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Author: knutson4

Wisconsin Badgers changed the brats they’re serving at games. Here’s the backstory

Posted on
Wisconsin State Journal

Part of the shipment of food to be prepared for the next week’s University of Wisconsin football game arrived, as usual, at Camp Randall Stadium on a Thursday. The collection was short in one product that in Wisconsin almost certainly would get noticed if concession stands ran out early: There weren’t enough brats.

In the short term, a search gathered enough supply of the brats to get Wisconsin through the football season before pivoting. Over the following months, chefs went through a taste-testing process that informed how they were planning to move forward.

A “country cap” at universities shouldn’t worry international families

Posted on
Forbes

While the proposed caps might not immediately affect most colleges, some of the “elite” private colleges and large state schools would be impacted. Columbia University, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of Southern California, along with the University of Michigan, the University of Wisconsin, and the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, all surpass the proposed limit. The high concentration of international students at these institutions is more related to brand recognition and recruitment efforts than to student success. Families should keep this in mind.

UW, state leaders unveil Morgridge Hall, ushering in ‘AI revolution’

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The Daily Cardinal

Morgridge Hall, the new home of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Computer, Data and Information Sciences (CDIS) programs, which may soon separate from Letters & Sciences, is officially open for business.

After a two-and-a-half-year construction project which cost $260 million, Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin and a host of other speakers cut the ribbon on Morgridge Hall Friday, ushering in a “new AI revolution” that will sweep the campus.

Lake Winnebago wild rice restoration project continues despite federal funding cut

Posted on
Wisconsin Public Radio

For Jessica Skeesuck, vice chair of the Brothertown Indian Nation, restoring wild rice goes beyond just helping the environment.

“It is an important food from a nutritional value perspective, but also from a very important cultural perspective for many tribes, including Brothertown Indian Nation,” Skeesuck told WPR’s “Wisconsin Today.”

Skeesuck and Jessie Conaway, an outdoor educator at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, are co-leads on the Intertribal Lake Winnebago Wild Rice Revitalization Project.

About that column I didn’t write as a UW professor

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Wisconsin State Journal

“I am not going to be that professor who posts on social media and is promptly pilloried for expressing an opinion.

“Like many academics these days, I have been wanting to weigh in on recent crises and tragedies that are at the top of the news cycle. But such a course hardly seems wise.”

Written by Russ Castronovo, a professor of English and the director of the Center for the Humanities at UW-Madison.

Tool developed at UW-Madison helps map health disparities nationwide

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Wisconsin State Journal

Where someone lives can shape their health, just as much as the care they receive. That’s why Dr. Amy Kind of her team at UW-Madison have developed the Area Deprivation Index (ADI).

The tool maps health disparities using the impacts of income, housing, education and employment on health.

UW-Madison cuts diversity-related unit in human resources office

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Wisconsin State Journal

UW-Madison has shuttered the equity and well-being department in its human resources office, which worked to retain LGBTQ+ and employees of color.

The university established the Office of Equity, Inclusion and Employee Well-Being in spring 2021 to offer consultation and promote inclusive policies and environments, with a focus on support for traditionally marginalized communities.

UW-Madison lab creating archive of historic, significant locations for Black Madisonians

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Spectrum News

New research going on at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is focused on how Black residents find and build community in the City of Madison, which is predominantly white.

About a dozen students are part of the first research lab within UW-Madison’s Department of African American Studies. It’s called the Soulfolk Collective.

4 takeaways from UW-Madison’s new enrollment numbers this fall

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The Cap Times

Overall enrollment held steady. The number of graduate and international students declined, as anticipated. And the University of Wisconsin-Madison welcomed roughly 1,000 of the state’s top students through a new program this fall.

Those were among the key takeaways after Wisconsin’s flagship university released its latest enrollment numbers, based on a student census conducted on the 10th day of classes.

VIDEO: Fight and gunfire outside UW Madison frat house

Posted on
WKOW - Channel 27

Madison police responded to reports of a fight with a shot fired on Friday in the 200 block of Langdon Street outside Pi Kappa Alpha on UW-Madison’s fraternity row. Authorities took an 18-year-old into custody nearby and recovered physical evidence at the scene.

“We live right over here, and like, past three, four years, we spend so much time on this street. And just to like, the fact that it happened is super scary,” said Jimmy Lynch, a UW-Madison student.

