Morning Headlines - Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026

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

Murders Plummeted More Than 20% In U.S. In 2025, Study Shows

Murders plummeted more than 20% from the year before, the single-largest one-year drop on record — and 2025's might be the lowest murder rate in the U.S. since 1900, a study released Thursday by the Council on Criminal Justice found.

The annual crime trends report analyzed data from 40 large cities across the United States for 13 different crime types, including murder, carjacking, theft and drug offenses.

House Oversight Panel Votes To Hold Bill And Hillary Clinton In Contempt Of Congress

The House Oversight Committee voted on Wednesday to hold former President Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in criminal contempt of Congress after the couple defied a congressional subpoena. The testimony demand was filed in connection with the panel's investigation into the Jeffrey Epstein case.

The panel's GOP members said they gave the Clintons plenty of chances to appear, but they refused to show for their scheduled, closed-door depositions last week. The Clintons have called the subpoenas legally invalid and said they have already shared with the committee what "little information" they know. 

Top Five Takeaways From Trump’s Interview With CNBC

President Donald Trump joined CNBC for an interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Trump detailed his “concept of a deal” for the future of Greenland.

The president also touched on key issues such as his new focus on affordability in the form of a proposed 10% credit card cap; U.S. response to protests in Iran; and the next Fed chair.

Democrats Hold 6-Point Lead Over GOP On Generic Ballot: Poll

Democrats are ahead of Republicans by 6 percentage points on a generic congressional ballot, according to a new poll.

In the poll from Emerson College, 48.1 percent of respondents backed a Democratic candidate in a hypothetical 2026 matchup. The Republican candidate garnered 41.7 percent backing in the hypothetical matchup and 10.2 percent were undecided.

1st Defendant Sentenced In NBA Gambling Scheme Gets 2 Years In Prison

A federal judge in Brooklyn handed down a two-year prison sentence Wednesday to a gambler who prosecutors say defrauded sports betting platforms by using non-public information to place highly profitable wagers tied to the performance of NBA players allegedly in on the scheme.

Timothy McCormack is the first defendant to be sentenced for his role in a sweeping conspiracy allegedly involving former NBA players Terry Rozier and Jontay Porter that McCormack blamed on a gambling addiction.

Wisconsin Headlines

Wisconsin Assembly Okays Real Meat Labeling Plan

America’s dairyland is taking a stance on real meat.

The Wisconsin Assembly on Tuesday approved a plan to require lab-grown meat to be labeled as lab-grown.

The legislation is relatively simple. It states "no person may sell or offer for sale a food product that contains cultured animal cells or cultured animal tissue derived from cultured animal cells (lab-grown meat) unless the food product is labeled with the phrase 'lab-grown meat.'"

Uihlein, Hendricks Seven-Figure Donations Fuel $4.5 Million RACC Haul

The Republican Assembly Campaign Committee raised $4.5 million through its main account over the last half of 2025, thanks largely to seven-figure donations from GOP megadonors Elizabeth Uihlein and Diane Hendricks.

A check of RACC’s filing shows Uihlein donated $3 million to the campaign committee in October, while Hendricks gave $1 million in mid-December.

Meanwhile, Hendricks gave $1,000 to the Committee to Elect a Republican Senate during the most recent reporting period, while Uihlein didn’t send any donations to the committee.

GOP Proposal Would Require Dpi To Expand Mental Health Services To Wisconsin High Schoolers

A Republican proposal would require the Department of Public Instruction to expand access to mental health services for some Wisconsin high school students.

The two-year pilot program would be launched during the 2026-27 school year to provide at least 50,000 students access to an electronic behavioral health prevention tool, according to the proposal.

The online tool includes behavioral health education resources, pre-moderated peer-to-peer support, and access to private online sessions with licensed mental health professionals.

Senator Baldwin Pushes Bill To Cap Late Fees At $8

Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin, along with two of her Democratic colleagues, is supporting a bill to cap credit card late fees at $8.

According to Baldwin, this legislation addresses the $14 billion consumers pay annually in late fees, which significantly benefit major banks.

Senator Baldwin emphasized the financial strain on families due to rising costs, saying, "The last thing they need is big banks and credit card companies gouging them with credit card late fees that make it harder to stay afloat."

Wisconsin DNR Responds To Viral Posts On ‘Exploding Trees’

With those cold temperatures, the Wisconsin DNR says don’t be alarmed if you hear some kind of noise out in the woods.

That’s because as temperatures freeze, it doesn’t just affect the ground we walk on, or the type of precipitation that falls, it also affects the trees.

When the sap inside a tree cools too quickly, small cracks become larger, creating a cracking or popping sound that can resemble a gunshot.