Morning Headlines - Monday, Aug. 17, 2026 | 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

Trump Orders Pentagon To "Substantially Reduce" Military Exercises With South Korea

President Trump announced Sunday that he has ordered the Pentagon to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea, saying that the country recently declined to join the U.S. effort to denuclearize Iran.

Mr. Trump said on his Truth Social platform that the exercises are costly and they "send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile" to North Korea, which has been "unthreatening and respectful" as long as he has been president.

Questions About Schumer’s Future Grow As Democratic Candidates Call For Change

Questions are growing about Sen. Chuck Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) future as an increasing number of Democratic candidates say they will not support his bid for another term as Senate Democratic leader.

Progressive critics of the Democratic establishment are calling for a leadership shake-up in Washington as their candidates win Senate Democratic primaries in Illinois, Maine, Michigan and Minnesota.

Strait Of Hormuz Shipping Grinds To A Halt Ahead Of U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Expiry

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz slowed to a halt over the weekend ahead of the expiry date of the 60-day ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran on Monday, with no official negotiations or deal in sight.

Over the weekend, only five cargo ships passed through the critical oil passage on Saturday, according to data from Kpler cited by Reuters, while no ships were registered to pass through the passage on Sunday. This is compared with 31 vessels the previous weekend.

Some Democrats Trying To Reclaim The Issue Of Faith From The Republican Party

For years, Republicans have had a lock on those who base their vote on their religious preferences and values, but this year's midterm elections have seen some Democratic candidates sharing their faith to try to connect with voters.

Starting in the 1980s, in what one expert called an "exodus," there was a shift of voters to the Republican Party based on moral issues.

But in some of the most critical races that will help decide control of the next Congress, several Democrats are openly sharing how their faith shapes them and their politics.

Actress Hayden Panettiere Dead At 36

Actress Hayden Panettiere has been remembered as 'an incredible light and a force of nature' after her death at the age of 36.

The former child star, who was known for her roles on the hit NBC series Heroes and musical drama Nashville, leaves behind an 11-year-old daughter.

Representatives for Panettiere announced on Sunday: 'It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden.

Crowley Has Slight Edge Over Tiffany In First New Poll Since Primary

A new Badger Battleground poll shows David Crowley with a narrow early lead over Tom Tiffany, 48% to 44%.

The poll was exclusively released Sunday on "UPFRONT" and was taken last Wednesday and Thursday among 500 likely voters. Platform Communications commissioned the poll, making it one of the first snapshots in the race for governor after Crowley beat Francesca Hong in the Democratic primary last week.

Democratic Primary Turnout Soars In Wisconsin, Other States In 2026

Democratic voters are showing up for the 2026 primaries in numbers not seen in decades, a pattern emerging across several states that has the party optimistic about its prospects in November when control of Congress will be at stake.

In the Aug. 11 primary, Wisconsin Democrats cast nearly 800,000 ballots, their highest total for a midterm in more than 20 years. That followed 1.5 million Democratic voters in Michigan the week before, a midterm record for the state.

Universities Of Wisconsin To Ask For $330M To Invest In State’s Workforce, Healthcare

This week, the Universities of Wisconsin announced a slate of budget proposals aimed at boosting the state’s workforce, economy and access to healthcare.

The university system is seeking $240 million for programs that it says would train 300,000 workers and create 2,500 new businesses. Another $90 million would go to expand programs for healthcare professionals.

This comes as the U.S. Department of Education is changing its rules around what degrees are classified as professional and which majors have access to federal student loans.

Escapee Sentenced to Additional Prison Time

Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Joseph Hoult, 39, Urbana, Illinois, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 10 months in federal prison for escaping from a community corrections facility. Hoult’s sentence will run consecutive to his remaining undischarged sentence. Hoult plead guilty to this charge on July 8, 2026.

On December 20, 2013, Hoult was sentenced to federal prison by a judge in the Central District of Illinois. Hoult was transferred to a community corrections facility in the Western District of Wisconsin on October 24, 2025. On November 30, 2025, Hoult removed his GPS monitoring device and escaped from the community corrections facility. Hoult remained undetected until his arrest on March 18, 2026.

Billy Edwards Jr's Downfall at UNC is More Proof Wisconsin was Devoid of Talent in 2025

If you're at all familiar with how I view Wisconsin football, you're aware that I try to take a wholistic, intersectional approach when evaluating the Badgers' utter collapse last fall.

Some blame the nightmarish season on injuries. Some blame it on a brutal schedule. Some blame it on coaching. Some blame it on an overall lack of talent up and down the roster.

And again, while I wholeheartedly believe the root of Wisconsin's implosion last season to be a stiff cocktail of all of the above, lack of talent was certainly a major factor.