Morning Headlines - Friday, Oct. 2, 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

US To Deploy Third Aircraft Carrier And 10,000 More Troops To Middle East As Trump Considers Strikes On Iran

Donald Trump is considering new strikes against Iran as the Pentagon prepares to send around 10,000 more troops to a group of ships in the Middle East.

The troop movement, which includes a third aircraft carrier, underscores the rapidly evolving dynamic of Trump’s war against Iran as he ponders his next move, with midterm elections in the United States looming large and new signs that the nature of the conflict may be becoming more complex.

The group of ships now en route to the Middle East together carry over 7,000 sailors and 2,000 Marines.

DOJ Files Misconduct Complaint Against Federal Judges In Minnesota

The Justice Department took the unusual step on Wednesday of filing a judicial misconduct complaint against all but one of the federal district judges in Minnesota, after most of them spoke with the New York Times about concerns over the government's handling of cases during its surge in immigration enforcement earlier this year.

Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the filing of the complaint with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit at a press conference, where he also said that prosecutors in Minnesota had secured an indictment against 10 noncitizens for allegedly casting votes unlawfully in prior elections.

NASA’s Dexterous Humanoid Robots Built To Assist Humans On The Moon

At NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, the 16-member Dexterous Robotics Team, part of NASA’s Robotic Systems Technology Branch, is working on new machines to join crews on future lunar missions.

These robots, however, are not just built for repetitive tasks. Their objective is to act as a hands-on support team for the crew while on the moon.

“It’s really about the human elements — either working in environments designed for humans or working alongside humans. That’s our niche,” said Shaun Azimi, Dexterous Robotics Team lead. “We’re uniquely positioned to bring in folks who are designing the human environments.”

Oil Prices Fall Over 3% On Report Of Potential Diesel, Crude Stock Release; Brent Back Below $100

Oil prices were sharply lower on Friday morning, extending losses from earlier in the session, following reports of a potential move to release diesel and crude stocks to ease a global supply shortage.

International benchmark Brent crude futures with December expiry traded 3.1% lower at $99.13 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures with November expiry fell 4% to $89.18.

It comes shortly after Reuters reported that European Union member states were discussing a French proposal to release additional diesel reserves following pressure from the Trump administration.

Aaron Rodgers, Mike McCarthy Get Into Screaming Match During Steelers-Browns Game

On Sept. 20, the Pittsburgh Steelers lost to the New England Patriots by 17 points, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers delivered a backhanded assessment of head coach Mike McCarthy’s game plan.

“In a game like today where there wasn’t a lot of flow to it, we need to be better, and it starts with me,” Rodgers said. “Like, making sure that Mike knows what’s working and what’s not working. The coaches know, so that we can call stuff that gives us a better chance.”

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio described Rodgers’s press conference comments as “passive-aggressive.”

Well, what we saw during the Steelers’ Thursday Night Football matchup with the Cleveland Browns was just aggressive-aggressive.

Wisconsin Headlines

Tiffany Leading Gov’s Race Outside of Madison, Milwaukee

Voters across Wisconsin do not seem to be sold on David Crowley’s campaign for governor.

The latest Marquette Law School Poll shows that while Crowley has a statewide lead, 49-46, he is trailing in several key areas of the state.

"Among likely voters, Crowley holds substantial leads in the city of Milwaukee and the Madison media market, while Tiffany leads in the Green Bay/Appleton market and the north and west of the state," pollsters wrote.

Tiffany has a 57-39 lead in the Green Bay and Appleton region. The poll also shows that Tiffany has a 49-41 lead across the rest of Wisconsin, outside the Milwaukee and Madison media markets.

That includes a lead in the crucial WOW county region.

Dane County Proposes Nearly $947 Million Budget, With Higher Property Tax Bills, Body Cameras And Housing Investments

The average Madison homeowner could pay about $20.67 more in county property taxes next year under a nearly $947 million budget proposed by Dane County Executive Melissa Agard on Thursday.

The proposal also includes $3 million to expand body cameras for sheriff’s deputies, $20 million for affordable housing and $2.1 million for a new shelter for women and families experiencing homelessness.

Agard says the county has reduced its projected budget shortfall while continuing to fund services and new projects.

“This continues to be a challenging time for local governments to be able to budget. But this budget shows real progress,” Agard said.

Wisconsin Governor Candidates Offer Opposing Plans To Address Rising Healthcare Costs

Candidates running for Wisconsin governor, Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany and Democratic Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, both say they want to lower healthcare costs and make care more accessible. But they’re offering different views on how to do that.

DPI Data Shows Slight Progress In Wisconsin Student Scores But Achievement Gaps Remain

The Department of Public Instruction released new data showing students' math and reading scores for the 2025-2026 school year.

Students in most age groups and demographics performed slightly better on English language arts tests. In math, middle and high school students' scores also improved slightly, while scores for younger elementary school students declined slightly.

Statewide data shows the greatest gain in English language arts among third through eighth graders, with proficiency increasing from 51.6% to 53%.

Crowley Proposes Nearly 3% Tax Increase in Massive New County Budget

David Crowley told Milwaukee County he closed a $50 million gap and saved the buses. The recommended budget he announced on October 1 does it with a tax increase and a one-time withdrawal.

The 2027 plan totals $1.508 billion, up $86.6 million, or 6.1 percent, from the adopted 2026 budget. The property-tax levy rises from $309.0 million to $316.9 million, an increase of $7.87 million, or 2.5 percent. The rate falls from $2.92 to $2.80 per $1,000 only because equalized value jumped from about $105.9 billion to $113.3 billion. A lower rate on a higher base is still a larger bill. Crowley would not say whether a tax increase was coming when WISN’s Matt Smith asked him on Sept. 22. He ducked the question because he knew a tax hike was coming.