Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Do you recognize the suspect in Madison’s disturbing Christmas Eve incident?

Coming up on the Madison Patch calendar: ACT Practice Test (the New ACT)

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Thursday January 8th Patch AM
Thursday January 8th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Hello again Madison! We’re bringing you the latest town highlights. Don’t miss out, keep going! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Do you recognize the suspect in Madison’s disturbing Christmas Eve incident?
  • Which new Madison restaurants are worth trying first in 2026?
  • How will Madison host dairy’s biggest blueprint for 2026 success?

Also on today's calendar: ACT Practice Test (the New ACT) and 8 more events.

Find out what's happening in Madisonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: After dinner, my parents asked if I could clear the table. 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
Patch and T-Mobile are inviting readers to share acts of kindness from their communities. Submit a good deed — your own or a neighbor's — and help highlight how people in your community are supporting one another. Patch will make a charitable donation to a local nonprofit at the end of the submission period.

Find out what's happening in Madisonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: Cloudy with afternoon rain, with a high of 48 and low of 36 degrees.
  • Friday: Mostly cloudy, temps: high: 42, low: 29.
  • Saturday: Colder with snow, 1-2", with a high of 33 and low of 21 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Madison Police Department searching for naked man accused of trying to open car doors (wmtv15news.com) — Madison police are asking for help identifying a man accused of walking around naked, trying to open car doors, and allegedly attacking a driver on the city’s east side on Christmas Eve morning. Officers say a second attempted car break-in nearby appears connected, and anyone with information can share anonymous tips with Madison Area Crime Stoppers.
   

2. A 2025 year in review of Madison restaurants, bars and cafes (channel3000.com) — If you eat out in Madison, 2025 reshaped your options in a big way, with 39 new food concepts, 15 closures, and dozens of notable openings from Monroe Street to State Street and beyond. The piece also previews at least 14 more Madison-area restaurants, cafes, and bars expected to open in 2026, giving locals plenty to track for future dining plans.
   

3. A Blueprint for Successful Dairy Future at 2026 PDP Business Conference (morningagclips.com) — A major dairy industry conference is coming to Madison’s Alliant Energy Center March 4–5, 2026, bringing producers, researchers, and suppliers from across the region. Attendees can tap into 50-plus learning sessions, a large trade show, Spanish translation, and networking events, with discounted rates at several Madison-area hotels available for early booking.
   

4. Caroline Bach appointed Wisconsin Regional News Director for WKOW and Allen Media (waow.com) — Madison TV viewers will see a new leader guiding WKOW’s newsroom, as longtime journalist Caroline Bach steps into a regional news director role overseeing WKOW-Madison and other Allen Media stations statewide. Bach, with the company since 2012, began her new duties January 1, while former WKOW news director Dani Maxwell moves into a national role.
   

5. Wisconsin food pantries receive $5 million to support local farmers and hunger relief efforts (wtmj.com) — State leaders in Madison have awarded $5 million to bolster Wisconsin food pantries while supporting local farmers. Hunger Task Force and Feeding Wisconsin will each receive $2.5 million to buy primarily Wisconsin-produced foods, strengthening food security for hundreds of thousands of residents statewide.
   

📸 Around Madison

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Madison

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Madison Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Madison PatchAM possible:

  • Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
    Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Sign up now for Literacy Network's spring semester class registration at https://tinyurl.com/68ukavpd or call 608-244-3911. Appointments start January 13. Learn English or study to become a U.S. citizen!
    Weekly classes are free and for adults in Dane County. Inscríbase ahora en nuestra inscripcion para el semestre de primavera en https://tinyurl… (Nextdoor Madison)
  • 𝗟𝗮𝘄 𝗘𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲
    Join the Madison Community Policing Foundation and the American Red Cross for our second annual community Law Enforcement Appreciation Day blood… (Nextdoor Midvale Heights)
  • Burger King posted a job opening for Team Member in Madison. Apply here.
  • PCI Pharma Services posted a job opening for Material Handler I, II, III in Madison. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Madison here.

Ok Madison! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I needed a running start, but I made it!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Madison