Wisconsin
Wisconsin Senate passes NIL bill that gives Badgers taxpayer funding
Why Wisconsin’s Greg Gard doesn’t take March Madness berth for granted
Wisconsin coach Greg Gard explained how he does not take Wisconsin’s NCAA Tournament berth for granted despite it being ‘commonplace’ in Madison.
MADISON – The Wisconsin Badgers are one step closer to receiving taxpayer support as they adapt to the changing college sports landscape.
With a one-vote margin, the state Senate on March 17 approved a bill to provide taxpayer funding for athletic facility debt service and formalize rules around name, image and likeness. Eleven Republicans and six Democrats voted in favor of the bill, while seven Republicans and nine Democrats voted against it.
The bill, which the Assembly passed on Feb. 19 with a 95-1 vote, now goes to Gov. Tony Evers’ desk. The governor has not publicly weighed in on the measure.
Neither the Senate nor Assembly debated the bill before their votes.
The legislation would allocate $14.6 million for debt service and maintenance of athletic facilities at UW-Madison – the one power-conference athletic department in the University of Wisconsin System. Another $200,000 each would go to UW-Milwaukee and UW-Green Bay for its athletic facilities.
It also would codify existing rules around athletes’ ability to profit off their name, image and likeness. Athletes also would not be allowed to sign NIL deals that conflict with the university’s existing contracts, involve the athlete’s performance or endorse tobacco, alcohol, gambling, banned or illegal substances or illegal activity.
The legislation also adds a public records exemption that has come under scrutiny from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, among others. It would exempt “generation, deployment or allocation of revenue” by an athletic department “when competitive reasons require confidentiality.” UW officials have said they are only seeking to “codify our existing practice” of denying certain records due to student privacy law or competitive trade secrets.
Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh previously told the Journal Sentinel that “everything is on the table in terms of increasing revenues and reducing expenses” if the legislation did not pass in this session. He did not directly answer whether that would include cutting sports.
In a recent interview on WISN-TV’s “Upfront,” Sen. Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, said Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, could face political consequences within his own party if he relied on Democratic votes to pass the legislation.
Asked about opposition to the bill ahead of the Senate vote, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, told reporters it’s a necessity in the environment created by the federal court settlement that allows compensation for college athletes’ name, image and likeness.
“You have to be able to adapt with the times,” Vos said. “I want the Badgers to be able to win. I want to be able to have college athletics for more than just a football and a basketball team, and I want to make sure that we can be competitive.”
Asked about concerns with the bill’s public records exemption, Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein, D-Middleton, suggested that’s something Democrats may seek to change if they win a majority of seats in the November elections.
The Badgers’ efforts to secure taxpayer funding for facilities have come amid rising costs tied to athlete compensation.
Schools can share up to $20.5 million in revenue with athletes, with NIL deals supplementing that. McIntosh said in a public hearing that he has heard anecdotally about peer schools spending $10 million to $20 million “on top of that to have a successful football program.”
“I don’t want to have to choose between a competitive football team and a highly successful Olympic sport program,” McIntosh told the Journal Sentinel.
Looking to explore Wisconsin this summer? The state is full of lakefront beaches, forests, rivers, bluffs, waterfalls and more.
These pockets of nature span several state counties and can make for great road trips. Here are eight hidden gems across Wisconsin for nature-lovers to enjoy while the weather is warm:
This state park is home to Wisconsin’s largest waterfall, Big Manitou Falls. It is accompanied by Little Manitou, a smaller cascade. Around every bend in the trail, there’s opportunity to get right next to a waterfall or rumbling rapid.
The park is on the Black River within Pattison State Park in Douglas County.
For a full Wisconsin waterfall experience, visit waterfalls at Copper Falls, 90 miles east, and Pattison State Park, 15 miles southwest.
On the northern tip of Wisconsin’s Bayfield peninsula 22 islands sit in Lake Superior. Most of the islands are part of Ashland County.
It’s known for its mainland sea caves, which you can visit with a kayak. Also accessible (exclusively) by kayak or boat, there are campsites on 18 of the 21 islands. Visitors can go on cruises for tours of lighthouses, sea caves and more.
Stretching across Vernon and Crawford counties, this region’s forested hills and winding rivers make it unique from other Wisconsin landscapes. Its 125-mile stretch starts near Wilton, winds through La Farge and Ontario and ends at Wauzeka.
It’s beautiful year-round, but canoeing or kayaking the Kickapoo River during the summer can make for great memories. Wildcat Mountain State Park and Kickapoo Valley Reserve trails are also great places to explore.
There are private cabins with large porches to enjoy the view of hills, but the area isn’t as touristy as some other Wisconsin summer spots.
This scenic byway spans 3,000 miles along the Mississippi river across several states. The Wisconsin stretch goes through small towns like Stockholm, Pepin and Alma, which have wineries and natural attractions to visit along a road trip. For a nature break, there’s hiking at Perrot State Park in Trempealeau County and Maiden Rock State Natural Area in Pepin County. To grab a bite or drink, get pizza on a farm at the Stone Barn and go wine tasting at Villa Bellezza and Danzinger.
Bluff-top camping along the Mississippi River
There are campsites in Wyalusing State Park near Bagley and Nelson Dewey State Park near Cassville that sit on bluffs above the Mississippi River. The campgrounds tend to fill quickly, so stay vigilant about any snatch-able sites, or keep it on your radar for a few months down the line.
