News

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Fresh off national stage, Gov. Scott Walker turns eye toward state problems

Fresh off the national stage, any hopes of Gov. Scott Walker sliding back into his comfortable role as the equal parts loved, reviled and respected governor of America’s Dairyland were dashed by a new poll showing his approval rating at a record low 37 percent. Unpopularity being new territory for the former Tea Party golden boy, experts and legislators are bracing themselves, as he and his party decide how to respond. Walker’s approval started spiraling downward in November from a post re-election high of 49 percent.

Walker appoints Rebecca Bradley to Supreme Court

Gov. Scott Walker appointed Judge Rebecca Bradley to the Wisconsin Supreme Court Friday to carry out the rest of Justice N.

Madison creates racial equity position to oversee city, community policies

The City of Madison added Toriana Pettaway as the city’s first racial equity coordinator Friday.

Project Girl aims to educate and ‘unmediafy’ young women

With art supplies scattered everywhere, a group of 16 young girls worked on four different art projects Friday as part of an attempt by the Gender and Women’s Studies Department to educate girls about media literacy, body image and empowerment.

UW-Madison freshman retention, graduation rate increase

More than 95 percent of Badgers returned to campus this fall after their freshman year at UW-Madison, an increase from the previous academic school year. The Office of Academic Planning and Institutional Research at UW-Madison released fall 2015 enrollment numbers, which showed the university had a freshman-sophomore year retention rate of 95.8 percent, an increase from 95.3 percent the previous year, according to a UW-Madison release. UW-Madison’s average time to degree is the lowest in university records at 4.13 years, decreased from last year’s data of 4.16 years. “These metrics are viewed as indicators of quality of the educational experience and represent a focus on student success by all of the faculty and staff who work with and teach undergraduates,” UW-Madison Provost Sarah Mangelsdorf said in the release.

Board of Regents Education Committee approves raise in nonresident enrollment

Coalition forms to help promote smoke-free properties

In honor of National Fire Prevention Week, a statewide initiative to promote smoke-free housing properties is taking action in Madison this week, according to a Thursday City of Madison press release. Clear Gains Initiative, Public Health Madison and Dane County, the Madison Fire Department and the Tobacco Free Columbia-Dane County Coalition, or TFCDC, are combining efforts to encourage Madison property owners to implement smoke-free environments. Nina Gregerson, assistant coordinator for the TFCDC, discussed the goal of the movement in the release. “The TFCDC is committed to reducing the impact of smoking-related fires and their potential to cause property damage and loss of life,” Gregerson said, adding that smoking-related fires accounted for 88 percent of all property losses in Madison between 2005-’11. The Clear Gains Initiative is a statewide organization, and said in the release it hopes that its success in Madison will inspire the rest of the state to follow suit in enacting these policies.

Feathered visitors flock to campus

They’re here. They’re not for dinner. Get used to it. Thanksgiving tidings have been spreading through the UW-Madison campus this week thanks to a few new avian visitors.

UHS seeks student input on alcohol education initiatives

The Associated Students of Madison Student Council met with University Health Services representatives during its meeting Wednesday to discuss survey results regarding drinking habits on campus compared to national averages.

Proposed bill would place gender restrictions on school bathrooms

Transgender students would be required to use the bathroom or locker rooms that correspond to their biological sex under a bill circulated for co-sponsorship late Tuesday.

Students voice support for bill to refinance loans

UW-Madison students packed a Senate hearing Wednesday to support a bill that would allow them to refinance student loans at a lower interest rate.

Assembly Republicans announce proposal to replace elections board

Assembly Republicans proposed a bill Wednesday that would split the board that regulates Wisconsin’s elections into two separate agencies.

Violent altercation at Wando’s leads to arrest

After a violent exchange at Wando’s Bar & Grill early Wednesday morning, Madison police arrested a 21-year-old Madison woman on two counts of battery, along with disorderly conduct and damage to property.

UW-Madison, UW System propose increased nonresident enrollment cap

The UW System and UW-Madison will present a proposal to the Board of Regents Thursday, that would to increase the nonresident student enrollment cap for the next four years.

UW-Madison researchers innovate a better way to detect cancer

UW-Madison researchers found a better way to detect and treat cancer by utilizing two markers instead of one to target a common brain cancer, according to a Wednesday university news release.

Soglin announces 2016 operating budget

Madison Mayor Paul Soglin released the second half of his 2016 budget Tuesday, which he stressed contains no layoffs. “Layoffs have been avoided,” Soglin said of his budget.

Common Council votes against time limit on public benches

Madtown Hopper expands safe-ride service

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.