Federal law already bans the sale of aborted fetal tissue.
Don’t mess with lifesaving UW research
Wisconsin State Journal
Author: knutson4
Fetal tissue ban would halt life-saving research, officials warn Assembly panel
Wisconsin State Journal
Planned Parenthood and other groups could not profit from selling the tissue of aborted fetuses under a bill banning its sale and use, proponents of the measure told a state Assembly panel Tuesday.
Lawmakers to study merger of two-year UW campuses, tech colleges
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The ink is barely dry on a new state budget that aims to make the University of Wisconsin System more nimble and efficient, and already another idea to reshape public higher education in Wisconsin is under review by Assembly Republicans.
Legislators, UW Medical School dean spar on fetal tissue bill
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Research in Wisconsin could still be conducted on tissue derived from fetuses aborted more than five years ago while the state would ban some current research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison that uses more recently aborted tissue, under a proposal that came before lawmakers Tuesday.
Scientists work to make crispy, tasty fried potatoes a little healthier
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Nothing will quite make crunching into a deep-fried, spiral-cut potato-on-a-stick anything but a decadent treat enjoyed at the State Fair.
Legislative panel to hold hearing today on fetal tissue bill
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
All transfers of fetal tissue in Wisconsin could be banned, under a bill coming before lawmakers Tuesday that could affect medical research in the state.
WEDC program reimburses small companies for hiring interns
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Wisconsin companies with 500 or fewer employees could receive as much as $4,000 each for hiring an intern from the University of Wisconsin-Madison next summer, the state commerce agency said.
Stakeholders unite to save pollinators in Wisconsin
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Noted: The group writing the plan includes representatives from agricultural organizations and businesses, environmental groups, the University of Wisconsin, state, federal and tribal governments.
Removal of UW pedestrian bridge will close University Avenue
WISC-TV 3
A portion of University Avenue will be closed this week so crews can remove a pedestrian bridge, according to a release.
Ex-Badger Johannson to direct hockey operations for Team USA at World Cup
NBC-15
Noted: Johannson, who played for the Badgers from 1982-86 and was part of UW’s NCAA championship team in 1983, finished his UW career with 63 goals, 67 assists and 130 points in 148 games played. A 1982 draft pick of the Hartford Whalers, he went on to have a nine-year professional career that included playing stops in Germany, and with three teams in the International Hockey League.
UW pedestrian bridge to come down Monday
WKOW-TV 27
Current and former UW-Madison students say they’re sad to see a pedestrian bridge on campus torn down.
Farmers fret as milk prices plummet, profits dwindle
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Noted: In good times, farmers spend a lot of money on their businesses. Each dollar of net farm income results in an additional 60 cents of economic activity as it flows through the economy, according to UW-Madison research.
Fetal tissue bill imperils medical breakthroughs, researchers warn
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
In the late 1990s, Gail Robertson, a researcher studying irregular heartbeats at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, discovered the reason for unexplained cardiac deaths occurring in some patients who had used approved drugs.
Businesses from Milwaukee to Manitowoc prepping for PGA
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Quoted: Steven C. Deller, an economist from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said the economic impact from “recreational events like this oftentimes are more modest than people think theyre going to be.”
Seasoned Wisconsin Badgers have seen fair share of coaches
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Quarterback Joel Stave rebooted his personal computer more times than he preferred during his first four years at Wisconsin.
Army of citizen scientists help researchers track hurricanes
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Noted: The University of Wisconsin-Madisons Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies, or CIMSS, is partnering with the citizen science website Zooniverse and NOAA to categorize nearly 300,000 images collected over 32 years.
Used responsibly, fetal tissue has led to medical advances
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Noted: Authored by John R. Raymond, Sr., M.D., president and chief executive officer and professor of medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Robert N. Golden, M.D., dean of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, the Robert Turell Professor in Medical Leadership and vice chancellor for medical affairs.
