Room tax revenues in Wisconsin are bouncing back more quickly in tourist areas than those that rely more on business travel, according to a recent Wisconsin Policy Forum report.  While statewide figures aren’t yet available for 2021, the report focuses on figures for the top 75 municipalities in the state

Rolf Wegenke, the recently retired head of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, says education leaders in the state need to fight negative perceptions around college education.  “I think that’s the critical issue looking forward, is this ‘you don’t need college’ crowd,” Wegenke told WisPolitics.com President Jeff Mayers

Epic’s research division aims to improve treatments for rare diseases through a large database drawing from millions of patients’ electronic health records.  Panelists representing the Verona-based company discussed Epic’s rapidly growing Cosmos database during a Wisconsin Technology Council luncheon held yesterday in Madison. Dr. Jackie Gerhart, vice president for clinical

Two researchers at UW-River Falls have been awarded a $250,000 grant to explore the impacts of dairy farms adopting robotic milking technologies.  According to a release from the university, Luis Peña-Lévano and Shaheer Burney from UW-River Falls’ Agricultural Economics Department will be working with other specialists from the University of

The number of registrations for electric and hybrid vehicles in Wisconsin more than doubled in less than a decade, according to a new report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum.  In 2013 — the earliest year such figures are available — there were 44,178 registrations for electric cars and hybrids. But

A Madison-based startup called Realta Fusion aims to develop commercially viable fusion technology that could help offset global greenhouse gas emissions.  Kieran Furlong, the company’s CEO, said the UW-Madison spinoff company is working to create the “lowest capital, least complex path” to fusion energy production. He discussed its plans for

Visit Milwaukee President and CEO Peggy Williams-Smith says business travel remains limited in Wisconsin’s largest city while convention activity is seeing more of a comeback.  Speaking on a recent Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce webinar, she attributed some of the continued reduction in business travel to increased use of virtual

ManpowerGroup says it has cut operational emissions 39 percent from 2019 levels, bringing the company over halfway to its goal of 60 percent reductions by 2030.  This reduction was highlighted in the Milwaukee-based company’s 2021-2022 Environmental, Social, and Governance report. ManpowerGroup also plans to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2045

New research from Exact Sciences shows screening for multiple cancer indicators at the same time can improve detection in earlier stages of the disease. That’s according to Dr. Tom Beer, chief medical officer and vice president multi-cancer early detection for the Madison-based cancer diagnostics company. A recent release from Exact

Destination Kohler has created a website honoring the legacy of Herb Kohler Jr., who passed away earlier this month at the age of 83. The site highlights his dedication to family, business accomplishments and impact on the Kohler Company as well as tourism in Wisconsin. Kohler was well-known for his role

Employees of Pabst Theater Group in Milwaukee say their union organizing is helping to improve job security and safety in the hospitality and tourism industry.  Connor Erickson, an event lead with Pabst Theater Group and union advocate, discussed organizing efforts yesterday during a virtual panel organized by UW-Madison’s Center on

The Milwaukee area’s economy slowed in July, according to the latest economic trends report from the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.  The report shows 10 of the 22 economic indicators in July saw improvement over the year. That’s the first time less than half of these data points improved over

UW Health nurses argue patient care is suffering as fewer and less experienced nurses are being asked to shoulder a greater burden.  Speaking over the weekend at a news conference organized by advocates for unionization, UW Health nurse Shari Signer said cuts to staffing ratios and benefits as well as

The head of the Wisconsin Technical College System says the Biden administration’s student loan relief plan is “a good first step” toward lessening the burden on borrowers.  In an interview yesterday, WTCS President Morna Foy noted technical college students tend to have higher levels of financial need compared to other

An expert with the Student Borrower Protection Center estimates the Biden administration’s student loan relief plan will eliminate $4.14 billion in federal student loan debt in Wisconsin.  Ben Kaufman is the director of research and investigations at the nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. In an email, he said the