The Esther and Spring Harbor beaches have reopened after being closed for swimming due to blue-green algae.

Public Health Madison-Dane County tested bacteria levels at Vilas and Warner beaches. Warner Beach has been reopened, officials said. 

The only Madison-Dane County beach that remains closed is Vilas Beach, officials said.

For the latest beach closing information, go to www.cityofmadison.com/parks/beach.

The Esther and Spring Harbor beaches are closed for swimming due to blue-green algae. The beaches will reopen when their levels decline, officials said.

Public Health Madison-Dane County tested bacteria levels at Vilas and Warner beaches. The beaches have been closed for swimming due to elevated levels of bacteria. The beaches will reopen when bacteria levels decline, officials said.

For the latest beach closing information, go to www.cityofmadison.com/parks/beach.

It's not snowing, but Dane County shoppers still heard holiday bells as they entered stores Thursday.

The Salvation Army of Dane County started its annual "Christmas in July" campaign, which aims to keep donations coming during what is usually a slow time of the year. Organizers said they hoped to raise $55,000 at 38 local stores during the event.

People have cut back on donating this year because they're watching their own budgets during the tough economy, said Ruth Ann Schoer, the Salvation Army's director of major gifts. Still, families are in need year-round, not only during the holidays, she said.

"We actually feed more people in the summer than we do during the school year because the children are out of school," Schoer said. "The need is even greater now than it is at Christmas time."