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February 19, 2026

Research

Wisconsin and UW-Madison partner to study future of nuclear energy

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

State utility regulators and the University of Wisconsin-Madison are partnering to explore potential nuclear energy projects in Wisconsin.

UW-Madison and the Public Service Commission will conduct a siting study to evaluate the suitability of various sites and the impact of projects on local economies. The study will also look at different reactor technologies, including both traditional nuclear power, advanced small modular reactors and fusion energy.

Higher Education/System

International teaching assistants raise concerns over required fluency test

The Daily Cardinal

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has required international students with partial or full teaching assistant appointments to prove their English fluency for decades, but now, amid heightened federal funding uncertainty, some international graduate students say departments are using the test to force them out.

Consequences for failing the language test differ by department and year, and this year, some students say those consequences have become increasingly punitive.

UW master’s programs in education, engineering programs ranked among best in nation

The Badger Herald

University of Wisconsin online master’s in Education and Engineering were ranked 8th and 11th best in the U.S., according to U.S News and World Report rankings.

The UW education program’s No.8 national ranking makes it the highest-ranked program in the Midwest. UW also ranked well in specific online master’s degree programs, including holding the No. 2 in Educational Administration and Supervision.

Campus life

Phish, Shinedown coming to Kohl Center this year

Channel 3000

It’s gearing up to be an action-packed summer at the Kohl Center.

UW Athletics and FPC Live announced this week that Shinedown and Phish will perform at the venue later this year. Shinedown is coming to town on May 16 while Phish will have shows on July 7 and 8.

Tickets for Shinedown will go on sale on Friday and tickets for Phish go on sale Feb. 27.

State news

Polzin: NIL bill requires scrutiny from lawmakers before Wisconsin taxpayers are asked to pay

Wisconsin State Journal

Taxpayers, the University of Wisconsin is desperate for your help. Athletic director Chris McIntosh made that perfectly clear last week while backing a bill that is making its way through the state Assembly.

How exactly will the $14.6 million McIntosh wants annually from the state — no, he needs from the state — be put to use as part of Assembly Bill 1034? Silly people of Wisconsin, that’s not for you to know.

Crime and safety

Details released of UW student accused of recording others in bathroom

ABC 27

The UW-Madison student who was arrested after recording other students in a residence hall bathroom is charged with three counts of capturing an intimate representation without consent and three counts of disorderly conduct.

Braden Berndt, 19, was arrested after being caught dropping a blue iPhone between two bathroom stalls with the lens face up multiple times to other students, according to the criminal complaint.

Community