Latest news with #UniversityofWisconsin
Fox News
7 hours ago
- Fox News
Teen lifeguard impaled by beach umbrella returns to work after freak accident: ‘I'm pretty good'
The New Jersey lifeguard impaled by a beach umbrella while working a summer job on the sand is speaking out about the ordeal that almost ended her life. Alex Kaus, 18, was working as a lifeguard on Asbury Park's 3rd Avenue Beach last month when the incident occurred. "Physically, I'm pretty good," Kaus told Kaus was setting up the umbrella when a gust of wind blew her off a lifeguard stand, dropping her on the point end of the 1-inch metal pole, reported. Fellow lifeguards found Kaus lying on the ground with the stake through her left shoulder and sticking out the back of her arm, Asbury Park Fire Chief Kevin Keddy previously told Fox News Digital. First responders cut the umbrella stake off Kaus, making it easier to transport her to the hospital. Three weeks after the incident, Kaus is reportedly back at work, according to the local outlet. While she is not yet guarding beachgoers, the college student is reportedly checking for beach badges as she prepares to head back to school at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. "I hope to have at least like two-ish weeks on the stand before I have to go back to school," Kaus said. Kaus has no exact return date for when she will return to guarding, as she reportedly is waiting to be medically cleared before taking to the water. This summer marks the New Jersey native's second year on the Asbury Park beach, which she chose to apply to after spending time visiting as a child, according to "I knew I liked it here and I knew it was a busy beach and wanted some, like action," Kaus said. With the news of her accident making national headlines, Kaus looked to downplay the attention as she focused on her recovery. "I'm definitely one of those people who's just like, 'It's all good,'" she said. "I'm still processing everything." Kaus is especially thankful for her fellow lifeguards and those who rushed to her rescue. "I'm really grateful to the people that were there with me," Kaus told "My coworkers, Liz and Noah and Patty and Colin, they were all there." Kaus did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. While Kaus is still recovering from her accident, she hopes the level of attention her story created shines some light on the role of lifeguards protecting local beaches up and down the country's coasts. "We appreciate it when people appreciate us as lifeguards," she said. "Because we're out here every day, keeping everybody safe."
Time Magazine
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time Magazine
The Legacy of Robert La Follette's Progressive Vision
President Donald Trump's return to the White House has left many progressive Americans feeling disillusioned, resigned, and apathetic. Warnings about the dangers of the former president fell flat with a little more than half the electorate last fall. And many Trump supporters remain fiercely loyal—despite his most egregious violations of democratic principles. Democrats have spent the last several months struggling to fight back against Trump's policies—even those that are massively unpopular. The story of Senator and Governor Robert M. La Follette, a Republican from Wisconsin who is widely regarded as one of the greatest progressive politicians in American history, might offer some inspiration for progressives struggling today. His legacy suggests that securing political change requires persistent activism, tempered by patience. La Follette's history reminds activists that continuing to push steadily forward toward specific objectives offers them the best chance of eventually achieving their political goals. In 1873, just before becoming a student at the University of Wisconsin, La Follette heard Edward Ryan, soon to become the state's Chief Justice, give a commencement speech. Ryan bluntly defined the central questions of the coming era: 'Which shall rule—wealth or man; which shall lead—money or intellect; who shall fill public stations—educated and patriotic freemen, or the feudal serfs of corporate capital?' This question would animate La Follette's career as he tried to live up to UW president John Bascom's insistence that students accept the obligations of citizenship and their duty to serve the state. La Follette came to share Bascom's passion for social and economic justice, including his support of labor associations and women's rights. In preparation for a career in public service, he honed his considerable oratory skills and ultimately earned a law degree in 1880. La Follette became a part of the burgeoning progressive movement, that rose in response to conditions of the long Gilded Age. By the late 19th century, the economy was unregulated, unstable at best, and frequently rocked by recessions and depressions. Immigrants poured into cities, providing much of the labor force of a newly industrialized America, which saw its economy become the largest in the world—thanks in large part to their low wages. Dreams of the U.S. as a land of glorious