Tech Colleges Push To Expand General Education
Seek authority to expand Gen Ed degrees without UW System approval.
Feb 28th, 2021$322 Million in Rental, Utility Aid Available
Evers announces new funding provided from latest federal stimulus bill.
Feb 27th, 2021State Residents Flock To The Outdoors
Study finds 42% increase in state park stickers, surge in fishing, hunting licenses during pandemic.
Feb 26th, 2021Evers Wants $226 Million More for Higher Education
Budget has $190 million hike for UW System, $36 million more for Voc-Tech colleges.
Feb 17th, 2021Merge UW System and Technical Colleges?
Thompson pushes discussions to consolidate some two-year colleges and voc-tech institutions.
Feb 16th, 2021More Layoffs Coming at Marquette?
University administrators say no. Staff fear more cuts to come.
Feb 15th, 2021$31M Donation to Marquette Will Support 80 Scholarships a Year
Darren and Terry Jackson's gift will aid underrepresented students in the nursing program.
Feb 5th, 2021Cities, Counties Crafting Mask Mandates
Anticipating a state repeal, local governments enacting their own mandates.
Feb 3rd, 2021Thompson Warned, Don’t Hike UW Tuition
System's tuitions frozen since 2013. Lawmakers warn UW budget will go nowhere if there’s any hike.
Jan 26th, 2021UW System Ramps Up COVID-19 Testing
But many UW-Madison students tested twice as often as at other campuses.
Jan 25th, 2021County Republican Parties Shared War Rhetoric
Facebook posts urged people to ‘prepare for war’ and ‘temporary violence’ before Capitol riot.
Jan 13th, 2021UW Rapid COVID-19 Test Missed Many Asymptomatic Cases
A CDC study finds a test used by UW-System schools missed 59% of asymptomatic cases.
Jan 7th, 2021Brandenburg Released on $10,000 Bond
Pharmacist who tried to destroy 500 vaccines may not have succeeded, DA says.
Jan 4th, 2021Gun Sales Still Going Crazy
'Panic buying' in state since pandemic, sales up 500% at one store, retailers rationing bullets.
Jan 4th, 2021Sen. Johnson Joins Effort To Reject Presidential Electors
Seven Senators and four Senators-elect call for an audit of November election.
Jan 3rd, 2021State’s Colleges, Universities To Get More Pandemic Aid
New federal stimulus package includes $23 billion for higher education.
Dec 23rd, 2020State Ranks 41st in Tax Dollars for Higher Education
Funding of UW-System and Wisconsin Technical Colleges has plummeted since 2000, report finds.
Dec 15th, 20204 UW System Campuses Cancel Spring Break
A week off for students to travel will spread COVID-19, officials say.
Dec 7th, 2020Pharmacies Say Reforms Needed for Vaccine
State regulatory hurdles could impede distribution of COVID-19 vaccine, they say.
Dec 1st, 2020Mayo Clinic Puts Hospital Beds in Garage, Lobbies as COVID-19 Surges
Its hospitals in northwestern Wisconsin at 100% capacity and overwhelmed.
Nov 23rd, 2020Hospital Association Wants State Action on COVID-19
Healthcare workers and hospitals straining under surge in hospitalizations.
Nov 19th, 2020UW System Campuses Moving Classes Online
UWM among many campuses making change after Thanksgiving.
Nov 14th, 2020State Officials Prepare for COVID-19 Vaccine
Encouraging health providers to enroll in state’s vaccine program.
Nov 10th, 20208% of State’s Prisoners Have COVID-19
1,703 active cases and 6,781 inmates in quarantine or isolation.
Nov 7th, 2020UW Campuses Becoming Community ‘Surge Testing’ Sites
UW-System rolling out 250,000 rapid COVID-19 tests.
Nov 5th, 2020250K Absentee Ballots Still Not Returned in Wisconsin
It's now too late to mail them, elections commission administrator said.
Oct 30th, 2020Four Wisconsin Colleges Plan to Eliminate Their Racial Disparities
UW-Milwaukee, Parkside, Carthage and MATC want to eliminate their educational equity gaps by 2030.
Oct 22nd, 2020Health Departments Plan For Mass Vaccine Distribution
Officials working on the logistics of vaccinating millions once it is ready.
Oct 18th, 2020Midwest Colleges Experience 5.7% Enrollment Drop
Marquette University saw 16.5% drop in new freshman enrollment.
