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Legislature passes and Evers signs budget after sprint to get ahead of Trump big bill

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The overall package cuts taxes by $1.3 billion, spends hundreds of millions on building projects on University of Wisconsin System campuses, expands Medicaid funding, increases funding for special education and funds new childcare programs, among other measures. In all, it spends $111 billion, a 12% increase over current spending levels.

Wisconsin Supreme Court blocks 1849 law, allows abortion to continue

The Washington Post

Advocacy groups could continue trying to litigate whether there is a right to the procedure under the state constitution, said Miriam Seifter, a professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School. But for now, Wednesday’s ruling ends a complicated, three-year conflict over the state’s abortion laws.

“The question all along has been, how do they fit together?” she said.

How does the job market determine whether or not there’s inflation?

MarketPlace

Slower wage growth has an outsized impact on the cost of services, said Menzie Chinn, an economics professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

“Because services are provided, you know, the main input is going to be labor,” he said.

But Chinn said there are factors that could actually lead to higher wages in the service sector. For instance, employees might ask for higher wages to help them cover the cost of tariffs.

The Diddy verdict and the message it sends sexual assault survivors

USA Today

Black women survivors also face an uphill battle to be believed. In a 2025 study conducted by Chloe Grace Hart, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she found that Americans were less likely to say they believed a Black woman describing a sexual harassment experience compared to a white women describing the same thing.

Wisconsin’s 1849 law does not ban abortion, the state Supreme Court rules

NPR

Planned Parenthood had posited that the 176-year-old law conflicts with the provisions in the state constitution establishing a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as well as equal protection. So, the constitutional question goes unresolved, according to Bryna Godar, a staff attorney with the State Democracy Research Initiative at the University of Wisconsin Law School.

“And so, I think there will be continued conversations about what constitutional protections we have in Wisconsin,” says Godar. She says that could be future court cases or constitutional amendment ballot questions.

Evers, lawmakers agree to increase UW System funding by $256 million

The Daily Cardinal

Gov. Tony Evers and Republican legislative leaders reached an agreement Tuesday to a $256 million increase for the University of Wisconsin System — the largest funding increase in about two decades.

This would be a major turnaround for the UW System in the budget after Republican lawmakers threatened an $87 million cut just two weeks ago. The UW Board of Regents and Evers originally proposed a record-high $856 million increase for the system, a total that would bring the state’s public higher education funding in line with the national median.

A coming wave of student loan defaults will be ‘calamity’ for borrowers, a drag on the economy

Barron's

The wave of defaults may also inflict costs on taxpayers. Sending debts to collection comes with administrative costs, says Nicholas Hillman, a professor of education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “There are inefficiencies in the loan repayment system and the collections system,” says Hillman. “So it’s expensive.” Hillman stressed, however, that the alternative to collections—allowing borrowers to forgo debt payments, effectively canceling the loans—would be far more costly for taxpayers.

Sea spiders lack a key body part and a missing gene could explain why

The New York Times

Biologists interested in reconstructing the family trees of spiders and their relatives have long sought a complete sea spider genome, said Prashant Sharma of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who is an author of the new paper. Because sea spiders are members of a group that are siblings of arachnids on land, characteristics they share with modern land spiders could be traced to a common ancestor.

Madison musicians, artists collaborate at Next Wave

The Cap Times

On the last weekend in June, artist and recent University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate Ava Albelo organized “Cog in the Machine” at Next Wave Studios, a multimedia production space on Madison’s east side.

Albelo said she funded the project with a grant from the UW-Madison Art Department. She hoped younger people would come to the show “and be interested in the artwork and ask questions and enjoy the music.”

After uptick in firework injuries, Wisconsin medical providers urge safety on July Fourth

Wisconsin Public Radio

Dr. Patrick Shahan, trauma and acute care surgeon at UW Health, said last year’s uptick in injuries was also felt in Wisconsin.

“It can be something as small as a hand burn from a sparkler up to really substantial, life-threatening injuries from explosions,” he said. “Things like really severely injured and disfigured hands, especially from people who are holding fireworks when they’re lighting them.”

Cool spring has given way to a warm, wet growing season for Wisconsin crops

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

During a recent training session for crops and soils specialists, plant pathologist Damon Smith with the University of Wisconsin says growers are experiencing weather that is ideal for corn tar spot infection.

