Morning Headlines - Tuesday, Jul. 18, 2023

U.S. and World Headlines

6 Things To Watch As Trump Classified Documents Case Returns To Court

U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon is about to shape the course of the 2024 presidential election — and perhaps the fate of the country. On Tuesday, she’ll hear from the lawyers hoping to influence her as she decides how and when former President Donald Trump will stand trial on charges that he amassed classified national security secrets at his private home.

Tuesday’s session was originally billed as the first chance for the attorneys to discuss how they intend to handle the voluminous classified material expected to be evidence in the case. But Cannon recently signaled she will also address the broader trial schedule — one that pits Trump’s demand for a delay until after the 2024 presidential contest against the Justice Department’s bid for a relatively expedited trial late this year.

Here are six key questions about the hearing, which is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. EDT.

DeSantis Hits Reset Button

Signs are piling up that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is hitting "reset" on his 2024 presidential bid, including by firing campaign staff, scaling back his travel and shaking up his media strategy.

Republican support for DeSantis has dipped below the 20% mark in RCP's average of polls for the first time since mid-May. The popular GOP governor's months-long, downward trajectory has stirred speculation that he's destined for a Scott Walker-like flameout.

DeSantis' team sought to reassure donors about the state of the race yesterday in Tallahassee, Florida, where officials emphasized that presidential campaigns go through growing pains.

GOP Debates Impeaching Merrick Garland After McCarthy Surprise

House Republicans are debating whether to focus impeachment efforts on Attorney General Merrick Garland after Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) suggested an inquiry against him, taking some members by surprise after much of the GOP impeachment furor had been directed at other Biden officials.

In a year where the GOP has been most steadily focused on possible impeachments of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas or President Biden, McCarthy often has been the voice urging the conference to move patiently and deliberately.

The World’s New Largest Office Building Is Bigger Than The Pentagon

The Belgian city of Antwerp may be known as the world’s diamond trading hub, while most rough stones are mined in Russia or Africa. But some 150 miles north of Mumbai, India, lies a lesser-known gem capital: Surat, where around 90% of all the planet’s diamonds are cut.

Now, the city in Gujarat state has a record-breaking building to house its mammoth industry.

No Winner In Monday's Powerball Drawing Has The Next Jackpot Approaching $1 Billion

The Powerball jackpot rose yet again to an estimated $1 billion after no winning ticket was sold for the latest drawing.

No ticket for Monday's drawing matched the white balls 5, 8, 9, 17, 41 and red Powerball 2. The jackpot was estimated at $900 million.

The new jackpot for Wednesday's drawing would be the third highest in U.S. history and will keep growing until someone wins. Ticket buyers have a chance at $1 billion paid out in yearly increments or a $516.8 million one-time lump sum before taxes.

Wisconsin Headlines

BiPartisan Group No Labels Eyes Third-Party Ticket, Working To Secure Ballot Access In Wisconsin, Other States

No Labels, the bipartisan group eyeing a third-party presidential ticket, is working to secure ballot access in states including Wisconsin.

“Our goal is to be on probably a little less than half the states by the end of the year,” No Labels National Director Joe Cunningham said on WISN’s “UpFront,” which is produced in partnership with WisPolitics.com. “This is a long process, a tedious process.”

Dem U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin and former GOP Gov. Jon Huntsman will headline a No Labels event in New Hampshire today, increasing speculation about the third-party ticket.

Tiffany Picks Up Fundraising As He Considers US Senate Run, But Lags Far Behind Baldwin

A potential 2024 challenger to  U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin is picking up some fundraising steam, though his campaign war chest is still far smaller than the Democratic incumbent's.

U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua, took in nearly $114,000 in the second quarter of 2023. That's more than three times what the campaign raised in the first quarter of this year.

Anthony Chergosky, an assistant political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, says the uptick signals Tiffany's ambitions for higher office — though Chergosky notes Tiffany would eventually need to raise much more to be competitive against Baldwin.

Walmart Pulls Milwaukee Tool Gloves Allegedly Made By Chinese Prisoners

Walmart, the largest retailer in the United States, is no longer selling Milwaukee Tool-branded gloves on its online marketplace — responding to allegations that a subcontractor for the Brookfield, Wisconsin-based tool company relied on forced Chinese prison labor to manufacture certain models of gloves.

“We looked into the allegations regarding the gloves in question, and we made a decision to de-list those from the marketplace,” Kathleen McLaughlin, Walmart’s chief sustainability officer, told shareholders during a virtual meeting on May 31, according to a transcript reviewed by Wisconsin Watch.

Janesville Man Sentenced To 13 Years For Multiple Armed Robberies & Brandishing A Firearm

Devonti Wilson, 38, Janesville, Wisconsin was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 13 years in federal prison for armed robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. This prison term will be followed by a 5-year term of supervised release. Wilson pleaded guilty to these charges on March 21, 2023.

On September 8, 2020, Wilson robbed a Lion’s Quick Mart in Janesville. During the robbery, Wilson pointed a gun at the clerk and demanded money and cigarettes; he also told the clerk to “hurry up or you’ll die.” Wilson then left the store with money and cigarettes. Over the next three hours, Wilson committed similar armed robberies at a Kelley Williamson Mobil in Fitchburg, Wisconsin and a 7-Eleven in Madison, Wisconsin. He also attempted a fourth armed robbery at a BP in Madison.

3rd-Grader Donates Lemonade Stand Profits To DeForest Police Foundation

A local third-grader donated her lemonade stand profits -- over $250 -- to the DeForest Police Foundation.

Taya Paulson and her brother Turner made the $255 donation in hopes that the department can start a K-9 unit one day.

The foundation is independent of the DeForest Police Department, but works closely with the chief.

Chief James Olson said the siblings' donation was selfless and brave.