Morning Headlines - Tuesday, Mar. 29, 2022

U.S. and World Headlines

Biden Moves To Campaign Mode With Billionaire Tax Plan

President Biden's proposal to impose a 20 percent minimum tax on billionaires is a sign that Democrats are looking ahead to the midterm elections and scrambling for a good message in a tough political environment.

The proposal itself has an uphill path to becoming law, as Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) has previously expressed concern about targeting the super-rich, but it gives Democrats a great talking point to capitalize on the unpopularity of billionaires such as Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk.

Ukrainian Intelligence Releases Names Of More Than 600 Alleged Russian Spies

Ukraine's defense intelligence ministry released a list of more than 600 alleged Russian spies working in Europe in an apparent attempt to burn them and weaken Russia's intelligence operations across the continent.

The intelligence wing of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine released the "list of employees of the FSB of the Russian Federation registered at the address: Moscow, St. Bolshaya Lubyanka" on Monday. The FSB is the successor agency to the KGB, Russia's notorious spy arm.

Florida Governor Signs Controversial 'Don't Say Gay' Bill Into Law

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the Parental Rights in Education bill, dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill by critics.

The bill bans classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade and states that any instruction on those topics cannot occur "in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards," according to the legislation, HB 1557.

Are Americans Unhappy?

By any measure, the past two years have been rough. This month, we marked the two-year anniversary of the nation’s first shutdowns to stop the spread of COVID-19. Even before the virus arrived, though, there was political strife in the United States. The economic fallout from the pandemic and attendant shutdowns and disruptions has widened a divide. Behind all of this, climate change has caused more flooding in Gulf Coast states, wildfires in the West and other problems worldwide. Now, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine feels even more destabilizing.

So given all of this, how are Americans doing? The answer is, surprisingly, kind of OK.

Google Issues Warning For Chrome Browser Vulnerability

People using the Google Chrome browser should update as soon as possible to fix a dangerous vulnerability. Google recently released the version 99.0.4844.84 emergency update for its billions of Chrome users worldwide.

Microsoft Edge also is affected by the security flaw, which was described as high severity. Edge uses the same Chromium open-source code from Google.

Wisconsin Headlines

Wisconsin Vets Chairman Steps Down Amid Child P*rn Charges

The embattled leader of the Wisconsin veterans policy board has resigned as he battles child pornography charges.

Prosecutors in Milwaukee charged Curtis Schmitt Jr. with three counts of possession of child pornography in January.

Gov. Tony Evers asked him to resign the day after he was charged but the governor’s office says Schmitt ignored the request.

Video Shows Herd Of Deer Crashing Into Wisconsin Bar And Shattering Window

Surveillance footage caught the shocking moment a herd of deer smashed into a Wisconsin bar – including one through its window.

“So… earlier this afternoon we had an unexpected guest that decided to use our window as the entrance,” the pub said last Monday. “We’re still open for business.”

Fitzgerald, Johnson Propose Bail Study After Parade Deaths

U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald and Sen. Ron Johnson are proposing a bill that would require the U.S. Department of Justice to study how courts across the country impose bail and release conditions on suspects charged with violent offenses.

The Wisconsin Republicans announced the bill Monday.

La Crosse Man Sentenced To 7 Years For Trafficking Cocaine

Antjuano Green, 40, La Crosse, Wisconsin was sentenced on Friday, March 25, by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 7 years in federal prison for distributing cocaine base. This prison term will be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Green pleaded guilty to this charge on November 19, 2021.

MPS Disciplines Black Students At Disproportionate Rate, Study Finds

Black students at Milwaukee Public Schools continue to be disciplined at a disproportionate rate, even after a federal civil rights investigation into the differences, according to a recent report.

Milwaukee Public Schools was investigated by the federal Office of Civil Rights after data from 2011-12 showed Black students represented 84 percent of those receiving in-school suspensions, 82 percent of those receiving out-of-school suspensions and 85 percent of the students expelled — when Black students made up only about 56 percent of the district's students.