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Dane County moving to phase two of reopening Monday
Dane County is set to move into phase two of its Forward Dane COVID-19 reopening plan on Monday at 8 a.m., according to a news release from Public Health Madison and Dane County (PHMDC). Phase two allows all businesses to open at 50% capacity, the opening of K-12 schools and higher education institutions, indoor gatherings […]
Finalist for UW System President withdraws from search
The only finalist in the search for the University of Wisconsin System’s next president, Jim Johnsen, withdrew from consideration Friday. Johnsen, president of the University of Alaska system, was named as the finalist earlier this month after a long and controversial search process. After he was announced as the only finalist, Johnsen immediately faced criticism […]
Wisconsin private universities estimate $245 million in COVID-19 related losses
Wisconsin’s private colleges and universities estimate a combined loss of $245 million due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data from the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (WAICU). Suspended room and board payments, the impact on fundraising and the cost of reconfiguring classes led to an estimated $81 million loss for the spring […]
Elections Commission moves one step closer to mailing absentee application to 2.7 million voters
In an all-day meeting, the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) moved one step closer toward sending absentee ballot applications to 2.7 million registered voters in Wisconsin, approved more than $7.8 million in grant spending for election security and certified the candidates on the ballot for the Fall 2020 elections. The body — which is split 3-3 […]
Defund the Police: What does it mean, why does it matter and what could it look like here?
A nationwide movement of protests against racial injustice has sprung up across Wisconsin and the country. As thousands of people take to the streets, familiar chants of No Justice, No Peace and Black Lives Matter have echoed through the crowds. The protests began as a response to the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police […]
UW Regents address presidential search, COVID-19 blueprint in meeting
The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents discussed two of its most controversial issues in a meeting Thursday — System President Ray Cross’ proposed “Blueprint” to survive after the COVID-19 pandemic and the search process for Cross’ replacement. The two issues have become intertwined and the actions of System leadership on both has been […]
UW system president asks for special session to address financial issues, academic calendar due to COVID-19
UW System President Ray Cross sent state leaders a letter asking them to convene a special session of the Legislature to address challenges the System is facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As campuses moved to online education in the spring semester, schools were hit with added financial burdens. Now System leaders are working to […]
Jacobs elected chair of Wisconsin Elections Commission
In a unanimous vote Wednesday, Democrat-appointed commissioner Ann Jacobs was elected chair of the Wisconsin Elections Commission. Jacobs will replace Republican-appointed Dean Knudson who has held the position for two years. Democrats and Republicans trade off control of the commission, which is split evenly 3-3 between parties. The terms of both Knudson and Jacobs run […]
To Zoom or not to Zoom
When the COVID-19 pandemic’s ramifications truly began to set in for Wisconsin, it made sense for government bodies to hold their public meetings virtually. In fact, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Office of Open Government issued guidance in March for holding public meetings remotely. But now, as the state begins to reopen businesses and venture […]
Tears, anger, joy as protesters hold John Nolen intersection for nearly 8 hours
The cycle of the traffic light at the intersection of John Nolen and North Shore drives in Madison lasts about 20 seconds. So, for the seven hours and 40 minutes that protesters occupied the intersection Monday, the light went through almost 1,400 cycles. The event was part of the third straight day of demonstrations in […]
Protests against police violence end with clashes between cops, protesters
For the second night in a row, a protest in Madison against police violence Sunday night turned into a showdown between protesters and police. The event, which started peacefully, became more tense shortly after the city’s curfew went into effect at 9:30 p.m., according to several media reports as well as incident reports from the […]
Wisconsin State Fair canceled
The 2020 Wisconsin State Fair has been canceled, with organizers citing concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. The fair’s 12-member board of directors voted unanimously Tuesday to cancel the event. The fair, which was scheduled for Aug. 6-16, typically draws more than one million visitors over 11 days. Public health officials are currently advising against gatherings […]