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

Federal officials say businesses in Wisconsin will have numerous opportunities to benefit from Inflation Reduction Act tax credits.  In a webinar yesterday, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin said “now is the time” for manufacturers and other Wisconsin companies to make sustainability investments.  “Whether that’s taking advantage of the tax credits for

The head of the Wisconsin Environmental Initiative says federal funding for clean energy job training and a “direct pay” provision in the Inflation Reduction Act will have a major impact in the state.  WEI Executive Director John Imes called the direct pay aspect of the law a “game changer” for

More farmers will be able to participate in conservation programs through funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, according to the head of the Wisconsin Farmers Union.  Speaking yesterday during a virtual press conference organized by Dem lawmakers, WFU President Darin Von Ruden touted the impact of the IRA’s $20 billion

Green Bay Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy says the TitletownTech startup program “could be as impactful as anything that the Packers have done.”  He spoke yesterday at the 10th annual Wisconsin Tech Summit, held by the Wisconsin Technology Council at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. The event is designed

An expert panel agreed on the transformative potential of federal funding for clean energy, but uncertainty remains about the timing of the funds, the dollar amount and the ultimate impact in Wisconsin.  Speaking yesterday at a Milwaukee event hosted by WisPolitics and WisBusiness, Wisconsin Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy

A partner with Madison-based Rock River Capital Partners says many young entrepreneurs in the state need to reset their funding expectations as they meet with venture capital firms.  Speaking during a recent Wisconsin Technology Council meeting held at UW-Whitewater, Andy Walker explained coastal startup culture is “a lot more cutthroat”