Morning Headlines - Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 | Recent News

U.S. and World Headlines

Five Takeaways From President Biden’s Trip To Ukraine

It was a huge moment, just days before the anniversary of Russia’s invasion. It also came at a time when American public support for Ukraine appears to be eroding, at least in some polls.

That’s problematic for Biden, who has risked an enormous amount of political capital on the conflict, casting it as an epochal struggle between the free world and authoritarian expansionism.

Biden is now back in the relative safety of Poland.

Here are the five biggest takeaways from his trip inside Ukraine.

28 Groups Urge Biden To Support Women's Sports, Fight Biden's 'Unlawful' Title IX Reg

More than two dozen organizations are urging the Biden administration to "abandon plans" to allow biological males to compete in women's sports and use the same locker rooms.

In 2022, Biden's Education Department proposed regulations on Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to expand the meaning of sex discrimination to include "gender identity." Another round of regulations will be released by the department this spring that will specifically address Title IX's application to transgender athletes participating in women's sports.

Border Patrol Calls For Agents To Volunteer To Work On Northern Border With Canada Amid 800% Spike In Migrants Crossing

US Border Patrol officials have issued an appeal for agents to volunteer for redeployment to part of the northern border that is being overwhelmed by an increase of migrants illegally entering from Canada.

They are seeking volunteers from both the northern and southern borders to provide backup in the Swanton Sector, which covers New Hampshire, Vermont, and part of eastern New York.

The memo says the Swanton Sector is 'experiencing an increase in illegal entries,' primarily due to 'Mexican migrants with no legal documents to enter the United States,' and requests help from other sectors to bolster enforcement.

Ron DeSantis Tramples Over Trump Turf With His Outreach To Law Enforcement

The law enforcement groups Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke before Monday may have been in three different cities, but they had one thing in common: They're squarely in Donald Trump territory.

DeSantis, who is widely expected to announce a run for president, visited New York City and the suburbs of Philadelphia and Chicago to laud policies he helped put in place in Florida that he said give law enforcement the support it needs.

By taking a pro-police message directly to the rank and file of some of the biggest police unions in the country, DeSantis was homing in on a specialized electorate Trump has owned since he first ran for president in 2016.

Alec Baldwin Firearm Enhancement In Manslaughter Charge Downgraded

Prosecutors in New Mexico have dropped firearm enhancement charges against Alec Baldwin following the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie Rust.

The move reduces possible prison time for the actor as the charges carry a mandatory five-year prison sentence.

Mr Baldwin, who faces two involuntary manslaughter charges, still faces up to 18 months in prison.

Rust's director Joel Souza was also shot and wounded.

Heather Brewer, Santa Fe county district attorney spokesperson, said the prosecution dropped the firearm enhancement charge to "avoid further litigious distractions by Mr Baldwin and his attorneys".

Five Things To Know Ahead Of The Wisconsin Supreme Court Election

Wisconsinites will weigh in on a consequential state Supreme Court election on Tuesday in a race that will ultimately determine the partisan tilt of the high court and have significant implications on key issues such as abortion and redistricting.

Voters are heading to the polls to weigh in on four judicial candidates — two liberal candidates and two conservatives — for an open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Though the court has a 4-3 conservative tilt, the retirement of outgoing conservative Justice Patience Roggensack means that whoever wins the election will determine the partisan lean of the high court.

The top two vote-getters from Tuesday’s primary will proceed to an April 4 general election, meaning two conservative candidates or two liberals could move forward to the final race.

Here’s a look at five things to know about the race ahead of Tuesday’s election.

Local Government Advocates Confident A Fix To 'Broken' Shared Revenue Program Will Happen This Year

Leaders of Wisconsin's two largest local government associations say they expect changes are coming for the state's "broken" shared revenue system, they're just not sure what that will look like.

Still, they say bipartisan discussions about the need to address the system that funnels state funds to Wisconsin's counties and municipalities are a big deal because communities around the state, from the smallest towns to the largest cities, are struggling to pay for basic government services.

During his state budget address Jan. 24, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers pledged to send 20 percent of state sales tax revenues back to local governments. Evers' budget proposal also calls for allowing Milwaukee County to impose an additional 1 percent sales tax, with half of those proceeds going to the City of Milwaukee.

Wisconsin Judge OKs Ballot Measures For April Election

A Wisconsin judge on Monday ruled that two Republican-backed measures can appear on the April ballot over the objections of criminal justice advocates who said elections officials had missed the state deadline.

One of the measures would add an amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution that would make it harder for people accused of violent crimes to get out of jail on bail. The other is a non-binding advisory referendum that asks voters if they believe that able-bodied, childless welfare recipients should be required to look for work.

Brandtjen Makes Bid In Republican Primary For Open Wisconsin Senate District 8 Seat

A rogue Republican lawmaker who alienated her colleagues in the Wisconsin Assembly when she embraced debunked election fraud conspiracy theories is vying to win an open state Senate seat, a victory that would give the GOP a supermajority in the chamber.

State Rep. Janel Brandtjen has spent the years since the 2020 presidential election loudly promoting unfounded conspiracy theories that President Joe Biden lost Wisconsin. She won praise from former President Donald Trump for pushing Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to overturn Biden's 21,000-vote win in the battleground state.

'Packers Tailgate Tour' Kicks Off April 11, Here's Where It Will Stop

The Green Bay Packers announced Monday its 'Packers Tailgate Tour' is set for April 11-15.

The tour will travel from Green Bay to Western and Northern Wisconsin to visit fans. Current and alumni Packers players are scheduled to board the bus, including Aaron Jones, Elgton Jenkins, Romeo Doubs, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Eddie Lacy, Davon House, as well as Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. The crew will ride in a customized Packers-themed motor coach. Tour celebrities will also make surprise stops along the way.

Along the tour route, the group will visit schools, hospitals, businesses, retirement homes, event venues, and more to present donations and giveaway items.