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Author: gbump

Editorial | Lifesaving UW-Madison research threatened by funding cuts

The Capital Times

It is beyond comprehension that any responsible American policymaker would take actions that might undermine — or even destroy — efforts that have already yielded tremendous progress for ailing Americans. And that have the potential, in relatively short order, to make historic breakthroughs in the fight against diseases and conditions that have caused immense pain, heartbreak and death.

Wisconsin football hires Badgers administrator as general manager

Wisconsin State Journal

Marcus Sedberry is set to become the Badgers football general manager, a BadgerExtra source said. Sedberry has been in the Wisconsin athletic department since February 2022 serving as the deputy athletic director and chief operating officer, with football being his top sport as an administrator.

‘Bucky’s mom’ has been caring for UW-Madison’s beloved mascot for 25 years

Wisconsin State Journal

Josette Jaucian has been “Bucky’s mom” — or on the occasion he misbehaves, “Bucky’s unofficial parole officer” — since 2000. She took over leading the Spirit Squad in that year, which consists of not only wrangling the multiple performers who bring the Bucky costume to life, but also overseeing the university’s dance team and cheerleaders, more than 60 students total.

Dr. E. K. (Ken) Greenwald

Wisconsin State Journal

Ken was cajoled out of retirement to join the University of Wisconsin engineering faculty. In that capacity, he lectured around the world.

Molly Rose (Morrison) Philosophos

Wisconsin State Journal

In 2016, Tim and Molly moved to Madison, Wis., where their three Badger children also lived, and she began her dream job as a fundraiser for the UW-Madison School of Business through the UW Foundation and Alumni Association. Her commitment to her craft and passion for the university translated into professional exceptionalism in her role as managing senior director of development.

Public data removal impacts university research

The Badger Herald

When this kind of data is taken away from journalists, researchers and the public, it can have big consequences for what we are able to learn, University of Wisconsin School of Journalism and Mass Communications professor Michael Wagner said.

“Being able to use public data to write stories that can hold the powerful to account is the lifeblood of good journalism and so journalists need to have access to public data to tell their audience how our leaders are using,” Wagner said. “And so to take these down and prevent journalists and researchers from using them, makes it a lot harder for us to hold power to account.”

Mary Ann Test

Wisconsin State Journal

In 1978 Dr. Test joined the social work faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Outsourcing in Wisconsin state government expands under Evers

The Capital Times

Andrew Reschovsky, a professor emeritus of public affairs at UW-Madison, said sometimes it makes sense for a state agency to contract out services when it doesn’t have the staff or knowledge for the work. Without the outcome of cost-benefit analyses or other information, it is impossible to know when contracting out makes sense without querying each agency, he said.

‘Real brutal capitalism.’ Wisconsin nursing home sales surge, quality drops

The Capital Times

“We tend to be going more and more towards a real brutal capitalism, I think everywhere,” said Barbara Bowers, a professor emerita at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Nursing. “And it’s fine if it’s about the quality of your television set. But it’s a different issue when it’s the quality of somebody’s life. I think we treat this as any other commodity, which is really unfortunate.”

UW Board of Regents approves $4.7 million for electrical projects, Chancellor Mnookin discusses new construction

Daily Cardinal

The $4.7 million in recently approved funds will go toward two projects, one at UW-Stevens Point and one at UW-Madison. At UW-Stevens Point, they’ll replace emergency generators which are “undersized to provide adequate capacity,” and at UW-Madison, they’ll replace electrical distribution equipment at the West Campus Electrical Substation owned by both UW-Madison and Madison Gas & Electric.

UW-Madison grad students ‘are very afraid’ of federal funding turmoil

The Capital Times

A federal judge last month blocked efforts by President Donald Trump’s administration to halt the flow of billions of federal dollars. Wisconsin officials worried the freeze would have wide-ranging effects, including at the state’s flagship university.

Then over the weekend, the National Institutes of Health announced a “dramatic” cut in funding for some research expenses at UW-Madison and other institutions, Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin and other university leaders said in a statement.

Influenza-A leads record respiratory illness spike in Dane County

WMTV - Channel 15

Health officials say that the peak in respiratory illnesses hit Dane County late this year, leaving hospitals and urgent care facilities packed.

“It did start late and it really came on like wild fire,” said Dr. Jim Conway, pediatric infectious disease doctor with UW Health Kids and medical director of UW Health’s immunization program.