Morning Headlines - Friday, Aug. 11, 2023 | Recent News

U.S. and World Headlines

Democrats Question Whether It’s The Economy Anymore, Stupid

It’s the economy, stupid.

For decades, that’s been seen as a sound political strategy behind every effective presidential campaign.

Focus on the economy and people’s pocketbooks — and get some good luck in terms of how the economy is actually running when you run for office — and voila: You get elected to the White House, and you win reelection.

The question a growing number of Democrats are asking, however, is whether that’s still the case, as President Biden deals with stronger economic numbers but low approval ratings.

As many as 55 people have now been confirmed dead in the wildfires that tore through Maui, and mass evacuations of residents and tourists continue.
Six fires are still burning in Maui and the Big Island, but officials said the Lahaina fire is now 80% contained. Many of the town's historic landmarks are lost.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said the fires are likely to be the largest natural disaster in the state’s history. It appears like a "bomb" went off, he said.

Russia Launches Lunar Landing Craft In First Moon Mission Since Soviet Era

A rocket carrying a lunar landing craft blasted off Friday on Russia's first moon mission in nearly 50 years, racing to land on Earth's satellite ahead of an Indian spacecraft.

The launch from Russia's Vostochny spaceport of the Luna-25 craft to the moon is Russia's first since 1976 when it was part of the Soviet Union.

The Russian lunar lander is expected to reach the moon on Aug. 23, about the same day as an Indian craft which was launched on July 14. The Russian spacecraft will take about 5.5 days to travel to the moon's vicinity, then spend three to seven days orbiting at about 100 kilometers (62 miles) before heading for the surface.

Biden Seeking $40B In Emergency Funds For Ukraine, Disaster Relief

The Biden administration is asking congressional leaders for about $40 billion in new emergency spending, a request that’s sure to intensify this fall’s already arduous government funding fight.

The cash that President Joe Biden requested formally on Thursday includes more than $24 billion in aid to Ukraine, $12 billion to replenish a dwindling pot of federal disaster relief and $4 billion to address issues at the southern border, like shelter and services for migrants and counter-fentanyl efforts.

She's Got Game: Women's Sports Are Booming

Not to be left out of the girl power summer, women's sports have been raking in new deals and partnerships in the U.S. and beyond.

If you thought the U.S. national team's early exit in the World Cup meant you wouldn't be seeing women's sports for a while, think again.

The casual observer sees the USWNT dominate media coverage of women's sports, but other teams and sports are attracting new dollars and eyeballs.

Dane County Judge Allows Civil Case Against Fake Trump Electors To Proceed

A Wisconsin judge on Aug. 10 allowed a civil lawsuit filed against 10 fake electors for former President Donald Trump and two of his attorneys to proceed, rejecting a move to dismiss the case.

The lawsuit is moving ahead in Wisconsin after Michigan’s attorney general filed felony charges on July 18 against 16 Republicans who acted as fake electors for Trump, accusing them of submitting false certificates that confirmed they were legitimate electors despite Joe Biden’s victory in the state.

DNR Secretary Praises Wolf Management Plan As Public Weighs In

DNR Secretary Adam Payne praised the state’s revised wolf management plan, while Wisconsinites from both sides of the issue at a Natural Resources Board meeting in Viroqua cited concerns about it.

Payne at yesterday’s meeting said science was the basis for the revised plan released last week.

“We are pleased to assert that the Wisconsin wolf population has biologically recovered, that we have a healthy and sustainable population, and that the Department of Natural Resources stands ready to have full management authority returned to the state of Wisconsin,” Payne said.

With An Eye Toward The Future, Fort McCoy Builds New Housing Facilities, Restores WWII Barracks

Fort McCoy in western Wisconsin has a long history as a U.S. military installation for training and mobilizing troops. Much of the base was constructed during World War II, including the more than 200 wood barracks that are still used today to house soldiers who come for training year round.

Now, the military base is in the process of building a new campus that will house 1,600 troops and 320 officers.

Two new four-story barracks buildings have been completed so far, with construction on a brigade headquarters building projected to finish this December. In total, the campus is expected to include four barracks, two officer barracks and three headquarters buildings.

Trio Of Women From Southeastern Wisconsin Attempts 11,000-foot Summit For Disaster Relief

Three generations of women from southeastern Wisconsin are about to set off on a big adventure — and their motivation is to raise money for disaster relief.

Fran Wargolet, her daughter Katrina Kyne, and her granddaughter Sophie Kyne are on their way to hike the Yosemite Valley in California and summit Mount Hoffman, an elevation of nearly 11,000 feet!

Leading up to the hike, they are raising money for ShelterBox, an organization that provides disaster relief supplies and emergency shelters.

Culver's Supports New Bill To Regulate Third-Party Delivery Services

Culver's is demanding that regulations be enforced for third-party delivery platforms who have continued to list the restaurant as a vendor without its consent.

During a Senate committee hearing on Tuesday, Culver's Vice President and Legal Counsel, Steve Anderson, said that the issue severely impacts business operations, resulting in incorrect menu items and food delays.

Being listed on sites like DoorDash and Uber Eats without their permission has created similar problems for restaurants across the state of Wisconsin.