Morning Headlines - Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023

U.S. and World Headlines

McCarthy, GOP Hope To Break House Speaker Logjam After Whiffing On Tuesday

Republicans failed three times on Tuesday to elect a House speaker, but they'll convene the House again at noon Wednesday to try again.

Tuesday's failure marked the first time the House failed on the first vote for speaker since 1923, which was the only instance since the Civil War.

But it was more than a historical oddity. It forced a hasty adjournment aimed at giving GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy's camp and members of the House Freedom Caucus a chance to see if they can find some way forward.

By late Tuesday night, more than a dozen pizzas were wheeled into McCarthy's office, a sign of ongoing strategizing on how to deliver at least 218 votes to McCarthy.

Trump Attacks McConnell, Wife Over GOP ‘Turmoil’ After McCarthy Fails To Win Speakership

Former President Trump on Tuesday lashed out at Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and his wife, former Trump administration Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, for “unnecessary turmoil” within the GOP in the wake of House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy’s (Calif.) failure to win the lower chamber’s Speakership.

“There is so much unnecessary turmoil in the Republican Party,” Trump said, adding that the disorder is due in large part to McConnell, Chao and their “RINO” allies, using an acronym for “Republicans in name only.”

The statement is the latest example of Trump attacking not only McConnell but also his wife, who last month denounced the former president’s frequent use of a racist nickname for her. Trump repeated the nickname in his latest statement.

FDA Expands Availability Of Abortion Pills

The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday finalized a rule change that broadens availability of abortion pills to many more pharmacies, including large chains and mail-order companies.

The Biden administration partially implemented the change last year, announcing it would no longer enforce a long-standing requirement that women pick up the medicine in person. Tuesday's action formally updates the drug's labeling to allow many more retail pharmacies to dispense the pills, so long as they complete a certification process.

The change could expand access at both brick-and-mortar stores and online pharmacies. Women can get a prescription via telehealth consultation with a health professional, and then receive the pills through the mail, where permitted by law.

Watching Porn In Louisiana Now Requires Users To Verify Their Age And Submit State-Issued ID

• A new law in Louisiana makes it illegal for porn sites to publish or distribute content that is deemed 'harmful to minors' without installing age verification
• The law, which took effect on January 1, 2023, applies to sites with at least 33.3% 'harmful to minors' content
• It is defined as material that 'appeals to prurient interests' and depicts 'sexual acts' or 'nudity' that lack 'serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value'
• As a result of the law, Pornhub is now requiring Louisiana users to verify their age through a third-party identity verification site
• Other major adult sites remain accessible to users in the state

No Mega Millions Winner Means Jackpot Closing In On $1 Billion

The Mega Millions jackpot is closing in on another 10 digit jackpot in the billions after no ticket matched all six numbers that were drawn on Tuesday night.

The winning numbers that were drawn -- the white balls 25, 29, 33, 41 and 44, plus the gold Mega Ball 18 -- means that the estimated prize is now at an estimated $940 million -- or a lump sum cash option of $483.5 million -- for the next drawing which will take place this Friday evening.

Wisconsin Headlines

Documents Detail US Sen. Ron Johnson Asking About The Wisconsin Legislature Choosing 2020 Presidential Electors

The former chairman of the Wisconsin Republican Party said Republican Sen. Ron Johnson spoke to him weeks before Joe Biden assumed the presidency about having the state's GOP-controlled Legislature, rather than voters, choose Wisconsin's presidential electors, according to newly released documents from closed-door testimony to the House Jan. 6 committee.

Johnson, in a statement on Jan. 3, 2022, said he had no recollection of the conversation with Andrew Hitt and accused the committee investigating the 2021 Capitol insurrection of attempting to "smear" him by selectively releasing text messages.

Gov. Evers Sworn In For 2nd Term: 'I Am Jazzed As Hell'

Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers was sworn into his second term of office during an inauguration ceremony at the State Capitol building Tuesday.

As the legislative session gets underway, both sides who historically have not seen eye to eye on many issues are going into this with a renewed sense of cooperation.

That's because Democratic Evers and Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos held a meeting shortly before Christmas. The goal the two say is to work better together during this session.

'This Accident Could Have Been Avoided': Years Later, Federal Agency Releases Findings On Superior Refinery Explosion

After more than four years, a federal agency found a Superior refinery’s lack of safeguards during a maintenance shutdown led to a 2018 explosion that injured three dozen workers and caused thousands of residents to temporarily evacuate.

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board, or CSB, released a final report last week on its investigation into the fires and explosion at the refinery then owned by Calgary-based Husky Energy in April 2018. At the time of the incident, the facility was shutting down a unit used to make gasoline while conducting maintenance.

"We found that during the maintenance events that the Superior refinery was having, there were some key safeguards that were missing that prevented the unit from shutting down safely," Melike Yersiz, the board’s lead investigator, told Wisconsin Public Radio.

Co-Founder Of Queer Indigenous Artists' Collective In Wisconsin Is Unmasked As A White Woman - After Claiming She Was Native American And Two-Spirit

• Kay LeClaire, who went by Nibiiwakamigkwe has claimed to be Native American
• Hobbyist genealogist AdvancedSmite posted research on an online forum alleging that LeClaire has been profiting from Indigenous peoples
• They has since released a statement saying that they are is not using the Ojibwe name given to them and are removing themselves from all positions and projects
• AdvancedSmite claimed they used online records and resources to find LeClaire's true lineage – German, Swedish and French Canadian

Body Of Missing Man Last Seen In Wisconsin Dells Found In Wisconsin River

Police have found the body of the missing man last seen in the Wisconsin Dells on New Year’s Eve.

In an update Tuesday night, the Wisconsin Dells Police Department announced they have identified the body of 37-year-old Matthew Haas. He was found deceased in the Wisconsin River Tuesday morning.

Foul play is not suspected, and an autopsy is scheduled for later this week. Officials are continuing to investigate the cause of death.