Morning Headlines - Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024

U.S. and World Headlines

Michigan Voters Go To The Polls: What You Need To Know

Michigan’s presidential primary Tuesday is set to provide a window into the critical battleground state, the last key race before dozens of Super Tuesday contests next month.

The Tuesday race could give observers hints about how the general election could play out later this year in the battleground state, which went to Trump in 2016 and flipped back to Biden in 2020.

Here’s what to watch in the primary:

House Speaker Mike Johnson Faces A Defining Dilemma On Ukraine

House Speaker Mike Johnson has the fate of a democracy and a people in his hands.

It’s not the United States, which will survive – even if the coming general election results in another existential test for the constitutional system.

The country Johnson has the power to save is Ukraine, two years after Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded, decreeing that it didn’t have the right to exist.

Supreme Court Hears Social Media Cases That Could Reshape How Americans Interact Online

The Supreme Court heard arguments Monday in a pair of social media cases that could transform online speech.

The two cases concern disputes over Republican-backed laws in Florida and Texas that aim to restrict social media companies from moderating content, which tech groups representing platforms like Facebook and X see as a violation of their First Amendment rights.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Accused Of Sexual Harassment And Assault By Producer On His Latest Album

Sean “Diddy” Combs was sued Monday in federal court by a producer on his most recent album, who accuses the music mogul of sexually harassing, drugging and threatening him over more than a year. The producer, Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, says in the lawsuit that he lived and traveled with Combs from September 2022 to November 2023, during which time he recorded hours of video and audio of Combs, his staff and others “engaging in serious illegal activity.”

Among the allegations is that Combs forced Jones to procure sex workers and pressured him to engage in unwelcomed sex acts with them and others and that Combs gave laced alcoholic beverages to people who attended parties at his homes.

McDonald's Changes Its Name To WcDonald's

McDonald's is turning the fast food world upside down with a funky rebrand of its iconic golden arches that is inspired by a popular anime trend.

The move will see the global burger giant flipping its 'M' upside down and taking on the name WcDonald's - in a nod to a fictional fast food chain that regularly appears in anime TV shows and movies.

Although the anime-inspired rebrand is only temporary, it has been met with an uproarious response from manga lovers the world over - with many taking to social media to express their excitement at the official arrival of a real-life WcDonald's.

Wisconsin Headlines

2024 Redistricting Overview: Evers’ Legislative Maps Versus 2022 Lines

Tony Evers has signed off on a bill from the GOP-dominated Legislature drawing new legislative district lines for the 2024 fall elections. The bill has the exact maps the Dem governor had earlier submitted to the state Supreme Court.

The guv’s signature likely ends the possibility the state Supreme Court will draw the maps. In throwing out the GOP-drawn lines used in the 2022 election, the liberal majority urged the Legislature and Evers to pass a new map and signaled it would defer to them if they did.

See below comparisons of Evers’ maps with the ones in place during the 2022 elections.

Lawsuit Seeks To Block Oneida Nation From Acquiring Reservation Land

A federal lawsuit in Brown County claims purchases by the Oneida Nation of land on its reservation put the village of Hobart on a path to extinction.

The lawsuit is the latest dispute between the Green Bay-area village of 10,000 and the tribe. At issue is taxing authority over 21 parcels in the village, amounting to about 500 acres of land. 

That land, like the great majority of Hobart, sits within the Oneida Nation reservation. But as is common on Indian reservations, not all of the land within its boundaries is owned by the tribe, because over time it was acquired by non-Native property owners.

Milwaukee Brewers Spend $1.5 Million On Lobbying, Get $365.8 Million In State Funds

That’s a good return on investment.

Seeking hundreds of millions for stadium renovations, the Milwaukee Brewers spent more than $1.5 million in the past nine years lobbying the Wisconsin State Legislature, according to their mandatory reports to the state.

After months of negotiations between Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, the Republican-controlled state Legislature and the Brewers, the ball club reached a deal to receive nearly $366 million from the state to help pay for renovations at their stadium, American Family Field, in exchange for agreeing to stay in Milwaukee through 2050.

Lawsuit Against New Glarus Brewing Company Dismissed, Plaintiffs Mull Appeal

A Wisconsin appeals court sided with the founder and president of New Glarus Brewing Company in a ruling issued Thursday.

Three investors in the business brought the lawsuit claiming the company and its majority shareholder, Deb Carey, harmed their financial interests through a series of actions they claimed amounted to minority shareholder oppression and securities fraud.

In its ruling, the appeals court backed a decision in Green County Circuit Court to dismiss the claims with prejudice.

Prepare For Spring Flooding During Flood Safety Awareness Week

With spring around the corner, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages Wisconsinites to prepare for flooding, one of the most frequently occurring natural disasters in Wisconsin and across the United States.

Gov. Tony Evers has declared Feb. 25 through March 2 as Flood Safety Awareness Week in Wisconsin to raise public awareness of the importance of preparing for the risks associated with flooding.