Latest news with #UniversityofWisconsin-Milwaukee
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
What to know about Judge Laura Crivello who is presiding Maxwell Anderson trial
A judge's role in any trial is to make sure the proceedings are fair and that lawyers stay on topic and aren't grandstanding in front of a jury. Circuit Court Judge Laura Crivello will be the one officiating Maxwell Anderson's homicide trial. Education: Crivello attended University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for her undergraduate degree and went to law school at Marquette University Law School and graduated in 1993. Work experience: Crivello worked 24 years as an assistant District Attorney in Milwaukee County. During that time, she prosecuted various felony and misdemeanor criminal cases, including those involving homicide, firearms, drugs, domestic violence, community prosecution, and child protection cases. 54 Crivello was appointed to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court in 2018 by then-Gov. Scott Walker. She retained her seat in an uncontested 2019 judge race and again in 2025. The case against Anderson was transferred to Crivello in July as part of a judicial rotation schedule change in July ordered by Chief Judge Carl Ashley. The initially was assigned to Judge Mark Sanders. Sade Robinson, 19, was just weeks from graduating from Milwaukee Area Technical College when police say she was killed during a first date in April, and her body was dismembered. Anderson, 34, has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide and other felonies in connection with her death. He has pleaded not guilty. Crivello presided over the trial of Stephanie Rapkin, the Shorewood lawyer who was convicted of a misdemeanor for spitting on a Black teenager during a racial justice protest in 2020. Rapkin rejected the judge's sentence of a year of probation and 100 hours of community service, and chose instead to spend 60 days in the House of Correction as punishment. Crivello oversaw the trial of Antonius Trotter, who was convicted of killing 11-year-old Ta'Niyla Parker and wounding her younger sister in an October 2021 shooting that drew protests and demonstrations around the city. Trotter is serving a 60-year in prison sentence. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about Judge Crivello, presiding Maxwell Anderson trial
The Age
24-05-2025
- Health
- The Age
Easily distracted? Here's how to improve your attention span
Do you feel that you can't focus? That you'll never finish a book again? As if the only way to keep your mind and hands busy is to scroll on social media for hours? You're far from alone. One body of decades-long research found the average person's attention span for a single screen is 47 seconds, down from 2.5 minutes in 2004. The 24/7 news cycle, uncertainty about the state of the world and countless hours of screen time don't help, experts say. 'When my patients talk to me about this stuff there is often a feeling of helplessness or powerlessness,' said Dr Michael Ziffra, a psychiatrist at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. 'But you can change these behaviours. You can improve your attention span.' Here are ways to start that process. As you read, challenge yourself to set a 2.5-minute timer and stay on this article without looking at another device or clicking away. How did we lose focus? A shifting attention is an evolutionary feature, not a bug. Our brains are hardwired to quickly filter information and home in on potential threats or changes in what's happening around us. The things that grab our collective attentions has changed. For our ancestors, it might have been a rustle in the bushes, putting us on guard for a lurking tiger. Today, it could be a rash of breaking news alerts and phone notifications. The COVID-19 pandemic warped many people's sense of time and increased their screen usage as never before, said Stacey Nye, a clinical psychologist at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Technology isn't the only influence on our attention, experts say, but the effects of those pinging notifications or hours scrolling through 30-second videos can accumulate.
