Morning Headlines - Wednesday, May 29, 2024 | Recent News

U.S. and World Headlines

Political World Braces For Trump Verdict

The looming verdict in former President Trump’s hush money trial will send ripples through the 2024 presidential race and determine whether Trump will run for the White House as a convicted felon.

The defense and the prosecution delivered closing arguments Tuesday. The jury will deliberate over 34 counts of falsifying business documents in connection to an alleged hush money scheme involving porn actor Stormy Daniels. The jury must reach a unanimous verdict on each count.

Statistics From Negro Leagues To Be Integrated Into MLB Record Books

In a milestone decision decades in the making, Major League Baseball announced Tuesday that it will incorporate the statistics of Negro Leagues that operated in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s into its record books.

"This initiative is focused on ensuring that future generations of fans have access to the statistics and milestones of all those who made the Negro Leagues possible," MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement provided to the Associated Press.

White House Says Israel's Rafah Strike And Ground Assault Don't Cross Biden's 'Red Line'

As Israeli forces pushed deeper into Rafah just days after an airstrike sparked a major fire that killed dozens of Palestinians, the White House said that its ally had not crossed the Biden administration's "red line."

Israeli tanks were seen entering central Rafah for the first time Tuesday, as global condemnation mounted over the deaths in a crowded tent camp for displaced civilians and as U.S. aid deliveries to Gaza by sea were suspended after damage to its temporary pier.

North Korea Drops Trash Balloons On The South

North Korea has dropped at least 260 balloons carrying rubbish in the South, prompting authorities to warn its residents to stay indoors.

South Korea's military also cautioned the public against touching the white balloons and the plastic bags attached to them because they contain "filthy waste and trash".

The balloons have been found in eight of nine provinces in South Korea and are now being analysed.

AI Is Shockingly Good At Making Fake Nudes — And Causing Havoc In Schools

Angela Tipton was disgusted when she heard that her students were circulating a lewd image around their middle school. What made it far worse was seeing that the picture had her face on someone else’s naked body.

For Tipton, a classroom teacher for 20 years who lives in Indianapolis, the incident with an AI-generated deepfake drove her to change jobs. She now works with an alternative program within her city’s public school system that lets her help students one-on-one or in small groups.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos Targeted For Recall A Second Time In Three Months

Supporters of former President Donald Trump, including a former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice, submitted more than 9,000 signatures on Tuesday in an effort to force a recall election of Wisconsin’s top elected Republican after their first attempt fell short.

They targeted Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, the longest-serving Assembly speaker in Wisconsin history, after he refused to impeach the official who oversees the battleground state’s elections, angering Trump and his followers.

Officer Involved Shooting In Eau Claire, Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is investigating an officer involved shooting in the City of Eau Claire, Wis. that occurred on the evening of Friday, May 24, 2024.

At approximately 8:50 p.m., officers with the Eau Claire Police Department responded to the 2200 block of 2nd Street for a disturbance. As officers were investigating that case, a second disturbance was observed, also in the 2200 block of 2nd Street. Outside of the residence at this location, officers confronted a subject armed with a handgun. One officer discharged their firearm at the armed subject. The subject retreated into the home and barricaded themselves inside.

The Eau Claire County Regional SWAT team was activated and responded to the scene. Officers evacuated the residents of neighboring apartments. Crisis negotiators maintained phone contact with the subject until they were able to broker a peaceful surrender. The subject was taken into custody and transported to a hospital for medical evaluation and treatment. After treatment, they were transported to the Eau Claire County Jail.

The involved officer is on administrative leave, per agency policy.

Weather Experts Urge Safety Going Into Peak Tornado Season In Wisconsin

With extreme weather on the rise, experts are urging Wisconsin residents to be prepared going into what’s expected to be the peak season for tornadoes.

According to the National Weather Service, there have been around 20 confirmed tornadoes in Wisconsin this year as of Tuesday. That includes three tornados in Rock and Jefferson counties Sunday evening, two tornadoes in the villages of Edgar and Unity last week and the first reported tornadoes ever recorded during the month of February in Wisconsin.

“We’ve had multiple not only tornado warnings, but confirmed tornadoes, especially in southern Wisconsin — that seems to be the area that’s certainly been hit the hardest,” said Mark McGinnis, a certified consulting meteorologist.

Wisconsin Judge Hears Oral Arguments In Act 10 Lawsuit

The controversial law garnered national attention as Act 10 nearly banned collective bargaining for union employees across the state. A Dane County Circuit judge heard oral arguments today arguing that Wisconsin’s public employees were not given the same protections as public safety unions like the state’s capitol police and firefighters.

Plaintiffs in the case also argue that public safety officials were granted exemptions that were not offered to other public employees. A similar argument was brought forward in 2014 to the state Supreme Court’s then-conservative majority.

Wisconsin Ranks Number One In The Nation During Spring Drug Take Back Day

The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) today announced an update that Wisconsin ranked number one throughout the country for the most prescription medications collected during the spring 2024 Drug Take Back. A correction to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) data shows Wisconsin collected the most unwanted medications throughout the country this spring totaling 55,122 lbs. We previously reported Wisconsin ranked number two in the United States.

“Because of Wisconsinites who safely disposed of their unwanted medications, Wisconsin’s remarkable success with the Drug Take Back program has continued,” said AG Kaul. “Thanks to everyone who helped make the safe disposal of more than 55,000 more pounds of unused medication possible.”