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April 22, 2026

Campus life

Indian-American author delivers UW keynote APIDA Heritage Month speech

The Daily Cardinal

Author Sarah Thankam Mathews spoke about her relationship with writing and her experience immigrating to the U.S. last Thursday as part of the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month keynote speech.

Mathews is a University of Wisconsin-Madison alum who published her debut novel, “All This Could Be Different,” in 2022. The book follows a young woman in Milwaukee in 2008 as she navigates relationships and employment during the Great Recession.

Wisconsin Union to move forward on renovation to Hoofers’ Lake Lab

The Badger Herald

The Wisconsin Hoofers are getting a new expansion, as the University of Wisconsin plans a $2.7 million renovation to the club’s lake lab, according to Isthmus. The renovation to the lake lab, which is located off the Memorial Union shoreline, would include additional storage for the Hoofers’ sailing facility, an expanded rooftop, and a ramp compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, according to Isthmus.

Crime and safety

UWPD renews call for information in 1982 death of UW-Madison student

Channel 3000

The UW-Madison Police Department is renewing call for information in the 1982 death of UW-Madison student Donna Mraz.

In the early morning hours of July 2, 1982  just days before the July 4 holiday Mraz was walking home from her shift at The Bittersweet restaurant on State Street. While on a sidewalk behind Camp Randall Stadium, she was stabbed repeatedly by an unknown offender with an unknown motivation.

University of Wisconsin scientist accused of trying to poison lab colleague who got promotion

NBC News

A University of Wisconsin lab worker upset about his colleague’s behavior and promotion allegedly confessed to poisoning the co-worker’s water bottle.

Makoto Kuroda, 41, was charged with recklessly endangering safety and tampering with a household product “with the intent to kill, injure or otherwise endanger the health” of another person, according to a criminal complaint filed in Dane County last week.

Health

After 4,000 patients and 34 years, UW Health Med Flight doctor calls it a career

Wisconsin State Journal

Mike Abernethy had an unexpected meeting with a former patient in 2020 — one he’ll never forget.

It was after a shift in the emergency department. He was checking out with groceries at Walmart when a man approached him and asked, “Are you Dr. Abernethy?”

Abernethy had no recollection of the man until he unzipped his jacket and revealed a large scar.

Athletics

Wisconsin interim athletic director role comes with pay raise for Marcus Sedberry

Wisconsin State Journal

Marcus Sedberry is getting a pay raise to serve as interim athletic director at the University of Wisconsin.

Sedberry will have an annual base salary of $875,000 for the temporary role, according to an offer letter from UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin dated April 12. That was the same day Chris McIntosh submitted a resignation letteras he left the school to take a job as deputy commissioner of strategy at the Big Ten Conference.

UW-Madison Related