Morning Headlines - Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024 | Recent News

U.S. and World Headlines

The 2024 New Hampshire Primary Is Underway As Voters Head To The Polls. Here's What To Know

For more than 100 years, New Hampshire has traditionally held the first presidential primary election in the country, a longtime point of pride for the small New England state. Since 1975, the state has had a law requiring that it be held at least a week before any other primary nominating contest.

Voters in the Granite State are heading to the polls Tuesday to continue that tradition, at least on the Republican side. There are 22 delegates at stake in the GOP race and the results could go a long way toward determining the ultimate nominee. Former President Donald Trump is hoping to deal a knockout blow to Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and his sole remaining challenger. Haley is hoping for a strong finish that can fuel her campaign in the weeks ahead.

What Counts As A Win For Joe Biden In New Hampshire's Unprecedented Primary?

What counts as a good outcome for President Joe Biden in New Hampshire’s unsanctioned Democratic primary Tuesday, where his name will not be on the ballot?

No one really knows, since the situation is unprecedented and the primary technically won’t count toward the nomination. But Biden supporters and detractors alike have been trying to set expectations in both directions.

Biden’s main competition in the Tuesday primary, Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., has little hope of winning. And he knows it.

Phillips told NBC News: "If we’re in the '20s, that would be extraordinary."

Dow Closes Above 38,000 For 1st Time, Setting Record High

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 38,000 for the first time on Monday, setting a record high and capping a steady rise that stretches back to last week.

The S&P 500 also reached a record high, closing at about 4,850. The tech-heavy Nasdaq inched up to 15,360 by the end of trading on Monday.

The major stock indexes kicked off the year with sluggish performance but began to turn upward in the middle of last week.

U.S., U.K. Conduct New Airstrikes Against Yemen's Houthi Rebels

The U.S. and U.K. conducted a second round of airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen on Monday night.

The strikes that the U.S. Central Command said began at 11:59pm local time come amid ongoing fears of escalation in the Middle East as the Houthis continue to attack merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

CENTCOM said in its statement the strikes "targeted areas in Houthi-controlled Yemen used to attack international merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region."

‘Never Trumpers’ Are Close To Giving Up Hope

Former President Trump is on the cusp of becoming the GOP’s presumptive nominee for the third time.

It’s a scenario that leaves the band of conservatives opposed to him appalled — and deeply pessimistic about the future of the party.

“It’s his party, plain and simple. I’m not a fan of his but it’s a MAGA party now and he’s the leader of that,” said former Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.), who mounted a long-shot primary challenge to Trump in 2020 and left the GOP soon afterward.

“This party cannot be reformed, cannot be fixed. It’s on the track it’s on,” Walsh acknowledged. “I don’t see, in my lifetime, it getting off this track.”

Harris Targets Trump As She Rallies For Abortion Rights In Wisconsin

Vice President Kamala Harris blasted Republicans as extremists for trying to ban abortions as she rallied women in the key battleground state of Wisconsin on Jan. 22, marking the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade by leading Democrats’ charge for restoring reproductive rights.

She singled out Donald Trump, who is tightening his grip on the Republican presidential nomination, for saying he was “proud” of helping to limit abortions. Trump nominated three conservative justices to the U.S. Supreme Court during his term in office, paving the way for the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

U.S. Attorney Recognizes Human Trafficking Prevention Month

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. To commemorate the month and continue to raise awareness about this important issue, U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea reaffirmed his office’s commitment to fight against human trafficking by bringing traffickers to justice, assisting trafficked victims, and enhancing public awareness through community outreach.

Human trafficking is a crime involving the exploitation of a person for labor, services, or commercial sex, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion that is physical and/or psychological. The exploitation of a minor for commercial sex is human trafficking regardless of whether any form of force, fraud, or coercion is used by the trafficker.

Made In Wisconsin: Behind The Scenes Of Kwik Trip's Headquarters In La Crosse

It is rare for a convenience store chain to have millions of followers on social media, but maybe not if that chain is La Crosse, Wisconsin-based Kwik Trip.

The store has a large and cult-like following that grows each time they open a new store. TMJ4 News was granted a rare look behind the scenes at the company’s headquarters, where decisions are not only made, but also a lot of the food that is sold at the more than 860 stores across the Midwest.

The 140-acre campus is comprised of several buildings, with more than 3,000 employees. Kwik Trip first entered the La Crosse area in 1971, after opening their first store in Eau Claire 6 years earlier.

Bill Would Allow 17-Year-Olds To Provide Emergency Medical Services

Seventeen-year-olds would be able to provide emergency medical services as part of ambulance crews under a bill proposed by GOP lawmakers in the Wisconsin Assembly.

The proposal would allow 17-year-olds to apply for a first responder certification or emergency medical technician certificate or license at various skill levels, including a paramedic. Current law doesn’t allow that for anyone under 18.

Rep. Karen Hurd, R-Fall Creek, and Sen. Jesse James, R-Altoona, are co-authors of the legislation. Last week, the Republican-controlled Assembly health committee voted 11-5 to pass the bill along party lines.

Biden Coming To Superior On Thursday

President Joe Biden is coming to Superior on Thursday as a major bridge project for the northern Wisconsin city has received a significant boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The White House said the president will talk about how his “Bidenomics and Investing in America Agenda are rebuilding our infrastructure, lowering costs, spurring a small business boom, and creating good-paying jobs.”