Morning Headlines - Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025

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

Average Cost Of A Family Health Insurance Plan Now Nearly $27,000

The cost of employer-sponsored health insurance rose for the third year in a row in 2025, approaching an average of almost $27,000 for a family plan, according to an annual survey from KFF released Wednesday.

Family premiums are up 6 percent, or $1,408, from last year, more than double the rate of inflation and similar to the 7 percent increase recorded in each of the previous two years.

On average, workers contributed $6,850 annually to the cost of family coverage, with employers paying the rest.

White House's Entire East Wing To Be Demolished 'Within Days,' Officials Say

The entire East Wing of the White House will be demolished “within days,” according to two Trump administration officials.

The demolition is a significant expansion of the ballroom construction project from what President Donald Trump said this summer.

“It won’t interfere with the current building,” Trump said on July 31. “It’ll be near it, but not touching it, and pays total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of.”

Pentagon Announces 'New' Press Corps Filled With Conservative News Outlets

The new Pentagon press corps will include the Gateway Pundit, the National Pulse, Human Events, podcaster Tim Pool, the Just the News website founded by journalist John Solomon, Frontlines by Turning Point USA and LindellTV, run by “MyPillow” CEO Mike Lindell.

The Pentagon's announcement came less than a week after dozens of reporters from outlets like The New York Times, The Associated Press, CNN and the Washington Post turned in their access badges rather than agree to a policy the journalists say will restrict them to covering news approved by Hegseth.

Starbucks Workers United Set To Vote On Strike Authorization

Starbucks Workers United is kicking off a strike authorization vote this Friday.

In addition, the union says it is planning a wave of rallies and pickets across the country with its baristas and allies.

Workers United, which began organizing at Starbucks in 2021, now represents over 12,000 workers across more than 650 stores. Starbucks has over 18,000 stores in North America, both company-operated and licensed.

Antidepressant Side Effects Differ Greatly Depending On The Drug, Study Finds

Doctors have long known that antidepressants come with side effects for cardiovascular and metabolic health.

But a major analysis from a team of researchers in the U.K. has, for the first time, pulled together data from more than 150 clinical trials to compare the physical side effects of dozens of antidepressants.

The study, published in the Lancet this week, details how each medication can affect weight, blood pressure, heart rate, cholesterol and other areas of health.

Wisconsin Headlines

Two Killed In Northern Wisconsin Crash

Two persons were killed in a head-on collision on Southbound USH 53 in Amnicon Township in Douglas County on Wednesday afternoon October 22, 2025.

The crash was called in to Douglas County 911 at 2:12pm. A vehicle traveling northbound in the southbound lanes between Berg Park Rd. and Kent Rd. collided head-on with a southbound vehicle.

The victims were the drivers and sole occupants of the vehicles. Identification is withheld pending notifications.

Local Alderpersons, Rep. Tony Wied Speak Out After ‘Wanted’ Signs Posted In Green Bay

A pair of Green Bay alderpersons are speaking out alongside 8th District Congressman Tony Wied after “Wanted” posters featuring their names and faces were found displayed in the city.

Green Bay police say they are still working to find out who is responsible for the since-removed posters, which violate a city ordinance.

The “Wanted” posters were found on utility poles outside the Green Bay Police Department a week ago and featured the images of 3 elected officials.

Wisconsin Lawmakers Push Nuclear Energy As Solution To Rising Power Demands

At Realta Fusion in Stoughton, a prototype fusion reactor constantly whirrs. The UW-Madison startup will be the key to a clean energy future, according to Co-Founder Keiran Furlong.

“What Detroit was in the 1950s to the automobile and was the center of that industry,” Furlong said. “That prize is there for the taking.”

Furlong, with the help of increasing bipartisan support from lawmakers, hopes his prototype will be ready for commercial use by the 2030s.

“I really think people in Wisconsin are realizing that we kind of have a diamond in the rough here,” Furlong said.

Ruh Resigns As State GOP Treasurer

Former state GOP Treasurer Kelly Ruh criticized the party’s leadership and approach in a letter announcing her resignation from the post.

The WisGOP website currently lists the treasurer position as vacant. Fifth Congressional District Vice Chair Brett Galaszewski, a member of the executive committee who has frequently criticized party leaders, shared on X a letter signed by Ruh and dated Sunday announcing her resignation.

In the letter, Ruh states she “can no longer meaningfully contribute to our Party’s executive leadership team under the current circumstances,” pointing to a lack of strategic plan, defined objectives and measureable outcomes, as well as budgetary issues.

Proposed Transmission Line For A Wisconsin Data Center Meets Public Opposition

Farmington resident Beth Csaszar lives about 12 miles away from the planned data center development in Port Washington.

She was aware of that development, but she didn’t think it would affect her directly.

That is, until she got a flyer from American Transmission Co. in her mailbox in August about their plans for a $1.4 billion transmission line project to help support the data center. One of the proposed routes for the project runs in front of her home.