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December 18, 2025

Research

Filipinx American Student Organization advocates in response to discontinuation of UW Filipino language program

Posted on
The Badger Herald

Starting in the fall 2026 semester, the University of Wisconsin’s Filipino language program will no longer be offered, according to Filipinx American Student Organization Communications Chair Ethan Ham.

The program’s elimination follows federal funding cuts by the Trump administration and the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education’s International and Foreign Language Education program that administers Title VI funding.

Title VI funding was established as part of the Higher Education Act and is used to support foreign language programs.

Higher Education/System

Slumping attendance means slumping alcohol sales at Wisconsin football home games

Posted on
Wisconsin State Journal

The number of alcohol unit sales at Badgers games at Camp Randall Stadium in 2025 fell 21% compared to the first year of availability at general concession stands in 2024.

That decrease was slightly more than the 20% falloff in the number of fans in the venue between the two seasons. Records obtained through public records requests showed there were slightly fewer alcoholic beverage units sold per ticket scanned in 2025 than in 2024.

How much did you read the Cap Times in 2025? Take our news quiz!

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The Cap Times

Which performers headlined concerts at Camp Randall Stadium in 2025, marking the venue’s first concerts in decades?

After a 28-year hiatus, UW-Madison reintroduced concerts at the football stadium in June with a two-night performance by country singer Morgan Wallen. Less than a month later, Coldplay took the stage, marking the British band’s first show in Madison.

Under the terms of her employment contract, University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin received a bonus this year for staying in her job and for “satisfactory” performance. How much did she receive from the bonus?

Mnookin’s base pay surpassed $892,000 by 2024 after pay raises for UW system employees and “catch-up base salary increases” for multiple chancellors. Her annual bonus for staying is set to increase each year, from $150,000 this year up to $350,000 in 2029.

State news

Without WI deer hunters, environment would be in big trouble | Opinion

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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Left to expand without any check, our robust deer populations would overrun our natural environment (Wisconsin’s is 1.8 million, up two-thirds from just 10 years ago). As the Journal Sentinel reported, one UW-Madison study found 40 percent of species changes in northern Wisconsin and Michigan forests were tied to over-eating of plant life by deer, from stunting native tree regeneration to wiping out some plants altogether.

Experts worry new strain and low vaccination rates could mean severe flu season in Wisconsin

Posted on
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

“It’s still early in the season, but we’re starting to see things start to go up,” said Dr. James Conway, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Global Health Institute. “We fortunately seem to be later than some areas of the country, which is good, but our immunization rates are well below where they need to be.”

Wisconsin’s 32 Most Influential Black Leaders for 2025, Part 4

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Madison 365

Deana Wright is the director of older adult programs for MTZ Charitable Organization, Inc., where she oversees programming and services for nearly 300 Black older adults in Madison, and is the founder and president of The Wright Place, a nonprofit focused on culturally responsive, participant-centered programming for aging adults. She previously served as diversity and inclusion manager at NewBridge Madison, where she expanded access to culturally responsive programming, and later worked in outreach with the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Medicine and Public Health’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, supporting recruitment of Black older adults into brain health research studies. Wright is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison and serves as an appointed commissioner on the City of Madison Equal Opportunities Commission.

Wisconsin’s 32 Most Influential Black Leaders for 2025, Part 3

Posted on
Madison 365

Dr. Michelle Robinson is the chief programs and partnerships officer for the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness. Her recognitions include awards from Church Women United, the Progress Center for Black Women, the Urban League of Greater Madison, the State Council on Affirmative Action, and UW–Madison’s Outstanding Women of Color in Education honor. Robinson holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in sociology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a B.A. in sociology from the University of Texas at Austin.

 

Health

New Dane County population projections see growth accelerating

Posted on
The Cap Times

A group of local planning and demography specialists known as the Regional Data Group estimate the county will have 887,000 residents by 2050, an increase of roughly 58% from the 2020 census count of 561,504.

The Regional Data Group includes staff from the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission and the Greater Madison Metropolitan Planning Organization, along with the city, county and University of Wisconsin-Madison. Its projections take into account local development patterns and expects much more room for population influx.