The Morning Report - Mar. 11, 2022

U.S. and World Headlines

Senate Approves, Sends Biden $1.5 Trillion Spending Bill That Includes Ukraine Aid

The Senate passed a massive bill to fund the government and provide new Ukraine-related aid, sending the 2,741-page bill to President Biden’s desk.

Senators voted 68-31 on the bill, which includes $1.5 trillion in government funding and $13.6 billion in aid tied to Ukraine.

What Sanctions Are Being Imposed On Russia?

The US and UK are banning Russian oil, and the EU has pledged to end its reliance on Russian gas.

The announcements mark an escalation of the sanctions already imposed by Western powers since President Putin invaded Ukraine.

In response, Russia has banned the export of a number of foreign-made products.

Minneapolis Teachers Strike Continues As Union And District Remain Far Apart On Deal

Hundreds of teachers, support staff, parents and students marched and rallied in downtown Minneapolis on Thursday as the city's first teachers strike in more than 50 years wound on.

The union is pushing for a 12 percent pay raise for teachers, a higher starting salary for education support professionals and smaller class sizes. The school district has said it cannot afford the demands.

Video Of Jussie Smollett's 'I'm Not Suicidal' Outburst After Sentencing Viewed 600K Times

Jussie Smollett screamed "I am not suicidal" to the court after he was sentenced to 150 days in prison for faking a hate crime.

The actor, best known for his role on the TV show Empire was convicted on five of six charges in December of staging a 2019 attack made to look like a racist, homophobic hate crime was committed against him.

MLB, MLBPA Reach Labor Agreement: Everything You Need To Know As Lockout Ends

The MLB lockout is over. It took more than three months -- and multiple deadlines for delaying the regular season -- before Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association ended their stalemate and came to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement.

So how did finally reaching a deal go down? When can free agents start signing again? When will players report to camp? In the end, what did all of this mess mean, anyway?

Wisconsin Headlines

Sixth Wisconsin State Senator Won’t Seek Reelection

The list of retirements from the Wisconsin state Senate has grown to six, with 24-year-veteran Sen. Jerry Petrowski, of Marathon, announcing that he will not seek reelection.

Petrowski is the third Republican to announce plans not to seek another term, joining Sen. Kathy Bernier, of Chippewa Falls, and Sen. Roger Roth, of Appleton.

Judge To Weigh Change Of Venue In Wisconsin Parade Deaths

A judge was set to consider a request Friday to move the trial of a man accused of driving his SUV into a suburban Milwaukee Christmas parade, killing six people and injuring scores more.

Attorneys for Darrell Brooks Jr. filed a change-of-venue motion last month asking that the trial either be moved or that jurors be pulled from a different county. They say that publicity about the case has been pervasive and overwhelmingly negative for Brooks.

Wisconsin Lawsuit Accuses GOP Senator, 2 Representatives Of Insurrection

Wisconsin liberals on Thursday filed a federal lawsuit alleging that Republican Sen. Ron Johnson and two other GOP congressmen are insurrectionists in violation of the U.S. Constitution for their words and actions in support of former President Donald Trump leading up to the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

The lawsuit, alleging a violation of the “Disqualification Clause” of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, says Johnson and U.S. Reps. Tom Tiffany and Scott Fitzgerald conspired to undermine President Joe Biden’s victory and sow public distrust of the outcome.

More Than 150 Wisconsin National Guard Members Complete CNA Training

Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) today announced a total of 154 Wisconsin National Guard members have completed certified nursing assistant (CNA) training since early January 2022.

This collaborative effort among the Evers Administration, Madison College, and the Wisconsin National Guard was intended to bring needed short-term staffing support to Wisconsin’s hospitals and nursing homes. The goal was to open 200 or more beds by the end of February. As of March 7, 226 beds have been opened at 17 nursing homes and more beds will open as 56 more Wisconsin National Guard personnel are placed at six nursing homes across the state this week.

Wisconsin Unemployment Ticks Down, Currently A Point Lower Than U.S. Rate

New unemployment data from the Dept. of Workforce Development demonstrates the strength of the Wisconsin economy, both in terms of how it stacks up against national levels and how much it has bounced back from the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Wisconsin’s low unemployment and high labor force participation rates reflect a strong economic recovery as we leave this phase of the COVID-19 pandemic behind,” DWD Secretary-designee Amy Pechacek said.