Morning Headlines - Monday, May 20, 2025 | Recent News

Start your day informed with today’s must-read headlines from around Wisconsin and the world. And don’t forget to check out our Meme of the Day at the end for a little humor to go with your news!

U.S. and World Headlines

Paramount Ousts CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon Amid Divide With Leadership

CBS News Chief Executive Officer Wendy McMahon announced she is stepping down.

It’s the latest twist in a growing battle of wills between the company’s news division and Paramount Global controlling shareholder Shari Redstone.

There have been several points of tension between McMahon and Redstone in recent months, including CBS’ coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a potential “60 Minutes” settlement with the Trump administration.

Nebraska To Ban Soda And Energy Drinks From SNAP Under First USDA Waiver

Nebraska is the first state to receive a federal waiver to ban the purchase of soda and energy drinks under the benefit program for low-income Americans long known as food stamps.

The move, announced Monday by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, would affect about 152,000 people in Nebraska enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which helps families pay for groceries.

What We Know About The Palm Springs Fertility Clinic Bombing

An explosion outside a Palm Springs, Calif., fertility clinic late Saturday morning killed one person, injured four others and sent debris flying for blocks in all directions in the city about 100 miles east of Los Angeles.

The prime suspect in the bombing is also who authorities believe was the sole fatality in the blast: Guy Edward Bartkus.

The 25-year-old California resident held nihilistic views and may have also had antinatalist leanings, the FBI said. Investigators say the clinic was targeted and are treating the bombing as an intentional act of domestic terrorism.

Here's what we know so far.

GM To Stop Exporting Vehicles From U.S. To China, Company Says

General Motors informed employees and dealers for its China export business on Thursday in China that it would stop shipping vehicles to China from the United States, the company said.

The move comes as the United States and China continue discussions on tariffs and other trade issues.

GM imported vehicles to China from the United States through its Durant Guild premium import business, which represented less than 0.1% of the volume it sells in China, according to a company spokesperson.

Scientists In A Race To Discover Why Our Universe Exists

Inside a laboratory nestled above the mist of the forests of South Dakota, scientists are searching for the answer to one of science's biggest questions: why does our Universe exist?

They are in a race for the answer with a separate team of Japanese scientists – who are several years ahead.

The current theory of how the Universe came into being can't explain the existence of the planets, stars and galaxies we see around us. Both teams are building detectors that study a sub-atomic particle called a neutrino in the hope of finding answers.

Lawmakers Push For $10K Fine, Jail Time For People Who Abandon Boats On Wisconsin Shorelines

Owners who abandon boats on Wisconsin shorelines would have to cast off upwards of $10,000 in fines and spend up to nine months in jail under a bill pushed by Wisconsin lawmakers. It was introduced soon after the cabin cruiser dubbed “Deep Thought” was pulled from a Milwaukee public beach where it sat abandoned for six months.

It took multiple cranes to drag “Deep Thought” from the sand and over the rocks along Milwaukee’s lakeshore. The boat had been partially submerged since October 2024 after hundreds of hours had been spent on unsuccessful attempts to remove it.

Two Students Confirmed Dead In Incident At UW-Platteville

UW-Platteville Chancellor’s Office confirmed Monday night that two students have died in the emergency incident that happened earlier on Monday at Wilgus Hall. The students have been identified as 22-year-old Kelsie Martin of Beloit, Wisconsin and 22-year-old Hallie Helms of Baraboo, Wisconsin.

As of right now, UW-Platteville Police Department and university officials offered few details on the emergency incident that happened Monday at Wilgus Hall.

UWPD Chief Joe Hallman said a 911 call came in around 4 p.m. indicating a “situation” in Wilgus Hall, a residence hall on campus.

Wisconsin Lawmakers Propose Bill To Expand Early Voting Hours

A new proposal aims to expand early voting hours across Wisconsin. Sponsored by Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara, Sen. Steve Nass, and Rep. Scott Krug, the bill seeks to address disparities in voting access between urban and rural areas.

In recent elections, early voting has surged in popularity. On the first day of early voting for the November 4th election, nearly 100,000 Wisconsinites voted, setting a record, according to a press release.

Fire Destroys Tank Creek Bridge Along Great River State Trail; Bridge Closed Until Further Notice

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced that the Tank Creek Bridge on the Great River State Trail is currently closed until further notice due to damage from a fire on Thursday evening, May 15, 2025.

There were no injuries reported but unfortunately the bridge is a total loss. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The bridge was originally built in 1957 as a railroad bridge for the abandoned Chicago-Northwestern railroad line and is over 200 feet long and located approximately three miles east of Trempealeau.

Due to the location of the bridge, there is no current reroute in place. A timeline and budget for replacement has not yet been established.

Safety Concerns Shut Down Bridge Crossing Mississippi River Into Iowa

A bridge crossing the Mississippi River between Wisconsin and Iowa is closed due to safety concerns.

Iowa Department of Transportation officials closed the Black Hawk Bridge late Saturday night after a monitoring system detected movement in one of the bridge’s support piers.

Construction has been underway for more than a year to replace the 94-year-old bridge connecting rural southwest Wisconsin to Lansing, Iowa. It’s the only river crossing in the 60-mile stretch of state Highway 35 between La Crosse and Prairie du Chien.