📝 Beep beep

🎓 Universities of Wisconsin Enrollment is Up

• For the first time since 2014, fall enrollment numbers across the University of Wisconsin System have shown positive growth. Though the increase is small, roughly 1,700 students or a 1% increase from last year, it’s still significant for the system, which has struggled with the issue of waning enrollment for the last decade. [WPR]
• In a further effort to increase enrollment, the system has announced a direct admissions program that will offer rising senior high school students placement at a UW school based on their high school qualifications and other factors. So far, 10 of the 13 universities in the system have opted into the program.

🫖 A New Home For Rude Brew Kombucha

• The Bur Oak has a new tenant to fill the space Ahan recently left after the restaurant moved to Willy Street. Rude Brew Kombucha plans to produce their fermented beverages at the Winnebago Street venue. The business has grown greatly since its founding in 2017, the one-woman shop currently makes roughly 200-300 gallons of kombucha a week! [Cap Times]

👗 Meet Thistle + Elm

• The new west side boutique opened over the weekend selling women’s clothing with an emphasis on neutral colors. Owner Megan Hanlon started the business as an online brand but quickly saw the potential for a brick and mortar shop after hosting pop-ups around town. [Madison Magazine]

🍹 Your Lunchtime Read: Women behind the bar: A brief history of Wisconsin’s bartenders

• “Wisconsin has one of the highest concentrations of bartenders in the country, employing more than 24,000 bartenders. A good percentage of them are women. But [...] that hasn’t always been the case.” [Wisconsin Life]
• Related: Looking for drinks that won’t cause a hangover? Check out these spots in Madison for the best free-spirited menus. [Madison Minutes]

Monday, Nov. 13

• David Landau Kids Show at The Harmony Bar and Grill
• Flagman, SUMPP, Melted Bodies at The Bur Oak
• We are Guardians - November Public Show at MMSD Planetarium

Meet The Guy Who's Been Running Dane County for a Decade

Dane County has thousands of employees and a nearly $1 billion budget. It runs our local zoo, airport, jail, landfill, foster care system, and 911 emergency center, just to name a few things.

Joe Parisi has run the county for more than the past decade as its executive. He’s retiring in May, so producer Dylan Brogan caught up with him to ask what’s next for the county.