opportunity seemed available exclusively to the already wealthy. Most Americans worked menial, often dangerous, jobs that were so low paying that entire families had to work to survive. After long hours in dangerous conditions, workers returned to urban ghettos rife with poverty, crime, and disease. Precious, nonrenewable resources were decimated, with no thought to their conservation, let alone preservation. Read More: As Schumer's Stock Falls, Here's Who's Vying to Lead Democrats Against Trump Too often, government appeared, at best, helpless to curb the harmful excesses, and, at worst, a willing collaborator in the profitable carnage. Politicians like New York's Boss George Plunkett spoke openly and approvingly of 'honest graft.' A seat in the Senate (often referred to as "the Millionaire's Club") could be purchased merely to increase a wealthy man's status. State legislators frequently chose U.S. senators thanks to backroom bribes. Powerful trusts cornered markets and set prices, controlling such necessities as beef, steel, sugar, oil, and money. The attitudes of the wealthy businessmen who dominated the Gilded Age were summarized by George Frederick Baer, the spokesman for the coal mine owners during the anthracite strike of 1902: 'The rights and interests of the laboring man will be protected and cared for—not by the labor agitators, but by the Christian men of property to whom God in His infinite wisdom has given control of the property rights of the country.' La Follette fiercely disagreed, and saw the ownership class as a 'hostile force' that threatened to 'thwart the will of the people and menace the perpetuity of representative government.' La Follette and his fellow progressives dedicated themselves to fighting for a better future of the nation. He won election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1884 and served three terms. But his first two bids for Wisconsin's governorship failed because opponents bribed delegates at the state's Republican nominating convention. In 1900, he undertook a third bid, promising to eliminate the corruption of the increasingly powerful political bosses and machines by enacting the direct nomination of all political candidates. His determination to return power to the people galvanized voters and carried him to victory. Under La Follette's leadership, Wisconsin pioneered many initiatives to more equitably redistribute America's wealth and power. Most importantly, he took on big interests, especially the railroads and other powerful utilities. At La Follette's behest, the state legislature enacted a thoroughgoing and efficient reform of these industries. The governor also pioneered civil service reform, insisting that government jobs be awarded on merit. Additionally, his administration regulated lobbyists, enacted stronger provisions against corrupt practices, implemented environmental measures, and reformed Wisconsin's tax system to be more equitable, nearly doubling the amount paid by railroads. He also changed how the state elected officials, fulfilling his pledge to enact primary elections for all elected offices so no one could purchase them in back room deals. By 1906, when La Follette moved to the U.S. Senate, progressive governors across the nation were eagerly trying to duplicate many of his initiatives. In the Senate, La Follette continued his push to regulate the railroads, including by beefing up the powers of Interstate Commerce Commission, and limiting the number of consecutive hours railroads could require employees to work. He contributed significantly to the passage of two constitutional amendments: The 16th, which allowed the federal government to levy a graduated income tax (which La Follette saw as a path toward more equitable income redistribution) and the 17th, which established the direct election of U.S. senators, so that voters couldn't be corrupted like state legislators had been. In 1915, La Follette pushed through the Seaman's Act, which required ships to carry enough lifeboats for all passengers and crew. He saw the recent Titanic disaster as proof that the lives of the poor were less valued, and argued that all lives were worthy of equal protection. Perhaps La Follette's most controversial act as a senator was his outspoken opposition to U.S. entry into World War I. President Woodrow Wilson presented the war as a culmination of progressive reform ideas, promising it would 'make the world safe for democracy.' La Follette dismissed this assertion, warning that war was "a dreadful diversion for peoples demanding juster distribution of wealth. War is the money changer's opportunity, and the social reformer's doom.' Read More: How Wisconsin Became the Ultimate Purple State This position fueled massive blowback. Despite this national vilification, however, Wisconsin voters reelected La Follette in 1922. In 1924—only a year before he died—La Follette ran for president as an independent and captured 17% of the vote. And after he died, his son was elected to the Senate for another 21 years. One of La Follette's greatest gifts was the ability to recognize that achieving progressives' goals was not a short term project. 