Morning Headlines - Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 | 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 and the end for a little humor to go with your news!

U.S. and World Headlines

White House Press Corps Recoils At Trump’s Threat To Shake Up Briefing Room

Signals from President-elect Trump’s team that a shake-up of the White House Press Briefing Room could be coming are roiling journalists preparing to cover his second term.

People close to Trump have said in recent days he should dramatically change who gets access to the president, suggesting podcasters, internet personalities and media deemed more friendly to him could replace outlets like the major television networks, The New York Times and The Washington Post in the room’s front rows.

Fear, Fury And Triumph: Six Hours That Shook South Korea

Nineteen-year-old Hwang was watching the protests in Georgia on Tuesday night's news when the images on TV suddenly changed - the spotlight was on his country after South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol announced martial law.

"I couldn’t believe what I was seeing," said the 19-year-old student, who wished to be identified only by his surname.

By Wednesday afternoon, he was among the protesters standing before the National Assembly, still stunned about what had happened the night before.

Chinese Espionage Campaign Scooped Up Data On Thousands Of US Mobile Phone Users

U.S. officials suspect that a recently discovered Chinese hacking and espionage campaign scooped up data on hundreds of thousands of American mobile phone users, likely stealing information about more than 1 million customers, ABC News has learned.

Sources familiar with the investigation gave ABC News a detailed sense of the vast scope of what U.S. officials are calling a major intelligence gathering operation by China, exploiting weaknesses in the communications networks of the nation's top telecommunications companies.

Supreme Court Tackles State Bans On Treatments For Transgender Youth

The conservative-majority Supreme Court on Wednesday dives into the culture war issue of transgender rights as it weighs whether states can restrict gender transition care for minors.

President-elect Donald Trump and his allies repeatedly pushed an anti-transgender rights message during the recently concluded election. Among other things, he has pledged to restrict access to gender-affirming health care and reimpose restrictions on transgender people serving in the military when he takes office in January.

Foot Locker Shares Tumble 15% As It Issues Gloomy Holiday Outlook, Sees ‘Softness’ At Nike

Foot Locker is feeling the holiday blues after seeing weak consumer demand and steep promotions across the sneaker marketplace.

The company fell short of Wall Street’s expectations on the top and bottom lines and cut its full-year guidance.

“Consumer spending trends softened following the peak Back-to-School period in August, and the promotional environment was more elevated than anticipated,” CEO Mary Dillon said in a news release.

What To Know About Wisconsin's Act 10 And The 2024 Court Battle Over The Law

A judge’s overturning of Wisconsin’s 13-year-old law that effectively ended collective bargaining for teachers and most state government employees has rekindled a battle over labor rights in a state where the first public sector unions were formed 65 years ago.

But before unions head back to the bargaining table, more legal fights await. Here are five things to know about the law, the current challenge and what happens next:

Remains Of Cassandra Ayon Found In The Town Of Brighton, Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) in partnership with the Clark and Marathon County Sheriff’s Offices, and the Clark County District Attorney’s Office, today announced the remains of Cassandra Ayon, last seen in Unity, Wis. on October 3, 2020, have been found on private property near CTH P and Abe Lincoln Road in the Town of Brighton, Marathon County, Wis. on Saturday, November 30, 2024.

“My heart goes out to Cassandra’s family and friends,” said Attorney General Josh Kaul. “Thank you to everyone who has worked to get justice and help provide answers in this appalling case.”

In Wisconsin, Justice Is Getting Somewhat Speedier As Court Backlogs Ease

In Wisconsin, justice is getting somewhat speedier as courts work to reduce to a post-pandemic backlog of criminal cases.

In 2023, it took an average of 259 days, or about eight-and-a-half months, for a Wisconsin felony case to be resolved.

That’s five days faster than the average for the year prior, Wisconsin Court system data shows. And that’s despite the fact that circuit courts across Wisconsin handled a greater case load last year compared to 2022.

Tiffany’s Legislation To Honor Veteran By Renaming Necedah Post Office Becomes Law

Last week, Congressman Tom Tiffany’s (WI-07) legislation, H.R. 6651, was signed into law by President Joe Biden. This bill honors the service and sacrifice of Sergeant Kenneth E. Murphy by renaming the United States Post Office in Necedah as the Sergeant Kenneth E. Murphy Post Office Building. Sergeant Murphy, a Necedah resident, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his gallantry in Vietnam, as well as a Purple Heart.

“Sergeant Murphy was a true hero to our country and led his fellow service members out of a deadly trap during the Vietnam War despite being wounded twice. Renaming the Necedah Post Office in his honor ensures his legacy and service are forever etched into our community,” said Congressman Tiffany.

Wisconsin Badgers Transfer Portal Tracker: All 6 DBs From The 2023 Class Are Gone

It’s officially the offseason for the Wisconsin Badgers, as their season ended on Friday with a 24-7 loss to the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

The winter transfer portal period opens on December 9th, but several players have already announced their intentions to transfer from the program, looking to move forward to new opportunities.

As news continues to come, we’ll have an updated tracker with the latest transfer portal news, keeping up with every player choosing to leave the program.