Morning Headlines - Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024

U.S. and World Headlines

Five Takeaways From Day One Of The Democratic National Convention

A Democratic National Convention like no other got underway here on Monday.

President Biden, who two months ago expected this event to be his ceremonial coronation as his party’s nominee, is instead passing the torch to Vice President Harris.

Democrats, who fell into a deep gloom after Biden’s disastrous June debate with former President Trump, are energized by the Harris candidacy. The vice president has edged ahead of Trump in most national surveys, leading the polling average maintained by The Hill and Decision Desk HQ by three points.

George Santos Pleads Guilty To Federal Charges In Fraud Case

Embattled former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) pleaded guilty on Monday to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges in his federal fraud case, per the Department of Justice.

The plea deal will allow Santos to avoid a trial in the case, which was scheduled to begin next month.

His sentencing is set for Feb. 7, per the DOJ. He faces between two and 22 years in prison.

U.S. Intelligence Officials Warn Of Iran's Attempts To Interfere In Presidential Election

Iran's efforts to interfere with the 2024 presidential election are growing more aggressive as they target political campaigns — including GOP nominee Donald Trump's — and the American public with cyber and influence operations, three federal intelligence agencies said in a warning issued Monday.

The rare joint statement from the FBI, Office of the Director of National Intelligence and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) said the measures Iran is taking to "stoke discord and undermine confidence in our democratic institutions" have increased because the nation's government "perceives this year's elections to be particularly consequential" for its domestic policies.

Over 600 Pounds Of Methamphetamine Found Inside Celery Shipment

More than 600 pounds of methamphetamine have been found concealed within a shipment of celery in California, officials said.

The incident occurred on the evening of Aug. 9 when U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility in California encountered a 34-year-old man driving a commercial tractor-trailer who was seeking entry into the United States from Mexico, according to a statement on Monday issued by CBP.

A Gold Bar Is Now Worth $1 Million

The price of a bar of gold is worth a million dollars for the first time, thanks to soaring prices for the precious metal.

The price of spot gold reached more than $2,500 per troy ounce Friday, hitting a record high. The average gold bar weighs 400 troy ounces – which, when you do the math, hits a million dollars.

Wisconsin Headlines

Wisconsin DNC Delegates Reflect On Biden Passing Torch To Harris

In 2020, Joe Biden billed himself as a “bridge” candidate to a new generation of the Democratic Party. Now that the president has passed the torch to Kamala Harris, Wisconsin delegates expressed their admiration for Biden as he closed out DNC activities on Monday night at the United Center.

“America, I gave my best to you,” Biden said at the end of his speech, quoting Norah Jones’s “American Anthem.” Members of the crowd chanted “Thank you, Joe” and held up signs saying “We love Joe”.

Universities Of Wisconsin President Wants $855 Million In New Funding To Stave Off More Tuition Hikes

Universities of Wisconsin officials are asking their regents to approve a request for $855 million in new state funding to stave off another round of tuition increases, cover raises, subsidize tuition and keep two-year branch campuses open in some form.

President Jay Rothman said during a brief Zoom news conference on Aug. 19 that his administration plans to ask regents on Aug. 22 to approve asking for the money as part of the 2025-27 state budget. The request is only the first step in a long, winding budget-making process. Tuition and student fees at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the system’s flagship campus, is now $11,606 a year for in-state undergraduates. The total cost to attend the university for a year is about $30,000 when factoring in room and board, educational supplies and other costs.

Wisconsin Woman Who Said She Legally Killed Sex Trafficker Gets 11 Years In Prison

A Milwaukee woman who said she was legally allowed to a kill a man because he was sexually trafficking her was sentenced Monday to 11 years in prison after pleading guilty to a reduced count of reckless homicide.

A Kenosha County judge sentenced Chrystul Kizer to 11 years of initial confinement followed by 5 years of extended supervision in the 2018 death of Randall Volar, 34. She was given credit for 570 days, about one and a half years, of time served.

Task Force Addresses Challenges Facing State’s Healthcare Workforce

Wisconsin is bracing for a lack of health care workers in the future to the tune of about 20,000 nurses by 2040 according to the latest prediction. Earlier this year, Governor Tony Evers created a task force with a goal of figuring out what the state can do to prevent a major workforce shortage in the future.

The 75-page Health Care Workforce Report—starts with a letter to Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers. It says, “the future of Wisconsin’s healthcare system depends on the dedication and compassion of those working on the frontlines in our hospitals, nursing homes and in emergency medical services.”

WisDOT’s Interstate 94 Expansion Plan Faces Federal Lawsuit

A coalition of activist groups filed a federal lawsuit Monday against multiple state and federal highway agencies over their plans to expand a portion of Interstate 94 in Milwaukee from six to eight lanes.

The coalition consists of Milwaukee Inner-City Congregations Allied for Hope, or MICAH, Milwaukee Riverkeeper, the Sierra Club’s Wisconsin chapter and 1000 Friends of Wisconsin.

They claim the highway agencies failed to consider all reasonable alternatives to expansion. They also charge the agencies with inadequately analyzing — and not mitigating — the expansion’s environmental, social and health effects on local communities.