Morning Headlines - Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 | Recent News

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 and the end for a little humor to go with your news!

U.S. and World Headlines

Israel And Hamas Agree In Principle To Ceasefire And Hostage Deal

A draft deal for a ceasefire in Gaza and hostage release has been agreed to in principle and, if all goes well, will be finalized by Israel and Hamas this week, Arab, U.S. and Israeli officials told CBS News.

If final details are approved, and the Israeli government also votes to approve it shortly thereafter, implementation of the deal could begin this weekend, U.S. and regional sources said. That means President Biden's long-sought ceasefire deal could come together in the final days of his presidency, and incoming President-elect Donald Trump would oversee its implementation.

Supreme Court Hears Porn Sites' Bid To Strike Down Online Age Verification Laws

With online access to pornography and other sexually explicit content easier than ever before, the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday will take a fresh look at government efforts to impose new safeguards for children by requiring adult websites to conduct electronic age verification.

The case, brought by an adult entertainment industry trade group and several content creators, challenges a 2023 Texas law that says sites containing more than one-third of "sexual material harmful to minors" must verify that a user is at least 18 years old or face civil penalties up to $10,000 per day.

South Korea Impeached President Arrested After Investigators Scale Walls

Yoon Suk Yeol has become South Korea's first sitting president to be arrested after investigators scaled barricades and cut through barbed wire to take him into custody. Yoon, 64, is being investigated on charges of insurrection for a failed martial law order on 3 December that plunged the country into turmoil.

He has also been impeached by parliament and suspended - but will only be removed from office if the Constitutional Court upholds the impeachment. However, Yoon's dramatic arrest on Wednesday brings to an end a weeks-long standoff between investigators and his presidential security team.

Democrats Fail To Land Decisive Blow Against Hegseth

Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee failed to land a decisive blow against Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump’s nominee to serve as secretary of Defense, after several hours of tense questioning about his qualifications, views on women in combat, infidelity and drinking.

Democrats need to flip just one Republican on the Armed Services panel to block Hegseth, but no Republican senator on Tuesday appeared willing to sink Hegseth’s nomination.

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who has championed women in combat and cracking down on sexual assault in the military, appeared to warm up to the nominee during her seven minutes of questioning.

LA Wildfires Displaced Tens Of Thousands. With Some Rents Up As Much As 20%, Finding Affordable Housing Is The Next Challenge

Martin Johnson and his fiancé, Celeigh Chapman, had spent several years restoring and renovating their home in Altadena by hand. It took only hours to lose the home and everything in it last week.

“We didn’t have a kitchen for a year and a half. We had just cooked the first dinner in the house just after Christmas,” said Johnson, who co-owns LA Woodshop, which provides woodworking spaces and lessons for people who want to do it themselves or build furniture professionally.

“We spent many nights hand-sanding doors and window frames,” Chapman said.

Gov Evers Proposes New Office Of Violence Prevention, Wants Millions In New State Budget

Wisconsin’s governor is moving ahead with a new Office of Violence Prevention that Republicans at the Capitol are already pushing back against.

Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday announced the new office, “These investments will support efforts like supporting multi-agency law enforcement investigations, and using crime gun intelligence tools.

Implementing suicide prevention education and threat assessment programs,” Evers explained. “As well as technical assistance grants and grants to help with designing, implementing, and staffing effective evidence-based community policing and crime reduction initiatives. And mentoring programs for youth school-based suicide prevention and firearm safety.”

The governor said he is directing $10 million to begin work right away. Evers also said he plans to ask for millions more in the new state budget.

Assembly Approves Voter ID Amendment, Statewide Vote Up Next

The Assembly today voted along party lines to sign off on a constitutional amendment that would require a photo ID to vote, sending the issue to the public for a statewide referendum April 1.

The amendment, approved 54-45 today, cleared the Senate along a similar party line vote last week with all Republicans in favor and all Dems opposed. It now goes to voters for a statewide referendum April 1.

Minority Leader Greta Neubauer, D-Racine, criticized Republicans for bringing this as the first bill in the new session.

SCOWIS Hears Oral Arguments In A Case That Could Alter DNR's Authority To Regulate PFAS Spills

On Tuesday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that would potentially alter the Department of Natural Resources' ability to enforce the state's "Spills Law" and challenge the DNR's classification of what chemicals are considered "hazardous substances."

The lawsuit was filed by Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) in 2021 and argues that the DNR has not provided sufficient guidance on how it categorizes PFAS contaminants.

Missing Sun Prairie Woman Confirmed Dead, According To Family

15 News confirmed on Tuesday that a missing Sun Prairie woman has been found dead. The family of Ingrid Isamar Valverde-Ponce says they were told the news from Sun Prairie police.

Officials say a Dane County deputy found a body in a farmer’s field around 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the area of Portage Road and State Highway 19. Law enforcement blocked off the Token Creek Conservancy during that search.

‘Adulting’ Classes Offered By UW-Extension

“Adulting” is how many young people refer to the myriad ways they’re required to adopt the life skills of grown-ups. Unfortunately, these skills — from buying groceries, signing leases and paying taxes — aren’t always taught before they’re needed.

Offering classes under the broad umbrella of “independent living skills” are people like Amanda Kostman, a family living educator with the University of Wisconsin-Extension’s Human Development and Relationships Institute.