Morning Headlines - Monday, Feb. 19, 2024 | Recent News

U.S. and World Headlines

The Kremlin Has Never Been Richer – Thanks To A US Strategic Partner

Russia is entering its third year of war in Ukraine with an unprecedented amount of cash in government coffers, bolstered by a record $37 billion of crude oil sales to India last year, according to new analysis, which concludes that some of the crude was refined by India and then exported to the United States as oil products worth more than $1 billion.

This flow of payments, ultimately to Moscow’s benefit, comes from India increasing its purchases of Russian crude by over 13 times its pre-war amounts, according to the analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), exclusively shared with CNN. It amounts to US strategic partner New Delhi stepping in to replace crude purchases by Western buyers, reduced by sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the analysis said.

Graham’s U-Turns Have Senate Colleagues Fed Up: ‘Annoying,’ ‘Tiresome’

Republican and Democratic senators who have worked for years with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) are fuming over his decision to oppose a $95 billion defense and foreign aid package.

Architects of the bill saw Graham’s support as crucial to mustering a majority of Republican senators to vote for it and apply as much pressure as possible on Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to bring it up on the House floor.

'There’s Only Plan A': Defense Leaders Fear Failure In Ukraine

Four American senators recounted a story Ukrainian officials told them at the Munich Security Conference: A soldier in a muddy trench with Russian artillery exploding nearby, scrolling on his phone for signs the U.S. House would approve military aid.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), leader of one of the congressional delegations, said it was “heartbreaking” to hear the tale. “For young Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines, this is a persistent topic of conversation,” the senator relayed, a somber tone in his voice.

City Identifies 2 Officers, 1 Paramedic Killed In Burnsville, Minnesota; Suspect Also Dead

Two police officers and a paramedic were shot and killed in a Twin Cities suburb Sunday morning, authorities said, and the man who shot them is also dead.

Superintendent Drew Evans with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said Burnsville police officers were called to a home at about 1:50 a.m. on 33rd Avenue South and East 126th Street, just west of the Interstate 35E - Highway 77 interchange.

WikiLeaks Founder Assange May Be Near The End Of His Long Fight To Stay Out Of The US

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's fight to avoid facing spying charges in the United States may be nearing an end following a protracted legal saga in the U.K. that included seven years of self-exile inside a foreign embassy and five years in prison.

Assange faces what could be his final court hearing in London starting Tuesday as he tries to stop his extradition to the U.S. The High Court has scheduled two days of arguments over whether Assange can ask an appeals court to block his transfer. If the court doesn't allow the appeal to go forward, he could be sent across the Atlantic.

Wisconsin ‘Fake Elector’ Andrew Hitt Says He Was Tricked Into Signing Document Claiming Trump Won In 2020

The former chairman of the Wisconsin Republican Party said Sunday he was “tricked” into signing documents alleging former President Trump won the 2020 election as part of the state’s “fake elector” scheme.

Andrew Hitt told Anderson Cooper in a “60 Minutes” interview that he was advised by the state GOP’s legal counsel to sign the documents as a contingency, in case the Trump campaign’s legal case against Wisconsin’s election integrity succeeded.

Wisconsin Has Lost 10 Percent Of Its Farms Since 2017

While Wisconsin remains an agricultural powerhouse, the number of farms has decreased greatly in recent years.

Wisconsin lost 10 percent of its farms and 30 percent of its dairy farms in a five-year period, according to 2022 data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture released last week.

The latest census tracks changes between 2017 and 2022. The data shows Wisconsin’s remaining farms have more land, higher profits and larger herds.

Proposed Wisconsin Bill Would Eliminate Work Permits For 14 And 15-Year-Olds

Wisconsin Republicans are advocating for a bill that would eliminate the requirement for 14 and 15-year-olds to obtain a work permit. The bill, already approved by the Senate and passed by the Assembly, is now heading to the Governor's desk.

At Vitense Golfland, one of the few indoor and outdoor miniature golf courses in the Madison area, teenagers are a significant part of the workforce, particularly during the summer months.

What To Do With Wisconsin's $3 Billion Surplus? One Senator Wants To Give Everyone Nearly $1,000

Wisconsin has a surplus of more than $3 billion, and the state's top leaders can't agree on what to do with it. One state senator insists he's come up with the perfect compromise: Send every taxpayer a check.

State Sen. Robert Wirch (D-Somers) put a bill into circulation this week that would divide the surplus among each of the state's income tax filers. Under Wirch's proposal, individual taxpayers would get a one-time rebate of $982 while married joint filers would get $1,964.

First Lady Biden Highlights Youth Training Programs During Green Bay Visit

First Lady Jill Biden in a Green Bay stop touted efforts to prepare students for careers, adding she wants the rest of the country to look to northeast Wisconsin as an example.

Biden while visiting the Rail Yard Innovation District on Broadway Friday said it’s important to make sure students have the opportunity to try out different careers before they graduate. She argued education systems need to adapt to suit the needs of graduating classes, many of whom won’t go on to seek a college degree, but would rather jump right into the workforce.