Morning Headlines - Monday, Apr. 22, 2024

U.S. and World Headlines

Trump "Hush Money" Trial Opening Statements Set For Today

Opening statements are set to begin this morning in former President Donald Trump's criminal trial in New York. Prosecutors will begin laying out their case for jurors, alleging Trump falsified business records to cover up a "hush money" payment during his 2016 campaign, while defense attorneys are expected to argue Trump has been charged on flimsy evidence from an untrustworthy key witness.

It's a moment nearly eight years in the making, dating back to the fall of 2016, just days before the election, when that witness, Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen, paid $130,000 to adult film star Stormy Daniels to buy her silence about an alleged sexual encounter.

Biden Is Marking Earth Day By Announcing $7 Billion In Federal Solar Power Grants

President Joe Biden is marking Earth Day by announcing $7 billion in federal grants for residential solar projects serving 900,000-plus households in low- and middle-income communities. He also plans to expand his New Deal-style American Climate Corps green jobs training program.

The grants are being awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency, which unveiled the 60 recipients on Monday. The projects are expected to eventually reduce emissions by the equivalent of 30 million metric tons of carbon dioxide and save households $350 million annually, according to senior administration officials.

What Happens If Trump Gets Convicted Ahead Of November?

The first-ever criminal trial of a current or former American president is underway in Manhattan, renewing questions over what a potential conviction would mean for former President Trump as he campaigns for the White House.

A conviction in the New York case, where Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, wouldn’t bar him from the presidential race, but it still could roil his 2024 bid and open up the possibility that this year’s GOP nominee is a convicted felon.

DEI Backlash Pushes Shell-Shocked Colleges To The Right

Big-name colleges are now cracking down more aggressively on pro-Palestinian protests, which they say are getting increasingly intense and disruptive.

Politicians exerting massive pressure on universities over protests, diversity efforts and curricula have started to push administrators to the right.

Israel Military Intelligence Chief Quits Over 7 October

The Israeli military's intelligence chief has resigned, saying he took responsibility for the failures before Hamas's attack on Israel on 7 October. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Major General Aharon Haliva would retire once his successor was selected.

In a letter, he acknowledged that his intelligence directorate "did not live up to the task we were entrusted with". He is the first senior figure to step down over the attack, which were the deadliest in Israel's history.

Wisconsin Headlines

Wausau Man Raises $26k To Pay Off Students’ School Lunch Debts

A Wausau-area pastor raised $26,000 in less than a week to pay off students’ school lunch debts in two central Wisconsin school districts.

The Rev. Yauo Yang is an Iraq War veteran and the pastor for The Cross Church in Schofield. He launched a GoFundMe fundraiser on April 10 and publicized it with posts on social media. The goal was to raise $20,000, the amount needed to pay off lunch debts accumulated by students in the Wausau School District and neighboring D.C. Everest School District.

How School Districts Use 'Defeasance' To Pass Referendums

Just before the April 2 election, PBS Wisconsin reported on the rise of school districts around the state going to referendum for operating expenses.

A report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum shows that in February and April 2024, voters approved 41 operating referendums, the biggest being the $252 million a year request for the Milwaukee Public Schools. But a number of districts also saw their requests denied by voters.

Pest Expert Shares How To Prepare For Tick Season In Wisconsin

According to the CDC, ticks are most active starting in April until September. That's why pest experts are sharing how to prepare for tick season in Wisconsin.

Matt Rogers is the co-founder of Pestie, a DIY pest control company. He tells 27 News that ticks start to hatch in warmer temperatures and are a known carrier for a lot of diseases.

"Like Lyme disease, and a few others that that we don't really want to deal with, right. That's why having this proactive protection plan is really going to be super important, especially now that spring is here," Rogers said.

VP Harris To Unveil Nursing Home Rules In Battleground State Of Wisconsin

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to the political battleground state of Wisconsin on Monday to announce two final rules aimed at improving access to long-term care and ensuring the quality of care-giving jobs, a White House official said.

The White House said Monday's announcements finalized two rules first announced in September as part of U.S. President Joe Biden's pledge to crack down on nursing homes that endanger resident safety, and to improve access to high-quality care.

House Republicans' Already Slim Majority Shrinks After Wisconsin Member Resigns Following Passage Of Foreign Aid Bill

The departure of Rep. Mike Gallagher shaves off yet another Republican from the already razor-thin GOP House majority, further weakening the GOP's already loose grip on power.

With Gallagher's resignation, House Republicans can only afford to lose a single Republican vote to get legislation passed along party lines.

If they lose more than a single GOP vote, Republicans will need Democrat support to pass any legislation.