Morning Headlines - Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025

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!

• Related: view today's obituaries​​​​​.

U.S. and World Headlines

Feds Launch Massive Taxpayer Fraud Probe In Minnesota After Viral Video

Federal agencies descended on Minnesota this week to investigate suspected fraud at child care centers and other facilities after a viral YouTube video claimed to uncover $110 million in fraudulent payments, intensifying scrutiny of the state’s oversight of public assistance programs.

The Department of Homeland Security, FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Small Business Administration launched coordinated investigations following the video by YouTuber Nick Shirley, which showed licensed day care facilities that appeared empty or abandoned despite receiving millions in taxpayer funds.

‘Super Flu’ Cases Rising Across US: What To Know

As the winter season fully kicks in, it’s expected that people across the country will get sick. Except this time, a new variant of the influenza virus has sounded the alarm — and earned the nickname “super flu.”

The “super flu” is a variant of influenza A H3N2 called subclade K. In the past, H3N2 influenza has been more severe and taken longer to recover from.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the super flu first made headlines in the United Kingdom, before making its way over the Atlantic to the U.S.

Transcript From October Closed Hearing For Charlie Kirk Murder Suspect Released By Utah Court

A Utah judge on Monday ordered the release of a transcript from a closed-door hearing in October over whether the man charged with killing Charlie Kirk must be shackled during court proceedings.

State District Judge Tony Graf said public transparency was "foundational" to the judicial system before ordering the release of details from the Oct. 24 closed hearing. Attorneys for media outlets, including The Associated Press, had argued for access because they said it was also the first time defense attorneys suggested a ban on cameras in the courtroom.

Americans Hate AI. Which Party Will Benefit?

It’s become a common occurrence: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer posts a light-hearted video on social media. She’s Christmas shopping, or she’s talking about her Michigan accent or she’s touting her administration’s accomplishments. And immediately, the comments start rolling in, all demanding the same thing: Say no to data centers in the state. Stop construction. “All I want for Christmas is legislation banning data centers in Michigan.”

National figures in the party are beginning to notice the anger. What began on the ground with widespread protests against the facilities that provide infrastructure for the growth of artificial intelligence is finding its way into new plans, memos and rhetoric as the Democratic Party thinks about how to win in 2026 and 2028.

Elon Musk Envisions Humanoid Robots Everywhere. China May Be The First To Make It A Reality

China has made the development of humanoid robots a strategic priority in its tech battle with the U.S.

Analysts see China taking an early lead in the technology with domestic firms ramping up production.

But Chinese authorities have also warned of a bubble in the humanoid robot industry, with analysts expecting some bottlenecks in sector.

Wisconsin Headlines

In Democratic Primary For Governor, Candidates Focus On Affordability And Trump

Seven Democrats running to be Wisconsin’s next governor are trying to stand out in the crowded field ahead of the August 2026 primary.

In interviews with PBS Wisconsin’s Here & Now they all struck common themes, calling inflation a top issue in the election and blaming economic uncertainty on President Donald Trump.

Still, there are nuances among the Democratic candidates on why they say they’re the answer voters are looking for to replace outgoing Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.

Appleton Nurse Practitioner Sentenced For Unlawful Prescriptions For Opioids

A federal judge sentenced an Appleton advanced practice nurse practitioner to 16 months in prison for illegally prescribing opioids and supplying pills for her own use and sale, court officials said.

Jessica Friday, who pleaded guilty on Aug. 13, 2025, to one count of distribution of controlled substances outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose, was sentenced Dec. 18 by U.S. District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller. She also received three years of supervised release after completing her prison term.

Wisconsin Granted $203m For Rural Health Program

The Trump administration has announced that Wisconsin will receive $203,670,005 for the first year of the Rural Health Transformation Program.

The funding is part of a larger initiative to enhance rural health care across the United States.

The program will distribute $50 billion over five fiscal years.

Wisconsin To See Election Regulation Changes In 2026

There will only be one new election law in Wisconsin that will have a big impact on elections in the state in the new year. But there are some other changes that will also begin when the calendar flips to 2026.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission last week sent a notice to clerks across the state reminding them of the new rules, regulations, and laws for the new year.

One of the biggest changes is a new law that is not an election law at all, WEC noted.

GAO Report Exposes Widespread Vulnerabilities In ACA Premium Tax Credit Program

In 2024 alone, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) paid out nearly $124 billion in advanced premium tax credits (APTC) to about 19.5 million enrollees. Despite this astronomical dollar amount, CMS has been shown to have very weak fraud prevention measures.

This was highlighted by a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), detailing massive fraud in the Federal Marketplace’s issuing of advanced premium tax credits.

The report stated that nearly a third of enrollees that provided Social Security numbers through the Federal Marketplace cannot be reconciled with IRS tax records, amounting to $21 billion of subsidies.

Additionally, GAO conducted two separate experiments, where they attempted to enroll fictitious applicants into the Federal Marketplace for subsidized coverage using falsified information and documents.