Morning Headlines - Friday, Nov. 22, 2024 | Recent News

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 and the end for a little humor to go with your news!

U.S. and World Headlines

What’s Next For Matt Gaetz: 5 Possibilities

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s (R-Fla.) political future is up in the air following his announcement that he is taking his name out of the running to be attorney general in the Trump administration.

Gaetz was under intense scrutiny over past investigations by the Justice Department (DOJ) and the House Ethics Committee. The DOJ was investigating Gaetz as a part of a broad sex trafficking probe, including allegations involving underage women, though it declined to file charges. Gaetz has vigorously denied those accusations. The former congressman was also the subject of a House Ethics Committee investigation into alleged sexual misconduct and drug use.

Texas Is Taking A Final Vote On Allowing Bible-Infused Lessons In Public Schools

Texas would allow Bible-infused lessons in elementary schools under changes that were set for a final vote Friday and could test boundaries between religion and public education in the U.S.

The proposed curriculum narrowly cleared a preliminary vote this week at the Texas State Board of Education, whose elected members heard hours of sometimes impassioned pleas from both supporters and critics over the material that schools could begin using next year.

Dozens Of Retailers Jacked Up Interest Rates On Store Cards Ahead Of Fed Cuts

At least 50 of the largest U.S. retailers boosted interest rates on their store credit cards in the months before the Federal Reserve began cutting rates, in moves that protected their profit margins.

Big Lots, Gap, Petco, Macy’s and Nordstrom are among those that increased the APRs on their store cards between September 2023 and September 2024.

“If you get offered one of these this holiday season, really take a breath. I would just say ‘no’ if you’re going to carry a balance,” said Bankrate analyst Ted Rossman.

Israel Stands By As Aid Convoys Come Under Attack In Gaza

For the past year, hungry Gazans have waited in desperation for more food to enter the besieged territory from Israel. After aid trucks have been allowed in, there have been episodes of looting.

But now, armed criminal gangs are intercepting entire convoys.

Truck driver Abu Ahmad was in the worst incident so far when more than 100 trucks were attacked on Saturday. The gangs shot through the windows of his truck, he told CBS News, saying they would kill any driver who didn't stop.

Formula 1 Returns To Las Vegas As Max Verstappen Looks To Clinch Championship

Max Verstappen is hoping that what happens in Vegas won't just stay in Vegas — it will go down in the history books.

The Red Bull racer could clinch the Formula 1 world championship here Saturday night and join the elite club of four-time champions, alongside only Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Alain Prost and Juan Manuel Fangio.

The Legal Contest Over Wisconsin's Top Elections Official

A 2022 state Supreme Court ruling that allows appointed officials to continue after their terms end factors in a 2024 case on the status of Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe.

Wisconsin Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking

Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Simmeka M. Tibbs, 37, of Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced on November 19, 2024, by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to a year and a half in federal prison for distributing fentanyl. The prison term will be followed by 4 years of supervised release. Tibbs pled guilty to this charge on August 15, 2024.

Help Fight Food Insecurity In Wisconsin, Participate In The DNR’s Deer Donation Program

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages hunters to donate Wisconsin-harvested deer through the DNR’s Deer Donation Program. The program supports Wisconsin residents in need by helping stock food pantry shelves with ground venison made from donated deer.

Tiffany Announces Winner Of The 2024 Congressional App Challenge

Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07) announced the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge (CAC) for Wisconsin's Seventh District. The CAC is a great way for middle and high school students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to compete against students across the United States.

Wisconsin’s Beloved Nine-Day Gun Deer Season Is Set To Begin Saturday

A beloved Wisconsin tradition begins anew this weekend as hunters take to the woods for the start of the state’s nine-day gun deer season. The season kicks off at dawn on Saturday and closes on the evening of Sunday, Dec. 1.