Morning Headlines - Friday, May. 15, 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

Here's What Trump Says The US And China Agreed To

President Trump says the U.S. and China have agreed to new trade deals during his trip to Beijing.

“This has been an incredible visit and i think a lot of, a lot of good has come of it,” Trump said. “We made some fantastic trade deals, great for both countries.”

Here’s what Trump has said about the pacts the two countries are working on as he heads back to Washington.

FBI Offers $200K For Info On Ex-Air Force Officer Accused Of Spying For Iran

The FBI is offering a $200,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of former U.S. Air Force special agent and counterintelligence specialist Monica Witt, who was charged in 2019 with espionage in connection with accusations she shared highly classified U.S. intelligence with Iran.

The FBI said in a statement Thursday that it's still trying to locate Witt, who they say defected to Iran in 2013.

Canada Aims To Double Electric Grid By 2050 With Clean Energy, Lower Costs For Users

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled a clean electricity strategy Thursday he says will help double Canada’s electricity grid by 2050 and lower energy costs for the majority of Canadian households.

Canada is facing major challenges, including tariffs imposed by the United States, higher energy costs resulting from the war with Iran, plus the effects of climate change, Carney said.

“When the world fundamentally changes, we must respond with new approaches,” he said.

How Americans Feel About Religion’s Influence In Government And Public Life

head of what the White House is calling a “large-scale revival” meeting on the National Mall devoted to “rededicating our country as One Nation under God,” a new Pew Research Center survey shows that a growing minority of U.S. adults say religion is gaining influence in American life. And more than half say religion plays a positive role in society.

At the same time, most people want churches and other houses of worship to stay out of day-to-day politics and not endorse candidates.

The new survey also finds growing familiarity with the term “Christian nationalism.” Most Americans surveyed now say they have heard at least a little about it.

The Nfl’s 2026 Thanksgiving Slate Is An Embarrassment Of Riches

For decades, NFL Thanksgiving meant two things: the Lions hosted somebody in the early afternoon, the Cowboys hosted somebody around dusk, and if you were still upright by the time the night game kicked off, that was a bonus. It was reliable in the way that family recipes are reliable — not because anyone sat down and engineered it to be great — but because it had been done the same way so many times that the formula eventually became something resembling tradition.

That version of Thanksgiving football no longer exists, at least not in the way the league sees it.

Wisconsin Headlines

Wisconsin Man Sentenced To 13 Years In Prison For Using The Internet To Sexually Exploit A Minor In The Philippines

Bradley D. Hounsell, 44, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was sentenced today to 13 years in prison, to be followed by seven years of supervised release, for using the internet to coerce and entice a minor in the Philippines to engage in unlawful sexual conduct.

According to court documents, Hounsell used an online social media platform to pay an individual in the Philippines for sexually explicit images and videos of children. In November 2023, this individual informed Hounsell that she had access to an approximately 13-year-old girl, and Hounsell asked to have the minor pose in sexually suggestive positions. Hounsell then offered to pay for a video of the individual penetrating the child’s genitals. After Hounsell sent her money, the individual sent Hounsell a video depicting an adult sexually abusing a nude child. At various points in their conversations, Hounsell offered to pay this individual money for additional images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children. Law enforcement recovered this video and other evidence of Hounsell’s criminal conduct from his phone during a warrant-authorized search of his home in Wisconsin. Hounsell was employed as a correctional officer with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections prior to his arrest.

Madison Man Sentenced To Over 8 Years For Drug Trafficking And Gun Possession

Jalen Hayes was already on state supervision for committing the same offense

Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jalen Hayes, 26, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced on May 6, 2026, by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 97 months in federal prison for possessing controlled substances intended for distribution and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Hayes pleaded guilty to these charges on February 10, 2026.

In 2025, Hayes was under state supervision after being released from prison for an armed drug trafficking case. On July 5, 2025, he fled from a traffic stop.  On July 25, 2025, officers arrested Hayes, who was carrying a backpack. Hayes set the backpack down and mouthed to his girlfriend, “get the bag.”

Tiffany Announces Winners Of The 2026 Congressional Art Competition

Today, Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07) announced the winners of Wisconsin's Seventh District 2026 Congressional Art Competition. Since 1982, the Congressional Art Competition has created a unique opportunity for young artists to have their work displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building. This year’s theme was: A day in the life of Wisconsin.

“It is my pleasure to congratulate the winners of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition, and thank all those who participated. The young artistic talent in Wisconsin’s Seventh District never ceases to amaze me. I want to extend a special shoutout to this year’s first-place winner for depicting one of Wisconsin’s great wonders, the Apostle Islands,” said Congressman Tiffany.

Wisconsin Experiencing Critical Fire Danger May 14-16

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) asks the public to avoid outdoor burning activities, as fire danger has reached Critical levels across Northern and Western Wisconsin Thursday, May 14 through the evening of Saturday, May 16.

In conjunction with the National Weather Service, a Red Flag Warning is forecast for Friday, May 15 from noon to 9 p.m. in the following counties: Douglas, Bayfield, Washburn, Burnett, Sawyer, Ashland, Iron, Rusk, Barron, Polk and Vilas.

As of Thursday, May 14, DNR burning permits are suspended in 31 counties. Additional suspensions are possible with worsening conditions forecast heading into the weekend.

Packers Open 2026 Season At Minnesota, Land Six Prime-Time Games

The Green Bay Packers will open the 2026 season on the road against the Minnesota Vikings, with a 3:25 p.m. Central time kickoff.

According to the team’s schedule release, the Packers will play three of their first four games away from home. Their home opener is set for Week 3 against the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday Night Football.