— A new report from UW-Madison’s Center on Wisconsin Strategy puts a spotlight on the state’s racial disparities, which are particularly stark in the areas of employment and education.
The report’s authors stress that racial inequality in Wisconsin is “neither natural nor inevitable,” noting economic outcomes for African Americans in the state were better than the national average several decades ago.
“But across the last 40 years, opportunity and outcomes for black residents in the state have fallen below national averages and the racial divide has grown,” they wrote.
Drawing on data gathered by the Economic Policy Institute, the report shows Wisconsin has the largest employment disparity of any U.S. state between white and African American workers ages 25-54. Eighty-five percent of “prime age” white residents are employed, compared to 61 percent of African Americans in the same age range.
Unemployment figures from across the age spectrum paint a similar picture. The report shows nearly 9 percent of the state’s African Americans were unemployed in 2017, versus 3.3 percent of white residents — the largest unemployment disparity in the nation.
Report authors say that balancing employment and family obligations depends on “an array of private and public resources and policies” such as paid family leave, affordable high-quality health care and “fair scheduling” of work hours.
“Supporting work-life balance is critical especially for lower-wage workers who do not generally have access to strong leave or other benefits,” they said.
See more: http://www.wisbusiness.com/2019/cows-report-highlights-racial-disparities-in-employment-education/
— Exact Sciences is partnering with the Mayo Clinic on a new study to analyze the impact of Cologuard over a seven-year period.
The Voyage study will enroll more than 150,000 people that order the Cologuard colon cancer test and track them for seven years, gathering data on clinical outcomes for this population. A release shows the study is one of the largest of its kind ever conducted.
Colon cancer is the second-most deadly cancer in the country, with more than 50,000 associated deaths in the United States each year. Although the prognosis for early diagnosis is much better, just 40 percent of the 106 million eligible U.S. adults adhere to colon cancer screening guidelines from the American Cancer Society, according to the release.
“This study will be instrumental in further demonstrating the clinical utility of Cologuard, a highly accurate, non-invasive screening option, in our collective effort to reduce the colorectal cancer burden,” said Paul Limburg, chief medical officer for the Madison-based company.
The latest results from Exact Sciences show that Cologuard is 92 percent sensitive for colon cancer and 69 percent sensitive for “high-risk pre-cancer.” It’s been used to screen more than three million people for colon cancer, and the company claims 95 percent of users don’t have to pay out of pocket for the test.
An earlier study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2014 provided initial validation for the Cologuard test with trial results from 10,000 patients. The Voyage study is expected to deliver more information about the impact of Cologuard on the patients that use it.
See more on the Voyage study: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04124406?id=NCT04124406&rank=1
— A new study from a researcher at UW Carbone Cancer Center sheds light on the gender biases present in the field of oncology.
Dr. Narjust Duma is an oncologist and assistant professor of medicine at the UW Carbone Cancer Center. In a study recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Duma and fellow scientists analyzed hundreds of archived videos of introductions for speakers at annual meetings of the American Society of Clinical Oncology — the largest international conference for cancer treatment.
They found that female speakers at the conference were addressed less often by their professional title compared to male speakers and were also more likely to be introduced by first name only.
The study shows 81 percent of male speakers were addressed by their professional title, compared to 62 percent of female speakers. And 17 percent of female speakers were addressed by their first name, compared to 3 percent of men.
“While we controlled for other factors, like stage of their career, we found that the only factor that mattered was their gender,” she said.
Duma said these varying introductions can influence how an audience perceives a particular speaker.
“If you’re introduced with your professional title, people are more likely to believe your data and pay attention,” she said.
See more on the study results: http://www.wispolitics.com/2019/uw-carbone-oncologist-identifies-unconscious-gender-bias/
— U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson says President Trump “needs to conclude these trade deals” in order to win Midwestern states in the 2020 presidential election.
Speaking in a radio interview yesterday, the Oshkosh Republican specifically referenced the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement and called on Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to bring the trade agreement to the House floor.
