Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How a $2 billion Beltline plan could reshape life in Madison
Also, don't miss ACT Practice Test (the New ACT) on the Madison Patch calendar

Good day Madison! We're here again with what you need to know today. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How a $2 billion Beltline plan could reshape life in Madison
- How close is Madison to its 15,000 new homes goal?
- Madison mourns arts visionary and Overture Center benefactor Jerry Frautschi
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.
Find out what's happening in Madisonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Saturday: Snow at times, 1-2", with a high of 34 and low of 21 degrees.
- Sunday: Morning snow showers; breezy, temps: high: 30, low: 26.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 42 and low of 33 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. City weighs WisDOT proposal to expand the beltline (wortfm.org) — Madison’s Transportation Commission is weighing a massive WisDOT proposal to widen the Beltline, add flex lanes, and rebuild interchanges that could displace homes and businesses. Residents and an alder raised concerns about traffic, safety, climate impacts, and especially the risk to low-income neighborhoods, while also welcoming new bike and pedestrian connections. The city has not yet decided whether to support key parts of the plan.
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2. Madison reports progress on affordable housing goals (fox47.com) — Madison is ramping up housing construction, finishing 2,328 new homes in 2025 and moving toward a goal of 15,000 by 2030, with more than 5,000 units still being built. City zoning changes and a focus on below-market-rate units aim to ease the housing crunch for local residents over the next few years.
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3. Overture Center benefactor dies at 94 (channel3000.com) — Madison is mourning philanthropist Jerry Frautschi, whose record-setting $205 million gift built the Overture Center and helped define the city’s arts identity. His support, including a recent $10 million pledge, turned downtown into a cultural hub that continues to shape residents’ access to world-class performances and visual arts.
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4. Madison East High School unveils lobby mural celebrating students and community (wkow.com) — Students at Madison East High School have transformed the school’s lobby with a new mural that celebrates East Madison’s diversity and values. Created with local artists, the artwork weaves in symbols of cultures, neighborhood parks, and social justice to welcome everyone who walks through the doors.
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5. Jodi (Fink) Arneson (dailydodge.com) — Family and friends are mourning 62-year-old Jodi (Fink) Arneson, who passed away this week at Oakwood Health and Rehabilitation in Madison. A devoted Badger fan, longtime legal secretary, and animal lover, she is survived by close family including a sister living in Madison. Services will be held January 16 in Beaver Dam, with memorials suggested to the Dodge County Humane Society.
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📸 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 ★
- ACT Practice Test (the New ACT)
10:00 am
Saturday January 10
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Los Kausas EP release party
The Rigby Pub, Grill, and Event Venue , 119 E Main St Suite 300 , Madison
7:00 pm - Joey's Song Presents The Freezing Man Festival
The Sylvee , 25 S Livingston St , Madison
7:00 pm - Theatresports
Atlas Improv Company , 609 E Washington Ave , Madison
7:00 pm - Scrabble at the Library
Lakeview Library - Community Room - Table Side
10:00 am - Building Club
Gompers El Madison, WI 53704
3:30 pm - Knitting at the Library
Lakeview Library - Community Room - Fireplace Side
6:00 pm - Orchestra Concert--7:00 PM
West Hi Madison, WI 53726
7:00 pm - Free Mending
Central Library - Study Room 211
10:00 am - Candlelight: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons
Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center , 1 John Nolen Dr , Madison
6:30 pm - Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Information Session
Madison Public Library - Pinney , 516 Cottage Grove Rd , Madison
12:00 pm
Saturday January 10
Wednesday January 14
Thursday January 15
Saturday January 17
Wednesday January 21
📣 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
- Shorewood PTO Chess Tournament
Shorewood Hills El Madison, WI 53705
10:00 am - ALL AGES Bilingual Story & Bracelet Making Workshop
Monona Public Library , 1000 Nichols Rd , Monona
11:00 am - Candlelight Hike
Aldo Leopold Nature Center , 330 Femrite Dr , Monona
4:30 pm - Candlelight Hike at Aldo Leopold Nature Center
Monona, WI Calendar , 330 Femrite Drive , Monona
4:30 pm
Saturday January 10
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
- Looking for a neighborhood in home day care for an easy going 2 (and half) year old.
Days Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:30pm. Hope is for a current opening. Inviting interested parties to kindly reach out by DM! (Nextdoor Schroeder Rd) - Has anyone else who lives in the Briarwood Apartments complexes had their Amazon packages stolen after drop-off?
A couple of mine were stolen from the mail area recently (Nextdoor Tenney-Lapham)
- Mainstreet Ventures Restaurant Group posted a job opening for Porter in Madison. Apply here.
- S&K Building Services posted a job opening for Window Cleaning Technician 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 sea you!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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