Morning Headlines - Friday, Apr. 15, 2022

U.S. and World Headlines

FDA Authorizes First Covid-19 Breath Test

The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday authorized the first Covid-19 test that uses breath samples.

The InspectIR Covid-19 Breathalyzer test has to be done by a trained operator, but the FDA said it can provide a result in around three minutes.

Biden Picks Michael Barr For Fed's Bank Regulation Post

President Joe Biden said Friday he plans to nominate Michael Barr, the dean of the University of Michigan's public policy school, to be the Federal Reserve's vice chairman of supervision.

The selection of Barr comes after Biden’s first choice for the Fed post, Sarah Bloom Raskin, withdrew her nomination a month ago in the face of opposition from Republicans and one Democrat, Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia. Raskin's critics had argued that she would apply the Fed’s regulatory authority to climate change and possibly discourage banks from lending to energy companies.

Billionaires Eye Parallel Media Universe

Elon Musk doesn't seem to have much of a vision for how to actually run Twitter, if his takeover bid succeeds. He's not alone.

A small group of tech moguls believe America is in the midst of what they call a "free speech" crisis, and they're investing time and money to change the terms of public discourse. But so far, they've made more headlines than progress.

A 4 Billion-Year-Old Comet 80 Miles Wide Is Headed Toward Earth

An ancient comet, believed to be over 4 billion years old is headed towards the Earth. The massive comet is at least 80 miles across, making it twice the width of Rhode Island. It’s currently speeding towards the Earth at 22,000 miles per hour.

Luckily, we won’t have to worry about the comet impacting the Earth. Astronomers say it will never pass closer than 1 billion miles from the Sun. That’s a little farther than the distance between the Earth and Saturn. The ancient comet is expected to pass that close to the Earth sometime in 2031.

Today Is Good Friday

Good Friday commemorates the death of Jesus on Calvary, the site just outside the walls of Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified. It falls on the Friday before Easter, for 2022, that’s April 15. Most Christian denominations recognize Good Friday as a holy day, with many, including members of Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Lutheran faiths, fasting and attending church services.

But there is so much more to this holiday than just these religious rituals. Good Friday is, for many, an intensely personal day of prayer and devotion. Let’s take a closer look.

Wisconsin Headlines

Justices Question Who May Return Ballots During Arguments In Drop Box Lawsuit

Several of the Supreme Court’s liberal members suggested it was “absurd” to argue that it’s illegal for a spouse or child to place a voter’s ballot in the mailbox at the end of their driveway under Wisconsin law.

But attorney Rick Esenberg, arguing for the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty during oral arguments yesterday, countered it’s simply the strict construction the Legislature put into law when it allowed the privilege of voting absentee.

New Congressional Map Creates Competitive District In Southeast Wisconsin

Wisconsin's most competitive congressional district for the next decade might be in southeast Wisconsin under a political map drawn by Gov. Tony Evers and approved last month by the state Supreme Court.

The 1st Congressional District has voted reliably Republican for the past 20 years. It's currently held by Janesville Republican Bryan Steil, and before him, former U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan.

While Evers' map was chosen by a 4-3 majority of the court because it was the best example of a "least changes" redistricting plan, it adds and removes territory from the 1st District's boundaries in subtle but significant ways.

AG Kaul Releases 2021 Annual Crime Lab Report

Attorney General Josh Kaul today released the 2021 Annual Report for the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Forensic Sciences (DFS) crime laboratories.

“The Wisconsin State Crime Lab is well positioned for the future,” said AG Kaul. “Despite the continued impacts of the pandemic, the DNA queue is declining and turnaround times in most areas compare favorably with those from around the country. In the next budget, I am hopeful that the legislature will agree to provide sufficient funding and position authority for the crime lab to build on this progress.”

Wisconsin's Unemployment Rate Hit Record Low In March

Wisconsin's unemployment rate dropped to a record low of 2.8 percent in March, according to preliminary numbers released Thursday by the Department of Workforce Development.

The seasonally-adjusted figure comes from a monthly survey of Wisconsin households by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. While the data is subject to later revisions, it follows a consistent trend in Wisconsin, where the state's unemployment rate tied the previous low of 2.9 percent in February.

2022 Youth Turkey Hunt Happening April 16-17

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds families, mentors and young hunters there’s still time to plan ahead for the 2022 youth turkey hunt happening statewide April 16-17.

Each year, the youth turkey hunt gives hunters under the age of 16 the opportunity to gain valuable hunting experience and feel the excitement of turkey season before the regular season begins.