Morning Headlines - Tuesday, Nov. 26, 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

Trump Vows An Additional 10% Tariff On China, 25% Tariffs On Canada And Mexico

President-elect Donald Trump plans to raise tariffs by an additional 10% on all Chinese goods coming into the U.S., according to a post Monday on his social media platform Truth Social.

The post immediately followed one in which Trump said his first of “many” executive orders on Jan. 20 would impose tariffs of 25% on all products from Mexico and Canada.

Trump had threatened tariffs of 60% on Chinese goods while campaigning for president.

Walmart The Latest Big Corporation To Scale Back DEI Policies

Walmart has joined a growing list of major corporations and rolled back its diversity, equity and inclusion policies.  

The move by the world's largest retailer marks a seismic shift in corporate strategy that comes after attacks by conservative activists against 'woke' company policies.

Some of the sweeping changes include abandoning a $100 million racial equity center set up in 2020 after the police killing of George Floyd and leaving a prominent LGBTQ+ gay rights index. 

The retail juggernaut also won't be giving priority treatment to suppliers that are 51 percent-owned by women, minorities, veterans or members of the LGBTQ community.

Google And Meta Urge Australia To Delay Social Media Ban For Children

Google and Facebook-owner Meta Platforms urged the Australian government on Tuesday to delay a bill that will ban most forms of social media for children under 16, saying more time is needed to assess its potential impact.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s center-left government wants to pass the bill, which represents some of the toughest controls on children’s social media use imposed by any country, into law by the end of the parliamentary year on Thursday.

The Congressional Bathroom Ban Is The Latest Transgender Policy Battle

Transgender rights have emerged as a relatively new culture war battle in the past decade, and have become a hot-button issue in state and local policymaking. Around 2016, states began passing laws restricting transgender rights, with bathroom access being one of the first targets.

Beyond bathroom bans, half of U.S. states have now restricted or banned transgender youth from playing in school sports on teams consistent with their gender identity, while 26 states have banned gender-affirming health care for children under 18.

'Like A Golden Ticket' - Menendez Brothers Case Sparks Frenzy In LA

The Erik and Lyle Menendez case has turned a nondescript Los Angeles courthouse into the hottest ticket in Tinseltown – sparking the kind of frenzy usually seen at red-carpet Hollywood premieres.

The brothers – who shot and killed their wealthy parents in their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989 – could win freedom after more than 30 years in prison.

On Monday the duo appeared in court via teleconference - the first time they've attended a hearing in years - to find out next steps in their bid for release.

Trail-watchers began queuing outside at 05:15 local time - more than five hours before the proceedings were due to start.

Wisconsin Headlines

Robin Vos Says He Hopes Gableman Is Disbarred

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says he hopes former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman is disbarred “so he’s never allowed to practice law in Wisconsin again.”

Vos hired Gableman to review the 2020 election. Later, he fired him. The Wisconsin Office of Lawyer Regulation recently filed a complaint accusing Gableman of numerous ethical violations during his review.

“As I look at what the Office of Lawyer Regulation is saying happened, it’s an embarrassment for anybody who practices law,” Vos told WISN’s “UpFront,” which is produced in partnership with WisPolitics. “So I certainly hope Michael Gableman loses his law license. I hope he goes back to work at Home Depot where he was working prior to working for us.”

Police Officers Who Transfer To Milwaukee Could Get 10K Bonus Under New Plan

Milwaukee leaders are hopeful a new bonus for police officers will get more officers to transfer to the city amid a shortage in new police recruits.

A plan announced Monday would give police officers with at least one year of experience who transfer to the city from another department a $10,000 bonus if they agree to stay in Milwaukee for at least four years.

Milwaukee is under pressure to hire more police officers under a bipartisan law to overhaul local government funding that set first responder staffing requirements for the city.

Wisconsin Man Sentenced To More Than 5 Years For Illegally Possessing A Firearm

Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Deonte L. Turner, 32, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 63 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon. Turner pleaded guilty to this charge on September 4, 2024. The prison term will be followed by 3 years of supervised release.

In September 2023, law enforcement found a loaded Sig Sauer handgun along with an extended magazine containing 21 rounds of ammunition in a backpack in a parked vehicle. Turner initially denied riding in the vehicle or possessing the backpack, but surveillance video showed Turner getting out of the vehicle, and Turner was further connected to the gun through DNA testing. At the time of this offense, Turner was on supervised release following a 2020 federal conviction for illegally possessing a firearm.

'You Are Not Alone': Gov. Evers Shares Mental Health Message Ahead Of Holiday Season

As Wisconsinites prepare for the holiday season, Gov. Tony Evers and First Lady Kathy Evers shared a message about mental health on Monday.

"The holidays can be a tough time for folks and families, but here in Wisconsin, nobody carries their burdens alone," the governor posted on X (formerly Twitter). "If you or somebody you know is struggling, the 988 Lifeline is free and available 24/7.

"Let's take good care of ourselves and each other this holiday season."

Gangsters In The Northwoods: How Wisconsin Became A Hideout For Notorious Criminals

With its dense forests, serene lakes and remote lodges, portions of Wisconsin’s Northwoods became a sanctuary for some of America’s most notorious gangsters during the Prohibition era, leaving a legacy that continues to this day.

Figures like Al Capone and John Dillinger found the area an ideal retreat not just for its isolation but for its beauty, recreation and the local culture that allowed for a certain freedom.

These criminals were drawn to the same qualities that attract tourists today: the promise of relaxation, a connection to nature and a sense of escape. But for the gangsters, the Northwoods offered something more — the chance to operate under the radar.