Morning Headlines - Thursday, Mar. 26, 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

Here Are Iran’s 5 Conditions For Ending War After Rejecting Us Ceasefire Plan

Iran offered a counterproposal Wednesday to end the war in the region after rejecting a ceasefire plan backed by the Trump administration.

Leaders in Tehran are asking for sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz and a complete end to “aggression” from the U.S. and Israel, among other demands.

“Iran will end the war at a time of its own choosing and only if the conditions it has set are fulfilled. It will not allow Trump to determine the timing of the war’s end,” according to a statement by Iran’s Consulate General in Mumbai posted on the social platform X.

Meta And Youtube Found Liable On All Charges In Landmark Social Media Addiction Trial

A jury on Wednesday found that Meta and YouTube are liable for creating products that led to harmful and addictive behavior by young users, a landmark decision that could set a legal precedent for similar allegations brought against social media companies.

The jury awarded $3 million in compensatory damages and $3 million in punitive damages to the lead plaintiff in the case, a woman named Kaley. Identified in court filings by her initials "KGM," she alleged that using YouTube and Instagram from a young age led to addictive use of the platforms and contributed to her mental health problems, including depression, body dysmorphia and suicidal thoughts.

USPS Seeks Temporary 8% Charge On Priority Mail

The U.S. Postal Service is seeking a temporary 8% charge on certain popular products, including Priority Mail, to help blunt the impact of rising transportation costs.

USPS filed notice on Wednesday with the Postal Regulatory Commission seeking the price increase, which would take effect on April 26 and remain in place until Jan. 17, 2027, pending final approval.

Prediction Market Bets On Sports, Election, War Would Be Verboten Under New Legislation

Sens. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., on Thursday introduced legislation to ban prediction market bets on sports, war, elections and government actions.

The bill is the latest in a flurry of legislative efforts to rein-in prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket, which have surged in popularity.

Merkley earlier this month led on a bill to bar elected officials from using prediction markets in response to a series of high-profile bets placed ahead of the ouster of Nicolas Maduro and the war in Iran.

The United States At 250: How The Country Has Changed In The Past 50 Years

In July, the United States will celebrate its 250th anniversary. The country’s last major milestone was 50 years ago, at its bicentennial on July 4, 1976.

U.S. society has changed profoundly since then. Over the past five decades, the U.S. population has aged significantly, with the percentage of people 65 and older nearly doubling. The country has also become more racially and ethnically diverse, as growing shares of people identify as Asian or Hispanic. And following more than 70 million immigrant arrivals, the percentage of foreign-born people in the population has more than tripled.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Debate Postponed As Candidate Reveals Kidney Stones Diagnosis

The Wisconsin Supreme Court debate scheduled for Wednesday night is postponed until Thursday, April 2, after candidate Chris Taylor’s campaign said she was diagnosed with kidney stones.

Taylor’s campaign said she went to urgent care Wednesday morning, where they then recommended she go to the hospital for “additional evaluation.”

Former Wisconsin Police Officer Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison

Brad D. Schimel, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on March 24, 2026, Juwon Madlock (age: 30) was sentenced to five years of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, by United States District Judge Brett H. Ludwig.

Publicly filed documents reflect that Madlock, while serving as a Milwaukee Police Officer, provided ammunition to a felon; possessed an automatic weapon; helped a street gang hide its stolen vehicles; and lied to the FBI. He pled guilty to offenses related to that misconduct in December 2025.

WisDOT Responds To Concerns About Viral Photos Of Leo Frigo Bridge

A viral Facebook post is getting a lot of attention, raising questions about the Leo Frigo Memorial Bridge in Green Bay.

Some drivers are expressing concern after seeing images that appear to show some damage. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation says what’s circulating online doesn’t tell the full story.

“That bridge is safe,” said Jason Lahm, DOT Bureau of Structures Unit Supervisor. “There’s nothing wrong at all, structurally at all. So, rest assured that Leo Frigo is a safe bridge to drive over.”

Work On Enbridge’s Line 5 Reroute Underway As Legal Challenges Aim To Halt Construction

Just off a state highway in northern Wisconsin, Bad River tribal member Joe Bates flies his drone over the path of the Line 5 reroute proposed by Canadian energy firm Enbridge.

“They have a big right-of-way that they’ve cut down, laid all the trees down,” Bates said.

Trees lie in a tangled heap on melting snow and green signs are staked in front of them to indicate the presence of a wetland. Along the route, signs on trees left standing warn: “NO TRESPASSING. OCCUPANT ENBRIDGE. VIOLATORS WILL BE PROSECUTED.”

Democratic Candidate Brennan Pitches Public Healthcare Option

Another Democrat in the race for Wisconsin governor is offering another public option plan for healthcare in the state.

Joel Brennan, who served as Gov. Tony Evers’ Department of Administration Secretary, on Tuesday outlined his health guarantee.

“This is ‘The Healthy Wisconsin Promise’, because I intend to keep it. This plan is about making sure Wisconsin works for everyone, including getting every kid the care they need, and I know we can get it done," Brennan said in a statement.