On the podcast today, the Black Thought Wall is a place set aside for Black expression on Madison's South Side, modeled on a similar project in Oakland. Plus, Dane County shifts to "crisis model" contact tracing and the state sets records for deaths and positive test rate.

Today on the podcast, we preview two upcoming events -- the Urban League's Economic Development and Diversity Summit and the University of Wisconsin's Diversity Forum -- and go over some very big coronavirus numbers -- and explain why you should take them with a grain of salt this week. 

Stories referenced in today's episode:

https://madison365.com/uw-madison-diversity-forum/

https://madison365.com/national-urban-league-president-ceo-marc-morial-to-highlight-development-diversity-summit/

The order limiting capacity at bars, restaurants and retail stores is back on, and in-person voting starts today. Plus, the statewide database for COVID reporting was down all weekend, so we catch up with the numbers -- which aren't good.

A CORRECTION: We stated on the podcast that you have to bring your absentee ballot to the in-person voting sites -- that's incorrect!  You just need to bring yourself, your ID and a ball-point pen if you want to use your own. Thanks to the alert listener who pointed out our mistake!

Today on the podcast, an update on Centro Hispano's pandemic-era fundraising efforts and on the Progress Center for Black Women's new Mobile Resource Center. Plus, just one day's worth of COVID stats, as the statewide database has been offline all weekend for an upgrade. 

Nia Trammell is the newest judge on the Dane County Circuit Court -- and the first Black woman on the bench in Wisconsin outside of Milwaukee County. Plus, Madison hospitals come together on an anti-discrimination policy and the latest coronavirus news (spoiler: it's bad).

On the podcast today, a recap of the Tierra, Arte y Cultura art fair, another court ruling goes against the governor and the latest (very bad) coronavirus numbers.

Today's feature story: 

https://madison365.com/tierra-arte-y-cultura-artists-showcases-the-latino-experience-in-wisconsin/

Today on the podcast, Jorge Hidalgo is the first-ever Latino president of the Madison Rotary, an organization once seen as the province of older white men, but which has made strides recently to welcome more diversity. Plus, yesterday was Wisconsin's worst coronavirus day yet, and we have a lot to say about that. 

Today's feature story:

https://www.madison365.org/jorge-hidalgo-the-first-latino-president-of-the-rotary-club-of-madison-looks-to-grow-diversify-and-increase-awareness-of-the-organization

Today on the podcast, an update on the fight to try to do something about coronavirus in Wisconsin, a Madison startup we featured a few months ago gets a big boost, "Out for Biden" hosts a rally for LGBTQ+ voters, and the coronavirus situation isn't getting any better.

Stories in today's episode:

https://madison365.com/boosted-chews-chosen-to-participate-in-gbeta-early-stage-accelerator-program-this-fall/

https://madison365.com/wisconsin-out-for-biden-coalition-hosts-rally-for-kamala-harris/

https://madison365.com/positive-test-rate-surges-over-19-percent-as-lower-testing-reveals-fewer-than-2000-new-cases/

Happy Indigenous Peoples' Day! On the podcast today, we have a recap of last week's protest against UWPD, a visit to American Players Theater and their innovative pandemic-safe show, and the latest covid numbers.

You wouldn't necessarily expect a day of panels on health and wellness would include some of the most fiery preaching on racial equity and justice ... but then maybe you've never been to the Wisconsin Leadership Summit. On the podcast today, we hit the high notes of day four of the Summit and the low notes of really bad COVID news.