Morning Headlines - Monday, May 22, 2023

U.S. and World Headlines

What Mosquitoes Are Most Attracted To In Human Body Odor Is Revealed

Anyone who has spent a summer evening swatting away mosquitoes, or a summer day scratching mosquito bites, can agree: Mosquitoes stink. But the smells produced by humans are an important part of what draws mosquitoes to us.

In a scientific report published Friday, scientists helped pinpoint the different chemicals in body odor that attract these insects by building an ice-rink size testing arena and pumping in the scents of different people.

Mosquitoes are part of the fly family, and most of the time, they feed on nectar. However, females preparing to produce eggs need a meal with extra protein: blood.

Meta Hit With Record $1.3 Billion Fine By EU Over Handling Of Users' Personal Data

Meta was fined the equivalent of a record $1.3 billion by the European Union on Monday for its transfer of users' personal data from Europe to the United States.

Andrea Jelinek, chair of the European Data Protection Board (EDPB), said Meta's infringement was "very serious since it concerns transfers that are systematic, repetitive and continuous."

"Facebook has millions of users in Europe, so the volume of personal data transferred is massive," Jelinek said in a statement. "The unprecedented fine is a strong signal to organizations that serious infringements have far-reaching consequences."

Contaminated Eye Drops Linked To More Deaths As 14 People Report Vision Loss

An additional person has died in an outbreak linked to contaminated eye drops and more people are reporting they've lost their vision.

The number of deaths has risen to four, according to an update issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday and first reported by ABC News.

At least one of the deaths occurred in Washington state, but the CDC did not provide any information on the other victims.

Does God Exist? Only Half Of Americans Say A Definite Yes

Only half of Americans now say they are sure God exists.

That finding, from the closely watched General Social Survey, stands out among several nuggets of new data about religion in America.

Not quite 50 percent of Americans say they have no doubt about the existence of God, according to the 2022 survey, released Wednesday by NORC, the University of Chicago research organization. As recently as 2008, the share of sure-believers topped 60 percent.

Thirty-four percent of Americans never go to church, NORC found, the highest figure recorded in five decades of surveys.

Windows 11 Phone Link Feature Could Be Exploited By Cyberstalkers To Spy On iPhones

Microsoft’s new Phone Link feature for Windows 11 allowing iPhone users to view notifications on their Windows computers could be subject to cyber-attacks, according to a report.

App developer Certo Software said the new Windows 11 feature raises concerns about potential security lapses that could be exploited by cyberstalkers to target iPhone users, according to Indo-Asian News Service.

Phone Link, which has existed for a while, allows users to connect their Android phone to their PC through an internet connection.

Cyberstalkers with physical access to someone else's iPhone can set up Phone Link with their own Windows computer and monitor their iMessages and phone calls without tipping off the victim, according to the report. 

Wisconsin Headlines

Here's Where Things Stand On An Effort To Boost Local Government Funding In Wisconsin

For most of this year, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Republicans who run the Legislature have seemed on the cusp of a deal that would overhaul how the state funds local government expenses like police, emergency medical services and roads.

They can still get there, and maybe soon. But they've hit obstacles recently that could endanger the agreement.

Earlier this month, Evers threatened to veto the first version of the plan proposed by Assembly Republicans because he said it included too many strings, and not enough funding.

Then last week, GOP Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu said Republicans in his chamber would likely remove a requirement that Milwaukee voters pass a referendum to raise local sales taxes. Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos responded by warning that LeMahieu's suggestion could kill the bill.

The dispute threatens an otherwise broad agreement that the state needs to help local governments — from Milwaukee to Wisconsin's small towns — who've reached a tipping point when it comes to paying for basic services constituents expect.

Here's where things stand with the bill.

Wisconsin State Capitol Celebrates Heritage Month With Hmong Cloth Exhibits

The Hmong women’s story cloth exhibit is displayed in the State Capitol to celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month.

May is Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The Women’s Council partnered with The Hmong Institute to celebrate Hmong culture and recognize women’s stories.

The two organizations started a project in 2022 to better understand experiences of elder Hmong women during the COVID-19 pandemic. They captured the women’s history and stories by creating ‘story cloths.’

Investigators: Man Who Killed Wisconsin Officers Had History Of Domestic Problems

The man who killed two police officers in a roadside shootout in northwestern Wisconsin last month was struggling with a divorce and didn’t like getting "pushed around" by police, state investigators said in a report released Friday.

Glenn Douglas Perry, 50, of New Auburn, shot and killed Chetek police Officer Emily Breidenbach and Cameron police Officer Hunter Scheel during a traffic stop in Cameron on April 8. Perry was hit during an exchange of gunfire and later died from his wounds.

The state Justice Department has been investigating the incident and released nearly 1,000 pages of documents detailing its findings.

Wisconsin Thawed: Weight Restrictions End For Northern Wisconsin Highways

Warmer weather has reached northern Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is ending Spring Thaw and Class II road restrictions for 15 counties of Zone 1 on Monday, May 22 at 12:01 a.m.

Class II roads include about 1,400 miles of state highways susceptible to damage from heavy trucks during the spring thaw period as frost leaves the ground. More information regarding frozen road declarations, Class II roadways, and roadway postings can be found on WisDOT's website.

County highways, town roads, city and village streets may also be posted or limited to legal load limits or less. Decisions to place or lift weight restrictions on those roads are up to local units of government.

Republican Budget-Writers Approve $125 Million To Fight PFAS But Delayed Specifics

Wisconsin Republicans voted May 18 to put $125 million aside to combat pollution from so-called forever chemicals, but delayed a decision on how exactly to spend the money.

The influx of money to deal with PFAS pollution comes after Republicans for years have declined to spend as much on water pollution as Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has called for. But the Republican spending in the budget would exceed the $107 million that Evers proposed to spend on additional statewide water testing, investigation, mitigation, new positions and grants.