A previously elusive ambush predator insect is seen frequently in Wisconsin this year, entomologist PJ Liesch tells us.
More sightings of praying mantids, and the rediscovery of wild cacao
Wisconsin Public Radio
October 17, 2024
Research
Conservative talk radio continues to be a powerful political tool in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Watch
Although less popular than local television and some other forms of media, local radio generally gains strong trust from those who listen, according to Mike Wagner, a University of Wisconsin-Madison journalism and mass communication researcher and professor. In Wisconsin, during the 2016 election, radio stations were airing around 200 hours of conservative talk every day, according to one UW-Madison study.
Sykes’ WTMJ show was Walker’s primary connection to a statewide audience, according to Lew Friedland, distinguished journalism and mass communication professor emeritus and researcher at UW-Madison. “Without Charlie Sykes, I don’t think there would have been a Scott Walker,” Friedland said, calling Sykes “one of the top three most important political actors” at the time.
Higher Education/System
Wisconsin ends 2024 fiscal year with $4.6B surplus, down from $7B record but above projections
Wisconsin Public Radio
At the same time, the Universities of Wisconsin system is calling for an $855 million state funding increase in the next two-year budget. And some expect Republicans in the Legislature will push for tax cuts.
UW-Oshkosh chancellor to step down in June 2025
Wisconsin Public Radio
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Chancellor Andrew Leavitt announced Wednesday that he will step down next year, becoming the 4th chancellor in the Universities of Wisconsin system to either announce plans to resign or be fired since December 2023.
After layoffs, financial woes and no-confidence vote, UW-Oshkosh chancellor to step down
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Chancellor Andrew Leavitt is stepping down at the end of the school year to return to teaching after a decade at the helm of the Fox Valley institution.
VP Kamala Harris to campaign at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Thursday
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris will be at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Thursday for a “meet and greet,” according to student media.
‘Malicious’ texts sent to Wisconsin youths to discourage them from voting
The Guardian
In their letter to the attorney general, Merrick Garland, the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin and the non-profit organization Free Speech for People claimed that the text message had “targeted young voters aged 18-25” and “reached many voters who are part of the University of Wisconsin system”. Now, the letter alleges, “many students and other young voters are fearful that they will face criminal prosecution if they register and exercise their right to vote – because of a malicious, inaccurate text sent by an anonymous party.”
Why Political Text Blasts Targeting College Students Are Drawing Outrage
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Meanwhile, college students in Wisconsin, another swing state, allegedly received mass texts last week that advocates say could dissuade them from voting. The claim came in a Tuesday letter from a free-speech-advocacy group writing on behalf of Wisconsin’s chapter of the League of Women Voters, which supports expanding voting access but does not endorse specific candidates.
UW-Oshkosh Chancellor Andrew Leavitt to step down at end of school year
Wisconsin State Journal
UW-Oshkosh Chancellor Andrew Leavitt will step down at the end of the school year and return to the faculty after a turbulent 12 months during which 20% of employees were eliminated, two branch campuses were slated for closure and faculty rebuked his leadership.
Campus life
UW-Madison temporarily removes sex education module after inquiry from conservative newspaper
Daily Cardinal
The University of Wisconsin-Madison removed a sex education module from University Health Services after an inquiry from The Madison Federalist indicated the module had a link to a pornographic website.
Proposed UW-Madison residence hall could alleviate housing shortage
Daily Cardinal
“It literally feels like [the] Hunger Games,” the student said of the housing process. “You got to be quick, or you’re going to be lost.”
UW-Madison students launch newspaper to fill ‘conservative student journalism’ void
Daily Cardinal
Conservative students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison launched a new student newspaper, The Madison Federalist, Wednesday evening. They first covered a sex education program that ‘promotes pornography.’
State news
Journal Sentinel’s Main Street Agenda town hall meeting discusses inflation. Here’s what we learned.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Yes, inflation has gone down, says Menzie Chinn, a UW-Madison economics and public affairs professor. But there’s a catch. He said that, though the rate of prices going up has slowed, it doesn’t mean prices are coming down. “Prices are flattening out,” Chinn said. “They are not going up as fast as they were, but they are still going up.”
J. Michael Collins, UW-Madison professor at La Follette School of Public Affairs and School of Human Ecology, said inflation hits people differently across the state, with one in four saying they’ve had trouble meeting expenses, especially rent, which can be a third to half of a person’s income.
Crime and safety
Man accused in brutal attack of UW-Madison student to change plea
WMTV - Channel 15
The brutal attack and sexual assault of a woman happened early the morning of Sept. 3, 2023, and left her fighting for her life. In the criminal complaint filed against Thompson, a Madison Police Department sergeant who was one of the first officers on the scene of the downtown assault described the victim’s injuries as “one of the most horrifying things I’ve seen.”
Man charged in brutal downtown assault of UW-Madison student to plead guilty
WKOW – Channel 27
According to a Dane County court filing obtained by 27 News, a lawyer for Brandon Thompson wrote to the judge “Defendant Brandon Thompson wishes to waive the upcoming motion hearing in his case, and wishes to instead enter a guilty plea.”
Community
Greetings! Madison Public Market art projects take shape
The Capital Times
Some art projects are still in the works, Wolf said, like a collaboration with UW-Madison Design Studies teaching professor Monika Thadhani and her class to make an engaging “food culture” wall of historic images.
Health
Wisconsin women share stories of suffering and pain before new guidance on IUD insertion
Wisconsin Public Radio
Dr. Molly Lepic, an OB-GYN with UW Health who teaches medical students, said pain is a varied response. Also, patients who have previously had a vaginal delivery typically feel less pain during IUD insertion because their cervix has dilated before.
“Everybody’s pain tolerance is different,” she added.
Business/Technology
Wisconsin’s public companies must disclose how much they pay CEOs. Here’s who topped the list.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Of the 25 companies, none of the CEOs’ actual salaries exceeded $2 million. Most of the time, the salary makes up a very small portion of a CEO’s pay package.
Many companies instead award their CEOs with shares of the company’s stock and other forms of equity to give CEOs “skin in the game,” said Fabio Gaertner, professor of accounting at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an expert on executive compensation.
UW Experts in the News
Kamala Harris works to fortify the ‘blue wall’ as Democrats fret over a 2016 repeat
CNN
said Barry Burden, director of the Elections Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “When the elections are this close, it’ (paywall)
UW-Madison Related
Meet the “Separated” Production Team
In 2007, he (Errol Morris) was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and was a graduate student at Princeton University and the University of California-Berkeley. He has received the Columbia Journalism Award and honorary degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Brandeis University, and Middlebury College.