Oct 17th, 2020UW System Students Increasingly Seeking Mental Health Counseling
The number of UW-System students that sought counseling is up 15% over five years.
Oct 9th, 2020UW System Behind Testing Dorm Residents
Ramping up COVID-19 testing nearly two weeks after classes started at most campuses.
Sep 15th, 2020UW-Madison Moves Classes Online After COVID-19 Spike
After one week of classes. And two residence halls are currently quarantined.
Sep 10th, 2020COVID Cases Rising at State’s Universities
Up 6.1% at UW-Madison, up 6% at UW-Milwaukee.
Sep 6th, 2020UW System Begins In-Person Classes
As outbreaks drive other universities online, Thompson says UW has 'got to try’.
Sep 2nd, 2020COVID-19 Cases At 5 Wisconsin Colleges
UW-Milwaukee, Marquette and Madison all have positive cases.
Aug 27th, 2020UW-System Competed With Feds for COVID-19 Tests
Thompson said federal government tried to take their order of testing machines.
Aug 21st, 202044% of Seneca Food Plant Workers Test Positive
Outbreak in Barron County north of Eau Claire drives 162% hike in county’s COVID-19 cases.
Aug 15th, 2020Thompson Announces UW System Layoffs
10% cut in administrative expenses to set example as system-wide cuts needed.
Aug 12th, 2020Universities Require COVID-19 Pledge
Many UW System campuses requiring pledge by staff, students to wear face masks, maintain safe distances, wash hands.
Aug 11th, 2020UW System Orders 350,000 COVID-19 Tests
System plans to test students in the dorms every two weeks.
Aug 7th, 2020Regents Approve Rules Complying with Title IX Changes
Without changes, UW-System could have lost $1 billion in federal revenues.
Aug 6th, 2020Health Departments Can Enforce State Mask-Mandate
Despite some Sheriffs' opposition, Evers administration says it can be enforced.
Aug 5th, 2020$2 Million Gift For UW System Online Classes
Anonymous donation will be used for instructor training, technology purchases.
Jul 28th, 2020Thompson Seeks $110M for UW System’s COVID-19 Response
The interim president wants federal, state aid for PPE and testing when schools reopen.
Jul 10th, 2020Tommy Thompson Starts UW President Term
His first action is gathering input from UW System faculty, staff, students and members of the public.
Jul 2nd, 2020State Trails Midwest in Spending on Universities
Report: Wisconsin’s public university funding below five neighboring states, down 42% since 2006.
Jun 23rd, 2020Tommy Thompson Named Interim UW System President
Former governor comes in after a controversial search process that lost its top candidate.
Jun 19th, 2020UW-Milwaukee, Madison Will Reopen This Fall
Universities will limit the size of in person classes, with many courses moving online.
Jun 18th, 2020State’s LGBTQ Groups Celebrate Historic Ruling
US Supreme Court’s decision bans workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity.
Jun 16th, 2020UW System Issues Pandemic Guidelines
Campuses should have social distancing for classes, use residence halls for quarantines, testing.
Jun 15th, 2020State Challenges Federal Sex Assault Changes
Kaul joins 17 other states opposing federal rules, claiming less protection for sexual assault and harassment victims.
Jun 8th, 2020Faculty, Admin Slam UW Restructuring Plan
System leader Ray Cross proposed a restructuring plan that would cut programs across the system.
Jun 4th, 2020Finalist Named For UW System President
University Of Alaska System President Jim Johnson is only finalist left after others drop out.
Jun 2nd, 2020Average UW System Graduate Earns $50,000
That’s one year after graduation, UW analysis finds. And 87% living in state 5 years after graduating.
Jun 1st, 2020UW-System Lays Off 40 Administrators
Because of COVID-19, the UW-System laid off 40 from UW-Shared Services Office.
May 29th, 2020Will Evictions, Home Foreclosures Rise?
State moratorium on both has expired, experts expect surge in problems.
May 27th, 2020Evers Promises Three New UW Regents
“Extremely unusual” for board members with expired terms to stay on and continue voting.
May 25th, 2020Crime Lab Taking Longer to Process DNA Evidence
The average turnaround time increased in 2019, according to a new report.
May 21st, 2020UW Plans Testing All Students, Faculty
System President Ray Cross says goal is for in-person classes at all campuses this fall.
May 9th, 2020UW System Expects $212 million in Losses
The pandemic has brought a fiscal crisis to the university system.
