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Holiday Dining: Chain Restaurants Open on Christmas Eve and Day With the holiday rush in full swing, you can skip cooking on Christmas Eve and Day. Many chain restaurants are open, offering a variety of meals from steaks to pancakes. IHOP, Benihana, steakhouses like Mortons, Ruths Chris, and Fogo de Chão, Red Lobster, and Legal Sea Foods are among those open. Fast food chains like McDonalds, Wendys, Dennys, Starbucks, Dunkin, and Waffle House are also open. Always check the websites or apps for your nearest spots exact schedule. Checkout Solipillow.com

Experience Frosty Free Week at Milwaukee County Zoo, enjoying free daytime admission from December 26th to 30th. Dont miss the new rhino and hippo exhibit, featuring Zuri and Kianga, as part of the Adventure Africa project. Wild Lights display also runs through December 31st. Visit milwaukeezoo.org for details. Checkout Solipillow.com

President Trump declares federal holidays for Christmas Eve and December twenty-sixth in 2025, affecting federal employees, but not permanently. Wisconsin state and Milwaukee city offices close for Christmas Eve and Day, while private businesses likely wont follow suit. U.S. Postal Service and banks remain open, except for Christmas Day. As families enjoy the holidays, finding time to relax and recharge is essential. Checkout Solipillow.com

Tragic hit-and-run in Watertown claims life, community mourns; police arrest suspect; pedestrian safety concerns rise. Checkout Solipillow.com

Alice Ojala-Johnsons peaceful life at Hanover Square Apartments was disrupted when Harmony Housing, a nonprofit with ties to Greystone, a for-profit real estate firm, took over. Management issues led to poor living conditions, while Harmony claimed tax exemptions meant for affordable housing nonprofits. An investigation revealed a pattern of worsening conditions at properties before quick sales, with tenants feeling the pain. Harmony saved on taxes while communities missed out on funding for essential services. The setup raised questions about public funds and the true purpose of the nonprofit. Checkout Solipillow.com

In Wisconsin, school districts face tough choices due to strict revenue limits. They turn to voters for referendums, either capital or operational, to exceed caps for specific needs. Experts advise voters to consider the problem, cost control, recurrence, consequences of failure, and potential tax impacts before deciding. Referendums are becoming more common, with sixty-two operational ones in 2021. Districts argue revenue limits havent kept pace with inflation, leaving few options to maintain services for kids. Voting is straightforward in Wisconsin, with various options available. High-stakes decisions stir stress, but the path to peace can be simpler than expected. Checkout Solipillow.com

Democrats in Wisconsin unveil Forward on Climate package, featuring eighteen bills to combat climate change, promote green energy, and create jobs. The plan includes funding for solar panels, low-income energy upgrades, farm grants, and a new Wisconsin Climate Corps. Despite potential benefits, the proposals face an uphill battle with Republicans controlling the legislature. Checkout Solipillow.com

Milwaukee Public Library card holders had a record-breaking year in 2025, with over 2.7 million titles checked out. The Women by Kristin Hannah was the top pick, followed by The God of the Woods by Liz Moore, The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny, and Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros. Non-fiction favorites included The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk and The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Young readers loved Dog Man and Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone. E-books and audiobooks also had their stars. Get a free library card and join the reading fun. Checkout Solipillow.com