“It’s too early to see symptoms now,” he told them, “but it is likely that infections are occurring and that growers need to be vigilant in their scouting of susceptible fields in coming weeks.”

Republican budget leaders moving forward a plan to close the aging Green Bay prison

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The plan to close the prison was not part of a negotiated deal with Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, which included tax cuts, increased Medicaid funding and a boost for the University of Wisconsin System. Because the prison plan is not a part of the deal, Evers could veto the plan once the full budget reaches his desk.

Walter E. Dewey

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

He graduated from Wauwatosa East High School in 1979 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance, Investments and Banking from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1983. He earned his Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 1989.

In the final weeks of Walter’s life, he and his family established a focused strategy to advance pancreatic immunology research at the UW Carbone Cancer Center. In lieu of flowers, the family invites memorial gifts to support this initiative.

Kaul sues Trump administration for abrupt halt of mental health funds, calls it ‘awful policy’

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

But most notably, he cited the impacts. The funding cuts have marred efforts to train 24 school psychology graduates at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who were set to work in high-need schools after graduation. Although 19 students were on track to graduate, the university projects a loss of more than $2.8 million. That funding loss, the institution warned, means some students may not be able to finish their degrees or afford to work in the schools once they graduate.

Budget deal gives some lawmakers heartburn. Tony Evers, GOP leaders say that’s what compromise looks like

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The budget deal includes $14 million in municipal service payments — payments from the state for police, fire and waste removal services provided to state facilities by local governments — a significant chunk of which will go to the City of Madison. It also includes $194 million for projects at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which is in Roys’ district.

Musk vows to start a third party. Funding’s no issue, but there are others.

The Washington Post

“A new party is going to benefit most from Musk if they can draw on his resources but keep him in the background,” said Barry Burden, director of the University of Wisconsin’s Elections Research Center. “And if he can portray himself as an innovator and a tech entrepreneur — and somebody who is really contributing to the American economy and funding this new operation without being its front person — I think that’s probably going to lead to the most success.”

Gov. Evers, legislative leaders reach budget deal that includes funding increases for UW System, child care

WKOW - Channel 27

Gov. Tony Evers, Assembly Republicans, Senate Republicans and Senate Democrats say they’ve reached a bipartisan deal on the next state budget.

The announcement comes just hours before the legislative committee that writes the state budget is set to vote on funding for a slew of government agencies.

Gov. Evers, legislative leaders reach budget deal that includes funding increases for UW System, child care

WKOW - Channel 27

Gov. Tony Evers, Assembly Republicans, Senate Republicans and Senate Democrats say they’ve reached a bipartisan deal on the next state budget.

The announcement comes just hours before the legislative committee that writes the state budget is set to vote on funding for a slew of government agencies.

Negotiations change in final year of Wisconsin’s agreement with Under Armour

Wisconsin State Journal

The final year of the 10-year contract between the University of Wisconsin and Under Armour, which started Tuesday, is set to deliver $4 million in rights fees to the school and $3.05 million worth of products to outfit Badgers teams.

Whether the partnership will still be in place a year from now and under what terms are issues that’ll be resolved in the coming months.

Gov. Tony Evers and legislative leaders reach bipartisan deal on budget after months of negotiations

Wisconsin Examiner

Gov. Tony Evers and Republican and Democratic legislative leaders have reached a tentative agreement on the 2025-27 state budget, agreeing to invest hundreds of millions in the University of Wisconsin system, to create new grant and payment programs for child care facilities, further boost investment in special education and cut $1.3 billion in taxes.

Wisconsin’s Democratic governor reaches budget deal with Republicans to cut taxes, fund university

Associated Press

Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Republicans who control the state Legislature announced a deal Tuesday on a new two-year budget that cuts income taxes, increases funding for the Universities of Wisconsin despite a threatened cut and raises fees to pay for transportation projects.

Aging Studies comes to UW-Madison; alcohol-related liver disease deaths increasing; The Weather Guys return

Wisconsin Public Radio

We talk about why UW-Madison will offer an Aging Studies Certificate starting this fall. Then, we’ll talk about the worrisome increase in U.S. deaths from alcohol-related liver disease. Then, the Weather Guys return after another widespread heat wave.

