Passenger Rail in Wisconsin: A new “Thinking Big About Wisconsin Passenger Rail” conference is set for June 25 in Milwaukee, aiming to build momentum for faster, more frequent intercity service and spotlighting speakers from city leaders to rail coalitions. Higher Ed Costs: The UW System Board of Regents approved a fourth tuition increase in four years, raising in-state undergraduate tuition 2% and fees about 3.5% on average. Workforce Training: NWTC Aurora will add a new path to a Wisconsin Class B commercial driver’s license, with online theory and an October road/range test. Emergency Preparedness Tech: UW-Whitewater is receiving $225,000 to create a technologically advanced Emergency Operations Center for regional response. AI Talent Pipeline: Persistent Systems teamed with Databricks and MSOE to expand an AI engineering talent initiative via a Databricks-powered hackathon. PFAS Cleanup Accountability: Wisconsin announced a $10M settlement with Tyco Fire Products tied to long-running PFAS contamination in Marinette, including a trust for cleanup and replacement wells. Local Arts Impact: Madison’s Overture Center is projected to contribute nearly $67M to the local economy, with a big jump from earlier seasons. Privacy & Student Data: The FTC finalized a modified order against Wisconsin-based Illuminate Education after a major student-data breach tied to weak security practices. Education Funding Fight: The Milwaukee Reading Coalition says DPI won’t route state literacy funds to its planned commission, raising concerns about how Act 20 money will flow.