Shortage of psychiatrists compounds states mental health care problems
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Noted: The two medical schools in the state — the Medical College of Wisconsin and University of Wisconsin-Madison — take in about 17 new psychiatry residents each year. Residents have already completed four years of medical school education.
Lakeforecast.org monitors lake clarity
NBC-15
Noted: The Clean Lakes Alliance, City of Madison, Dane County, Mio Soft, UW-Madison Center for Limnology, and the Space Science and Engineering Center teamed up to put this together.
Amy Wallner plots out a career in vegetable farming
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Amy Wallner studied soil science, horticulture and environmental studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After just a few months working at West Madison Agricultural Research Station, she knew she wanted to be a vegetable grower.
More playing, less memorizing: Milwaukee teachers learn to teach game creation
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Noted: Dave Gagnon is the program director for Field Day, which is housed within the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He’s in charge of about a dozen software engineers who help produce physical and nonphysical experiences aimed at helping students learn new topics.
UW-Madison professor to chair president’s science medal panel
Madison.com
A UW-Madison biochemist has been selected by Pres. Barack Obama to chair the committee honoring those making major contributions to the sciences.
Madison start-ups compete for Silicon Valley trip
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Noted: Fetch Rewards has an app that makes grocery shopping easier. It was founded in 2013 by Wes Schroll, who was a University of Wisconsin-Madison student at the time
SmartUQ provides a faster way to do complex computer simulations with its analytics software, which helps companies reduce the complexity, time and cost of design cycles. It was formed in 2014 by Peter Qian, a statistics professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Chappell to replace exiting Nate Kuester as morning news anchor at WDJT
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Kathryn Chappell, a Lake Geneva native who graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has been tapped to co-anchor the weekday morning news telecast at WDJT-TV (Channel 58).
Senator’s wife Ellen Proxmire was trailblazer in her own right
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Noted: Before marrying William Proxmire, Ellen came to Madison with her first husband, Wisconsin native Warren Sawall, and earned her bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Position-by-Position: Quarterbacks – After up and down year, Joel Stave set on starting job
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Joel Stave hasn’t completely erased the painful memories of a 2014 season that ranged from demoralizing to rousing.
Obama picks UW biochemist to lead science medal panel
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
University of Wisconsin-Madison biochemistry Prof. Judith Kimble has been tapped by President Barack Obama to chair the President’s Committee on the National Medal of Science.
UW-Madison ranked 3rd-highest party school by Princeton Review
WKOW-TV 27
A new report has the University of Wisconsin-Madison ranked as the third biggest party school in the country.
Position-by-Position: Running backs – Returning coach John Settle not afraid to distribute the workload
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
John Settle showed during his first stint as Wisconsins running backs coach a willingness to rely on freshmen and distribute the workload to keep the tailbacks fresh and hungry.
UW researcher seeks ways to extract components of acid whey
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Dean Sommer wants to turn 8 billion pounds of whey from a liability into an asset.
Party on, Abe: Illinois named top party school in the US
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Noted: Rounding out the top five party schools are, in order: The University of Wisconsin-Madison, Bucknell University in Pennsylvania and last years No. 1, Syracuse University in New York.
Middleton medical start-up raises $1.6 million from investors
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Noted: The start-up, which formed in 2013, according to state records, raised the money from 21 investors, the filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said. Among the investors is Jim Berbee, a medical doctor and assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who founded Berbee Information Networks Corp., which was acquired in 2006 by CDW for $175 million.
UW study participants give one more sample for science
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
In the 58 years since they first responded to the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, thousands of men and women have provided descriptions of their families, incomes, education, aspirations, social lives and health (both physical and mental). Many of the 10,317 who took the first survey have stuck with it, answering five follow-ups over the last half century.
Bee happy: UW researchers help growers improve pollinator habitats
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Jeremy Hemberger drives two hours to the cranberry marshes of central Wisconsin to glue radio chips to bumblebees. On a good day.
