Morning Headlines - Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023

U.S. and World Headlines

House Abruptly Heads Home Early After Conservatives Retaliate Over Johnson's Government Funding Plan

House lawmakers abruptly went home a day early partially due to a familiar sight for the House Republican conference: a rebellion from the lower chamber’s most conservative lawmakers.

The quick departure came just one day after passing a short-term stopgap measure to avert a government shutdown.

Some 19 Republicans, mostly comprised of members of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus, tanked a procedural vote Wednesday morning. The procedural vote – referred to as a rule vote – has traditionally passed along party lines regardless of any member’s support or opposition to the bill’s rule.

Senate Passes Johnson Bill To Fund Government, Averting Shutdown Threat

The Senate voted overwhelmingly Wednesday for legislation spearheaded by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to fund the government until early next year, wiping out the possibility that Congress will vote on another massive omnibus funding package before Christmas.

The bipartisan vote was 87-11, with 10 Republicans and one Democrat — Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) — voting in opposition.

Senate and House conservatives pledged they would do everything in their power to avoid having to consider another omnibus spending package right before Christmas and New Year’s, something that has become a Washington tradition.

Israel Considering Deal With Hamas To Secure Release Of Some Hostages

Israel is considering a proposal that would see Hamas release a portion of the hostages the Palestinian militant group is holding in the Gaza Strip in exchange for a three-to-five-day cease-fire in the war, CBS News has learned. Aid would also be permitted into Gaza during a cessation of hostilities. Under the proposed deal, Hamas would release an unknown number of women and children, two officials with knowledge of the negotiations said.

The children are being prioritized as part of the first group for a potential hostage release aimed at ultimately bringing home the roughly 240 hostages that were taken during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas militants.

Everyone Loves Stocks Again

The market is romping, as equity-friendly news seems to be erupting on all sides.

Stocks' recent move higher marks a break with the last few months, when a slump eroded most of the S&P 500's gains from early 2023.

This month the S&P is up in 10 of the market's 12 trading sessions.

Will F1's $500 Million Las Vegas GP Live Up To The Hype?

Formula One has gone all in for its first race in Las Vegas.

The grand prix takes place on Saturday (10 p.m. local time PST) on a circuit which incorporates the city's famous Strip and is set to be unlike anything F1 has ever seen before. For one thing, it has opted against the traditional Sunday in favour of a Saturday night race. F1's investment in the inaugural event -- in itself unprecedented for an individual race -- is upwards of half a billion USD. You could make the argument that, purely from the perspective of a standalone event, this is the biggest race F1 has ever hosted.

It certainly has felt a bit like that to hear people in F1 talk about it. But can this event, or any for that matter, live up to such huge expectations from the word go?

Wisconsin Headlines

Evers Eases Lockdowns At Wisconsin Prisons Amid Lawsuit, Seeks To Improve Safety

Lockdowns at two of Wisconsin’s oldest and most understaffed prisons are being eased, the governor announced in a move that comes less than a month after inmates filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the conditions at one of the prisons amount to cruel and unusual punishment.

Gov. Tony Evers’ announcement on Nov. 15 about the eased lockdowns at the Waupun and Green Bay prisons, as well as a host of other efforts meant to increase safety at all Wisconsin prisons, comes amid calls from advocates and families of inmates who say the current conditions are inhumane.

Rep. Tiffany Votes Against “Status Quo” Spending Measure

Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07) released the following statement after voting against H.R. 6363.

“I did not come to Congress to continue the failed status quo of excessive spending. Credit rating agencies are warning that America is in financial trouble – it’s time for Washington to wake up and start making the same kind of tough choices Wisconsin families and small businesses have to make every single day.”

Wisconsin Woman Survives Capsizing Boat In Bahamas, Captures Moments On Video

A southwestern Wisconsin woman survived after a tourist boat with more than 100 passengers capsized Tuesday morning off the coast of the Bahamas.

The nightmare was caught on camera by Kelly Schissel. The woman from Platteville, Wisconsin was one of the dozens of other passengers trying to enjoy a ferry ride when it happened.

Bear Harvest Down This Season In Wisconsin

The Wisconsin bear harvest fell this year to the lowest level since 2008.

2,922 bears were taken by hunters this year, down from 4,009 last year.

The bear harvest was short of the goal in all the state’s management zones.

"This fall saw a remarkably high acorn crop across much of the state, and this abundance of natural food typically results in reduced hunter success rates as hunters' baits are less effective," said Randy Johnson, DNR Large Carnivore Specialist.

Bowhunter Kills Cougar In Buffalo County

A cougar was killed by a bowhunter in Buffalo County last weekend, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

It was likely the first time a cougar was killed by a hunter in the state in about 115 years, said Randy Johnson, a large carnivore specialist with the DNR.

Johnson said the man was hunting deer with a bow from a tree stand on Saturday when he saw movement.

"The last thing I think he was expecting was a cougar," Johnson said.

When he realized what he was seeing, and that the animal was at a relatively close distance, the hunter told investigators he made motions at the cougar, but it did not retreat.