Discussions on AI need to look at its uses, says Madison College prof (UNDATED)
Discourse about AI and what its future is have been muddled by marketing. That’s the message from Madison College marketing professor Steve Noll (NO-ll) who says “artificial intelligence” has been around for decades for programs that make large amounts of data more concise. Those uses are very different from using generative AI in creative outlets like writing, art or music, says Noll. He is predicting a crash in the A I market where several of the big tech firms fall out of the market, much like the dot-com bubble in the 90s.
Stevens Point city networks suffer security breach (STEVENS POINT)
A Cybersecurity incident hits a Central Wisconsin city. Leaders in Stevens Point say they detected some suspicious network activity Wednesday morning, which turned out to be unauthorized access to its servers by an outside group. The incident has caused intermittent phone and email outages, but at this time officials emphasize that no sensitive resident or employee data was taken or exposed. A statement from Mayor Mike Wiza says they are working with appropriate state and federal agencies to investigate, and all critical city services are working as normal, but other departments may still have brief phone and email outages while the servers are restored, which could take up to two weeks.
Keep these food safety tips in mind (UNDATED)
With students back in school, food safety experts are reminding families that proper lunch storage can help prevent foodborne illness. University of Minnesota food safety professor Hanyu Chen says perishable foods such as deli meats, yogurt, cut fruit and leftovers should be kept cold until they’re ready to eat. Chen recommends packing lunches in insulated bags with ice packs or other cold sources to keep foods below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. She also says students should use school refrigerators when available. Food safety experts say taking those simple steps can help reduce the risk of harmful bacteria growing before lunchtime.
Winner of this year’s state park pass design contest announced (UNDATED)
Kiet Tuan Tran created the winning artwork in the annual contest sponsored by the Department of Natural Resources. More than 120 entries were submitted by high school-age students from across Wisconsin. The winning design features camping in the woods, one of the most popular activities at State Parks. The winning artwork will appear on 2027 annual vehicle admission passes, which go on sale January 1st. Pass sales help fund operations at Wisconsin’s state parks, forests and recreation areas.
Students working with assistance dogs in training at UW-River Falls (RIVER FALLS)
UW-River Falls is going to the dogs – in a good way. Ten assistance dogs in training have begun a semester where they’ll live in residence halls, attend classes, and experience college life alongside UWRF students. The Yellow Lab Retrievers, ranging in age from 15 to 24 months, are part of the Falcon Fetch that’s Fostering Education Through Campus Hosting program, a partnership between the university and Minnesota-based Can Do Canines, giving students hands-on experience helping raise and train future assistance dogs. 22 students are participating in the program this semester. Can Do Canines has offered the Fetch program at UW-River Falls since 2023 and at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus since 2016.
Grant could accelerate Madison Police body cam acquisition (MADISON)
Madison Police may get body-worn cameras ahead of schedule. One of the largest departments in the nation not currently equipped with the cameras, MPD had planned to introduce them in phases over three years. Now a $350,000 grant from the Madison Community Foundation could cover operating expenses by the end of 2027. The city is applying for federal funding to cover about half the cost of purchasing 220 cameras at a price of more than $400,000. The funding announcement came last Thursday, a day before the Dane County DA’s office received the findings from the Wisconsin Department of Justice investigation into the July shooting death of Corey Ruiz by Madison Police.