The Wisconsin Early Childhood Association warns the state’s childcare industry will face widespread shutdowns and pared-back services without sustained government support.  The group on Friday released a report analyzing the impact of pandemic-era stabilization funding running dry this summer, following several years of federal help for the struggling industry. That

A computer science expert at UW-Madison expects major AI firms will face a dwindling economic advantage as widely available models become more powerful, while companies running data centers will thrive.  Patrick McDaniel, a professor in the university’s School of Computer, Data and Information Sciences, was a featured speaker during the

Successful exporting often takes a nuanced understanding of the local culture along with market-specific product customization, according to Wisconsin company leaders whose products are sold worldwide.  They spoke yesterday during Wisconsin World Trade Day in Pewaukee, offering insights from their experiences with global markets — both successes and failures.  Gautam

A recent survey by Sentry Insurance in Stevens Point found healthcare leaders are placing greater expectations on their workers than other executives.  The insurance company yesterday released the results of its 2026 C-Suite Stress Index, conducted late last year by Wakefield Research, a Virginia-based market research firm. The survey tapped

A defense contracting expert with Michael Best Strategies says U.S. military capability is falling short on some emerging technologies such as AI-based decision support.  Erik Berdy, who chairs the firm’s Defense & National Security Practice, was also special assistant for legislative affairs to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of

Quantum computing technologies in Wisconsin are leading to improved mining and biotech sensors, the ability to crack encrypted systems and promising job growth prospects.  “We are making breakthroughs in these technologies in Wisconsin … many of those have led to commercialization,” Wisconsin Technology Council President Maggie Brickerman said yesterday. “So

Cellectar Biosciences has rolled out new clinical trial data showing patients are responding well to one of its cancer therapies.  The drug development firm, which has roots in UW-Madison, recently announced 12-month follow-up results from Phase 2b of its CLOVER WaM clinical trial.  It’s evaluating the use of its Iopofosine

New residential and commercial development can help address financial challenges faced by local governments in places like Jefferson County, according to the latest Wisconsin Policy Forum report. New construction can directly boost county and municipal revenues by increasing how much local officials can raise property taxes under state law, per

The head of Realta Fusion says rising energy demand tied to data center expansion “provides a massive opportunity for fusion” even as public opinion has shifted to be more negative about these projects.  Kieran Furlong, CEO of the Madison-based fusion company, spoke during this week’s Great Lakes Fusion Energy Summit. 

Even as earlier concerns around AI in healthcare are being addressed, new issues are popping up for the quickly evolving technology.  That’s one conclusion from yesterday’s WisPolitics-State Affairs and Wisconsin Technology Council event at the Medical College of Wisconsin. The luncheon explored the use of AI in addressing healthcare workforce

Wisconsin remains the No. 1 state for cranberries with 4.8 million barrels produced in 2025, though that’s below forecasted levels and the prior year’s “near-record” harvest of more than 6 million barrels.  The Wisconsin State Cranberries Association yesterday announced the harvest total for last year based on the Wisconsin Cranberry

Lowering construction costs to boost U.S. housing inventories will be key to reducing inflation, a top national economist told attendees of the Wisconsin Economic Forecast Luncheon.  Robert Dietz is the chief economist and senior vice president for economics and housing policy for the National Association of Home Builders. He was

UW-Madison spin-off companies have a $12.4 billion annual economic impact in the state, making up nearly a third of the $38.9 billion total for the university, its affiliated organizations and startups.  That’s according to a new report released yesterday by the university, which shows its total jobs impact is 287,232,

State utility regulators rejected a proposal that would have required ratepayers to share the cost of new power plants built for data centers.  Data centers in We Energies’ coverage area will instead be expected to pay the whole cost of new “bespoke” power generation built to serve the energy-guzzling facilities,

A $30 million U.S. Navy contract recently awarded to Fincantieri Marinette Marine will lay the groundwork for building four or more new landing vessels at its shipyards in the state.  The company last week announced the contract for materials procurement and engineering activities for these first four ships out of

Dane County’s housing market is facing slower inventory growth and faster price increases than expected, according to an analysis from Stark County Realtors CEO David Stark.  “Only three months into the new year we’ve already had more curve balls thrown our way than we normally get in a full year,”

The proposed Hiawatha West extension of Amtrak service from Milwaukee to Madison would result in more than $20 million in projected visitor spending based on ridership forecasts.  That’s according to Arun Rao, senior director of network development for Amtrak, who discussed the proposed project’s status during a recent public webinar.