Morning Headlines - Monday, Jan. 27, 2025

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

CIA Believes Covid-19 Likely Caused By Lab Leak

The CIA has shifted its stance about the origin of the virus that causes Covid-19, NBC News reported on Saturday. The intelligence agency now believes that the coronavirus escaped from a Chinese lab, a shift from its previous stance, in which it did not take a position.

“CIA assesses with low confidence that a research-related origin of the COVID-19 pandemic is more likely than a natural origin based on the available body of reporting,” a CIA spokesperson said in a statement to NBC News.

“CIA continues to assess that both research-related and natural origin scenarios of the COVID-19 pandemic remain plausible.”

Trump’s Tariffs Could Raise Car Prices At Dealerships — Very Quickly

The Trump administration is threatening a 25% tariff on all imports from Canada and Mexico as soon as Saturday — a move that would almost immediately impact car dealerships and factories in the United States.

The tariffs would add a minimum of thousands of dollars to the cost of cars, according to experts. And not just cars that are assembled in those two countries and shipped to the United States, but also cars built at American auto plants, all of which have Canadian and Mexican parts that can not easily be replaced.

Trump Holding Off On Tariffs After Colombia Agrees To Accept Deported Migrants On Military Planes, White House Says

President Trump will hold off on imposing steep tariffs on Colombia after the country's government agreed to accept deported migrants being returned on military planes, the White House said Sunday night.

Mr. Trump earlier on Sunday vowed swift and punishing retaliation after the Colombian government over the weekend blocked the arrival of deportation flights from the U.S., objecting to the Trump administration's efforts to use military planes to deport migrants.

Inside The Race For Greenland's Mineral Wealth

President Donald Trump has said he thinks the US will gain control of Greenland, underlining his persistent claim on the Arctic island, on one occasion pointing to "economic security" as the reason. While the autonomous Danish territory has been quick to say it isn't for sale, its vast and mostly untapped mineral resources are in great demand.

Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles Advance To The Super Bowl

The Kansas City Chiefs advanced to their fifth Super Bowl in six years Sunday, defeating the Buffalo Bills 32-39 in the AFC championship game.

The Chiefs now have a chance to win their third Super Bowl in a row, and they’ll have to do so against a familiar opponent: the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles advanced to the Super Bowl with a 55-23 drubbing of the Washington Commanders in the NFC championship game. Philadelphia and Kansas City played each other in the Super Bowl two years ago.

Wisconsin Headlines

Wisconsin Experts Say New Policies On Trade, Immigration Could Hurt Farmers

President Donald Trump moved quickly to set in motion dozens of policy decisions during his first week in office. Many of the changes, including the threat of new tariffs and moves to deport people in the U.S. without legal status, have major implications for the U.S. agriculture industry.

Farm economists and industry experts weighed in on these impacts during the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Wisconsin Agricultural Outlook Forum, an annual event for farm and food industry leaders in the state.

Wisconsin Man Sentenced To 5 ½ Years For Fentanyl Trafficking

Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jerry Tate, 52, Beloit, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 5 ½ years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl and for possessing 50 grams or more of fentanyl and methamphetamine intended for distribution. Tate pleaded guilty to these charges on October 28, 2024.

From September 2022 through May 2023, Tate traveled to La Crosse County, Wisconsin, where he stayed at various hotels for days at a time. During that time, he sold methamphetamine and fentanyl to a confidential informant (CI). Over the course of five controlled purchases, Tate sold the CI over 33 grams of fentanyl and over 13 grams of methamphetamine. On May 5, 2023, law enforcement arrested Tate and searched the hotel room where he was staying in Onalaska, Wisconsin. Law enforcement found over 100 grams of fentanyl and methamphetamine, items for drug distribution, and over $1,500 in U.S. currency. Following Tate’s arrest for trafficking fentanyl, he was out on bond for state charges and was arrested again for continuing to traffic fentanyl.

How To Vote In Wisconsin In 2025

Even though there are no federal elections this year, there are still opportunities to cast a ballot and make your voice heard in Wisconsin.

This year, a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court is up for grabs. And the state superintendent is on the ballot, as well as other judicial and local races.

So what do you need to know about voting this year? Here’s a guide to how to cast your ballot in the Badger State.

No. 18 Wisconsin Uses 3-point Barrage To Beat Nebraska 83-55

John Tonje scored 27 points and No. 18 Wisconsin never trailed while routing Nebraska 83-55 on Sunday to hand the Cornhuskers their sixth consecutive loss.

Wisconsin (16-4, 6-3 Big Ten) bounced back from an 85-83 loss at UCLA that snapped a seven-game winning streak.

With Housing In Short Supply, Wisconsin Communities, Developers Look To Shuttered Schools

As communities around Wisconsin look for solutions to housing shortages, some developers are transforming shuttered schools into apartments.

Since 2017, communities and developers have sought state grants or tax credits to redevelop about 20 former school buildings. Others have used a mix of financing to redevelop vacant schools statewide.