Morning Headlines - Tuesday, Mar. 22, 2022

U.S. and World Headlines

GOP Prepares To Play Hard Ball With Ketanji Brown Jackson

Republicans are set to launch a high-stakes, public grilling on Tuesday of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Biden's Supreme Court nominee.

The televised hearings represent the best shot Republicans have at getting Jackson to make an unforced error, and while GOP senators are vowing to treat her fairly and respectfully, they are also expected to be tough at times during the two days of questions. .

"It's Coming": President Biden Warns Of "Evolving" Russian Cyber Threat To U.S.

President Biden warned Monday that "evolving intelligence" suggests Russia is exploring options for potential cyber attacks targeting U.S. critical infrastructure.

"The magnitude of Russia's cyber capacity is fairly consequential," Mr. Biden said, addressing the Business Roundtable, an association of some of the nation's largest corporations. "And it's coming."

Proposed 'Ghost Gun' Rule Could Reshape Battle Against Homemade Guns

For nearly 11 months, firearm manufacturers and gun control advocates have waited as a major "ghost gun" regulation has snaked its way through federal regulation processes, inching closer toward implementation.

Meanwhile, each year since 2016 has seen growing numbers in untraceable firearms to date, according to Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives statistics— in schools, makeshift factories and rising crime scenes as some state legislatures have scrambled to act, in what Everytown for Gun Safety's president called "the most unregulated corner of the firearms industry."

How White Victimhood Fuels Republican Politics

On Nov. 4, 2008, Barack Obama was elected the first Black president of the United States. His election was seen as a hopeful moment that his presidency was the start of a new “post-racial” society. That, of course, never happened.

Trump’s election killed any illusions anyone might have had about a “post-racial” America. Indeed, Trump was successful in finding a predominately white audience who lapped up his overt racism toward people of color and who were eager to embrace a rising sense of white victimhood. Trump may be out of power, but those feelings aren’t. They may even be growing.

Indiana's GOP Governor Vetoes Transgender Sports Bill

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) vetoed a bill Monday that would have banned transgender girls from taking part in girls' sports in schools. Holcomb's action sets him apart from 11 other Republican governors who have in recent years signed similar bills into law. Holcomb said in a letter that the bill, H.E.A. 1041, which had been approved by Indiana's Republican-led legislature, would likely face legal challenges.

Wisconsin Headlines

Gold, Copper In Wisconsin: Canadian Company Plans Exploratory Drilling

Armed with an exploratory license, a Canadian mining company appears to be moving ahead with plans to drill for possible gold and copper in north-central Wisconsin.

GreenLight Metals, of Toronto, has also filed technical reports with Canadian authorities that say the Reef and Bend deposits in Taylor and Marathon counties have "economic interest" that warrant further exploration.

Wisconsin Man Sentenced To 25 Years In Federal Prison For Violently Sex Trafficking Two Children

A man has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for violently sex trafficking two children in the Chicago area and Wisconsin.

In late 2019 and early 2020, David L. Smith took sexually explicit photographs of the children, who at the time were 16 and 17 years old, and posted them in commercial sex advertisements on the websites SkipTheGames and MegaPersonals.  He then arranged for the children to meet customers in hotel rooms, with Smith keeping all of the money that the children received. On at least one occasion, Smith hit the 17-year-old victim in the face after she mistakenly accepted fake money from a customer. On another occasion, Smith hit the 16-year-old victim in the face after he learned that the girl had contacted her mother.

After Detecting Bird Flu In Wisconsin, Poultry Expert Discusses Transmission, Safety Steps

After state agriculture officials confirmed the presence of bird flu in Wisconsin, one poultry management expert shared safety tips for poultry farmers and what risk exists to humans.

Ron Kean, a faculty associate and extension specialist in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, also explained what costs farmers can and cannot get covered if the flu hits their farm.

National Ag Day: Celebrate Wisconsin Agriculture

​A commentary by Secretary Randy Romanski of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP)

Tuesday, March 22, we will be celebra​ting one of my favorite holidays: National Ag Day. Each year, National Ag Day provides us with the opportunity to recognize and celebrate Wisconsin agriculture and the ways that it connects us to one another. 

From milk and cheese to ginseng and maple syrup, Wisconsin remains a strong agricultural leader and provider of high quality, nutritious products for the nation and world. Wisconsin ranks in the top five in the U.S. for the production of more than 17 commodities, producing nearly 60 percent of the nation's cranberries and more than 25 percent of the snap beans, dry whey for human consumption, cheese, and mink pelts produced in the U.S. Home to more dairy farms than any other state and nearly 1,200 licensed cheesemakers, our state produced nearly 3.39 billion pounds of cheese in 2021, ranking first in the production of American, cheddar, and Italian cheeses. Wisconsin remains a the place the world turns to for safe, quality agricultural products, exporting more than $3.96 billion in agricultural products last year.

Spring Elections Ahead, Ensure You Have An ID To Vote

Spring is officially here and the Wisconsin Spring Election is weeks away. Wisconsin Department of Transportation Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) reminds voters to check and be sure that they have the proper identification needed to vote in next month’s election (April 5).

Wisconsin driver licenses or IDs are the most common form of identification used for voting purposes. A federally compliant REAL ID card is not required to show at the polls. The Wisconsin Elections Commission notes other forms of identification are valid for voting, such as military or student ID cards.