Morning Headlines - Monday, April 14, 2025 | 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 at the end for a little humor to go with your news!

U.S. and World Headlines

The Biggest Trial In Meta's History Starts Today

The Federal Trade Commission's blockbuster antitrust case against Meta kicks off on Monday in a courtroom in Washington. It's the culmination of a nearly six-year investigation into whether the social media giant broke competition laws in acquiring Instagram and WhatsApp.

At stake is the future Meta's $1.4 trillion advertising business and the prospect of having to spin off its hugely popular services into separate companies — a corporate breakup the likes of which has not been seen since AT&T's telephone monopoly was forced to split apart more than 40 years ago.

How Tuition-Free College Programs Can Backfire: More Generous Aid ‘Can Actually Increase Inequity,’ Expert Says

With rising college costs, some top schools and programs have embraced a tuition-free model.

However, generous aid packages also attract more students, which “can skew admissions towards middle- or higher-income applicants who may be able to access more effective admissions resources,” says Jamie Beaton, co-founder and CEO of Crimson Education, a college consulting firm.

For college hopefuls worried about the sky-high tab, there may be other ways to bring the cost down.

Spotlight Shifts To Medicaid, A Make-Or-Break Issue For Trump

The adoption of the Republicans’ budget bill has thrown a spotlight onto the hot-button issue that could make or break President Trump’s domestic agenda: Medicaid.

The massive government health care program is at the heart of the GOP’s plan to slash federal spending in order to trim deficits and make budget space for Trump’s new tax cuts. But the topic is dividing Republicans both within and between the chambers of Congress, where conservatives favor steep cuts to Medicaid, centrists say they’ll oppose any erosion of health benefits for their constituents, and GOP leaders are left straddling the gap in search of a compromise that can appease both camps.

Kyren Lacy, Ex-LSU Receiver, Died In Apparent Suicide During Pursuit, Police Say

Former LSU receiver Kyren Lacy, 24, died in an apparent suicide in his car while being pursued by authorities in Houston, according to a report released Sunday by the Harrison County sheriff's office in Texas. Lacy already was facing criminal charges stemming from a fatal car accident in Louisiana last December that had clouded his NFL prospects.

The sheriff's office said there were first called out to a weapons disturbance by a relative saying Lacy had been involved in a verbal argument with her and that he had discharged a firearm into the ground. Responding officers learned that he had fled the scene in a vehicle and, about 20 minutes later, a "Constable's Office unit spotted Lacy and attempted to make a traffic stop on the vehicle. Lacy then fled and a vehicle pursuit took place spanning several miles," ending when his vehicle crashed.

Rory McIlroy Wins Masters In Playoff To Earn Career Grand Slam

Rory McIlroy's long, painful wait for the career Grand Slam is finally over.

And the greatest achievement of his career was as nerve-racking and dramatic as the near misses that came before it.

The 35-year-old from Northern Ireland overcame a shaky start -- and even more perilous finish -- in the final round of the 89th Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday to defeat Justin Rose in the first hole of a sudden-death playoff to win a green jacket and become only the sixth golfer to complete the career Grand Slam.

Wisconsin Teen Allegedly Killed Parents In Extremist Plot To Assassinate Trump, FBI Says

A Wisconsin teen allegedly killed his parents to "obtain the financial means and autonomy necessary" to kill President Donald Trump and overthrow the U.S. government, federal authorities said in court documents.

Nikita Casap, 17, was arrested in March and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of hiding a corpse, according to Waukesha County authorities. Other charges include theft of property over $10,000 and misappropriating ID to obtain money.

Audits Find UW System And State Agencies Didn't Track Spending On Diversity Programs And Staff

Republican-ordered audits released April 11 found that Wisconsin state agencies and the University of Wisconsin system have failed to track the millions of dollars they spent on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, making it difficult to fully assess the initiatives.

The highly anticipated reports come amid a push by President Donald Trump to end federal government support for DEI programs. There have been similar efforts in Wisconsin by Republicans who control the Legislature. The reports’ findings are likely to further increase pressure from Republicans to do away with anything related to DEI.

Wisconsin Supreme Court To Decide Big Cases Involving Environmental Challenges

Environmental advocates and legal experts say the outcome of this month’s Wisconsin Supreme Court election will affect a number of cases coming before the court.

The court retained its 4-3 liberal majority after the victory of Dane County Judge Susan Crawford over Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel.

Some cases that may come before the court involve the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on challenges to its authority, policies or decisions on environmental standards.

Chaos At The Caucus: Republican Infighting Erupts In Wisconsin’s 8th District

It was chaos at the caucus. The Republican Party of Wisconsin and the GOP’s 8th Congressional District spent more than $1,600 on security for a GOP Caucus meeting, where only Republicans were in attendance.

“That’s not normal. There were people who were afraid to attend the caucus,” Kirt Johnson, chair of the Kewaunee County Republican Party, said.

Johnson, who has worked in politics and public policy for over four decades, described this caucus as, “one of the most disgusting, shameful things [he has] ever witnessed.”