Morning Update

Finding the perfect local gift

Morning update: Wednesday, Dec. 7

In this newsletter

Happy Wednesday, y'all.

Somehow, it's already December and that means 'tis the season for giving gifts.

If you're like me — AKA lazy and trying to kick a bad online shopping habit — you're in luck. There are plenty of ways to shop small this year and thankfully, Madison Magazine rounded up everything you need to have a lovely local holiday.

For the shoppers: Check out this guide to 17 local holiday markets happening this month.

For the crafters: Here are 7 different holiday DIY ideas from local makers.

For the foodies: Madison is home to plenty of local producers and artisan food makers. Check out these 10 Madison-based food gift ideas.

— Hayley

💉 The time to get your flu vaccine is now.

We've said it before but we'll say it again: cold and flu season is here and it's stressing out hospital systems across the country.
Locally, health officials are urging residents to get the flu shot before traveling for the holidays. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, only 30% of the state has received a flu vaccine. In Dane County, that number is a bit higher at 44%.
Take action: Find a vaccine provider near you here.

🍩 Welcoming Zippy Lube Coffee, Donuts & Fried Chicken to the north side.

Zippy Lube Coffee, Donuts & Fried Chicken has officially opened at 2013 N. Sherman Ave.
The new spot serves coffee from Boom Coffee in Princeton (about 70 miles north of Madison). The donut recipe was made in partnership with George Tuggle, who sold his "fried cakes" at the Dane County Farmers' Market in the 1970s, according to the State Journal.
Zippy Lube is currently open Thursday through Monday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. But owner Benjamin Altschul hopes to eventually operate seven days a week.

✅ Meet the five UW students running for City Council.

Every single City Council seat will be up for election next spring and five current UW-Madison students have announced their candidacies in several districts.
District 2: Current District 8 Ald. Juliana Bennett recently filed her candidacy to represent District 2. Her change in districts is a result of redistricting and to "create room for [other] students to run in District 8," as she outlined in her candidacy announcement. Current District 2 Ald. Patrick Heck announced last month he would not seek reelection.
District 4: Maxwell Laubenstein and Samantha Givich have both filed paperwork to represent Madison's downtown District 4. Laubenstein currently serves as a representative on UW's Student Services Finance Committee. Givich is currently the Assembly Messenger of the House Sergeant at Arms. Current District 4 Ald. Mike Verveer has yet to announce his reelection intentions. He's served in the position since 1995.
District 8: Charlie Fahey and MGR Govindarajan have both filed their declarations of candidacy with the city to represent the heavily student-populated District 8. Fahey currently serves on several campus boards, including the student government. Govindarajan also serves on the student government board and has already received the endorsement of former District 8 Ald. Max Prestigiacomo.
Related: Who’s running for Madison City Council next year — and who’s not (Cap Times)

🗳️ Why the DOJ subpoenaed election officials in Dane County.

The U.S. Department of Justice subpoenaed election officials in Dane and Milwaukee Counties seeking records of communication between their offices and former President Donald Trump.
The DOJ is looking for "any and all communications" with Trump and his campaign between June 1, 2020 and Jan. 20, 2021.
According to WPR, Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell received the subpoena Dec. 1 and said the only relevant communications he had were with Wisconsin attorney Jim Troupis, who oversaw the Trump campaign's recount efforts in Dane and Milwaukee Counties.
The bigger picture: According to The Washington Post, elections officials in Arizona and Michigan also received subpoenas.

🚂 Today's the day to talk trains.

ICYMI: The city is hosting a kickoff meeting today for a study that will recommend the location for a potential future Amtrak Station. This doesn't guarantee a passenger rail station will come to fruition, but the study marks an important first step in the process.
The city has identified six potential locations for the station: downtown, the UW-Madison campus, First Street, near the airport, the near east side, and near the location of the former Oscar Mayer plant.
Meeting details: The meeting will be held today at 4:30 p.m. in room 215 of the Madison Municipal Building. There will also be a virtual presentation at 6:30 p.m. You can register to attend virtually here.
Dig deeper: Why Madison is talking about train stations again (Isthmus)

🎨 Your lunchtime read/watch: Madison Art Cart.

Via Wisconsin Life: "Angela Fitzgerald catches up with the Art Cart, a program bringing arts and crafts to Dane County parks hosted by Madison School & Community Recreation and the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. She has a discussion with the Youth Arts and Enrichment Specialist, Sarah Zahn, about the programs and the services that they offer."

📬

Did someone forward you this email? Sign up here.