Morning Headlines - Tuesday, Apr. 14, 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

How Wall Street Is Reacting To Trump’s Strait Of Hormuz Blockade

Market analysts expect an uptick in producer prices due to higher energy costs ahead of the release of March data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The producer price index, or PPI, tracks how much manufacturers charge for their goods, and investors watch it as an inflation indicator. Tuesday’s PPI comes on the heels of Wall Street’s best day since the war in Iran started.

This key inflation report, expected to be released Tuesday morning, should provide clues on how the war in the Middle East is affecting inflation at home.

Democrats Raised $500 Million In Q1 From Party’s Main Fundraising Platform

ActBlue, the main donation platform for Democrats, raised $568 million in the first quarter of 2026.

The total set a record for the first quarter of a midterm election year.

The burst comes as Republicans and the Trump administration are investigating the group over allegations it allowed foreign donors to illegally contribute.

GOP Senators Grow Uncomfortable With Trump Rhetoric, Endgame For Iran

Senate Republicans facing worsening polls want President Trump to rein in his extreme rhetoric, which included an attack on Pope Leo XIV for being “WEAK on crime” and a threat to wipe out Iran’s civilization, and find a quick end to the conflict with Tehran.

GOP lawmakers are used to Trump’s hyperbolic style but want to distance themselves from his most incendiary comments as polls show Democrats have improving chances of picking up Republican-held seats in North Carolina, Ohio and Nebraska.

Erectile Dysfunction Is More Than A Sexual Issue

As a board-certified urologist who specializes in male sexual dysfunction and men’s health, I often find that people can be pretty dismissive of treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED), as though it’s entirely a recreational problem rather than a medical one. Ask people what society should care more about, erectile dysfunction or heart disease, and it’s not hard to guess what their answer will be.

But mocking or ignoring ED presents a major missed opportunity for men and for stewards of public health. ED is an early marker and predictor of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of mortality in the world.

GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales Says He's Stepping Down From Congress

Texas Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales announced Monday that he is stepping down from Congress on Tuesday amid threats to expel him over an affair with a staffer.

Last month, Gonzales dropped his reelection bid following calls from House Republican leadership to exit the race after he admitted to an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide. At the time, he remained committed to completing the remainder of his term, which was set to expire in January.

Family And Friends Of Man Shot And Killed By Superior Officer Demand Justice

Family and friends of a man who was shot and killed by a Superior police officer demanded justice during a protest outside of the Douglas County Courthouse Monday. They’re calling for the release of body cam footage and a full investigation.

The shooting on Tuesday stemmed from an altercation with a Superior police officer, according to a news release from the Wisconsin Department of Justice. The DOJ’s Division of Criminal Investigation is leading the probe into the shooting. The officer, who was injured during the incident, has been placed on paid administrative leave.

Special Session To Vote To Ban Partisan Gerrymandering In Wisconsin Scheduled For Tuesday

Wisconsin lawmakers will return to Madison on Tuesday for a special session called by Gov. Tony Evers to vote on a constitutional amendment to ban partisan gerrymandering in the state.

Evers said he is “hopeful” Republicans, who control the legislature, will vote in favor of his constitutional amendment, but it remains uncertain if those lawmakers will support the measure.

CON Laws Are Fading, But Their Logic Is Not

Certificate of Need laws, or CON laws, are state-based regulations that require health care providers to get government approval before building new facilities, expanding services, or purchasing new medical equipment.

In order to receive a certificate of need, providers need to demonstrate that they have a need to expand by either meeting a mathematical formula or other measurable requirements laid out by the government. The exact process varies by state. Application fees for a certificate of need can also be quite expensive, ranging from hundreds of dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Up And Down The Ballot, Data Centers Are Becoming A Motivating Issue For Voters

During last week’s election, voters across Wisconsin cast ballots for judges, school boards, county boards, mayors and city alders. And from the northwest to the southeast, some people voted with one big issue on their minds: data centers.

As communities across Wisconsin grapple with these proposed developments — and the commensurate possibility for economic opportunity, or consumer costs and environmental degradation — voters are increasingly tuned into this issue, experts say.

“Data centers are bringing out … a broader range of concerns from community members,” said Hannah Wiseman, who directs the Center for Energy Law and Policy at Penn State’s law school. “This is drawing growing political interest, and candidates are certainly going to get more questions about their stance on this issue.”

Schimel: No Political Pressure From Trump Administration Leading U.S. Attorney’s Office

Brad Schimel, the first assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District appointed by former Attorney General Pam Bondi, says he feels no political pressure from the Trump administration on how to lead the office.

“Nothing,” Schimel said on WISN 12’s “UpFront,” which is produced in partnership with WisPolitics-State Affairs. “We have biweekly meetings with someone from the office of the deputy attorney general; all U.S. attorneys nationwide are on it.