Morning Headlines - Wednesday, Jun. 15, 2022

U.S. and World Headlines

No More 'Pariah' State As Biden Seeks Help From The Saudis As Gas Prices Skyrocket

President Biden is slated to make his first trip since taking office to the oil-rich nation of Saudi Arabia in July, with what some observers say is the goal of reducing gasoline prices for consumers and confronting Iran’s nuclear weapons program.

U.S.-Saudi relations have hit a historic nadir. Earlier this year Saudi Arabia reportedly refused a request from Biden to speak amid rising oil prices due to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Five Takeaways From Races In Nevada, South Carolina And Texas

Voters from different sides of the country headed to the polls on Tuesday evening, lending some new insight into what to expect going into the general election in November.

Former President Trump saw his endorsement put to the test in two key races in South Carolina, while Republicans saw victory in a South Texas congressional district that could bode well for their strategy in the region.

Meanwhile, progressives saw yet another defeat, this time in Nevada. 

Here are five takeaways from the June 14th primaries.

Mitch McConnell's Support For Tougher Gun Laws Reflects A Changed Political Landscape

A decade ago, when 20 children and six adults were killed at an elementary school in Connecticut, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell extended his thoughts and prayers, mourning a tragedy he said “stands out in its awfulness” — and then used the filibuster to block a bipartisan bill to toughen gun laws.

But last month, after a gunman in Uvalde, Texas, murdered 19 elementary school children and two teachers, McConnell did something different...

2 Police Officers Die Of Injuries After Being Shot While Responding To Call In California

Two police officers have died after being shot in El Monte, California, Tuesday while responding to a possible stabbing at a motel, authorities said.

The El Monte Police Department said two officers "immediately took gunfire upon arrival" at the Siesta Inn.

The officers were taken to LAC-USC Medical Center, where they died of their injuries.

Why There's No Lyme Disease Vaccine Yet

With almost half a million people potentially getting Lyme disease in the U.S. each year, it seems surprising that there is no vaccine available for the illness.

The only vaccine previously marketed in the U.S. for the disease was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1998, but the manufacturer discontinued it in 2002 due to "insufficient consumer demand."

Wisconsin Headlines

As US Senate Takes Up Gun Legislation Package, Wisconsin Senators Weigh In

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a wide-ranging gun control bill in response to recent mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas.

Now, the bill is in the Senate's hands. It needs support from 10 Republicans to be signed into law. 

One of Wisconsin's senators, Democrat Tammy Baldwin, says she will support the bill.

"Congress has a moral responsibility to take action on gun violence, but so far Senate Republicans have blocked common sense gun safety reforms. I am pleased that we may have enough Senate Republicans to move from doing nothing to doing something about gun violence," Baldwin said in an emailed statement to Wisconsin Public Radio. "While this bill does not do everything I support — like expanding background checks for all gun sales — it is a good first step that will help keep our communities safe and help save lives."

Sauk County Woman Sentenced To 30 Months For Role In Methamphetamine Conspiracy

Tonia Greenwood, 45, North Freedom, Wisconsin pleaded guilty and was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 30 months in federal prison for her role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. This sentence is to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.

Greenwood was charged in January 2021 in a multiple-count indictment with conspiring with Douglas Mack, Emily Mack, and D’Angelo Lashore to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. For her role, between January 2019 and May 2020, Greenwood received numerous packages of methamphetamine through the mail from Douglas Mack in Arizona. Greenwood had packages sent to her own home, as well as to addresses of friends and neighbors who were unaware of the contents. She kept some of the drugs for herself and sold the rest in and around Sauk County

Governor Evers Announces $400,000 Tea Grant For Pleasant Prairie Manufacturing

Governor Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), today announced a $400,000 Transportation Economic Assistance (TEA) grant to build a rail spur in Pleasant Prairie that will help Balcan Innovations, Inc. add 80 manufacturing jobs.

“Balcan is making a major investment in Pleasant Prairie to grow their business and add good jobs to southeast Wisconsin,” Gov. Evers said. “We are pleased to work with the village of Pleasant Prairie to support this growing business by investing in transportation infrastructure.”

DNR Accepting Applications For Fall Deer Hunt At Sandhill Wildlife Area

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting applications through July 1 for the 2022 Learn to Hunt Deer program at Sandhill Wildlife Area.

Sandhill’s Learn-to-Hunt workshops combine classroom instruction and hands-on field experience with a mentored hunt on thousands of acres of prime deer habitat. Through separate programs, youth and adult hunters who want to try deer hunting will have access to the 9,150-acre property.

Wisconsin Four-Star Quarterback Walker White In The Class Of 2024

After missing on five-star quarterback CJ Carr last week, the Wisconsin Badgers have aggressively pursued new quarterbacks in the 2024 class.

Just last week, the Badgers offered a pair of four-star quarterbacks in Dante Reno of Massachussettes and Michael Van Buren out of Maryland.

On Tuesday, offensive coordinator Bobby Engram continued the run of offers by extending a scholarship to 2024 quarterback Walker White of Little Rock, Arkansas.