— By Brian E. Clark For WisBusiness.com If not for the running craze of the 1970s, Wisconsin’s Trek Bicycle Corp. might never have come to exist.  Some five decades ago, Trek co-founder and serial entrepreneur Dick Burke became a running enthusiast, eventually competing in Boston Marathons and numerous other races.

A national group called the LIBRE Initiative is calling for loosening regulations on housing development in Wisconsin to improve affordability, with a focus on the state’s Hispanic community.  Roel Sanchez, the grassroots engagement director for the group in Wisconsin and a former real estate agent, said “we are in one

The law firm Michael Best warns employers will likely face “increased scrutiny” of any affirmative action programs after a federal commission rescinded related guidelines.  After the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission last month rescinded its guidelines for these programs, the Milwaukee-based law firm recently rolled out an overview for employers,

The head of WMC says a shortage of skilled labor is largely to blame for manufacturing being usurped by healthcare as the state’s top employment sector, while AI-enabled automation is also entering the mix.  “Manufacturers are having difficulty finding skilled workers because of the demographic challenges we face,” Wisconsin Manufacturers

The nonprofit Union of Concerned Scientists is criticizing the state’s regulatory framework, arguing a “loophole” in the process for approving new large-scale utility projects is allowing developers to avoid scrutiny.  But WEC Energy Group, whose subsidiary We Energies is targeted in the report, argues it “completely ignores” aspects of this

Wisconsin has more hospitals with top ratings for nurse communication than any other state, according to new data being touted by the Wisconsin Hospital Association.  The group today is rolling out findings from Becker’s Hospital Review based on the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, or HCAHPS. The

Madison-based M3 Insurance is putting a spotlight on rising healthcare costs for employers, noting its client base saw a 7.46% increase this year.  The insurer recently released the 2026 edition of “Momentum: An M3 Employee Benefits Trend Report.” It shows its clientele of about 2,000 employers across the country are

Wisconsin was ranked 8th in the country for a broad range of metrics in the 2026 State of the States report, reflecting relatively low rates of poverty and income inequality as well as a strong labor force.  But the Wisconsin Policy Forum says the state is in danger of slipping

Wisconsin’s peak power demand is projected to jump 40% over the next six years, largely driven by the massive data centers being built in the state.  That’s according to a draft of the latest biennial Strategic Energy Assessment released last week by the state Public Service Commission. The report, based

Realta Fusion is touting a “first-of-a-kind achievement” for the fusion energy field, having demonstrated direct energy conversion of plasma kinetic energy into electricity.  The Madison-based company yesterday announced it’s the first commercial fusion energy company to achieve the milestone, though the process has been done several times in laboratory settings. 

Landmark Credit Union plans to expand its presence in the Madison area with five new branches by the end of next year, the Brookfield-based company announced.  President and CEO Tim Mackay calls Madison an “important market” for the credit union, which this week is opening the first of the new

With the state’s Child Care Bridge Payments program expiring this week, providers across Wisconsin are expected to raise rates, putting a further strain on parental budgets.  Rep. David Armstrong, R-Rice Lake, says the end of the program “is going to hurt.” He spoke Friday during a virtual panel organized by

The Trump administration’s moves to restrict and slow both illegal and legal immigration are putting a strain on employers and sowing confusion, panelists at a WisPolitics event agreed.  Speaking during yesterday’s WisPolitics-State Affairs D.C. breakfast panel discussion, Glenn Spencer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said there’s been a lack

While the vast majority of companies surveyed for a recent ManpowerGroup report are using AI for talent acquisition, the technology is having a smaller impact than expected and leading to new problems.  The Milwaukee-based global employment agency’s Talent Solutions division yesterday released “The New Talent Equation: Building Better Talent Decisions,”

U.S. Rep. Tony Wied has rolled out legislation that would establish labeling requirements for lab-made butter products to address what he calls “an attack on American farmers.”  Wied, a Republican who represents the state’s 8th CD, recently announced details for the  Recognizing Engineered Alternatives as Lab-Created, or REAL Butter Act. 

SHINE Technologies has announced a new partnership with a French company advancing efforts to recycle spent nuclear fuel.  The Janesville nuclear technology business recently announced details for the agreement with newcleo, which develops advanced nuclear reactors and fuel.  Under the partnership, the two companies will explore possibilities for SHINE supplying

Wisconsin home sales fell 2.8% over the year in May amid rising prices and limited housing supply, though year-to-date sales are still above the same point last year.  The Wisconsin Realtors Association’s latest report, released this morning, shows 6,553 homes were sold in the state last month. That’s down from