Morning Headlines - Tuesday, Jul. 21, 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

Taco Bell Hit With Lawsuit As 'Explosive Diarrhea' Outbreak Continues

A U.S. Army veteran is suing Taco Bell, Taylor Farms and the franchise operator of the restaurant he visited after he says a cyclospora infection left him hospitalized for two days.

David Ott said he ate at Taco Bell twice before he developed excruciating stomach pain, cramping and watery diarrhea. He said he became severely dehydrated before checking into a hospital.

“Just extreme stomach pain, cramping, explosive watery diarrhea. It was pretty rough,” Ott said. “My mouth was dry, I couldn’t keep anything down.”

Court Ruling Freezes Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger For Now

Paramount's owners were planning to have secured firm control of Hollywood rival Warner Bros. Discovery by the end of this week in a blockbuster deal that has the blessing of President Trump's Justice Department.

A federal judge has instead ground the process to a halt, at least for now. And her ruling on Monday in response to a lawsuit filed a week ago by a dozen states suggests Paramount may have some tough sledding ahead in order to get the deal through.

The FDA Made A Big Reversal In Its Cyclosporiasis Probe, But It Still Thinks Iceberg Lettuce Is To Blame

The FDA’s investigation into the source of the cyclosporiasis outbreak is causing confusion as companies and consumers alike navigate new updates.

The agency said a test that indicated a sample of iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms was a false positive, but it has not taken back its conclusion that the company is linked to the outbreak.

Experts say the outbreak is still likely linked to a single vendor of lettuce, and it’s possible it may have led to additional smaller outbreaks.

GOP Faces New Alarm Over Iran As Ceasefire Implodes

The intensifying military conflict with Iran and its impact on gas prices is sparking fresh alarm among GOP lawmakers, who are urging President Trump to find a way to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible to avoid an angry backlash from voters.

Oil prices have soared again since a ceasefire with Iran started to fall apart two weeks ago and Americans are now paying more than four dollars a gallon for gasoline, on average, across the United States.

Powerball Ticket Sales Begin Tuesday In The United Kingdom

Powerball ticket sales in the United Kingdom will begin Tuesday, giving players across the Atlantic a chance at winning the same massive jackpot that U.S. players already play for — with the same minuscule odds.

The expansion, first announced in April through an agreement between the Multi-State Lottery Association in the U.S. and Allwyn UK, will mark the first time a lottery outside the U.S. contributes to the Powerball jackpot. The expansion will allow U.K. players to play for much larger jackpots than are now available at lotteries in the country and Europe.

Wisconsin Headlines

How Opioid Settlement Funds Are Being Used Around Wisconsin

Wisconsin and 87 local governments are expected to receive more than $874 million by 2038, up from projections Wisconsin Watch reported in 2025.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services gets 30% of the state’s settlement payments and documents its spending online while updating the Legislature quarterly.

The rest flows to 71 Wisconsin counties (all but Polk, whose board declined to join Wisconsin’s lawsuit) and 16 municipalities, which started receiving it in 2022. Each tracks and spends the funds a little differently.

Wisconsin Eases Nursing School Faculty Requirements

Gov. Tony Evers has approved new changes to Wisconsin's faculty approval process for nursing schools, allowing qualified Registered Nurses to teach clinical courses if they meet certain criteria.

The emergency rule change follows a recommendation by the Governor's Task Force on the Healthcare Workforce aimed at addressing the state's longstanding healthcare workforce shortages.

Absentee Ballots For Wisconsin’s Election Day: What You Need To Know

The Wisconsin Election Commission has issued a guidance for voters who have an absentee ballot to cast ahead of the August and November elections.

What Happens If I Voted Early For A Candidate Who Dropped Out? Can I Change My Vote?

No.

Dem Contenders On ‘UpFront’ React To Rodriguez Dropping Out Of Race, Crowley Getting Back In

Mandela Barnes, when learning Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez dropped out of the Dem primary race for governor, said the challenge isn’t “any different than it was before” in trying to win the Aug. 11 primary.

“It wouldn’t matter if there were two people in the primary, wouldn’t matter if there were 20 people in the primary,” Barnes said on WISN 12’s “UpFront,” which is produced in partnership with WisPolitics. The interview came moments after Rodriguez dropped out Friday but before news of David Crowley’s reentry and Gov. Tony Evers’ endorsement.

“We are going to be focused on Tom Tiffany and beating him in the general election. That’s what I’m going to continue to be focused on.”