It’s unlikely these kinds of dreams will ever go away, even in retirement. Meiller reflected on a story Maury White told him — Meiller began his radio career in 1967 after subbing in for a summer for White, a UW-Madison professor who hosted a farm show:
“He told me — and he was like 90 at the time — he said, ‘I still have that dream every once in a while,’ and it had been 50 years since he’d been on the air.”
Rayburn, a UW-Madison graduate who got his start in radio in 2001 when John “Sly” Sylvester hired him at WTDY-AM, says he will bring his own personality to the chair with the “Lee Rayburn Show.”
Had UW Cinematheque organizers known what was coming, they might have reconsidered naming their most recent film series Bleak Week. It was almost too on the nose.
Protesters reached an agreement with University of Wisconsin-Madison administrators in 2024 to end a pro-Palestinian encampment on Library Mall. Two years later, the two sides disagree on whether that deal has been upheld.
More than 20 buildings on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus are locked on Tuesday as crews work to address air conditioning issues caused by a broken chilled water line.
Meanwhile, university records are raising new questions about the state of UW-Madison’s infrastructure.
The UW-Madison campus experienced a significant break in a chilled water main supply line at one of the three heating and cooling plants that serve campus on June 17, according to an email sent to students, faculty and staff Friday. The break has caused campus buildings to have reduced cooling capacities this week, according to the email from UW Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Robert Cramer.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison said it was closing 23 buildings to the public starting June 30, allowing only limited access to 11 others. It was relocating some summer classes after a broken water line at its cooling plant earlier in June severely reduced the ability to provide air conditioning across campus.
While Wisconsin residents are dealing with a heat emergency that’s sent the heat index over 100, the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s response has been complicated by a broken cooling system affecting dozens of buildings on campus.
A national organization focused on defending free speech is calling on the University of Wisconsin-Madison to halt its disciplinary investigation into an animal rights student group.
Nearly two dozen buildings on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus will temporarily close because of air conditioning issues during the extreme temperatures.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison said it was closing 23 buildings to the public starting Tuesday, allowing only limited access to 11 others. It was relocating some summer classes after a broken water line at its cooling plant earlier this month severely reduced the ability to provide air conditioning across campus.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is temporarily closing over 20 buildings on June 30 after a broken chilled water line significantly reduced air conditioning capabilities across campus, the university said in a news release.
UW-Madison is closing nearly three dozen buildings for at least a month starting Tuesday as it repairs a water main break earlier this month that upended its air-conditioning system.
UW–Madison will temporarily close more than 20 buildings starting Tuesday because of a broken chilled water line that has cut the campus’s air conditioning capacity during one of the hottest weeks of the year.
UW-Madison is home to dozens of historic and archaeological sites that have national recognition.
The fleet of small white robots that have ambled slowly around UW-Madison’s campus since 2019 to deliver dining hall food to students has been permanently powered down.
A break in a chilled water line from the Charter Street Heating Plant, 130 N. Mills St., on June 17 released some 40,000 gallons of lake water onto Charter and Spring streets.
The army of small, white food delivery robots crisscrossing the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus for the past seven years have vanished, destined for city streets around the world as the company behind them transitions from mobile campus snack packs to grocery delivery drones.
The fleet of small white robots that have zipped around UW-Madison’s campus since 2019 to deliver dining hall food to students has been permanently powered down.
Jade Levendoski put on her cowboy hat and flipped a switch. A red neon light illuminated the hat, matching the color in Levendoski’s pigtails.
“It looks so good!” Kylie Tsai exclaimed.
Levendoski and Tsai put the finishing touches on their art projects this month at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The two were among nine students who took a summer course called “Neon: Light as Sculpture.”
When Kris Marconnet was a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Nicholas Recreation Center didn’t exist. Instead, she remembers taking an aerobics class in the Natatorium, a “hideously hot” building near the Lakeshore dormitories with no air conditioning.
She didn’t imagine that years later, she would play a hand in designing the new athletic center as part of her work with Thysse (pronounced TIE-See), a facility branding company located in Oregon, Wisconsin — just 10 miles away from the university.
Runners from all parts of the state gathered at the UW-Madison Library Mall for the annual Run Madtown half marathon and 10k run. Runners took off at 7 a.m. and ran through several parts of the city, including the State Capitol, Arboretum and Camp Randall.
John and Tashia Morgridge, University of Wisconsin-Madison alumni, have pledged $85.2 million to support the renovation of the 139-year-old Science Hall, a project expected to begin in 2027.
This gift is the leading private contribution to UW-Madison’s $163.2 million plan to restore and modernize the historic building.
UW-Madison’s Science Hall will be undergoing a major renovation, courtesy of a gift from philanthropists.
John and Tashia Morgridge gifted $85.2 million to help restore the university’s iconic red-brick building.
Science Hall was first constructed in 1887 and was built as the first home of the College of Letters & Science. The renovation project is scheduled to begin in 2027.
