Morning Headlines - Thursday, July 24, 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

5 Takeaways From Tulsi Gabbard’s White House Press Briefing

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard spoke to reporters at the White House on Wednesday on the heels of the latest document drop alleging Obama administration officials misled the public about intelligence surrounding Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Gabbard made a rare appearance in the briefing room, a sign the White House is seeking to keep a spotlight on the claims her office has levied about former President Obama and some of his intelligence officials.

Here are five takeaways from the briefing.

House Committee Votes To Subpoena DOJ For Epstein Files

A House committee on Wednesday voted to subpoena the Justice Department for files related to the investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as Republican leaders have resisted action on the issue.

Democrats on a subcommittee for the House Oversight panel forced a vote on the subpoena, and three Republicans voted alongside Democratic members. House GOP leaders have opposed a separate measure that would force the Justice Department to release materials on Epstein, and President Trump has urged his supporters to move beyond the issue.

Columbia University To Pay $200m In Settlement With Trump Administration

Columbia University has agreed to pay $200m (£147m) to President Donald Trump's administration over accusations it failed to protect its Jewish students.

The settlement, which will be paid to the federal government over three years, was announced in a statement by the university and confirmed by the president on social media.

In exchange, the government has agreed to return some of the $400m in federal grants it froze or terminated in March.

What Borrowers Should Know About Student Loan Changes In The One Big Beautiful Bill

If you're a federal student loan borrower or about to become one, your head may be spinning.

On July 4, when President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law, he also greenlit a history-making overhaul of the federal student loan system — one that will affect the lives of many, if not most, of the United States' nearly 43 million student loan borrowers.

MLB Eyes India As Next Hotbed For Talent And Fans

Baseball is known as America’s pastime, but it has long been a global game. From the Dominican Republic to Japan to Venezuela, the sport reigns supreme for fans, and countless players are on Major League Baseball rosters.

The next country that could soon be on that list? India.

Wisconsin Headlines

Minnesota And Wisconsin Nurses Return To Work After End Of Strike

Hundreds of nurses in northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin returned to work Wednesday after ending a two-week strike against Essentia Health.

Around 300 clinic nurses and 400 nurse practitioners and physician assistants represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association, or MNA, walked off the job on July 8 and 10. The striking workers included nurses at Essentia’s Superior clinic.

While the strike ended, negotiations with Essentia are continuing. The health care workers want to negotiate their first union contracts to obtain more control over their schedules and improve patient care.

Sen. Baldwin Introduces Bill Package Targeting Housing Costs, Child Care, And Price Gouging

Wisconsin Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin has introduced a package of bills aimed at tackling issues she says constituents raise with her every day.

One of the bills would help first-time homebuyers by creating a refundable tax credit worth up to 10% of a home's purchase price, with a maximum of $15,000.

Evers Urges Trump Administration Against Cutting Federal Forestry Funding, Quinn Knocks ‘Hysteria’ Over Cuts

Gov. Tony Evers is again urging the Trump administration against cuts to U.S. Forest Service programs, warning the combination of reduced funding and staffing will be “devastating” for states like Wisconsin.

Evers in a letter Monday to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins noted the U.S. Forest Service warned the state to expect less funding from the Urban and Community Forestry grant program, “presumably to cover the cost of terminating dedicated federal workers.”

Funding Freeze Threatens Adult Education Programs At Wisconsin's Community And Technical Colleges

On a recent Wednesday evening, a handful of adults sat around a table in a classroom at Madison College’s Goodman South Campus. They chatted about the week, their plans for the weekend and, finally, the day’s discussion question: Are human rights universal?

The Literacy Network’s “Transitions” class is designed as a final step for immigrants with advanced English skills, preparing them for college or careers. Students spend a year learning to set goals, write resumes and interview for jobs. On this day, the lesson was about finding reliable sources for their next big assignment: a college-style oral presentation on a historical human rights struggle.

How Many Abortions Are Taking Place In Wisconsin?

The number of abortions in Wisconsin has been rising since late 2023, approaching monthly totals last seen before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a new analysis shows.

The report released this summer from the Society of Family Planning also indicates that, despite state laws banning telehealth abortions, roughly 40 percent of abortions in Wisconsin are taking place using pills provided after telehealth appointments.

The status of abortion in Wisconsin has seen a series of legal twists and turns over the last three years, and the recently-released “#WeCount” report reflects that shifting landscape.