The La Follette School of Public Affairs plans to move into one of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s oldest buildings and rename the facility after former U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl.
February 17, 2026
Top Stories
Herb Kohl’s foundation donates $30 million to renovate UW-Madison’s Music Hall for La Follette School
Former U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl’s foundation is donating $30 million to UW-Madison’s La Follette School of Public Affairs to modernize Music Hall, which will be renamed Herb Kohl Hall in honor of the late politician and businessman.
Here’s how Wisconsin athletes have done in the Winter Olympics
In addition to the UW-Madison hockey players competing in the Winter Olympics for the gold medal, five other Wisconsin athletes are competing. See how they’re doing.
Higher Education/System
Former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels speaks on politics, higher education at UW-Madison
Mitch Daniels, former Indiana governor and past president of Purdue University, spoke Monday at the University of Wisconsin–Madison as part of the La Follette School of Public Affairs’ Spring Spotlight series.
Campus life
Students march Bascom to demand sanctuary campus declaration amid ICE activity
Dozens of University of Wisconsin-Madison students, faculty and alumni marched from Library Mall up Bascom Hill Friday to demand stronger protections for immigrants and international students on campus.
UW-Madison faculty concerned new teaching requirements will limit research capacity, reduce staff autonomy
University of Wisconsin-Madison faculty are raising concerns over new workload requirements set to begin next fall that were passed as part of Wisconsin’s latest state budget negotiations.
Students volunteer to clean post-Lily’s litter
Volunteers gathered on Lake Mendota over the weekend to clean litter piles left on the ice following a party on the lake’s surface that took place in spite of the cancellation of Lily’s Classic, which was set to take place Saturday.
Lake Mendota party leaves environmental concerns after fraternity event canceled
A party on Lake Mendota Saturday left the lake covered in garbage after the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a fraternity could not reach an agreement to host its annual hockey tournament fundraiser.
Police: UW-Madison student arrested for taking videos in dorm restroom
A 19-year-old UW-Madison student was arrested Sunday for recording videos of people using the restroom at his residence hall, UW-Madison police said.
State news
Wisconsin Athletics asks state for funding in NIL bill to head off ‘difficult decisions’
The University of Wisconsin athletic department traditionally has been self-supporting financially, but that could change under a bill going through the state Assembly. Wisconsin would get $14.6 million annually from the state toward athletics facilities debt service under a measure that also would codify in state law name, image and likeness policies already in place at the school.
Athletics
Hockey fans gather at UW-Madison’s Union South to cheer on Team USA women’s Olympic team
Madison-area hockey fans cheered on the Team USA women’s team Monday afternoon as they took on Sweden in the semifinals of the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic Games.
UW-Madison Related
Testing the Torch: TMJ4 sports reporter races Giant Slalom with UW-Madison’s century-old Alpine Team
The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Alpine Team has been carving down slopes for more than a century, starting as ski jumpers in 1919 and evolving into today’s modern alpine squad.
Warner Park off-leash dog park closed after dog’s sudden death reported
Warner Park’s off-leash dog park is closed until further notice after it was reported that a dog got sick and died after visiting there, City of Madison officials said Monday. Madison park rangers called UW vet clinic and Public Health Madison & Dane County.