While the mainstream press was obsessing over a thirty-year-old California double murder trial fiasco, significant news did occur in the last 24 hours.
We bring you the latest in our final Key Reads of the week.
The single largest private gift to the University of Wisconsin has not received nearly enough recognition. Private philanthropy has benefited so many aspects of the foundation of our state. We should celebrate those who give back to the community.
UW–Madison to name new Computer, Data & Information Sciences building for John and Tashia Morgridge | UW News
For the first time, a University of Wisconsin–Madison building will bear the name of John and Tashia Morgridge, alumni and visionary partners to UW–Madison, who have for decades made significant contributions to the university, beginning with a humble $10 gift in the 1960s. With the recommendation of university leaders and the approval of the Board of Regents, the new, state-of-the-art School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences building will be named Morgridge Hall.
The School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences represents a forward-thinking collaboration focused on the intersection of technology and humanity. The Morgridges’ gift of $140 million, including a $50 million challenge grant that inspired gifts from additional donors, has been instrumental in bringing Morgridge Hall to fruition.
The building is slated to open in 2025 and will feature modern classrooms and research facilities, collaborative spaces and a commitment to sustainability. Morgridge Hall is poised to become a hub of creativity, innovation and discovery and represents a bold investment in the future of computing, data and information sciences at UW–Madison.
The $260 million building is the largest privately funded project in UW’s history, and their remarkable generosity underscores the Morgridges’ deep commitment to advancing education, research and community engagement.
“Tashia and I owe a debt of gratitude to those who made our education possible,” John Morgridge says. “Our investment in CDIS is our way of paying it forward to ensure that future generations have the same opportunities we did.”
John and Tashia are 1955 graduates from UW–Madison and have a longstanding history of philanthropy and service. John’s distinguished career as a business executive and educator, along with Tashia’s dedication to special education and literacy intervention, exemplify their unwavering commitment to making a difference in the world.
Yes, we have a US Senate Race to endure this year. But next year’s Supreme Court race will be the most expensive in state history. Yesterday’s announcement likely means there will be an expensive primary before we get to the expensive general election in Aprill.
Liberal Wisconsin Supreme Court justice says she won’t run again, setting up fight for control | AP
The longest-serving current Wisconsin Supreme Court justice and member of its liberal majority announced Thursday that she will not seek another term, setting up a high-stakes fight for control of the battleground state’s highest court.
Justice Ann Walsh Bradley’s decision comes as a surprise after she had previously said she would seek a fourth 10-year term. It shakes up the race on the liberal side as they seek to maintain the majority they just won last year.
..Liberals hold a majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court thanks to Janet Protasiewicz’s victory in 2023 over former Justice Dan Kelly, flipping the court after 15 years of conservative control.
The court has made several key rulings since liberals gained control, including a December decision overturning Republican-drawn maps of the state’s legislative districts.
This next story is one to watch. We’re not sure why the state party is not involved and this seems like it would be such an obvious infraction it would have been rectified before the election. We’ll stay on this.
Republicans file election complaint over poll worker balance | The Center Square
The RNC, along with the Dane County and Milwaukee County Republican Parties, filed two complaints with the Wisconsin Elections Commission that allege election managers in Madison and Milwaukee didn’t hire enough Republican poll workers.
“Wisconsin election officials defied state law by refusing to hire a fair number of Republican election inspectors, despite having hundreds of Republican nominees available. This is the kind of misconduct that drives down faith in elections,” RNC Chairman Michael Whatley said in a statement. “The Republican Party is filing these complaints to compel election officials to follow the law and guarantee bipartisan access to important election administration positions in the Badger State.”
State law requires election managers to work off a list of approved poll workers, but the Republican complaint accuses Madison and Milwaukee of ignoring hundreds of qualified Republican workers.
“The Republican Party had submitted 149 qualified names, meaning that election officials in Madison rejected roughly two-in-three qualified Republican nominees,” the RNC said.
In Milwaukee, the complaint says that resulted in 215 Democrat poll workers and 49 Republicans. The split was 60 Democrats and 51 Republicans in Madison.
“Wisconsin law requires officials to fill election inspector slots from lists submitted by each party “until the names on those lists have been depleted.” Yet both cities hired thousands of unaffiliated election inspectors before exhausting the list of Republican nominees,” the party added.
And we’ll end today’s post with this: An NFL legend is calling it quits.
Key Packers Legend retires – Packers.com
Green Bay Packers Equipment Manager Gordon “Red” Batty is retiring from the position. The announcement was made Thursday by Executive Vice President/Director of Football Operations Russ Ball.
“On behalf of the Packers, I want to thank Red for all of his hard work and dedication to the organization,” said Ball. “With his vast knowledge in his field and immense pride in his work, he kept the players and staff well taken care of both on and off the field. We wish him and his family the very best in the future.”
(BATT-ee) Batty has worked in the NFL for 43 seasons, including the last 30 seasons as the equipment manager for the Packers. Prior to his move to Green Bay, Batty spent 13 seasons (1981-93) in the same position for the then-Houston Oilers. Last year, he completed his 50th season in the equipment field, a career he began in 1974 at age 14 as an equipment assistant for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. Six years later, Batty was elevated to the position of equipment manager for the Alouettes, a team that won two Grey Cups (1974 and ’77) during his tenure in Montreal.
In his 30 seasons with the Packers, Green Bay has made the playoffs 22 times and won 15 division crowns, three NFC titles and two Super Bowls (XXXI and XLV). Batty purports to be the first native-born Canadian staff member to garner both a Grey Cup and Super Bowl ring, and he has two of each. Over his career, Batty has worked with quarterbacks Ken Stabler, Archie Manning, Oliver Luck, Warren Moon, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love.
Well, we got you to Friday. Now go get through Friday. We’ll be back next week with more Key Reads.
Have a great Weekend.
