Morning Headlines - Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024

U.S. and World Headlines

US Reaches Plea Deal With 9/11 Mastermind

The US has reached a plea deal with alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two other defendants accused of plotting the 2001 terror attacks, according to the Defense Department.

The pretrial agreement – reached after 27 months of negotiations – takes the death penalty off the table for Mohammed, Walid Bin ‘Attash, and Mustafa al Hawsawi, prosecutors said in a letter, obtained by CNN, sent to the families of 9/11 victims and survivors shortly before the Department of Defense announced the news in a press release Wednesday evening.

Trump Splits With GOP Lawmakers On National Security, Raising Alarm

National security-minded Republican lawmakers are alarmed by what they see as a growing split between themselves and former President Trump on key issues, including the war in Ukraine, preserving the NATO alliance and protecting Taiwan from Chinese aggression.

Trump’s actions over the past three weeks have stirred confusion and concern among Republican senators who voted earlier this year to approve tens of billions of dollars to contain Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and to deter China from attacking Taiwan, an important U.S. ally and trading partner.

United, Delta Airlines Suspending Flights To And From Tel Aviv Amid Rising Tensions

United Airlines and Delta Airlines said Wednesday they are suspending daily flights to and from Israel, citing security concerns amid rising tensions in the Middle East.

The decisions came in the wake of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh's assassination in Iran's capital after he attending the inauguration of the country's new president. Iran blamed Israel for the strike, with its foreign ministry saying the U.S. also bears responsibility as Israel's biggest ally.

Watch ChatGPT’s New Voice Mode Sing, Mimic Accents, And Correct Pronunciation

It’s been a couple of days since OpenAI rolled out ChatGPT’s new advanced voice mode, and the small group of ChatGPT Plus subscribers given access to it seem pretty impressed so far. Various clips of the feature in action have appeared online, demonstrating its ability to sing, imitate accents, correct language pronunciation, and perform narrative storytelling.

Nova Explosion 3,000 Light-Years Away Will Be Seen From Earth With The Naked Eye

Stargazers should have their eyes fixed on the skies, as astronomers say a "once-in-a-lifetime" view of an astronomical explosion is expected any night.

T Coronae Borealis, also known as the "Blaze Star," is actually a pair of stars located 3,000 light-years away. The star system is a recurring nova, with Earth-visible explosions every 79 to 80 years, according to NASA.

The last recorded outburst from T Coronae Borealis -- which includes a hot, red giant star and a cool, white dwarf star -- was in 1946, according to the space agency, which forecasts it will do so again before September 2024.

Wisconsin Headlines

Elections Commission Approves Seeking Waiver From ERIC Mailer

The state Elections Commission in a cost-saving move unanimously agreed to seek a waiver from the Electronic Registration Information Center to avoid sending a required mailer to eligible voters who are not registered.

The mailer — projected to cost $92,550 — is required as part of the commission’s membership in ERIC. The organization allows states to cross-reference voting records to identify issues such as those voting in more than one state.

Wisconsin Fugitive Wanted For 30 Years Captured In Iowa

A fugitive wanted for three decades out of Wisconsin was captured in West Des Moines last week.

West Des Moines Police arrested George Hartleroad on June 26. He was homeless and living near the Valley Junction area. Court records show officers stopped him for having no rear reflector on his bicycle.

Police say he gave a fake name and then eventually gave his real name. Once they ran his name they realized he's been wanted by authorities in Wisconsin since 1994.

Reedsburg Man Sentenced For Crash that Killed 13-Year-Old Girl

The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) today announced Kevin Green, 19, of Reedsburg, Wis. has been sentenced after pleading guilty to Homicide by Negligent Operation of a Vehicle for driving the vehicle that struck and killed a 13-year-old child as she boarded a school bus on May 12, 2023.

Green has been sentenced to four years of probation with conditions to include 3 months conditional jail with Huber, 200 hours of community service with a minimum of 50 hours per year, 8 community presentations to high-school-aged children about the dangers of distracted driving, with a minimum of two presentations per year, no contact with the victims unless authorized by both the victims and the probation agent, 12-month license revocation, no driving without a valid license, restitution, court costs of $518, and a DNA sample.

GOP Primary In 8th Congressional District Puts Trump Endorsement To Test

For the past 14 years, Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District has voted reliably Republican. This year’s election could test whether it’s also reliably in the corner of former President Donald Trump.

There are three GOP candidates vying for the seat — state Sen. André Jacque, former state Sen. Roger Roth and businessman Tony Wied. Each has presented himself as a different brand of Republican than former U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, who resigned earlier this year. But only Wied, a political newcomer, received Trump’s endorsement.

VP Harris To Make Campaign Stop In Eau Claire

Vice President Kamala Harris will be making a campaign stop in Eau Claire next Wednesday--and she won’t be alone.

Vice President Harris and her running mate will be campaigning in Eau Claire, Wis., on Wednesday, August 7, according to William Garcia of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

The campaign stop is scheduled for sometime between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. and the location is yet to be decided.