Morning Headlines - Monday, Apr. 11, 2022

U.S. and World Headlines

Biden Announces Ban On Ghost Gun Kits

President Biden on Monday announced a ban on kits to manufacture so-called ghost guns at home, as part of his efforts to crack down on the proliferation of untrackable firearms.

The new rule includes a ban on so-called “buy build shoot” kits that people can purchase online or at a store without a background check. The kit can assemble a working firearm in as little as 30 minutes, according to senior administration officials.

How Popular Is Joe Biden?

An updating calculation of the president's approval rating, accounting for each poll's quality, recency, sample size and partisan lean.

Ukraine Is 'Preparing' For Attack In The East By Russian Forces, Zelenskyy Says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that an attack from Russian forces in the east is looming. But he said Ukrainian troops are ready.

"Russian troops will move to even larger operations in the east of our state. They can use even more missiles against us, even more air bombs," Zelenskyy said in a televised address late Sunday. "But we are preparing for their actions. We will respond. 

Macron Will Face Le Pen In Runoff In French Presidential Election

Incumbent Emmanuel Macron will face far-right nationalist Marine Le Pen in a winner-takes-all runoff for the French presidency, after they both advanced Sunday in the first round of voting in the country's election to set up another head-to-head clash of their sharply opposing visions for France.

Who Americans Blame For Skyrocketing Gas Prices: Poll

As politicians spar over who's to blame for recent increases in gas prices, a large majority of Americans say oil companies and Russian President Vladimir Putin are major culprits, a new ABC News/Ipsos poll finds.

Wisconsin Headlines

State Bill Would Make Free School Meals Permanent In Wisconsin

Out of all the things the pandemic has taught us, the ability to feed free lunch and breakfast to all students is a vital one, according to Democratic State Representative Kristina Shelton.

Reps. Tom Tiffany And Lauren Boebert Lead Effort To Uphold Gray Wolf Science

Reps. Tom Tiffany (WI-07) and Lauren Boebert (CO-03) led 22 additional Members of Congress in a letter to Department of the Interior Secretary Haaland encouraging her to appeal a recent decision by an activist California judge that failed to follow the best available science and instead, through his decision, restored Endangered Species Act protections for the gray wolf in most states, despite the wolf being fully recovered.

Gov. Tony Evers Vetoes GOP Election, Gun Bills

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has vetoed dozens of Republican-authored bills covering a wide range of Republican priorities, from making it more difficult to vote absentee in Wisconsin to making it easier to legally carry concealed guns.

Evers also rejected several bills that would have spelled out how he should spend an influx of federal money in Wisconsin and tied the hands of future governors when it comes to public emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the number of vetoes — 43 in all — was high, they were not unexpected, and even though Republicans have big majorities in the Legislature, they're not big enough to override the governor.

Baldwin Yes, Johnson No On Kentanji Brown-Jackson SCOTUS Confirmation

As expected, Wisconsin’s U.S. Senators were on opposite sides of this week’s historic vote to confirm Judge Kentanji Brown-Jackson as the first Black woman on the U-S Supreme Court. Democrat Tammy Baldwin voted yes.

Gary Brown, Wisconsin’s Running Back Coach In 2021 Season, Dies At 52

Gary Brown, Wisconsin’s running backs coach during the 2021 season, died Sunday night. He was 52 years old. Brown died in his hometown of Williamsport, Pa. and was in hospice for the last several weeks. His cause of death is unknown.