Morning Headlines - Tuesday, Feb. 4, 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!

U.S. and World Headlines

China Retaliates With Additional Tariffs Of Up To 15% On Select U.S. Imports Starting Feb. 10

China unveiled a series of retaliatory measures against the U.S. on Tuesday, shortly after U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods took effect, raising concerns of a broader trade war between the world’s two largest economies.

China’s finance ministry said Tuesday it will impose additional tariffs of 15% on coal and liquified natural gas imports from the U.S. and 10% higher duties on American crude oil, agricultural machinery and certain cars, starting Feb. 10.

Trump Considering Executive Action To Dismantle Education Department, Sources Say

President Trump is considering executive action that would dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, ending some programs and shifting some to other parts of government, according to multiple sources familiar with the plans. The sources said such a move was not imminent.

Slashing the department is in line with Mr. Trump and DOGE chief Elon Musk's goal of shrinking the federal bureaucracy and workforce.

RFK Jr. Faces High-stakes Vote In Bid To Become Trump's Health Secretary

The Senate Finance Committee will vote on Tuesday on whether to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s controversial nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services under President Donald Trump.

It would take just one Republican to oppose Kennedy for his nomination to be potentially sunk, assuming all Democrats vote against him -- as is expected.

Purges At FBI, DOJ Trigger ‘Battle’ For Career Staff

The Trump administration has removed dozens of Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI officials and is eyeing firing perhaps thousands more in an unprecedented purge that may just be getting started.

Trump critics feared he would use the two agencies to carry out retribution against his perceived political enemies.

Nintendo Posts Profit Miss As It Slashes Switch Forecast Again Ahead Of Console’s Successor

• Nintendo on Tuesday reported weaker-than-expected top and bottom results for its fiscal third quarter, slashing its forecast for the Switch console ahead of the release of its succesor.
• Nintendo said it now expects to sell 11 million units of its current Switch console, down from a previously-reduced estimate of 12.5 million units.
• Nintendo last month teased the Switch 2 in a trailer showing off the hardware, with investors and fans eagerly-awaiting more details.

Wisconsin Headlines

DPI State Superintendent Race: Solving Wisconsin’s Teacher Retention Crisis

The state superintendent for Wisconsin’s public schools is up for election this year. There are three candidates vying for a seat in the February 18 primary election. Incumbent Dr. Jill Underly will face off with Sauk Prairie Superintendent Jeff Wright and education consultant Brittany Kinser.

Four out of 10 Wisconsin teachers will leave the state or the profession altogether after six years, according to Wisconsin DPI data.

Here are the takeaways from how these candidates say they would work to fix the state’s teacher retention crisis:

Milwaukee Is Losing A Generation Of Black Men To The Opioid Crisis

Milwaukee County is among dozens of U.S. counties where drugs are disproportionately killing a generation of Black men, born between 1951 and 1970, an analysis by The Baltimore Banner, The New York Times and Stanford University’s Big Local News found.

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and Wisconsin Watch are collaborating with them and eight other newsrooms to examine this pattern.

Amber Alert Issued For Pregnant 16-Year-Old From Beaver Dam

Authorities issued an Amber Alert Monday night for a 16-year-old who they say is three months pregnant.

The alert says Sophia Franklin was last seen at her home at 9 p.m. Sunday. She is believed to be with 40-year-old Gary Day, who is known to be the father of the child. Day was last seen at Franklin's home just before 8 a.m. Monday.

Baldwin Tells ‘UpFront’ Congress Should Wait For NTSB Investigation Of Deadly Plane Crash

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a member of the Senate committee overseeing the FAA and Transportation Department, says Congress doesn’t need to launch its own investigation into the deadly DC plane crash.

Baldwin, D-Madison, also blasted GOP President Trump’s initial comments suggesting DEI and Biden administration-era policies could have contributed to the crash.

$2.8M Misused Within Milwaukee’s Public Housing Authority, CFO Says

Charlotte Hayslett’s voice cracked with emotion as she spoke to Milwaukee’s public housing residents in a city conference room last week.

“To our residents, on behalf of this commission, we apologize to you all,” said Hayslett — recently-appointed chair of the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee’s board — to applause and echoes of “amen.”

Between 2019 and 2022, the authority known as HACM improperly diverted $2.8 million from its Section 8 voucher program funds into its central office to cover payroll and benefits for staff, Chief Financial Officer Brad Leak announced at the meeting.