Here’s what the return of nuclear power to Kewaunee County means for Wisconsin’s workforce

Posted on
Wisconsin Watch

Bringing a new power station online means Wisconsin would need more nuclear engineers to design and operate the plant.

Department Chair Paul Wilson and Assistant Professor Ben Lindley believe there is a ready pipeline of qualified workers in the state to keep up with that added demand. UW-Madison “pumps out” nuclear engineers, but Wisconsin has only one nuclear plant located in Two Rivers, Lindley said. This leaves some graduates to look for employment in other states.

“A lot of them want to stay in the state, and so having more job opportunities would certainly help,” Lindley said.

Trump education cuts quietly declare that opportunity should be rationed on race

Posted on
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Written by Anthony Hernandez, a faculty member in the Department of Educational Policy Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He received a research award from the National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation for his study on leadership in higher education.

A Milwaukee woman thought her insurance covered flood damage. It was a $60K misunderstanding.

Posted on
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Many residents in high-flood-risk areas, like coastal or riverside communities, have shifted to private flood insurance programs that can cover more damage, said Ben Collier, an associate professor of risk and insurance at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The NFIP covers up to $250,000 for homes and buildings and up to $100,000 in personal property. Collier said costs can easily exceed that in the most severe flood situations.

“The National Flood Insurance Program has been priced too low and has run deficits for many years,” Collier said. “The coverage limits are not especially high.”

Man charged with homicide in fatal beating of former co-worker in UW parking lot

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Wisconsin State Journal

Arecently fired co-worker of a man severely beaten last month outside Camp Randall in Madison has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the man’s death.

Keith A. Jones, 58, of Madison, attacked Mark A. Tiggelaar, 62, of Fitchburg, in a University of Wisconsin Athletics parking lot in the early morning hours of Sept. 20, according to a criminal complaint filed Friday.

Federal budget cuts could affect tremendous progress in weather forecasting

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Wisconsin State Journal

“Recent budget reductions to NOAA are reducing the observations needed to support these accurate weather prediction models. This budget impact results in fewer observations of the atmosphere and elimination of future satellite systems.”

Steve Ackerman and Jonathan Martin, professors in the UW-Madison department of atmospheric and oceanic sciences.

How salary for new Wisconsin women’s tennis coach compares to predecessor

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Wisconsin State Journal

Marek Michalicka will make $125,000 this year in base salary, according to records released to BadgerExtra by the university through a public records request. This is his first college head coaching position.

He was hired for the job after Kelcy McKenna left for Southern Methodist in August just before the start of what would have been her 10th season in charge. She made $153,816 last season after starting with a $95,000 salary in 2016.

UW system plan nixes ethnic and cultural studies requirement

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Wisconsin State Journal

Universities of Wisconsin proposal to redesign general education curriculum would eliminate requirements that students take an ethnic or cultural studies class.

UW system administrators are trying to standardize general education requirements to comply with reforms approved during the biennial budget negotiations aimed at making it easier for students to transfer credits between the 13 universities.

John Searle obituary

Posted on
The Guardian

Having studied for two years at his local university, Wisconsin-Madison, he had won a Rhodes scholarship to Oxford – unaware, he later insisted, that philosophy at the university was going through “a golden age”.

 

Trump’s tariffs are hurting the people who voted for him

Posted on
HuffPost

“The tariffs are an insult to injury,” said Paul Mitchell, a professor of agriculture and applied economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Mitchell says farmers are now quietly rethinking the Trump administration’s strategies.

“We already have enough problems,” as he puts it. “Why are you making more for us?”

Wisconsin lawmakers propose ban on hemp-derived THC

Posted on
WKOW - Channel 27

“I feel like closing loopholes is kind of like this idea of putting Band-Aids on big wounds … it doesn’t seem like it will solve a problem,” said Shelby Ellison.

Ellison, a hemp researcher and assistant professor in the Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences at UW–Madison, proposes that the state could implement age limits, require testing and labeling, and prevent packaging that appeals to children.

“There’s lots of things to do with packaging and marketing that there are no restrictions on in Wisconsin that many other states have … but just that you can’t make it look like Skittles, right?” Ellison said.