'We are,' he said, 'slow to realize that democracy is a life and involves continual struggle.' He set out to inspire the like minded to take part in what he envisioned as a perpetual movement. La Follette counseled both immediate action…and patience: 'It will not be possible to restore industrial and commercial freedom at once.' But it was important to begin the process. For as much as La Follette achieved, his prediction that the struggle would be long proved accurate. Much of the original progressive agenda, with its emphasis on federal regulation, stalled during the final years of La Follette's career. After World War I, the nation experienced a period of disillusionment and reform fatigue. The successes as well as the failures of the progressive movement contributed to its stagnation: with the worst excesses remedied, it was hard to create consensus on next steps. Progressives also encountered reversals as the wealthy fought to regain undue political influence. La Follette anticipated this regression too, noting that 'tyranny and oppression are just as possible under democratic forms [of government] as any other.' Yet, he counseled hope rather than despair. Again, this proved prescient. Reformers kept fighting after La Follette died in 1925, and their perseverance paid off during the New Deal in the 1930s. Later, the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s reactivated other dormant progressive ideas. During his presidential campaign, La Follette urged his fellow citizens to recognize that 'There is an unending struggle to make and keep government representative…Mere passive citizenship is not enough. Men must be aggressive for what is right if government is to be saved from those who are aggressive for what is wrong.' That statement—and La Follette's philosophy more broadly— provides a blueprint for liberals navigating the Trump era. For disillusioned progressives feeling powerless to stop President Trump's initiatives, La Follette's career exemplifies the value of rejecting the siren song of frustration and complacency in favor of persistence in pursuing progressive ideals. Only continuous efforts and vigilance can safeguard American democracy and create a more equal and just society. Nancy C. Unger is professor of history at Santa Clara University, and the author of the prize-winning biography Fighting Bob La Follette: The Righteous Reformer. Made by History takes readers beyond the headlines with articles written and edited by professional historians. Learn more about Made by History at TIME here. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of TIME editors.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
The daughter of PGA Tour star Steve Stricker is on a heater. Here's her latest win
The trophy case at the Stricker household must be overflowing. And among Wisconsin's foremost golfing family, Izzi Stricker is swinging the hottest club right now. Stricker, who is a rising sophomore on the University of Wisconsin golf team, won the Wisconsin Women's Amateur Championship on July 15 in a playoff at Maple Bluff Country Club. Stricker outlasted Janesville's Hannah Dunk and UW golfer Hadley Ashton over two playoff holes. Izzi Stricker is the youngest daughter of Steve Stricker Stricker's pedigree is well-known as the youngest daughter of Steve Stricker, the most successful golfer in state history. Stricker's mother, Nicki, and older sister, Bobbi, are also former UW golfers who are fixtures in local events with Bobbi now forging a pro career. Nicki's brother, Mario Tiziani, also is a well-known golfer and their father, Dennis Tiziani, is a former Badgers coach for the men's and women's teams. Izzi Stricker is red-hot this summer in Wisconsin State Golf Association play. In late June, she teamed with Nicki to win the Women's Four-Ball Championship at the Legend of Bergamont in Oregon. The week before that, Izzi won the Women's Match Play Championsip at Old Hickory Golf Course in Beaver Dam. For the Women's Amateur, Izzi carded rounds of 77, 72 and 77 to force the playoff. Steve and Nicki were at Maple Bluff to celebrate the win. Izzi Stricker has been on national golf radar since battle with Tiger Woods and son Izzi won multiple WIAA state championships at Waunakee High School, but she hit the national radar over the last few years at the PNC Championships in Orlando, Florida, in which she shared the course with women's star Nelly Korda and competed alongside Steve against Tiger Woods and his son, Charlie. The Stricker family is also highly visible every summer at the American Family Insurance Championships, the PGA Tour Champions event hosted by Steve in Madison. This year, the event moved to TPC Wisconsin, which is owned by Dennis Tiziani. After finishing second at this year's AmFam Championships in a team with brother-in-law Mario Tiziani, the 58-year-old Steve said that he would undergo neck surgery soon to alleviate pain that also extended to his back. In his career, Steve has won 12 PGA Tour events and 18 on the Champions Tour. He also captained the United States to victory at the Ryder Cup held at Whistling Straits.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Melting glaciers may lead to more volcanic eruptions
