Morning Headlines - Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024

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

Hurricane Milton A "Catastrophic Category 5" Storm As It Heads For Florida Landfall

Hurricane Milton was barreling across the Gulf of Mexico as a "catastrophic Category 5" storm early Wednesday on a path toward Florida's central west coast, the National Hurricane Center said.

On that coast, mass evacuations clogged highways as people prepared for Milton's potentially historic impact.

It's forecast to make landfall early Thursday.

DOJ Indicates It’s Considering Google Breakup Following Monopoly Ruling

The Department of Justice late Tuesday indicated that it was considering a possible breakup of Google as an antitrust remedy.

The DOJ said it was “considering behavioral and structural remedies that would prevent Google from using products such as Chrome, Play, and Android to advantage Google search.”

The judge has yet to decide on the remedies, and Google will likely appeal, drawing out the process potentially for years.

Democrats Start To Hit The Panic Button

Democrats’ nerves are at an all-time high. 

Two months ago — even a month ago — they were feeling bullish about Vice President Harris’s prospects of defeating former President Trump.

But now, with less than a month to go until Election Day, they’re increasingly worried about a number of issues plaguing the Democratic nominee’s campaign.

Senate Control Comes Down To 2 States

Heading into the 2024 cycle, Republicans saw a Senate map offering flip opportunities in eight red and purple states as a seemingly once-in-a-decade opportunity.

Now, Republicans and Democrats are fighting over a smaller battlefield chiefly focused on two Democratic-held red-state seats in Montana and Ohio. And while Senate races in Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin essentially remain coin flips, they're discussed in Washington and elsewhere as belonging to a second tier, while GOP-held seats in Florida and Texas are becoming the focus of increased spending.

Why Has America Failed To Broker A Middle East Ceasefire?

Covering the US State Department, I have watched the Biden administration attempt to simultaneously support and restrain Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. But its goal of defusing the conflict and brokering a ceasefire has eluded the administration at every turn.

Biden officials claim US pressure changed the “shape of their military operations“, a likely reference to a belief within the administration that Israel’s invasion of Rafah in Gaza’s south was more limited than it otherwise would have been, even with much of the city now lying in ruins.

Wisconsin Headlines

Biden's Event In Milwaukee Highlights Political Calculations In Wisconsin's 2024 Us Senate Race

President Joe Biden is making a rare jump into the 2024 political battleground fray since taking a step back after ending his reelection bid. He stopped in Wisconsin on Oct. 8 to spotlight a signature legislative achievement.

In Milwaukee, where Biden spotlighted his administration’s efforts to replace the nation’s toxic lead pipes, incumbent Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin was conspicuously absent.

Republican Eric Hovde Says Momentum Is On His Side In Latest US Senate Bid

Republican Eric Hovde leaned heavily on his business acumen when he first ran for U.S. Senate more than a decade ago. This year, as he campaigns against Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, he’s again worn it on his sleeve.

As he toured a cranberry farm in Tomah this September, Hovde peppered owner Bill Bosshard and his wife Diane with questions, from how their crops have handled this year’s rainfall to whether they buy their own bees to pollinate plants. When Hovde heard the couple and their kids go to work washing and packaging millions of pounds of berries each fall, he perked up.

“That’s a family business!” Hovde exclaimed. “That’s impressive!”

WEC Launches Statewide Awareness Campaign Promoting Official Election Website

The Wisconsin Elections Commission launched a new statewide awareness campaign this week promoting the state’s official website, MyVote.wi.gov, to make sure voters have access to accurate and reliable election information.

The campaign message highlights the website in a friendly, relatable way — one that speaks directly to Wisconsin voters. With messages like, “Get your ducks in a row,” and “The big cheese when it comes to voting information,” WEC worked with Vendi Advertising in La Crosse to make sure its message breaks through the clutter. The campaign includes digital display ads and a radio spot.

AG Kaul Joins Bipartisan Coalition Seeking Court Enforcement As TikTok Fails To Preserve And Produce Evidence In Multistate Investigation

Attorney General Josh Kaul today joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general in urging a Tennessee court to enforce its orders that require TikTok to comply with an ongoing multistate consumer protection investigation and to preserve and produce relevant evidence.

“With the impact of social media on youth mental health becoming clearer, there’s no question that we must act,” said Attorney General Kaul. “Among other things, we must ensure that there’s accountability for violations of consumer protection laws that led to harms to youth mental health.”

DNR Confirms Cases Of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease In Chippewa, Jackson And Waukesha Counties

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today confirmed that tissue samples collected from one deer in Chippewa County, two deer in Jackson County and one deer in Waukesha County have tested positive for the virus that causes epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD).

The disease was detected after landowners reported healthy-looking, dead deer near ponds on their properties. The DNR is investigating similar reports in additional counties.

The virus that causes EHD is spread between deer by midges, which are small flies also known as biting gnats or no-see-ums. The virus does not infect humans, even if a person handles infected deer, eats venison from infected deer or is bitten by infected midges.