GOP lawmakers are circulating legislation that would establish new fuel blend requirements for gas stations and create a related grant program under DATCP.  In a recent cosponsorship memo, Sen. Joan Ballweg of Markesan and Rep. Todd Novak of Dodgeville touted the bill as a way to support Wisconsin farmers and

A decline in Wisconsin’s median wage last year effectively “erased” three years of wage growth, according to a report from a UW-Madison think tank.  The State of Working Wisconsin 2023 report, created by the COWS High Road Strategy Center, explores the latest data on the state’s labor market. Report authors

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says his caucus will take up a child care plan this fall, but not the one that Dem Gov. Tony Evers proposed. The guv called a special session Sept. 20 to take up a host of workforce development proposals, including putting state money into subsidies for

A new Wisconsin-based video game studio has launched with support from Green Bay venture capital firm TitletownTech. Midwest Games is led by former Netflix Games Program Manager Ben Kvalo, who says the business is committed to empowering the “vast talent pool” in underserved regions. “We recognized that innovation and creativity

The winner of this year’s Pressure Chamber contest, Child Health Imprints, is seeking to establish its neonatal care platform in the United States after finding success in Asia.  The company beat out four other finalists this week during the pitch competition hosted by the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce as

Wisconsin farmers are finally getting some relief from the ongoing drought as rainfall across much of the state has improved crop conditions.  That’s according to the latest crop progress report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, which shows harvesting of oats, winter wheat and potatoes is proceeding ahead of

A computer science professor at UW-Madison says certain AI tools pose a cybersecurity threat when in the wrong hands, and urges skepticism about potential defenses.  In a presentation held as part of Madison’s Forward Festival, Prof. Somesh Jha yesterday discussed how experts in the field are looking to preempt the

A Madison-based nonprofit called Maydm plans to ramp up growth after being selected for a five-year, $500,000 grant award.  The organization aims to support girls and youth of color in 6th grade through high school as they pursue education in STEM fields, offering workshops, summer programs and paid internships.  Maydm

A group of Wisconsin partners is seeking a “regional tech hub” designation from federal officials focused on personalized medicine and biohealth technology.  According to yesterday’s announcement from the consortium of 15 public and private sector organizations, this designation by the federal Economic Development Administration could result in between $50 million

Manufacturers in rural areas are more vulnerable to disruption from the transition to electric vehicles, according to a WEDC official.   Flannery Geoghegan, senior director of policy at the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., yesterday discussed findings from a recent study focused on the state’s electric vehicle supply chain strategy. She spoke

Wisconsin crop forecasts for this year are down across the board, as farmers in parts of the state continue to grapple with drought conditions.  The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service reports state corn production is expected to be 515 million bushels, which would be 6 percent lower than last year’s

Scientists in Madison have developed a method for turning plastic waste into more valuable materials, according to a new study.  The work was led by George Huber, a professor of chemical and biological engineering at UW-Madison. In a release from the university, he says “there’s a huge market” for the

In the 1860s, traveling to Walworth County’s Geneva Lake by horse-drawn wagon or carriage was no easy task. That changed in July 1871, when the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad was extended to the town of Lake Geneva, cutting the trip to less than a day from the Windy City. Three

Figures tracked by MMAC are showing a “slow, steady path upward” for Milwaukee’s economy, according to the group’s latest economic trends report.  The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce yesterday released its June report, showing 14 of the 23 factors included in its analysis saw year-over-year improvements that month.  While that’s

GOP lawmakers are touting a bill that would provide a transportation tax credit for blind employees as a way to boost Wisconsin’s workforce.  Rep. David Steffen, R-Green Bay, and Sen. Rob Hutton, R-Brookfield, are currently circulating the bill for cosponsorship. In a memo sent to all state lawmakers, they note