Wyalusing sites are car-camping sites and have limited privacy, but they have great views, looking directly out on the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers.
The four walk-in sites at Nelson Dewey State Park have a great view of the Mississippi with better privacy between sites. Below the bluff, trains whizz past.
Lakeside camping in the Northwoods
The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest protect over 1.75 million forest acres and thousands of lakes. There are dozens of small campgrounds – many on lakes – at both parks. You could even backcountry camp off the North Country Trail on national forest land and off the Ice Age Trail.
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest encompasses 1.5 million acres and crosses 11 counties, including Ashland, Bayfield, Sawyer and Price counties. It’s just south of Lake Superior’s shores. Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest reaches Iron, Oneida and Vilas counties.
Some extra gems here are Laura Lake, Bagley Rapids and Crystal Lake.
On the way to Door County, the Ridges is a nature preserve in Baileys Harbor. It was Wisconsin’s first land trust, and today has lots of boardwalks, typical of this area of Lake Michigan.
The Kettle Moraine State Forest
Lakes, pines, prairies and glacial landforms can all be found in the Kettle Moraine. Dozens of forested campsites stretch through the woods, with plenty of privacy and space.
Its most famous trail is the Ice Age, which travels through 30 counties. More than 600 miles of it can be hiked, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, but 30 miles are in the northern unit of the Kettle Moraine grounds. It’s meant to be hiked by foot but has branches for mountain biking and horseback riding.
The forest is divided into six units, which hit Fond Du Lac, Jefferson, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha counties.
Contact Elena Metinidis at emetinidis@usatodayco.com.
Baboucarr Ann’s commitment to the Wisconsin Badgers has given the No. 2-ranked class in the entire nation, according to 247Sports.
Greg Gard got off to a hot start when he landed Jalen Brown, but now, Ann’s commitment has taken this team to the next level.
Both Ann and Brown are four-star recruits, and each are among the top players, if not the very best in their own state.
Ann, a Minnesota native, is officially listed as the No. 1 player in his state. As for Brown, he’s listed as the No. 5 player in Wisconsin.
To no surprise, both Ann and Brown are top-100-ranked players. Jack Thelen, another Minnesota native, is Gard’s third commitment, the No. 168 overall ranked player.
Together, Ann, Brown, and Thelen cover seemingly every area on the court. Brown is listed as a complete guard, while Ann is a small forward, and Thelen stands 7-foot-1 and could be this team’s next premier center.
For what it’s worth, Thelen is the No. 3-ranked player in Minnesota and is the No. 16 center in the class of 2027.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Jordon Lawrenz on X @jordonlaw_pxp.
MUKWONAGO — Just two and a half years after launching her business, Emily Koltermann has transformed a simple idea into a growing Wisconsin brand found on the shelves of local supermarkets.
Koltermann, founder of Bulk Butter, created the company after searching for a healthier alternative to traditional sweet spreads.
“Bulk Butter is a lower sugar, better-for-you sweet treat,” she said. “We start with a natural peanut butter base and add in different fun inclusions. Think of your favorite treat or candy bar added to a jar of nut butter, minus all the added sugar plus additional protein.”
Unlike many commercial nut butters, Bulk Butter starts with natural peanut butter that contains no added sugar, salt, oils or emulsifiers. From there, Koltermann adds creative mix-ins that turn the spread into a dessert-inspired snack.
“Our best seller is our Monster Cookie,” she said. “We start with just a natural peanut butter base, blend it with white chocolate and then add toppings to both the top and bottom to make for a better-for-you sweet treat.”
Koltermann said the idea was born during her years as a nationally competitive bodybuilder. While training, peanut butter remained a staple in her nutrition plan because of its healthy fats, even though many people mistakenly assume lower-calorie foods are always healthier.
Watch: Wisconsin entrepreneur builds success with Bulk Butter
From Bodybuilding to Business: Wisconsin Entrepreneur Builds Success with Bulk Butter
“A lot of people think that lower calories equate to better for you than higher calories,” she said. “But as a competitor, I had peanut butter in my plan all throughout prep. We need those healthy fats as individuals for energy, fuel and proper body function.”
After competitions, she would celebrate with a simple indulgence.
“I love peanut butter, so after competing, I would take a spoonful of peanut butter and dunk it into chocolate chips. That was my little sweet treat,” she said. “So, I thought, put it in a jar, and I kind of ran with it.”
At the time, Koltermann was balancing national bodybuilding competitions with a full-time corporate job but wanted something more fulfilling.
“I felt very unfulfilled in the corporate life, so I wanted to find something that was fulfilling while also being passionate about it,” she said.
Building the business meant long days and even longer evenings.
“I knew nothing about the whole business background, and I wanted to just jump in on something and go 10 toes to the ground,” she said. “I was working my 9-to-5 job. In the morning, I would go to the gym, train, get my cardio in, work from 9 to 5, and then after work I would go to farmers markets to launch my product.”
That hard work has paid off. What began as a farmers’ market venture has grown into a regional brand, with Bulk Butter now available in numerous local supermarkets across Wisconsin.
For Koltermann, the company’s success is rooted in offering something different.
“We wanted to find a product that was lower in sugar and didn’t have all the added oils that most nut butters do,” she said. “We took a twist on your natural nut butter and added fun inclusions. We’re very different from your standard nut butter.”
Bulk Butter: Nut Butter Treat | Handcrafted & Small-Batch
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