Morning Headlines - Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022

U.S. and World Headlines

Explore The Ways Republicans Or Democrats Could Win The Midterms

FiveThirtyEight’s Senate and House forecasts are based on myriad factors, with changes in one race often influencing odds in another. To see just how much individual races can change the forecast, first try picking different winners in key Senate races (or feel free to skip ahead to key races in the House!). But beware, the choices you make in the Senate affect the House, and vice versa.

GOP's Midterm Fear: Referendum On Trump

Top Republicans' biggest private fear — that November's midterms will turn on public opinion about former President Trump, not inflation and crime — is unfolding across the political landscape.

Trump is dominating the news, picking Trump-like candidates in primaries — and shaping the views and rhetoric of elected officials, and those hoping to become one.

That's why Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is telling people his party is blowing a golden opportunity to win the Senate.

Russian Oil Chief Maganov Dies In 'Fall From Hospital Window'

The chairman of Russia's Lukoil oil giant, Ravil Maganov, has died after falling from a hospital window in Moscow, reports say. The company confirmed his death but said only that Maganov, 67, had "passed away following a severe illness".

Russian media said he was being treated at Moscow's Central Clinical Hospital and died of his injuries. Maganov is the latest of a number of high-profile business executives to die in mysterious circumstances.

Reports Of Sexual Assault In U.S. Military Increased By 13% In 2021

Reports of sexual assaults across the U.S. military jumped by 13% last year, driven by significant increases in the Army and the Navy as bases began to move out of pandemic restrictions and public venues reopened, The Associated Press has learned.

Mirroring the increase in those reports is the disclosure that close to 36,000 service members said in a confidential survey that they had experienced unwanted sexual contact — a dramatic increase over the roughly 20,000 who said that in a similar 2018 survey, U.S. defense and military officials said.

Serena Williams Extends Her Farewell Tour With Another Win At The U.S. Open

Serena Williams eliminated No. 2 seed Anett Kontaveit 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-2 in the U.S. Open’s second round Wednesday night to ensure that the 23-time Grand Slam champion will play at least one more singles match at what she’s hinted will be the last tournament of her illustrious career.

The 40-year-old Williams was again buoyed by a loud crowd at a full Arthur Ashe Stadium, just as she was in the first round two days earlier.

She hit serves at up to 119 mph, stayed with Kontaveit during lengthy exchanges of big swings from the baselines and conjured up some of her trademark brilliance when it was needed most.

Wisconsin Headlines

Wisconsin's 1849 Ban Allows Only Life-saving 'Therapeutic Abortions' — No One Knows What That Means

The circumstances under which a person will receive an abortion in Wisconsin will ultimately depend on the health system or hospital — and, when it comes down to it, individual doctors. Even then, the approach will vary case by case.

"Ultimately, the physician(s) actually signing off on or performing the procedure will be responsible for defending its necessity," said Richie Davis, an attorney with Quarles and Brady, in an email to Wisconsin Watch. The firm has advised Wisconsin health systems and physicians on how to provide care without violating the law. "Liability will turn on the facts and circumstances surrounding the specific patient."

Wisconsin Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Tim Michels Gave $175K To Anti-Abortion Groups In 2020

Wisconsin Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels donated nearly $200,000 of his own money to anti-abortion groups in Wisconsin and New York in 2020, according to tax documents.

Michels and his wife made the donations through their charitable organization, the Timothy and Barbara Michels Family Foundation. In all, that foundation donated $1.66 million that year.

Federal Judge Guarantees Disabled Wisconsin Voters Option To Get Help Mailing Absentee Ballots

A federal judge has issued an injunction guaranteeing disabled Wisconsin voters the option to receive help from a third party in mailing or delivering their absentee ballots.

Judge James Peterson gave the Wisconsin Elections Commission until Sept. 9 to issue guidance to clerks reflecting his order.

The federal lawsuit was filed after the state Supreme Court affirmed a Waukesha County judge’s ruling that drop boxes were banned under state law.

Johnson Defends His Burn Pit Bill Votes, Proposal To Make Medicare, Social Security Funding Discretionary

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson defended his votes on the bill that provided more health care benefits to veterans exposed to toxic burn pits and his pitch to classify Medicare and Social Security as discretionary spending.

The Oshkosh Republican told the American Legion’s National Convention in Milwaukee Tuesday his concerns over the bill President Joe Biden signed into law earlier this month were due to the national debt. He also said he wanted to vote on an amendment that would have allowed veterans waiting to receive health care from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to obtain care from the private sector.

As Worker Shortage Endures, Wisconsin Policymakers Look To Help Justice-Involved People Find Jobs

When people return to the community after serving a prison sentence they often face obstacles to getting a job.

Sometimes that’s because they don’t have the training, or the access, or they’re dealing with enduring drug, alcohol or mental health issues.

So, legislators in Madison are doing something about it. The Joint Legislative Council is a bipartisan group of 22 legislators whose primary responsibility is to put together study committees to tackle hard issues. Study committees generally meet in between legislative sessions in even-numbered years.