The State of Wisconsin Department of Administration requested proposals from contractors on May 14 for a new residence hall at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. All proposals are due to the State July 16.
The new dorm, which is expected to be finished by 2028, is a step towards increasing dorm space available for students, a long-time priority for the university.
UW-Madison’s Science Hall will undergo an extensive renovation to restore its historical features while adding modern updates, assisted by an $85.2 million gift from philanthropic couple and class of 1955 alumni John and Tashia Morgridge, the university announced Thursday.
At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a group of students and staff are working to reduce the amount of food wasted. They’re using a tool that a graduate of the university helped develop.
At Badger Markets, food that doesn’t sell right away now gets a second chance.
Another iconic music group is making a stop in Wisconsin this year. The Smashing Pumpkins will perform at the Kohl Center on Sunday, Oct. 11, UW Athletics announced Monday.
The alt rock band, known for hits like “Tonight, Tonight” and “1979,” are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their third studio album, “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.”
It wasn’t pink plastic flamingos that filled Bascom Hill on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus Sunday morning. It was decoy turkeys.
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the reintroduction of wild turkeys to Wisconsin, the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) planted 50 decoy turkeys at the base of Bascom Hill.
Thousands of graduates filled Camp Randall Stadium Saturday as the University of Wisconsin–Madison celebrated its Spring 2026 commencement ceremonies.
The university says nearly 10,000 students are expected to earn degrees this spring, including bachelor’s, master’s and law graduates honored during Saturday’s ceremony.
A major cyberattack knocked out Canvas, an online platform used by about 9,000 schools across the country, including universities in Wisconsin, Thursday afternoon.
UW-Madison’s class of 2026 was left with a resounding message at its commencement ceremony at Camp Randall on Saturday: Find your purpose through times of uncertainty.
“Purpose is not a perfect plan, it’s a compass,” UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin said to a sea of black graduation caps and gowns in the stadium. “It helps you decide what deserves your time, what deserves your courage, and what you may need to walk away from.”
Some streets around Camp Randall will closed on Saturday due to the UW-Madison commencement ceremony.
Residents are asked to plan for extra time when traveling.
Starting at 6 a.m. the following streets will close to traffic and will reopen at 4 p.m. after commencement has finished:
North Breese Terrace, between Regent Street and University Avenue
Monroe Street, between Regent Street and North Randall Ave.
University of Wisconsin-Madison and the rest of the UW campuses are part of a nationwide outage of Canvas – an online platform used for assignments, grading and more – that is causing disruptions to final exams.
Madison will be buzzing this weekend with family members and supporters of UW-Madison students in town for their graduation ceremonies.
UW-Madison has commencement ceremonies on Friday at the Kohl Center and Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
Larry Meiller once commented on the appeal of his Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) call-in show by describing his connection with listeners: “I think they look at me as an old friend.”
That was in 1987.
Wisconsin Union launched the sale of unsold food on the app Goodie Bag April 6 to reduce food waste at Union locations and increase food affordability.
Food including sandwiches and baked goods from the Badger Markets in Union South and Memorial Union are now offered at a 67% discount through Goodie Bag.
University of Wisconsin–Madison researchers Anjon Audhya, Katherine Cramer, Shannon Stahl and Stephen Wright have been named Vilas Research Professors.
Extraordinary members of the University of Wisconsin–Madison faculty have been honored during the last year with awards supported by the estate of professor, U.S. Senator and UW Regent William F. Vilas (1840–1908).
College freshman Nandini Aluri spent a month “all day and all night” painting dozens of designs — a digital camera, the University of Wisconsin-Madison crest, an intricate design in the style of henna — on a matching set of brown corduroy pants and jacket.
She designed this wearable suit for “Becoming,” a fashion show hosted by The Vault. The Vault is a student organization at the University of Wisconsin-Madison that focuses on fashion, from design to marketing to business operations.
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.
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.
About 900 University of Wisconsin–Madison students are preparing for Humorology, the university’s largest student-run philanthropy and variety show tradition.
Students spend the year writing and performing original mini-musicals in teams made up of Greek life and other campus groups. The final shows will be held April 23–25 at the Wisconsin Union Theater in Madison.
University of Wisconsin-Madison’s University Health Services is hosting a free art and history gallery this April highlighting campus sexual assault activism over the past 50 years, featuring student-made artwork for Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
The exhibit is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday on the first floor of 333 East Campus Mall as part of a Connect and Reflect series to raise awareness about sexual violence.
University Wisconsin-Madison College Democrats and Republicans debated campus free speech, foreign policy and political polarization at Union South Monday in an event focused on fostering productive conversations between those with differing opinions.
The Wisconsin Union Directorate Society and Politics Committee moderated the conversation.
The severe weather in Madison this week couldn’t stop the reemergence of the colorful sunburst chairs at UW-Madison’s Memorial Union Terrace.
