Morning Headlines - Monday, May 5, 2025

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

Trump Orders Reopening Of Alcatraz Prison

President Trump said Sunday that he is ordering the reopening of the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, the historic prison offshore from San Francisco that closed more than 60 years ago.

“For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering. When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

Student Loan Collections Restart For More Than 5 Million Borrowers In Default

The U.S. Department of Education will resume collecting on defaulted student loans on Monday.

More than 5 million borrowers are currently in default, and that total could swell to roughly 10 million borrowers within a few months, according to the Trump administration.

The federal government has extraordinary collection powers on its student loans and it can seize borrowers’ tax refunds, paychecks and Social Security retirement and disability benefits.

Trump Announces Plans For 100% Tariffs On All Foreign Movies

President Donald Trump announced plans Sunday to implement a 100% tariff on movies made in other countries that are imported to the United States, decrying other nations for offering financial incentives meant to “draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States.”

"Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated. This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat," Trump wrote on Truth Social, referring to foreign films as "messaging and propaganda."

Sean "Diddy" Combs' Sex Trafficking Trial Starts Today. Here's What To Know About The Charges, Evidence And More.

Sean "Diddy" Combs, the music mogul accused of sexually assaulting, trafficking and otherwise exploiting women in recurring incidents over multiple decades, is standing trial in New York City this month. Jury selection begins Monday, and opening statements are scheduled to follow on May 12.

Combs, 55, faces multiple charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. He has been jailed since September, when he was ordered held without bail. He has pleaded not guilty and at his final pre-trial hearing, rejected a plea deal.

As the trial gets underway in Manhattan federal court, here's what to know.

Could Our Solar System Have 9 Planets After All? Astronomers May Have Confirmed Possible Existence.

Our solar system may have a ninth planet after all, researchers say.

The possibility that an additional planet may be hidden far into the solar system was touted more than a century ago. But astronomers may have found new evidence that points to a celestial body that could be a possible candidate as "Planet Nine," according to a new paper, which has been accepted for publication in the Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia but not yet peer-reviewed.

The hidden candidate is likely the size of Neptune and is so far away that it could take between 10,000 and 20,000 years to orbit the sun, according to the paper.

Wisconsin Headlines

Wisconsin Woman Missing Nearly 63 Years Was Found "Alive And Well," Police Say

A Wisconsin woman who went missing more than 60 years ago was recently found "alive and well," authorities revealed last week.

Audrey Backeberg was 20 years old when she first disappeared from her home in Reedsburg, Wisconsin, in July 1962, the Sauk County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.

Backeberg reportedly left her family's home on July 7, 1962 and the family's babysitter claimed the two of them hitchhiked to Madison, Wisconsin, before taking a Greyhound bus to Indianapolis, Indiana, the Wisconsin Department of Justice said.

‘Highest Number I’ve Seen’: Wisconsin Students Experiencing Homelessness On The Rise

According to a new report by the Wisconsin Policy Forum, more than 20,000 Wisconsin students were homeless during the 2023-24 academic year, up from 18,510 the previous year.

The nonpartisan research organization’s count is based on numbers from the state Department of Public Instruction, and is a record high since the agency started releasing data in 2019.

Marquette County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Fatal Shooting Involving A 7 And A 3-Year-Old

The Marquette County Sheriff's Office is investigating after a 7-year-old child fatally shot a 3-year-old child at a home in the town of Crystal Lake.

The Marquette County Dispatch Center received a 911 call at 4:27 p.m. on Saturday. Deputies, along with the Neshkoro Fire Department and Waushara County EMS, responded to the scene.

Evers Says He's Not Afraid After Trump Immigration Official Suggests Possible Arrest

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said May 2 that every American should be concerned about “chilling” suggestions from President Donald Trump’s top border adviser that he could be arrested over guidance the Democrat issued to state employees about what to do if confronted by federal immigration agents.

“I’m not afraid,” Evers said in the extraordinary video posted on YouTube. “I’ve never once been discouraged from doing the right thing and I will not start today.”

Wisconsin REAL ID Deadline Is Fast Approaching. Here’s How To Get One.

If you’ve been procrastinating about getting a REAL ID, your time is running out.

Starting Wednesday, May 7, any adult who plans to fly domestically — or visit a military base or other federal buildings — will need to present a REAL ID or other documents approved by the Transportation Security Administration.

Wisconsin began issuing REAL IDs in 2013 after the REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005. The deadline for enforcement has been repeatedly delayed over the last two decades over worries that too many Americans were unprepared to meet the requirement.