Morning Headlines - Thursday, Aug. 6, 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

Flock Camera Contracts Canceled In 23 Jurisdictions

Twenty-three jurisdictions nationwide have voted to cancel or reject Flock license plate camera readers following controversy and concerns about surveillance and privacy.

Flock cameras are solar-powered automatic license plate readers made by Flock Safety.

“Flock technology combines video, gunshot detection, and investigative software to help law enforcement, schools, and businesses locate vehicles, understand incidents, and collaborate across jurisdictions while maintaining clear privacy safeguards, local control, and responsible data use,” the company’s website says.

Flock cameras are marketed to police and local officials as a way to track criminals, but following hundreds of reports of police abuse and cases of mistaken identity, local leaders nationwide are pushing back on the camera network.

Google Is Expanding Its AI Empire — And Losing The People Who Built It

Google’s cloud boom is testing the company’s commitment to frontier AI as commercial returns take priority.

Jeff Dean’s departure and Demis Hassabis’ move away from daily management of DeepMind add to questions about Google’s ability to retain top talent and stay at the frontier.

Google Cloud’s 82% growth in the second quarter strengthens the case for prioritizing infrastructure, efficient models and enterprise AI services.

FDA Approves First mRNA Flu Vaccine

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) late Wednesday approved the nation’s first mRNA flu vaccine, manufactured by drugmaker Moderna.

The agency approved the shot for two separate age groups; people age 50 to 64, and for 65 years and older. Moderna said it will conduct a postmarket clinical trial to confirm the effectiveness in the older group.

Scientists Are Certain A Wayward Spacex Rocket Slammed Into The Moon As Predicted

A SpaceX rocket that launched a pair of lunar landers slammed into the moon as predicted on Wednesday after drifting off course for the past year, scientists reported.

Although no one observed the actual 5,400-mph (8,700-kph) collision, a telescope in Chile spotted what astronomers have identified as the debris plume resulting from the crash. Space tracking experts said it was inevitable that the leftover rocket segment plowed into the moon.

Ebola Disease Caused By Bundibugyo Virus - Democratic Republic Of The Congo

The Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is intensifying, with sustained transmission and continued increases in reported cases and deaths. Initially confined to the Mongbwalu health zone in Ituri Province, over the last two months, the outbreak has expanded to five provinces (Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé and Tshopo), now affecting 49 health zones.

The outbreak is now the largest Ebola outbreak ever reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As of 30 July 2026, a total of 3605 confirmed cases, including 1587 deaths, have been reported, corresponding to a crude case fatality ratio (CFR) of 44%.

After Michigan, Democrats' Next Battleground Over The Party's Future Shifts To Wisconsin

Wisconsin's primary comes a week after progressive Abdul El-Sayed narrowly defeated Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan’s U.S. Senate primary, setting up a crucial test for progressives in November in a key battleground state. Also on Tuesday, voters in Minnesota will decide another U.S. Senate contest featuring a centrist and a progressive.

In a year where voters upset with the Democratic Party mainstream have propelled outsider candidates to victory across the country, Crowley is hoping to buck the trend in Wisconsin. He's banking on the support of Evers, one of the state's most popular elected officials, to make up ground in the waning days of the chaotic primary.

Wisconsin's 2026 Primary For Governor Hits The Home Stretch

It was in the summer of 2025 that Gov. Tony Evers announced he would not seek a third term in office. The number of candidates seeking to win the Democratic nomination for governor eventually surged to seven, but one week out from the primary Election Day, there were just four left. After the night of Tuesday, Aug. 11, the party will seek to unite behind the winner against the presumptive Republican nominee Tom Tiffany.

Is Wisconsin’s Income Tax Rate The Same For People Earning $400,000 Annually As It Is For Billionaires?

Wisconsin’s highest income tax rate is 7.65%.

For individuals, it applies to all taxable annual income above $323,290.

For married taxpayers filing jointly, the threshold is $431,060.

Lower tax rates apply to taxable income below the two thresholds.

A married couple with taxable income of $450,000 would pay the same tax rate on the portion of their income above $431,060 as a billionaire with $50 million in taxable income would pay on the larger portion of their income above that threshold, said Jason Stein, president of the nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum.

Daylight Saving Time Could Become Permanent, Reigniting A Century-Old Debate In Wisconsin

A bill moving through Congress would put an end to the practice of changing clocks in the spring and fall, instead switching to permanent daylight saving time.

The Sunshine Protection Act cleared the House and is now in the Senate, where its fate is uncertain. Elected officials in neighboring states have raised concerns or voiced opposition to permanent daylight saving time due to later winter sunrises in the northern part of the Midwest. In Wisconsin, the sun wouldn’t rise until 8 a.m. or later in December and January.

Hong Spends Nothing On Traditional TV Buys As GOP Groups Boost Her In Dem Primary

Dem gubernatorial frontrunner Francesca Hong hasn’t spent a dime on traditional TV buys over the course of her campaign and has put just $150,200 into online ads, according to a check of her campaign finance reports.

In all, Hong has spent $300,598 on anything related to paid media, from consulting fees to graphic design to newspaper ads.

It’s a stark contrast to others in the field. Expected GOP nominee Tom Tiffany, for example, has reported $7.6 million in media expenses, including $3.9 million on TV.

Tiffany, though, has vastly outraised the Dem field, thanks partly to $10.2 million in transfers from the state GOP this year that have helped him raise nearly $15.5 million for his bid overall.