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Today’s edition · Thurs., Nov. 5

Dane County passes its 2027 budget as measles reaches Columbia County

Plus, Middleton wins its state volleyball opener and Madison hits a housing milestone.

The 608today team2 stories15 sources4 min read

County BoardTop story

Dane County Board approves a 2027 budget that holds the levy at $283.2 million

Dane County's 2027 budget comes down to three figures

$861,125,920
in operating expenditures
$94,132,450
in capital spending
$283.2 million
property tax levy

Sources: Channel 3000, WKOW

If you pay Dane County property taxes, here's the number: the County Board adopted the 2027 budget Wednesday night with a $283.2 million levy, the same amount County Executive Melissa Agard proposed. The budget now heads to Agard for her signature.

Housing and shelter is the largest investment, at $29.35 million in the capital budget. Supervisors added $7.25 million of that through their amendments.

Most of the $29.35 million for housing and shelter goes to affordable development

Sources: Channel 3000, WMTV 15 NEWS

View as table
AmountShare
Affordable development$26.5M90.3%
Salvation Army family shelter$2.1M7.2%
Land for a legal camping site$0.75M2.6%
  • $20 million for the Affordable Housing Development fund
  • $4 million to restore the
  • $1.1 million to move Veteran Services into a county-owned building
  • About $422,000 restored for human services, mostly housing case management
  • $10 million through the Dane County Conservation Fund

The board also revised language on the sheriff's $2.965 million body-worn camera program. It asks the Sheriff's Office to post its draft policy for at least 30 days of public comment, and supervisors called it an advisory resolution.

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Health

Measles reaches Columbia County with at least three confirmed cases

Columbia County Public Health confirmed at least three measles cases Wednesday, linked to a lab-confirmed case in another Wisconsin county. All confirmed cases so far are among people who weren't vaccinated. No public exposure sites have been identified, and known exposures have been limited to private gatherings.

Wisconsin has reported 431 measles cases, up from 36 last year

Source: channel3000.com

View as table
Value
Last year36
This year, as of Nov. 4431

The statewide tally reached 431, and Dane County is on the list of counties with confirmed cases. If you have symptoms, stay home and call your doctor's office before you go in, so they can protect other patients.

9measles hospitalizations on the state tracker

The tracker lists no deaths.

Source: channel3000.com

  • Early signs: runny nose, high fever, tiredness, cough, red watery eyes
  • Rash: starts at the hairline, then spreads to arms and legs
  • Rash timing: three to five days after other symptoms begin
  • Best protection: the

News Notes

Housing

Madison's housing tracker shows 2,424 new homes completed through September, more than the 2,328 finished in all of 2025. Of this year's homes, 768 are subsidized affordable homes, the most in a single year since 2016. The Daily Cardinal

Madison has finished more homes through September 2026 than in all of 2025

Source: The Daily Cardinal

View as table
Value
2025, full year2,328
2026, through Sept.2,424

Volleyball

Middleton, the No. 1 seed at 32-2, opened its fifth-straight WIAA boys state tournament Wednesday against No. 8 Wauwatosa East. The Cardinals won the quarterfinal after losing the first set, and the tournament runs through Sat., Nov. 7. Wisconsin State JournalWisconsin State JournalY100 WNCY

Honor Flight

Six southern Wisconsin Hy-Vee stores presented Badger Honor Flight with a $100,000 check Wednesday, days before the group's final flight of 2026. WMTV 15 NEWS

Nonprofits

Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County is sharing tools and maintenance supplies donated by a local Ace Hardware store with partner nonprofits. The donation helps with maintenance needs at its 14 locations, and the club said other nonprofits face similar costs. Madison365Hometown News

Food bank

Second Harvest Food Bank wrapped up its fourth Market Harvest season at the Wednesday Farmers Market, even after being vandalized overnight. This year it bought 64,000 pounds of excess produce from over 30 local vendors. WMTV 15 NEWS

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Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Quoted

The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.

— Sylvia Plath

Things to Do

Things to Do

Madison, WI

Thursday, Nov. 5

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Jobs

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The Wrap

Saturday, Nov. 7, the Madison Herb Fair lands at Olbrich Botanical Gardens for its 44th year. Entry is free, and this year's theme is herbal self-care. Expect three speakers and a marketplace with more than 20 herbal vendors. Our noses are already excited.

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Every source in this edition15 links · 11 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. Channel 3000channel3000.com
  3. WMTV 15 NEWSwmtv15news.com
  4. WKOWwkow.com
  5. WMTV 15 NEWSwmtv15news.com
  6. channel3000.comchannel3000.com
  7. The Daily Cardinaldailycardinal.com
  8. Wisconsin State Journalmadison.com
  9. Wisconsin State Journalmadison.com
  10. Y100 WNCYwncy.com
  11. WMTV 15 NEWSwmtv15news.com
  12. Madison365madison365.com
  13. Hometown Newshngnews.com
  14. WMTV 15 NEWSwmtv15news.com
  15. Madison events calendar608today.5amcity.com

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608todayto me · Thurs., Nov. 56:00 a.m.

Dane County passes its 2027 budget as measles reaches Columbia County

Plus, Middleton wins its state volleyball opener and Madison hits a housing milestone.

The TLDR

  1. Dane County Board approves a 2027 budget with a $283.2 million levy
  2. Measles confirmed in Columbia County; the state tally is 431
  3. Madison has finished more homes through September than in all of 2025
Read this edition

Around Madison

From WJFW, The Daily Cardinal and 2 more newsrooms, gathered by 6AM News, 6AM City’s local news service.

More local news

  1. WJFW2 hours ago

    Delaware visits Wisconsin following Bailey's 22-point game

    Delaware plays the Wisconsin Badgers after Chuck Bailey III scored 22 points in Delaware's 105-44 victory against the Notre Dame-Maryland Gators. The teams match up Friday for the first time

  2. The Daily Cardinal2 hours ago

    Abu Sama III carries his parents’ legacy from West Africa to Camp Randall

  3. The Daily Cardinal2 hours ago

    Hillel encourages interfaith early voting, student speakers

    Members of various religious communities gathered at Library Mall to reflect on the importance of voting and connection between religion Oct. 27

  4. WKOW3 hours ago

    Dane County Board approves 2027 budget focused on housing and shelter

    MADISON (WKOW) -- The Dane County Board of Supervisors approved the 2027 county budget Wednesday night.

    Also reported byChannel 3000

  5. The Daily Cardinal3 hours ago

    ‘VisionQuest’ brings back familiar faces as Doom nears

  6. The Daily Cardinal3 hours ago

    Madison’s housing tracker shows significant increase in city’s available housing

    The City of Madison’s housing tracker shows a major increase in housing in 2026 compared to 2025.