Stemming Wisconsin’s brain drain
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
In recent years, Wisconsin has seen a large exodus of college graduates seeking opportunities in other states. According to a study by University of Wisconsin-Madison professor Morris Davis, on average the state lost roughly 14,000 college graduates per year between 2008 and 2012. Almost half of those who left were young adults between the ages of 21 and 24 who recently obtained degrees. This loss of talent comes with consequences. This “brain drain” stunts entrepreneurial efforts, shrinks the tax base and ultimately hinders the states overall ability to innovate and grow economically.
Legislators need to hear message of open government summit
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Noted: “My own view is that there isnt a deliberative process privilege thats available,” said Raymond Taffora, the vice chancellor for legal affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Taffora was formerly the top deputy to Republican Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen and chief counsel to GOP Gov. Tommy Thompson.
Paul Chryst’s recruiting efforts for Badgers seem to be solid
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
One concern Wisconsin fans expressed after Paul Chryst was hired as head coach was whether UW’s former offensive coordinator, known for his ability to develop quarterbacks and call plays, would build a staff that would reel in talented players.
Position-by-Position: Running backs – Returning coach John Settle not afraid to distribute the workload
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
John Settle showed during his first stint as Wisconsin’s running backs coach a willingness to rely on freshmen and distribute the workload to keep the tailbacks fresh and hungry.
Lubars give $10 million for UW-M entrepreneurship center
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
A $10 million gift from Milwaukee philanthropists Sheldon and Marianne Lubar will help the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee establish a center for entrepreneurship in a sleek new building that also will be the official welcome center for prospective students and other campus visitors, the university is set to announce Thursday.
A Renaissance painting reveals how breeding changed watermelons
Vox
Quoted: James Nienhuis, a horticulture professor at the University of Wisconsin, uses the Stanchi painting in his classes to teach about the history of crop breeding.
Latest step in lion search: live traps with people food
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Quoted: In other parts of the country, including California and Colorado, wild mountain lions and coyotes have moved undetected through urban areas without causing problems, said Adrian Treves, professor of environmental studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies.
Report on deteriorating roads is no surprise
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Quoted: Eric Sundquist, managing director of the State Smart Transportation Initiative at the University of Wisconsin-Madison told the Journal Sentinel that kind of thinking is all wrong. An approach of, as he put it, “build, build, build” may actually worsen the condition of the local roads people travel on every day, the Journal Sentinel reported. Money may go to megaprojects at the expense of fixing potholes and maintaining pavement.
New UW recruiting director Andrew Marlatt selling school and football
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The man in charge of coordinating Wisconsin’s football recruiting efforts was a three-time all-Mid-American Conference pick as a defensive lineman, was a high school coach in Ohio for more than two decades, has coached at the college level, is familiar with UW’s tradition and the general formula the Badgers have used to win Big Ten titles and has longstanding ties to head coach Paul Chryst.
GOP lawmakers make move to ban sale of fetal body parts
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Quoted: Tim Kamp, a medical doctor and researcher and co-director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center, said the proposal could affect research on the campus and in private biotechnology companies.
Stave, Caputo, Clement to attend Big Ten media days
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Wisconsin’s four-person contingent at the Big Ten football media days will include two fifth-year seniors and arguably the most the most indispensable member of the offense.
UW football program is in good hands under Chryst
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Barry Alvarez scrutinized Paul Chryst’s work as the architect of Wisconsins offense for seven seasons, first in 2005 during his final season as UW’s head coach and then during the next six seasons as full-time athletic director.
Report finds 46% of area roads in poor condition
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Noted: But Eric Sundquist, managing director of the State Smart Transportation Initiative, warned against thinking “the only solution is turning on the spigot for more, more, more.” The group is housed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and advises states on sustainable transportation policy.