The flamingos are coming back to Bascom Hill. Here’s what to know

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Wisconsin State Journal

A flock of pink lawn flamingos will again dot the front lawn of UW-Madison’s Bascom Hill next week.

Support from the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association fundraiser, called Fill the Hill, which has happened at UW-Madison for over a decade, is more significant this year than ever amid cuts to federal funding, its organizers say.

UW-Madison, city partner to locate cheaper apartments for students

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Isthmus

City and UW-Madison officials want to make it easier for low-income students to find cheaper housing options.

Under a city zoning change enacted in 2024, downtown developers may exceed maximum story limits as long as they stay under the maximum height permitted under city ordinances and state law. In exchange, developers building student housing are expected to commit a negotiated amount of affordable beds for low-income applicants.

UW Health, CDC differ in COVID-19 vaccine guidance for Wisconsin

Posted on
Spectrum News

While the current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesn’t recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for healthy children and pregnant women, UW Health is recommending the vaccine for everyone 6 months old and older.

“We’ve always leaned into the professional societies’ recommendations,” said Dr. Jim Conway, the medical director of the UW Health immunization program and an infectious disease physician with UW Health Kids. “The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians [and] the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology have all endorsed, based on data, that every person over 6 months is eligible and should consider getting these vaccines.”

Wisconsin moves to bring PFAS limits in line with contested federal standards

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Wisconsin Public Radio

The EPA could take enforcement action against Wisconsin if the Legislature decides not to approve the rule or comply with federal standards, said Steph Tai, an environmental law professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

“They could initiate what’s called an administrative order to tell the state to comply, or they could do a civil action against the state,” Tai said.

Strifling added the EPA could offer water systems assistance with co

Swap your boiler for a money-saving heat pump

Posted on
Popular Science

While heat pumps in the US have traditionally been associated with warmer locations, they are starting to become more feasible for colder climes. “You can pretty much buy a heat pump for most climates in the US and it can lower your energy bills,” Allison Mahvi, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, tells Popular Science. Some of Mahvi’s research focuses on  how to make more efficient heat pump systems for cold climates.

College rankings were once a shocking experiment

Posted on
The Atlantic

Manly’s list attracted wide notice, and a bit of controversy. But like Embree’s, it was a one-off. A few public institutions made Manly’s top 10—UC Berkeley, the University of Michigan, and the University of Wisconsin—but the Ivy League and private schools that topped the list remained clubby domains that catered to their traditional clientele by selecting for intangible qualities, such as “character,” over academic excellence.

UW panel discusses impact of housing quality on equity, well-being

Posted on
The Badger Herald

The University of Wisconsin’s Institute for Research on Poverty hosted a webinar Sept. 30 to examine the impact of housing quality on families and communities — focusing on health, stability and the lasting effects of discriminatory policies such as redlining.

The event featured presentations from senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Erik Hembre, Emory University assistant professor of epidemiology Christine Ekenga and Boston University assistant professor of sociology Steven Schmidt.

Flu, COVID-19 vaccines available at UW Health

Posted on
WMTV - Channel 15

Dr. Jim Conway, medical director of the UW Health immunization program and infectious disease physician with UW Health Kids, stressed the importance of vaccines to protect yourself and your loved ones respiratory illness season kicks off.

“By getting vaccinated, you decrease your chances of getting infected, or, if you do get infected, it’s more likely to be a milder case,” said Conway, who is also a professor of pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. “Everyone who can, should get the vaccines, but especially those who are 65 and older or individuals with high-risk factors.”

UW students to lose local abortion access

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The Daily Cardinal

University of Wisconsin-Madison students will no longer have access to local abortion services, as Madison’s East Planned Parenthood clinic will pause performing abortions in October, forcing students seeking care to travel to the closest clinic located in Rockford, Ill. or independent practices in Milwaukee.

FAFSA opens despite government shutdown

Posted on
Wisconsin Public Radio

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, for the 2026 academic year went live Wednesday as scheduled, despite the government shutdown.

Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman is urging high school students and their families to fill out FAFSA paperwork if students plan to attend one of the state’s 13 public schools or other private colleges.

Bipartisan legislation would create a Wisconsin registry for Parkinson’s Disease cases

Posted on
Wisconsin Examiner

The draft legislation calls for the establishment of a registry at the Department of Population Health Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health. The registry would include a website with annual reports on the incidence and prevalence of Parkinson’s Disease in Wisconsin.

