Morning Headlines - Monday, Jan. 12, 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

DOJ Launches Criminal Investigation Into Fed Chair Jerome Powell, He Says

In an extraordinary escalation of a months-long attack on the independence of the Federal Reserve, federal prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, he confirmed in a statement Sunday night.

The investigation is related to Powell’s testimony earlier this year about the multi-year renovation of the Federal Reserve buildings, Powell said in a video message released by the Fed.

But Powell says it’s clear the investigation is ultimately part of President Donald Trump's administration’s increasingly hostile push to pressure the Fed to lower interest rates.

Supreme Court Could Dramatically Alter US Election Landscape

The Supreme Court could reshape U.S. elections for years to come as it hears a number of cases with implications for the country’s political landscape.

In perhaps the most high-stakes example, the country is waiting to see whether the justices decide to weaken a section of the Voting Rights Act.

Other rulings expected this year could alter how much political parties can spend in coordination with candidates or affect the deadline for casting ballots on time.

Here are some of the key cases to watch:

What A U.S. Intervention In Iran Could Look Like As Trump Weighs Options

U.S. President Donald Trump is readying for a likely intervention in Iran, as the country cracks down on protestors, with several hundreds reportedly killed and internet access cut off.

The possible next steps could include boosting antigovernment sources online, deploying cyber weapons against the Iranian military and civilian sites, placing more sanctions on the regime as well as military strikes, The Wall Street Journal reported. Trump’s aides are set to brief him on Tuesday on a possible intervention.

Nationwide Anti-ICE Protests Call For Accountability After Renee Good's Death

People took to the streets in cities across the country this weekend to protest the Trump administration's immigration enforcement tactics following the death of Renee Good in Minneapolis, a 37-year-old woman who was shot and killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer last week.

At least 1,000 events across the U.S. were planned for Saturday and Sunday, according to Indivisible, a progressive grassroots coalition of activists helping coordinate the movement it calls "ICE Out For Good Weekend of Action."

McDonald's Announces Major Change For All Restaurants In 2026

Over the past several months, businesses across the country have begun embracing artificial intelligence (AI) to varying degrees. Now, it sounds like McDonald's is hopping on that trend.

As McDonald's continues to push toward efficiency in serving its customers, it sounds like the fast food chain is looking to embrace AI to make that happen and to make things easier for both employees and customers.

Wisconsin Man Indicted For Armed Robbery And Firearms Offenses At Bear Creek Bank

Brad D. Schimel, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 9, 2025, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against a man allegedly involved in the armed robbery of a bank in Bear Creek in northwestern Outagamie County. The indictment named Martin M. Muniz-Lara (age: 43) of Greenville, Wisconsin.

Count One of the indictment charges Muniz-Lara with Armed Bank Robbery in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2113(a) and 2113(d). If convicted, Muniz-Lara faces a maximum of 25 years in prison. Count Two charges Muniz-Lara with Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). If convicted, Muniz-Lara faces up to life in prison, with a 7-year mandatory minimum sentence that must be consecutive to any other sentence. Muniz-Lara would also face fines, a special assessment, and terms of supervised release at the end of any sentence imposed.

According to the indictment, on or about October 17, 2025, the defendant forcefully took money from a federally insured bank in Bear Creek and brandished a firearm while committing the robbery.

Wisconsin THC Businesses Prepare For End To Federal Loophole

Wisconsin is just one of 10 states where marijauna is illegal for both medical and recreational use. But since 2018, a federal loophole allowed cannabis products to become an industry worth millions in the state — that is, until Congress closed the legal loophole at the end of the 2025 federal government shutdown. As 2026 begins, business owners are scrambling before the ban takes effect in November.

“We were still planning on growing, we were actually already making adjustments for next year,” said Joni Sayers, owner of Hemp Haven Farms in Deerfield.

GOP Leaders Start Enforcing Ban On Recording Committee Hearings

Legislative Republicans have begun enforcing rules that bar members of the public from recording committee proceedings with WisconsinEye off the air.

Dem Rep. Clinton Anderson slammed it as an attempt to restrict public access. But a spokesperson for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said it was just a reminder of longstanding rules.

“With WisconsinEye gone, and more instances of videotaping in committee hearings, we felt it was important to reaffirm the long-established rules of the Assembly,” said Luke Wolff.

Wisconsin Dairy Group Happy With Food Pyramid Milk, Cheese Changes

Dairy farmers in Wisconsin are happy with the new federal recommendations to drink more milk and eat more cheese.

The Edge Dairy Cooperative on Thursday voiced its support for the new dietary recommendations from the US Department of Health and Human Services and the USDA.

“We know that dairy products are full of nutritious vitamins and minerals and are high in protein and healthy fats, making them an important part of a healthy diet,” Edge President Heidi Fischer said in a statement.

HHS and the USDA are changing the nation’s food pyramid. The new pyramid suggests more meat, milk, cheese, and butter, along with recommendations that people eat vegetables, fruit, healthy fats and whole grains.

Matt LaFleur And The Packers Face Uncertain Future After Blowing Big Lead In Wild-Card Loss

At the very end of his seventh season as Green Bay’s coach, Matt LaFleur saw a team that lacked composure at big moments in a playoff game.

It was an all-too-familiar scene for the Packers — one that will follow LaFleur for a long time.

“We’ve got to look at it. We’ve got to talk. There’s a lot of pieces,” he said. “All you’re trying to do in the moment is, when mistakes are made, you’re correcting them. There’s not long discussions on the sideline. It’s just you correct the mistakes and you try to keep it moving. And I felt like just our team got a little bit disheveled in the second half.”