Morning Headlines - Friday, Aug. 14, 2026

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 at the end for a little humor to go with your news.

U.S. and World Headlines

Flock CEO Apologizes For Cases Where Surveillance Technology Was Abused As Company Rolls Out Changes

The CEO of surveillance technology company Flock Safety apologized Thursday for instances where its data was misused by law enforcement officers and discussed changes the company is rolling out to its systems.

Among the changes the company announced Thursday, Flock is reducing the default period of time data will be retained from 30 days to seven days. However, if data is tied to an investigation that needs more time, it can be preserved in a setting it calls "Evidence Mode."

The company also said every search of its data will now require a case code to be entered beforehand. But that can be overridden in an emergency, like if a child goes missing.

The US Dollar Is Caught Between 2 Competing Forces

The US dollar is currently caught in a tug-of-war between oil prices and the Federal Reserve, Rabobank senior FX strategist Jane Foley pointed out in a note to clients on Thursday.

It began when the dollar's old relationship with oil started breaking down.

Historically, crude oil and the greenback have moved in opposite directions. Oil is priced in dollars, so a stronger currency weighs on the commodity because it costs buyers more to purchase it.

New Report Recommends More Oversight After Alleged Fraud In Trans Treatment

A new report from the Department of Health and Human Services is recommending increased oversight after alleging some health care providers profited from gender-affirming care for minors and used incorrect billing codes.

The report analyzed nationwide claims data from 2015 to 2025 to identify approximately $50 million in insurance claims for puberty blockers billed using a diagnosis of unspecified endocrine disorder and nearly $11 million that were billed using a diagnosis of precocious puberty.

Trump Directs Navy To Return To Steam Catapults On Aircraft Carriers

President Trump ordered the U.S. Navy on Thursday to remove the electromagnetic catapult system on aircraft carriers to launch fighter planes and revert back to using catapult systems, a move that officials and experts argue would raise costs in the process.

The president directed the service to have Ford-class aircraft carriers, such as the Doris Miller currently being constructed, have steam-powered catapult and hydraulic systems instead of the newer Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Weapons Elevators.

From Apple To Ford: How Chinese Tech Is Becoming Harder For Global Companies To Ignore

Washington has been stepping up efforts to curb Beijing’s technological ambitions, but from artificial intelligence to electric vehicle batteries, Chinese technology is becoming increasingly embedded in the businesses of some of the world’s biggest companies.

Apple has tapped Alibaba and Baidu for AI in China, while Ford has turned to CATL for battery technology. Volkswagen has teamed up with Xpeng to develop smart EVs in China, while Stellantis is expanding its partnership with Leapmotor on EV production and joint purchasing.

Wisconsin Headlines

Wisconsin’s General Election Ad War For Governor Has Begun

The hot takes and “what-ifs” about Democrats’ chaotic primary for governor are still swirling, but the general election ad war has already begun.

A day after Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley’s impressive, but improbable defeat of Madison state Rep. Francesca Hong, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany’s campaign announced it launched “seven-figure” statewide ad campaign attempting to paint the Democrat as a “failed executive” of Wisconsin’s most populous county.

Crowley Calls For Dem Unity As Tiffany Seeks To Tie Him To Former Rival Hong

David Crowley called for Dem unity as he campaigned alongside former rivals, while Republican Tom Tiffany sought to tie him to state Rep. Francesca Hong, the democratic socialist who narrowly lost her party’s gubernatorial nomination.

Both parties embarked on statewide tours yesterday following the state primaries that formalized the tickets. 

Campaigning alongside David Varnam, the party’s nominee for lieutenant governor, and Eric Toney, the party’s pick for attorney general, Tiffany sought to downplay differences between Crowley and Hong.

Central Count Must Go: End Wisconsin’s Election Delays And Failures

Central Count is the core problem behind Wisconsin’s chronic election-night delays, technical failures, and eroded public confidence, and it should be eliminated.

Wisconsin remains notorious for late and unpredictable results largely because dozens of municipalities, including Milwaukee and others, process absentee and mail-in ballots at centralized facilities rather than at the wards where voters live. Under current law, these ballots cannot be opened or tabulated until Election Day. The result is a concentrated, high-volume operation that routinely stretches deep into the night or the next morning, producing large, sudden batches of votes that shift totals after most polling places have already reported.

Wisconsin DNR Seeks To Prorate Wolf Damage Claims Amid Potential Funding Shortfall

Wisconsin regulators can now forge ahead with regulations to prioritize and prorate payments for wolf attacks on livestock and dogs due to a potential funding shortfall.

The policymaking board for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources granted the agency approval to craft regulations and defer payments to farmers, hunters and pet owners for losses from wolf attacks until the end of June next year. Natural Resources Board member Doug Cox abstained from the vote.

The DNR said wolf depredation claims have been rising at an unsustainable rate, and there may not be enough funding to pay all of them. When the wolf is under federal protection, claims are absorbed under the $8.4 million budget for the DNR’s Natural Heritage Conservation Bureau, which oversees the state’s endangered resources program.

Steelers Beat Packers 28-9 In Preseason Opener

Rookie Drew Allar threw for a pair of touchdowns and ran for another during an impressive debut as the Pittsburgh Steelers surged past the Green Bay Packers 28-9 in the preseason opener on Thursday night.

Allar, a third-round pick from Penn State, was 10 of 13 for 154 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Wetjen and a 4-yard flip to Riley Nowkowski. Allar, who entered the game to calls of “Drewwww!” also sprinted into the end zone for a 3-yard score as the Steelers made coach Mike McCarthy's debut leading his hometown team a successful one.