The Morning Report - Mar. 8, 2022

U.S. and World Headlines

Russia Breaks Ceasefire To Shell Evacuation Routes In Ukraine

Russian forces shelled an evacuation route for civilians trapped in the besieged city of Mariupol in violation of a ceasefire agreement today, Ukraine foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko said on Twitter. 8 trucks + 30 buses ready to deliver humanitarian aid to Mariupol and to evac (evacuate) civilians to Zaporizhzhia. Pressure on Russia MUST step up to make it uphold its commitments,' he wrote.

Ukraine Invasion: False Claims The War Is A Hoax Go Viral

Nearly two weeks after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the flow of false or misleading information about the war hasn't let up and now there are some outlandish theories being shared online. Some have begun to circulate claims the war is a hoax, a media fabrication, or has been exaggerated by the West in terms of its scale. We've examined some of them.

All But One House Republican Who Voted To Impeach Trump Faces A Trump-Endorsed Challenger

Of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump in 2021, three have retired instead of running again, while all but one of the other seven has a Trump-endorsed primary opponent. That means primary voters in nearly all of these districts will be able to choose whether they want to punish disloyalty to Trump and move the GOP into even closer alignment with Trumpism.

Biden Executive Order On Cryptocurrency Expected This Week

President Biden is expected to sign an executive order on cryptocurrency this week that will mark the first step toward regulating how digital currency is traded. The move comes as administration officials have raised concerns in recent weeks about Russia’s use of cryptocurrency to evade the impact of crushing sanctions in response to its invasion of Ukraine.

NFL Suspends Atlanta Falcons WR Calvin Ridley For At Least 2022 Season For Betting On Games

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley has been suspended for at least the 2022 season after gambling on games in 2021. The NFL released a statement Monday announcing his suspension, saying Ridley gambled on games over a five-day stretch in November 2021 when he was on the non-football injury list to address his mental health.

Wisconsin Headlines

GOP Braces For Nail-Biter With Ron Johnson Reelection Bid

Republicans are voicing early concerns over Sen. Ron Johnson's (R-Wis.) reelection bid ahead of a potentially unprecedented Democratic onslaught to unseat him.

Democrats boast that ad spending will reach nine figures in Wisconsin as they seek to highlight Johnson’s proclivity to sound off on hot-button issues with outlandish – and at times conspiratorial – takes. And while Johnson is anticipated to enjoy a favorable political environment this November, early Democratic maneuvering has sparked GOP nail-biting and shot Johnson's race to the top of Senate Republicans' defensive priorities.

Wisconsin Senate To End With Votes On Youth Prison, Schools

The Senate prepared to wrap up Wisconsin's two-year legislative session Tuesday with votes on a bipartisan proposal to create a new juvenile prison and Republican-backed efforts likely headed for vetoes that would break up the Milwaukee school district and expand the state's voucher school program.

The Assembly met for the final time last week and the Senate planned to finish its work with a marathon day Tuesday. Lawmakers will then largely shift their focus to campaigning for the fall election.

Milwaukee Prosecutor Won't Charge Elections Board Members

The Milwaukee County district attorney will not file charges against two Democratic members of the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission, saying there is not enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they committed any crimes.

Wisconsin Had 315 Homicides Last Year. That's A 70 Percent Increase From 2019.

Law enforcement experts say the reasons for the ongoing increases in homicides vary from too many guns on the street to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic to human desperation.

Aaron Rodgers’ Packers Decision Could Come As Soon As Tuesday

NFL teams must decide by 4 p.m. whether to franchise tag potential free agents. The Packers have the league’s biggest decision to make on All-Pro receiver Davante Adams, whose future seems tied to whether Rodgers returns and another run at the Super Bowl is in the cards. Otherwise, why have the Packers waited so long on Adams?