Morning Headlines - Tuesday, Dec. 31, 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

Chinese Hackers Breach U.S. Treasury Dept., Obtain Unclassified Documents

Chinese hackers remotely accessed several U.S. Treasury Department workstations and unclassified documents after compromising a third-party software service provider, the agency said Monday.

The department didn't provide details on how many workstations had been accessed or what sort of documents the hackers may have obtained, but said in a letter to lawmakers revealing the breach that "at this time there is no evidence indicating the threat actor has continued access to Treasury information." It said the hack was being investigated as a "major cybersecurity incident."

Arrest Warrant Issued For South Korea's Impeached President Yoon

A South Korean court issued an arrest and search warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday over his short-lived imposition of martial law, ABC News confirmed.

A joint investigation team announced on Monday they sought the warrant on insurrection and abuse of power charges after Yoon ignored three summonses to appear for questioning.

Under South Korea's constitution, if a sitting president is accused of insurrection, the police have the authority to arrest him while he is still in office.

What We Know About US Visas Trump Supporters Are Clashing Over

An immigration row has erupted between Donald Trump's supporters over a long-standing US visa programme.

The feud is about H-1B visas, which allow US-based companies to bring in skilled workers from abroad into certain industries.

Some immigration hardliners say the scheme undercuts American workers - but proponents say the visas allow the US to attract the best expertise from around the world.

The president-elect has weighed in, saying he supports the programme - despite being critical of it in the past - and tech billionaire Elon Musk has also defended it, saying it attracts the "top ~0.1% of engineering talent".

Here's what the data tell us about who gets into the US on these visas.

AI Ready To Hit Its Stride In Schools In 2025

Experts predict that 2025 will be the year artificial intelligence (AI) truly gets off the ground in K-12 schools.

2024 laid the groundwork for AI to reach a level of “maturity” in education, with the federal government releasing guidance on the issue and growing numbers of teachers getting professional training on the technology and classes on data science available to students.

Now, a development that once baffled educators and administrators is ready to go mainstream.

FBI To Sports Leagues: Star Athletes' Social Media Bling May Attract Cross-border Burglary Crews

The FBI is warning sports leagues that star athletes who display valuables on social media are vulnerable to burglars familiar with their often-public travel schedules.

The bureau recently issued the best-practices memo as part of a long-standing practice of communicating with private businesses about crime trends, a U.S. official briefed on the matter said.

The memo, a "liaison information report," urges the leagues to advise athletes to limit imagery of valuables, such as cash, jewels and electronics, on their public accounts, the official said.

Wisconsin Headlines

A New Year Brings New EV Charging Taxes, Changes To State Park Passes And Other New Laws

Electric vehicle charging taxes, a new way of administering state park passes, and tax-advantaged savings for people with disabilities are among the changes Wisconsin residents will see when several new laws go into effect with the start of the new year.

Most new policies take effect shortly after the governor signs them into law; however, lawmakers give some laws longer timelines for implementation. This helps state agencies prepare for big changes.

Man Armed And Dangerous In New Lisbon, 3 People Found Dead Inside Home

The New Lisbon Police Department says three people were found dead in a home Monday evening. Officials say they believe an armed person is on the loose.

Officials say the Juneau County Communication Center received a call around 4:30 p.m. regarding three people who were located inside a home and found dead.

Officials are now looking for Virgil Thew, who they say is a person of interest in this incident.

Online Extremists Influence Kids Like The Abundant Life Shooter. Grieving Parents Are Trying To Stop Them

Fascination with the Columbine shooting has become a common thread among perpetrators of other mass shootings and violent attacks over the last two decades.

Police have yet to reveal a motive for the Abundant Life Christian School school shooting in Madison on Dec. 16, but researchers say shooter Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow had an online history that shows an obsession with violence and extremism. And photographs online show her wearing a t-shirt associated with Columbine.

2024 Wisconsin DMV By The Numbers

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) conducted nearly 2.3 million* transactions at its 80 DMV Customer Service Centers across the state in 2024 and millions more completed their DMV tasks conveniently online.

With the convenience of having nearly all Wisconsin DMV tasks available online, 30,421 renewed their driver license online and 35,655 requested a copy of their driver record. This year, Wisconsin DMV also developed new innovations to serve more customers, help first responders, and deliver new products and new services.

SCOWIS Critical Of Request To Require Municipal Courts To Appoint Interpreters

The Wisconsin Supreme Court is poised to reject a proposal that would have required municipal courts to appoint interpreters for people with limited understanding of English.

Justices agreed to hold a public hearing on a petition filed by a legal advocacy group called Wisconsin Justice Initiative. But during that hearing, justices questioned the costs and practicality of that proposal in a state that’s already grappling with a shortage of court interpreters.

“We have a crisis right now in the state when it comes to interpreters,” Justice Jill Karofsky said during the hearing. “We live in a world of limited resources. And the problem I see with this petition is just almost complete and total failure to appreciate that.”