Your Daily Guide

🌪️ Tornado Owner To Open Hotel on Willy Street: Henry Doane, the owner of the Tornado Room and Tempest Oyster Bar (and former owner of the Orpheum Theater), plans to open a bar, restaurant, and 10-room boutique hotel at 1053 Williamson St. The as-yet unnamed hotel will take over two buildings, and Doane wants to preserve the historic character of both spaces. If all goes according to plan, the new space could be open by next October. [🔒WSJ]

🚌 Metro Cuts Are Coming: Metro Transit is planning to cut back on early morning, late night, and holiday bus service as city agencies plan to reduce expenses for next year. The cuts will take effect in December, and are intended to reduce the need for overtime pay. [Cap Times]

🗳️ Former County Supervisor Joins Mayor’s Race: April Kigeya, who formerly served as a District 15 Dane County Supervisor from 2022 to 2026, announced her candidacy for mayor Thursday. Kigeya joins former Ald. Brian Benford and former City Council President Syed Abbas in challenging Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway’s bid for a third term. [Madison365]

🧑‍⚕️ Nurses File Federal Complaint Against St. Mary’s: In the wake of their successful unionizing effort, nurses at SSM St. Mary’s are alleging that hospital administration violated federal labor law. The complaint, filed with the National Labor Relations Board, charges that union literature and buttons were confiscated and destroyed, and employees who support the union effort were threatened with suspension. [WPR]

⚽ Big Changes Could Be in Store For Breese Stevens: Big Top Events is proposing a privately-funded renovation of Breese Stevens Field reflecting its position as a major outdoor concert venue in Madison. If approved, construction could start in 2027, and would include a permanent stage, additional buildings, and a load-in area for bands that would minimize neighborhood disruption. [Forward Madison]

🗳️ Madison’s Absentee Drop Boxes Open: The city’s 14 absentee ballot drop boxes opened Thursday for the Nov. 3 election, weeks earlier than in previous elections. Check out which drop-off site is closest to you. [WKOW, City of Madison]

💸 Willy Street Businesses Say Long Road Ahead: After the Madison City Council rejected a proposed $100,000 fund to help Williamson Street-area businesses hurt by this summer’s protests, those owners say a recovery is far from over. Chip Cruz of the Williamson Marquette Business Alliance said some of those businesses incurred tens of thousands of losses after a protest encampment blocked their businesses or forced them to temporarily close.

• 🎧 Dig deeper: On the City Cast Madison podcast today, executive producer Hayley Sperling, Madison comedian Emily Winter and myself look at the financial fallout from the protests. We also talk about how applications to UW-Madison have skyrocketed, and interview the author of an open letter protesting an AI-powered art installation at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. [WMTV, 🎧 City Cast Madison]