What you need to know: Wednesday
It’s Wednesday, June 3 and here is your day ahead:
In local news…
WEATHER: Another beautiful day with plenty of sunshine and highs in the upper 70s. Skies will be mostly sunny this morning, but turn partly sunny throughout the afternoon. Full forecast
1. ABORTION BILL
Emotional testimony: A controversial bill to ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy drew a big crowd and passionate testimony at the state Capitol Tuesday. The Senate and Assembly committees on health held a joint hearing on the bill, which is being fast-tracked through the Legislature. Doctors differed on issues of pain capability in fetuses, and mothers made tearful pleas after experiences with fetal complications in pregnancy. Lawmakers could vote on the bill as early as tomorrow. More on this story
2. MADISON VS LANDLORD
‘Nuisance’: Madison’s city attorney plans to file a public-nuisance action against Ray Peterson, who owns 45 rental properties, including the home where Tony Robinson was shot. A memo from city attorney to Mayor Paul Soglin and the common council says he has racked up more than 1,300 city code violations, generating nearly $700,000 in outstanding fines. More on this story
3. WOLF ATTACK
Rare sighting: A rare southern Wisconsin wolf attack left a calf dead on a town of Arlington farm last week. DNR experts investigating the incident confirmed it was a wolf attack because the calf was attacked at the throat. The attack is also the first reported wolf attack in Columbia County this year. Stevenson has filed paperwork with the DNR and USDA to receive some reimbursement for his lost calf, which is worth $1,100. Wolf hunts in Wisconsin have been banned since late last year, when a federal judge re-listed them as an endangered species in the Great Lakes area. More on this story
4. GOV. WALKER
Heading North: Gov. Scott Walker is planning another trade mission, this time up north. The Republican governor will lead a business development mission to Canada in June. The Canadian trip runs from June 12-17. Walker and representatives of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation will talk to leaders of Canadian companies about establishing new operations in Wisconsin. Walker has been ramping up for a likely 2016 presidential run. A new CNN/ORC poll has Walker tied for third with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. More on this story
5. SHAKE THE LAKE
New details: The Madison Mallards are sharing new details about Festival Foods Shake the Lake event at a press conference this morning. Details including entertainment, logistics, and food will be announced. Shake the Lake is set for June 27 on John Nolen Drive between Broom Street and Blair Street. It will be half the size of Rhythm and Booms last year, helping drive costs down and make the event more manageable. More on this story
In national news…
1. FIFA SCANDAL
Bye-bye Blatter: FIFA President Sepp Blatter hopes to start healing the embattled soccer governing body by stepping down. Blatter — just re-elected to a fifth term last week — won’t leave until FIFA has organized a new election for a new president, so he’ll be around for a couple more months at least. Blatter’s actions comes after FIFA was rocked by arrests stemming from fraud and corruption probes in the United States and Switzerland. More on this story
2. MAN KILLED
Terror suspect: The man shot and killed by police yesterday in Boston was at the center of a terror probe. Usaama Rahim had been under 24-hour surveillance by the U.S. Joint Terrorism Task Force and was considered “a threat.” Police — who approached him over concern about his recent social media threats — killed him when they said Rahim, armed with a large knife, lunged at officers. Rahim was believed to have been radicalized by ISIS. More on this story
3. CHINESE SHIP SINKS
Desperate scramble: Only 15 people have been pulled from the water alive in the sinking of a Chinese river cruise ship. Eighteen are dead and hundreds remain missing. The ship, called the Eastern Star, was cruising the Yangtze River Monday night when it was hit by a storm. Survivors said the Eastern Star capsized quickly, giving passengers little time to react and the captain no time to send a distress signal. Divers and more than 1,000 police officers in inflatable boats are involved in the rescue effort. More on this story
4. NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY
Bill passes: A bill passed and signed into law yesterday gets the NSA out of the phone data collection business. Well, not really. The new law — the USA Freedom Act — simply means the phone metadata will stay with telecommunications companies and the government will now have to get a warrant to get the information. Still, it is the first piece of legislation to reform post-9/11 surveillance measures. More on this story
5. WASHINGTON QUADRUPLE SHOOTING
New clue: First pizza, now blood. The suspect in the killings of a D.C. family and their housekeeper is reportedly tied to the crime by blood on his shoes. Forensic analysis allegedly matched traces of blood on one of Darron Dellon Dennis Wint’s shoes to a victim. Investigators had earlier said DNA on pizza crust found at the crime linked Wint to the heinous crime. More on this story
