MADISON, WI (October 25, 2022) — Just as we can improve our physical health with regular exercise, we can improve our emotional well-being with a training program for the mind. During the next Wisconsin Idea Spotlight presentation, Human Flourishing and the Mind-Body Connection, a panel of UW-Madison experts will discuss elements of our health we can’t see or touch but can certainly still feel. Speakers include Professor Richard J. Davidson, neuroscientist and founder of the Center for Healthy Minds; Professor David Rakel, chair of the UW Department of Family Medicine and Community Health; and from the UW Department of Family Medicine and

MADISON – Wisconsin Business World – a program of the WMC Foundation – launched its fall essay and innovation competitions for students statewide. Wisconsin Business World hosts the contests in partnership with Wisconsin businesses in order to engage students on the topics of business, entrepreneurship and the free market. The essay contest, sponsored by ITU AbsorbTech, is open to students in grades 6-12. Students are tasked with researching the “coolest” thing made in Wisconsin and writing an essay of no more than 1,000 words describing the product and detailing the company’s impact on their employees and their community. Three cash prizes of

MADISON, WI – On Monday, October 24th, the U.S. Department of Education’s National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) published its first national assessment of students since the COVID-19 pandemic. This assessment found the disparity of scores between Black and white students in Wisconsin to be the widest among states in the nation. On this, Representative Stubbs released the following statement: “Wisconsin is failing Black students. The disparities in our state were unacceptable before the COVID-19 pandemic, and now they continue to persist. If we want to make a more equitable Wisconsin, we need to start with supporting our young students

Milwaukee, WI – On Wednesday, October 26, at 3:00PM, the Justice for Brieon Green Coalition will be holding a rally and picket outside of the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office (821 W State St.). This event marks 4 months since Green’s death while held in Milwaukee County Jail.  The Justice for Brieon Green Coalition is demanding transparency from the Sheriff’s Office. According to Green’s family, the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office has concluded their investigation into the death of Green, but they cannot release the official cause of death until the Sheriff’s Office signs off on their investigation. Besides this obstacle,

MILWAUKEE — Paul Jones, vice president for university relations and general counsel at Marquette University, has been named to the board of directors for the Menomonee Valley Partners, Inc., a nonprofit that serves as the lead agency in the redevelopment of Milwaukee’s Menomonee River Valley. The MVP board of directors is made up of community and business leaders from around the city, as well as representatives of regional and local municipality resources. Jones replaces Lora Strigens, Marquette vice president for planning and facilities management, who completed a term on the board. “I’m honored to serve on the board of an

MILWAUKEE – On Tuesday, October 25, County Supervisor Peter Burgelis issued the following statement on his amendment to the 2023 budget which removes $1,685,345 from the North Point parking lot project and funds a $624,577 playground replacement in Doyne Park.  “The lakefront is a jewel for our community, but the cost of replacing these 30 lakefront parking spots is too expensive – creative and lower cost alternatives are yet to be considered. It’s time to pause on this aspect of the North Point project. Our very limited Parks dollars must stretch throughout the County and residents near Doyne Park need investment from Milwaukee County,” said Supervisor Burgelis. “Great efforts were made by the County Executive in preparing his 2023 Recommended Budget; however, opportunities still exist to prioritize people, not thirty $56,000 parking spaces. I would urge my colleagues on the County Board to support returning this playground to the 2023 budget. The neighborhood

A sophomore from Waunakee, Wisconsin is the recipient of the first-ever Jake Leinenkugel Diversity in Brewing Award. Babayosimi (Simi) Fadiran, a microbiology major in his second year, is the 2022 recipient of the award, which supports students from underrepresented groups pursuing studies in brewing or fermentation sciences at the University of Wisconsin­–Madison. “I was thrilled to be selected for this,” said Fadiran, who learned of his award last spring. “This program has provided me the opportunity to observe and assist in conducting research, aiding me in my future career goals.”  The Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company announced the launch of the Jake

MILWAUKEE — As the polls opened on the first day of in-person early voting, hundreds of Wisconsin workers across industries were in motion alongside Governor Tony Evers and Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes, top candidates for Governor and U.S. Senate. Local service and care workers hosted a roundtable discussion, marched and rallied to voice their demands for elected officials at all levels to advance good, union, living-wage jobs across the economy, fix the deepening care crisis, check corporate power and uproot structural racism.  SEIU International President Mary Kay Henry and dozens of community leaders also attended throughout the day in support of workers, including Souls to

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY) today introduced the Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency (FACT) Act to counter the influence of China and other foreign adversaries on the United States’ telecommunications infrastructure. Specifically, this bill would provide critical telecommunications transparency by requiring the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to publish a list of companies who hold FCC authorizations, licenses, or other grants of authority with over 10% or more ownership by foreign adversarial governments, including China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea. “Despite the threat posed by Chinese Communist Party-directed telecommunications companies, many are still licensed to operate in the United States.

MADISON, Wis. — A new report revealed new tax records from Ron Johnson showing that his multimillion dollar family trust fund took advantage of the Agriculture and Manufacturing Tax Credit to save themselves from paying millions of dollars in taxes. Since 2016, Johnson’s family’s trust hasn’t paid anything in state taxes, funds that would have been used to support police, fire departments, schools, and other essential services. WKOW: From six-figure tax bills to $0: Why trust fund set up by Sen. Johnson no longer owes state taxes Key points: State records show a trust fund started by Republican Sen. Ron Johnson hasn’t paid any Wisconsin taxes

MADISON, Wis. – Following a new report that a trust associated with Ron Johnson and his business did not pay their fair share in state income taxes, Johnson owes Wisconsinites the answers:  How many millions of dollars did you and your family save from not paying state income taxes on Pacur or your family trust fund? Did you take advantage of the expanded Gift Tax Exclusion you helped pass in the 2017 tax bill to dump more money into your trust tax-free? Did you put Pacur into the family trust and is that why you were able to take advantage of the Agricultural and

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Elections Commission is reminding voters that local election officials may begin offering in-person absentee voting in cities, towns, and villages across Wisconsin starting on Tuesday, Oct. 25. Here’s what voters should be aware of as in-person absentee voting gets underway: Municipal clerks may offer in-person absentee voting from Tuesday, Oct. 25 until Sunday, Nov. 6. However, each Wisconsin city, town and village sets the hours and days of availability for this option. Check with your municipal clerk as to what options are available in your area. Don’t know who your municipal clerk is?  Find out at https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/My-Municipal-Clerk In-Person

Yesterday, the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) released their report card for math and reading scores. Wisconsin scored a two-point drop in 4th grade math, a three-point drop in 4th grade reading, a five point drop in 8th grade reading, and an eight-point drop in 8th grade math from 2019. In every category, Wisconsin failed to achieve proficient status, and Wisconsin has the largest disparity in test scores between white and black students in the nation. Rep. Allen released the following statement: “The numbers are simply not good, but predictably, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction celebrated that Wisconsin was failing less badly than some other states