Morning Headlines - Tuesday, Nov. 12, 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

Republicans Win House, Delivering Trump A Trifecta

Republicans are projected to keep control of the House of Representatives, handing the party total control of Washington with President-elect Trump back in the White House in January.

Decision Desk HQ projected the GOP would hold the House by winning its 218th seat on Monday, the number needed for a majority in the lower chamber.

Trump Plans To Nominate Rubio For Secretary Of State

President-elect Donald Trump plans to nominate Sen. Marco Rubio to serve as secretary of State, according to two people informed of the decision.

If confirmed for the role, Rubio may bring some more traditional GOP views into Trump’s foreign policy orbit. The Florida Republican has hawkish views on many U.S. foes, but he has also championed maintaining alliances, such as NATO.

Israel Has Missed US Deadline To Boost Gaza Aid, UN Agency Says

The main UN aid agency in Gaza says Israel has failed to meet a US deadline to boost aid to the territory or risk a reduction in American military aid.

Last month, in a strongly worded letter, the US secretary of state gave Israel an ultimatum of 30 days to ensure more aid trucks reached Gaza daily. The deadline expires on Tuesday.

Mattel Pulls Thousands Of ‘Wicked’ Dolls Off Shelves After Printing Adult Web Address On Packaging

Thousands of Mattel’s “Wicked”-branded fashion dolls are flying off shelves, but not because of consumer demand.

The toy company has been forced to pull its line of character dolls after a package misprint. Instead of listing the website for Universal’s “Wicked” movie, boxes featured a link to a pornographic website for a group called Wicked Pictures.

Americans Started Drinking More During The Pandemic, And A New Study Shows That Lasted For Years

The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increases in stress-related drinking and alcohol-related deaths, and new research suggests drinking didn't stop as things returned to normal. 

In the study, published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers found drinking increases from 2018 to 2020 persisted into 2022.

Wisconsin Headlines

Wisconsin DPI Budget Proposal Would Add $4B In New Spending

Wisconsin Superintendent Jill Underly has been hinting at what her proposed 2025-27 public education budget would look like for the last several weeks with priorities focusing on mental health, nutrition and teacher retention.

And on Monday, Underly, who will be seeking reelection in April 2025, let lawmakers and the public know her budget would target the state’s $4.5 billion surplus.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Grapples With An 1849 State Law And The Legality Of Abortion

A conservative prosecutor’s attorney struggled Nov. 11 to persuade the Wisconsin Supreme Court to reactivate the state’s 175-year-old abortion ban, drawing a tongue-lashing from two of the court’s liberal justices during oral arguments.

Sheboygan County’s Republican district attorney, Daniel Urmanski, has asked the high court to overturn a Dane County judge’s ruling in 2023 that invalidated the ban. A ruling isn’t expected for weeks but abortion advocates almost certainly will win the case given that liberal justices control the court. One of them, Janet Protasiewicz, remarked on the campaign trail that she supports abortion rights.

DNA Genealogy Research Helped Track Down Murder Suspect In 50-Year-Old Dunn County Cold Case

After a 50-year long investigation, a suspect in the murder of Mary Schlais is arrested and in the Dunn County Jail. Investigators say new DNA testing was critical to the arrest. "Thank you for not giving up on this case, and not letting it become lost to time," Dunn County Sheriff's Office Sergeant Jason Stalker said.

On Feb. 15, 1974 Mary Schlais was hitchhiking from Minneapolis to Chicago and killed. Her body was found in the Town of Spring Brook in rural Dunn County. Now five decades later, an arrest has been made. 84-year-old Jon Miller was arrested last week for the murder. Stalker said newly developed DNA technology finally led them to a suspect.

$1 Million Bond Set For Man Charged In Fatal Hit-And-Run In Oconto County

A million-dollar cash bond was set Monday for a Gillett man who fled the scene of a crash that left a former police officer dead in Oconto County.

The Oconto County district attorney had previously charged Obilio Tomas Sargento Roblero with hit-and-run causing death, a D-class felony that carries no more than 25 years in custody. Sargento was arrested in Arkansas and was extradited to Wisconsin. Prosecutors could file more charges depending on the investigation.

Illinois Man Sentenced To Over 7 Years For Fentanyl Trafficking

Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Lildre S. Brown, 36, Markham, Illinois, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 85 months in federal prison for distributing fentanyl.

Brown distributed fentanyl laced heroin on three separate occasions in the Madison area. On one of these occasions, Brown sent co-defendant Nicole Sanders to deliver almost 100 grams of fentanyl. On the two other occasions, co-defendant Simmeka Tibbs delivered the fentanyl for Brown. As part of the investigation, agents executed a search warrant at Sanders’ residence and found another 72 grams of fentanyl in the trunk of her car.