Morning Headlines - Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023

U.S. and World Headlines

Haley Enters The Fray, A Female Candidate Against A Man Known For Mocking Them

Donald Trump now faces his first declared opponent in the 2024 Republican presidential primary. It just so happens to be a woman.

Stepping out ahead of a field of men who spent the better part of two years mulling and flirting with a 2024 run, Nikki Haley marked her entrance into the Republican presidential primary with an announcement video and a formal event on Wednesday.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein Won't Seek Re-Election In 2024

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said Tuesday she will not seek re-election in 2024.

The announcement marks the beginning of the end of more than three decades in the Senate and spurs a free-for-all among ambitious would-be successors for a rare open Senate seat in safely Democratic California.

"I am announcing today I will not run for reelection in 2024 but intend to accomplish as much for California as I can through the end of next year when my term ends," Feinstein said in a statement.

Special Counsel Seeks Testimony From Trump Lawyer As Prosecutors Allege Evidence Of Crime

The special counsel investigating Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents is seeking to compel a lawyer for the former president to testify before a grand jury, a source familiar with the matter said.

Prosecutors allege in a sealed filing that they have evidence that some of Trump’s conversations with the attorney were in furtherance of a crime, the source said.

Microsoft Permanently Disables Internet Explorer For All Devices

Microsoft announced some heartbreaking news for Internet Explorer users on Valentine's Day: Internet Explorer is no more.

The company has permanently disabled the desktop version of Internet Explorer on certain versions of Windows 10, and updated its newer browser, Microsoft Edge, Microsoft announced Tuesday.

All other consumer and commercial devices that weren't already redirected from Explorer to Microsoft Edge will also be affected, the company said. Now, when users attempt to access Explorer, they will be redirected to Edge.

From Looking For Love To Swiping The Field: Online Dating In The U.S.

Whether searching for “the one” or “the right now,” Americans are turning to the internet to help them find companionship, commitment or casual encounters. Three-in-ten U.S. adults say they have ever used a dating site or app, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted July 5-17, 2022. Their experiences range from triumphant to troubling, as some report meeting a partner online or being excited about prospects, while others report facing harassment or scams.

People have a number of dating sites and apps to choose from in today’s market. Tinder is the most commonly used dating site or app among the list of eight measured in the survey. Some 46% of Americans who have ever used a dating site or app say they have used it, which represents 14% of all U.S. adults.

Wisconsin Headlines

Daniel Kelly Wants To Be 'Most Boring' Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice

In a state Supreme Court election full of ideological undertones, former Justice Daniel Kelly maintains he will keep politics out of his rulings if voters pick him to rejoin the court.

Kelly is one of four candidates running in the Feb. 21 primary as conservative Justice Patience Roggensack is retiring. The top two candidates will advance to an April general election that could tip the ideological balance of the court, where conservatives currently hold a 4-3 majority.

Kelly and Waukesha County Judge Jennifer Dorow are being backed by conservatives. Milwaukee County Judge Janet Protasiewicz and Dane County Judge Everett Mitchell have support from liberals.

Republicans Push Bill To Undo Wisconsin Supreme Court Open Records Fee Ruling

Republican lawmakers proposed a bill Feb. 14 that would render a controversial Wisconsin Supreme Court decision obsolete by loosening limits on when people who sue over open records requests can recover attorney's fees.

A conservative majority on the state Supreme Court ruled 4-3 in 2022 that if an entity decides to release records after being sued, the requester can be awarded attorney's fees only if a court issues a ruling on the merits of their case. Liberal justices and open government advocates decried the decision as gutting Wisconsin's open records laws.

Wisconsin To Receive Over $25 Million To Address PFAS Issues

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin announced Tuesday that Wisconsin will receive over $25.2 million from the U.S. EPA under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to address emerging contaminants and forever chemicals, like PFAS in drinking water.

“This investment will put Wisconsin to work helping our small and rural communities address PFAS contamination so we can provide safe and clean drinking water to people across the Badger State,” said Sen. Baldwin.

Gov. Evers To Deliver Budget Address

Gov. Tony Evers will deliver his 2023-25 budget address at the State Capitol Wednesday night.

Gov. Evers is set to highlight his proposed $300 million investment in the Milwaukee Brewers and his investments and initiatives for Wisconsin K-12 schools.

AG Kaul Joins Coalition In Support Of Federal Proposal To Create A More Affordable Repayment Plan For Student Loan Borrowers

Attorney General Josh Kaul joined a coalition of 22 state attorneys general in submitting comments to the U.S. Department of Education in response to proposed changes to the Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) program. The coalition commends the Department’s proposal to create the most affordable income-driven repayment plan ever made available to federal student loan borrowers and called on the Department to make additional changes that would provide critical assistance to struggling borrowers.

IDR plans enable borrowers to make payments based on income and family size and offer the possibility of loan forgiveness after 20 or 25 years of qualifying payments.