Morning Headlines - Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026

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

9 Major Themes That Defined The First Year Of Trump's Second Term

In the year since his return to power, President Trump has shifted America's approach to foreign policy and allies, targeted his political enemies, prioritized mass deportations and put his mark on Washington's architecture. Here are the themes that have shaped his first 365 days in office.

Noem Announces 10K Migrant Arrests In Minneapolis

Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem on Monday announced thousands of arrests in Minneapolis, Minn., as part of the administration’s ongoing crackdown on immigration.

“PEACE AND PUBLIC SAFETY IN MINNEAPOLIS! We have arrested over 10,000 criminal illegal aliens who were killing Americans, hurting children and reigning terror in Minneapolis,” Noem wrote on the social platform X, including 3,000 arrested in the last six weeks.

A DHS release shared some of the names of those arrested, though additional details about the nature of the arrests weren’t included.

New Report Says Screen Time Limits For Children Are No Longer Enough

Children are growing up in an increasingly digital world that affects sleep, learning and mental health, making screen-time limits alone no longer enough, according to new guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Covering hundreds of studies on digital media and health effects over the last 20 years, the review’s findings mark a departure from previous thoughts on screen use. It was published alongside new recommendations to help guide families, physicians, internet companies and policymakers on creating a safer online world for kids.

Lawmakers Zero In On NCAA Over NIL, Revenue Sharing

An effort to curb the big business of college sports is gaining steam on Capitol Hill, where a growing number of lawmakers in both parties are outraged at the NCAA and signaling intervention from Congress on athlete compensation and revenue sharing is inevitable.

Monday’s College Football national championship game served as marquee symbol of the NCAA’s profitability.

Why Is Flu Season So Bad This Year?

If it feels like everyone around you has come down with the flu, you're not imagining it.

As of Jan. 9, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that at least 15 million people have gotten sick with the flu this season. Of those, 180,000 have been hospitalized, and 7,400 people have died from flu so far, including 17 children.

These numbers make the current flu season one of the worst the U.S.

Wisconsin Headlines

Wisconsin's US Senators Discuss Options For Compromise On ACA Enhanced Tax Credits

Wisconsin Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson says he’s talking to Democrats about passing some type of assistance for people who lost health insurance tax credits at the end of 2025.

Johnson, who ran in 2010 on a pledge to repeal the Affordable Care Act, has been among the law’s most outspoken critics during his 15 years in the Senate. He remains intensely opposed to the ACA, blaming it for inflating health care costs.

Former Northland College Faculty Explore Creation Of A Microcollege

A newly formed nonprofit group is exploring creation of a microcollege to continue the mission of Ashland’s Northland College, which closed last year.

Microcolleges are part of a growing movement across the nation, according to Elizabeth Andre. She’s a board member with the nonprofit Northland Collaborative, which is exploring models for such schools.

“We’re excited to continue the aspects of the Northland College mission that really resonated with us,” she said, including “environmental and community-focused” programs.

Rodriguez Tells ‘UpFront’ She Wouldn’t Instruct Wisconsinites To Obstruct ICE

Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, a Democratic candidate for governor, says she wouldn’t instruct Wisconsinites to obstruct ICE agents as she calls for statewide bans on where federal immigration arrests could be made.

“I would never urge Wisconsinites to obstruct federal agents, and in fact, that is something I absolutely would discourage people to do,” Rodriguez said on WISN 12’s “UpFront,” which is produced in partnership with WisPolitics. “I would encourage them to do what they have been doing, which is peacefully protest as well as making sure that you are using your video camera on your phone and taping them to make sure that we can hold these agents accountable if they do violate people’s civil rights.”

Accounting For Growth In Wisconsin: Performance And Prospects

Between 1997 and 2014, Wisconsin's economy kept pace with the rest of the United States. Per capita GDP growth exceeded the national average in 9 years, and lagged behind in only 8 years.

After 2014 however, the growth in the Wisconsin economy has not only fallen short of the national average, but has lagged the rest of the United States in every single year since. Wisconsin has not only been a poor performer in this regard, but has been the worst performer in the United States.

So why did this happen and how do we fix it?

Packers DC Hafley Hired As Dolphins Head Coach

Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is set to be hired as the next head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

This past season Hafley’s defense finished 12th in yards allowed per game and 11th overall in points. Green Bay was fifth in yards per game when Micah Parsons went down with a torn ACL.