Morning Headlines - Friday, Dec. 8, 2023 | Recent News

U.S. and World Headlines

Hunter Biden Indicted On Nine Tax Charges, Adding To Gun Charges In Special Counsel Probe

The Department of Justice has filed nine new criminal charges against U.S. President Joe Biden's son, Hunter.

The scandal-hit first son already faces a weapons charge in Delaware.

The new indictment filed Thursday in California alleges Hunter Biden spent millions on 'drugs, escorts and girlfriends, luxury hotels and rental properties, exotic cars [and] clothing' while not paying his taxes.

Between 2016 and 2020 Hunter allegedly spent more than $683,000 on 'various women' and almost $400,000 on 'clothing and accessories'.

It also alleges that he spent $188,000 on 'adult entertainment' in that period.

U.S. Political Ad Market Projected To Reach Record $16 Billion In 2024

The advertising dollars spent on U.S. elections and advocacy issues will grow to roughly $16 billion next year, up 31.2% compared to the last presidential election in 2020, according to a new forecast.

The U.S. political ad market has gotten so big that next year it’s expected to become the 10th largest ad market in the world, surpassing all of Australia.

New projections from GroupM, one of the world's largest paid advertising agencies, suggest that political ad revenue will reach $15.9 billion in 2024, or $17.1 billion including direct mail.

Biden Heads To Las Vegas To Showcase $8.2B For 10 Major Rail Projects

President Joe Biden is heading to Las Vegas to showcase $8.2 billion in funding for 10 major passenger rail projects across the country, including to spur work on high-speed, electric train routes that could one day link Nevada and California, as well as Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The administration says the 218-mile (350.8-kilometer) train route linking Las Vegas and Rancho Cucamonga, California, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) east of downtown Los Angeles, may one day serve more than 11 million passengers annually.

Federal Judge Seems Set To Bar Separating Migrant Families At U.S. Border For 8 Years

A federal judge was poised Friday to prohibit separation of families at the border for purposes of deterring immigration for eight years, preemptively blocking resumption of a lightning-rod, Trump-era policy that the former president hasn't ruled out if voters return him to the White House next year.

U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw tentatively approved a court settlement in October between the Justice Department and families represented by the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU says no one formally objected, clearing the way to end the case nearly seven years after it was filed.

Ramaswamy Faces Backlash Over Debate Performance

Vivek Ramaswamy emerged from the fourth GOP debate in Alabama facing backlash from Republicans over his aggressive performance.

The 38-year-old GOP millennial called former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley “fascist” and compared her campaign launch video to “a woke Dylan Mulvaney Bud Light ad,” while claiming former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s (R) “version of foreign policy experience was closing a bridge from New Jersey to New York.”

His attacks were met with blowback from his GOP competitors, while some strategists afterward argued the tactics demonstrated he was an unserious presidential candidate.

La Crosse Man Sentenced To 7 Years For Firearm Violations

Jerel D. Jenkins, 29, La Crosse, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to seven years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jenkins pleaded guilty to this charge on September 1, 2023.

On April 27, 2022, Jenkins was driving a car in La Crosse with a passenger. An officer saw Jenkins’ car was not displaying proper license plates and attempted a traffic stop. Jenkins sped down an alleyway and jumped from the car, which crashed head-on into a detached garage with the passenger still in it. Jenkins fled and was not apprehended that evening. While responding to the scene, officers found a .380 caliber handgun, with a magazine inserted and loaded, on the ground near the driver-side door of the car. DNA from the trigger guard of the handgun matched Jenkins.

New Wisconsin Law Simplifies Absentee Voting For 2024 Elections

"We do not want voters to have any confusion at all and we want this to be as clean as possible going into elections," Rock County Clerk Lisa Tollefson said.

Tollefson started working with lawmakers in 2019 when she noticed this was going to be an issue in the presidential election of 2024.

As per the updated law, Wisconsin residents intending to vote absentee in the upcoming presidential primary election in April 2024 will receive their ballots 21 days before the primary. For those Wisconsin residents who are voting from overseas or stationed in the military, their absentee ballots will be mailed 47 days prior to the primary election.

Tiffany Introduces Legislation To Rename Necedah Post Office After Distinguished Veteran

Yesterday, Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07) introduced legislation to honor the service and sacrifice of Sergeant Kenneth E. Murphy by renaming the United States Post Office in Necedah as the Sergeant Kenneth E. Murphy Post Office Building. Sergeant Murphy was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his gallantry in Vietnam, as well as a Purple Heart.

“Sergeant Murphy’s heroism and devotion to his fellow service members and our great nation deserve to be honored,” said Congressman Tiffany. “This Necedah postal renaming will cement his legacy in our nation’s history.”

“I am honored to be considered for this prestigious nomination for the Necedah Post Office Renaming. I was born in the house I grew up and have never left Necedah,” said Sergeant Kenneth E. Murphy.

Bipartisan Bill Allows Parents To Give Up Unwanted Newborns In 'Baby Boxes'

Gov. Tony Evers signed a bipartisan bill Wednesday that would expand Wisconsin’s safe haven law that allows parents to anonymously and safely give up an unwanted newborn.

Since 2001, the state has had a process for parents to relinquish a baby that is up to three days old to law enforcement officers, emergency medical technicians and hospital staff. The parent is not obligated to provide information about the infant, but has to give up the baby in person under that law.

The new law allows parents to anonymously put newborns in devices known as baby boxes that can be installed in hospitals, fire stations and law enforcement buildings. The boxes are temperature-controlled and ventilated for the baby’s safety.

Kaul Expects DAs To Abide By Dane Co Judge’s Abortion Ruling

Sheboygan County District Attorney Joel Urmanski says he’ll appeal a Dane County judge’s ruling, that a state law from 1849 doesn’t prohibit abortions. In the meantime, Attorney General Josh Kaul says the decision stands.

“What we have in place right now is a declaratory judgment from the circuit court,” Kaul said on Wednesday. “The three defendants (Urmanski and district attorneys in Dane and Milwaukee counties) in that case said that they would respect, and I fully expect that they they will abide by that decision.”

Dane County Circuit Court Judge Diane Schlipoper ruled this week that the law does not apply to abortions but to feticide. Urmanski said he disagrees. The law was put into effect following the US Supreme Court decision overturning Roe versus Wade. Abortion remains illegal after 20 weeks in Wisconsin.