Morning Headlines - Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023 | Recent News

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Eight Candidates Qualify For The First Republican Presidential Debate

Eight presidential hopefuls officially qualified for Wednesday's GOP presidential debate in Milwaukee, the Republican National Committee confirmed Monday night.

While former President Donald Trump appeared to have met the party's polling and fundraising thresholds, he won't be on the stage, as he has refused to sign the RNC's pledge to support the eventual nominee and announced he would skip the debate.

The candidates who qualified and opted to participate are:

Six Pros And Cons Of Trump Skipping GOP Debates

Former President Trump has thrown Republican debate season into turmoil just as it is about to start.

In a Sunday post on Truth Social, Trump declared that, owing to his commanding lead in GOP primary polls, he would “therefore not be doing the debates!”

There are some key pros and cons to Trump’s decision — for himself, for his rivals and for Fox and for other networks hosting debates.

President Biden, First Lady Visit Maui To Hear From Survivors After Devastating Wildfires

President Joe Biden visited Maui on Monday to observe the damage and recovery from devastating wildfires on the Hawaiian island that started earlier this month.

Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrived around 11:20 a.m. local time and greeted Gov. Josh Green with hugs after exiting Air Force One.

After taking an aerial tour in Marine One, the Bidens, Green and other elected officials walked through Front Street in Lahaina, which is still filled with charred debris.

Tropical Storm Harold Forms In Gulf, Immediately Heads For Texas

Another tropical system is about to hit the U.S., a day after Hilary drenched parts of California and Nevada. A tropical depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Harold in the Gulf of Mexico overnight and set its sights on Texas, the National Hurricane Center said.

A tropical storm warning was up from the mouth of the Rio Grande to Port O'Connor and a tropical storm watch was issued for Port O'Connor to Sargent, Texas.

Meta Releases More Advanced AI-Powered Language Translator

Facebook parent company Meta on Tuesday released an AI-powered translation engine that can more easily translate languages across text and speech.

AI is particularly well suited to language translation, and Meta's newest engine can translate spoken words from one language to another without having to first convert to text behind the scenes, among other advancements.

The engine, known as Seamless M4T, is being released under a Creative Commons license allowing researchers and developers to build upon Meta's work.

Republican Lawmakers Propose Dropping Work Permits For 14- And 15-Year-Olds In Wisconsin

Children ages 14 and 15 would no longer need a work permit or parental permission to get a job under a bill Republican Wisconsin lawmakers released on Aug. 18.

Under current law, 14- and 15-year-olds in Wisconsin are prohibited from working most jobs unless they have permission from a parent or guardian and have verified their age with the state Department of Workforce Development. The department can revoke youth work permits at any time if it believes a child’s safety is being threatened.

Republican Debate In Milwaukee: What To Know As GOP Presidential Contenders Clash In 1st Debate

The first debate for the Republican nomination for president will be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Aug. 23, 2023. Eight candidates are allowed to attend the debate, including former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence. A host of issues are at stake, including inflation and the economy, manufacturing and globalization, tensions with Russia and China, migration and the border to the south, mass shootings and gun purchasing laws, and more. There is also the issue of the former president, Trump, being under indictment in four cases in connection to his and others' alleged efforts to influence and undermine the presidential election process in 2020/2021.

So, with all that in mind, here are the big points you should know about the first Republican debate in Milwaukee:

Green Bay Police Officer Pleads Not Guilty To Charges From Hitting Suspect With Squad Car

A Green Bay police officer entered a not-guilty plea to charges, including misconduct, Monday morning in Brown County court.

Officer Matthew Knutson is accused of using his squad car to knock down a man during an arrest.

Knutson, a 13-year veteran with the Green Bay Police Department, is charged with misconduct in public office, a felony, and negligent operation of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor. The felony charge carries a maximum of 3½ years in prison if convicted; the misdemeanor carries up to 9 months.

Wisconsin Schools Unveil New Fleets Of Electric Buses This Fall

Students in the Palmyra-Eagle Area School District will have a quieter, more environmentally friendly ride to school this year as the district plans to unveil its new fleet of electric buses.

The district originally planned to use the buses at the start of the school year, but district Superintendent Ryan Krohn said a delay means the new plan is to have them ready by mid-September.

A $2.4 million grant thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law means the district will have six new electric school buses. The funding will also help cover charging stations, Krohn said.

Risk Of Pavement Buckling Rises With Temperatures

Extreme heat is forecast throughout Wisconsin this week, which could create conditions for pavement buckling. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is advising motorists to be alert and take extra caution.

When very hot conditions occur, it causes the pavement slabs to expand and push against one another. If the pressure becomes great enough, the pavement can buckle and create unexpected bumps or dips. Watch the WisDOT animation on pavement buckles.