Morning Headlines - Wednesday, Aug. 6, 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

ESPN To Get NFL Network, Rights To RedZone From NFL For Equity Stake

ESPN is acquiring the NFL Network and other National Football League media assets, including the linear rights to the league's popular RedZone channel, in a deal that will see the NFL get a 10% equity stake in the all-sports network, it was announced Tuesday night.

ESPN will also acquire the NFL's fantasy product and merge it into its existing platform, making ESPN Fantasy Football the official game of the NFL. In a separate deal, the NFL also agreed to license to ESPN other NFL content and intellectual property that will appear on the NFL Network and other assets.

RFK Jr. Cuts $500 Million In mRNA Vaccine Contracts

The Trump administration is terminating 22 contracts focused on developing mRNA vaccines and winding down additional federal investments in mRNA technology, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Tuesday.

Many scientists and infectious disease experts swiftly denounced the move as a broadside on an area of research seen as particularly promising after its use in rapidly developing Covid vaccines.

Gifford Fire Continues To Rage In California, Burning 83,000 Acres And Accompanied By 2 Other Emerging Wildfires

The Gifford Fire, a wildfire burning in Central California that has destroyed over 83,000 acres in five days, continues to rage and is now accompanied by two additional fires emerging nearby, according to officials.

Since it started on Friday afternoon, the Gifford Fire -- which is situated within the Los Padres National Forest in Solvang, California -- has burned 83,933 acres and has only reached 9% containment, prompting evacuation orders for those in the Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, officials said.

What The End Of Energy Star Could Mean For Commercial Real Estate

Energy Star, a public-private partnership administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is reportedly on the chopping block as part of massive budget cuts proposed by the Trump administration.

Roughly 2,500 builders, developers and manufactured housing firms participate in the Energy Star Residential New Construction program, which sets strict energy-efficiency guidelines required to earn its designation.

Last year, more than 8,800 commercial buildings earned the Energy Star, saving more than $2.2 billion and preventing more than 5.7 million metric tons of emissions.

Homeowners Taking Houses Off Market As Buyers Refuse Higher Prices

Home sellers have been increasingly yanking their homes off the market instead of agreeing to lower prices as would-be buyers push back on higher home costs.

After five years of a hot housing market, demand has cooled down because buyers can’t bear higher prices amid persistent high interest rates, and they’re fed up with the asking prices.

Wisconsin Headlines

Federal Approval Granted To Northern Wisconsin Projects Under Trump Administration’s Fast-Tracked Process

A federal agency has granted approval for two northern Wisconsin energy projects under a fast-tracked permitting process in line with President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national energy emergency earlier this year.

In June, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a notice to proceed for the proposed $1 billion Nemadji Trail Energy Center in Superior and Xcel Energy’s Ashland to Ironwood transmission line project under special emergency permitting procedures.

Suspects In Wisconsin Poisoning Plot Plead Not Guilty In Dane County

Both suspects in a Wisconsin poisoning plot pleaded not guilty in Dane County Court.

Andrea Whitaker appeared at 1 p.m., while Paul VanDuyne appeared at 1:15 p.m. Tuesday.

Along with pleading not guilty, Whitaker asked for her $4 million bond to be lowered.

Her attorney, Tracey Lencioni, acknowledged Whitaker’s bond in Rock County was set much higher Monday, at $15 million, but argued she has no priors and would agree to the bond agreements if it were posted.

Evers Administration Says Loss Of $29 Million In Federal Funds ‘Setback’ For Modernizing UI System

The federal government’s decision to rescind $29 million for the state’s unemployment program has been a “setback” for DWD in its effort to complete a modernization of the system, the Evers administration says.

In a letter to the co-chairs of the Joint Finance Committee, the secretaries of Administration and Workforce Development wrote the state was forced to halt several projects after the funds were rescinded in May.

Days Of Wildfire Smoke Forced Wisconsin Summer Camps To Pivot

Day camp owner Ethan Staley is used to having to move campers indoors when a summer storm blows in.

Pulling kids away from basketball or soccer for bracelet making or crafts is the norm on rainy days. But this summer has added a new wrinkle to the contingency plans.

Days of warnings about unhealthy air quality caused by drifting smoke from Canadian wildfires has had Staley’s camps, and other outdoor recreation programs for kids in Wisconsin, adapting programs to protect children from the effects of particulate pollution.

Missing Wisconsin Hiker Found Alive In Norwegian National Park

Alec Luhn, a Wisconsin native and renowned journalist, has been found alive after disappearing during a solo hike in Norway’s Folgefonna National Park.

Luhn, a 38-year-old climate journalist and graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was located near a glacier in an area with no cell service.

His mother, Sarah Marie Luhn, shared the news with 12 News, saying, “Alec is alive! Something is wrong with his leg, but otherwise, he’s in good health. Thank God!”