Morning Headlines - Thursday, Jan. 29, 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

Congress Lurches Toward Government Shutdown As Leaders Swap Demands

Congress lurched a day closer to a partial government shutdown on Wednesday after Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) laid out a list of major reforms that Democrats want to make to the Department of Homeland Security, proposals that will likely encounter resistance from President Trump.

Democrats say they will block the six-bill government funding package the Senate will vote on Thursday, which includes the Homeland Security appropriations bill, putting Washington on the brink of another shutdown less than three months after the longest shutdown in American history.

Video Shows Alex Pretti In Scuffle With Agents 11 Days Before His Death

A newly released video shows 37-year-old Alex Pretti confronting federal immigration officers on a Minneapolis street 11 days before he was fatally shot in another encounter with Customs and Border Protection agents, a Pretti family representative confirmed to CBS News Wednesday.

The representative said the family knew about the incident and that he sustained injuries, but did not receive medical care.

In the video, he is seen kicking and damaging the taillight of a government SUV. The vehicle then stops, and federal agents emerge and tackle him to the ground.

Here Are The Five Key Takeaways From Wednesday’s Fed Rate Decision

The Federal Reserve wrapped up a two-day policy meeting Wednesday, delivering pretty much what the market expected and no major surprises from Chair Jerome Powell’s news conference.

Here are five things worth remembering:

The Oldest Baby Boomers Turn 80 In 2026

Baby Boomers will soon reach another milestone: In 2026, the oldest members of this generation will turn 80.

The Baby Boom generation refers to adults born between 1946 and 1964. The name reflects the sharp and prolonged increase in fertility that occurred in the wake of World War II.

The United States saw a total of 76 million births during the boom, with the annual number surpassing 4 million in 1954 and remaining above that level until 1965. The annual number of births would not surpass 4 million again until 1989.

Poacher Illegally Kills Prominent Wolf From Yellowstone's Most Viewed Pack: Officials

A prominent wolf that lived among Yellowstone's most famous wolf pack is believed to have been illegally shot and killed just outside the park last month, according to wildlife experts.

The wolf was likely killed on Christmas Day around 10 p.m., according to a statement by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Wildlife officials began investigating after they received a mortality signal from the wolf's collar near the Jardine area, the agency said.

PSC Analysts, Groups Say We Energies’ Proposed Data Center Rates Pose Risks To Customers

Analysts for state utility regulators and interest groups say a proposal from We Energies for special electric rates charged to data centers could pose risks for other customers’ utility bills.

Public Service Commission of Wisconsin staff and interest groups raised concerns in their testimony that without stronger safeguards, the proposal could burden regular customers with higher costs.

“The bottom line is we think there are loopholes in what We Energies has proposed that actually do put customers at risk of paying additional costs with this data center wave,” said Tom Content, executive director of the Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin.

Wisconsin's 2026 Governor Candidates Consider State Prisons

The $500 million dollar plan by Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers to revamp the state’s prison system is underway, but only in the most modest fashion. In October 2025, a bipartisan group at the State Building Commission released $15 million to start the years-long process.

However, Democrats and Republicans don’t agree on the rest of the plan, which would call for reducing overall prison capacity and adding more work release options for non-violent offenders.

Wisconsin Natural Resources Board Approves Updated PFAS Drinking Water Standards

The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board approved updated PFAS drinking water standards Wednesday morning, sending the new regulations to the legislature and governor for review.

The updated standards build on lessons learned from the board’s 2022 meeting. At that meeting, a state standard was adopted, but it essentially sent the Department of Natural Resources back to restart the lengthy rule-making process to reach the levels health regulators proposed.

Wisconsin Will Issue The Most Licenses Ever Recorded For This Fall’s Bear Hunt

Wisconsin hunters will have a better chance to harvest black bears this fall due to a record number of licenses and higher quota approved Wednesday by the state’s Natural Resources Board.

The board unanimously signed off on a quota of 4,160 bears and 15,245 licenses for the fall bear hunt, following recommendations from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

The harvest target is up 2 percent from last year’s quota of 4,075 bears. But most significantly, the DNR is increasing the number of bear tags by about 16 percent from last year.

Another Wisconsin Facility Announces Closure, Dozens Of Jobs Impacted

A global manufacturer of advanced materials and packaging solutions announced plans to shut down a Wisconsin facility, resulting in dozens of layoffs.

According to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) letter submitted to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Tekni-Plex will permanently close its facility located on North 64th Street in Milwaukee.