Morning Headlines - Thurday, April 24, 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

These Are The 6 Food Dyes The FDA Wants To Phase Out — And Some Of The Products That Use Them

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is calling on companies to phase out all petroleum-based dyes by the end of next year, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announced Tuesday.

The goal is to replace them with natural alternatives in the U.S. food supply. The FDA will be accelerating the review and approval of some new natural color additives, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary told reporters at an event to announce the plan, which stopped short of an outright ban.

Russia Hits Kyiv With Deadliest Attack Since 2024

At least nine people were killed and dozens more were injured in an overnight Russian attack on several districts and residential areas in Kyiv, Ukrainian officials said on Thursday.

"Overnight, Russia held a massive attack on Ukraine,"the Ministry of Defense said. "Cruise missiles, drones, ballistic weapons — yet another strike on peaceful cities and Ukrainian homes."

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, who is traveling in South Africa, said Thursday he would cancel part of his planned visit and return to Ukraine earlier than expected.

Anti-Hamas Protests On Rise In Gaza As Group's Iron Grip Slips

"Out! Out! Out!"

The voice in the Telegram video is insistent. Loud. Sometimes musical.

And the message unambiguous.

"All of Hamas, out!"

On the streets of Gaza, more and more Palestinians are expressing open defiance against the armed group that's ruled the strip for almost 20 years.

Many hold Hamas responsible for plunging the tiny, impoverished territory into the worst crisis faced by Palestinians in more than 70 years.

Trump Signs Executive Orders On School Discipline, Education Reform

President Trump signed multiple executive orders on Wednesday targeting the country’s education system, from discipline in K-12 schools to how universities are accredited.

Regarding school discipline, Trump signed an order in the Oval Office intended to undo policies from former Presidents Obama and Biden that Will Scharf, White House staff secretary, said “created issues in the classroom for teachers and students alike.”

Behavioral issues have been on the rise since the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is unclear how much influence the federal government will be able to have over individual school policies on this issue.

Businesses Are Already Trying To Pass Tariff Costs Onto Customers, Fed Report Says

Businesses dealing with the early stages of President Donald Trump’s tariffs are looking for ways to pass increasing costs onto consumers, according to the Fed Beige Book report.

Broadly speaking, the report characterized economic growth as “little changed” from the March 5 report, though it noted that “uncertainty around international trade policy was pervasive.”

Wisconsin Headlines

Wisconsin Democrats Defend Intent Of DEI At Audit Hearing

Democrats at the Wisconsin Capitol are defending diversity, equity, and inclusion, despite two new audits that show state government and the UW system spent millions of dollars on DEI and got little in return.

The Legislative Audit Committee on Wednesday held public hearings into the DEI audits of Gov. Tony Evers’ administration, and the University of Wisconsin.

Those audits showed that the UW spent $40 million on DEI, yet could not track just where it spent the money because of different DEI definitions at different campuses. The audit into the Evers Administration showed just $2.2 million in spending, but also found a lack of tangible results.

Evers Open To Tax Deals With GOP Leaders, But Insists On It Being In The Budget

Gov. Tony Evers says while he’s open to negotiating a tax cut deal with GOP legislative leaders, any agreement would have to be part of the state budget — not standalone legislation. 

Evers said reaching a deal would be “tough” because of his demand it be done through the state budget. GOP legislative leaders have said they prefer a tax cut signed into law before taking up the budget.

Senate Approves Extending Medicaid Coverage To 12 Months For New Mothers

Backers today argued allowing new mothers to stay on Medicaid for the first 12 months after their baby is born rather than the current 60-day limit is good for the state’s finances as well as being the ethical and moral thing to do.

The state Senate today again overwhelmingly approved legislation to allow that, with an identical 32-1 roll call as last session when it cleared the chamber.

But like last session, it continues to face opposition from Assembly Speaker Robin Vos. The Rochester Republican said today that while he hasn’t discussed the bill with his caucus yet, his position has been “fairly clear from the beginning.”

‘The Nuclear Renaissance’: Wisconsin Lawmakers Discuss Pro-Nuclear Energy Bills

Wisconsin could become a leader in nuclear technology and should consider building new nuclear reactors, scientists and lawmakers say.

They spoke Wednesday at a public hearing for two nuclear-related bills in the state Assembly’s Committee on Jobs and Economy.

One bill directs the state’s Public Service Commission to do a nuclear power siting study, due 12 months after the bill’s passage.

Wisconsin Democrats Introduces Bill To Increase Access To Abortion

Democratic lawmakers introduced legislation to increase access to abortion in Wisconsin on Wednesday.

“Abortion Rights Restoration Act” would eliminate barriers to abortion care.

The legislation would also create a statute to protect each person’s right to make their own reproductive health care decisions.

“This legislation is about making a future here in Wisconsin where everyone has access to the health care they need, where every single person has the ability to thrive,” Democratic State Senator Kelda Roys said.