Morning Headlines - Wednesday, Feb. 4, 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

Search Intensifies For ‘Today’ Show Host Savannah Guthrie’s Mother

A search for answers in southern Arizona is underway as investigators look for Nancy Guthrie, the mother of “Today” show anchor Savannah Guthrie, after authorities said she was taken from her home.

Investigators are combing through hundreds of leads, but the Pima County Sheriff’s Department is asking the public for help in finding her.

Senate GOP Debates Filibuster Reform After Trump Calls To ‘Nationalize’ Elections

President Trump’s call for Republicans to “take over” voting procedures in more than a dozen states and “nationalize” the midterm elections has Republican senators debating filibuster reform to get around Democratic opposition to a bill that would require voters to show proof of citizenship.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), a staunch Trump ally and chair of the GOP’s Senate Steering Committee, says Republicans have power under the Senate rules to force Democrats to hold the floor continuously to filibuster and block the SAVE Act, legislation that would require voters to present birth certificates and passports when registering to vote.

More Than One-third Of Cancer Cases Are Preventable, Massive Study Finds

Nearly 40% of new cancer cases worldwide are potentially preventable, according to one of the first investigations of its kind, which analysed dozens of cancer types in almost 200 countries.

The study found that in 2022, roughly seven million cancer diagnoses were linked to modifiable risk factors — those that can be changed, controlled or managed to reduce the likelihood of developing the disease. Overall, tobacco smoking was the leading contributor to worldwide cancer cases, followed by infections and drinking alcohol.

NASA Had 3 Years To Fix Fuel Leaks On Its Artemis Moon Rocket. Why Are They Still Happening?

NASA was forced to end a critical fueling test of its giant Artemis 2 rocket early in the wee hours of Tuesday, delaying its mission to launch astronauts around the moon by at least a month.

Now that a new day has dawned on the big orange launch vehicle, the space agency is attempting to shed some light on what exactly went wrong — and a lot of what it's saying sounds familiar.

The Winter Olympics Are Upon Us. Here's How To Follow Along

It's the Winter Olympics, that special season every four years in which everyone you know is suddenly an expert on luge strategy and curling technique from the comfort of their couch.

There's plenty to dive into this year, at the unusually spread-out Milan Cortina Olympics.

Wisconsin US Sen. Ron Johnson Opposes Trump’s Call For Republicans To ‘Take Over’ Elections

Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson said Tuesday he doesn’t agree with President Donald Trump’s call for Republicans to nationalize elections, but he voiced support for new limits on voting, including requiring proof of citizenship and scaling back absentee ballots.

Johnson’s comments during a Tuesday telephone town hall with constituents, came a day after Trump called for the Republican Party to “take over” and “nationalize” election administration in 15 states, which the president didn’t name.

When asked if he agrees, Johnson said “I do not want to see us nationalizing elections.”

WisconsinEye Resumes Operations After Lawmakers Approve $50K

WisconsinEye has resumed operations as legislative leaders signed off unanimously on providing the public affairs network $50,000.

The WisconsinEye website was live again yesterday after going dark Dec. 15. Network President Jon Henkes wrote in an email production for the month of February began yesterday. The network plans a full day of coverage today, including five legislative hearings.

Marquette Law School National Survey Finds 60% Of People Disapprove Of ICE’s Work

Marquette Law School published a poll that found 60% of Americans disapprove of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) handling of its job.

Public opinions are sharply divided along partisan lines, with 80% of Republicans, 5% of Democrats and 23% of Independents approving ICE’s work.

Some Wisconsin Libraries Are Struggling For Funds Due To Inflation, Budget Shortfalls

Inflation and budget shortfalls are plaguing some public libraries in Wisconsin.

Most recently, South Milwaukee announced residents will decide in an April referendum whether to approve a $425,000 property tax levy increase to fund the city’s public library. If approved by voters, the levy increase would add about $60 to the annual property tax bill for the owner of a home assessed at $225,000.

MacIver And NorthWoods Policy Network Fix The Northwoods Economy

The Northwoods Policy Network hosted an informative event last week in Spooner to share their new organization's mission while taking insights from attendees around economic opportunities in the Northwoods.

Annette Olson of The MacIver Institute and state Senator Romaine Quinn attended and participated in the discussion focused on the region.

The roundtable discussion with business owners and concerned residents of the northern district concentrated on the economy of northern Wisconsin and how policy organizations such as the MacIver Institute and the new Northwoods Policy Network can work together with community leaders and elected officials on public policy that will improve the economy of the Northwoods.