Morning Headlines - Thursday, Dec. 12, 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

Biden To Commute Sentences Of 1,500 ‘Non-Violent’ Offenders, In The Biggest Single-Day Act Of Clemency To Date

President Joe Biden will commute the sentences of almost 1,500 offenders and pardon 39 others, in what the White House said early Thursday was the biggest number of commutations and clemencies granted in a single day.

The move comes almost two weeks after Biden announced that he had pardoned his son, Hunter, who was due to be sentenced on Thursday for a conviction on federal gun charges. He had also pleaded guilty to a separate federal tax evasion charge. Earlier, Biden had ruled out using his executive powers to pardon his son.

Increased Christianity In Schools Opens The Door To Satanic Temple Education Programs

The Satanic Temple is increasing its work in schools across the country, trying to combat a rise in religious teachings.

The group, launched in 2013 to battle the “intrusion of Christian values on American politics,” recently began a religious release program in an Ohio school district and plans to expand to a district in Tennessee soon.

It does not seek to convert students toward Satan but wants to be a bulwark against increased religious education.

House Passes $895 Billion Defense Bill With Controversial Provision On Gender-Affirming Care

The House approved the massive $895 billion National Defense Authorization Act on Wednesday, after a controversial provision on gender-affirming care prompted backlash from Democrats and threatened to topple the must-pass bill's chances in the chamber.

In a 281 to 140 vote, the House approved the 1,800 page national security legislation to authorize funding for the Defense Department for fiscal year 2025. While the majority of Democrats opposed the bill, 81 joined with 200 Republicans in support of its passage. Just 16 Republicans opposed the legislation. It now heads to the Senate for approval.

'Great Day For America': Trump Lauds Chris Wray Resigning As FBI Director

FBI Director Christopher Wray told employees at an internal town hall on Wednesday that he is resigning, according to sources familiar with the meeting.

He said he is stepping down at the end of the current Biden administration.

President-elect Donald Trump has picked Kash Patel to replace Wray at the FBI, pending Senate confirmation.

Trump reacted to the news shortly after in a statement railing against Wray and praising Patel, who was on Capitol Hill Wednesday to shore up support among Republican senators.

U.S. Dietary Guidelines Should Emphasize Beans And Lentils As Protein, New Proposal Says

A report on proposed changes to U.S. dietary guidelines suggests encouraging people to eat more beans and lentils for protein and less red meat.

Updated guidelines are expected to go into effect later next year.

Future guidelines should also spur people to eat more whole grains and consume less sugary drinks, sodium and processed food, the report says.

Wisconsin Headlines

Green Lake County Sheriff Says Man Who Faked His Own Death Returned To Wisconsin On His Own

The man who faked his own death and fled to Europe before returning to the U.S. did so on his own, according to Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll.

Podoll shared new details in the case, which started as a search for a missing kayaker, during a press conference Wednesday.

"We brought back a dad, on his own accord," the sheriff said.

Wisconsin Woman Sentenced To 19 Years In Federal Prison For Sex Trafficking Of Multiple Victims By Force, Fraud, And Coercion

Colette A. Mahan (age 41), a.k.a. “Pimpin’ Amanda,” of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, had been sentenced to 19 years in federal prison for sex trafficking.

On May 23, 2024, Mahan entered a guilty plea to one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion. According to court records and filings in the case, Mahan trafficked numerous female victims, including minors as young as 14 years old, over a period of at least 17 years using a combination of false promises, threats, and extreme physical violence. Filings also show that Mahan made her victims solicit sex dates at strip clubs, hotels, bars, casinos, and street tracks across Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Indiana, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kentucky, Florida, and Nevada, and she demanded that they give her everything they earned. Though Mahan had many prior arrests, this case marks her first felony conviction and prison sentence.

Tiffany Demands Transparency, Public Input On Marathon County Refugee Resettlement Plans

Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07) sent a letter to Bojana Zoric Martinez, the Director of the Bureau of Refugee Programs for the Evers administration, calling for transparency and opportunities for public input on reported plans to resettle refugees from Afghanistan and Ukraine in Marathon County between now and January 20th – the day President-elect Trump will be sworn into office.

This comes after constituents expressed concerns to Rep. Tiffany about the significant refugee resettlement scheme underway.

Officer Involved Death Investigation In The City Of Oshkosh, Wis.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is conducting an officer involved death investigation in the City of Oshkosh, Wis. that occurred on the evening of Tuesday, December 10, 2024.

At approximately 11:10 p.m., City of Oshkosh police officers received a 911 call of a stabbing near the 400 block of W 10th Avenue. Upon arrival, officers located a victim outside who had been stabbed. Officers entered the residence where they encountered the subject who was armed with a bladed weapon. The subject failed to comply with orders from the officer to drop the weapon and one officer discharged their firearm, striking the subject. While officers performed lifesaving measures, a second stabbing victim was located in the residence. Both stabbing victims and the subject were transported to a local hospital. The subject was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

How Many Fresh-Cut Christmas Trees Are Being Harvested In Wisconsin?

Christmas tree farmers have hopes that a decades-long decline in the number of fresh-cut trees harvested every holiday season — driven by generational turnover and the market for artificial decorations — is on the verge of turning around.