Morning Headlines - Friday, Dec. 20, 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

Trump-Backed Bill To Keep US Government Running Fails To Pass

The US House of Representatives has voted against a Donald Trump-backed funding measure, bringing a government shutdown this weekend a step closer.

A revised spending plan failed to reach the two-thirds majority needed in the lower chamber of Congress, with 38 Republicans voting against the bill on Thursday night, defying the president-elect.

Trump had thwarted a previous cross-party funding deal that the Republican House leadership had struck with Democrats, after heavy criticism of the measure by tech billionaire Elon Musk.

After the bill failed by 174 votes to 235, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would come up with another solution before government funding lapses at midnight on Friday.

A Government Shutdown Could Occur On Dec. 21. Here's What Services And Payments Could Be Impacted

With one federal spending bill now scrapped and a revised version still up in the air, the U.S. faces a possible government shutdown that could begin at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, when current funding is set to lapse. That raises questions about what types of services and payments could be impacted just days before the holidays.

Without congressional approval for new spending, federal agencies are typically barred from doling out money, although there are some exceptions, such as activities to protect life and property. At the same time, agencies must make decisions about which workers will stay on the job, which can lead to varying impacts on government operations.

The Number Of U.S. Troops In Syria Has Doubled, Pentagon Discloses

In a surprise announcement, the Defense Department disclosed Thursday that U.S. officials have doubled the number of American troops in Syria to support the fight ISIS, an increase that predates the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime this month.

The Pentagon press secretary, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, said at the Pentagon briefing that the U.S. has roughly 2,000 troops deployed in Syria, even though the U.S. military and U.S. Central Command have consistently reported having only 900 troops there.

Biden To Announce $4.28 Billion In Student Loan Relief For 55,000 Borrowers

President Joe Biden's administration will announce on Friday another $4.28 billion dollars in student loan relief for nearly 55,000 public service workers.

The announcement will bring the total loan forgiveness by the Biden administration to "approximately $180 billion for nearly 5 million Americans," according to a fact sheet from the Department of Education.

The forgiveness will be delivered to individuals enrolled in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF), which allows for debt forgiveness for people in jobs like firefighting, nursing and teaching after 10 years of continuous payment.

Nike CEO Outlines New Strategy After Retailer Blames Promotions For Declining Revenue And Profit

Nike CEO Elliott Hill outlined his strategy to return the company to growth after the retailer blamed deep discounting for declining revenue and profit.

The longtime Nike veteran, who returned in October, said the company is focused on turning the business around and returning “sport” to the center of everything it does.

Nike beat on the top and bottom lines for its most recent quarter, though revenue and profit were down year over year.

Wisconsin Headlines

Wisconsin School Shooter's Accomplice Unmasked As Police Reveal How Pair Planned Mass Attack On Christian Campus

The California man accused of plotting a coordinated attack with Wisconsin school shooter Natalie Rupnow has been pictured for the first time.

Alexander Paffendorf, 20, of Carlsbad, was detained by FBI agents on suspicion of 'plotting' to coordinate a mass shooting at an undisclosed government building.

Paffendorf admitted to agents that he had been messaging 15-year-old Rupnow about attacking a government building with a gun and explosives, according to court documents made public Wednesday.

A San Diego judge issued a restraining order Tuesday under California's gun red flag law against Paffendorf, requiring him to surrender any firearms and ammunition to police within 48 hours, and prohibited him from acquiring any more.

Vos Announces Wisconsin ‘GOAT’ Committee Aimed At Government Efficiency

The Wisconsin Assembly will have a new committee next year that mirrors a government office created by President-elect Donald Trump.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, a Republican from Rochester, announced the formation of the “GOAT” committee — or Government Operations, Accountability and Transparency.

In an interview with the public affairs network Wisconsin Eye, Vos said the goal is to address inefficiency in government, and especially to explore how to leverage artificial intelligence and technology for government processes.

Republicans Accuse Gov. Evers Of “Bait And Switch” With UW Building Projects

The University of Wisconsin is once again looking at a delay in building a new UW-Madison engineering building, but Republican lawmakers say this delay is entirely the university’s fault.

Republicans in the Wisconsin Senate on Wednesday voted down a proposal to spend $70 million on four building projects across the UW system.

Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu scolded UW President Jay Rothman after the vote.

Wisconsin Employment Gains Through November; BLS Data Shows Seventh Consecutive Monthly Record

Workers participated in Wisconsin's economy at unprecedented numbers last month, setting a seventh consecutive record for employment, according to preliminary U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates for November 2024, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) announced today.

Preliminary employment estimates for November 2024 showed Wisconsin's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 2.9%, which is 1.3 percentage points below the national unemployment rate of 4.2%. The state's labor force participation rate increased to 65.8% in November while the national rate ticked down to 62.5%.

Frozen Road Law Starts Saturday For Northern Half Of Wisconsin

Wisconsin's frozen road law takes effect Saturday, December 21 at 12:01 a.m. for the northern half of Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) designates the region as Zone 1 and 2 which includes US 10 near Stevens Point along with numbered state and federal highways north of US 10. The frozen road determination for other areas of the state will be made when conditions warrant.

The frozen road law allows vehicles hauling abrasives or salt for highway winter maintenance and certain forest products to carry more weight. The seasonal weight restriction program is one way to protect Wisconsin's investments in roads.