Morning Headlines - Friday, Sept. 29, 2023

U.S. and World Headlines

Weekend Forecast: A Shutdown Is Very Likely

A government shutdown is looking inevitable as Congress heads into the weekend without a funding plan lined up.

Ahead of the Sept. 30 deadline, GOP opponents of the Senate’s bipartisan stopgap bill — which the chamber voted 76-22 Thursday to advance — are seeking to drag out the process beyond Sunday. Critics of the measure want to delay a vote to give the House a chance to pass its own temporary funding bill, spearheaded by Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), which would give conservatives in both chambers more leverage.

Even with changes — like stripping out Ukraine aid and adding more border security funding — it’s unlikely the fractious House GOP conference would support the Senate bill, as House leaders have been unable to rally members around their own spending measures.

GOP-Led House Committees Subpoena Hunter Biden And James Biden Business And Personal Records

House Republicans issued three subpoenas Thursday for Hunter Biden and James Biden's personal and business banking records, as part of the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, an escalation in their investigation of the Biden family's business dealings.

The latest subpoenas come after the GOP-led House Oversight Committee held its first impeachment inquiry hearing into President Biden Thursday, focusing on Republican allegations of "constitutional and legal questions surrounding the President's involvement in corruption and abuse of public office," according to a committee spokesperson. Three House committees are looking into whether Mr. Biden "abused his federal office to enrich his family and conceal his and/or his family's misconduct," according to a memo written by the Republican chairs of the House Oversight, Judiciary and Ways and Means Committees that outlined the view of the factual and legal basis for the inquiry.

Blue Cities Rethink Their Embrace Of Progressive Drug Policies

Blue cities that have taken the most progressive — and often controversial — steps to tackle the nation's drug crisis are beginning to question those strategies amid rising political backlash.

Public health experts emphasize policies that prioritize saving the lives of drug users — like so-called safe injection sites — but the worsening fentanyl problem is testing the patience of even the seemingly most tolerant cities.

5 Takeaways Ahead Of Trump's $250 Million Civil Fraud Trial

One year ago, on Sept. 21, 2022, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that her office had filed a $250 million lawsuit against Donald Trump, accusing the former president of fraudulent business practices.

Turning the title of Trump's bestselling business book on its head, James told reporters at a New York City press conference, "Claiming you have money you do not have does not amount to the Art of the Deal. It's the Art of the Steal."

iPhone 15 Is One Of The Hottest Gadgets Of The Year, Literally

Since before the iPhone 15 first hit the market, there have been concerns about the new titanium frame and A17 processor causing it to get hot. After its release, some users have hammered Apple with complaints the new iPhone 15 Pro gets hot, like really hot. Are we looking at a quality control disaster or just a speed bump along the road to adoption?

Some users posted videos showing how the iPhone 15 Pro reached temperatures of around 42 degrees Celsius, or 107 degrees Fahrenheit. Other users have taken to Apple’s support forums and Reddit to (sometimes cheekily) complain about their hot potato iPhones.

Wisconsin Headlines

New Study Reveals High Arrest Disparities In Wisconsin, Nationwide Decrease In Incarceration

A recent study discovered incarceration rates have decreased in every state and for every racial, ethnic, and gender group, except white women, resulting in a 20% national decline since 2007. Nevertheless, persistent disparities exist, with Wisconsin maintaining its position as the state with the highest number of incarcerated Black men, a situation that has remained unchanged since 1999.

Wisconsin Bill Could Result In Higher Bails For Thousands Of Criminal Defendants

State senators heard testimony this week on a bill that could result in higher bail for thousands of people who are charged with crimes in Wisconsin.

Legislation introduced this month would require a judge or court commissioner to set bail of at least $5,000 when a defendant has a past bail jumping conviction. The requirement would apply even for non-violent misdemeanor charges like disorderly conduct or retail theft.

Republican sponsors, like Sen. Julian Bradley of Franklin, say the aim is protecting public safety.

"Far too many repeat offenders and bail jumpers are being released on low or no cash bail only for them to commit another crime," Bradley told the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety. "This is happening because soft-on-crime judges and DAs (district attorneys) aren't prioritizing public safety."

Madison Man Sentenced To 26 Months For Illegal Gun Possession

Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Shawndale James, 26, Madison, Wisconsin was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 26 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. James pleaded guilty to this charge on June 12, 2023.

On December 21, 2021, Madison police officers stopped a vehicle in which James was a passenger. Officers observed a loaded .40 caliber handgun sticking out from under the seat where James was sitting. James denied that he knew about or touched the gun. The Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory later examined swabs taken from the gun and concluded that James’ DNA matched the DNA found on the gun.

Wisconsin Hosts Annual Gathering Of Transportation Professionals From Around The World

Madison took center stage in the world of highway safety this week as Wisconsin hosted more than 1,000 members from motor vehicle and law enforcement agencies worldwide. The annual conference of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators is a unique educational and networking opportunity to share the latest innovations and best practices in motor vehicle safety and services. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and AAMVA co-hosted the event.

Monona Terrace was the site of engaging presentations by subject matter experts and productive discussions about current issues and solutions for topics such as electronic vehicle records management, mobile driver licensing and law enforcement security measures for large-scale events.

Lions Beat Packers On TNF, Take Early Control Of NFC North

Thursday night's NFC North showdown between the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field saw the Lions jump out to a fast lead and hardly look back. Detroit took an 11-point lead in the first quarter, which it extended to 24 points by halftime.

After the Packers scored the first two touchdowns of the second half to draw within 10 points, the Lions eventually pulled away for a 34-20 win.