Morning Headlines - Thursday, Jan. 9, 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 and the end for a little humor to go with your news!

U.S. and World Headlines

Used Vehicle Prices Expected To Continue To Stabilize In 2025 After Pandemic Volatility

Used vehicle prices are expected to continue to stabilize in 2025, after several years of volatile pricing swings that began to normalize last year.

Auto data and logistics firm Cox Automotive expects wholesale prices on its Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index will end this year 1.4% higher than in December 2024.

This year’s increase would compare with a 0.4% rise in 2024 following drops of 7% and nearly 15% in 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The Girl Scouts Are Retiring Two Cookie Flavors After This Season

It’s officially the beginning of Girl Scout cookie season, but it’s the end for two flavors.

The Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) announced that the “S’mores” and “Toast-Yay!” cookies will be discontinued after this year, joining the “Raspberry Rally” flavor in retirement.

GSUSA is likely hoping that the heads up won’t spark the online frenzy that happened two years ago, when the limited-edition raspberry cookie was more popular than anticipated and boxes were resold on eBay for as much as $30 each.

How Zuckerberg’s Fact-Checking Rollback Could Usher In A New, Chaotic Era For Social Media

First, it was Elon Musk. Now, it’s Mark Zuckerberg.

Meta’s announcement that it would be ending its fact-checking program and shifting policies around content moderation — a move that Zuckerberg said was inspired by Musk’s X — marks a new high-water mark for a worldview, pushed in large part by conservatives, that frames centralized efforts to control mis- and disinformation as censorship rather than public service.

Zuckerberg, who once touted the importance of the company’s moderation efforts, echoed that worldview Tuesday when he said that times had changed and the new shift would reduce “censorship” and “restore free expression” — a message that was quickly embraced by some Republican pundits and politicians.

Fed Officials Are Worried About The Inflation Impacts From Trump’s Policies, Minutes Show

Federal Reserve officials at their December meeting expressed concern about inflation and the impact that President-elect Donald Trump’s policies could have on efforts to reduce it.

The policymakers said they will move more slowly on interest rate cuts due to the uncertainty, minutes of the meeting showed Wednesday.

The minutes included at least four mentions about the impact that changes in immigration and trade policy could have on the U.S. economy.

More Fires Erupt In Southern California And Spread To The Hollywood Hills

Nearly 30,000 acres remained burning early Thursday across Los Angeles County as firefighters struggled to control a patchwork of deadly blazes that has forced mass evacuations and leveled entire communities.

At least five people have died as new fires broke out late Wednesday in Los Angeles County, totaling about more than 29,000 acres burned.

LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said about 130,000 people in the area have been ordered to evacuate or told to prepare to evacuate.

The National Weather Service said a critical risk of fire remained in the area, as high winds, dry vegetation and low humidity are contributing to the infernos.

Here's what else to know.

Wisconsin Headlines

Brittany Kinser, Dr. Jill Underly And Jeff Wright Face Off In The 2025 Primary For Wisconsin State Superintendent

Voters will choose between three educators in a mid-February primary election to decide who will continue on in the 2025 race to be the superintendent of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

On that Feb. 18 primary ballot, the incumbent Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly, a former teacher and education administrator who is seeking a second term, will face Sauk Prairie School District Superintendent Jeff Wright and Milwaukee-based education consultant Brittany Kinser.

The top two candidates from the primary election will then compete in the spring general election on April 1.

Wisconsin Senate Passes Voter Photo ID Amendment

The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Senate on Wednesday passed a proposed constitutional amendment that would reinforce the state’s strict voter photo ID laws.

Their vote sends the measure to the Assembly, where Republican leaders are planning to take up the issue next week.

Republicans are moving fast to get the amendment onto the state’s April ballot, where it would appear alongside a race that will determine control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Schimel Reports Raising First $1.5 Million In Race For Wisconsin Supreme Court

We’re getting our first look at what will likely be Wisconsin’s second “most expensive judicial race ever.”

Former Republican Attorney General and current Waukesha County judge Brad Schimel on Wednesday reported raising $1.5 million during the last six months of 2024.

“We raised $2.2 million dollars by the end of last year,” Schimel told News Talk 1130 WISN’s Jay Weber. “That is five times more than the conservative candidate two years ago. It's more than double any supreme court candidate in history. We are going to be competitive in this race.”

Schimel’s campaign said it ended the year with $1.8 million in the bank.

He will need every penny of it, and a lot more.

Ron Johnson Reintroduces Bill To Ban Transgender Student Athletes In School Sports

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson has once again signed on to a Republican bill that would ban transgender students from competing on sports teams that don’t match their gender at birth.

Senate Democrats blocked the bill last year. But with Republicans controlling Congress and the White House, LGBTQ+ advocacy groups are preparing for a new fight in the battle over transgender rights.

Johnson is among 28 Republican senators reintroducing the “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act,” which would amend Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in K-12 schools and colleges receiving federal funds.

Former Wisconsin Quarterback Finds New Home After A Frustrating Year As A Badger

Tyler Van Dyke is on the move again, and this time to SMU, where he will get another chance to recreate his college career. He has a total of 7,900 passing yards and 58 touchdowns, but barely any of that comes from Wisconsin, as he had a frustrating, injury-plagued year.

He suffered an ACL tear in his right knee when the Badgers faced off against Alabama.

The rest of the year went to Braedyn Locke, and the season went with it.