INTRO GOOD (DAY) EVENING MADISON! YOU’RE LISTENING TO THE 5/6 O’CLOCK NEWS UPDATE ON WSUM 91.7 FM MADISON STUDENT RADIO. I’M TALULA HAYES.

IN THE NEWS TODAY, 

IN STATE NEWS, 
The US Department of Energy commits over 250 million dollars to fusion funding in Janesville. The funding is to produce an isotope that is important in medical procedures. The money will go to SHINE Technologies to support the construction of its Chrysalis facility. The facility will use both fusion and fission technology to create isotopes like molybdenum-99 (Mo-99). Mo-99 is used for diagnostic imaging and one of its products is used in cancer treatment. This isn't the first time that the DOE has supported SHINE. The agency's National Nuclear Security Administration awarded SHINE a cooperative agreement in 2021 to help speed construction of the Chrysalis that included a 50-50 cost-sharing arrangement. The facility will be the largest in the world and will be able to produce more doses of medicine than anywhere on the planet.
For WSUM News, I’m Nathan Jahn

IN ECONOMIC NEWS, 
The Iran war has driven up everyday costs for most Americans. Some main costs being affected are mortgage costs as well as auto and credit card loans. After the war began, mortgage rates climbed for five straight weeks, but now stand at a lower 6.37% average for a 30-year-fixed mortgage. Before the war began, that same rate hit 5.98% in late February, marking its first dip below 6% in over three years. Prices have climbed due to the war through higher oil prices from the Strait of Hormuz’s shutdown and fears of inflation and possible government spending to fund the war. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield, one of our most crucial interest rates, was below 4% at the end of February, grew to 4.48% in March, and now sits at 4.3%. This rise could impact other borrowing rates too. Five-year and two-year Treasury yields rose in March and are now sitting at their highest levels since August. Credit cards reflect more short-term changes of interest rates and were cut by the Fed in 2024 and 2025. However, the war in Iran is only increasing these costs.

IN ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS,
Some states are struggling to meet their clean energy goals due to the resources needed for data centers. Nevada’s largest utility, NV Energy, claims that, to power possible new data centers in Las Vegas, they will need three times their current amount of electricity. This Energy site already provides 90% of the electricity to the state. They, most likely, cannot power them without burning fossil fuels. This could mean that Nevada’s off its clean energy target of trying to uphold 50% renewable power by 2030. Data centers are used to help power AI energy resources. Another state struggling is North Carolina, where they may need to delay plans to stop using coal plants and switch to natural gas plants. State legislators chose to remove the interim goal of utilities to cut carbon emissions, so they may also miss their energy goals. NextEra Energy, a commercial electricity company across the nation, has retired its goal of zero emissions by 2045. The demand for AI powering has increased heavily in recent years, with the Trump administration now encouraging coal energy to power data centers.

PASSING IT OVER TO SPORTS, I'N HERE WITH AN UPDATE
Evers partially vetoes Assembly Bill 1034 allowing almost 15 million dollars in funding toward UW Athletics. UW-Athletics will now have 14.6 million dollars at their disposal as well as 200,000 dollars each to UW-Milwaukee and UW-Green Bay. The bill passed both the house and the senate with bipartisan support. That doesn’t mean the bill was without critics as some worry about how the money can be allocated. Evers passed all of the bill except for the sections about money allocated to maintenance. He did this to allow the money to have less restrictions and ensure it is being used effectively. The bill has a large impact on athletes, with the school no longer allowed to prohibit them from getting representation or other NIL activities. UW chancellor Mnookin echoed athletic director McIntosh’s statement, saying that this bill will allow UW to compete with other schools in the NIL era.
For WSUM News, I’m Nathan Jahn

OUTRO: THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN! FROM THE WSUM NEWS BOOTH, I’M TALULA HAYES. HAVE A GREAT EVENING MADISON!