Morning Headlines - Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026 | Recent News

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

Former NFL Reporter Michele Tafoya Wins Minnesota Senate Primary: ‘It’s Common Sense Versus Crazy’

Michele Tafoya had NBC attached to her name for 11 years, and now, the former NFL reporter is one step closer to attaching “(R-Minn.)” to her name.

Tafoya has been declared the winner of Minnesota’s Republican Senate primary, per NBC News, with a sizable victory over Adam Schwarze and Royce White.

Klobuchar, Demuth Advance In Minnesota Governor Race: DDHQ

The race to replace Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has some strong name recognition, with Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and Speaker of the Minnesota House Lisa Demuth advancing to the November general election according to Decision Desk HQ.

Walz announced he would not run for reelection in January after mounting scrutiny over allegations of social aid fraud at day care centers in the state.

Hollywood Goes Quiet As Stars Rethink Speaking Out On Politics

As the midterm elections are heating up, more and more Hollywood stars say they’re putting a freeze on speaking out about politics, perhaps feeling burned by the 2024 White House race.

In recent months, entertainers from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to Jennifer Lawrence and Paris Hilton have said that they intend on keeping their political views out of the spotlight.

Credit Card Debt Rises To $1.26 Trillion, Nearing All-Time Record

Americans' credit card debt reached $1.26 trillion, increasing by $21 billion in the second quarter of this year, according to new data Tuesday from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Overall, outstanding credit card balances are now just shy of the $1.28 trillion all-time record set in the fourth quarter of last year.

Houthi Attack Kills Six In First Fatalities In Red Sea In Over A Year; U.S. Strikes Container Ship

Iran-backed Houthi rebels killed six people in an attack on a cargo ship in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

U.S. forces fired missiles at a container ship attempting to breach Washington’s blockade of Iranian ports in the Gulf of Oman.

The twin incidents show how the war is inflicting a toll on two of the world’s most critical shipping lanes.

Duffy Son-In-Law Michael Alfonso Wins Bruising GOP Primary In 7th Congressional District

The Trump-endorsed son-in-law of U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will be the Republican candidate in Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District.

Michael Alfonso will represent the GOP on the November ballot. He hopes to take over the seat his father-in-law held before he left Congress in 2020. The mostly rural northern Wisconsin district heavily favors Republicans.

The Associated Press called the race for Alfonso at 9:16 p.m. His closest challenger was Kevin Hermening, a former U.S. Marine and Mosinee School Board president.

In Shocking Comeback, David Crowley Wins Democratic Primary For Governor

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has won the Democratic primary for governor, a shocking outcome for a candidate who briefly suspended his floundering campaign roughly a month ago.

The Associated Press called the race at 2:34 a.m. Wednesday. All results are unofficial until they are certified in coming weeks.

'We’re Going To Go Back To Common Sense': Tom Tiffany Looks To General Election After Landslide Primary Win

Rep. Tom Tiffany secured the Republican nomination in the race for governor Tuesday night, winning 96% of the vote in a landslide election.

In his victory speech, Tiffany framed the race as a choice about the future direction of Wisconsin rather than simply a contest between political parties.

“We’re going to go back to common sense in Madison," Tiffany said. “We’re going to respect the taxpayers who foot the bill, and we are going to make government accountable to the working people of the state of Wisconsin.”

Primary Wins Set Up Republicans In Two Safe Senate Districts For Likely November Victories

In the northern 25th Senate District, former Rep. Erik Severson, of Star Prairie, won the GOP primary over another former state lawmaker, Angie Sapik, of Lake Nebagamon.

Severson served in the Assembly from 2011 to 2015.

He will face Democrat Charly Ray, a Bayfield County Board supervisor who ran unopposed, in November. The winner will fill the 25th SD, which Sen. Romaine Quinn, R-Birchwood, left open when he decided to run in the 23rd SD under maps put in place two years ago.

Wisconsin DHS Confirms 2 New Measles Cases In Iowa And Lafayette Counties

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services confirmed two new measles cases in Iowa and Lafayette counties through testing at the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene.

These are the third and fourth measles cases confirmed in Wisconsin so far in 2026 and are not related to any previously confirmed cases, according to DHS. The cases are believed to have been exposed in Wisconsin, suggesting there may be additional measles cases in communities that have not yet been identified.