Morning Headlines - Thursday, Sept. 19, 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

House Rejects GOP Plan To Extend Government Funding

The House rejected Speaker Mike Johnson's plan to keep the government funded on Wednesday, with a small group of Republicans joining most Democrats to oppose the measure and sending lawmakers scrambling for a backup plan with less than two weeks until a possible government shutdown.

The legislation, which would fund the government through March 28, 2025, fell short by a vote of 202 in favor to 220 opposed. Fourteen Republicans joined all but three Democrats to oppose the bill, which also included a measure aimed at targeting the practice of illegal voting that Democrats view as a nonstarter.

The Harris-Walz Media Strategy: Hide From The Press

The Harris-Walz ticket is on pace to do fewer interviews and press conferences than any major party's presidential pairing in modern U.S. history.

Vice President Harris' team is betting she and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, can avoid many tough interviews and still win as they run down the clock to Election Day.

Tupperware Lifts The Lid On Its Financial Problems With Bankruptcy Filing

The company behind Tupperware, the plastic kitchenware that revolutionized food storage after World War II and became inextricably linked to the parties where women seeking a measure of financial independence and fun in midcentury America sold the colorful products, has filed for bankruptcy.

Tupperware Brands, the Orlando, Florida-based consumer goods company that produces the iconic line of containers, said it was seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after struggling to revitalize its core business and failing to secure a tenable takeover offer.

Fed Goes Big With Interest Rate Cut In A Bid To Head Off An Economic Slowdown

The Federal Reserve said Wednesday it was lowering its key interest rate by half a percentage point, an unusually aggressive move designed to cushion the economy from a further slowdown.

The central bank noted job gains had slowed while inflation had made further progress toward its 2% goal.

The Fed Forecasts Lowering Rates By Another Half Point Before The Year Is Out

The Federal Reserve projected lowering interest rates by another half point before the end of 2024, and the central bank has two more policy meetings to do so.

The so-called dot plot indicated that 19 FOMC members, both voters and nonvoters, see the benchmark fed funds rate at 4.4% by the end of this year, equivalent to a target range of 4.25% to 4.5%. The Fed’s two remaining meetings for the year are scheduled for Nov. 6-7 and Dec.17-18.

Wisconsin Headlines

As ESSER Comes To An End, Wisconsin Schools Decide What Programs To Keep

Bookmobiles. Online mental health. Reading coaches. Robots. Therapy dogs.

These are all things Wisconsin school districts have been able to bring to students because of the $2.4 billion in federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, or ESSER, funding.

ESSER dollars were meant to help students make up for learning loss brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether that’s been accomplished is hard to measure. But there’s no question the millions of dollars that went to schools over the last three years provided educators with an opportunity to hire staff and create programs they wouldn’t have been able to otherwise.

Brewers Outperform Preseason Expectations Again To Win Third Nl Central Title In Four Years

These aren’t the same Milwaukee Brewers who have made regular playoff appearances the last several years.

Milwaukee became the first major league team to clinch a division championship Wednesday when it sealed its third NL Central title in the last four years. The Chicago Cubs' 5-3 loss to the Oakland Athletics enabled the Brewers to wrap up the division crown.

Wisconsin Man Sentenced to 3.5 Years for Illegal Gun Possession

Dedonta J. Davis, 36, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced on September 12, 2024 by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 3 1/2 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. This will be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Davis pleaded guilty to this charge on June 13, 2024.

On January 5, 2024, law enforcement arrested Davis on state charges related to an ongoing investigation into a shooting which occurred weeks prior outside a bar in Fitchburg, Wisconsin. Following that arrest, officers executed a search warrant at Davis’s apartment and found a loaded Remington 9mm handgun with an 18-round magazine. The Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory confirmed that Davis’s DNA was on the handgun. Davis is prohibited from legally possessing firearms and ammunition because of prior felony convictions.

Former City Of Milwaukee Employee Sentenced In Embezzlement Case

Kelly Whitmore-Behling (age: 47), formerly of Milwaukee, was sentenced to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, followed by three years’ supervised release for her role in an embezzlement scheme.

According to court records, Ms. Whitmore-Behling and her co-defendant were employed by the City of Milwaukee’s Department of Public Works, where their responsibilities included disposing of vehicles and equipment the City no longer needed. Between June and September of 2022, they executed an embezzlement scheme, selling City vehicles and equipment for cash and pocketing most of the proceeds for themselves. 

Help Stop The Spread Of Aquatic Invasive Species During Migratory Bird Hunting Seasons

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds migratory bird hunters that they are essential partners in preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species in hunting areas and Wisconsin’s waterways. The steps hunters take before leaving a boat launch or access point are vital for protecting hunting habitat.

Invasives can hide in some of the most unsuspected places. Mud on your anchor can hide seeds, eggs or the larvae of tiny species, such as spiny water fleas. Water that collects in boats and decoys can carry diseases, and insects, snails and seeds can also collect under the vests of a hunting dog. Consider giving your dog a rinse with a jug of clean water or scrubbing them off with a brush while they go for a quick swim to prevent invasive species from hitching a ride to the next hunting spot.