Morning Headlines - Wednesday, May 15, 2024 | Recent News

U.S. and World Headlines

Warning Signs For Trump: 5 Takeaways From Tuesday’s Primaries

Donald Trump showed weakness in the suburbs in Tuesday’s primaries, while Joe Biden’s problem with the protest vote appeared to fade.

David Trone collapsed in Maryland’s Senate race, despite his heavy spending. Meanwhile, incumbents there and in Nebraska and West Virginia all prevailed.

The big winners on Tuesday included the Democratic establishment in Maryland, which propelled Angela Alsobrooks to victory over Trone; the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which notched a victory in a Democratic House primary; and House incumbents, who still haven’t lost to a challenger so far this primary season.

Here are five takeaways from Tuesday’s primaries in three states:

Biden’s Weakness Becomes Bigger And Bigger Worry For Democrats

Democrats are growing increasingly worried that President Biden’s brutal swing-state numbers could drag down their candidates in the Senate.

Biden has been trailing former President Trump in most of the swing states likely to determine the race for the White House, several of which will be important if Democrats are to retain their Senate majority.

House GOP Pushes Bill To Force Biden To Continue Transfer Of Weapons To Israel

Fallout continues on Capitol Hill over President Joe Biden's pause of a bomb shipment to Israel, and his warning the U.S. won't supply weapons that could be used in an invasion of Rafah, a city in southern Gaza where more than a million civilians have sought shelter.

The House plans to vote this week on a Republican-led bill that would force the Biden administration to continue the transfer of certain weapons to Israel and would condemn Biden's decision to hold back some American-made heavy bombs to Israel.

Aaron Rodgers Praises Vladimir Putin As 'Smart' In Tucker Carlson Interview

NFL star Aaron Rodgers praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as an "interesting, smart individual" and railed against Covid-19 vaccines, in a new interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson released Tuesday.

The New York Jets star and Super Bowl-winning quarterback said Carlson's interview with the Russian leader in February, Putin's first interview with any Western media since his forces invaded Ukraine in 2022, was "awesome."

King Charles’ First Official Portrait Since Coronation Proves Divisive

Buckingham Palace revealed the first official portrait of King Charles III since his coronation on Tuesday, and it’s proving to be divisive with its lurid red brushstrokes.

The 8.5 by 6.5-foot painting is by British artist Jonathan Yeo, who has painted high-profile subjects throughout his career including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, actor Nicole Kidman and education activist Malala Yousafzai.

Construction Underway For Controversial Transmission Line Through Wildlife Refuge

Construction of a controversial transmission line is underway at a Mississippi River crossing even as court battles continue over the project’s path through a national wildlife refuge.

American Transmission Co., ITC Midwest and Dairyland Power Cooperative Utilities began building the Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line near Cassville on Monday. Work is underway after utilities finished a land swap last week that exchanged part of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge there for another property in Grant County.

Rural Wisconsin Voters Face Hurdles Aside From The Ballot Drop Box Ban

If voters in Burnside want to drop off their absentee ballots before an election, they have to go several miles outside of town, down a hilly, rural county road that requires four-wheel drive most of the year, and to the doorway or mailbox of Melissa Kono’s house.

Kono is the part-time clerk for Burnside, a 500-person town in the western part of Wisconsin. She mostly works from home since Burnside’s town hall does not have internet service.

Wisconsin Dells Homeowner Shares Close Encounter With Bear

A local man is sharing his encounter with a bear after he noticed crushed birdfeeders, a bent shepherd's hook and seeds on the ground.

Larry Harvey grew up in northern Wisconsin, near Eau Claire. He said because of that, plus several camping trips, he has seen plenty of bears. He just never thought he would get this close to one.

DWD, UW-Stout, Celebrate Graduation Of Nine Local Project 'Search' Interns

Kendra Schofield spent the past nine months learning new skills and trying new work opportunities at the University of Wisconsin-Stout (UW-Stout) through Project SEARCH, a collaborative program overseen by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR).

Schofield, a graduate from Chippewa Falls High School, particularly enjoyed working for UW-Stout's dining services, where she learned to prepare and serve food for students and staff on campus.

Avoid The Crowds This Memorial Day Weekend; Visit One Of Wisconsin's Hidden Gem State Parks

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds the public that the state's most popular parks will likely have heavy crowds during the holiday weekend. The DNR encourages visitors to explore hidden gem properties and reduce crowds at the most attended parks.

With over 20 million visitors annually, Wisconsin State Park properties can be a popular destination on holidays and weekends. During the busy summer seasons, visitors may experience long lines to enter the park, limited parking availability and crowded trails and picnic areas, especially at the state's most popular properties.