funding has been a key piece of DNR’s budget to repair infrastructure in state parks and other natural areas.
• Wisconsin now ranks last in the nation for investment in state parks, while neighboring Minnesota and Michigan have increased land preservation investments. [🔒 Wisconsin State Journal]

🚫 Prostitution Investigation Shuts Down Massage Parlor

• Maple Bluff police arrested one person and closed a day spa on North Sherman Avenue Friday morning as part of an investigation into suspected prostitution and related offenses.
• Police released a statement saying the person arrested was booked into the Dane County Jail on four counts of keeping a place of prostitution and one count related to employing unlicensed workers.
• A notice on the now-closed spa’s door says that the village of Maple Bluff "has determined that the above-referenced premises is being used, maintained, or resorted to in a manner constituting a public nuisance offending public morals and decency." [🔒 Wisconsin State Journal, WMTV]

🛼 Development of Mad Town Skate is On a Roll

• A roller rink just south of Dane County Regional Airport is imminent, now that buyer Justin Alling has closed on the sale of a building on Grimm Street to house it.
• The space will be Madison’s only roller rink since the closure of Fast Forward Skate Center in 2023. Alling worked at Fast Forward from 1998 until its closure.
• Alling hopes to open Mad Town Skate by the end of the year. [🔒 Wisconsin State Journal]

🐶 51 Activists May Face Charges Over Beagle Rescue

• The Dane County District Attorney plans to charge 51 alleged open rescue activists for their involvement in protests and rescues at the Ridglan Farms beagle breeding facility.
• Earlier this month, Ridglan Farms announced it will release its remaining animals to the care of Big Dog Ranch Rescue and shut down operations. [WISN]

Meet Jackie, an 8-year-old, affectionate shorthair cat who’s seeking a home full of snuggles for her golden years. She’s a very sweet feline who enjoys all types of pets – head rubs, belly rubs, full-body pets — and will also rub her face all over yours if you let her!

Today is the last day to get 50% off adoption fees for adult cats and waived fees for Lonely Hearts Club and senior cats like Jackie, in honor of Adopt-a-Cat month. Will Jackie’s unique looks and wonderful purrs-onality capture your heart?