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February 5, 2025

Top Stories

UW Economics Professor appointed to President’s Council of Economic Advisers

Badger Herald

Curt and Sue Culver Professor of Economics at the University of Wisconsin Kim Ruhl has been appointed as a member of the Council of Economic Advisers by the Trump administration, according to a UW press release. Ruhl currently serves as the co-director for the Center of Research on the Wisconsin Economy and is an expert in international economics.

Research

Wisconsin child care costs soar, but thousands miss out on state aid

The Capital Times

“If you’re eligible for a subsidy and there’s just no child care in your community, or no providers that accept subsidies, that’s going to make it a lot harder for you to actually participate in (Wisconsin) Shares,” Pilarz said.

The state’s providers could care for up to 33,000 more children if they had staff to operate at full capacity, according to a 2024 UW-Madison study commissioned by the Department of Children and Families. The study found nearly 60% of Wisconsin child care providers had unused space, including closed classrooms.

Higher Education/System

Campus life

Crime and safety

Agriculture

Ag industry leaders say Trump policy changes on trade, immigration could hurt farmers

Wisconsin State Farmer

Farm economists and industry experts weighed in on these impacts during the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Wisconsin Agricultural Outlook Forum, an annual event for farm and food industry leaders in the state. Chuck Nicholson, associate professor of agricultural and applied economics at UW-Madison, was one of the speakers.

“If we substantively implement some of the policy ideas that have been proposed and talked about prior to the inauguration, I think that will pose some pretty significant economic challenges for the farmers of Wisconsin and the U.S. generally,” Nicholson said.

Opinion

Donald Trump and the End of DEI: Students weigh in

Wall Street Journal

Column by UW-Madison student Devin Mehta: At a state school such as my own, the wide range of political beliefs, backgrounds and ideas creates wide-ranging discussions and open worldviews. DEI initiatives are valuable on campuses because they force constructive dialogue that challenges existing viewpoints.

UW-Madison Related

‘Influencing culture’ at UW-Madison

Madison Catholic Herald

After most recently working as the adult faith and evangelization coordinator for St. Christopher Parish in Verona and Paoli — part of Divine Mercy Pastorate — where she is also currently a parishioner, Swanke has accepted a position at the Lumen Center, an ecumenical think tank on the UW campus. The Lumen Center, an initiative of the Stephen & Laurel Brown Foundation, has a mission to influence the university “at the level of ideas,” Swanke explained.