📝 Weed, abortion, and polar bears

⚖️ The State’s Takes on Reproductive Rights

• Republican Assembly members recently passed a bill calling for a binding statewide referendum to ban abortion after 14 weeks of pregnancy. Currently, Wisconsin law prohibits abortion after 20 weeks. Lawmakers debated the bill for hours despite the fact that Gov. Tony Evers already vowed to veto it during his State of the State address.
• In a move to help strengthen access to contraception, Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services have announced BadgerCare Plus members can get over the counter emergency contraception without a prescription and with no out-of-pocket cost. [Cap Times, Channel 3000]

🍻 Great Dane Goes International

• The Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co. has officially opened a branch in Japan. Located in Akiu Onsen, Sendai, Japan, Great Dane Japan is a commercial brewery that will produce high quantities of beer and package everything on site. While brewing beer will be the top priority, the site also has a restaurant and tasting room overseen by another Madison restauranter, Shinji Muramoto, owner of Muramoto in Madison.
• Celebrate locally: In honor of the international endeavor, the Madison-area Great Dane locations will have a variety of specials available through Feb. 4. [Great Dane, WisBusiness]

🧸 Saying ‘Goodbye’ to Bo

• Henry Vilas Zoo is preparing for a big move next month. The zoo’s five-year-old polar bear Borealis, or "Bo", is heading to another zoo to participate in a breeding program. Bo first arrived at Henry Vilas Zoo in late 2020 and has delighted thousands of visitors since then. The zoo says it hopes to bring in another bear to join its female polar bear Berit by the end of this year.
• “We are all very fond of Bo, but we know this move is important because Bo is genetically very important to the polar bear population in zoos across the country,” Zoo Director Ronda Schwetz said.

Is Madison Becoming THE City for Women’s Sports?

Madison will soon not only have pro soccer and volleyball teams for women, we’re getting a fast-pitch collegiate softball team now, too.

Samantha Rubin is blazing a path as the general manager of Madison’s men’s baseball team, the Madison Mallards, and she’s been tapped to lead their new women’s softball team.