Here’s a sample of the common readers colleges are assigning this year

Forbes

Duke University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison are both assigning “James” by Percival Everett as their common reader. The novel is a fiercely satiric and darkly funny reimagining of Mark Twain’s American classic, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” told from Jim’s point of view. It won both the National Book Award for 2024 and the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

New UW-Madison class trains doctors on Latino cultural competency

The Cap Times

The number of Latinos affected by dementia nationwide is expected to rise nine-fold over the next 30 years, according to Dr. Mora Pinzon, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

And to meet this growing need, UW-Madison’s medical school is launching a new course to better train future doctors in culturally competent care. With around 660 students total currently enrolled, the school plays a significant role in training doctors in the state.

UW-Madison employees urge considering their voices amid budget cuts

The Cap Times

Like other universities across the country, the University of Wisconsin-Madison isn’t immune to growing financial pressures from federal funding cuts, changes and delays.

Over half of the 18 universities in the Big Ten have announced some kind of belt-tightening measures in recent months, as President Donald Trump’s administration has altered or slashed federal funding for research and higher education.

Wisconsin state budget breakthrough yields gains for UW system, special education

Wisconsin State Journal

Gov. Tony Evers and Republican leaders in the Legislature have reached a budget agreement that could give the Universities of Wisconsin its biggest boost in two decades, increase how much the state reimburses school districts for special education and continue subsidies for the state’s child care industry.

Under the deal, the UW system will get $256 million in new state aid that must be allocated under two new formulas that prioritize stabilizing campuses with declining enrollment and rewarding campuses for the number of credit hours that students complete.

Some Wisconsin men’s basketball season ticket prices jumping 46% over next two seasons

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

As the University of Wisconsin athletic department continues to seek additional revenue streams, it was only a matter of time before it looked at its season ticket prices for men’s basketball.

On June 30, UW started its ticket campaign for the upcoming season. In the process, the athletic department announced a two-year plan to raise ticket prices for 65% of its season ticket locations. The increases will be rolled out for the 2025-26 and 26-27 seasons.

For one night, international soccer game in Madison helped fans forget immigration anxiety

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Diego Adame just finished his freshman year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He’s from Monterey, so he and his dad were excited to attend the match, both wearing Tigres jerseys and calling out to players they knew.

Recently, the Trump administration tried to revoke the student visas of at least 27 Wisconsin students. Adame said his visa remained valid and he tries not to worry about what could happen.

“I just put the work in with studying and that’s about it,” Adame said. “Just stay focused on the grades.”

 

Legislature blows past budget deadline despite late-night negotiations with Gov. Tony Evers

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

In the end, at around 10:30 p.m., the committee began its meeting but scrapped votes on the most controversial areas of the budget, like the University of Wisconsin System, Medicaid funding, and whether to close the Green Bay Correctional Institution. Those areas are scheduled to be taken up Tuesday, July 1 — a day before the full Legislature is set to vote on the new budget bill.

If ‘big, beautiful bill’ passes, Wisconsin Planned Parenthood clinics could disappear

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

According to a June brief from the Collaborative for Reproductive Equity at UW-Madison’s School of Medicine and Public Health, if all federal funding to Planned Parenthood was cut, Wisconsin community health centers would need to increase their contraception case loads by 144%, local health departments by 144% and hospitals by 142% to absorb Planned Parenthood patients — which the collaborative called “unrealistic, if not impossible” given current capacity.

New Wisconsin election observer rule faces backlash from 2020 fake Trump elector

Badger Herald

Election observation rules are not updated very often in Wisconsin, and these new guidelines are mainly in response to election skeptics who are doubtful about the results of the 2020 election, University of Wisconsin political science professor Barry Burden said.

“It’s taken nearly five years to get a new set of rules to update and make clear some of the things that were bothering people in 2020,” Burden said.

The UW system is losing rural students’ interest. This pilot program aims to reverse course

Wisconsin State Journal

As part of a pilot program called Wisconsin Rural Scholars, high school students from seven small and rural high schools around the state spent a week at UW-Madison in mid-June aimed at introducing them to the college environment. The program is funded by a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant and was free for students to attend.