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
UK Set To Become The First Country To Sign A Trade Deal With U.S.
The New York Times reported the development after U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday night stateside that there will be a briefing about a trade deal next day.
It was uncertain if both sides will sign a finalized deal or a framework for an agreement that they would continue negotiating in the coming months, NYT said.
Britain, which runs a trade deficit with the U.S., was spared the higher “reciprocal” tariffs when Trump announced his “Liberation Day” duties, although it was still hit with the baseline 10% levy.
Read More2025 Conclave Continues For A Second Day As Cardinals Resume Voting To Pick A New Pope
The 133 Catholic cardinal electors tasked with choosing a new pope to succeed Pope Francis were sequestered for a second day on Thursday as the 2025 conclave continued at the Vatican. On Wednesday evening, the prelates from six continents conducted a first round of voting in the Sistine Chapel, but sent black smoke up through the chimney in the evening to signal that a new pontiff had not yet been chosen.
The conclave began Wednesday, 16 days after Pope Francis, who led the world's 1.4 billion Catholics for 12 years, died at the age of 88.
Read MoreViews Of Race, Policing And Black Lives Matter In The 5 Years Since George Floyd’s Killing
Five years later, 72% say the increased focus on race and racial inequality after Floyd’s killing did not lead to changes that improved the lives of Black people.
The share of Americans who express support for the Black Lives Matter movement stands at 52% today, a drop of 15 percentage points compared with June 2020.
Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) has also declined.
Read MoreRepublican-Led House Will Vote To Make Trump's Gulf Of America Into Law
The Republican-led House is set to vote Thursday on a bill to make the Gulf of Mexico's name change to Gulf of America permanent.
The legislation, which was introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, codifies an executive order from President Donald Trump to rename the body of water.
Its fate in the Senate is more of a challenge, given that it will need bipartisan cooperation to overcome a filibuster.
Read MoreEx-Lakers Player And Coach Byron Scott Accused In Lawsuit Of Sexually Assaulting Teen In 1987
Former Los Angeles Lakers player and coach Byron Scott is accused in a lawsuit amended earlier this month of sexually assaulting a girl in 1987 when she was 15 and he was 26 during a team event at her high school.
The lawsuit first filed in December 2022 and amended May 1 alleges sexual battery and false imprisonment. The amended complaint publicly named the former Laker, now 64, for the first time.
Read MoreWisconsin Headlines
Wisconsin Republicans On Capitol Hill Push For Medicaid Reforms
The latest Medicaid debate on Capitol Hill focused more on reforms, and work requirements, than cuts.
Two of Wisocnsin’s Republican members of Congress spoke about changes to the nation’s Medicaid system on Wednesday.
Northwoods Congressman Tom Tiffany took to Twitter on Wednesday to echo Grothman. He said the biggest change that the federal government, or Wisconsin as a state, can adopt is a work requirement.
“Able-bodied, working-aged, childless adults should not be allowed to sit on the couch and collect Medicaid benefits that you are paying for,” Tiffany wrote. “They should be required to work, which 80% of Wisconsinites support.”
Read MoreMaternal Health Care In Wisconsin And The Future Of Medicaid
Wisconsin faces a maternal health care crossroads. While the state Senate passed a bill to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to a full year, the Assembly’s history of stalling the measure leaves thousands of new mothers in limbo. Families and providers warn systemic gaps persist, with life-or-death consequences.
“With my daughter, I had really bad postpartum depression and it was a struggle,” said Wendy Yuen, who lives in Racine “I couldn’t afford to go seek out treatment at $50 per session.”
Read MoreWisconsin To Give Out $300 Million In Grants To Local Governments To Cut Spending Through Consolidation, Privatization
As local governments across Wisconsin continue to wrestle with tight budgets, $300 million in state aid remains unspent.
That money could have provided a major boost to the $275 million in shared revenue increases that the Legislature approved in a historic overhaul of local government funding.
Instead, lawmakers deposited the $300 million for “innovation grants” to reward cities, villages, towns and counties that cut expenses by consolidating or privatizing services.
Read MoreWisconsin Lawmakers Consider Bill That Would Criminalize Sharing Deepfake Nude Images And Videos
A bill that would make posting, publishing or distributing a deepfake nude photo or video of someone a felony is making its way through the legislative process at the state capitol.
The legislation's sponsors, Sen. Andre Jacque (R-New Franklin) and Rep. Brent Jacobson (R-Mosinee), spoke at an Assembly committee meeting on Wednesday.
"Somebody could do a deep fake of any of us in this room, and that it's not illegal right now, that's mind blowing some folks," Jacque said.
Read MoreEvers Again Insists Any Tax Cut Deal Be Part Of Budget, Wants Education Funded ‘At Every Level’
Gov. Tony Evers isn’t backing off his demand that any tax plan he’d sign be included in the state budget, and he wants Republicans to fund education “at every level” to move forward on budget negotiations.
Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, told WisPolitics in a statement yesterday that GOP leaders have asked to meet with Evers by the end of next week to keep budget deliberations on schedule.
He added there’s agreement in the Legislature on a tax cut proposal, something the guv’s office disputes.
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Last Update: May 08, 2025 5:19 am CDT