“There’s no reason we haven’t voted on that, ratified that and, and you know, solidified that trade deal so again, we have a more unified front as we really confront China,” Johnson said.
Johnson also called negotiations last week between Trump and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He “very encouraging.” The president said both sides reached a “very substantial phase one deal” addressing American concerns over intellectual property theft, financial manipulation and agricultural tariffs. In return, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced the U.S. was scrapping a new round of tariffs on Chinese imports that was set to go into effect on Oct. 15.
“I think that’s a good sign,” Johnson said, adding it showed Trump understood the need “to bring stability to the marketplace here as quickly as possible.”
“I think that will be the real key, because there’s been harm done because of the trade wars,” he said.
See more at WisPolitics.com: http://www.wispolitics.com/2019/mon-pm-update-dems-zunker-dale-announce-bids-for-7th-cd/
Listen to the interview:
— Five Madison-area companies won six of the nine Wisconsin Innovation Awards during the annual ceremony held recently at the Memorial Union in Madison.
Imbed Biosciences won the biotech category, while Filament Games won in education, Standard Imaging won in health IT and Infosec won in software. Meanwhile, Tall Poppy Writers won in the collaboration and people’s choice categories.
“The Wisconsin Innovation Awards seek to celebrate and inspire innovation and highlight the creative spirit from the state’s leading public, private and nonprofit sectors,” Wisconsin Innovation Awards co-founder Matt Younkle said in a statement. “We want to congratulate all finalists and winners from the 2019 Wisconsin Innovation Awards and look forward to encouraging an even greater environment of innovation in the year to come.”
A panel of 28 judges selected the winners from 31 finalists and more than 400 nominees. The other winners came from Appleton, Kohler and Milwaukee.
See more at Madison Startups: http://www.madisonstartups.com/innovation-awards-given-to-five-local-companies/
Listen to a podcast with Younkle: http://www.wisbusiness.com/2017/wisbusiness-the-podcast-with-matt-younkle-co-founder-of-cardigan/
#TOP STORIES#
# Harley-Davidson halts production, delivery of LiveWire electric motorcycles after discovering glitch
# The nursing home funding crisis
# Wisconsin hemp growers call on DATCP to change regulation after testing delays
# Wauwatosa spice company behind pro-impeachment ad blitz
#TOPICS#
# BANKING
– BMO Harris sells 10 more Wisconsin branches in sale-leaseback deals
# CONSTRUCTION
– Officials push for $100M events, recreation center in Eau Claire
– Towering feat: VJS Construction expands, renovates Milwaukee retirement center
# EDUCATION
– Foundation gives UW vet school $15 million gift
# FOOD AND BEVERAGE
– Lakefront Brewery wins silver awards at 2019 International Beer Cup in Japan
# HEALTH CARE
– Researchers try a genetic diabetes test to prevent emergency hospitalizations
# MANAGEMENT
– These companies help push women’s participation on Wisconsin boards to new high: Slideshow
# MANUFACTURING
– Harley temporarily stops production of LiveWire motorcycles
# POLITICS
– Secret Service won’t close businesses inside DNC security zone, says host committee president
# REAL ESTATE
– Glue Dots International facility expansion planned in Germantown
– Sheldon Oppermann joins developer New Land
# SPORTS
– Are Milwaukee Brewers in need of a new baseball stadium already? Team exec says no
# TECHNOLOGY
– NEWaukee announces its Startup MKE week events
# TOURISM
– Milwaukee Film Festival kicks off Thursday
– ‘Walking & Talking Crops’ field day slated for October 23 in Withee
# COLUMNS
– Bill Berry: ‘Big hogs’ are pushing around our smaller ag producers
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
http://wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=82 </i>
UW System Board of Regents: Approves resolution recognizing UW‑Superior freshwater research
LDF Construction: Awarded First Federal 8(a) Contract by USDA Forestry Service
