Morning Headlines - Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023

U.S. and World Headlines

Haley Declines To Say Slavery Was Cause Of Civil War

Nikki Haley declined to say that slavery was a cause of the Civil War on Wednesday evening, placing the blame, instead, on the role of government.

The former UN Ambassador and South Carolina governor, who has seen her star rise in the first-in-the-nation primary state, was appearing at a town hall event in Berlin, New Hampshire, when a voter asked her to identify the cause of the war.

“I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run,” she responded. “The freedoms and what people could and couldn’t do. What do you think the cause of the Civil War was or argument?”

‘A Huge Shock To The System’: Doctors Warn About Asthma Inhaler Switch Coming In January

Starting January 1, a drug that thousands of patients depend on to help them breathe will disappear from pharmacy shelves, and doctors are concerned patients may have delays switching to alternatives and getting them covered by insurance.

Manufacturer GSK has said it’s discontinuing the branded asthma inhaler Flovent, and instead is making an “authorized generic” version, which is identical but without the same branding.

Physicians who treat patients with asthma say the authorized generic will work just as well as the branded drug, but it doesn’t appear to be covered as widely by insurers.

2024 May Be The Hottest Year In Recorded History

2024 may be even hotter than the "gobsmackingly" hot 2023, which featured extreme — and often deadly — weather and climate events around the globe.

"If things follow the normal pattern, 2024 should be a bit hotter than 2023. But 'the normal pattern' may not exist anymore," said Andrew Dessler, a climate scientist at Texas A&M University.'

The combination of human-caused global warming from the burning of fossil fuels for energy, along with deforestation, plus other factors like a naturally occurring El Niño, have boosted 2023's record warmth, stunning many in the scientific community.

Israel Warns Hezbollah And Lebanon Over Border Fighting

Israel's military will act to remove Hezbollah from the border with Lebanon if its attacks continue, an Israeli minister has warned.

Benny Gantz said the military would intervene if militants do not stop firing on northern Israel.

Time for a diplomatic solution was running out, he added.

Meanwhile, the head of the Israel Defense Forces said troops were in "very high readiness" for more fighting in the north.

"Our first task is to restore security and the sense of security to the residents in the north, and this will take time," Chief of the General Staff Lt Gen Herzi Halevi said, after conducting a "situational assessment".

Why ‘Bidenomics’ Is Falling Flat With Voters

President Biden’s attempt to sell Americans on his role in post-pandemic economic recovery has fallen flat, even as the U.S. economy defies the odds and expectations of experts.

Despite widespread fears at the beginning of the year that a recession was on the way, the U.S. economy is on track to finish 2023 with low unemployment, steady economic growth and significantly slower inflation.

These remarkable topline numbers, however, have done little to help Biden’s standing with voters or their views on the economy. 

Wisconsin Headlines

Herb Kohl, Former US Senator And Owner Of The NBA's Milwaukee Bucks, Has Died

Herb Kohl, a former Democratic U.S. senator from Wisconsin and former owner of the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team, has died. He was 88.

His death was announced Dec. 27 by Herb Kohl Philanthropies, which did not give a cause but said he died after a brief illness.

“More than anything, Herb loved Milwaukee and Wisconsin, and that is where he chose to live out his days,” Kohl’s foundation said in a statement. “He touched an incalculable number of lives, and those who love him would remark that he is among the most decent people to ever walk the earth.”

Owner Of Minocqua Brewing Company To File Complaint To Bar Trump From Wisconsin Ballot

The owner of the Minocqua Brewing Company announced he will file a petition with the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) on Thursday to bar former President Donald Trump from the Wisconsin presidential ballot.

Kirk Bangstad announced Wednesday that his filing with the WEC is the first step in a process to bar Trump from the state's ballot and anticipates it will end up in the court system. He will file the petition at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Wisconsin Elections Board in Madison.

Weston, Wis. Officer Involved Critical Incident

The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is investigating an officer involved critical incident in Marathon County, Wis. that occurred on the evening of Wednesday, December 27, 2023.

At approximately 11:12 p.m., Everest Metro Police Department received a 911 call regarding a domestic incident. Shortly after, Everest Metro Police Officers arrived at the home on the 3300 block of Mount View Avenue in the Village of Weston, Wisconsin. Upon arrival officers encountered a male subject with a bladed weapon who was assaulting a female subject. Officers attempted less lethal options but were unsuccessful. Two Everest Metro Police Officers then discharged their firearms, striking the subject. Lifesaving measures were attempted, but the subject was pronounced deceased at the scene. Officers located a female subject who had sustained life-threatening injuries and was then transported to a local hospital.

Bipartisan Bills Aim To Reform Payday Loans In Wisconsin

A pair of bipartisan bills circulating in the state Legislature would try to redefine and reform short-term, high interest loans.

In Wisconsin, a borrower can take out a payday loan if they have a bank account to use as collateral. The loan must have a term of 90 days or less, and must total no more than $1,500 or 35 percent of the borrower’s gross monthly income, whichever is less.

The loans have to be paid back in full by the end of the short term. Experts and advocates say the interest rates attached to these loans are so high that consumers get trapped in a cycle of debt.

Packers CB Jaire Alexander Suspended After Crashing Coin Toss

Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander was placed on the reserve/suspended list for one game after almost costing the team a possession Sunday.

On Wednesday, General Manager Brian Gutekunst said the decision to suspend a player is "never easy" but Alexander's actions before the game in Carolina "led us to take this step."