🚨 Sheriff rebuffs ICE’s ‘unconstitutional’ request

🦨 Olbrich’s Corpse Flower is Raising a Real Stink

• Olbrich Gardens has a new flower, and it’s hot garbage. Or at least, that’s what the corpse flower now blooming at the botanical gardens is reported to smell like.
• The flower, dubbed Taylor Snift, only blooms for 24 to 48 hours, with a scent described as akin to a rotting corpse.
• When the corpse flower last bloomed in 2023, there were long lines to get a big stinky whiff. This time, Olbrich is selling timed entry tickets for $10 for non-members, $8 for members, and $5 for kids. [WKOW, Olbrich] 🤮

🚨 Sheriff Clashes With ICE Over Drunk Driving Suspect

• Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett is denying a request from Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to hold a woman arrested for an alleged drunk-driving homicide for deportation.
• Police say Noelia Saray Martinez-Avila was driving in oncoming traffic on I-94 near DeForest on July 20 when she collided with another vehicle, killing two people in the other car. ICE says Martinez is an undocumented immigrant from Honduras.
• Barrett said that while ICE can legally pick up Martinez-Avila while she is in his department’s custody, he believes she should stand trial for the charges rather than be immediately deported.
• ACLU of Wisconsin reported that 13 of Wisconsin’s 72 sheriff’s departments participate in a controversial cooperative partnership with ICE. [ 🔒 WSJ, WPR]

🗳️ Who’s In and Who’s Out of the 2026 Governor’s Race

• A week after Gov. Tony Evers announced he would not be running for a third term, the race to the governor’s mansion is starting to take shape. The Nov. 3, 2026 election will be the first open election (with no incumbent) for Wisconsin governor since 2010, and national election watchers are labeling it a “toss-up.”
• On the City Cast Madison podcast today, we talk about which candidates have thrown their hats in the ring, which may be about to, and which have decided not to run. We also talked about the unlikely resurrection of Churchkey Bar & Grill and the great seasons that our baseball and softball teams are having this year. Play ball! [PBS Wisconsin, 🔒 City Cast Madison]

Meet Stoli! Her human says that Stoli is a loyal best friend to the youngest member of the household, who has several learning disabilities. She has a hard time understanding how to hold Stoli properly or when or when not to pick her up. But Stoli is steadfast and even-keeled, loving her unconditionally and providing her with a much-needed friendship. The two buddies love to watch movies together on the iPad.