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Climate change is likely to have an explosive consequence: volcanic eruptions. Antarctic glaciers have been slowly melting as temperatures rise, unearthing hidden volcanoes in the process. The eruptions of these could further worsen climate change and disrupt global ecosystems. But melting glaciers will only continue without the proper intervention to curb emissions. Lava locked away As warming temperatures cause glaciers to melt, that melt raises sea levels, which in turn tampers with the oceans' saltwater ecosystems and can lead to flooding. Melting glaciers may also lead to an increase in volcanic eruptions, according to a new study presented at the Goldschmidt Conference in Prague and set to be peer reviewed later this year. "Hundreds of dormant subglacial volcanoes worldwide — particularly in Antarctica — could become more active as climate change accelerates glacier retreat," said a news release about the study. Evidence suggests that the "thick ice caps act as lids on volcanoes," said Inside Climate News. Once the weight is removed, there is no longer pressure on the magma chamber underneath, allowing for eruptions to occur. "When you take the load off, it's just like opening a Coca-Cola bottle or a champagne bottle," Brad Singer, a geoscientist at the University of Wisconsin who led the research, said to Inside Climate News. "It's under pressure, and the dissolved gases in the melt come out as bubbles." The researchers analyzed six volcanoes in Chile to investigate how the Patagonian Ice Sheet's changes over time affected volcanic behavior. While the link between glaciers and volcanoes had been previously observed in Iceland, this study is one of the first to "show a surge in volcanism on a continent in the past, after the last ice age ended," said The Guardian. The same processes could occur in Antarctica, parts of North America, New Zealand and Russia as the ice sheets melt. A glacial pace Increased volcanic activity will likely have detrimental effects on the climate and global ecosystem. "The cumulative effect of multiple eruptions can contribute to long-term global warming because of a buildup of greenhouse gases," Pablo Moreno-Yaeger, who presented the research at the conference, said in the news release. "This creates a positive feedback loop, where melting glaciers trigger eruptions, and the eruptions in turn could contribute to further warming and melting." Unfortunately, the world's glaciers are now melting faster than ever before. Over the past approximately ten years, "glacier losses were more than a third higher than during the period 2000-2011," said the BBC. And the potential consequences go beyond just volcanic eruptions. Eruptions "release sulfate aerosols that reflect sunlight back into space," and this has led to "cooling events following past eruptions, some of which have triggered major famines," said Live Science. One study even found that melting polar ice is causing Earth's rotation to slow. Without intervention, the melting is going to continue. The "amount of ice lost by the end of the century will strongly depend on how much humanity continues to warm the planet by releasing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases," the BBC said. Solve the daily Crossword
Boston Globe
09-07-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
Senate committee advances Susan Monarez to be Trump's CDC director
She holds a doctorate in microbiology and immunology from the University of Wisconsin, and a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University. Prior to the CDC, Monarez was largely known for her government roles in health technology and biosecurity. Advertisement The committee's action comes after months of turmoil with no leader at the helm of the Atlanta-based federal agency tasked with tracking diseases and responding to health threats. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The CDC has been hit by widespread staff cuts, resignations of key officials and heated controversy over longstanding CDC vaccine policies upended by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Last month, Monarez told senators that she values vaccines, public health interventions and rigorous scientific evidence, but she largely dodged questions about whether those positions put her at odds with Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic who has criticized and sought to dismantle some of the agency's previous protocols and decisions. 'Unfortunately, Dr. Monarez — who has served as Trump's acting CDC director — has done nothing to stand in the way" of Kennedy's actions, Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent, said Wednesday. Advertisement The CDC was created nearly 80 years ago to prevent the spread of malaria in the U.S. Its mission was later expanded, and it gradually became a global leader on infectious and chronic diseases and a go-to source of health information.
