Morning Headlines - Thursday, Jan. 2, 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 and the end for a little humor to go with your news!

U.S. and World Headlines

Man Slams Truck Into Crowd In New Orleans, Killing At Least 15

A man intentionally drove a pickup truck into a crowd of revelers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans' French Quarter early on New Year's Day, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens of others, officials said. A black ISIS flag was flying from the truck's rear bumper, and the attack is being investigated as an act of terrorism, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said.

The man driving the vehicle has been identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, a U.S. citizen from Texas, the FBI said.

Tesla Cybertruck Bursts Into Flames Outside Trump Hotel In Las Vegas, Killing One

A Tesla Cybertruck exploded and burst into flames Wednesday morning just outside the entrance of Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, killing a person inside the vehicle and injuring several others standing nearby, local officials said.

The suspicious blast is being investigated as a possible terrorist attack, three senior law enforcement members briefed on the matter told NBC News. A motive has yet to be established.

House Rules Would Make It Harder To Oust Speaker In Next Congress

Republicans will make it harder to remove the speaker in the 119th Congress under a rules package unveiled Wednesday.

The proposed rules package would require nine GOP members to back making a motion to vacate to trigger a vote on ousting the speaker. That’s an increase from the current rule, which allows any single GOP member to force a vote.

These Airlines Were The Most On-Time In 2024

The most on-time airlines spanned the globe, according to a ranking released Thursday by Cirium. The aviation data firm considers punctuality an arrival that occurs within 15 minutes of the scheduled time.

Delta Air Lines topped the North American ranking despite its struggle to recover from the CrowdStrike outage in July that canceled thousands of flights.

5 Lobbying Fights Looming In 2025

Lobbyists will have their hands full with several massive legislative battles coming early in a second Trump administration.

President-elect Trump is poised to disrupt business as usual in Washington when he takes office on Jan. 20, threatening steep tariffs on U.S. imports that could hit foreign allies and enemies and the businesses that utilize international supply chains.

Wisconsin Headlines

Wisconsin To See $4.1B Investment From 6 New Transmission Projects

Wisconsin is expected to see $4.1 billion of investment in the coming years from six transmission projects as part of the largest portfolio ever approved by the Midwest electric grid operator.

The Midcontinent Independent System Operator, or MISO, in December approved 488 transmission projects that span 5,000 miles across 15 states, including a $21.8 billion portfolio of 24 long range transmission plans.

Menominee Man Indicted For Involuntary Manslaughter And Fleeing Resulting In Death After Vehicle Crash On Menominee Indian Reservation

Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 17, 2024, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging a man with involuntary manslaughter and fleeing an officer resulting in death following a vehicle crash on the Menominee Indian Reservation.

The indictment named Desmond L. Waukau, Jr., a 21-year-old enrolled member of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin who was residing in the Green Bay area.

Officer Involved Critical Incident Investigation In Madison

The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is conducting an officer involved critical incident investigation in the City of Madison, Dane County, Wis. that occurred on the evening of Monday, December 30, 2024.

At approximately 8:22 p.m., officers with the Madison Police Department responded to a report of a vehicle theft at the Best Western on Annamark Drive. A foot chase ensued with an adult male suspect, who was taken into custody, and EMS was requested to respond. EMS conducted an on-scene evaluation of the subject and cleared the subject for transport by law enforcement to the Dane County Jail. Upon arrival at the jail, the subject was observed to be unresponsive. The subject was transported to a local hospital where he remains.

Wisconsinites Gather In New Glarus To Capture Photos Of A Snowy Owl

Over a dozen Wisconsinites gathered near the SSM Health Clinic in New Glarus on New Year's Day to see a snowy owl. Observers in the area say, one can tell the owl is a female based on the color of her feathers. The males tend to be mostly white whereas the females have the brown-colored markings.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources estimates more than 50 snowy owls had been recorded in Wisconsin as of Dec. 12, 2024. An increase in sightings could be a sign of exceptionally large migrations known as irruptions.

Finalists Announced For Packers FAN Hall Of Fame

Voting is underway to find the 27th member of the Packers FAN Hall of Fame as team officials have announced the names of this year’s finalists. The Packers were the first team to have a hall of fame and in 1998 they established the Packers FAN Hall of Fame with the purpose of honoring a devout and longtime Packers fan every year.

Fans throughout Packer nation were asked to nominate themselves or a friend for the honor. The nominations also needed to include an essay of 500 words or less and a photo explaining why they should be recognized.