Morning Headlines - Thursday, Mar. 12, 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

First 6 Days Of Iran War Cost $11.3 Billion, Pentagon Tells Congress

Defense Department officials told senators in a closed-door briefing Tuesday that they estimate the first six days of the war in Iran cost more than $11.3 billion, according to three sources familiar with the briefing.

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., told reporters Wednesday that he believes the amount is even higher, as the current figure does not include every aspect of the war.

International Energy Agency Announces Largest Ever Release Of Reserve Oil Amid Iran War

The International Energy Agency on Wednesday said it would release 400 million barrels of oil from its strategic reserve, marking the largest oil release in the group's history as the global economy grapples with fallout from the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

Oil prices soared after the outbreak of war as traders feared a prolonged blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a trading route that facilitates the transport of about one-fifth of the global oil supply.

Trump Administration Takes Steps To Impose New Tariffs, Announcing Investigations Into Key Trading Partners

The Trump administration on Wednesday announced new investigations into the trading practices of a number of U.S. trading partners, which could lead to more tariffs after the Supreme Court struck down some of President Trump's tariffs last month.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the U.S. will investigate concerns of "structural excess capacity" — manufacturing more goods than a country can reasonably consume — in the European Union, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Mexico, Japan and India.

What To Know About Cychlorphine, The Synthetic Opioid 10 Times Stronger Than Fentanyl

Multiple states have raised the alarm in the past month about cychlorphine, a synthetic opioid tied to several dozen recent overdoses that is far stronger than fentanyl.

Cychlorphine is part of a new class of synthetic opioids making their way into the U.S. illicit drug supply. The drug has never been approved for use in humans. Like fentanyl, cychlorphine is being mixed in with other street drugs, but it is not detectable through fentanyl test strips, making it even more dangerous.

Warning As ChatGPT Plots Tool That Peers Into Your Bank Accounts And Credit Cards

From writing emails and generating social media posts to planning holidays and drafting job applications, ChatGPT has quickly become part of everyday life.

Now it appears the AI chatbot may be preparing to take on something even more personal: your finances.

A new finance platform built directly into ChatGPT has been spotted in development, raising the prospect that the chatbot could soon analyze spending, recommend credit cards and flag suspicious transactions.

Wisconsin Headlines

AB 962: App Store Accountability Bill Is Riddled With Problems

The legislature recently introduced a digital age verification bill that would require age verification on app stores–Google Play and Apple's App Store, for example. Verification of age would be required of all users.

The bill also requires app developers to include an age rating for their applications, preventing anyone beneath the minimum age from downloading apps unless their parent has approved the download from their own account.

The bill aims to prevent app stores and developers from allowing minors to download or purchase apps without the necessary parental consent, and requires parental consent for in-app purchases (micro-transactions) like those commonly found in mobile games may also be affected.

Baldwin Calls For Commission To Again Try Finding Candidates For U.S. Attorney After Judges Decline To Retain Schimel

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin is calling for the Federal Nominating Commission to take a second shot at identifying candidates for the state’s U.S. attorney positions after judges on the Eastern District declined to retain Brad Schimel for the Milwaukee job.

U.S. AG Pam Bondi in November appointed Schimel interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District after the commission failed to reach consensus on candidates for the posts in Milwaukee or Madison.

The federal judges in Milwaukee announced yesterday they declined to extend Schimel’s appointment or to select an interim U.S. attorney of their own. That will leave it up to the U.S. attorney’s office in Milwaukee to elevate someone to the post.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Hears Arguments Over Who Controls Lawsuit Settlement Money

The Wisconsin Supreme Court heard hours of oral arguments on Wednesday in a case testing the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches.

In Wisconsin State Legislature v. Josh Kaul, the state’s highest court will decide who has the authority to direct or spend lawsuit settlement money — the attorney general or lawmakers who control state appropriations.

GOP Lawmakers Want To Allow Sale Of Public Lands Near Egg Farm Amid Bird Flu Outbreaks

A Republican bill would allow the sale of public lands near a commercial egg farm as one of the country’s largest egg producers in Wisconsin has been forced to cull millions of birds due to avian flu.

Critics argue the proposal jeopardizes protection of public lands to serve private interests. But lawmakers said it aims to ensure affordability and security of the state’s food supply chain. The state Senate’s agriculture committee held a public hearing on the measure Tuesday.

Wisconsin Senate To Consider Next Of Kin Bill In Final Session

The state Senate will hold its final session of the year next week, and healthcare systems across Wisconsin — along with the Wisconsin Hospital Association — are urging senators to vote on and pass the next of kin bill.

The bill would allow family members to have limited authority to make necessary patient care decisions without waiting for a court to determine guardianship, a process that can also carry significant costs. The legislation passed the state Assembly last month.