Sydney Morning Herald
24-05-2025
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
Easily distracted? Here's how to improve your attention span
Do you feel that you can't focus? That you'll never finish a book again? As if the only way to keep your mind and hands busy is to scroll on social media for hours? You're far from alone. One body of decades-long research found the average person's attention span for a single screen is 47 seconds, down from 2.5 minutes in 2004. The 24/7 news cycle, uncertainty about the state of the world and countless hours of screen time don't help, experts say. 'When my patients talk to me about this stuff there is often a feeling of helplessness or powerlessness,' said Dr Michael Ziffra, a psychiatrist at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. 'But you can change these behaviours. You can improve your attention span.' Here are ways to start that process. As you read, challenge yourself to set a 2.5-minute timer and stay on this article without looking at another device or clicking away. How did we lose focus? A shifting attention is an evolutionary feature, not a bug. Our brains are hardwired to quickly filter information and home in on potential threats or changes in what's happening around us. The things that grab our collective attentions has changed. For our ancestors, it might have been a rustle in the bushes, putting us on guard for a lurking tiger. Today, it could be a rash of breaking news alerts and phone notifications. The COVID-19 pandemic warped many people's sense of time and increased their screen usage as never before, said Stacey Nye, a clinical psychologist at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Technology isn't the only influence on our attention, experts say, but the effects of those pinging notifications or hours scrolling through 30-second videos can accumulate.
The Star
23-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Easily distracted? How to improve your attention span
MILWAUKEE: Feel like you can't focus? Like you'll never finish a book again? Like the only way to keep your mind and hands busy is to scroll on social media for hours? You're far from alone. One body of decades-long research found the average person's attention span for a single screen is 47 seconds, down from 2.5 minutes in 2004. The 24/7 news cycle, uncertainty about the state of the world and countless hours of screen time don't help, experts say. "When my patients talk to me about this stuff there is often a feeling of helplessness or powerlessness,' said Dr Michael Ziffra, a psychiatrist at Northwestern Medicine. "But you can change these behaviors. You can improve your attention span.' Here are ways to start that process. As you read, challenge yourself to set a 2.5 minute timer and stay on this article without looking at another device or clicking away. How did we lose focus? A shifting attention is an evolutionary feature, not a bug. Our brains are hardwired to quickly filter information and hone in on potential threats or changes in what's happening around us. What's grabbing our attentions has changed. For our ancestors, it might have been a rustle in the bushes putting us on guard for a lurking tiger. Today, it could be a rash of breaking news alerts and phone notifications. The Covid-19 pandemic warped many people's sense of time and increased their screen usage like never before, said Stacey Nye, a clinical psychologist at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Technology isn't the only thing that influences our attention, experts say, but the effects of those pinging notifications or hours scrolling through 30-second long videos can build up over time. "Our attention span has really been trained to only focus in those little, small blips and it interrupts our natural focus cycles,' she said. Give your wandering mind 'active breaks' Experts say "active' breaks are among the best way to retrain your mind and your attention. They only take about 30 minutes, Nye said, and can be as simple as taking a walk while noticing things around you or moving to another room for lunch. Don't be afraid to get creative. Develop a list of alternative activities or randomly choose ideas out of a fish bowl. Try craft projects, a short meditation, fixing a quick meal or talking a walk outside. All the better if you can involve a friend as well. The break needs to be a physical or mental activity – no passive phone-scrolling. When the brain is understimulated and looking for change, it'll usually grab onto the first thing it sees. The smartphone, an "ever-producing change machine,' is an enticing option, said Cindy Lustig, a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Michigan. Turn off unnecessary notifications and put that "do not disturb' mode to good use, especially before bedtime. Better yet, put your phone in a whole different room, Lustig said. Say no to multitasking Multitasking may make you feel like you're getting more done, but brain experts recommend against it. "Be a single tasker," Nye said. "Work on one thing at a time, for a specified period of time and begin to work your way up.' Lustig is a big fan of the "Pomodoro technique," in which you set a timer and work on something for 25 or 30 minutes before taking a five-minute break. She tells herself: "I can do anything for this amount of time," and the world will still be waiting for her at the end. Start with something