Morning Headlines - Mar. 1, 2022

U.S. and World Headlines

Zelensky Accuses Russia Of Terrorism As Ukraine War Enters New, Uglier Phase

A miles-long armored Russian military convoy nearing Kyiv and targeting of civilian areas in Ukraine's second city, Kharkiv, may herald a new phase of fighting after six days of stiff Ukrainian resistance.

State Of The Union 2022: How Americans View Major National Issues

President Joe Biden will deliver his first State of the Union address on Tuesday night. The speech comes as the country approaches the third year of the coronavirus pandemic, and amid rising concerns about the economy and challenges from abroad. Here’s a look at public opinion on some of the key issues facing the country, drawn from recent Pew Research Center surveys.

Why Biden’s First State Of The Union Might Not Change Much

With both Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and President Biden’s historic Supreme Court pick in Ketanji Brown Jackson, this year’s event is sure to cover a lot of important ground. But as we’ve long documented at FiveThirtyEight, the State of the Union (capitalized title and all) is more symbolic than anything else.

Senate Votes To Block Democrat Bill Enshrining Abortion As Supreme Court Reconsiders Roe V. Wade

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., joined his Republican Senate colleagues in voting to block a bill to protect abortion rights as the Supreme Court reconsiders Roe v. Wade (1973) this term. The Senate voted 46-48 on whether to bring the bill up for debate, with six senators not voting.

Births Decreased In First Half Of 2021, Likely Linked To Pandemic

The number of births declined in the U.S. in 2021 and the COVID-19 pandemic played a role, according to a new report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tuesday. Researchers from the National Center for Health Statistics -- a branch of the CDC -- compared provisional data from the first half of 2021 to final data from the first half of 2020.

Wisconsin Headlines

Wisconsin Leaders Urge Biden To Recommit To Climate Action In Tuesday’s State Of The Union Address

Wisconsin leaders are calling on President Joe Biden to recommit to climate action and investments during Tuesday’s State of the Union address. At a virtual press conference on Monday, state representatives, as well as local labor and environmental advocates, urged Biden and the U.S. Senate to pass a $550 billion federal climate bill — the largest in U.S. history — that would fund clean energy and green jobs.

Wisconsin Companies That Rely On Exports To Russia And Ukraine Face Uncertainty

A Wisconsin-based international trade expert says local companies that export products and goods to Ukraine or Russia are having a difficult time figuring out whether they can proceed, especially now that Fed-Ex and U.P.S. have halted deliveries there.

Wisconsin School Leader Charged For Confining Students

The lead administrator of a Wisconsin public school system has been charged with false imprisonment after six female students said she asked them to take off some of their clothes in a search for vaping devices

Researchers At UW-Madison Work To Recycle Masks

“We've developed a new technology to be able to recycle waste plastics," George Huber, professor of chemical engineering and the director of the Center for Chemical Upcycling and Waste Plastics at UW-Madison, said. The technology, which Huber and his team call 'Strap' or Solvent Targeted Recovery and Precipitation, can be applied to facemasks, plastic bags or other types of plastic mixtures.

Wisconsin Is Looking For Their 20th Big Ten Title On Tuesday

On Tuesday night at the Kohl Center, Wisconsin has a chance to win at least a share of their 2nd Big Ten title in the last three seasons. Purdue enters Madison looking to spoil the party, as the Badgers look for a season sweep of the Boilermakers. Where would Wisconsin be all-time if they are able to pull off the win and claim their 20th Big Ten title?