Morning Headlines - Friday, July 4, 2025

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

Republicans Pass Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ After Extraordinary Week: 5 Takeaways

House Republicans approved a massive package Thursday of President Trump’s domestic priorities, ending months of fierce debate and internal GOP clashes to deliver a huge victory to the president just before the holiday weekend.

The legislation delivers virtually all the key promises of Trump’s 2024 campaign, including an extension and expansion of his 2017 tax cuts, a crackdown on immigration, a boost in Pentagon spending, and an expansion of fossil fuel production.

To help offset the cost of those multitrillion-dollar provisions, the legislation also features sharp cuts to low-income health and nutrition programs, which are expected to reduce federal spending by hundreds of billions of dollars but also leave roughly 17 million people without health coverage. Those figures fueled the unanimous opposition from Democrats, who are vowing to use the bill as a centerpiece of their midterm campaign message.

Here are five takeaways from the week’s extraordinary debate.

How Your Income Taxes Will Change After Trump Signs The ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Into Law

Most households — about 85 percent — would get a tax cut in 2026, according to an analysis from the Tax Policy Center. But while many of the bill’s changes are permanent, other provisions, such as the new deduction for seniors, are set to expire within a couple years. The center estimates that by 2030 only about 70 percent of households would continue to have a tax break.

The center also estimates that nearly 60 percent of the tax benefits would go to those in the top quintile of annual incomes (about $217,000 or more). Those households would receive an average tax cut of $12,500.

While other estimates of the bill’s tax changes by income bracket vary, they largely agree that the tax breaks generally increase moving up the income ladder.

Here’s how the bill would impact your taxes.

4 Killed, 14 Hurt In Chicago Mass Shooting: 'Absolute Chaos'

Four people were killed and 14 others wounded in a "deplorable and cowardly" mass shooting in Chicago on Wednesday night, according to the police superintendent.

Around 11 p.m., people were exiting a venue in the River North neighborhood and standing on the sidewalk when a vehicle pulled up and someone in the car opened fire on the crowd, Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said at a news conference.

"They didn't care who was struck, and in a matter of seconds, they were able to shoot 18 people," Snelling said.

The venue was targeted, but it's not clear who specifically was the target, police said.

Sexual Assault Survivors Say Sean 'Diddy' Combs Verdict A 'Step Back' For #MeToo Movement

Moments after Sean “Diddy” Combs was acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges on Wednesday, a celebration erupted outside the Manhattan federal courthouse. Supporters and influencers sported homemade merch, sprayed baby oil on each other and cheered “Free Puff!”

But for some sexual assault survivors and advocates, the verdict delivered what they described as a devastating “step back” for the #MeToo movement, which gained prominence in 2017 after producer Harvey Weinstein was accused of assault. The former Hollywood mogul was among a handful of powerful men who were convicted as part of a broader cultural reckoning against sexual harassment and assault.

American teen pilot detained on small island in Antarctica

An American teenager has been detained on an Antarctic island, creating a major delay in his attempt to fly his small plane to every continent that is being followed online by more than a million people.

Chilean authorities stopped Ethan Guo, 19, after he submitted a false flight plan, according to the BBC's US partner CBS News.

His deviation from that plan in the air had "activated alert protocols", Chile's General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics said in a statement.

Mr Guo had allegedly submitted a plan to fly over Punta Arenas, but not beyond that, according to regional prosecutor Cristian Cristoso Rifo, as cited by CBS.

Wisconsin Headlines

Of Surrender And Sovereignty: A Tale Of Two Republican Parties

Just in case anybody is still wondering why Wisconsin Republicans lose statewide elections all the time, look no further than the GOP’s legislative leadership for a quick explanation.

They’ll stab you in the heart in an instant, all while shaking your hand.

Already this year we have seen the Republican leadership try to pass a give-away of monopoly money to special-interest utilities in the form of Right of First Refusal legislation. That charade even had some Republicans arguing that sometimes capitalism just doesn’t work. When that was exposed, they came back with Right of First Refusal II, which they comically called reform, and then they pushed Stewardship “reform” that would give radical land trusts everything they want in their ongoing land grabs of private property.

Film Incentives Return To Wisconsin Under New State Budget

After more than a decade without them, film incentives are making a comeback in Wisconsin after Gov. Tony Evers officially signed the state's 2025-2027 biennial budget early Thursday morning.

Film incentives were one item on the budget that was met with bipartisan support from Democrats and Republicans.

The new budget will allocate up to $5 million in film production and investment tax credits for filmmakers to use to shoot in Wisconsin.

It also creates a position to have a State Film Office.

Higher Beef Prices Increase The Cost Of A Wisconsin Summer Cookout

High meat prices mean Wisconsinites are paying more for a summer cookout this year.

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s annual survey of grocery store prices found a meal for 10 people cost $69.03, coming in 4 percent higher than in 2024.

The total for 12 food items had been declining in recent years after hitting a record high of $69.74 in 2022. But this year’s total is back up thanks to increased costs for several protein items.

Wisconsin Man Sentenced To 9 ½ Years For Illegally Possessing Firearm

Malcolm Whiteside, 30, Fitchburg, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 8 years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a felon. Whiteside was convicted of this charge on April 15, 2025, following a two-day jury trial. Whiteside was on federal supervised release for a prior felon-in-possession offense at the time of his new criminal conduct in this case. Judge Peterson revoked Whiteside’s supervision and imposed a sentence of 1 ½ years, resulting in a total sentence of 9 ½ years.

On August 12, 2024, Whiteside led police on a dangerous high-speed chase on a Madison highway and ultimately crashed the car he was driving into a semi-truck. From there, Whiteside fled on foot to the parking lot of a home improvement store, where a police officer found him hiding in a garden shed. Officers at the crash scene searched the vehicle Whiteside was driving and found a loaded firearm underneath the driver’s floormat. An analyst from the Wisconsin State Crime Lab recovered Whiteside’s DNA on multiple locations of the firearm. Whiteside is prohibited from legally possessing firearms or ammunition because of prior felony convictions.

World’s Largest Fencing Tournament Comes To Wisconsin

Last summer, downtown Milwaukee’s Baird Center hosted the Republican National Convention. This week, the convention center has hosted a very different scene — thousands of fencers competing in over 90 different fencing events.

The USA Fencing National Championship started on June 28, and runs through July 7. It is free and open to the public.

Sabers clanged, supporters cheered and announcers called out athlete’s names in the convention center’s huge hall Wednesday. More than 6,000 fencers are competing. The tournament consists of team events as well as individual ones. It’s divided into a wide range of age groups.