🌱 UW Health Wage Raises + COVID Reinfections In Dane County

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:

Partly sunny and cold. High: 20 Low: 16.

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Here are the top three stories in Madison today:

1. In an effort to attract new employees and support current ones, UW Health will raise its minimum hourly wage from $15 to $17 an hour, effective this May. The last minimum wage increase took place five years ago, when the rate was raised to the current $15 an hour. The change will impact approximately 1,000 workers with over 200 job titles, including medical and nursing assistants. (Daily Cardinal)
2. According to Public Health Madison & Dane County, nearly 3,500 people in the county have been reinfected with COVID-19 since October 2020. 57.6 percent of those reinfection cases took place in January 2022, at the height of the Omicron variant's spread. Overall, the average number of COVID-19 cases in Dane County is on the decline, with an average of 359 cases reported daily. (Channel3000.com - WISC-TV3)
3. On Thursday, a Madison man pleaded guilty to homicide in the death of his 81-year-old neighbor on May 22, 2020. According to reports, 40-year-old Saynit Keokanya used cocaine and marijuana before shooting at, then pistol-whipping, neighbor Nang Yee Lee. Lawyers for Keokanya say he is afflicted with schizophrenia that is controlled with medication.(Free: WKOW; Subscription: Madison.com)

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Today in Madison:

• Crops To Conservancy: A Family Farm Legacy With Amy Jo Dusick, Schumacher Farm - Allen Centennial Garden (10:00 AM)
• Madison Writing Assistance - Goodman South Madison Library (1:30 PM)
• Cooking With Chef Lily - Lakeview Branch Library (1:30 PM)

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From my notebook:

• On Thursday night, officers found shell casings on Madison's south side, making it the city's fifth report of shots fired within 24 hours. (Channel3000.com - WISC-TV3)
• Looking for tips to attract birds to your home during National Bird-feeding Month? Check out Madison Audubon's list of resources. (Facebook)
• Meet Jimmy the guinea pig, Lucy the domestic shorthair cat, and other adorable pets up for adoption in Madison shelters. (Madison Patch)

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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll see you around.

— 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.