Morning Headlines - Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024

U.S. and World Headlines

How Harris's 'Not Going Back' Message Seeks To Counter Trump's 'Make America Great Again' Slogan

With the presidential tickets now set for 2024, Americans can expect to spend the next three months until Election Day hearing the repeated slogans and messaging that former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris hope will resonate with voters.

For Trump, “Make America great again,” the message that spawned a movement and propelled him to victory in 2016 but proved less potent in 2020, remains in place. Inherent in that phrase that adorns red ball caps, bumper stickers and T-shirts is the nostalgic belief that America has fallen from the heights of a bygone era (if only three and a half years ago) and that only Trump can restore it to its rightful condition.

Strong Earthquake With 7.1 Magnitude Hits Off Southern Japan, Prompts Tsunami Advisory

A powerful earthquake struck off Japan's southern coast on Thursday, triggering a tsunami advisory. There were no immediate reports of casualties, the Reuters news agency reports.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake, which hit at 4:43 p.m. local time, registered magnitude 7.1 and was centered off Miyazaki prefecture of the western major island of Kyushu. It stuck at a depth of about 18.6 miles.

They Went To Space For Eight Days - And Could Be Stuck Until 2025

When two American astronauts blasted off on a test mission to the International Space Station on 5 June, they were expecting to be back home in a matter of days.

But things didn't quite go to plan.

In fact, Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams are still there, floating high above the Earth nearly two months later.

The pair - who are stuck indefinitely - now face the sudden prospect of missing the summer entirely and even spending Christmas and New Year in space.

Alleged Taylor Swift Terror Plot Fits A Worrying Trend As ISIS Targets Teens Online

The details emerging of the alleged terror plot aimed at Taylor Swift’s three Vienna concerts are scant, but already adhere to a chilling pattern familiar to European counterterrorism officials.

Austrian police said Wednesday that a 19-year-old man was arrested in Ternitz, about an hour’s drive from where Swift was scheduled to perform Thursday, Friday and Saturday for an expected 65,000 fans each night at the Ernst Happel Stadium.

Common Low-Calorie Sweetener May Be Riskier For The Heart Than Sugar, Study Suggests

Another study is raising concern about the safety of the widely used sugar alcohol sweetener erythritol, a low-calorie sugar substitute found in “keto-friendly” foods, baked goods and candies. Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic compared erythritol to typical sugar and found only erythritol caused worrisome cardiovascular effects.

Although the study was small, it’s the first head-to-head look at people’s blood levels after they consume products with erythritol or sugar (glucose).

Wisconsin Headlines

Harris, Walz Rally Voters In Eau Claire; Vance In Nearby Stop Slams Dem Ticket

Vice President Kamala Harris today proclaimed the path to the White House runs through Wisconsin as she campaigned in the state for the first time with newly minted running mate Tim Walz, the governor of neighboring Minnesota.

Just across town, GOP VP nominee JD Vance continued to take shots at Walz and Harris as national voters are getting their first introduction to the Minnesota guv.

During their rally, Harris ticked off a number of issues important to her and Walz, including affordable housing, health care, child care and paid leave.

In 4th District Primary, 2 Republicans Vie For Chance To Take On US Rep. Gwen Moore

Two GOP congressional candidates are trying to do what no other Republican has done since Democratic U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore took office in 2005 — beat her in an election.

Purnima Nath and Tim Rogers are facing off in the Aug. 13 primary election for Wisconsin’s 4th Congressional District to attempt to unseat Moore this fall.

Whoever wins the primary will have a steep hill to climb in the general election. Moore has won all of her re-election bids in landslide victories.

Concrete Is Responsible For 8 Percent Of Global Carbon Emissions. A UW-Milwaukee Professor Aims To Change That

Konstantin Sobolev has a piece of concrete on his desk at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He found the small piece of material while snorkeling in the Mediterranean Sea 25 years ago.

He is unsure of its original location and purpose but it resembles the materials of the old Greek structures of more than 2,000 years ago.

“It is intact. It looks solid. And has an excellent design,” he said.

DNR Accepting Applications For Special Deer Hunt At Sandhill Wildlife Area

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting applications now through Sept. 20 for a special firearm deer hunt at Sandhill Wildlife Area.

This managed hunt will give hunters a unique opportunity to hunt deer on the 9,150-acre property while helping the DNR meet deer management objectives. This hunt will be open to licensed hunters and restricted to firearms (rifle/shotgun).

Wisconsin Department Of Justice Working To Protect Fair Elections

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul today issued a reminder that voter intimidation and threats to election workers are against the law.

“Free and fair elections are foundational to our democracy,” said Attorney General Kaul. “We’re committed to ensuring that the right to vote and the safety and security of our elections are protected.”

DOJ’s Division of Criminal Investigation staffs the Wisconsin State Intelligence Center (WSIC). WSIC facilitates intelligence and information sharing with federal, state, local, tribal, and campus law enforcement partners along with fire service, emergency management, public health, military, and private sector agencies. WSIC is prepared to identify significant threats to Wisconsin elections, including but not limited to threats against election administrators or of election interference, foreign or domestic.