Morning Headlines - Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024

U.S. and World Headlines

Trump Warns Haley Donors Will Be ‘Permanently Barred From The MAGA Camp’

Former President Trump on Wednesday railed against GOP primary opponent Nikki Haley and warned that anyone who contributes to her campaign would be “permanently barred from the MAGA camp.”

“When I ran for Office and won, I noticed that the losing Candidate’s ‘Donors’ would immediately come to me, and want to ‘help out.’ This is standard in Politics, but no longer with me,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform.

“Anybody that makes a ‘Contribution’ to Birdbrain, from this moment forth, will be permanently barred from the MAGA camp. We don’t want them, and will not accept them, because we Put America First, and ALWAYS WILL!” Trump continued, using the nickname “Birdbrain,” to refer to Haley.

Patients Are Drowning In Appointment Reminders

Got an upcoming doctor's appointment? Perhaps a prescription to refill or a dental cleaning? Odds are your phone has been pinging away with incessant reminders about it.

It's not just you. There's a growing flood of emails, texts, phone calls and other prods to patients that — beyond just potentially becoming another digital annoyance — may make them tune out the important stuff.

"There's definitely a lot of information overload going on," said Jon Freedman, a digital strategist with health care consulting firm Chartis.

Challenging economics for doctors, pharmacies and other providers coming out of the pandemic, as well as the proliferation of tech tools, are largely driving this surge in digital noise, experts say.

Jim Harbaugh Is Heading Back To The NFL, Just Weeks After Winning A National Championship At Michigan

The Los Angeles Chargers have hired Jim Harbaugh as the team’s new head coach, the team announced Wednesday.

The move comes after Harbaugh spent nine seasons coaching his alma mater, the University of Michigan, where he led the Wolverines to a College Football Playoff national championship earlier this month.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported the news. Harbaugh replaces Brandon Staley, who was fired in December.

Jon Stewart Returning To 'The Daily Show' Once A Week

Jon Stewart is returning to host "The Daily Show" for one day per week through the election, a source confirmed to ABC News.

The news of Stewart's return to hosting the show, which will begin Feb. 12, was later confirmed by SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios.

Stewart will also take on the role of executive producer "to Shape Next Chapter of the Franchise," according to a press release.

Supreme Court Allows Alabama To Carry Out First-Ever Execution By Nitrogen Gas Of Death Row Inmate Kenneth Smith

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to stop Alabama from executing an inmate by nitrogen hypoxia, a controversial and untested method that has prompted legal pushback and a rebuke from the United Nations. Kenneth Eugene Smith is scheduled to be the first person in the United States to be put to death with nitrogen gas.

The justices rejected arguments by Smith's lawyers that it would be unconstitutional for the state to attempt a second execution after a failed lethal injection in 2022.

Smith also has asked the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to block the execution. That court has not yet issued its ruling. His execution is currently scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 25.

Wisconsin Headlines

University Of Wisconsin Racism Seminar Tells Students ‘There Are No Exceptional White People’

A mandatory orientation for first-year University of Wisconsin Law School students denounced “whiteness” and ripped “colorblindness” as a sinister racist tool, according to reports.

The racial refresher was given last week to enrollees who had completed their first semester of instruction at the well-regarded Madison school helmed by dean Daniel Tokaji.

Students were given preparatory literature beforehand to acquaint them with the session’s imperatives.

One section reminded white students they benefit from racial oppression regardless of their correctional efforts — and that “there are no exceptional white people.”

Governor Promises Veto After Assembly Republicans Pass Modified Version Of Evers’ Redistricting Plan

Assembly Republicans today approved an amended version of Tony Evers’ redistricting plan, arguing the Dem guv should sign off on the changes because the proposal would still include the vast majority of what he proposed to the state Supreme Court.

But the guv quickly dismissed the plans, saying he will veto them.

“No, I won’t sign it. The only one that I’ll sign are my maps. Those are not my maps,” Evers said in a video posted to his X account.

Lawmakers voted 63-35 along party lines to send the revised maps to the guv after the Senate approved them yesterday. The move comes as the state Supreme Court signaled in its ruling last month throwing out the GOP lines used in 2022 that it would give lawmakers and the guv the opportunity to put a new plan in place before the justices imposed a new map.

AG Kaul Announces New Electronic Storage Detection Canine At The Wisconsin DOJ

Attorney General Josh Kaul today announced a new Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) canine named Moose. Moose assists with investigations around the state of Wisconsin that require the detection of electronics.

“Electronic storage detection canines like Moose help in holding those who commit internet crimes against children accountable,” said Attorney General Josh Kaul. “We’re glad to have Moose working to keep kids in Wisconsin safe.”

Moose and his handler, Special Agent Alexander Bol, are primarily assigned to assist with Internet Crimes Against Children investigations, however, ESD canines have proven to be useful in a variety of investigations. Moose can also be used to provide comfort to children during investigations and court proceedings. Special Agent Bol and Moose are based out of DCI’s Madison field office; however, they travel around the state to assist where they are needed.

Wisconsin Man Charged With Sexual Exploitation Of Minors

Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on January 23, 2024, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment alleging that Zachary A. Zastawniak (age: 23) of Peshtigo, Wisconsin, sexually exploited or attempted to sexually exploit two minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2251(a) and 2251(e).

According to the indictment, on or about July 7, 2023, and again on August 23, 2023, Zastawniak knowingly employed, used, persuaded, induced, and coerced two minors to “engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction … of [the victims] engaged in the lascivious exhibition of [the victims’] genitals.” Zastawniak faces a mandatory 15 years’ imprisonment and up to 30 years’ imprisonment if convicted of either count. He may also be fined up to $250,000 on each count.

Evers Secures Federal Grant For Largest Land Conservation Purchase In Wisconsin History

Gov. Tony Evers announced Jan. 23 that he has secured federal money to complete the largest land conservation purchase in Wisconsin history, going around Republicans in the Legislature who had blocked the project.

The state Department of Natural Resources planned in 2023 to spend about $4 million from the state’s Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program to help finance the purchase of the nearly 70,000 acre property east of Rhinelander in northern Wisconsin known as the Pelican River Forest. The U.S. Forestry Service had agreed to pay the remaining 75% of the easement.