Fall wildlife, and the impact of antibiotics pollution on frogs

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Wisconsin Public Radio

For another Wildlife Wednesday, emeritus professor and UW Extension wildlife ecologist Scott Craven joins us to talk about fall hunting seasons, the cost of poaching, and the latest on wolves in Wisconsin.

Antibiotic drugs are polluting waterways and exacerbating the spread of an infectious fungal disease in frogs and salamanders. We talk to Jessica Hua, an associate professor in UW-Madison’s Forest and Wildlife Ecology Department, about new research on the subject.

Local industries impacted by government shutdown

Posted on
Spectrum News

Barret Elward is an engineer at UW-Madison, and co-president of United Faculty and Academic Staff (UFAS) Local 223, the union that represents faculty and staff at UW-Madison.

Elward and his team study fusion energy. Their work is mainly funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, which is directly affected by the government shutdown.

“We’ve already been operating under don’t buy the expensive things, or be really cautious about your expenses,” Elward said.

UW-Madison international enrollment drops to lowest in a decade

Posted on
The Daily Cardinal

The University of Wisconsin-Madison international student enrollment fell to its lowest point in at least a decade, reflecting a national trend caused by shifting visa policies in the United States.

More than 67,000 students applied to UW-Madison this admission cycle, making it the most competitive applicant pool the university has ever seen. But the number of enrolled international students dropped by 30%, reaching its lowest point since at least 2013.

Ascension Wisconsin no longer in-network for patients with UnitedHealthcare after talks fail

Posted on
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

In the short term, it will also force patients to rethink their upcoming health care appointments, said Dan Sacks, associate professor of risk and insurance at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

“It absolutely puts people in this impossible situation where you’re signed up for a plan that you thought covered your provider, and then it turns out it doesn’t for three months,” he said.

Dairy farmers discuss ongoing farming struggles at World Dairy Expo

Posted on
Spectrum News

Wisconsin is welcoming guests from around the globe as the 2025 World Dairy Expo is now underway in Madison.

According to a report from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension Farm Management program, Wisconsin exported $3 billion of agricultural products in 2024, making agriculture a major economic driver for the state.

What does a government shutdown mean for Wisconsin?

Posted on
Wisconsin Public Radio

According to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, much of the university’s research will continue for the time being, even projects that receive federal funding. But international students and staff may be affected as agencies that oversee passports and visas operate with reduced staffs. Similarly, small business loans and federal research grants will be paused or delayed during a shutdown.

Wisconsin country musician releases ‘Fear the Beer,’ a tribute to Milwaukee Brewers

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Wisconsin Public Radio

When he’s not writing Brewers-themed songs at a breakneck pace, Gibson fronts Nate Gibson & the Stardazers, a local band that plays country, honky-tonk, rockabilly and bluegrass tunes from the Starday Records label. He is also an archivist at the Mills Music Library at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and hosts a long-running classic country music show at community radio station WORT 89.9 FM.

UW-Madison is changing its financial aid process. Here’s what to know.

Posted on
Wisconsin Watch

Students applying to the University of Wisconsin-Madison will soon need to complete a second, longer financial aid application if they want a share of the millions of dollars in financial aid the university gives out each year.

Starting this fall, UW-Madison will require applicants to fill out the CSS Profile, an online application used by around 270 colleges, universities and scholarship programs to award institutional aid, separate from a different form used to apply for federal financial aid. Students can start working on their CSS Profile Oct. 1.

Experts discuss modern censorship at journalism ethics conference

Posted on
The Daily Cardinal

A panel of media professionals discussed the implications of modern-day censorship at the annual University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Journalism Ethics conference Friday.

“Journalism is a public good,” said Timothy Karr, senior director of strategy and communications at The Free Press. “The government needs to step in to figure out how it can help support that.”

Trout Lake Station documentary highlights local, global impact of Wisconsin research

Posted on
Wisconsin Public Radio

For nearly a century, Trout Lake Station in Boulder Junction has been at the center of environmental research in Wisconsin. Now, a new documentary aims to show how the year-round field station’s work extends far beyond lake shorelines.

Operated by the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for Limnology, Trout Lake Station has been supporting research since 1925.