Good morning, Wisconsin!

Ellie here. Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a great weekend.

I spent my weekend at some grad parties. It’s graduation season, so to anyone finishing up school or classes of any sort, congratulations!

Here’s a little throwback to my UW-Madison graduation from 2024. The photo below is of me and my roommates from our senior year of college.

UW-Madison 2024 graduation. (Ellie Bourdo/UpNorthNews)

Are you graduating, or do you know anyone graduating? Let me know! I’d love to feature them.

Speaking of graduation, today, we’re taking a look at some of Wisconsin’s most beautiful college campuses, along with another edition of the Badger State Buzz, and other Wisconsin news!

Ellie Bourdo

Newsletter Editor, UpNorthNews

“The Hoan Bridge in Milwaukee at sunset Tuesday night.” (Courtesy of Tim E.)

Our reader, Tim E., sent in this great photo of the Hoan Bridge in Milwaukee. What an iconic Wisconsin scene, thanks for sharing!

Send in your Wisconsin view to have it featured!

On the hunt for something to do this Memorial Day weekend? Look no further. Check out these affordable and fun ways to spend Memorial Day Weekend in Wisconsin.

Share your Wisconsin view

What’s happening in Wisconsin this week

Click on the graphic for a map to find an event near you!

Another Monday means another Wisconsin event roundup. Here’s what we’ve got going on in the Badger State this week:

🍽 Taste of the Valley 2026, Hudson (May 21)

Enjoy unlimited food and drink, including culinary bites, beer, wine, and mocktails, against the backdrop of live music and entertainment.

🇺🇸 Field of Flags Remembrance Ceremony, Milwaukee (May 22)

Honor Wisconsin’s fallen service members with a ceremony and display of flags at Veterans Park. The tribute will remain on display until May 27.

🌭 World’s Largest Brat Fest, Madison (May 22-24)

This annual event brings people together for three days of live music, family-friendly fun, and of course, brats, while raising money for more than 100 local charities.

⛵ Door Peninsula Lighthouse Passport Days, Sturgeon Bay (May 22-24)

Experience behind-the-scenes access to 11 historic lighthouses with exclusive boat tours, along with guided excursions around the peninsula.

🍗 Fondy Food Truck Festival, Fond du Lac (May 24)

This sixth annual event features a wide variety of fare from nearly 40 vendors, including BBQ, Mexican cuisine, Caribbean dishes, and more.

🎨 Memorial Day Arts and Crafts Show and Sidewalk Sale, Eagle River (May 24)

This downtown gathering features handmade goods from local artists and crafters, as well as food, live music, and sidewalk sales from local businesses.

Have an event to share?

The 8 most beautiful college campuses in Wisconsin

Lawrence University’s historic Main Hall was one of the sites used to honor Abraham Lincoln. (Lawrence University)

By Erin Yarnall

There are a few things that can be found in abundance in Wisconsin: dairy products, breweries, and beautiful locales. From its location along two Great Lakes, to its dells and bluffs, to its rural countryside, there is no denying how scenic Wisconsin can be. The state is so brimming with beauty that even its college campuses stand out as truly gorgeous locations.

Wisconsin is home to 85 colleges and universities, according to the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, and while each is beautiful in its own way, some really stand out. Some college campuses have been around for more than a century, and have stunning historic halls and buildings; others are located in unique and picturesque settings. But one thing that they all have in common is that they’re among the most beautiful college campuses in Wisconsin.

Check out the full list!

Evers-Vos surplus deal defeated as Democrats and Republicans split their votes

Gov. Tony Evers speaks during the 2023 State of the State address, Jan. 24, 2023, at the state Capitol, as Assembly Speaker Robin Vos looks on. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)

By Pat Kreitlow

In one of the most weirdly bipartisan scenes since the smoking ban debate of 2007, party labels went out the Capitol windows as legislators ultimately rejected a deal between Wisconsin’s Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Republican Assembly and Senate leaders that would have allocated much of a projected budget surplus for direct checks, special education, and some tax relief measures.

Democratic critics blasted the bill as short-sighted and fiscally reckless and said it would have hampered their ability to make lasting reforms to how state taxpayers fund public education. Evers and the Democrats and Republicans who supported the package blasted the critics, saying they were missing an opportunity for immediate bipartisan actions that would help struggling families and fiscally-strapped school districts.

Learn more