Morning Headlines - Friday, Dec. 27, 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

South Korea's Acting President Impeached By Opposition Lawmakers

South Korea's opposition-controlled National Assembly voted Friday to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo despite vehement protests by governing party lawmakers, further deepening the country's political crisis set off by President Yoon Suk Yeol's stunning imposition of martial law and ensuing impeachment.

Han's impeachment means he will be stripped of the powers and duties of the president until the Constitutional Court decides whether to dismiss or reinstate him. The court is already reviewing whether to uphold Yoon's earlier impeachment. The impeachments of the country's top two officials worsen its political turmoil, deepen its economic uncertainty and hurt its international image.

New York City Braces For Chaotic Mayor’s Race

New York City is bracing for a chaotic mayoral race next year, with the sitting mayor facing a criminal indictment and an increasing number of candidates throwing their hat in the ring to challenge him.

Mayor Eric Adams (D) has vowed to continue with his reelection bid in 2025 despite the charges accusing him of bribery, wire fraud and soliciting a contribution by a foreign national. He has pleaded not guilty and said his focus is on governing the city, but more than a half dozen other Democrats have entered the primary set for June.

Nasa Makes History With Closest-Ever Approach To Sun

A Nasa spacecraft has made history by surviving the closest-ever approach to the Sun.

Scientists received a signal from the Parker Solar Probe just before midnight EST on Thursday (05:00 GMT on Friday) after it had been out of communication for several days during its burning-hot fly-by.

Nasa said the probe was "safe" and operating normally after it passed just 3.8 million miles (6.1 million km) from the solar surface.

Recalled Costco Eggs May Cause Severe Illness Due To Salmonella, FDA Warns

Federal food regulators raised their alarm for recalled eggs sold from Costco stores over possible salmonella exposure, reclassifying the targeted product to its highest risk level.

The FDA announced Nov. 27 that New York-Handsome Brook Farms had voluntarily recalled about 10,800 retail units of 24-count organic, pasture-raised eggs sold under Costco’s Kirkland Signature brand.

In an updated notice Friday, the FDA reclassified the recall to Class I, which it calls a “reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”

Another Jackpot Surpasses $1 Billion. Is This The New Normal?

Remember this moment because it probably won't last: A U.S. lottery jackpot is projected to soar above $1 billion, and that's still a big deal.

Friday’s Mega Millions drawing is worth an estimated $1.15 billion, evoking headlines and likely luring more people to convenience stores with dreams of private spacewalks above the earth.

It doesn't seem to matter that the nation's top 10 jackpots — not including this one — already have boasted 10-figure payouts. For many of us, something stirs inside when a number ticks one dollar above $999,000,000.

Wisconsin Headlines

Western Wisconsin Corrections Officer Killed By Drunk Driver, Sheriff's Office Says

Authorities in western Wisconsin say a correctional officer died after a suspected drunk driver struck his vehicle on the morning of Christmas Eve.

The Dunn County Sheriff's Office says Jeff Reynolds was driving westbound on U.S. Highway 29 around 2:44 a.m. on Tuesday when a driver in a northbound vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign on County Highway E, striking Reynolds's vehicle.

Reynolds had been on his way to fill in a shift at the county jail at the time of the crash.

Wisconsin Hit-And-Run Crash Kills Chicago Tow Truck Operator

A tow truck operator was killed in a hit-and-run crash on a highway in Wisconsin on Tuesday.

The Waukesha County Sheriff's Department identified Hussain Farhat, 40, as the victim of the hit-and-run.

Around 6:41 p.m., Farhat was loading a disabled car on the eastbound shoulder of I-94 east of Sawyer Road when he was hit by a blue minivan that fled the scene, police said. The minivan continued eastbound and exited the highway in an unknown direction.

Nearly 200 Absentee Ballots Went Uncounted In November Election In Wisconsin

Nearly 200 absentee ballots in Wisconsin from the November election went uncounted. The city of Madison Clerk's Office said 193 ballots were discovered during post-election reconciliation and cleanup.

The office said it informed the Wisconsin Elections Commission of the error Dec. 20. The number of missed ballots was not enough to change any outcome, the clerk's office said.

Parents Disappointed In Implementation Of New Wisconsin Reading Law

A group of Wisconsin parents say the Department of Public Instruction is dragging its feet on implementing new curriculum that aims to improve children’s reading skills.

In 2023, lawmakers passed legislation known as Act 20. It required schools to shift away from “balanced literacy” curriculum to a phonics-based model known as “the science of reading” beginning this school year.

December Layoffs Affect Wisconsin TV News Stations

Several longtime journalists at Wisconsin television stations were let go in December in La Crosse, Eau Claire and Wausau.

The stations have been owned by Allen Media Group since 2021, which has implemented recent layoffs company-wide.

The Madison affiliate WKOW went through a similar round of layoffs several months ago. WXOW in La Crosse, WQOW in Eau Claire and WAOW in Wausau were affected by the cuts in early December.