Morning Headlines - Monday, Dec. 15, 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

What To Know About The Brown University Shooting

A gunman remains at large, two days after opening fire inside a Brown University academic building, killing two students and injuring nine others.

Officials in Providence, R.I., said Sunday evening that police are releasing a man in his 20s who was briefly held as a person of interest. His release leaves authorities without any known suspect.

"We have a murderer out there," Attorney General Peter Neronha said at a news conference late Sunday.

Rob Reiner, Wife Found Dead Inside Brentwood Home In Apparent Homicide

Legendary Hollywood director-actor Rob Reiner and his wife were found dead inside the couple’s Brentwood home in an apparent homicide Sunday, KTLA has confirmed.

Medical personnel with the Los Angeles Fire Department received a call at around 3:38 p.m. and responded to the 200 block of South Chadbourne Avenue for medical aid.

Firefighters reportedly found Rob, 78, and his wife Michele, 68, inside the home suffering from stab wounds.

Housing Affordability May Improve Next Year, But Don’t Expect A Market Crash

For more than three years, it’s been dismal to be a homebuyer. But in 2026, things might get just a little easier.

Housing affordability is poised to improve next year as mortgage rates decrease slightly and home price appreciation slows down. Those conditions — provided they hold — could bring more buyers and sellers off the sidelines and into the market during the traditional busy spring homebuying season, and help home sales notch their first significant gain since they plunged in 2023 to levels not seen since the mid-1990s.

Apple, Google Forced To Issue Emergency 0-Day Patches

Apple and Google have both issued emergency patches after zero-day bugs were caught being actively exploited in what the companies describe as "sophisticated" real-world attacks.

Over the past few days, the two tech giants have rushed updates out the door to close vulnerabilities that attackers were already abusing against an unspecified number of targets, once again forcing users to patch first and ask questions later.

Financial Fraud Cost Older Adults Up To $81.5 Billion In 2024, FTC Estimates — More Are Losing At Least $100,000

For older Americans, financial fraud can be a very costly mishap.

Last year, scams reported to the Federal Trade Commission by adults age 60 and older reached $2.4 billion, up 26.3% from $1.9 billion in 2023 and 300% from $600 million in 2020, according to the FTC’s annual report to Congress, released earlier this month. The increase is driven by scams that involve individual losses of $100,000 or more, accounting for $1.6 billion, or 68%, of the total amount.

National Spotlight On Milwaukee As Trial Against Judge Hannah Dugan Begins

The national spotlight will be trained on Milwaukee this week for a federal trial that has pitted the authority of a local judge against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan faces federal charges of obstructing or impeding a proceeding and concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and arrest.

Jurors have been chosen last week for a trial that begins Monday.

Wisconsin Congressional Redistricting Lawsuits May Not Resolve By 2026 Midterms

A pair of lawsuits seeking to redraw congressional boundary lines that currently favor Republicans in Wisconsin are on track to be resolved after the 2026 midterms, even as attorneys for one case argued Dec. 12 in court that there’s still time to enact new maps for the November election.

Court hearings in both cases came the day after Indiana Republicans soundly rejected President Donald Trump’s demand that they redraw congressional lines in that deep red state. Trump is waging a national redistricting battle as he tries to preserve a slim Republican majority in the House in the 2026 elections.

Schoemann Pitches Plan To Shrink, Decentralize Wisconsin Government

One of the Republicans running for Wisconsin governor wants to move large parts of state government out of Madison.

Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann on Friday announced what he is calling his Shrink Madison plan.

"The whole state shouldn't exist to serve the seat of state government. The government should serve the people. Moving agencies out of Madison will make the bureaucracy more responsive to the people they serve, save money, and improve the state's economic vitality in the process,” Schoemann said.

First, Schoemann is looking to shrink state government, which he said will spend what he calls a “staggering” $111 billion over the next two-years.

Bo Nix’s 4 TD Passes Lead Broncos To 34-26 Win Over Packers, Who Lose Micah Parsons To Injury

Bo Nix tied his career high with four touchdown throws and Denver’s defense stifled Jordan Love in the second half of the Broncos’ 34-26 win Sunday over the Green Bay Packers, who lost star Micah Parsons to a knee injury.

The Packers (9-4-1), who led 23-14 in the third quarter before falling apart offensively, slipped a half-game behind Chicago ahead of their Soldier Field showdown with the Bears next weekend. This was Green Bay’s first loss by more than three points.

Wisconsin Volleyball Stuns Texas To Reach Final Four

Wisconsin volleyball is celebrating a thrilling victory after defeating top-seeded Texas in the NCAA regional finals. The Badgers, led by coach Kelly Sheffield, will advance to the Final Four.

Sheffield’s team triumphed in four sets, 25-22, 25-21, 20-25, 25-19, marking their sixth Final Four appearance under his leadership, and seventh overall in program history. This victory is Wisconsin's first Elite Eight win at an opponent's home venue.