Morning Headlines - Friday, Aug. 29, 2025 | Recent News

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

Democrats Face Critical Choice In Government Funding Battle As Shutdown Deadline Looms

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Democrats face a critical choice on how much to work with Republicans on government funding when Congress returns next week – with a government shutdown and anger from their voters hanging in the balance.

Senate Democrats took a beating from the base during the last funding showdown in March, when they helped pave the way for Republicans to pass a GOP-crafted plan to keep the government open through early fall, averting a shutdown in the eleventh hour.

As Congress prepares to return to a month-long sprint until the funding deadline, pressure will be on Schumer to hold his ground and tensions could significantly heighten.

Israel Declares Gaza’s Largest City A Combat Zone And Halts Humanitarian Pauses

Israel’s military on Friday said it was suspending mid-day pauses allowing the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza City, calling it a “a dangerous combat zone.”

The city was among the places that Israel paused fighting last month to allow food and aid supplies to enter from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The “tactical pauses” applied to Gaza City, Deir al-Balah and Muwasi, where hundreds of thousands of displaced people are sheltering. The suspension came as Israel prepared to widen its offensive in the city, days after it reported strikes in key neighborhoods and called up tens of thousands of reservists.

Nvidia’s Top Two Mystery Customers Made Up 39% Of The Chipmaker’s Q2 Revenue

Two Nvidia customers made up 39% of Nvidia’s revenue in its July quarter, the company revealed in a financial filing on Wednesday, raising concerns about the concentration of the chipmaker’s clientele.

“Customer A” made up 23% of total revenue, and “Customer B” comprised 16% of total revenue, according to the company’s second-quarter filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Nvidia on Wednesday said demand for the its AI systems remains high, not just among cloud providers but among enterprises buying systems for AI, “neoclouds” and foreign governments.

"De Minimis" U.S. Tariffs Exemption For Low-value Imports Ends

An exemption that allowed low-value parcels shipped to the United States to avoid tariffs ended at 12:01 a.m. Friday, Trump administration officials said.

President Trump signed an executive order suspending what's known as the de minimis exemption late last month.

At the time, the White House said that would close what it called a "catastrophic loophole" that shippers use to "evade tariffs and funnel deadly synthetic opioids or below-market products" into the U.S.

Here's Who Won't Be Returning For 'SNL' Season 51

Some beloved longtime "Saturday Night Live" cast members won't be returning for Season 51, including eight-season veteran Heidi Gardner.

"SNL" creator Lorne Michaels told Puck he'd shake things up ahead of the next season of the iconic comedy sketch series.

Cast members Devon Walker, Michael Longfellow and Emil Wakim, as well as writer Celeste Yim, have also announced they’re leaving the coveted comedy stage.

Here's who's leaving:

Sen. Van Wanggard Accuses Dem Rep. Of Politicizing Minneapolis Shooting

Two Wisconsin lawmakers are taking their disagreement over gun control and Wednesday’s shooting in Minneapolis public.

Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, and Rep. Deb Andraca, D-Whitefish Bay, went back-and-forth on X over laws that Wisconsin Democrats say would prevent a mass shooting in this state.

“Hold your thoughts. Prayers are not enough. We don’t have to live this way. If your elected officials won’t support common sense gun laws VOTE THEM OUT,” Andraca first wrote on X.

Wanggaard responded with a list of "'common sense gun laws' Minnesota has that didn't prevent this tragedy,"

JD Vance Promotes Trump’s Signature Tax Law In Visit To Key Wisconsin Congressional District

Vice President JD Vance praised the sweeping federal budget bill for its potential to improve local manufacturing before a crowd of supporters in La Crosse on Thursday, signifying the outsized attention on this corner of the state more than a year out from midterm elections.

The visit, billed as a promotion of President Donald Trump’s signature tax and immigration law, is the second time in a week that a national political figure visited Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, which will be host to one of the most hard-fought U.S. House races next year.

Appeals Court Unanimously Upholds DNR Authority Over Permit Requirements For Large Farms

The 2nd District Court of Appeals unanimously found the Department of Natural Resources has “explicit” authority to subject large farms to wastewater permit requirements intended to protect water quality.

The three judges who issued yesterday’s decision to uphold Calumet County Judge Carey Reed’s 2024 ruling rejected Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce’s arguments. The group sought to challenge the regulations through a lawsuit against DNR filed on behalf of the Wisconsin Dairy Alliance and Venture Dairy Cooperative.

Packers Aggressive In Trade With Cowboys For Micah Parsons

Drafting a receiver in the first round. Trading defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round draft picks for Micah Parsons, then breaking the bank to give the former Cowboy a four-year, $188 million contract.

Who is running the Green Bay Packers' personnel department, and what happened to general manager Brian Gutekunst?

Dominant Defense Helps Wisconsin Overcome Edwards’ Injury In 17-0 Victory Over Miami (Ohio)

Preston Zachman intercepted two passes to lead Wisconsin’s dominant defensive effort as the Badgers withstood an injury to quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. and opened their season by beating Miami (Ohio) 17-0 on Thursday.

Wisconsin’s first shutout since a 38-0 victory over Western Illinois in 2022 enabled the Badgers to turn the page after a disappointing finish to their 2024 season. The Badgers lost their last five games a year ago to finish 5-7, ending a string of 22 straight winning seasons and bowl appearances.