Morning Headlines - Friday, Jan. 24, 2025 | Recent News

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

Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump's Birthright Citizenship Executive Order

A federal judge in Seattle temporarily blocked President Trump's new executive order that seeks to eliminate birthright citizenship.

At a hearing Thursday, U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour called Mr. Trump's order "blatantly unconstitutional" and said he will grant the request for a temporary restraining order sought by four Democrat-led states that challenged it: Washington, Arizona, Illinois and Oregon.

Costco's Shareholders Overwhelmingly Reject Anti-DEI Proposal

Costco's shareholders rejected a proposal by a conservative think tank aimed at getting the company to roll back its diversity hiring practices, a move that leaves the world's third-largest retailer an outlier as many U.S.-based corporations retreat from diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

The company's board had recommended that shareholders reject the proposal by the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR), arguing that it wasn't in line with Costco's "commitment to an enterprise rooted in respect."

Trump Signs Executive Order Promoting Crypto, Paving Way For Digital Asset Stockpile

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to promote the advancement of cryptocurrencies in the U.S. and to work toward potentially developing a national digital asset stockpile.

Venture capitalist David Sacks, who Trump tapped as his crypto and artificial intelligence czar, joined Trump in the Oval Office for the signing of the order.

“The digital asset industry plays a crucial role in innovation and economic development in the United States, as well as our Nation’s international leadership,” the order states.

AP Says It Will Use Trump’s Name Change For Denali But Not Gulf Of Mexico

The Associated Press said in updated guidance that it will use President Trump’s name change for Denali but not the Gulf of Mexico.

In an announcement Thursday, Amanda Barrett, the AP’s vice president of standards and inclusion, said the outlet will adhere to some of the new name changes, but not all.

Trump signed an executive order Monday, the first day of his second term, for the United States to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.” He also moved to rename the Alaskan mountain Denali to Mount McKinley.

Auroras Predicted Over US This Weekend As Solar Storm Rips Toward Earth

A powerful solar outburst is predicted to graze Earth this weekend, potentially triggering power grid disruptions and making colorful auroras visible from much of the northern U.S.

The outburst, known as a coronal mass ejection (CME), erupted from the sun on Jan. 21 and is forecast to strike Earth's magnetic field late Friday night (Jan. 24) or early Saturday morning (Jan. 25), according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center.

Wisconsin Law Enforcement Officials Criticize Trump’s Pardons For Jan. 6 Rioters

Some Wisconsin law enforcement officers have joined a national advocacy group, condemning President Donald Trump’s decision to pardon several individuals involved in the January 6th insurrection.

Former Dane County Sheriff David Mahoney is among the state officers who have become members of Police Leaders for Community Safety, a nonpartisan advocacy group made up of law enforcement leaders who promote policies and public investments aimed at making communities safer.

Wisconsin Man Pleads Guilty To Filing A False Tax Return

United States Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad announced that on January 16, 2025, U.S. District Judge Joseph Stadtmueller accepted the guilty plea of Vikram Naik to one count of filing a false individual income tax return.

On October 8, 2024, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Naik with three counts of filing false tax returns.

According to the indictment and plea agreement, Naik willfully made and subscribed, under penalties of perjury, individual income tax returns (Forms 1040) for the years 2017, 2018, and 2019. Naik had federal income tax withholding amounts that were substantially less than what he reported on each of the returns he filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and, as a result, he had taxable income and total tax owed greater than he reported.

Duluth Trading Company Recalling Children's Holiday Pajamas Due To Burn Hazard

Duluth Trading Company is recalling sets of children's holiday pajamas because they violate the flammability regulations for children's sleepwear, which poses a risk of burn injuries to children, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The recall was issued Thursday, January 23. It covers about 22,400 units that were sold online and at Duluth Trading stores nationwide from October 2019 and through November 2024.

AG Kaul Joins Amicus Brief Defending Nationwide PFAS Forever Chemical Drinking Water Standards

Attorney General Josh Kaul joined a coalition of 18 states filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit defending a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule establishing the first nationwide drinking water standards for certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl “PFAS” forever chemicals under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

“This EPA rule will protect people’s health by limiting PFAS in the water we drink,” said Attorney General Kaul. “This rule limiting these toxic chemicals in our drinking water should be upheld.”

Hunters Will Be Able To Harvest More Bears In Wisconsin This Year

More bears will be game for Wisconsin hunters this year after the harvest rebounded last fall, exceeding the state’s quota.

On Wednesday, the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board approved a 6 percent increase in the quota to 4,075 bears. The board also signed off on state wildlife regulators’ recommendations to raise the number of licenses issued by 14 percent to just more than 13,000.

Hunters killed about 4,300 bears last year, according to figures from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The harvest was up almost 47 percent from the 2,922 bears harvested last season, surpassing the state’s quota by about 12 percent.