Morning Headlines - Tuesday, Dec. 24, 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

Trump Again Suggests US Should Own And Control Greenland

President-elect Donald Trump is again floating his interest in U.S. ownership of Greenland, prompting the leader of the island territory to clarify that it is not for sale.

Trump on Sunday, in announcing his selection of PayPal co-founder Ken Howery to serve as his ambassador to Denmark, wrote that American ownership of the island was an "absolute necessity."

"For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity. Ken will do a wonderful job in representing the interests of the United States," Trump wrote in a statement.

Ethics Releases Matt Gaetz Report: 5 Takeaways

The House Ethics Committee released its long-awaited report into former Rep. Matt Gaetz on Monday, putting a bookend on the panel’s roughly 3 1/2-year investigation into the firebrand Florida Republican.

The report — which spans 42 pages and includes several more in exhibits — found “substantial evidence” that Gaetz violated House rules, state and federal laws, outlining allegations of prostitution, statutory rape and illicit drug use, among other accusations. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing.

Here are five takeaways from the report.

Nordstrom To Go Private In $6.25 Billion Deal With Founding Family, Mexican Retailer

Nordstrom on Monday announced it will become a private company after it agreed to a buyout deal valued at roughly $6.25 billion from Nordstrom’s founding family and Mexican department store El Puerto de Liverpool.

The company’s board of directors unanimously approved of the transaction, which is expected to close in the first half of 2025.

As part of the deal, the Nordstrom family will have majority ownership in the company, with 50.1%, and Liverpool will own 49.9%. Common shareholders will receive $24.25 in cash for each share of Nordstrom common stock they hold, according to a press release.

Protests Erupt In Syria Over Christmas Tree Burning

Protests have broken out in Syria over the burning of a Christmas tree, prompting calls for the new Islamist authorities to protect minorities.

A video posted on social media showed masked gunmen setting fire to the tree on display in the main square of the Suqaylabiyah, a Christian-majority town in central Syria.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the main Islamist faction which led the uprising that toppled President Bashar al-Assad, said foreign fighters had been detained over the incident.

HTS representatives have promised to protect the rights and freedoms of religious and ethnic minorities in Syria.

President Biden To Decide Fate Of Nippon Steel’s $15 Billion Bid For U.S. Steel

Nippon Steel’s $15 billion bid for U.S. Steel has been referred to U.S. President Joe Biden, a White House spokesman said, giving the president 15 days to decide on a tie up he has previously said he opposes.

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which reviews foreign investments in the U.S. for national security risks, referred the deal to Biden after it was unable to reach a consensus, the companies and two sources said.

That gives Biden, who has long opposed the tie-up, 15 days to block the deal. If he takes no action in that time, the merger would get an unexpected greenlight.

Wisconsin Residents Of Legal Drinking Age Consumed 35+ Gallons Of Alcohol A Person In 2022

Wisconsin may be known for its cheese, but it’s also home to 10 of the 20 drunkest cities in America, according to a 2024 report from 24/7 Wall St. 2023 data from America’s Health Rankings also showed that Wisconsin had some of the highest levels of heavy, excessive and binge drinking in the United States.

A previous DataWatch about Wisconsin health looks at these topics in more depth.

Former Ripon Fire Chief Sentenced

The former Ripon Fire Chief was sentenced of fraudulent use of the district’s credit card.

On Monday, District Attorney Eric J. Toney announced that Timothy Saul Jr. pleaded guilty to three counts of Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card and was sentenced by Judge Andrew Christenson to a $1,000 fine on each count, totaling $3,000 plus court costs.

The investigation revealed that from 2016 through 2022, the Defendant’s fraudulent use of the Ripon Area Fire District’s credit card for personal use resulted in a balance of over $30,000.

Green Bay School District Violated Title IX By Failing To Investigate Sexual Misconduct

The Green Bay Area Public School District failed to complete investigations into reported sexual misconduct in back-to-back school years, violating federal Title IX rules.

The U.S. Department of Education on Friday announced that the district entered into an agreement with the department to address compliance concerns regarding its responses to sexual harassment.

The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights found the Green Bay school district violated Title IX in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 school years. Title IX is a federal law that protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive financial assistance from the federal government.

Inland Trout Early Catch And Release Season Opens Jan. 4

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds anglers that they will be able to target any of Wisconsin’s inland trout species using artificial lures only starting Jan. 4, 2025, through May 2, 2025, on designated early season trout streams.

Any trout caught during this time will need to be immediately released. All anglers are encouraged to continue to practice responsible catch and release and reduce their reel and handling time with the fish as much as possible. Tips on how to release your catch responsibly can be found on the DNR’s Responsible Release webpage.

Packers Clinch Playoff Berth With 1st Shutout In NFL This Season

Josh Jacobs gained 107 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown for a sixth straight game as the Green Bay Packers clinched a playoff berth while producing the first shutout of the NFL season, 34-0 over the hapless New Orleans Saints on Monday night.

Green Bay (11-4) earned its fifth postseason appearance in six years and recorded its first shutout since beating Seattle 17-0 on Nov. 14, 2021.