Morning Headlines - Wednesday, June 25, 2025 | 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

Israel-Iran Truce Holds, But Iran Threatens To Accelerate Nuclear Work

There was cautious optimism in Israel on Wednesday that the ceasefire with Iran would hold, at least for now. The 12-day conflict left 28 people dead in Israel and hundreds in Iran. The ceasefire brokered by the Trump administration — and enforced by President Trump personally on Tuesday as it looked perilously close to failing before it even took hold — led Israel's Home Front Command to lift restrictions on movement in the country, with Ben Gurion International Airport reopening for commercial flights.

Shops and restaurants were open, and Israelis were out on the beach in Tel Aviv, which had been largely empty for days as Israel pounded Iranian nuclear, military, and other targets and Iran responded with volleys of missiles launched at Israel.

Left-Wing Democrat Stuns Former Governor In NY Mayor Primary

A young left-wing candidate, Zohran Mamdani, is poised to become the Democratic nominee for New York mayor after delivering a stunning political upset.

The 33-year-old democratic socialist declared victory in the party's primary on Tuesday, defeating his main rival and political veteran Andrew Cuomo who previously served as state governor.

"Tonight we made history," Mamdani said in his victory speech. If elected, he would be the first Muslim and Indian American to lead the nation's largest city.

Trump, Hegseth Scoff At Iran Damage Assessment; Leak Probe Underway

President Trump and his top national security brass aggressively pushed back on reporting that Iran’s nuclear program was only set back a matter of months – a determination made by the administration’s own internal assessments.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said an investigation was underway into leaks of a preliminary classified report that determined U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend set the regime’s program back several months despite Trump insisting it was actually a matter of decades.

Mortgage Rates And Demand Are Stuck In A Holding Pattern

Economic uncertainty at home or military conflicts overseas -- each taken alone -- would normally have a significant effect on the bond market. But now, even together, they have done little to move mortgage rates.

Last week, the average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances, $806,500 or less, increased to 6.88% from 6.84%, with points decreasing to 0.63 from 0.66, including the origination fee, for loans with a 20% down payment. That’s according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Pope Leo XIV Affirms Celibacy For Priests, Demands 'Firm' Action On Sex Abuse

Pope Leo XIV affirmed Wednesday that priests must be celibate and insisted that bishops take “firm and decisive” action to deal with sex abusers, as he gave marching orders Wednesday to the world’s Catholic hierarchs.

Leo met in St. Peter’s Basilica with about 400 bishops and cardinals from 38 countries attending this week’s special Holy Year celebrations for clergy. A day after he gave an uplifting message of encouragement to young seminarians, Leo offered a more comprehensive outline of what bishops must do to lead their flocks.

Wisconsin’s Budget Battle Continues

The Wisconsin state budget deadline is looming, and negotiations are still ongoing. On Tuesday morning, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers spoke to the State’s top Republican, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, after budget negotiations broke down between the two parties last week.

“It takes three people to tango,” Vos said.

Vos, referring to a tango trio between the governor and the Republican-led Assembly and Senate.

“We’d like to have a guarantee from Gov. Evers that we’re going to get tax cuts signed into law,” Vos told reporters during a press conference.

Republicans are asking for that guarantee in exchange for supporting the governor’s childcare measures.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Delivers Win For Environmentalists In Fight Over ‘Forever Chemicals’

The Wisconsin Supreme Court delivered a victory for environmentalists on Tuesday in the fight over “forever chemicals” known as PFAS, issuing a ruling that advocates said will hold polluters accountable.

The liberal-controlled court ruled that state regulators can force landowners to clean up emerging pollutants such as PFAS before they are officially designated as hazardous substances.

The 5-2 ruling is a defeat for the state’s powerful group representing businesses and manufacturers, which had argued the state couldn’t enforce regulations on substances before they were officially designated as hazardous.

Assembly Republicans Address Looming Budget Deadline, Gov. Evers' Veto Threat

Assembly Republicans discussed the looming budget deadline before they met for session Tuesday.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said he spoke with Gov. Tony Evers shortly before the assembly session began, after Evers made a comment Monday night threatening to veto the budget if it did not include funding for the Child Care Counts program.

Just days after negotiations fell through with Senate republicans and the governor again, Assembly republicans said they're ready to compromise.

Trump Budget Would Eliminate Funding For Wisconsin After-School Learning Centers

A program supporting Wisconsin children for the last two decades is at risk of losing dedicated federal funding.

Community learning centers served 20,000 students at 168 sites across the state last school year. The federal program is designed to support students at high-poverty schools through before- and after-school programs that offer academic and social programs and provide free meals to help students who might suffer food insecurity.

Since 2002, the program has been mostly funded through the federal Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center grant. Last year, the state Department of Public Instruction received $19 million to fund the program.

Assembly Sends Nuclear Power Bills To Evers’ Desk

The Assembly today sent to Gov. Tony Evers’ desk several measures to boost nuclear power in Wisconsin.

SB 125, approved by voice vote, would require the Public Service Commission to conduct a nuclear power siting study. The bill would also require the PSC to submit a report on the study to the Legislature within a year after the bill takes effect, and set new deadlines for the agency to approve permits for a plant.

Evers had proposed investing $1 million to study siting a new plant.

Rep. Patrick Snyder, R-Weston, said lawmakers “can’t be living in the past” of nuclear disasters like those seen at Chernobyl and Three Mile Island.