Morning Headlines - Friday, Jul. 21, 2023

U.S. and World Headlines

DeSantis Calls For State Investment Manager To Consider Action Against Bud Light’s Parent Company

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is urging the state’s pension fund manager to consider legal action against Bud Light’s parent company amid conservative backlash to the beermaker’s recent marketing efforts, the latest attempt by the Republican presidential candidate to inject himself and the state he runs into the country’s culture wars.

In a Thursday letter obtained by CNN, DeSantis suggests AB InBev “breached legal duties owed to its shareholders” when it decided to associate with “radical social ideologies.” Sales of Bud Light have plummeted in the months since it entered into a minor partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney that precipitated a boycott from conservatives.

Trump’s GOP Primary Rivals Ramp Up Pressure On Him To Debate

Former President Donald Trump’s rivals are upping the pressure on him to take part in next month’s GOP primary debate, seeking to draw the front-runner onto a crowded stage as they look to put a dent in his polling lead.

Trump has repeatedly signaled he is leaning against attending the first debate, scheduled for Aug. 23 in Milwaukee, arguing there’s no reason for him to stand on stage and absorb attacks given his comfortable lead in national polls.

Jacksonville Jaguars Assistant Kevin Maxen Becomes First Male Coach In Major U.S. Pro League To Come Out As Gay

Kevin Maxen, an associate strength coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars, has become the first male coach in a major U.S.-based professional league to come out as gay.

Maxen spoke about his sexual orientation in an interview published Thursday by Outsports.

"I don't want to feel like I have to think about it anymore," Maxen said. "I don't want to feel like I have to lie about who I am seeing, or why I am living with someone else.

Historic And Enduring U.S. Heat Wave, By The Numbers

The "dangerous, long-lived, and record-breaking heat wave is set to continue in the U.S. Southwest "well into next week" and spread to more southern states by the weekend, the National Weather Service warns.

Over 123 million people were under heat alerts in the U.S. Friday morning, as health officials report a spike in callouts and Emergency Department visits due to the extreme weather.

The U.S. has seen more than 12,000 record-high temperatures so far this year, according to NOAA.

NFL Owners Approve $6.05B Sale Of Commanders To Harris Group

The Washington Commanders no longer belong to Dan Snyder.

NFL owners voting during a special session Thursday unanimously approved the team's sale from the Snyder family to a group led by Josh Harris.

The Harris group is paying $6.05 billion, a record sum for a North American sports franchise. Snyder had owned the majority of the Commanders since 1999, and his family became the sole owners after he bought out his limited partners two years ago.

Wisconsin Headlines

BLS Data: Wisconsin Breaks Record In Number Of Jobs During June

The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) today released the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) job totals for the month of June 2023, which showed Wisconsin's total nonfarm jobs reached a record high of 3,006,900. This is 52,900 more jobs than a year ago and an increase of 6,900 over the previous month.

Preliminary employment estimates for June 2023 showed Wisconsin's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.5%. The total labor force grew by 14,000 and employment increased by 10,700 over the month of June. Additionally, the state's total labor force participation rate increased to 65.3%.

Evers Signs Bill Overhauling Wisconsin's Elementary Reading Education

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed a bill into law on July 19 overhauling the way reading is taught in the state.

The Republican-authored bill is meant to improve sagging reading scores and emphasizes phonics, the relationship between sounds and letters, over memorization. It also requires more frequent reading tests and employs reading coaches to help struggling students.

Wausau Man Sentenced To 10 Years For Possessing Methamphetamine For Distribution

Devin Needham, 37, Wausau, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 10 years in prison for possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Needham pleaded guilty to this charge on April 5, 2023.

In December 2021, law enforcement agents began a drug investigation into Needham. The investigation revealed that Needham and his co-defendant, Ari Lor, were involved in selling large amounts of methamphetamine. On June 20, 2022, GPS location data from Lor’s cellular telephone showed he was driving towards Wausau from his home in Appleton, Wisconsin. Based on information developed during the investigation, agents believed Lor was planning to meet with Needham to buy methamphetamine.

With Some Bipartisan Support, Republican Lawmakers Bring Back Tax Break For Retirees

A pair of Republican state lawmakers have reintroduced a bill to exempt retirement income from state taxes this week.

State Rep. David Steffen, R-Howard, and state Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara, R-Appleton, announced they were circulating the legislation for co-sponsorship on Monday. They say it's already received bipartisan support.

The bill would exempt the first $100,000 of retirement income for individuals, and the first $150,000 for married and joint filers, who are 67 or older. That includes income from IRAs, 401(k) plans and pensions.

State Agencies Warn About Fake Home Warranty Fliers Being Mailed Across Wisconsin

A new state-wide warning is coming out of Madison after a surge of suspicious mailers regarding home warranties over the last few months. The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) and the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) are all concerned Wisconsinites could fall victim to these fliers.