Morning Headlines - Friday, Nov. 3, 2023

U.S. and World Headlines

Hezbollah Leader Says Israel-Hamas 'Battle' Has 'Extended To More Than One Front' In First Speech Since October 7

Hezbollah's leader has said the Israel-Hamas 'battle' has 'extended to more than one front' in his first speech since the October 7 attack, raising fears the Lebanese terror group is set to enter the conflict and spark a wider conflict in the region.

The powerful terror group's chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah praised the Alaqsa Flood - the name used by Hamas for its vicious assault last month - and said the 'glorious jihadi operation' had led to an 'earthquake' in the Jewish state, revealed the weakness of Israel and its army, and established a new historical phase in the battle.

'For a whole month, Israel could not offer a single military achievement,' Nasrallah said, adding that Israel can only get back hostages - 240 of which were taken back into Gaza by Hamas terrorists - through negotiation.

Kentucky Is About To Give Us A Major Test Of Biden’s Unpopularity

To win a second term as governor next week, Andy Beshear needs to prove that the Democratic Party isn’t dead and buried in places like the Eastern Kentucky Coalfields.

And he needs to do it with unpopular President Joe Biden in the White House.

When he was first elected in 2019, Beshear outperformed his national party everywhere. But nowhere was the difference greater than in the hills and hollers of places like Hazard. It’s the county seat of Perry County, which Biden lost by 54 percentage points in 2020; the year before, Beshear lost it by only 9.

Teens Exploited By Fake Nudes Illustrate Threat Of Unregulated AI

A phone, a few photos and artificial intelligence have stirred controversy and shattered the privacy of several teens at a New Jersey high school after they learned that nude images of them — created via AI — were circulated in group chats.

The incident is a poignant example of the threats that come with unregulated, expanding artificial intelligence access, experts told Axios.

Some teen girls at Westfield High School in New Jersey learned last month that fake nude images of them were shared among other students, the Wall Street Journal reported.

House Approves Nearly $14.5 Billion In Military Aid For Israel. Biden Vows To Veto

The House approved a nearly $14.5 billion military aid package Thursday for Israel, a muscular U.S. response to the war with Hamas but also a partisan approach by new Speaker Mike Johnson that poses a direct challenge to Democrats and President Joe Biden.

In a departure from norms, Johnson's package required that the emergency aid be offset with cuts in government spending elsewhere. That tack established the new House GOP's conservative leadership, but it also turned what would typically be a bipartisan vote into one dividing Democrats and Republicans. Biden has said he would veto the bill, which was approved 226-196, with 12 Democrats joining most Republicans on a largely party-line vote.

New Maps Reveal Who Could See More Snow This Winter During A Strong El Niño

As the US gears up for a winter heavily influenced by the first strong El Niño in years, scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have released maps that offer insight into where snow could pile up.

El Niño – a natural ocean and weather pattern in the tropical Pacific – is forecast to reach the most significant level since a very strong El Niño in 2015-2016 fostered the warmest winter on record across the contiguous US, according to NOAA.

While no two El Niño winters are the same, the pattern typically brings wetter and cooler weather to the southern US while the north becomes drier and warmer. And that’s exactly what’s expected this winter.

Wisconsin Headlines

GOP Lawmakers Formally Introduce Resolution To Impeach State Elections Head Following Ad Campaign Targeting Vos

Republican lawmakers formally introduced a resolution to impeach Wisconsin's top election administrator Thursday, a move that came shortly after the start of a new ad campaign threatening to remove Assembly Speaker Robin Vos from office if he stands in the way of impeachment.

The resolution was sponsored by five lawmakers including Rep. Janel Brandtjen, R-Menomonee Falls, a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump and a frequent adversary of Vos.

The resolution alleges Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe encouraged local election clerks to ignore state laws on things like absentee ballot application procedures and ballot drop boxes. It also alleges Wolfe's actions promoted out-of-state actors whose objective was "to administer Wisconsin's elections in 2020 and aid in the defeat of President Donald Trump," echoing an unsubstantiated claim often floated by Trump himself.

Why Gov. Evers Filed Suit Against State Republicans & What This Means For UW System Staff Wage Increases

It's being described by some as a "war for talent" in the state of Wisconsin, as state lawmakers battle between cutting public university funding and giving those professors and other faculty raises.

A battle that now could make its way to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

On Tuesday, Governor Tony Evers filed suit against state Republicans after he said they violated the state constitution.

This comes after a committee approved raises for all state employees except University of Wisconsin (UW) system staff. Raises that were already approved or signed for by the governor.

Members Of Governor's Task Force On Workforce And Artificial Intelligence Set Sights High For Future With AI

Wisconsin leaders from business, agriculture, education, government, and nonprofit sectors set their sights on a future in which Wisconsin successfully harnesses Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies to spur economic growth and create an economy that works for everyone.

Appointed by Gov. Tony Evers, members of the Governor's Task Force on Workforce and Artificial Intelligence (AI) convened in Madison this week for the group's first meeting. Administered by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development in coordination with the Wisconsin Department of Administration and Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., the task force aims to identify policies and investments that will continue to advance Wisconsin workers, employers, and job seekers through this technological transformation.

"The 30 task force members are bringing wisdom, experience, and a sense of optimism about a future in which AI can advance equity and economic opportunity through workforce training and employer innovation," said DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek, who serves as task force chair. "While the task force members acknowledged the apprehension many people have toward AI, they emphasized the need to invest in change management along with educational and training initiatives to drive responsible adoption of these technologies."

Tiffany Introduces Legislation To Address The Environmental Damage On Public Lands From Illegals

Yesterday, Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07), who chairs the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands, introduced the Trash Reduction and Suppressing Harm from Environmental Degradation (TRASHED) at the Border Act to limit the environmental damage on federal lands from illegal aliens.

“Having seen the litter of trash, clothes, and human waste on our federal borderlands firsthand, I can tell you that the environmental damage of President Biden’s open border needs critical attention,” said Congressman Tiffany. “While the Biden administration turns a blind eye to the environmental consequences of illegal immigration, the TRASHED Border Act ensures there is greater transparency and accountability for illegals who litter on our public lands.”

Officer Involved Critical Incident Investigation In Ozaukee County, Wis.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is investigating an officer involved critical incident in Grafton, Wis. that occurred on the morning of Thursday, November 2, 2023.

At approximately 11:00 a.m., Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to pull over and arrest an individual for outstanding felony warrants. The subject fled in their vehicle, leading to a vehicle pursuit where law enforcement deployed a tire deflation device and the subject’s vehicle came to rest near the 900 block of Lakefield Road in Grafton, Wis. The subject then fled on foot to a nearby tree line and was pursued by law enforcement. Initial information is that the subject presented a weapon. An Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office deputy discharged their firearm, striking the subject. Lifesaving measures were performed but the subject ultimately died from their injuries on the scene. A firearm was recovered at the scene.

No law enforcement officers were injured during this incident.