🍸 Ahan's new bar will open on Willy Street

🚨 Four Charged With ‘Felony Graffiti’ On UW Campus

• After a year-long investigation, UW-Madison Police have charged four people with felony graffiti charges for a series of vandalism incidents on campus.
• Police were investigating eight graffiti incidents over the past 18 months totalling $10,000 in damages, including an incident last September in which red paint was found on Hagenah Fountain and the Abraham Lincoln statue on Bascom Hill.
• None of those charged are currently affiliated with the university, although one is an alumn. The graffiti referenced the conflict in Gaza, including phrases like “UW blood on your hands” and “Divest now.” [Daily Cardinal]

🍜 Ba Lao Opening in February on Willy Street

• The owners of the popular Ahan restaurant on Willy Street will open a new spot, Ba Lao, nearby in February.
• Ahan owners Jamie and Chuckie Brown-Soukaseume, who were semifinalists for a James Beard Award last year, said the new spot in the former site of Taco Local at 811 Williamson Street will offer snacks and drinks. They envision Ba Lao as a place where those waiting for a table at Ahan could hang out and get a drink in the evening and a cozy spot to enjoy boba tea and to-go sandwiches during the day. [Instagram, Cap Times]

💻 Data Center Opponents in DeForest Cry Foul Over Emails

• Activists in DeForest opposed to a data center development are accusing city officials of colluding with QTS Data Center. An open records request filed by the activist organization “No Data Centers in DeForest” found that QTS representatives and DeForest Village President Jane Cahill Wolfgram discussed plans to relocate the project from Vienna to DeForest after Vienna’s town board voted against an agreement with the company. The group also claimed that Cahill Wolfgram gave the company advice on how to talk about a proposed center’s water usage to limit scrutiny.
• 🎧 What about Madison?: On the City Cast Madison podcast today, host Bianca Martin talks to District 3 Ald. Derek Field about the rise of data centers in Wisconsin, and how he pushed for a one-year pause for Madison to learn more about the centers’ impact. [Daily Cardinal, 🎧 City Cast Madison]

Well, we got through last weekend’s extreme cold, and the high temperatures are skyrocketing up to the low teens (yay?) for the rest of the week.

But it’s still January, and there’s plenty more cold days ahead until spring, with the temperature plunging below zero at night. Here’s some tips to stay safe during the winter freeze, whether it’s merely an annoyance for you or if it’s more of a life-threatening circumstance.

Cold Can Be Deadly

Since October 2025, Wisconsin has seen 20 cold-related deaths, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Last winter, WDHS said there were 103 deaths in Wisconsin related to the cold.

If you or someone you know is in need of shelter, call 211.

It’s important to know the symptoms of frostbite or hypothermia. According to Public Health Madison and Dane County, symptoms of hypothermia can often resemble that of intoxication, including shivering, exhaustion, confusion and slurred speech. If you or someone else exposed to the cold displays these symptoms, call 911.

Frostbite symptoms include redness or pain on the skin. If you see those symptoms, get out of the cold if you can and/or protect any exposed skin.

In general, limit outdoor time as much as you can when there are winter storms, wind chill or extreme cold. That goes for your pets as well. If you have to go out, dress in several loose-fitting layers, and wear a hat, mittens and a scarf or other face covering.

Keep Your Home Safe and Warm

Water expands when it freezes, which puts pipes at risk of bursting, especially outdoor pipes such as water sprinkler lines, or pipes in unheated areas such as basements and garages. The Red Cross has some good tips to prevent pipes from bursting, such as closing inside valves to the outdoors, adding insulation to unheated areas, and removing and storing hoses.

Make sure you have working carbon monoxide detectors. All Wisconsin homes are required to have such detectors on every level. Also make sure you have a well-stocked home emergency kit, including a first aid kit, flashlight and batteries, cell phone and charger, and food and water.

Plus, plan ahead for a power outage. If the power goes out, your refrigerator will keep food cold for four hours, and your freezer will keep its temperature for 48 hours. Once the temperature reaches 40 degrees or higher, it’s no longer safe to eat and should be thrown away. Make sure you have plenty of non-perishable food on hand, as well as a gallon of water for each person in the home.

Keep Your Car in Good Shape

That thing your parents told you about keeping the gas tank full during cold weather? It’s true (or at least keep the tank half full.)

Also, have a weather emergency kit in your car as well, including shovels and sand in case your wheels get stuck in the snow, blankets, jumper cables, snacks, and drinking water. ReadyWisconsin has some good tips for building an emergency kit for your home or vehicle, and even for your pets.

Meet Penny! This 8-year-old beagle mix came to DCHS under difficult circumstances, and was very nervous when she first arrived at the shelter. But she’s warmed up as staff and volunteers have worked to gain her trust, she became comfortable showing her sweet side.

She loves treats and going for walks, especially when she can use that beagle nose and sniff to her heart’s content. She knows sit and stay, and she’s looking for a home (not an apartment) with no children or other pets so she can keep all the love for herself.