🗳️ The mayor now has six challengers

🥶 Sub-Zero Planning Massive Warehouse in Verona: Fitchburg-based kitchen appliance retailer Sub-Zero wants to build a mammoth 800,000-square-foot distribution center in Verona. The facility would be almost twice the size of the Kohl Center and take up 80 acres of farmland south of Whalen Road. [🔒WSJ]

🎒UW-Madison Grad Student Enrollment Drops: UW-Madison saw its lowest graduate student enrollment this fall in a decade, with 9,101 graduate students.This news comes as the Trump administration has cut or delayed millions in federal research dollars to the school. International student enrollment also dropped, and undergraduate enrollment was a little down from its fall 2025 peak. [Cap Times, 🎧 City Cast Madison]

🗳️ Kaleem Caire Throws Hat in the Ring For Mayor: The 2027 mayoral campaign has another candidate, as One City Schools founder and CEO Kaleem Caire announced his candidacy Monday. Caire is the sixth announced challenger to Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, who is seeking a third term. Other challengers include Syed Abbas, Brian Benford, Jon Hinds, April Kigeya, and Larry Williams. The primary is in February 2027, with the general election in April. [WKOW]

🚨 Committee Unanimously Approves Body Cam Funding: The Madison Finance Committee approved funding for 220 police body-worn cameras Monday. With the help of a $350,000 grant from the Madison Community Foundation, nearly all officers should be wearing the cameras by next summer, Police Chief John Patterson said. [WKOW]

🏫 Two Sexual Assaults Reported at UW-Madison: University officials said they received two separate reports Sunday about students potentially being drugged and sexually assaulted at off-campus fraternities.

• The university said it has a zero tolerance policy for sexual assault and harassment, and offers resources for assault survivors. Reports of student sexual assault should be made to the UW-Madison Police Department at 608-264-2677. Additonally, the RCC Sexual Violence Resource Center in Madison has a 24-hour hotline. [WMTV, UW-Madison, RCC]

☕ Starbucks on Park Street Closes: The Starbucks coffee shop at 1609 S. Park St. that just opened in 2025 has closed. It was one of 250 underperforming stores nationwide that closed its doors. [🔒WSJ]

👻 Schuster’s Haunted Forest Celebrates 20 Years of Scares: Schuster’s Farm near Deerfield has opened its Haunted Forest for spooky season. The forest, full of actors playing scary creatures, came to life in 2006 after drought conditions made the traditional corn maze impossible.

• 🧙 Witch things should we do this October? Looking for more cheap thrills? On the City Cast Madison podcast today, host Bianca Martin, creative producer Jade Iseri-Ramos, and Madison comedian Emily Winter dish on what they’re looking forward to doing in Madison in October. And don’t be spooked later this afternoon when Jade’s special October Guide newsletter pops up in your inbox! [WMTV, 🎧City Cast Madison]

⬆️ Last Week’s Photo

This “T” stands for “Textile,” as in the Textile Arts Center of Madison on Park Street!

🎉 Congratulations to Doug O., Jim E., and Albi S. for being the first three people to guess correctly!

⬇️ This Week’s Photo

On what building is this mural located? A few clues:

• It’s in Monona
• It’s on a building that has housed several restaurants over the years
• Give me your “hot” take on where it’s located!