Morning Headlines - Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024

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 and the end for a little humor to go with your news!

U.S. and World Headlines

Biden’s Pardon Of Son Hunter Threatens To Tarnish Legacy

President Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter in his final full month in the White House is threatening to erode his legacy as he prepares to leave office.

Biden is set to conclude his one term as president with a string of notable legislative achievements, a fundamentally strong economy and having navigated the end of a once in a generation pandemic. But his final few months, which included his refusal to drop his reelection bid until late July and his decision to pardon Hunter Biden after repeatedly saying he would not do so, is casting a cloud over the Biden presidency.

Ukraine’s Exhausted Troops In Russia Told To Cling On And Wait For Trump

The tone is dark, even angry.

“The situation is getting worse every day.”

“We don’t see the goal. Our land is not here.”

Almost four months after Ukrainian troops launched a lightning offensive into the Russian region of Kursk, text messages from soldiers fighting there paint a dismal picture of a battle they don’t properly understand and fear they might be losing.

Why Is Trump Threatening A 100% Tariff On The BRICS Nations?

President-elect Donald Trump on Nov. 30 threatened to slap a 100% tariff on a group of nine nations — the so-called BRICS — if they try to replace the U.S. dollar with another currency.

The BRICS countries include Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Trump said he'll enact the tariffs if the countries either move to create a new rival currency to the dollar or back an alternative currency to replace the greenback as the world's reserve medium of exchange.

Jaguar Reveals ‘Type 00’ Concept Car, First Under Controversial New Brand Identity

Famed British carmaker Jaguar revealed its new vehicle design direction Monday night with the introduction of an all-electric concept car called “Type 00.”

The vehicle features a minimalistic yet somewhat gaudy design.

The new car is boxy with sleek lights and large wheels, a notably visual change from the brand’s current, sporty cars and SUVs.

Jaguar is expected to produce several new electric vehicles over the coming years, including a four-door GT car that is expected to be revealed next year that resembles the concept car.

Wisconsin Headlines

Judge Issues Ruling To Restore Collective Bargaining Rights Eliminated In 2011 Under Act 10

Wisconsin public worker and teachers unions scored a major legal victory Monday with a ruling that restores collective bargaining rights they lost under a 2011 state law that sparked weeks of protests and made the state the center of the national battle over union rights.

That law, known as Act 10, effectively ended the ability of most public employees to bargain for wage increases and other issues, and forced them to pay more for health insurance and retirement benefits.

In Wikler DNC Bid, Allies See Chance To Nationalize Wisconsin-Style Campaigning

While most swing states swung decidedly toward President-elect Donald Trump this November, Wisconsin’s election was decided by the slimmest margin.

Some Democratic party strategists credit a particular style of campaigning for keeping Wisconsin competitive in a Trump wave cycle. And they credit Ben Wikler for maintaining that momentum for the five years he’s chaired the Wisconsin Democratic Party.

David Prosser, Who Served As Wisconsin Assembly Speaker And In The State Supreme Court, Dies At 81

David Prosser, who rose to become speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly before an 18-year tenure on the state Supreme Court that was marked by a heated altercation with another justice, has died. He was 81 years old.

Prosser died on Dec. 1 after battling cancer for several months, his family said in a statement on Dec. 2. A Republican, Prosser served 18 years in the Assembly, the last two as speaker, and the same amount of time on the state Supreme Court. He retired from the court in 2016.

U.S. Attorney’s Office And ATF Highlight Emerging Threat Posed By Machinegun Conversion Devices

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Wisconsin and the ATF Madison Field Office are joining together to highlight the dangers of machinegun conversion devices (MCDs). The devices are an emerging threat, and law enforcement agents are increasingly finding them in Wisconsin.

About an inch-long, an MCD is an illegal after-market device that converts a semi-automatic firearm into a fully functioning machinegun. A firearm equipped with a machinegun conversion device is extremely dangerous, even for experienced firearms users, because it is difficult to control and is capable of firing 50 rounds in four seconds with a single pull of the trigger.

Despite State Restrictions, Wisconsinites Are Receiving Abortions Via Telehealth

Wisconsin law prohibits the use of telehealth for abortion services. But a new study shows a number of Wisconsinites are receiving abortion medication from other states.

Data from the organization #WeCount showed an average of about 130 orders for abortion medication being shipped to Wisconsin from providers in other states each month from last September to this June.

While it’s not clear if all of those orders resulted in completed abortions, they could constitute about one quarter of total abortions in the state.

DNR Launches Brook Trout Reserves Program

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced the implementation of the Brook Trout Reserves program, a new initiative to protect Wisconsin’s native brook trout populations from changing environmental conditions.

Cold water streams provide the ideal habitat for native brook trout. Wisconsin has an estimated 22,000 miles of cold water stream habitat suitable for brook trout to call home. However, with warming stream temperatures, it’s projected that in 30 years, two out of every three miles of this habitat will become too warm to support brook trout.