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Good morning, Madison! In today’s edition: Laila Edwards makes Olympic history, WI Folk Fest brings twang, Hodgson and White’s Cheese-Capades gets weird, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Replacement for Lincoln Hills advances: Wisconsin’s State Building Commission approved funding for a second Type 1 juvenile correctional facility in Fitchburg, part of roughly $185 million in projects, with completion expected in late 2028 — see what’s planned statewide.
Historic breakthrough on ice: USA Hockey announced its Olympic women’s roster, featuring six Badgers. Laila Edwards will become the first Black woman to compete for Team USA, with Wisconsin wrapping January series before Italy — see the 23-player roster.
Your say on Madison standouts: Madison Magazine announced the timeline and categories for the 45th annual Best of Madison readers’ poll, with 157 categories and updates. Winners will be announced in the October 2026 issue — get all the details.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since this month last year. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Snowy afternoon plans revealed: Winter on the Farm is set at Schumacher Farm on Sunday, January 11 from 1 to 3 pm. Expect free, family-friendly fun like a scavenger hunt, animal tracking, crafts, and try-it snowshoeing, weather permitting. No registration needed. Watch for possible rescheduling in severe cold. Get all the event details.
Cabin fever antidote: Kids can climb, tinker, and burn off winter wiggles across hands-on exhibits and maker spaces at Madison Children’s Museum. Grownups have plenty to explore too. When the living room turns into a wrestling ring, this is your low-stress, high-play escape.
Indoor games, zero wind: Pickle Pro Courts offers TV-bright lighting, permanent nets, and netting between courts for drama-free rallies. Open play and private courts are available, plus paddle and ball machine rentals for dialing in your shots.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now, you’ll get three free gifts, AND you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.
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📆 Around town this week
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
💪 Author Talk: Health-First Training with Dr. John Rusin @ Lake City Books | Tuesday (1/6) at 6:30 PM – New year, same question: are we actually going to the gym? Physical therapist Dr. John Rusin breaks down a health-first training framework, with Q&A and a book signing, so you can train hard, feel better, and avoid that snap crackle pop.
🍿 Public Domain Movie Night: The Big Combo @ Bierock | Tuesday (1/6) at 8:00 PM – First Tuesday means Public Domain Movie Night at Northside’s Bierock, and this round is The Big Combo, a smoky 1955 noir with shadows, jazz, and bad decisions. Free admission, full menu, cold pints. Because sometimes you want cops brooding, and villains stylish.
🖼 Winter 2025/26 Exhibitions Reception @ Overture Center for the Arts | Friday (1/9) at 5:30 PM – Overture Galleries opens its winter exhibitions with a reception and artist talks worth trading a couch night for. Artists turn memory, identity, and heritage into striking visuals across galleries, including Entre Memorias y Nepantla, Manifest Black, and Where Do You Wander. Real art, real talk.
🎶 WI Folk Fest @ Majestic Theatre | Friday (1/9) at 7:00 PM – Friday night at the Majestic means real-deal folk, not the playlist you put on while making chili. Charlie Parr leads WI Folk Fest with The Spine Stealers and Lou Shields, all grit, twang, and stories. Bring your winter layers, leave with a warmer heart.
🔭 A Polar Telescope in the Spirit of Porter @ UW Space Place | Friday (1/9) at 7:00 PM – Whether you’ve built a scope or just recognize Orion before bedtime, this one’s for you, a look at a polar telescope in the spirit of Porter. Catch it at Space Place on S. Park St., or stay cozy and stream on YouTube.
🧀 Hodgson and White’s Cheese-Capaded @ Atwood Music Hall | Friday (1/9) at 7:00 PM – Bundle up and head to Freezing Man for Hodgson and White’s Cheese-Capades, back for a second big year with Joel Hodgson, comedy, music, and unapologetic dairy worship. It’s peak Wisconsin, the kind of weirdly cozy night that pairs best with mittens, sarcasm, and squeaky curds.
🎸 Driveway Thriftdwellers & Joseph Huber @ The Bur Oak | Friday (1/9) at 8:00 PM – Think you only like country when it’s not country? The Driveway Thriftdwellers and Joseph Huber bring Wisconsin-grown Americana that slides between twang, rock, and heart-squeezing songwriter stuff, with tight chops, loose jams, and zero Nashville gloss. Grab a friend, a beer, and your boots.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Madison report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 39°F – Low: 32°F – Precip: 2%
Patchy fog between 8am and 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. West wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 41°F – Low: 31°F – Precip: 29%
A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41. Northwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. West wind around 5 mph.
This house is wild
Assessed at $473,200, this home backs to a beautiful greenway and pairs a great floor plan with generous gathering spaces. A huge kitchen anchors the main level, opening to an expansive living room for easy everyday flow. The walkout lower level adds flex space with a fireplace for cozy evenings and quick access to the outdoors.
Ready for updates to the bath, soffits, decks, and carpet, it sets the stage for a personalized refresh that preserves strong fundamentals. Prime location and a smart layout add upside, and offers will be added to the system on 12/31/25.
Take a peek inside →
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