Morning Headlines - Thursday, Apr. 16, 2026 | 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 at the end for a little humor to go with your news!

U.S. and World Headlines

Trump Administration Set To Launch Tariff Refund Portal. Here's What To Know

The U.S. government is set to launch an online portal next week that lets businesses request refunds for tariffs deemed illegal by the Supreme Court. But payouts won't be automatic, and legal experts said businesses could face other obstacles getting their money back.

A federal agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), will boot up the portal — known as CAPE, for Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries — so companies can submit claims for tariff refunds. CBP confirmed in a filing on Tuesday that CAPE will open for refund applications on April 20.

Iran Embassy In Tajikistan Posts AI Video Of Jesus Punching Trump In The Face

Iran’s Embassy in Tajikistan posted an AI-generated video of Jesus Christ punching President Trump in the face.

The video is one of several released by Iranian embassies mocking Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Iran has engaged in a heavy social media battle with the Trump administration amid the U.S.-Israeli war with the regime, seeking to win global favor.

3 Things To Know About Naval Blockades As U.s. Begins Patrols In The Strait Of Hormuz

Days after the U.S. Navy began blockading the Strait of Hormuz, key questions remain unanswered about how such a large-scale operation can be sustained — and history suggests naval blockades are difficult to enforce and their results are often unpredictable at best.

The White House says it wants to choke off Iran's main source of revenue, oil exports, by cutting the country off from global maritime trade. It's a move aimed at increasing economic pressure on Iran after weeks of U.S. strikes have failed to persuade the country's leaders to agree to end the war on Washington's terms.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Is Preparing Banks To Collect Citizenship Data

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tells CNBC’s Sara Eisen at the Invest in America Forum on Tuesday that the Trump administration expects banks to comply with a mandate to collect citizenship data.

The administration has been considering an executive order to require banks to request additional documents from customers and earlier this week Bessent indicated the EO is coming.

Banks are required to collect information through “know your customer” rules, but have pushed back against this plan. But Bessent told CNBC, “If Treasury and the banking regulators say it’s their job, it’s their job.”

Teens’ Experiences On TikTok, Instagram And Snapchat

Within the big universe that is social media, every site is its own unique world for teens.

For the first time, Pew Research Center went deeper into comparing teens’ experiences on three widely used platforms: TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat. And while similarities exist, how and why teens use these sites differ in many ways.

Assembly, Senate Keep Open Special Session On Gerrymandering; Evers Urges Action

The Assembly and Senate left open a special session Dem Gov. Tony Evers called to ban partisan gerrymandering, saying they wanted to continue talks and gather public input.

Evers declared after the session opened yesterday, “There’s nothing to negotiate because there’s no room for compromise when it comes to making sure Wisconsinites’ voices matter and their votes count.”

Evers has called 14 special sessions over the past seven years only to see GOP leaders gavel them out immediately six times, according to the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Gov. Evers Declares State Of Emergency As Flooding, Severe Storms Batter Wisconsin

Gov. Tony Evers signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency as communities across Wisconsin continue to experience and recover from severe storms, power outages, record rainfall and flooding.

Evers signed Executive Order #289 on Wednesday after traveling to Union Center in Juneau County to meet with neighbors, emergency and first responders and local partners to see damage caused by severe weather. The governor is set to continue touring storm damage in communities impacted by this week's extreme weather events, according to a press release from the governor's office.

Five Tornadoes Confirmed In Wisconsin Survey

The National Weather Service has confirmed five tornadoes that impacted Wisconsin on April 14.

Damage surveys revealed a powerful EF3 tornado, an EF2 tornado, two EF1 tornados and an EF0 tornado.

Report: Health Care Costs Rising Faster Than Wages In Wisconsin

A new report from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for Research on the Wisconsin Economy found health care costs in the state have risen far faster than wages.

Ananth Seshadri, center director and co-author of the report, said increasing costs hurt Wisconsin’s economic competitiveness because insurance is often tied to employment.

DPI Dismisses Questions On Testing Changes, Waterpark Weekend

Wisconsin’s public school managers took a defiant tone with state lawmakers who have questions about the effort to lower the state’s standardized tests score, and who want answers about the now infamous $400,000 waterpark weekend.

The Department of Public Instruction’s legislative liaison Andrew Hoyer-Booth began a Wednesday hearing in front of the Assembly’s Committee on Government Operations, Accountability, and Transparency by telling lawmakers they wouldn’t get many answers.