Start-up accelerator sets sights on Wisconsin universities
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Start-up accelerator gener8tor has launched an effort to pull more promising ideas out of Wisconsin’s colleges and universities and turn them into companies.
State Debate: James Rowen calls out Boss Vos, others revisit high courts John Doe ruling
Capital Times
Noted: Writing for the Forbes opinion site, UW-Madison Economics Prof. Noah Williams insists that under Scott Walker Wisconsin has prospered and people need to keep that in mind in 2016. Williams, who is an adviser to Walkers presidential campaign, claims that those who say Wisconsin is lagging the rest of the country are wrong and that the state is actually outperforming its neighbors.
Chad Alan Goldberg: University Committee spoke only for themselves on Goldrick-Rab
Capital Times
Dear Editor: As a tenured professor and faculty senator at UW-Madison, I am deeply disappointed with the University Committee’s hasty and ill-conceived reprimand of my colleague Sara Goldrick-Rab for allegedly damaging academic freedom and the university with statements she made on Twitter. Regardless of what one thinks about her tweets, one does not damage the principle of academic freedom by exercising it. It is bad enough that the Legislature has weakened tenure protections at the University of Wisconsin. The University Committee ought not to compound this situation by discouraging the fearless sifting and winnowing on which our institution once prided itself.
Top DNR wildlife biologist leaves for new job
Wisconsin State Journal
Noted: Walter was with the DNR from 2011 until this week. He has a master’s and doctorate degrees in wildlife ecology from the UW-Madison, and was a biology professor at the UW-Richland Center from 1999 to 2011.
Using child’s play to teach mathematics is focus of conference
Capital Times
Math knowledge is a better predictor of academic success than literacy, but high quality early instruction is key, says UW-Madison professor Beth Graue.
New CWD report gives hunters food for thought
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The 2002 discovery of chronic wasting disease in wild white-tailed deer near Mt. Horeb was a watershed event in Wisconsin wildlife history. Tom Heberlein, a sociologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, referred to it as “Fire in the Sistine Chapel.”
Pensions Are Taking the Long, Lonely Road to Retirement
U.S. News and World Report
Quoted: In the private sector, the situation has been far more stable, though not universally. “Bankruptcies in the airline and automobile industries have provided opportunities for these companies to get out from under what they viewed as long-term cost obligations,” says Barry Gerhart, professor of management and human resources at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. The pension commitments “were playing a key role in preventing them from being competitive or even turning a profit.”
UW-Madison is 25th best in world in new rankings
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The University of Wisconsin-Madison for the second year in a row ranked 25th in the world in the new Center for World University Rankings.
Madison Memorials Abdul Kooistra among 6 to sign with men’s soccer
Madison.com
The University of Wisconsin men’s soccer team announced the addition of six players Thursday, including three in-state products.
Lessons learned at Pan Am tryout invaluable to Nigel Hayes
Madison.com
While he did not leave Colorado with a spot on the U.S. roster for the Pan American Games, Nigel Hayes returned to Madison this week with two things that will come in very helpful during his junior season with the University of Wisconsin men’s basketball team.
UW faculty group deeply dismayed by professor’s Twitter behavior
Wisconsin State Journal
The UW-Madison faculty governing group has admonished a controversial UW professor who has taken to Twitter, vociferously speaking out against the effects Gov. Scott Walker’s administration is having on the university.
Rostowfske to lead revenue growth efforts for food and beverage companies
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Noted: Rostowfske will receive training from the Food Institute of the University of Wisconsin-Madison extension, organizers said. He has been doing consulting work for nearly two years with Oscar Mayer, Palermos Pizza and other well-known brands. Before that, Rostowfske was director of innovation and new business development at Palermos, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Whitford, Ridley, Rylance among Emmy nominees with state ties
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Noted: “Modern Family,” by University of Wisconsin-Madison alum Steve Levitan, received six nominations, including one for outstanding comedy series — an award the show has won each of the past five years.