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🌱 Patch AM: How sprinklers have quietly stopped three Madison apartment fires in 10 days

Happening soon: Free Bra Fittings to Support Breast Cancer Awareness on the Madison Patch calendar

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Thursday September 17th Patch AM
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Greetings Madison! We're your go-to source for what's happening in town. Read on to get plugged in! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How sprinklers have quietly stopped three Madison apartment fires in 10 days
  • What the flooded DOA headquarters closure means for Madison residents this week
  • Why Madison's independent police monitor is clashing with the city attorney.

Also on today's calendar: Free Bra Fittings to Support Breast Cancer Awareness and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: When geese fly, one side is longer than the other. do you know why that is ? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
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Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: A brief morning shower or two, with a high of 71 and low of 54 degrees.
  • Friday: Rain and a thunderstorm, temps: high: 72, low: 63.
  • Saturday: Humid with rain and a t-storm, with a high of 73 and low of 59 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Sprinkler extinguishes trash room fire in downtown Madison (fox47.com) — A sprinkler system quickly put out a dumpster fire in a trash room at 544 W. Main St. in downtown Madison, preventing injuries and damage beyond the container itself. Firefighters ventilated the garage and shut down the sprinkler, and officials say this is the third recent Madison apartment fire where sprinklers stopped flames from spreading.
   

2. Flooding shuts down state office building in downtown Madison (captimes.com) — A major state office building at 101 E. Wilson St. in downtown Madison, home to the Department of Administration and several state boards, is closed to staff and the public after a major water-pipe leak flooded all 10 floors. Power and elevators are shut down while crews dry out the building and assess damage, so many employees are working remotely and public access is temporarily suspended.
   

3. City attorney questions Madison police monitor's compliance with procedures (spectrumnews1.com) — Madison's city attorney has raised concerns that Interim Independent Police Monitor Aeiramique Glass may have bypassed required city procedures when hiring contractors and handling investigations, prompting questions about compliance with administrative rules. Glass disputes the allegations, arguing the rules conflict with her office's mandate, while Common Council President Sabrina Madison weighs next steps and worries about public confidence in civilian oversight.
   

4. Inspector General audit of Madison nonprofit recommends improvement of recording expenses (wmtv15news.com) — A new federal Inspector General audit found that Madison-based Freedom Inc., which supports survivors of sexual violence, did not adequately document some expenses tied to more than $636,000 in Wisconsin DOJ grants. Auditors flagged over $46,000 in questionable costs and issued six recommendations, while the nonprofit agreed with most suggestions but disputes repaying about $33,000 in contractor expenses.
   

5. Dane County Board holds budget hearing for Department of Human Services (nbc15.com) — In Madison, the Dane County Board held a budget hearing to shape next year's Department of Human Services funding, giving local organizations a chance to explain how county dollars support their work. Groups like Urban Triage warned that cuts to shelters and services could leave more residents struggling with housing instability, ahead of another budget hearing set for October 19.
   

📸 Around Madison

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • MISSING CAT-PLEASE HELP!
    Our female, indoor cat, Piper, snuck out of our home on Redfox Trail in Sauk Creek Estates around 6 p.m. on Monday, September 14. We are located just… (Nextdoor Sauk Creek)
  • Found this sweet male un neutered kitty on our deck at Sudbury Way and St.
    Albans on the east side. No collar, they have their claws, look healthy but skinny. Playful and seems to be on the young side. Taking some of my cat… (Nextdoor Heritage Heights)
  • Goodwill of South Central Wisconsin, Inc. posted a job opening for Donation Attendant - Part Time - Nakoma in Madison. Apply here.
  • GE HealthCare Technologies, Inc. posted a job opening for Manufacturing/Materials Planner 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: because there are more geese on that side (Thank you jo L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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