Morning Headlines - Thursday, Jun. 18, 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

Donald Trump And Iran Sign Peace Deal Aiming To Reopen Strait Of Hormuz And End The War

Donald Trump and the president of Iran have signed a peace deal aiming to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The agreement will take 'immediate effect' and also includes a plan for Iran's 'reconstruction' and the US terminating 'all types of sanctions' on Tehran.

However, the issue of Iran's nuclear programme - the main reason why Trump began his military campaign in February - remains under negotiation for a further 60-day period.

How Trump's Memo Of Understanding With Iran Compares To The Obama Nuclear Deal

The memorandum of understanding that President Trump struck with Iran last weekend sets up a two-month sprint toward a longer-term deal over the fate of the Iranian nuclear program, eight years after Mr. Trump pulled out of an Obama-era nuclear agreement that he viewed as "disastrous" and "one-sided."

The Trump administration says its memorandum of understanding is far superior to the Obama administration's 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

The memorandum is not a final agreement like the JCPOA, which numbered hundreds of pages and was packed with technical details.

Although the memorandum is merely a roadmap for further negotiations, since Trump administration officials are comparing the two, here are some of the differences and similarities:

Federal Reserve Holds Interest Rates Steady But Leaves Door Open To Hike

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday left its benchmark interest rate unchanged amid resurgent inflation, but nearly half of its policymakers said they would support a rate hike later this year.

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) kept the federal funds rate, which affects borrowing costs for consumers and businesses, in its current range of 3.5% to 3.75%. Economists had widely expected the central bank to keep rates steady.

Ozempic And Wegovy Linked To Drop In Violent Behavior, Study Finds

The use of GLP-1 drugs is primarily to help people lose weight, but new research finds it’s leading to a decrease in violent behavior.

The study, conducted at Rutgers University, found patients taking Ozempic and Wegovy were noticeably less impulsive and less prone to violence.

The strongest finding in the study was that the well-established link between impulsivity and violent behavior was substantially weaker among current GLP-1 users compared to former users.

Nike Unveils Caitlin Clark's 1st Signature Basketball Shoe

The wait is over. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark's first signature Nike basketball shoe is here. Clark teased pictures this morning on Instagram before Nike's official announcement this afternoon. It is safe to say that the Nike Caitlin 1 lives up to the hype.

According to Nike, Clark asked the brand for help in three key components for the Nike Caitlin 1 shoe: speed, range, and unpredictability. This enables her to show up faster and more confidently from anywhere on the floor. Below is a detailed look and breakdown of athletes and fans must know.

Wisconsin Headlines

Wisconsin’s Ron Johnson And Tammy Baldwin Uneasy About Deal To End Iran War

As President Donald Trump touts his deal with the Iranian government to end the ongoing war and resume oil shipments, Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson and Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin say they don’t like the outcome.

During a press conference at the G7 Summit in France Wednesday, Trump discussed some of the terms in a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran. He said Iran will get access to $300 billion for reconstruction, but clarified the money wouldn’t come from America. Economic sanctions against Iran will be dropped, Trump said, and the country will be allowed to have “some” of its ballistic missiles. Those have been used to attack Israel and neighboring countries.

Wisconsin Teacher and Track Coach Sentenced for Production of Child Pornography

Mishicot Middle/High School teacher and track coach Ryan S. Schroeder (age 39), to 336 months’ imprisonment following his conviction for Production of Child Pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2251(a).

According to court documents and arguments presented in court, Schroeder sexually assaulted a minor student for approximately two years, beginning when the girl was in the eighth grade. Schroeder then abused a second student, then 13-years-old, who informed the school district of Schroeder’s sexual abuse towards her. Law enforcement searched Schroeder’s cell phone and discovered that he had been sending images to both of the minors. Ultimately, he pled guilty to creating a video involving one of the minors which contained sexually explicit conduct with the child.

Hesselbein Says Dems Will Restore Stewardship, Increase School Funding If They Win Trifecta

Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein said Democrats will take up legislation to restore the Knowles-Nelson stewardship program and increase school funding if they return with a trifecta next year.

Free school meals, a right of first refusal bill for new transmission construction and new data center regulations could also be on the table, the Middleton Democrat told attendees at a WisPolitics-State Affairs luncheon Tuesday.

Wisconsin Woman Sentenced to Prison for Preparing False Tax Returns

U.S. District Judge Brett Ludwig sentenced Jasmeika Simon to one year and one day in federal prison for aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7206(2). Simon operated a tax preparation business that filed hundreds of false and fraudulent returns on behalf of clients in exchange for fees.

According to court records, Simon worked as an independent contractor and tax preparer for “Unlimited Taxes and More,” a Georgia‑based tax preparation company with affiliates nationwide. From 2022 through 2024, she submitted more than 300 individual income tax returns to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) containing false information designed to inflate clients’ tax refunds. Simon repeatedly used fabricated items—including business expenses, Sick and Family Leave Credits, Fuel Credits, and ordinary dividends—to artificially increase refund amounts. She recruited clients through word‑of‑mouth and Facebook advertising, often preparing returns with minimal input from the taxpayers.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Denies Review Of Dane County Man Convicted Of Killing Parents

The Wisconsin Supreme Court declined to review the case of a Dane County man convicted of killing his parents, online court records show.

Chandler Halderson was found guilty in 2022 for the killings of his parents, Bart and Krista Halderson.

In a Wisconsin Supreme Court decision posted Tuesday, the court denied a review and said the conviction was affirmed. It also relieved Halderson’s attorney, Michael Covey, from representing him any further.