Morning Headlines - Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 | Recent News

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

Food Prices Are At Their Highest Levels In Over A Year. And These Items Will Get Even More Expensive

Global food prices recently rose to an 18-month high, with some food baskets expected to continue climbing, according to market watchers.

In October, world food commodity prices were at their highest since April 2023, according to the most recent data compiled by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization.

Bitcoin Price Reaches $100,000-mark For First Time Ever

Bitcoin has topped the $100,000 mark as a massive rally in the world's most popular cryptocurrency sparked by the election of Donald Trump rolls on.

The milestone comes just hours after the president-elect signaled a lighter regulatory approach to the crypto industry with his choice of Paul Atkins to be the next chair the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Landmark Supreme Court Case Weighs Gender-Affirming Care For Trans Kids

Medical treatment for transgender children, endorsed by major American medical associations and safely used for decades, was the focus at the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday as the Biden administration and three families with transgender teenagers nasked the justices to strike down a state law banning some gender-affirming care for minors.

The landmark case -- U.S. v. Skrmetti -- comes from Tennessee, which is among 26 states that have moved to prohibit administration of puberty-blocking medication and hormone therapy to minors who seek to identify with, or live as, a gender identity inconsistent with his or her sex at birth.

Sweden’s ‘Soft Girl’ Trend That Celebrates Women Quitting Work

Sweden has a global reputation for championing gender equality, so why are young women embracing a social media trend that celebrates quitting work?

Vilma Larsson, 25, previously had jobs in a grocery store, a care home and a factory. But she quit work a year ago to become a stay-at-home-girlfriend, and says she’s never been happier.

“My life is softer. I am not struggling. I am not very stressed.”

Key Things To Know About The Fatal Attack On The UnitedHealthcare CEO In NYC

The chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, one of the nation’s largest insurers, was killed Wednesday in midtown Manhattan in what police described as a targeted attack by a shooter outside a hotel where the company was holding a conference.

The shooter fled on foot into an alleyway and was last seen on an e-bike heading into Central Park. New York City police said the attack on Brian Thompson was planned, but the motive was unclear.

Here’s what to know:

Fallen Officer Hunter Scheel Honored With Memorial In Village Of Cameron

It is closer to the two year anniversary of the shooting deaths of officers Hunter Scheel and Emily Briedenbach.

The officer that once served on the Cameron Police Department is now honored with a memorial.

“He was always helping people. It wasn’t just his job that made him want to help people. If somebody needed help, he was always there,” said Jessica Janota, who is the late officer’s mother.

Student Arrested After Allegedly Bringing Gun Into Wisconsin High School

Police arrested a 16-year-old student after he allegedly brought a gun to his high school in Kenosha, the second time in less than a month that someone has apparently tried to bring a firearm into one of the southeastern Wisconsin city's schools.

Indian Trail High School and Academy's resource officer learned Monday that a photo of the student with a gun had been posted on social media, police said in a statement Wednesday. The student was located, escorted to an office, arrested and taken to the police department. Investigators later determined that the student had hidden a gun in a “sensitive area," making it difficult for officers to locate the weapon initially.

Onalaska Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Fentanyl Trafficking

Michael Wilson, 46, of Onalaska, Wisconsin, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 57 months in federal prison for possessing fentanyl intended for distribution.

On July 21, 2022, Wilson sold fentanyl to an individual in La Crosse, Wisconsin during a controlled delivery monitored by law enforcement. One week later, La Crosse police executed a search warrant at Wilson’s home in Onalaska. In one room of the home, police found drug packaging materials and a blender coated with white powder residue, near a digital scale used to weigh drugs. Concealed in the ceiling of the room, police located 96 grams of fentanyl and 83 grams of cocaine.

Marshfield Woman Sentenced To Prison For Cocaine Trafficking

Shandel L. Mohr, 32, Marshfield, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday to twelve months and one day in federal prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine. The prison term will be followed by three years of supervised release. Mohr pleaded guilty to this charge on August 20, 2024.

In February 2022, Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force officers began investigating a methamphetamine and cocaine trafficking organization operating in Wausau, Wisconsin. The multi-year investigation involved the seizure of drug-laden packages from the mail, controlled purchases of narcotics, and seizures of firearms and large quantities of drugs from residence searches. From the investigation, officers believe the drug trafficking organization was distributing kilograms quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine.

Wisconsin’s Act 10 Is Back In Court. Here’s What To Know About The Controversial Law

The Monday court ruling that overturned Wisconsin’s Act 10 collective bargaining law could have massive implications in Wisconsin, where it once sparked massive protests.

While the fallout of the decision is still being determined, and the legal battle is ongoing, the underlying dispute revived arguments that began when the law was first introduced more than 13 years ago.

Here’s a rundown of how Act 10 got its start, and the latest effort to repeal it.