Morning Headlines - Friday, May. 1, 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

The 60-day War Powers Deadline Is Up On Friday. What Could Happen Next?

As President Donald Trump continues to keep a military presence in the Middle East, the 60-day deadline for the administration to seek congressional authorization is up on Friday.

Under the War Powers Resolution, the president is required to notify Congress that he has initiated military action within 48 hours of the start of operations. That kickstarts a 60-day clock in which the president is allowed to continue operations without needing an authorization from Congress.

Could The FCC Really Yank ABC's Tv Licenses Amid Trump Spat With Kimmel?

The Federal Communications Commission would face major obstacles in stripping Disney of broadcast licenses for its ABC television stations, according to legal experts.

The FCC on Tuesday ordered an early review of the ABC licenses, saying it is investigating the network as part of its ongoing probe into Disney's diversity, equity and inclusion practices. ABC owns eight TV stations, including WABC-TV in New York and KABC-TV in Los Angeles.

Apple Is Facing Mac Mini Supply Constraints As AI And OpenClaw Developers Buy Up Tiny Desktops

Silicon Valley’s favorite AI tool is making it harder to get Macs, and Apple CEO Tim Cook says it could take the company some time to catch up with demand.

AI developers and enthusiasts have been snatching up Mac minis and Mac Studios to run the AI agent platform OpenClaw, thanks to their relative affordability and ease of use. That’s made it difficult for some customers to get their hands on the compact, screenless desktop systems.

Trump Signs Executive Order Expanding Retirement Benefits

President Trump signed an executive order on Thursday that expands retirement benefits for employees who do not have access to such benefits through their employers.

The executive order does not create a new government retirement plan, but it helps match workers with existing plans from private companies.

Under the order, the Treasury Department will launch TrumpIRA.gov,& where workers are able to choose their own retirement plans. Americans who make less than $35,500 per year individually or less than $71,000 as a couple can use the site to claim the Saver’s Match.

Mayo Clinic AI Model Detects Pancreatic Cancer Nearly 3 Years Early

A study has found a new artificial intelligence model developed by the Mayo Clinic can detect pancreatic cancer during a routine abdominal CT scan up to three years before a clinical diagnosis.

In the study, published April 28 in the medical journal Gut, researchers used a system called the Radiomics-based Early Detection Model, aka REDMOD, to analyze 2,000 CT scans from patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. According to the study, REDMOD identified 73% of those prediagnostic cancers, on average, about 16 months before diagnosis. That detection percentage was nearly double the rate achieved by specialists who reviewed the same scans without AI.

Wisconsin Headlines

Wisconsin Cities Brace For May Day Demonstrations

Protests are expected across Wisconsin cities for International Workers’ Day, also known as “May Day,” on Friday, May 1.

In Wisconsin, this year’s protests have been dubbed “A Day without Immigrants.” A central theme of this year’s protests is opposition to ICE and deportations. Another major slogan of the demonstrations is “No Work. No School. No Shopping.”

Cities like Madison, Milwaukee, and Green Bay, among others, are preparing for the protests and telling the public to expect disruptions such as road closures along protest routes. The Madison protest is planned to end at the State Capitol.

School closures are also expected. Madison Metropolitan School District canceled school on Friday after 70% of teachers who are part of the Madison Teachers Inc. union said they would attend the protest.

Republican Bill Could Allow Wisconsin To Skirt Federal Smog Regulations

Wisconsin would be allowed to redesignate areas that aren’t meeting federal smog regulations if it can show most pollution is coming from outside the state under a new bill introduced by Republicans.

U.S. House Republican Reps. Bryan Steil, Scott Fitzgerald, Glenn Grothman and Tom Tiffany introduced the Fair Air Standards Act on Monday. The legislation is the latest development amid years of legal challenges and regulatory efforts to bring the state in line with ground-level ozone standards updated by the Obama administration in 2015.

Oshkosh Resident Receives 15 Years In Federal Prison For Kwik Trip Robbery

Brad D. Schimel, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on April 29, 2026, Lorenzo Wood, Jr. (age 59) of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment for Hobbs Act robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a), and possession of a firearm as a felon by an armed career criminal, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(e)(1).

According to court documents, just after midnight on October 13, 2025, Wood Jr. walked into the Kwik Trip located off Highway 41 on Jackson Street in Oshkosh with a revolver in his hand. He pointed the firearm at the clerk and demanded money from the cash register. The clerk gave Wood Jr. $170. Wood Jr. left in a silver SUV. Law enforcement tracked the travel of his vehicle and quickly identified Wood Jr. by his vehicle and his distinct walking gait which was seen on surveillance cameras inside the store. A search of his residence led law enforcement to recover the revolver used in the robbery.

Wisconsin Elections Commission Investigating Late Ballots

The Wisconsin Elections Commission opened an investigation into the City of Madison after it counted 23 absentee ballots that arrived late to polling sites on April 7.

The commission directed the city to exclude those ballots. Wisconsin law requires all absentee ballots to arrive by 8 p.m. on election night.

While commission member Don Millis acknowledged this isn't the voters' fault, he expressed concerns.

25 Beagles From Controversial Wisconsin Research Breeder Coming To PAWS Chicago

After a Wisconsin breeding and animal research facility that housed thousands of beagles agreed to sell most of their animals, some of the dogs will be headed to the Chicago area.

After weeks of protests over their treatment of the dogs, Ridglan Farms agreed to sell 1,500 of the facility's roughly 2,000 beagles.

Activists who have accused Ridglan of mistreating the dogs broke into the facility last month in an effort to remove beagles that were being bred for laboratory testing.