Morning Headlines - Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024

U.S. and World Headlines

Ukraine Foreign Minister Resigns Amid War's Biggest Reshuffle

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba resigned on Wednesday, the highest-profile casualty so far of a major government reshuffle ordered by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at a crucial juncture in the 30-month war against Russia.

After Zelenskiy, 43-year-old Kuleba was the best-known face of Ukraine overseas, meeting leaders around the world and lobbying for military and political support in fluent English.

U.S. Charges Senior Hamas Leaders With Deaths Of Americans In Israel

Federal prosecutors filed criminal charges against senior Hamas leaders for the deaths of at least 43 American citizens in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, according to charging documents unsealed Tuesday.

Hamas-led militants killed more than 1,200 people on Oct. 7, and kidnapped about 250 individuals in Israel. In December, Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department was investigating the attacks.

Harris Campaign Sends Mixed Signals On EV Mandate

Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign won't say whether she supports requiring automakers to build only electric or hydrogen vehicles by 2035 — a position she took during her 2020 campaign for president.

Since taking over President Biden's campaign in July, Harris has been light on policy details.

Trump Ties Himself In Knots On Abortion

Former President Trump is twisting himself into knots on abortion as he tries to navigate an issue that has proven galvanizing for Democrats and politically fraught for his own party ahead of November.

Trump has repeatedly urged Republicans to prioritize winning elections, even if it means softening their position on abortion. But his approach risks alienating social conservatives without the benefit of winning over more moderate voters.

Brazil Bans X, Adding To Global Social Media Censorship

Social media doesn’t need censorship, but it does require basic rules to protect its users and their personal information. This is why Brazil has gone too far by banning X in the largest Latin American country and X’s fourth-largest market worldwide.

Brazil has joined the club of Russia, China, North Korea, Venezuela, Iran and Pakistan, all of which have banned X partially or completely. The reasons are different in each case, but the objective is always the same: to kill the voice of the adversary and annihilate divergent thought.

Wisconsin Headlines

Wisconsin's Prison Population Swells As Other States Limit Incarceration

Wisconsin’s prison population has swelled since a pandemic dip, complicating efforts to address dangerous conditions that were highlighted in June when prosecutors criminally charged nine Waupun Correctional Institution workers, including the former warden, following multiple prisoner deaths.

The state’s adult institutions were locking up nearly 22,800 people as of Aug. 9. That’s more than 5,000 above the design capacity of Wisconsin’s prisons and more than 3,000 above levels three years ago when COVID-19 actions shrunk prisoner ranks to a 20-year low.

Search Resumes For Missing Wisconsin River Swimmer Near Spring Green

The search for a man who disappeared while swimming in the Wisconsin River near Spring Green entered its third day Tuesday with volunteers joining the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office.

Sunday afternoon three men went into the water, according to a press release from Sauk County Sheriff Chip Meister. The men were caught up in the current. One was able to swim back to shore. Another was rescued by a passing boat. The third, a 24-year-old from Richland Center, has yet to be found.

Suspect In Homicide Of UW-Whitewater Star Gymnast Makes First Court Appearance

A University of Wisconsin–Whitewater student is being held on $1 million bond for the death of a star gymnast of the school.

Kara Welsh, 21, was a national champion and two-time All-American on the UW-Whitewater gymnastics team. She was about to enter her senior year of college, but was shot and killed in an apartment in Whitewater on Aug. 30.

Walz Touts Union Credentials During Labor Day Stop In Milwaukee

Dem VP nominee Tim Walz in a Milwaukee Labor Day stop noted his organized labor credentials while touting Kamala Harris for being part of the most pro-union U.S. administration in history

In comparison, he charged that the only thing Donald Trump knows about working people is “how to take advantage of them.”

2024 Bear Hunting Season Opens Sept. 4

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds hunters that the 2024 bear hunting season opens Sept. 4. With diligent scouting and preparation efforts, bear hunters should expect another year of quality bear hunting this fall.

The 2024 bear season is open from Sept. 4 to Oct. 8, with specific regulations based on a hunter’s bear management zone. Hunters must know the management zone in which they are licensed to hunt and the specific bear hunting regulations within that zone.