Morning Headlines - Friday, April 25, 2025

Start your day informed with today’s must-read headlines from around Wisconsin and the world. And don’t forget to check out our Meme of the Day at the end for a little humor to go with your news!

U.S. and World Headlines

Could A $5,000 "Baby Bonus" Convince Americans To Have More Kids?

Americans are having fewer babies, with the annual birth rate now standing near a record low. It's a trend that has implications for the nation's long-term outlook — and has drawn attention from the Trump administration, with the New York Times reporting that a proposal for a $5,000 "baby bonus" may be one option for juicing the birth rate.

"Sounds like a good idea to me," President Trump said on Tuesday at a White House event when asked about the possibility of a federal baby bonus.

Yet the idea may be far from becoming a reality, with a White House official telling CBS MoneyWatch that no final decision on such a plan has been made.

California Passes Japan As Fourth Largest Economy

California's economy has overtaken that of the country of Japan, making the US state the fourth largest global economic force.

Governor Gavin Newsom touted new data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the US Bureau of Economic Analysis showing California's growth.

The data shows California's gross domestic product (GDP) hit $4.10 trillion in 2024, surpassing Japan, which was marked at $4.01 trillion. The state now only trails Germany, China and the US as a whole.

China Cancels 12,000 Metric Tons Of US Pork Shipments

China canceled 12,000 metric tons of United States pork shipments amid a high-stakes trade standoff between the superpowers, according to data released Thursday.

China, one of the biggest U.S. trading partners, axed 12,000 metric tons of U.S. pork orders, the data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) shows.

The move represents the biggest cancellation of pork orders since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted supply chains and stalled economies around the world.

Trump Signs Order To Boost Deep-Sea Mining, Seeking To Break China’s Critical Minerals Dominance

Trump on Thursday sought to fast-track the pursuit of strategically important minerals such as nickel, copper and rare earth elements from the seabed in U.S. and international waters.

The order, which critics say contradicts global efforts to adopt regulation, is designed “to counter China’s growing influence over seabed mineral resources,” according to the executive order.

The practice of deep-sea mining involves using heavy machinery to remove minerals and metals from the seabed, where they build up into potato-sized nodules.

Teens, Social Media And Mental Health

Rising rates of poor mental health among youth have been called a national crisis. While this is often linked to factors like the COVID-19 pandemic or poverty, some officials, like former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, name social media as a major threat to teenagers.

Our latest survey of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 and their parents finds that parents are generally more worried than their children about the mental health of teenagers today.

Wisconsin Headlines

Republicans Grill Top UW, DOA Officials On DEI Audit Findings

Top Universities of Wisconsin and Department of Administration officials defended their practices during a joint legislative hearing on audits of DEI within the university system and state agencies.

Meanwhile, Republicans during yesterday’s Joint Legislative Audit Committee hearing accused the UW of failing to live up to an agreement to curtail DEI and branded diversity efforts as discriminatory.

GOP Rep. Dan Knodl noted the university had promised to eliminate DEI staff in exchange for financial priorities such as employee raises and funding for building projects.

Report Finds Wildfires, Heat Have Worsened Wisconsin Air Quality In Recent Years

A new report from the American Lung Association finds Sheboygan ranked among the top 25 worst cities in the nation for ozone pollution in recent years, and air quality worsened in the Milwaukee metropolitan area.

The annual “State of the Air” report examined ozone and fine particle or soot pollution from 2021 to 2023, ranking air quality from best to worst for cities and counties.

Sheboygan tied for the 24th worst city in the nation for ozone pollution out of 228 metro areas. The ranking was based on the average number of days with unhealthy air. The Milwaukee metro area wasn’t far behind, ranking 26th for ozone pollution and 50th worst for daily particle pollution.

Illinois Man Sentenced To 16 Years In Federal Prison For Armed Robberies

Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on April 23, 2025, Jamal White (age 34) was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison for his role in five armed robberies in southeastern Wisconsin.

According to court records, White robbed five commercial businesses between May 19 and May 21, 2023. During each robbery, White brandished a firearm and demanded money from the store cashiers. White robbed a West Allis Speedway gas station, a West Allis BP gas station, a Milwaukee Walgreens, a Greenfield Speedway gas station, and a Kenosha Kwik Trip.

At NFL Draft, Green Bay Packers Take Wide Receiver For First Time In Decades

For the first time since 2002, the Green Bay Packers have selected a wide receiver in the first round of the NFL draft.

Packers President Mark Murphy announced the team’s pick of Texas receiver Matthew Golden in front of thousands of fans gathered in the Lambeau Field parking lot Thursday night. Golden was the 23rd overall pick in the draft.

ESPN draft analyst Steve Muench had Golden listed as the second best receiver in this draft class, praising the rookie for his route running and explosiveness off the line.

Wisconsin's General Fishing Season Opens May 3

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds anglers the 2025-2026 general inland fishing season will open statewide Saturday, May 3.

With more than 15,000 inland lakes, 42,000 miles of perennial streams and rivers, 1,000 miles of Great Lakes shoreline and 260 miles of the Mississippi River, there are plenty of great places to wet a line over opening weekend.