Crews unpacked the orange, yellow and green sunburst chairs and tables on Wednesday in preparation for a celebration at 3 p.m. Friday for the official opening of the terrace at the Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St.
One of the best-selling authors in the world will be giving the keynote commencement speech at UW-Madison this spring.
James Patterson was announced as the spring speaker by UW-Madison in a press release on Wednesday.
“James Patterson has shown what it means to make the most of your education — and what it means to give back. We are thrilled to welcome him as this year’s commencement speaker,” UW–Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin said. “His successes as a writer are unparalleled, and so is the generosity of his time, talent and resources, which have made lasting impacts on higher education and the lives of countless students.”
The UW-Madison Police Department will stop sharing its campus Flock camera’s data with Wisconsin counties that are cooperating with federal immigration enforcement, Chief Brent Plisch said at a meeting Monday.
The eight AI-powered surveillance cameras, installed on campus in July, have been a flashpoint at UW-Madison in recent weeks, sparking calls from staff and faculty on leaders and police to remove them, over concerns about mass surveillance and data sharing with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
UW-Madison is reimagining its sailing facilities and outdoor classroom along the shoreline of Lake Mendota, with major proposed upgrades.
The university is planning to build an estimated $2.7 million facility for its Outdoor UW equipment rental facility and Wisconsin Hoofers outdoors club for boat storage, events and education, according to a preliminary design proposal.
Civil rights activist Ruby Bridges will be on the University of Wisconsin campus for “A Fireside Chat With Ruby Bridges,” according to the Wisconsin Union Directorate. The event will take place at Memorial Union in the Shannon Hall April 8 at 7 p.m. as part of the Wisconsin Union Directorate Lecture Series.
The “Fireside Chat” consists of a 60-minute moderated Q&A and a 30-minute audience Q&A, according to the Wisconsin Union. Prospective attendees can submit questions for Bridges through the Wisconsin Union website.
Only a small fraction of those who showed up Monday evening to see former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speak in the Great Hall at the Memorial Union, which seats about 300, were able to get in.
But those who arrived at least 90 minutes early experienced a freewheeling, good-natured lecture on world affairs. He defended the Trump administration’s recent aggressive foray into foreign policy, including the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran and the capture of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro.
The Wisconsin Union will return its iconic sunburst chairs to the Memorial Union Terrace on April 15.
A Terrace chair return party will follow on April 17, starting at 3 p.m. The event will feature free Terrace-themed watercolor painting from 5-8 p.m., music from DJ Margaux from 3-5 p.m. and lawn games, according to a press release.
The Madison Police Department said a shooting near UW’s campus on Saturday is now considered to be accidental.
Police responded to Langdon Street, near N Carroll Street, around 3:30 a.m. after they heard someone had been shot in the arm. When they got there, they found a 16-year-old with a gunshot wound to his forearm.
AI technology is developing so fast, experts say advances are becoming hard to measure.
Recognizing this, the Universities of Wisconsin has launched a free series of videos for people who need a starting point.
The AI Skills Access Passport (ASAP) was developed in partnership with UW Credit Union. The series is designed for the general public.
Start the countdown. The iconic sunburst chairs will soon return to the Memorial Union Terrace.
The Wisconsin Union announced Tuesday that the chairs will be placed on the Terrace on April 15. The Union will host a Terrace chair return party on April 17 at 3 p.m.
UW-Madison is closing its astronomy outreach center, UW Space Place, this spring after nearly 36 years, citing budget cuts.
Over the last three decades, the astronomy department has run Space Place as a hub for guest lectures on space and astronomy research, as well as for programming for Madison-area schools and families that teaches about UW-Madison and Wisconsin’s impact in the field.
“Space Place was the primary way of satisfying that sort of demand for the community for decades,” said Jim Lattis, UW Space Place’s longtime former director, who retired last May after more than 30 years and who has continued to volunteer there post-retirement. “So that’s going to go away. The astronomy department is going to do their best, but there’s no longer anybody who is specifically dedicated to doing astronomy outreach in those forms.”
Students at UW-Madison’s student radio station WSUM are celebrating a recent winning streak of awards, including a top honor of best college station in the nation from the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS).
After nearly four hours of contentious debate, the Associated Students of Madison reached their meeting’s time limit Wednesday and failed to vote on a resolution which would call on the University of Wisconsin System to divest from Israel.
The University of Wisconsin student body completed voting for the Associated Students of MadisonSpring 2026 Election this week, from March 16 to March 18.
As the polls closed, 2,134 ballots were cast by a student population of 49,724 students. Overall, this was a 4% voter turnout, a decrease from the previous year, which was a 6% voter turnout.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s McBurney Disability Resource Center has seen an almost 250% increase in the number of students receiving accommodations over the past 10 years, according to their director Mari Magler.
Nearly one in 10 UW-Madison students was affiliated with the McBurney Center between summer 2024 and spring 2025, with 5,791 students connected to the center and a fall 2024 enrollment of 51,791.