May 8th, 2020UW System Furloughs 588 Employees
Every administrative employee furloughed, due to revenue losses caused by pandemic.
Apr 19th, 2020Biden Wins Big Over Sanders
63 to 31 margin in state presidential primary; Biden criticizes holding of in-person election.
Apr 14th, 2020UW System Projects $170 Million Revenue Loss
Housing and dining fee refunds and college sports revenue losses, all due to pandemic.
Apr 12th, 2020County Jails Cut Inmate Population
Eau Claire down by 49%. Sheriffs try to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks among inmates, staff.
Apr 12th, 2020State Grows COVID-19 Testing Capacity
Partnerships with private labs help. But still a shortage of tests.
Apr 8th, 2020Researchers Seek Plasma of COVID-19 Survivors
Froedtert, Medical College seek donors. “They all have this superpower.”
Apr 6th, 2020State’s Colleges Will Refund $78 Million
Wisconsin’s 13 universities and branch campuses reimbursing students moving off campus.
Mar 30th, 2020State Residents Turn to Outdoors
To avoid going ‘stir crazy’ amid unprecedented social restrictions, many turn to parks, trails, fishing.
Mar 22nd, 2020Gun Sales Spike
Apparently, COVID-19 panic has Wisconsinites stocking up on ammo and firearms.
Mar 20th, 2020Wisconsin Labs Overwhelmed By COVID-19 Tests
Can’t keep up with demand for tests, hoping FDA will allow more private labs to process samples.
Mar 17th, 2020Evers Less Liberal Than National Democrats?
In once Progressive Wisconsin, state’s Democrats no longer in vanguard of their party.
Mar 16th, 2020Universities Make Changes in Face of COVID-19
Many campuses are going to remote classes and are asking students not to return from Spring Break.
Mar 12th, 20205 UW Campuses Phasing Out Coal
UW System will end its statewide contract to provide coal for campuses.
Mar 9th, 2020UWM Offers Another Employee Buyout
Faces $7 million budget hole. Second buyout since 2015.
Mar 4th, 2020Report Finds ACT Test Decline Since 2014
State’s students less college ready, ‘alarming' black vs white achievement gap.
Feb 3rd, 2020Bills Would Block Tech Companies Collecting Personal Data
Legislation would allow Wisconsin residents to block collection of their data and could impose fines up to $20 million.
Jan 30th, 2020Bill Would Prohibit Free Campaign Rallies
Trump, Clinton campaigns still owe Eau Claire, other cities for security, sanitation costs.
Jan 14th, 2020State Virtual Charter Schools Up 140%
In the last decade virtual charter school enrollment grew from 3,106 to 7,465 students.
Dec 26th, 2019UW-Madison Had 1,015 Conflicts of Interest
No university had more conflicts since 2012 for researchers getting federal health grants.
Dec 12th, 2019UW System Going Big on Online Classes
New plan seeks to double online enrollment by 2025.
Dec 4th, 2019Local Governments Still Adding Wheel Taxes
13 counties and 26 municipalities have enacted local wheel taxes.
Nov 16th, 2019Counties Exhausting Snow Plowing Budgets
Record snow in February has left some counties with no winter plowing budget for rest of year.
Nov 12th, 2019Regent’s UW President’s Search Criticized
Search committee includes no faculty, staff or non-regent students.
Nov 11th, 2019Mercury in Great Lakes Trout Persists
Though waters cleaner, invasive species have forced trout to eat food with higher mercury concentrations.
Nov 5th, 2019State ACT Scores Dip In 2019
Down slightly from prior years but still higher than the national average.
Nov 1st, 2019Good News, Bad News on State Budget
Report finds 2018-19 year had $1.7 billion surplus, but new budget will exceed projected revenues by $800 million.
Oct 28th, 2019UW System President Ray Cross to Retire
Has held leadership roles within UW System since 2011.
Oct 25th, 2019Evers Opposes UW Free Speech Rules
Governor has veto power over UW Regents’ rules; proposal would punish students who disrupt free speech.
Oct 14th, 2019Regents Advance Controversial Free Speech Rules
UW System students would face suspensions or expulsions for violations, if rules approved
Oct 11th, 2019Bill Caps Student Fees For UW System Athletics
Makes university building projects difficult to fund and reduces athletic funding at UWM
Oct 8th, 2019Oxycontin Maker Gave $65k to Marquette University
Family behind Purdue Pharma, a company being sued for its role in opioid epidemic, made $60 million in donations to universities around the world.
