Morning Headlines - Monday, Feb. 6, 2023

U.S. and World Headlines

Second Mega Earthquake Hits Turkey, Hours After Record 7.8-Magnitude Tremor Kills 1,600 People

Turkey has been hit by a second massive earthquake, hours after an earlier catastrophic quake devastated the region and killed more than 1,600 people.

The 7.8-magnitude night-time tremor, followed hours later by a slightly smaller one, wiped out entire sections of major Turkish cities in a region filled with millions of people who have fled the civil war in Syria and other conflicts.

The later 7.5 magnitude quake struck at 1.24pm (1024 GMT) two-and-a-half miles southeast of the town of Ekinozu and around 60 miles north of the first quake that has wrought devastation across Turkey and Syria.

Hundreds are still believed to be trapped under rubble on both sides of the border as a result of the first, and the toll is expected to rise as rescue workers continue to search through mounds of wreckage for families crushed in their sleep.

Biden Or Bust: Democratic Insiders Are All In For Biden 2024

President Joe Biden had one question for Democratic power brokers at a campaign-style rally Friday: “Are you with me?”

The roars of approval and chants of “four more years!” at the Democratic National Committee’s Winter Meeting indicated they were all in for Biden 2024.

Despite lackluster approval ratings, an ongoing classified documents scandal and polls showing most voters would like the 80-year-old to retire, Biden faces zero meaningful opposition to his leadership of the Democratic Party and an unobstructed path to renomination next year, even before he has officially declared his intention to seek it.

Washington Turns Hostile On Crypto

A year ago, crypto successfully scraped and scrapped to get a foot in the door in Washington. But in the wake of crypto's winter, and FTX's spectacular collapse, that door has now slammed shut.

Gaining legitimacy in Washington has been an essential part of the industry's push into the mainstream. But a series of recent announcements from the Biden administration suggest there's a crackdown ahead.

The vibes from the White House and federal agencies have been somber at best for anyone trying to run a cryptocurrency business. Over the last two weeks, government officials repeatedly gave crypto the cold shoulder.

What Now For US-China Relations?

China on Sunday condemned the U.S. destruction of its suspected spy balloon as an “overreaction,” saying it reserved the right to use necessary means to deal with “similar situations,” without elaborating.

Analysts interviewed by Reuters said they expect Beijing to carefully calibrate any actual “serious repercussions” at a time when each country has sought to repair relations.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, who began a third five-year term as party leader in October, has tried to ease tensions with Western countries — including the United States, Australia and European powers — worried that they are coalescing into a firmer alliance committed to containing Chinese power.

How Massive The NFL Really Is, In 4 Charts

The NFL has had quite an eventful year. In fact, the 2022 season has been characterized by a series of controversies that, when taken together, seem like a microcosm of the criticisms and existential threats facing the league as a whole. In just the past year, there have been major stories centered around how the NFL handles (or downplays) sexual assault allegations against its star players, scary concussions, the physical brutality of the sport and the league’s racial regressiveness — especially in disadvantaging Black coaches in a predominantly Black league. 

But while it might be reasonable to expect the league to take a hit from this slew of negative attention, the NFL seems to have a Teflon-like ability to keep scandals from sticking.

Wisconsin Headlines

'It's Heartless': Green Bay-Area Assisted Living Facility To Evict Medicaid Recipients

Lexi Wood’s 96-year-old grandmother, Millie, moved into Emerald Bay Retirement Community & Memory Care in Brown County’s village of Hobart about two years ago.

Millie spent $96,000 on rent over two years, under the assumption that Medicaid would cover the costs after that period. Now, she is one of 15 people being evicted from Emerald Bay. Wisconsin Public Radio is only using Millie's first name to protect her privacy.

"Her life savings is gone," Wood said. "It's all been paid to Emerald Bay."

Emerald Bay sent letters to residents on Jan. 30, notifying them it will no longer accept Medicaid funding at the end of February due to rising labor costs and inflation.

That means residents participating in Medicaid’s Family Care program must move out by the end of the month.

Before its recent decision, the assisted living facility said it had to pass costs on to private pay residents, who in some cases faced 18 to 24 percent rent increases.

DNR Hosts Public Listening Session On Wolf Hunt This Week

Now’s your chance to make your views heard on the future of wolf management in Wisconsin.

A public listening session on Tuesday will go over the state’s current plan, and possible future wolf hunts. DNR large carnivore specialist Randy Johnson says getting the public’s input is vital.

“We are in the midst of a public review and comment period for our draft wolf management plan. And so this is providing another opportunity for folks to share their thoughts with us.”

Johnson says that while a wolf hunt is currently not possible due to federal regulations, they need to be ready for one. “We want to make sure we have a good management plan in place to help guide that season. But again, it’s a management plan that is broader than just a wolf season.”

Trump's Wisconsin Campaign Staff On 2020 Election Lies: 'Fan The Flame'

A newly released audio recording offers a behind-the-scenes look at how former President Donald Trump's campaign team in a pivotal battleground state knew they had been outflanked by Democrats in the 2020 presidential election. But even as they acknowledged defeat, they pivoted to allegations of widespread fraud that were ultimately debunked — repeatedly — by elections officials and the courts.

The audio from Nov. 5, 2020, two days after the election, is surfacing as Trump again seeks the White House while continuing to lie about the legitimacy of the outcome and Democrat Joe Biden's win.

RNC Chair Mcdaniel Says Milwaukee To Host GOP Presidential Primary Debate

Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel says Wisconsinites can expect to see a GOP presidential primary debate hosted in Milwaukee in 2024.

McDaniel, fresh off her reelection, spoke at a press conference Thursday with the RNC Host Committee and elected officials to kick off organizing the national convention set for July 15-18 next year.

McDaniel called Milwaukee the “perfect place” for the convention.

“You really do have a city that shines, and I am so excited to bring the world into Milwaukee — not just for the Republican Party — but to help businesses and business owners and to highlight a bipartisan effort to do great things for this urban community,” McDaniel said.

Tomah Man Sentenced To 12 Years For Distributing Methamphetamine

Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Victor Pennington, 27, Tomah, Wisconsin was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 12 years in federal prison for distributing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine as part of a conspiracy. This prison term will be followed by 5 years of supervised release.

Law enforcement began their investigation of Pennington in January 2021. Through the course of their investigation, officers utilized confidential informants to purchase over 100 grams of methamphetamine from him or his co-defendant Lucas Ellwart on three occasions. Officers also determined Pennington utilized another individual, Kyle Ritchie, to purchase guns on his behalf.

Pennington is prohibited from legally possessing or purchasing firearms as a result of several felony convictions, including two Wisconsin convictions related to methamphetamine from 2019. Judge Conley sentenced Ellwart in October 2022 to 72 months imprisonment for distribution of methamphetamine, and Ritchie in September 2022 to 24 months imprisonment for making false statements during the purchase of a firearm, which he provided to Pennington.