News

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App rewards students for paying attention in class

With the first round of midterms under way, and libraries beginning to fill with anxious note card flippers and coffee-fueled all-nighters, many students are just now feeling the sting of getting distracted in class, as they realize all they missed while their eyes were glued to their phone screens. Pocket Points, an app launched this semester at UW-Madison, aims to eliminate that problem by rewarding students for keeping their phones locked during class.

WARF announces four-part innovation discussion series

This upcoming October and November, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation will host a four-part discussion series that explores the cycle and advancement of innovation, according to a university release.

UW-Madison receives $10 million to research the well-being of youth

The UW-Madison School of Education and the UW Center for Investigating Healthy Minds received a $10 million gift Tuesday from 1958 UW-Madison alumna Dorothy “Dottie” Jones King and husband Robert “Bob” Eliot King, who made the donation to recruit faculty that focus on children and their well-being. The university, which is a front-runner in research on mental training strategies and cultivating the healthy minds of children, said it plans to use this money to recruit experienced faculty and continue the research of the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds. Chancellor Rebecca Blank said she understands the importance this gift has on not only the university, but the state of Wisconsin. “The University of Wisconsin-Madison has long been involved in research to improve the lives of children, and this gift helps us continue to pursue groundbreaking research in this area,” Blank said in a university news release. The King’s gift will support the matching gift set up by John and Tashia Morgridge.

Civil service reform opponents swarm senate hearing

A bill that would streamline and reform many aspects of the state’s civil service system was given its first public hearing in the Senate Tuesday, drawing the ire of the state’s public sector unions. The proposal, authored by state Sen.

Community members explore how to end pattern of sexual assault

Community organizer Dayna Long met with area residents Monday to reflect on the “Take Back the Bike Path” protest that took place just over two weeks ago.

Residents question location of homeless resource center

Residents of the Tenney-Lapham neighborhood have expressed concerns over an accepted offer to purchase a property on the 1300 block of East Washington Avenue to open a permanent day shelter for the homeless.

Newest Badger class totals more than 6,000 students

This fall, 6,270 new freshmen began calling UW-Madison home, contributing to a fall 2015 total enrollment of 43,405 students, a slight increase from 2014, according to a university release.

Iowa fan attacked at Camp Randall following Saturday’s game

A 15-year-old Hawkeye fan was attacked by a Badger fan after the Wisconsin loss to Iowa Saturday, according to a UW-Madison Police Department incident report.

Homeless man arrested for attempted sexual assault

Madison police arrested a 43-year-old homeless man for attempted sexual assault early Saturday morning.

UWPD investigating residence hall robbery

A reported aggravated assault and strong-arm robbery occurred Sept. 30 in a university residence hall, according to a UW-Madison Police Department incident report.

Wisconsin politicians weigh in on Trans-Pacific Partnership

Representatives from 12 Pacific Rim countries finalized one of the most sweeping trade deals in decades Monday, drawing statements of support and criticism from Wisconsin’s congressional delegation.

UW-Madison alumnus, colleague receive Nobel Prize

UW-Madison alumnus William C. Campbell has been awarded the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine Monday for his part in a medical discovery.

UW-Madison students carry on a Badger family lineage

Terry and Laura Fons met on a UW-Madison intramural volleyball team in 1982. After graduation, the two got married and went on to have four children who would eventually create a Badger legacy. All four of their kids—Nathan, Lindsay, Steven and Allie—followed in their parents’ footsteps “by the light of the moon” and joined the Badger family.

2016 county budget focuses on access to opportunity

Dane County Executive Joe Parisi introduced the 2016 budget Thursday, which focuses largely on improving access to mental health resources and helping those recently released from prison reacclimate to society.

Madison police officer takes on Reddit

Following an increase in outreach efforts, Madison Police Department Public Information Officer Joel DeSpain answered questions from the public using Reddit’s “Ask Me Anything” function Friday. The forum, which focused on DeSpain’s history of using creative language in writing incident reports, addressed personal topics like his favorite color and professional topics regarding his post as the police department’s spokesperson. “There have been a couple of cases where I later learned the report had an unintentional negative impact on someone,” DeSpain wrote on the impact of his unconventional reports of crime in Madison.

Union leader involved in 2011 protests dies at 68

Marty Beil, the face of 2011’s fight against Gov. Scott Walker’s controversial “budget repair bill,” died in his home Thursday at the age of 68.

Democrats call for special session on delayed transportation projects

Police chief tells of department’s social efforts, understaffing

Madison Police Chief Mike Koval offered insight into local issues and his appearance on “The Daily Show” during a small community meeting Thursday night.

Senate hears testimony on public safety bills

A Senate committee heard testimony on three bills Thursday, including one measure that would extend the statute of limitations for most types of sexual assault.

UW-Madison campus dining facilities to stop printing receipts

Students will have one less thing to grab when checking out at UW-Madison dining halls next week, as University Housing cash registers will no longer print out receipts for each transaction, according to a UW-Madison release.