Oct 7th, 2019UW System’s Growth Is Top Heavy
8% drop in system’s faculty over three year period while number of administrators grew 3.5%.
Sep 11th, 2019Marquette University Slashes Staff
To avoid tuition hike, 24 employees laid off, 49 vacancies won’t be filled.
Sep 10th, 2019UW Students Oppose Free Speech Bill
Student groups say UW Regents policy already protects free speech, law not needed.
Aug 16th, 2019Hands-Free Phone Law Being Pushed in Wisconsin
An activist from Minnesota that lost his daughter to distracted driving is behind the push.
Aug 6th, 201925,000 Could Lose Food Share Benefits
Proposed change in federal SNAP program would cut off 25,000 state recipients.
Jul 25th, 2019Accused Ex-UWM Professor Flees Country
Anthony A. Azenabor faces criminal charges of sexually assaulting a student on campus.
Jul 20th, 2019DNA Evidence Backlog Greatly Reduced
Effort to reduce backlog yields results. Evers and Kaul want more funding for crime lab.
Jun 22nd, 2019Evers Brings Back Pardon Review Board
Walker disbanded it, wouldn’t pardon anyone in his eight years as governor.
Jun 14th, 2019No Shame in the School Lunch Line
Milwaukee state Rep. LaKeshia Myers is co-sponsoring a bill that would prohibit school districts from singling students out when it’s time to have a midday meal.
May 20th, 2019State’s Reported Rapes Up 34% Since 2014
Rise in reported sexual assaults over last five years may reflect Me-Too movement.
May 7th, 2019DNR Won’t Back Frac Sand Wetland Permit
Reverses stand, supports judge’s ruling invalidating Meteor Timber’s DNR permit to fill high-quality wetland.
May 5th, 2019Nearly 200 Testify at State Budget Hearing
Attendees in River Falls support increased school funding, expanding Medicaid, UW capital projects.
Apr 16th, 2019Cross Still Hopes for New UWM Building
Legislature killed Evers capital budget but UW System still backs new funding, bonding authority for projects around state.
Apr 8th, 2019Voters Okay 75% of School Funding Requests
Voters approved nearly $770 million in additional funding for school districts in local referendums.
Apr 4th, 2019Tomah VA Didn’t Give Opioids “Like Candy”
Inspector General report requested by Sen. Baldwin finds no evidence of opioids haphazardly prescribed.
Mar 31st, 2019Why Medicaid Expansion Needed
Key to expanding health coverage, better reimbursement rates, says new state DHS secretary.
Mar 15th, 2019Federal Shutdown Hurts Food Share Recipients
Demand for food pantries up due to delays getting benefits.
Feb 11th, 2019Shutdown May Cut Off Food Share Benefits
State official unsure whether there will be funding for the program given federal shutdown.
Jan 22nd, 20192 Million College Students Lack Food Stamps
Federal GAO report finds food insecurity for 9% to more than 50% of college students.
Jan 11th, 2019Bipartisan Group Calls For More School Funds
Blue Ribbon Commission on school funding included legislators from both parties.
Jan 9th, 2019Renewable Energy Made Big Gains in 2018
Utility companies all competing to embrace solar and wind power.
Jan 2nd, 2019Duffy Supports Funding for Border Wall
But Wisconsin congressman not so sure about Trump’s idea of shutting down government.
Dec 15th, 2018Lame Duck Law Adds Work For State Agencies
They must submit thousands of pages of “guidance documents” before public hearings on any changes in agency rules.
Dec 11th, 2018Lame-Duck Bill Changes Highway Funding
Will avoid federal wage requirements; experts express concerns.
Dec 6th, 2018DNR Wastewater Permit Backlog Still a Problem
One year after critical audit DNR still slow to review potential municipal, industrial and agricultural pollution.
Aug 24th, 2018State Shifts Cost For New Bridges
Walker administration policy means counties pay entire bill if bridge built to accommodate traffic growth.
Aug 14th, 2018Trump’s Aid to Farms Gets Mixed Reviews
Dairy farms badly hurt by tariffs, Trump offers $12 billion national handout to farmers.
Jul 26th, 2018Walker Doubts Roe v. Wade at Risk
Governor says new Supreme Court justice unlikely to overturn Roe, make abortion illegal in state.
Jul 12th, 2018Microplastics From Great Lakes Found In Beer
Researchers found 12 different brands of beer using Great Lakes water were contaminated with microplastics.
May 11th, 2018