Morning Headlines - Monday, Sept. 30, 2024 | 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 and the end for a little humor to go with your news!

U.S. and World Headlines

Helene Leaves "Unimaginable" Destruction In 5 States As Death Toll Rises

Hurricane Helene has left officials in five southeastern states grappling to respond to the widespread destruction it caused after hitting Florida as a Category 4 storm last week, as the death toll continues to rise.

Officials on Sunday confirmed 30 deaths in the flood-hit Buncombe County, western North Carolina, where Asheville saw historic water level rises — bringing the number of storm-related deaths across six states to at least 91.

Pollsters: Don’t Be So Sure Trump Will Outperform Our Surveys

Pollsters caution against assuming that the polls this cycle are susceptible to the same errors as previous ones that underestimated support for former President Trump, arguing that every election is different and that this year’s polls are an accurate reflection of the competitiveness of the race.

Polls now show Vice President Harris leading Trump by about 4 points, according to the average from The Hill/Decision Desk HQ. But the race in the roughly half dozen battleground states is even closer, and a polling error like the ones in the past could mean Trump is in a stronger position to prevail than the data says.

Hamas Leader In Lebanon Killed In Airstrike As Israel Kills 7th Hezbollah Commander

The Palestinian militant group Hamas said an Israeli airstrike Monday killed its leader in Lebanon.

Hamas said Fatah Sharif and his family were killed in the strike on the Al-Buss refugee camp in the southern port city of Tyre.

In the past week, Israel has frequently targeted Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a strong presence.

Norway Is Mulling Building A Fence On Its Border With Russia, Following Finland's Example

Norway may put a fence along part or all of the 198-kilometer (123-mile) border it shares with Russia, a minister said, a move inspired by a similar project in its Nordic neighbor Finland.

“A border fence is very interesting, not only because it can act as a deterrent but also because it contains sensors and technology that allow you to detect if people are moving close to the border,” Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl said in an interview with the Norwegian public broadcaster NRK published late Saturday.

AT&T Sells 70% Stake In DirecTV To TPG For $7.6 Billion

AT&T said on Monday it would sell its 70% stake in satellite TV service DirecTV to private equity firm TPG for $7.6 billion, exiting a business marked by declining distributions for the telecom operator.

AT&T in 2021 signed a joint-venture agreement with TPG, which contributed about $1.8 billion in cash in exchange for a 30% stake in DirecTV that was valued at about $16 billion at the time.

New Farmer Survey Could Signal Slowdown In Wisconsin Dairy Farm Losses

Wisconsin has seen a significant decline in the number of dairy farms in the state, losing nearly half of the state’s dairy farms in the last 10 years.

But a new state survey found the majority of dairy producers said they still plan to be milking in five years.

The state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection had just over 1,600 farmers respond to the 2024 Dairy Producers Survey, representing about 30 percent of registered dairy herds in the state.

Madison's Mailing Of Duplicate Absentee Ballots Raises Confusion, Fuels Accusations Over Elections

When the elections clerk in Wisconsin’s heavily Democratic capital city of Madison announced on Sept. 23 that duplicate absentee ballots had mistakenly been sent to around 2,000 voters, it ignited concerns about election integrity from a Republican congressman and others on the right.

Every vote is crucial in Wisconsin, a swing state that President Joe Biden won by just under 21,000 votes in 2020 and that former President Donald Trump won by just under 23,000 votes in 2016. The contest between Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris is close this year as well, creating a hyperintense focus on how elections are run.

The Green Bay Packers Lose To The Minnesota Vikings, 31-29

Sam Darnold threw three touchdown passes and Jordan Addison scored twice as the Minnesota Vikings built an early 28-point lead and hung on down the stretch to beat the Green Bay Packers 31-29 on Sunday.

The Vikings (4-0) are off to their best start since 2016 when they won their first five games before slumping to an 8-8 finish. They have trailed for less than 3 1/2 minutes all season.

No. 13 USC Rallies From A Double-Digit Deficit In The Second Half And Roars Past Wisconsin, 38-21

The Coliseum crowd booed Southern California off the field at halftime Saturday after the Trojans committed three turnovers, struggled for defensive stops against Wisconsin and generally played like a team that wasn't ready for the Big Ten.

Although they couldn't argue with their fans' feelings, the Trojans are already very good at halftime adjustments — and they had plenty of time to rally for a landmark win.

Get Ready For Hunting And Trapping Seasons Opening In October

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds hunters to prepare for the opening of several hunting and trapping seasons in October.

There are four dates throughout October when seasons open, so hunters are encouraged to double-check season dates and confirm that they have acquired all necessary licenses and stamps before heading into the field.