Morning Headlines - Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023 | Recent News

U.S. and World Headlines

'Warning Sign': Iran's Military Reportedly Sending Warships To Brazil, Panama Canal In Challenge To US

The United States is tracking warlike announcements by Iran’s regime that it deployed two military ships to Brazil that are also headed for the Panama Canal, where Tehran declared it will establish a military presence.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Tuesday, "We are aware of these claims by Iran’s navy. We continue to monitor Iran’s attempts to have a military presence in the Western Hemisphere."

The Iranian regime-controlled news outlet Tehran Times reported Saturday that "Iran’s 86th flotilla warships is now sailing along the western shores of Latin America, the Navy second-in-command said."

Biden And McCarthy Clash Over Debt Ceiling Ahead Of First Big Meeting

Ahead of President Joe Biden’s first meeting Wednesday with new House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the White House issued two sternly worded demands to the speaker.

In a memo circulated Tuesday, top White House advisers Brian Deese and Shalanda Young said Biden intends to ask McCarthy, R-Calif., to “commit to the bedrock principle that the United States will never default” and to lay out his specific plan to reduce the deficit if he wants to attach it to an extension of the debt ceiling.

McCarthy responded on Twitter: “Mr. President: I received your staff’s memo. I’m not interested in political games. I’m coming to negotiate for the American people.”

Fed Expected To Raise Interest Rate Amid Recession Fears

The Federal Reserve is set to announce on Wednesday whether it will impose another interest rate hike, the central bank's latest move in a monthslong fight that has eased inflation but risks plunging the U.S. into a recession.

The Fed has put forward a string of borrowing cost increases as it tries to slash price hikes by slowing the economy and choking off demand. The approach, however, risks tipping the U.S. economy into a downturn and putting millions out of work.

At a meeting in December, the Fed raised its short-term borrowing rate a half-percentage point, pulling back from three consecutive 0.75% increases and signaling confidence that sky-high inflation could be brought down to normal levels.

Nikki Haley To Announce 2024 Presidential Run On Feb. 15

Nikki Haley, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and South Carolina governor, is expected to officially announce her 2024 presidential run on Feb. 15 in Charleston, according to two South Carolina Republicans familiar with her plans.

Haley would become the first Republican candidate to join former President Donald Trump in the Republican presidential primary.

Haley's last hint at a 2024 run came earlier this month during a Fox News interview, in which she called for "generational change" when looking at the future of the country.

"I don't think you need to be 80-years-old to go be a leader in D.C.," the 51-year-old Haley said. "I think we need a young generation to come in, step up, and really start fixing things."

Tom Brady Says He Is Retiring From Football 'For Good'

Tom Brady says he is retiring "for good" from football, ending his 23-year career in the NFL.

Brady announced his decision Wednesday on social media, saying he "wouldn't change a thing" about his career.

Brady, 45, also announced he was retiring after the 2021 season before changing his mind 40 days later and returning to play this past year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Elections Commission Staff Cites Human Error For Handful Of Election Machine Mistakes

A state-directed hand audit of nearly 222,000 ballots cast in the November election to check the accuracy of voting equipment found just six errors, but those could be enough to fall short of a federal standard.

Wisconsin Election Commission staff chalked up those issues to human error and are urging commissioners not to consider any of them in determining how well the equipment performed.

How the commissioners decide to consider the errors will determine whether the equipment tested met the federal standard for the maximum acceptable error rate. It’s one for every 500,000 ballot positions, or races listed.

La Crosse Bus Drivers Push For Better Pay Amid Inflation, Tough Job Market

La Crosse bus drivers are protesting a wage increase they say is inadequate to keep up with the impact of inflation and more disruptive behavior by passengers.

Members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 519 picketed outside the La Crosse Municipal Transit Center in the city's downtown on Monday.

Local union president Todd Strasser said city leaders have offered just under a 3 percent annual pay increase to drivers in their next contract, which he said is inadequate to attract and retain drivers.

"We're competing with every other (commercial driver's license) place that is looking for help right now, with a $20,000 sign on bonus," Strasser said at the picket. "We live in this community, we move this community, and let's come together and get a deal done."

Spending In 2022 Race For Wisconsin Governor Shatters Record

Spending in Wisconsin's governor's race shattered the previous record by more than 75%, with more than $164 million spent on the contest won in the battleground state by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, a group that tracks campaign spending in state elections reported Jan. 31.

The total amount spent on the race, which was a national priority for both Republicans and Democrats, topped the previous high of $93 million set in Evers' first win in 2018, the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign said. It was double the amount spent in the 2014 race.

Aaron Rodgers Gushes About Nathaniel Hackett As Jets Rumors Swirl

Aaron Rodgers has addressed the rampant trade rumors surrounding him — and affirmed his fondness for Nathaniel Hackett, the Jets’ new offensive coordinator.

On his weekly spot on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday, Rodgers said he has not made a decision as to whether he will return for a 19th NFL season. That hasn’t stopped people linking him to the Jets, who are considering adding a veteran quarterback and just hired Hackett, who was the Packers’ offensive coordinator from 2019-21.

Rodgers would not say if any coach’s placement in the league would impact his decision, but he was highly complimentary of Hackett.

Restrictive Zoning Policies Shut Door To Affordable Housing In Some Suburbs

Amy Kaiser is a recently divorced mother of two children. She's 38-years-old, has a college degree and works at a bank in Elm Grove, earning what she describes as a lower-middle-class income.

Kaiser was living in Brookfield, but recently had to move to an eight-unit apartment complex in West Allis after a divorce.

"It's not too far of a journey to work, but definitely not necessarily the community I wanted to end up in," Kaiser said.

Kaiser wants to live in a home or duplex in Brookfield or Elm Grove. But she can't afford it.

"It's not a terrible wage, but with how high the housing market is in the Brookfield area, it does make you feel like, OK, well, I don't belong here then," she said. "It seems like a very attainable goal, but it's not."