Morning Headlines - Friday, Jul. 22, 2022

U.S. and World Headlines

Capitol Riot: Trump Ignored Pleas To Condemn Attack, Hearing Told

Ex-US President Donald Trump watched last year's Capitol riot on TV at the White House, ignoring his children and aides who "begged him" to rebuke the mob, a congressional inquiry has heard.

"He chose not to act," said Adam Kinzinger, one of two Republicans on the Democratic-led committee.

The prime-time hearing was told Mr Trump did not make a single call to law enforcement or national security staff.

He was motivated by "his selfish desire to stay in power", the inquiry alleged.

2 Police Officers Shot, 1 In Life-Threatening Condition

Two police officers have been shot in Rochester, New York, and one is in life-threatening condition Thursday night.

The two officers were conducting a detail around 9:15 p.m. when "at least one male approached them and opened fire on them," Lt. Greg Bello said at the scene Thursday night, Rochester ABC affiliate WHAM reported.

Supreme Court Won’t Allow Biden Administration To Impose New Border Enforcement Priorities For Now

A divided Supreme Court on Thursday refused to block a lower court ruling that prevents the Biden administration from setting new enforcement priorities for immigrants entering the U.S. or living here illegally.

Instead, the court said it would take up the issue in early December.

Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Amy Coney Barrett and Ketanji Brown Jackson would have granted the administration’s request to begin carrying out its revised enforcement priorities, according to a brief order.

It was Jackson’s first vote in a Supreme Court case.

Biden Tests Positive For Covid-19 And Has "Very Mild Symptoms," White House Says

President Biden tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, confining himself to the White House to recover from seemingly mild symptoms as his doctor said he should respond well to treatment since he is fully vaccinated and boosted against the coronavirus.

The president, who is 79 years old, has started taking Paxlovid, an antiviral treatment made by Pfizer, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement announcing his diagnosis. The positive test is the first known time Mr. Biden has contracted the coronavirus.

Hunter Biden Investigation Developments 'Don't Add Up', Former Federal Prosecutor Says

The federal investigation into Hunter Biden has reached a critical stage, where the current grand jury has been disbanded with no charges yet brought, despite allegations the 52-year-old lied on a firearm purchase form among other claims, an ex-prosecutor told Fox News on Thursday.

Biden, the younger son of President Biden, has been subject to a federal investigation in Delaware for several years – and the White House elected to keep U.S. Attorney for Delaware David Weiss in office past the end of the Trump administration purportedly to avoid claims of conflict-of-interest.

With the grand jury reportedly disbanding, the case may now be in the hands of government prosecutors to make the next move, which former U.S. Attorney for Utah Brett Tolman told "The Story" leaves a very strange dynamic:

Wisconsin Headlines

Johnson Signals He Would Vote For Same-Sex Marriage Bill

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), a staunch ally of former President Trump and perhaps the most vulnerable GOP senator facing reelection in November, announced Thursday that he would vote for a bill protecting same-sex marriage.

Johnson took a shot at Democrats, accusing them of trying to stir up controversy over the issue, but still signaled that he would vote for legislation to establish federal protection for same-sex marriage, as well as interracial marriage.

“The Respect for Marriage Act is another example of Democrats creating a state of fear over an issue in order to further divide Americans for their political benefit. Even though I feel the Respect for Marriage Act is unnecessary, should it come before the Senate, I see no reason to oppose it,” he said in a statement to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Republican Lawmakers Block Wisconsin's Absentee Ballot Correction Rule

Wisconsin Republicans erased regulations on July 20 allowing local election clerks to fill in missing information on absentee ballot envelopes, the latest move in the GOP's push to tighten voting procedures in the crucial swing state.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission developed an emergency rule earlier in 2022 that permits local clerks to fill in missing witness address information on absentee envelopes without contact the witness or the voter. The rule reflected guidance the commission issued to clerks in October 2016. The guidance was in effect during the 2020 presidential election, which saw Joe Biden narrowly defeat then-President Donald Trump.

Republican Lt. Gov. Candidates Split On Abolishing State Income Tax, Other Issues In Televised Debate

Candidates in today’s GOP lieutenant governor debate voiced their support for restrictions on abortion while weighing in on a Trump 2024 bid and suspending the state’s income tax.

During today’s Spectrum 1 News debate cosponsored by WisPolitics.com, five of the eight candidates indicated their support for eliminating the state income tax.

The only direct attack of the debate came during that discussion. Eau Claire insurance agent Kyle Yudes criticized Sen. Roger Roth, of Appleton, for not attempting to suspend the income tax sooner. Roth introduced a bill to do just that.

How To Watch, Who's Involved, And More: Your Viewing Guide For The TMJ4 Republican Wi Governor Primary Debate

TMJ4 News is hosting two political debates in July ahead of the upcoming August primary election in Wisconsin.

Here's everything you need to know about how you can watch, when the debates are happening, how to get involved, and much more:

Wisconsin Resident Sentenced To 96 Months For Possessing Methamphetamine For Distribution

Carl Rabe, 44, Baraboo, Wisconsin was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 96 months in prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Rabe pleaded guilty to this charge on April 26, 2022.

During the course of a long-term, multi-agency investigation, law enforcement officers identified several people, including Rabe, who distributed significant amounts of methamphetamine in western Wisconsin. Investigators also learned that Rabe partnered with traffickers who purchased methamphetamine from sources-of-supply in other states.

On October 20, 2021, an investigator from the Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force watched Rabe meet with the driver of a pickup truck in a retail parking lot in Lancaster, Wisconsin. The investigator knew Rabe had an outstanding warrant and was on probation for prior drug charges