🌱 No School 'Furry Protocol' + UW Competes In Elon Musk Competition

Hello again, Madison! Important update: You all, as readers, have made the Madison Daily so successful that it is my honor to announce the next stage of the newsletter. Patch is looking for a local writer and entrepreneur to take the helm of the Madison Daily. Although I have loved getting to know this community, we want to pass the torch to someone truly local to write about Madison long term. So if you're interested in earning extra income while making this newsletter a more valuable resource for your neighbors, learn more and apply here.

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First, today's weather:

Rain and snow showers; chilly. High: 38 Low: 33.

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Here are the top three stories in Madison today:

1. A suburban Madison school district is dispelling rumors of a "furry protocol" that offers different treatment for students who dress up as animals. Claims of this alleged protocol began to circulate after a local AM radio station host said she received an email from a grandparent of a student in the Waunakee Community School District, who stated that the students were told to "normalize" the behavior of classmates who identified as "furries." However, according to Superintendent Randy Guttenberg, the district does not have such a protocol, nor does it allow disruptions at school. (WBAY)
2. A team of students at the University of Wisconsin (UW) is currently competing in the XPRIZE carbon removal competition, funded by Elon Musk and the Musk Foundation. Teams are challenged to develop a method to directly remove carbon dioxide from the air or the ocean. The UW team previously won $250,000 in the student competition, the funds of which were used to build a lab-scale model. On Apr. 22, the students will find out if they won the $1 million grand prize, which will serve as the seed money to actually build the removal plant. (The Badger Herald)
3. A man walking with a group on the North Side fired shots into the air, according to Madison police. On Tuesday, two callers reported seeing four males, one of whom pulled out a gun and fired seven shots toward the sky. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the Madison Police Department or share an anonymous tip with Madison Area Crime Stoppers. (Madison.com)

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Today in Madison:

• Dane Core Rental Assistance / African Center for Community Development (ACCD) At Pinney Library (11:00 AM)
• COVID Vaccine Clinic At Lakeview Branch Library (12:00 PM)
• Lunch(UP)date: Planes, Trains, And Automobiles In Dane County (Virtual Event), Hosted By Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce (12:15 PM)
• Madison Writing Assistance At Hawthorne Branch Library (4:00 PM)

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From my notebook:

• Throughout the winter, volunteers from the Sewing Machine Project offered free mending at Madison's Central Library on West Mifflin Street. The group will soon wrap up its work for the season, with its last session taking place on Apr. 22. (Madison Commons)
• Whether you're looking for a new home or just want to see what's on the market, you'll want to check out these upcoming Madison area open houses. (Madison Patch)
• Will you be in the room when it happens? Tickets go on sale today for Hamilton, the Broadway sensation headed to the Overture Center for the Arts from Aug. 9 through Aug. 21. (WMTV – NBC15)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.