Morning Headlines - Friday, Jan. 9, 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

House Approves 3-Year Affordable Care Act Tax Credit Extension As Lawmakers Eye Compromise In Senate

The House approved on Thursday a three-year extension of health care tax credits that expired at the end of last year, with a group of Republicans joining Democrats to propel the measure to passage in the lower chamber.

In a 230 to 196 vote, 17 Republicans joined all Democrats in favor of the measure. The legislation is unlikely to pass the Senate in its current form, but some lawmakers are hopeful it will serve as the starting point for a broader compromise.

Trump Plans For Venezuela’s Oil Begin To Take Shape

The Trump administration’s plans for Venezuelan oil are beginning to take shape, including a U.S. takeover of the fuel produced there and something of a step back from the initial push to swiftly involve U.S. producers.

Immediately after the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, President Trump indicated that U.S. firms would be involved in pumping the country’s vast oil reserves.

Meta Signs Nuclear Energy Deals To Power Prometheus AI Supercluster

Meta said it has secured agreements with energy companies Vistra, TerraPower and Oklo, which are working on nuclear power technologies.

They’re planning to work together to eventually power Meta’s Prometheus supercluster computing system that’s being built at a data center in New Albany, Ohio.

Tech giants like Meta are investing heavily in nuclear power and signing deals with energy providers as part of their massive investments in AI.

Elon Musk's xAI To Build $20 Billion Data Center In Mississippi

Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI is set to spend $20 billion to build a data center in Southaven, Mississippi, Gov. Tate Reeves announced Thursday, calling it the largest private investment in the state's history.

The data center, called MACROHARDRR, is being built in Mississippi’s DeSoto County near Memphis, Tennessee. It will be the company’s third data center in the greater Memphis area. xAI CFO Anthony Armstrong said the cluster of data centers will house “the world's largest supercomputer" with 2 gigawatts of computing power.

AI Is Intensifying A 'Collapse' Of Trust Online, Experts Say

The confusion around AI content comes as many social media platforms, which pay creators for engagement, have given users incentives to recycle old photos and videos to ramp up emotion around viral news moments. The amalgam of misinformation, experts say, is creating a heightened erosion of trust online — especially when it mixes with authentic evidence.

“As we start to worry about AI, it will likely, at least in the short term, undermine our trust default — that is, that we believe communication until we have some reason to disbelieve,” said Jeff Hancock, founding director of the Stanford Social Media Lab. “That’s going to be the big challenge, is that for a while people are really going to not trust things they see in digital spaces.”

Wisconsin Headlines

Plan To Expand Wisconsin PTSD Coverage Clears Statehouse Committee

More first responders in Wisconsin could soon get help in dealing with post traumatic stress disorder.

The Assembly Committee on Workforce Development, Labor and Integrated Employment on Wednesday unanimously approved an expansion to the state law that offers PTSD coverage to full-time police officers and first responders.

The new plan would add EMS responders, volunteer firefighters, correctional officers, emergency dispatchers, coroners, and medical examiners and their staff to the list.

Wisconsin Unlocks Over $1 Billion In Federal Funding To Expand High-Speed Internet Access

Slow internet may soon be a thing of the past for rural Wisconsin.

The state is unlocking more than $1 billion in federal funding to expand high-speed internet access statewide.

The release states the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has approved Wisconsin’s Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) grant proposal.

Wisconsin Lawmakers Consider Changes To Hemp Policy That’s ‘Clear As Mud’

Months after a new federal policy struck a blow to the national hemp industry, state lawmakers are considering a proposal to clarify the legality of the product in Wisconsin.

The bill would shore up how hemp-derived products — often found in the form of gummies, vapes or beverages — are, under state law, distinct from marijuana, which is illegal in Wisconsin.

That distinction has been around for some time, but the bill would tighten the definition, including qualifications for how hemp products can be extracted and tested. It would also set an age limit, so that buyers would have to be 21 or older, and limit how much of the psychoactive component THC can be in drinks.

Proposed Bill Could Prevent Sex Changes On Birth Certificates

At the State Capitol Thursday, lawmakers discussed two bills concerning people who identify as transgender.

One of those debates centered on changing a person’s assigned sex on birth certificates.

Current Wisconsin law allows individuals to change their sex on birth certificates after undergoing sex-changing procedures. However, a new bill, Assembly Bill 311, challenges this provision.

Wisconsin Man Sentenced To 42 Years For Shooting Police Officer During 2024 Standoff

A Milwaukee man was sentenced to 42 years in prison Thursday for shooting and injuring a police officer during a 2024 standoff.

Harrel Martin was convicted of 10 felonies, including four counts of attempted homicide with a dangerous weapon, after he shot at police more than a dozen times during the confrontation. Officer Dan Morrell was hit and injured in the shooting.