you actually like and set a goal It's not enough to just have a hobby, Lustig said. It helps to choose hobbies that include deliberate practice and a goal to strive toward, whether it's playing guitar for an audience or improving in a sport. It helps to pick something that you enjoy as well. "You don't want to start with the heavy nonfiction or like War And Peace, ' Lustig said. "If you need to start with the romance novel, then start with the romance novel. You can work your way up.' It's also important to be kind to yourself. Everyone has good and bad days, and attention needs are different – and even vary from task to task. The key is to make an intentional effort, experts say. "It is in many ways similar to a muscle in the sense that we can build it up with practice and exercises,' Ziffra said. "Conversely, it can weaken if we're not exercising it.' – AP
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Is your attention span shrinking with every scroll? New study reveals a shocking decline. Here is how to take back control
If you've caught yourself reading the same line of a book five times, struggling to finish a task without checking your phone, or doom-scrolling on social media until your fingers ache, you're not imagining it. Attention spans are shrinking, and our ability to sit still with our thoughts is becoming a lost art. But there's more to the story than just screen addiction—and all is not lost. From tigers to TikTok: How we lost our focus Human attention has never been designed for constancy. Our ancestors relied on shifting focus for survival; quickly reacting to a rustle in the bushes could mean the difference between life and death. But today, that ancient reflex is hijacked by a barrage of breaking news alerts, buzzing notifications, and 15-second videos. According to decades-long research, the average person can now focus on a single screen for just 47 seconds-down from 2.5 minutes in 2004. That's less time than it takes to boil an egg. Experts blame this decline on the 24/7 news cycle, digital distractions , and a collective anxiety about the future. The COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, warped our sense of time and further tethered us to screens. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Would you like to know more? Undo 'Our attention span has really been trained to only focus in those little, small blips, and it interrupts our natural focus cycles,' says Stacey Nye, a clinical psychologist at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. iStock According to decades-long research, the average person can now focus on a single screen for just 47 seconds-down from 2.5 minutes in 2004. Scroll fatigue and the power of 'active' breaks It's not just that we're distracted, it's that we're overstimulated and undernourished mentally. Dr. Cindy Lustig, a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Michigan, warns that smartphones act as 'ever-producing change machines,' constantly tempting our brains with novelty. You Might Also Like: Silent damage: How parental screen time is rewiring young minds and fueling mental chaos? Study reveals But reclaiming your focus doesn't require a digital detox retreat. One powerful method? Take active breaks. These aren't idle pauses filled with more scrolling, but short bursts of mental or physical engagement—like a walk, a creative project, or even a conversation with a friend. These breaks recharge the brain, resetting its attention span without overwhelming it. 'You can improve your attention span,' insists Dr. Michael Ziffra, a psychiatrist at Northwestern Medicine. 'It's not permanent damage. You're not powerless.' The multitasking myth—and how to escape it Contrary to popular belief, multitasking doesn't make you more efficient. In fact, it splinters your concentration and leaves you feeling more drained. 'Be a single-tasker,' Nye advises. One effective strategy is the Pomodoro Technique : set a timer and work on a single task for 25 minutes, followed by a short break. Lustig swears by it. 'I tell myself, I can do anything for 25 minutes,' she says. 'The world will still be there when I'm done.' You Might Also Like: Dia Mirza opens up about teenage stepdaughter's struggle with screen time, compares it to substance abuse: 'It's like a dopamine addiction' Find your flow with purpose-driven hobbies Reviving your attention span isn't about cutting out joy—it's about finding focused joy. Choose hobbies that demand presence and offer a goal to strive for, whether it's learning a musical instrument, painting, gardening, or sports. Start with something you enjoy, not something you 'should' be doing. 'If you need to start with a romance novel, then start with the romance novel,' says Lustig. 'You can work your way up to heavier reads.' iStock One effective strategy is the Pomodoro Technique: set a timer and work on a single task for 25 minutes, followed by a short break. A fragile muscle—but one worth strengthening Attention, like any muscle, can be strengthened with consistent effort and practice. And just like physical fitness, it requires grace—some days will be better than others. 'It's an intentional process,' Ziffra reminds us. 'But it's doable. The ability to focus is still within reach.' So, the next time you feel your mind drifting, remember: it's not failure—it's a signal. Your brain is asking for something different. Not more noise, but more meaning.
