A decade ago, Thomas Murphy was a college dropout who used alcohol and drugs to deal with undiagnosed depression. Therapy made the difference for him. But he can’t receive it at school. When he re-enrolled at UW-Madison and went to the counseling center, he walked out with no appointment and a list of referrals.

Murphy’s story underscores a national dilemma: a surge in students seeking intensive counseling and psychiatric care, which college mental health centers often lack resources to provide.

There’s a new wrinkle in Wisconsin’s fast-growing frac sand mining: It turns out that an endangered butterfly, the Karner blue, lives in the same region. And some companies may be failing to check for the butterfly as they move ahead with mining operations.

Spectrum Brands began its successful quest for a $4 million award from the state without revealing its identity or that it was already based in Wisconsin, public records show. Its hired consultant also suggested that the backlash over Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s budget repair bill made his unidentified client reluctant to pick Madison — where it was, in fact, already located.

Gov. Scott Walker’s sense of mission has often brought controversy. While his supporters say his boldness will be rewarded, his critics blame him for dividing the state. Part three in a three-part series.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, known for his toughness in defending his positions, acknowledged Friday that he’s made mistakes in how he’s gone about achieving his agenda. The Republican governor, now facing a recall effort, said he regretted not having done a better job of selling his changes regarding collective bargaining for public employees.

Nearly half of Gov. Scott Walker’s 2011 campaign contributions so far have come from outside Wisconsin. And, as he’s facing a potential recall, the normal individual limits do not apply. Explore where the money’s coming in from with our interactive map.