Morning Headlines - Friday, Jan. 2, 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!

• Related: View Today's Updated Obituaries

U.S. and World Headlines

Mamdani Revokes IHRA Antisemitism Definition On Day 1, Amid Broad Rejection Of Adams Orders

In one of his first acts in office on Thursday, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani revoked the city’s implementation of an antisemitism definition that includes some forms of Israel criticism, in a sweeping rejection of his predecessor’s executive orders.

The mass revocation of those executive orders also canceled other pro-Israel measures taken by the former mayor, Eric Adams.

Researchers Are Hunting America For Hidden Datacenters

A team of researchers at Epoch AI, a non-profit research institute, are using open-source intelligence to map the growth of America’s datacenters. The team pores over satellite imagery, building permits, and other local legal documents to build a map of the massive computer filled buildings springing up across the United States. They take that data and turn it into an interactive map that lists their costs, power output, and owners.

Massive datacenter construction projects are a growing and controversial industry in America. Silicon Valley and the Trump administration are betting the entire American economy on the continued growth of AI, a mission that’ll require spending billions of dollars on datacenters and new energy infrastructure. Epoch AI’s maps act as a central repository of information about the noisy and water hungry buildings growing in our communities.

SBA Bans Nearly 7,000 Borrowers In Minnesota Amid Fraud Scandal

The Small Business Administration has reviewed thousands of possibly fraudulent loans approved in Minnesota.

According to Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler, almost 7,000 borrowers in Minnesota have been suspended for suspected fraudulent activities.

“Over the last week, SBA has reviewed thousands of potentially fraudulent pandemic-era PPP and EIDL loans approved in Minnesota,” Loeffler said Thursday on X.

Democrats Start 2026 With Fresh Momentum — And Lingering Challenges

Democrats are heading into the midterm year energized by a string of recent electoral victories, but they also acknowledge the party faces tough challenges as it grapples with deeper troubles.

The party says it has found a winning strategy by emphasizing the high cost of living under President Trump, which helped propel their candidates to victory in a number of competitive races in 2025.

But even as they feel optimistic about flipping the House in the midterms, Democrats are still struggling with internal divisions they worry could haunt the party in years to come.

Stellantis Resurrects $100,000 Ram TRX V-8 Pickup Truck Amid Industry Deregulation

Stellantis is resurrecting a gas-powered Ram pickup truck with a V-8 engine called the TRX as it faces fewer federal emissions regulations.

The 2027 Ram 1500 SRT TRX will be available in late 2026 for around $100,000.

The return of the TRX is the latest move for the brand under Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis, who has been leading a turnaround plan since unretiring from the automaker a year ago.

Wisconsin Headlines

Latest Abortion Ruling May Not Change Anything In Wisconsin

A federal appeals court is allowing President Trump to continue his effort to defund Planned Parenthood, but the impact may be muted in Wisconsin.

The 1st Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday sided with the Trump Administration plan that would ban abortion providers from accepting Medicaid money for other health services.

The three-judge panel ruled that the president is likely to prevail on the merits of its case.

The funding ban is part of the Big, Beautiful Law that Congress passed over the summer.

But the case went to the appeals court after a judge in Boston blocked the president's ruling on behalf of 22 states (including Wisconsin) that sued.

Vos Says Assembly Likely To Pass Online Gaming Bill This Spring

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos told WisPolitics his chamber likely will pass legislation to allow online gaming in Wisconsin, though the final version of the bill may differ from the one abruptly pulled from a floor calendar last month.

During a year-end interview in his Assembly office, the Rochester Republican said his colleagues have expressed two concerns.

One is that only Native American tribes are allowed to offer gaming, an issue that Vos acknowledged lawmakers can do little about in the near term.

How Long Are Cases Taking To Go Through Wisconsin’s Court System?

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, courts across Wisconsin halted in-person hearings.

Since then, Wisconsin’s justice system has been working through a backlog of criminal cases.

Those delays are still being felt today, although justice has been getting somewhat quicker in recent years past.

In 2024, it took an average of 252 days — or just over eight months — for a felony case to work its way through Wisconsin’s state court system, according to data from the Director of State Courts Office.

UW-Eau Claire Professor Performs With Snoop Dogg At NFL Christmas Show

On Christmas Day millions of football fans tuned in to watch Snoop Dogg perform during halftime of the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings game at U.S Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. But one associate professor in the music department at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire got the best seat in the house.

It was the opportunity of a lifetime for Alexander Henton.

Statewide Referendums Keep Coming. Some Lawmakers Want To Simplify Them For Voters

When Wisconsin voters heads to the polls, there are sometimes questions alongside candidates’ names. And those questions can have big consequences, like amending the state constitution.

Now, voters could get more information about some of those referendum questions in advance of voting, under a proposal being considered at the state Capitol.

As written, the bill would require the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau — which drafts bills for the Legislature — to provide a plain-language summary of any statewide referendum. It would also need to clearly explain what a “yes” or “no” vote would do.