UW System campuses and other partners led by WiSys are getting a $1 million federal grant to plan a regional effort around sustainable agriculture.  WiSys President Arjun Sanga says the project could represent a “key economic driver” for the state.  “Just as a public-private partnership turned Wisconsin into the ‘Dairy

Employer interest in Wisconsin apprenticeship programs is on the rise amid fierce competition for talent.  That’s according to Liz Pusch, deputy director of Wisconsin Apprenticeship with the state Department of Workforce Development. She spoke yesterday at the Madison Region’s Economic Development and Diversity Summit, hosted by the Madison Region Economic

While environmental groups consider appealing a judge’s decision in favor of the Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line, advocates are applauding it as a big step forward for the controversial project.  The transmission line project, which involves American Transmission Company, Dairyland Power Cooperative and ITC Midwest, would span more than 100 miles

GOP lawmakers are seeking cosponsors for a bill to standardize the process for granting reciprocal credentials to those with professional licenses from outside Wisconsin.  According to a cosponsorship memo from Sen. Rob Stafsholt of New Richmond and Rep. Nate Gustafson of Neenah, the legislation would replace existing credential-specific standards with

— As hospitals in Wisconsin grapple with a tight labor market and rising costs, mergers offer a chance to improve care coordination and bring together complementary skills.  The latest in a series of recent high-profile hospital mergers was announced last month between Milwaukee-based Froedtert Health and ThedaCare, which is based

The Madison-based Clean Lakes Alliance says climate change is offsetting efforts to reduce phosphorus pollution in the Yahara lakes system.  The environmental advocacy group yesterday released its 2022 State of the Lakes report, which covers the latest findings on conservation practices, shifting weather patterns and their impact on phosphorus runoff

The Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network has broken ground on a site where advanced radiation therapy will be delivered.  The network recently announced it has begun preparations for installing a new proton therapy system at its cancer center campus in Milwaukee. This form of cancer therapy

Dem lawmakers are seeking cosponsors for legislation to ban the use of foam polystyrene packaging for food and beverages in certain situations.  Reps. Katrina Shankland of Stevens Point and Kristina Shelton of Green Bay, along with Sens. Chris Larson of Milwaukee and Jeff Smith of Brunswick, are circulating a cosponsorship

The head of the state AFL-CIO is calling for greater efforts to improve worker safety after a national report found 105 workplace deaths in Wisconsin in 2021.  According to the national AFL-CIO’s latest report, 21 of the Wisconsin workers that died on the job in 2021 were killed in assaults

A spokesperson for the Entertainment Software Association says Wisconsin’s video game sector is “ripe for growth” as the global industry continues to expand rapidly.  Tara Ryan, vice president for state government affairs with the ESA, spoke yesterday during a Wisconsin Technology Council luncheon in Madison. She said the association has

Wisconsin often has among the highest labor force participation rates in the country for “prime working age” residents, according to a recent UW-Madison report.  The labor force participation rate is typically based on the percentage of workers over age 16 that are either employed or unemployed and actively seeking work,

A representative of the U.S. Copyright Office says copyright law is being complicated by artificial intelligence as the technology matures.  George Thuronyi is deputy director of the Office of Public Information and Education within the federal office, which is part of the Library of Congress. He spoke yesterday as part

WARF is seeking commercial partners to help develop a new method for extending the storage life of various meat products.  This method’s inventor, Mark Richards, is a professor in UW-Madison’s Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences. The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation is touting his work as a top licensing prospect

While hospitals are challenged by rising labor and supply costs, the head of the Wisconsin Hospital Association says his “most fundamental concern” is attracting workers to the field.  In a legislative briefing this week, WHA President and CEO Eric Borgerding told lawmakers that creative solutions will be needed to shore

Experts agree employers in Wisconsin will be hesitant to lay off workers even if the economy soon enters a recession, as some economists predict.  During an interview on WisconsinEye yesterday, Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing and Productivity CEO Buckley Brinkman said manufacturers in the state have learned the importance of holding

Republican advocates for community solar in Wisconsin say their bill would lead to lower energy rates through competition while getting more local buy-in for projects.  During a recent joint appearance on WisconsinEye, Sen. Duey Stroebel and Rep. Scott Krug touted legislation they’re reintroducing that would allow customers to subscribe to

WEDC says Wisconsin’s manufacturing industry has the potential to establish a “globally competitive cluster” around electric vehicles.  In a recent report, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. highlighted the “tremendous opportunity” presented by the growing EV market given the state’s established automotive sector. It currently employs more than 92,000 workers around

A Republican proponent of medical marijuana says getting GOP support for a related bill this session may require adding restrictions on how the substance can be used.  Speaking Friday during a webinar hosted by the Wisconsin Policy Forum, Sen. Mary Felzkowski said any proposal to legalize medical marijuana will need

The Wisconsin Hospital Association is urging state officials to “safely eliminate steps” in the licensure process to help health care professionals get to work faster. In its latest report on the health care workforce, WHA details a variety of proposals to address the industry’s worsening labor force crisis. Ann Zenk,

Racine-area lawmakers on both sides of the aisle say they’re optimistic about the potential for a $1 billion data center Microsoft is proposing for Mount Pleasant.  State and local officials have announced a proposed agreement between Microsoft Corporation, the village of Mount Pleasant and Racine County under which the company