Morning Headlines - Monday, Nov. 6, 2023

U.S. and World Headlines

Trump Under Oath: Six Things To Watch For As The Former President Testifies

On Monday, Donald Trump will leave the campaign trail for a place where he’ll still be the center of attention: a witness box.

The former president is set to testify in the ongoing $250 million civil fraud trial concerning a lawsuit in which Trump stands accused of orchestrating sweeping corporate fraud by inflating his net worth. New York Attorney General Tish James, who brought the case, alleges that Trump, his adult sons and their business associates used falsified documents about his net worth in order to obtain favorable terms from banks and insurers.

Johnson Embraces Deficit Fight, Setting Up Battle Over Medicare, Social Security

Democrats and progressive advocacy groups are homing in on Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) past support for steep cuts to entitlements, as the new speaker embraces a deficit commission that could spotlight the issue in the runup to the 2024 election.

President Biden called out congressional Republicans during his State of the Union address for wanting to cut the program. While budget experts say Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are unsustainable in their current form, most Republicans acknowledge the political risks of wanting to shrink benefits — but are also opposed to tax increases to bolster the programs.

The Israel-Hamas War Is Creating Tensions At Work

The Israel-Hamas war is stirring up divisive conversations within American workplaces, creating stress for both workers and those in charge.

The situation is adding another layer of complexity to office conversations around diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) that have become commonplace in recent years — driving apart colleagues who typically land on the same (often progressive) side of most issues.

At some companies, leadership teams are turning off the comments function on various platform to discourage heated conversations, according to reporting from Axios' Eleanor Hawkins.

San Jose Shipwreck To Dubbed 'The Holy Grail' To Be Exhumed Off Colombia With $20 Billion Sunken Treasure

The 'Holy Grail of shipwrecks' containing up to 200 tons of gold, silver and emeralds could be floating on the Caribbean within months after Colombia declared a national mission to recover the treasure.

The Spanish galleon San Jose sank off the Colombian port of Cartagena after its powder magazines detonated during a skirmish with the British in 1708. On board were treasures worth up to $20 billion in today's money along with 600 sailors, all but 11 of whom went down with the ship.

In 2015, the Colombian government announced that a team of navy divers had discovered the legendary ship lying in nearly 3,100 feet of water. Last year, another team brought back jaw-dropping images of its perfectly preserved cargo.

NASA Probe Discovers A Hidden Surprise During Asteroid Flyby

NASA asteroid probe Lucy found a huge surprise when it completed the first of its flybys of its asteroid targets.

Asteroid Dinkinesh, hanging around in the main belt that orbits between Mars and Jupiter, is not alone. The chunk of gray space rock has its own tiny little asteroid moon, wrapped in a close orbit – too close to be discerned from a large distance.

The discovery suggests that there could be many more binary asteroids out there than we know – a preponderance that could help us understand how rocks in the Solar System grow and interact.

Wisconsin Headlines

Homicide Trial For Former Milwaukee Police Officer Michael Mattioli Begins Today

A long-awaited homicide trial is set to begin this week for a former Milwaukee Police officer. Michael Mattioli is accused of killing Joel Acevedo in the spring of 2020 while he was off duty.

For three and a half years, Maribel and Jose Acevedo have been pleading for answers and accountability.

“He had this energy and this smile about him that just lit up the room,” Maribel Acevedo told TMJ4 is June 2020. “It feels like a big piece of my heart is gone.”

Gov. Tony Evers Announces Over $36M For Building Projects Across The State

Gov. Tony Evers allocated $36.6 million in federal pandemic relief funds to building projects across Wisconsin Thursday after state lawmakers originally rejected funding those projects in the state budget.

The projects include a new soccer stadium in Milwaukee, a sports and convention center in Janesville, an expansion for the Green Bay National Railroad Museum, an arts center in Milwaukee and upgrades to the Door County Peninsula Players Theatre.

In a statement, the governor's office said the investments, made with American Rescue Plan Act funds, are projected to support over 400 jobs and nearly $68 million in economic activity for Wisconsin.

'Urgent Action': Business Leaders Call On Legislature To Fund UW-Madison Engineering Building

Sunday's edition of the Wisconsin State Journal contained a piece of writing that will be of interest to some of Wisconsin's elected leaders.

It wasn't an article or an editorial, but instead a full-page advertisement paid for by the Wisconsin Alumni Association.

The ad is a letter telling Wisconsin legislators that the state needs more engineers. It is signed by 42 state business leaders, including several from the Madison area.

The letter calls on the legislature to take "urgent action" on a new UW-Madison engineering building.

Hoosiers Snap 6-Game Conference Losing Streak By Beating Wisconsin Badgers 20-14

Coach Tom Allen kept telling his Indiana Hoosiers to ignore the critics and stick to the plan.

On Saturday, the payoff finally came.

Second-year quarterback Brendan Sorsby ran for one score, threw for another and led the Hoosiers to a long field goal on their final possession Saturday to snap a six-game conference losing streak with a 20-14 victory over Wisconsin.

“I just attribute it to the culture," Allen said. “They believe in what we’re doing, and I think it's showed the way we played the last couple of weeks.”

Packers Snap 4-Game Skid With 20-3 Victory Over Struggling Rams

Aaron Jones finally ended the Green Bay Packers' first-half touchdown drought.

Green Bay's resourceful reinforcements on defense took over from there and helped the Packers snap a four-game skid by beating the Los Angeles Rams 20-3 on a rainy Sunday.

“I feel like that will help us get rolling, give us that confidence that we need,” said Jones, who ran for 73 yards on 20 carries to lead Green Bay's 184-yard ground attack. “I always say it only takes one to get things going.”