Morning Headlines - Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023

U.S. and World Headlines

Takeaways From The Georgia Indictment Of Donald Trump And 18 Others

Former President Donald Trump on Monday was criminally charged for the fourth time this year in a sweeping Georgia indictment accusing him of being the head of a “criminal enterprise” to overturn the 2020 election.

The indictment from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis included 18 defendants in addition to Trump, 41 charges in total and 30 unindicted co-conspirators. It marks a key departure from special counsel Jack Smith’s charges against Trump for election subversion. Smith had only charged the former president in his indictment earlier this month, even as he listed six co-conspirators.

Willis’ indictment also went well beyond what transpired in Georgia as she used racketeering violations to charge a broad criminal conspiracy.

Trump’s Momentum Shows Few Signs Of Waning Despite Growing Legal Storm

Former President Trump is showing few signs of faltering in his bid for the GOP nomination even as his legal challenges mount.

The former president was hit with his fourth indictment late Monday night after Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis charged Trump in connection with his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia.

That followed three other indictments leveled against Trump in the past several months, two of which are at the federal level.

While some Republican operatives say Trump’s legal challenges are a concern, many argue the controversies won’t moving the needle when it comes to the former president’s standing in the race.

Maui Wildfires Death Toll Rises To 99 As Crews Continue Search For Missing Victims

The confirmed death toll in the wildfires that swept through Maui last week rose to 99 on Monday as more than 1,000 people remained unaccounted for, local officials said. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green noted earlier that the death toll is expected to rise, as search crews could recover "10 to 20 people" a day going forward.

Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said Monday that 20 cadaver dogs and 90 Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel were participating in the search. Only three people had been identified as of Monday evening Hawaii time and officials said their names will be released after their families are notified.

Organized Crime Or Gangs Could Be Behind A $300K L.A. 'Flash Rob,' Police Say

About 50 people who swarmed a Los Angeles mall Saturday and fled with high-end handbags and other items totaling about $300,000 could have been following orders from organized crime or gang members, police said.

“There’s no doubt that there’s a lot of ... criminal organizations behind this. Some of it involves gang members; some of it involves people that are what you would identify as professional retail thieves," Deputy Los Angeles Police Chief Alan Hamilton told NBC News on Sunday. “It runs the gamut, and there is a black market for purchasing these items, unfortunately. ... The same people [are] then turning around and committing these acts again, over and over again.”

Thirty to 50 people converged on the Nordstrom store at the Westfield Topanga Mall in Woodland Hills, police said.

Apple's High-End M3 Ultra, M3 Max, And M3 Pro Expected To Get Major Upgrades

Apple's M3-series system-on-chips is expected to get a major performance upgrade compared to predecessors since they are projected to be made on TSMC's N3 (3 nm-class) fabrication processor and use all-new CPU and GPU microarchitectures. Indeed, the highest-end M3 Ultra will feature 32 CPU cores and an 80-cluster GPU, but the entry-level M3 will retain eight cores.

Wisconsin Headlines

Wisconsin Democrats On 'Veto Watch' In Legislature After Evers Blocks 10 Bills

Gov. Tony Evers found himself in familiar territory at the beginning of August, issuing his first 10 vetoes of the legislative session.

Only this time, instead of putting the legislation to bed, as a veto has done for decades in Wisconsin, the governor’s pen triggered a “veto watch” among Democratic lawmakers.

“Our caucus has determined protecting Gov. Evers’ veto to be a top priority,” Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer, D-Racine, told Wisconsin Watch, adding that Democratic lawmakers are “remaining extremely vigilant and will do so throughout the session to ensure that we are able to uphold (the governor’s) vetoes and prevent Wisconsin from moving backwards.”

Biden Heads To Battleground Wisconsin To Talk About The Economy A Week Before GOP Debate

In a show of preemptive counter-programming, President Joe Biden on Tuesday travels to Wisconsin to highlight his economic policies in a state critical to his reelection fortunes, just a week before Republicans descend on Milwaukee for the party’s first presidential debate.

His trip comes on the eve of the anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, major economic legislation that he signed into law with great ceremony but that polls show most people know little about it or what it does.

Wisconsin is among the handful of critical states where Biden needs to persuade voters that his policies are having a positive impact on their lives, and he is expected to visit frequently to make his case.

Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Renews Calls For Protasiewicz To Recuse Herself From Certain Cases

Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos is renewing calls for Wisconsin's newly elected Supreme Court justice to recuse herself from some cases.

If Justice Janet Protasiewicz does not do so, Vos suggested lawmakers might consider turning to impeachment.

In an interview with WSAU Radio on Friday, Vos said it's clear Protasiewicz can't be an impartial judge on certain issues. He gave the example of remarks Protasiewicz made during her campaign, in which she referred to Wisconsin's electoral maps as "rigged."

"If there's any semblance of honor on the state Supreme Court left, you cannot have a person who runs for the court prejudging a case and being open about it, and then acting on the case as if you're an impartial observer," Vos told conservative host Meg Ellefson.

Proposed Bill Would Make Wisconsin State Parks Passes Good For An Entire Year

A newly-proposed bill would allow state parks passes to be valid for a full year, no matter when you buy them.

Right now, a pass is only good for the calendar year, so whether you bought it in January or in August, it's only good until December 31 of that year.

A bill from Rep. Ron Tusler (R-Harrison) and Sen. Robert Cowles (R-Green Bay) would change that. Under their proposal, a state parks pass would be good for a full year, based on the month of sale -- if you bought it in August of 2023, it would be good until August of 2024.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Visits Green Bay, Touts 2025 NFL Draft Host City

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was in Green Bay on Monday, where he discussed Green Bay being selected as the host city for the 2025 NFL draft.

“With the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the NFL selects Green Bay, Wisconsin," Goodell proclaimed. "So, Green Bay you’re on the clock!"

Green Bay is the 14th city to host the annual event. Goodell said Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy approached the commissioner almost immediately after the offseason player selection event began moving to various NFL cities.