Morning Headlines - Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022

U.S. and World Headlines

Jan. 6 Committee Approves Criminal Referrals Against Trump For His Role In Trying To Overturn The 2020 Election

The House Jan. 6 committee voted Monday to recommend that the Justice Department pursue a batch of criminal charges against former President Donald Trump for his role in an effort to overturn the 2020 election and the fomenting of a deadly mob at the Capitol.

Trump was the first president in American history to be impeached twice. Now, he is also the first president to be formally referred by Congress for potential prosecution.

The committee's final meeting was the culmination of a sweeping 17-month congressional investigation that included more than 100 subpoenas, interviews with more than 1,200 witnesses and the collection of hundreds of thousands of documents.

Many Senate Republicans Aren’t Protecting Trump After Jan. 6 Panel’s Nod To Criminal Charges

Senate Republicans are stepping out of the way of the House Jan. 6 committee’s recommendation that the Justice Department prosecute former President Trump for crimes related to the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

GOP senators, especially those allied with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), say the Jan. 6 committee interviewed “credible” witnesses and added to the historical record in a substantial way, even though they have qualms about how Democrats have tried to use the panel’s findings to score political points.

Now they say it’s up to Attorney General Merrick Garland or Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith to investigate or indict Trump, but they’re not waving federal prosecutors off from prosecuting the former president.

Chief Justice Temporarily Pauses End Of Title 42 Border Restrictions

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts on Monday granted an 11th-hour request by more than a dozen Republican-controlled states to temporarily pause a lower court ruling that had ordered the end of a COVID-19 border restriction known as Title 42.

In a one-page order on Monday, Roberts agreed to place on hold a November ruling that declared Title 42 illegal, pending further action from the full court. Roberts gave the Biden administration until Tuesday evening to respond.

A public health law first invoked under former President Donald Trump in early 2020, Title 42 has allowed U.S. border officials to expel hundreds of thousands of migrants, regardless of their intention to apply for asylum, on the grounds that their entry could contribute to the spread of the coronavirus inside the country.

Abortion Roiled The Midterms. Now It Will Define The Presidential Race

Donald Trump delivered the Supreme Court majority that voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, signed a laundry list of executive actions that chipped away at abortion access and openly embraced the anti-abortion movement, becoming the first sitting president to appear in person at the annual March for Life in 2020.

Yet the response from anti-abortion groups when he announced his 2024 presidential campaign was, in more careful and polite terms: Take a number.

“We look forward to President Trump and all presidential contenders outlining their pro-life vision and policy platform in the new Dobbs era as the primary election unfolds,” said Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser — one of several abortion opponents with muted responses to Trump’s announcement.

Elon Musk Breaks His Silence On Disastrous Twitter Poll Calling For His Resignation

Elon Musk has finally broken his silence after a Twitter poll recommended he stand down from the social media platform.

Musk said that only Twitter Blue subscribers will be able to vote in future policy-related polls on the platform in his first comments since millions of users voted for him to resign as chief executive of the site.

On Sunday, the Tesla boss said he would 'abide by' the result of a highly unscientific poll he organized and promised to honor, asking Twitter users whether he should step down.

The result was confirmed on Monday morning, with a total of 57.5 percent of more than 17 million accounts voting for him to step down from his role.

Wisconsin Headlines

Wisconsin Friends Team Up To Save Horse Who Fell Through The Ice

They call it "Big Wood Lake," and it's a place known for its bass fishing. But there's never been a catch like this.

"It was nerve-wracking," said local resident D.J. Ryan. "I've had horses my whole life so maybe I could lend a hand."

Ryan was among a team of more than a dozen people who helped save a 1,200-pound Mustang horse who escaped from its home barn and fell through the ice. The horse, Ryan explained, first ran away Saturday night from its owners after a snow-covered tree fell down and broke the fence.

The owners were out Christmas shopping, but later posted on social media about the horse, which grabbed Ryan's attention and led him on a search around town.

Officer Involved Critical Incident Investigation In Kenosha, Wis.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is investigating an officer involved critical incident in Kenosha, Wis. that occurred on the evening of Monday, December 19, 2022.

At approximately 8:19 p.m., officers with the Kenosha Police Department and the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of an active shooter in the 1300 block of 56th Street in the City of Kenosha. Upon arrival, police were fired upon and returned gunfire with a male subject. The suspected gunman died at the scene. Three other individuals were injured and transported to area hospitals and are in varying conditions.

No law enforcement personnel were injured during the incident.

Kaul On ‘UpFront’ Presses GOP Lawmakers To Repeal 1849 Abortion Ban

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul is again calling on GOP lawmakers to repeal the state’s 1849 abortion ban, a move that is unlikely as Republican leaders mull whether to add rape and incent as exceptions.

“Any legislation that’s proposed is going to depend on the details,” Kaul said on WISN’s “UpFront,” which is produced in partnership with WisPolitics.com. “Certainly to the extent that they can expand access to safe and legal abortion, that’s a good thing. But what the terms of those bills are is critical. If the Legislature passes a law that is really designed to make sure that 1849 ban remains in place, that’s certainly not something that should be considered.”

Kaul also said he backs the U.S. Justice Department investigation into former President Donald Trump and his actions following the 2020 election but wouldn’t comment on whether state officials are or may investigate Wisconsin’s false Republican electors.

Are Deep Wells A Solution To PFAS-Contaminated Water? Some Northeast Wisconsin Residents Hope So

Andrea Maxwell doesn't have PFAS in her drinking water, but her neighbors do.

Her family's well in the town of Peshtigo is near a fire training facility in Marinette, where chemicals formerly used in firefighting foam have seeped into groundwater over time. Tyco Fire Products, which owns the facility, has tested around 170 wells in the area for PFAS, also called "forever chemicals."

Regulators and health experts have raised concerns about the class of thousands of synthetic chemicals because they've been linked to serious health issues, including kidney and testicular cancers, thyroid disease and fertility issues. PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, don't break down easily in the environment.

In 2017, Tyco first reported high PFAS levels in groundwater to state regulators. The next year, residents sued the company for polluting their drinking water, reaching a $17.5 million settlement in 2021. For the past five years, Tyco has provided bottled water and in-home treatment systems to residents.

So far, Maxwell said sampling has shown no trace of the chemicals.

Packers Defeat Rams 24-12 To Keep Playoff Hopes Alive

A.J. Dillon ran for two scores, Rodgers threw a touchdown pass to Aaron Jones and the Packers kept their playoff hopes afloat with a 24-12 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night amid freezing conditions. The temperature was 15 degrees (minus-9 celsius) with a wind chill of 7 just before the opening kickoff.

“We’ve just been practicing a little bit better,” Rodgers said. “The energy’s been a little bit better. It’s hard to put your finger on it. We’ve played a couple of teams we should have beat, so that being said, it’s still tough to win in the league. And I’ve said it earlier, I think we can beat anybody. We can also lose to anybody. But when you win a couple in a row, it starts to give you some confidence.”

The Packers (6-8) likely must win out and get plenty of help to earn a fourth straight postseason berth.