Morning Headlines - Wednesday, May 11, 2022 | Recent News

U.S. and World Headlines

House Approves $40B In Aid For Ukraine; 57 Republicans Vote ‘No’

The House approved a $39.8 billion aid package for Ukraine on Tuesday, sending the massive supplemental to the Senate as Russia’s invasion nears the three-month mark.

The aid package passed in a 368-57 vote. All lawmakers who voted against the bill were Republicans. Two Democrats and three Republicans did not vote.

Senate To Vote On Nationwide Abortion Bill Ahead Of Roe Decision

The Senate is set to vote Wednesday on advancing a Democratic-led bill that would enshrine broad protections for legal abortion nationwide, a move triggered by a leaked Supreme Court draft opinion that indicates Roe v. Wade will likely be overturned.

The vote on the Women's Health Protection Act, which has passed the House, is all but certain to fail, with just 49 senators expected to support the measure, below the 60-vote requirement to defeat a Republican filibuster.

Ex-Prison Guard Vicky White And Inmate Casey White 'Planned Shootout' If Captured

A murder suspect and the female prison guard with whom he escaped planned to die in a shootout if they were captured, police in Indiana have said.

Casey White, 38, and Vicky White (no relation), 56, were arrested on Monday after an 11-day manhunt as their vehicle was forced into a ditch. He surrendered but she shot herself before she could be arrested.

Mortgage Refinancing Boom Winds Down

The recent surge in mortgage rates has snuffed out last year's massive refinancing boom.

It shows the Fed's effort to lift interest rates — which began as a verbal campaign last fall and proceeded to actual rate hikes this year — is already starting to bite.

The New York Fed's quarterly report on consumer debt and credit showed a sharp drop in mortgage refinancing activity. Originations of refi loans fell 15%, to $424 billion, in the first quarter.

Trump’s Candidate Lost In Nebraska — But Trump Is Still Winning Most Of His Primaries

Former President Donald Trump’s perfect 2022 endorsement record is no more. After all 36 Senate, House or governor candidates he endorsed in Texas, Indiana and Ohio won their primaries, last night Trump-supported businessman Charles Herbster lost his bid for Nebraska governor.

The winner of the Republican primary was instead University of Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen, who took 33 percent of the vote. Herbster finished second, with 30 percent, followed closely by moderate state Sen. Brett Lindstrom with 26 percent.

Parole Of Killer In Wisconsin Puts Pressure On Evers

The decision to parole a man who served less than 25 years of an 80-year sentence for stabbing his wife to death has angered her sisters and daughter and is becoming an issue in Wisconsin’s governor’s race.

Douglas Balsewicz, 54, is slated to be released from prison on May 17, just days before the 25th anniversary of the crime. He is being released despite the opposition of the family of the victim, Johanna Balsewicz. The parole was approved by an appointee of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who is facing pressure from Republicans to take action.

Wisconsin Prosecutor Campaigned On His Record — But Some High-Profile Cases Had Hidden Flaws

When Outagamie County District Attorney Vince Biskupic was running for office back in 2002, he listed some of his biggest cases on his campaign website.

"Vince Biskupic has successfully prosecuted more than 30 homicide or attempted homicide cases in Wisconsin," the now-dormant website declared.

Biskupic said he had gone after murderers, predators, drug dealers — even "deadbeat parents." And yet, a Wisconsin Watch and WPR investigation found, two of the defendants on Biskupic’s campaign website later had their convictions overturned. In two other cases, questions linger about whether Biskupic acted properly in prosecuting them.

Wisconsin Spring Drug Take Back Collection Yields 59,840 Pounds Of Unwanted Medications To Fight Opioid Epidemic

Attorney General Josh Kaul today announced that during the April 30, 2022 Drug Take Back Day, Wisconsin collected a total of 59,840 lbs. of unwanted medications.

“Once again, folks from across Wisconsin stepped up to participate in Drug Take Back, and now 59,840 lbs. of unused and unwanted medications will be safely disposed of,” said Attorney General Josh Kaul. “Thank you to everyone who helped make our spring Drug Take Back such a success.”

Baldwin: End The Filibuster To Protect Abortion Rights

With the Supreme Court’s conservative majority set to overturn Roe versus Wade, the U.S. Senate will vote this week to protect abortion rights. Wisconsin Democrat Tammy Baldwin notes the vote is likely to fall short, and says Democrats should do more.

“I don’t know that we could get 60 votes, as would be required in the United States Senate, so we would to look at abolishing the filibuster,” she said, insisting that ending the filibuster is achievable .

Tiffany Statement On Supplemental Funding For Ukraine

Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07) released the following statement ahead of voting no on nearly $40 billion in additional U.S. funding for Ukraine.

“The federal government cannot continue to shell out billions for an overseas conflict when working-class Americans are struggling to find baby formula at their local grocery store and their paychecks are being wiped out by record gas prices and the worst inflation in 40 years,” said Congressman Tiffany. “Spending tens of billions in foreign aid month after month while American families struggle to pay their bills is not what I was sent to Congress to do.”