Morning Headlines - Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023

U.S. and World Headlines

Palin Tells Ron DeSantis To Sit Out 2024 Presidential Race, Says He Could Run 'Someday, But Not Right Now'

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, who has close ties to former President Donald Trump, does not think Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida should run for president in 2024, but would support him if he made a White House bid in the future.

"DeSantis doesn’t need to [run]. I envision him as our president someday but not right now," Palin told Newsmax host Eric Bolling. "He should stay governor for a bit longer. He’s young, you know. He has decades ahead of him where he can be our president."

Palin said she believes Trump, who endorsed her midterm campaign, has the best chance at winning the GOP nomination.

FDA Hasn't Reviewed Some Food Additives In Decades

Cristina Ochoa often worries if the food she's feeding her two young kids is safe, even after carefully reading ingredient labels.

"Some ingredients I have no idea what they are, how to pronounce them," she said. "I want the best for my children. I would think that as a society we want the best for our children."

There are more than 10,000 chemicals and additives allowed in food in the United States, often in small amounts. But many haven't been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration in decades. The majority are safe, but some chemicals allowed in the U.S. have been banned overseas after research has linked them to cancer and developmental or behavioral issues.

Feds Fine Mormon Church For Illicitly Hiding $32 Billion Investment Fund Behind Shell Companies

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a nonprofit entity that it controlled have been fined $5 million by the Securities and Exchange Commission over accusations that the religious institution failed to properly disclose its investment holdings.

The SEC alleged that the church illicitly hid its investments and their management behind multiple shell companies from 1997 to 2019. In doing so, it failed to disclose the size of the church’s equity portfolio to the SEC and the public.

The church was concerned that disclosure of the assets in the name of the nonprofit entity, called Ensign Peak Advisors, which manages the church's investments, would lead to negative consequences in light of the size of the church’s portfolio, the SEC said.

Biden To Replace Trump Migration Policy With Trump-Esque Asylum Policy

As the White House gears up for the end of one Trump-era border policy this spring, it has its sights set on resurrecting a version of another much-maligned immigration program put in place under the previous administration.

The Departments of Homeland Security and Justice on Tuesday announced a proposed rule that will bar some migrants from applying for asylum in the U.S. if they cross the border illegally or fail to first apply for safe harbor in another country. The rule was previewed by President Joe Biden in January. Following a 30-day public comment period, it will be implemented upon the May 11 end of the Covid public health emergency, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters.

"Woke, Inc." Author Launches GOP Presidential Campaign

Venture capitalist Vivek Ramaswamy, the author of the book "Woke Inc.," announced on Tucker Carlson’s Fox News show on Tuesday that he's running for president.

Ramaswamy’s long-shot candidacy tries to fill the role that idea-driven outsiders have played in presidential politics, from Steve Forbes' 1996 GOP flat tax campaign to Andrew Yang's 2020 Democratic universal basic income push.

In an interview with Axios, Ramaswamy said he will be focusing on addressing what he views as America's biggest challenge — a national identity crisis that has left America adrift.

Wisconsin Headlines

Conservative Candidate Kelly To Face Liberal Protasiewicz In Wisconsin Supreme Court Race

Former state Supreme Court Judge Dan Kelly, a conservative candidate, is projected to advance to the April 4 general election in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, where he will face liberal judge Janet Protasiewicz.

Kelly, who was appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2016 before later losing his election for a full term in 2020, came in second after Protasiewicz, who was overwhelmingly the top vote-getter in Tuesday’s primary, according to The Associated Press.

The Supreme Court seat was left open after conservative Justice Patience Roggensack announced she would not be seeking another term.

Wisconsin Man Dies During Grand Canyon Hike

A 56-year-old hiker from Wisconsin was found dead on a Grand Canyon trail last week, the National Park Service said Tuesday.

The hiker, whose name was not released, was the subject of a report of an unresponsive person about 3 p.m. Friday on the Bright Angel Trail, below Havasupai Gardens, the service said in a statement.

First responders pronounced him dead at the scene. The service said he was from Pewaukee, Wisconsin and was planning to day hike to the Colorado River, which created the Arizona landmark, and back.

After Winning GOP Primary, Knodl To Face Dem Habush Sinykin In 8th SD General Election

State Rep. Dan Knodl easily won a three-way GOP primary for a suburban Milwaukee state Senate seat, setting up a contest with Dem environmental attorney Jodi Habush Sinykin to determine whether Republicans have a two-thirds majority in the chamber.

With 70 percent of the vote in, Knodl was at 57.4 percent, while fellow state Rep. Janel Brandtjen, R-Menomonee Falls, was at 31.8 percent.

Thiensville Village President Van Mobley was at 10.8 percent.

Former Owner And CEO/CFO Of Recycling Company Sentenced To 33 Months For Federal Tax Crime

Kevin Shibilski, 61, Merrill, Wisconsin was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 33 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for failure to pay $858,101 in employment taxes to the IRS for tax years 2014-2016.  On May 16, 2022, Shibilski pleaded guilty to failing to pay over employment taxes to the IRS from Pure Extractions Inc. and Wisconsin Logistics Solutions LLC.

Shibilski was a minority owner and CEO/CFO of 5R Processors (5R), which had locations in Ladysmith, Catawba, Glen Flora, Wisconsin, and Morristown, Tennessee. 5R was involved in the recycling of electronic equipment and other assets.

Pure Extractions Inc. (Pure Extractions) was created by Shibilski in June 2014 to handle 5R’s recycling operations. Pure Extractions took on all of 5R’s recycling customers, warehouses and equipment, income flows from recycling, most of 5R’s recycling employees, but none of 5R’s debts. Wisconsin Logistics Solutions LLC (Wisconsin Logistics) was created by Shibilski in February 2015 to handle 5R’s trucking and logistics operations. Wisconsin Logistics took on most of 5R’s trucks and equipment, drivers, dispatchers, pick-up routes, licenses, and all of 5R’s income flows from trucking and logistics, but again, none of 5R’s debts.

Former Wisconsin Gov. Tony Earl Suffers Stroke

Former Wisconsin Gov. Tony Earl suffered a stroke this week and is now receiving palliative care, his oldest daughter Julia Earl said Tuesday.

Earl, 86, is a Democrat, who served one term as governor from 1983 to 1987. He was a champion of gay rights and a staunch environmentalist.

Earl was defeated in 1986 by Republican Tommy Thompson. Earl’s political career ended after he lost a Democratic primary race for U.S. Senate in 1988 to Herb Kohl, but he went on to become a leading advocate for campaign and election finance reforms and a champion of environmental causes.