Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How Madison’s new city clerk plans to restore election trust

Be sure to catch The Hunt Quartet on the Madison Patch calendar

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Monday December 15th Patch AM
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Hello Madison! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How Madison’s new city clerk plans to restore election trust
  • Why Madison families say this year’s Shop With a Cop felt different
  • How UW–Madison helped put a scientist on the moon

Also on today's calendar: The Hunt Quartet and 9 more events.

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

Today's riddle: What did the stop sign say to the yield sign? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

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

  • Monday: Not as cold, with a high of 26 and low of 12 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
  • Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, temps: high: 35, low: 27.
  • Wednesday: Cloudy, with a high of 33 and low of 32 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Inside the movement to professionalize election administration (wbay.com) — Madison’s new 28-year-old city clerk, Lydia McComas, is stepping into one of Wisconsin’s most closely watched election offices, tasked with rebuilding trust after last year’s missing-ballots controversy. The piece follows her unusual career path in election administration, explains statewide clerk turnover, and details how she plans to strengthen communication and transparency around Madison’s elections ahead of multiple 2026 statewide votes.
   

2. Madison police officers help families with holiday shopping (wmtv15news.com) — Madison police officers spent Sunday morning helping local families shop for Christmas gifts through the annual Shop With a Cop program, partnering with 100 Black Men of Madison. Organizers say this year’s event, which supported 17 families, aims to ease holiday stress while building positive, lasting relationships between parents, kids, and officers beyond crisis calls.
   

3. December 14 - Last humans walk on moon (wmtv15news.com) — From a Madison dateline, this story marks the 1972 Apollo 17 mission’s final moonwalk and highlights how Wisconsin, especially UW–Madison, helped shape that history. It spotlights astronaut Harrison Schmitt’s teaching role at UW–Madison and other Badger State ties to NASA, including Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell.
   

4. HPAI Detected in Wisconsin in Dodge County Dairy Herd (morningagclips.com) — State agriculture officials in Madison have confirmed the first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a Wisconsin dairy herd, located in Dodge County. The farm is quarantined, milk remains safe due to pasteurization, and the CDC says human risk is low, but livestock owners around Madison are urged to register premises, monitor animals, and report any suspicious illness immediately.
   

📸 Around Madison

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Madison

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📣 Madison Shout Outs!

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • I am a parent who has lost an adult child to suicide and a younger sister gone too soon, will you join me Dec 14th in lighting a candle in memory of family members gone too soon.
    The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting takes place on the 2nd Sunday in December. It unites family and friends around the globe in… (Nextdoor Grandview Commons)
  • Hi sweet Sherman neighbors.
    I am asking you to look for Little Sparrow. That is what I am calling the orange kitten that was with the long haired calico mom. Please look under… (Nextdoor Sherman)
  • Our next hands-only CPR/AED class is this Wednesday evening at Fire Station 13 (east side). These FREE community classes help you understand what... (X: MadisonWIFire)
  • We proudly celebrate the monumental achievements of our winter graduates. As your next chapter begins, remember—once a #BusinessBadger, always a... (X: UWBusiness)
  • Bell American Group, LLC posted a job opening for Overnight Team Member in Madison. Apply here.
  • Unifi Aviation, LLC posted a job opening for Airport Ramp Agent - MSN -PT 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 don’t know either. They were speaking in sign language.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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