Wisconsin Supreme Court agrees to hear veto challenge

MADISON — The Wisconsin Supreme Court agreed Wednesday to hear a case brought by a conservative law firm seeking to dramatically scale back the ability of governors to change the intent of legislators through partial budget vetoes.The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty brought the case in July after Democratic Gov.

GM and union reach tentative deal that could end strike

DETROIT — Bargainers for General Motors and the United Auto Workers reached a tentative contract deal on Wednesday that could end a monthlong strike that brought the company's U.S. factories to a standstill.The deal, which the union says offers "major gains" for workers, was hammered out after months of bargaining but won't bring an immediate end to the strike by 49,000 hourly workers.

President Trump urges Italy's leader to increase defense spending

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump urged Italy on Wednesday to increase its defense spending as he welcomed Italian President Sergio Mattarella to the White House.President Trump says Italy is only spending 1.1 percent of its gross domestic product on defense, short of a goal set by NATO allies of spending 2 percent.

Wisconsin spice company peppers Facebook with anti-President Trump ads

MADISON — The nation's largest independent spice retailer is peppering Facebook with ads calling for the impeachment of President Donald Trump.Wisconsin-based Penzeys Spices spent nearly $100,000 on Facebook ads last week calling for President Trump's impeachment, making it one of the largest social media spenders on impeachment to date.Facebook says Penzeys spent nearly $96,000 on ads supporting impeachment between Oct. 4 and Oct. 10.

Republican Kevin Nicholson won't run for Congress, eyeing 2022

MADISON — Republican Kevin Nicholson is passing on a chance to run for Congress next year and instead is laying the groundwork for a statewide run for either governor or U.S. Senate in 2022.Nicholson on Tuesday endorsed fellow Republican Scott Fitzgerald in the 5th Congressional District race.

6 questions looming over the crowded 2020 Democratic debate

WESTERVILLE, Ohio — Just a month has passed since the last presidential debate, but the state of the Democrats' 2020 race has shifted.The political world is suddenly consumed by an escalating impeachment inquiry, one of the leading Democratic presidential hopefuls is recovering from a heart attack and Joe Biden is no longer the only front-runner.

'Making a Murderer' figure Avery files promised appeal

MADISON — An attorney for a man whose criminal case was featured in the Netflix series "Making a Murderer" is seeking a new trial or evidentiary hearing.Steven Avery is serving a life sentence for the 2005 killing of photographer Teresa Halbach.

US troops scramble for the exits in Syria

WASHINGTON — U.S. troops scrambled for Syria's exits Monday while the Trump administration threatened economic penalties on Turkey for an invasion that opened the door to a resurgence of the Islamic State group -- the fighters who were the reason U.S. forces came in the first place.The Turks began attacks in Syria against the Kurds, longtime U.S. battlefield allies against IS, after President Donald Trump declared U.S. troops would stay out of the fight.American troops consolidated their positions in northern Syria and prepared to evacuate equipment in advance of a full withdrawal as Turkish forces pressed an offensive against the Kurds, a U.S. defense official said.The preparations, triggered by President Trump's decision Saturday to expand a limited troop pullout into a complete withdrawal, came as President Trump's national security team considered imposing what he called "big sanctions" on NATO ally Turkey.The U.S. pullout raised many questions, including how and whether the Trump administration would continue putting military pressure on the Islamic State in Syria without a troop presence on the ground.

Joe Biden's son Hunter stepping down from Chinese board

NEW YORK — Facing intense scrutiny from President Donald Trump and his Republican allies, Hunter Biden says he will step down from the board of directors of a Chinese-backed private equity firm at the end of the month as part of a pledge not to work on behalf of any foreign-owned companies should his father win the presidency.Biden, the 49-year-old son of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, revealed his plan Sunday in an internet post written by his attorney, George Mesires, who outlined a defense of the younger Biden's work in Ukraine and China, which has emerged as one of President Trump's chief lines of attack against Hunter's father despite no proof of impropriety."Hunter makes the following commitment: Under a Biden Administration, Hunter will readily comply with any and all guidelines or standards a President Biden may issue to address purported conflicts of interest, or the appearance of such conflicts, including any restrictions related to overseas business interests.

Pres. Trump says he's an 'island of 1' on Syria

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Saturday that he is an "island of one" for removing U.S. forces from northeastern Syria.But he remained steadfast and defended a move that drew widespread bipartisan criticism that he has endangered stability in the Middle East and risked the lives of Syrian Kurdish allies who helped the U.S. bring down the Islamic State group in Syria.Turkey, however, regards those Kurdish fighters as a terrorist threat and has launched a military operation against them.Pres.

Impeachment dominates, but much other work awaits Congress

WASHINGTON — Impeachment may have leapfrogged to the top of the national agenda, but members of Congress still have their day jobs as legislators, and they're returning to Washington this coming week with mixed hopes of success.It's a volatile, difficult-to-predict time in Washington as lawmakers end a two-week break.

Defense Secretary: Pres. Trump orders US troops to leave northern Syria

WASHINGTON — Amid growing chaos in Syria, President Donald Trump has ordered all U.S. troops to withdraw from the country's north to avoid an "untenable" conflict between Turkey and U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Sunday.The approximately 1,000 U.S. troops in Syria are not leaving the country entirely, Esper told CBS' "Face the Nation."Esper said he spoke to Trump on Saturday night amid growing signs that the Turkish invasion, which began Wednesday, is growing more dangerous."In the last 24 hours, we learned that they (the Turks) likely intend to expand their attack further south than originally planned — and to the west," Esper said.Trump, in a tweet Sunday, said: "Very smart not to be involved in the intense fighting along the Turkish Border, for a change.

Hunter Biden to step down from Chinese board

WASHINGTON — Hunter Biden is stepping down from the board of directors of a Chinese-backed private equity firm.That's according to a statement from Biden's attorney, George Mesires.Hunter Biden's business dealings in China and Ukraine have become an issue in the 2020 presidential race with President Donald Trump and his allies pressing unproven corruption allegations again Hunter Biden and his father, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.In a statement posted on Medium and first reported by Bloomberg News, Mesires says Hunter Biden intends to resign from the board of BHR Equity Investment Fund Management Co.

Judges block green card denials for immigrants on public aid

NEW YORK — Federal judges in three states on Friday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's policy to deny green cards to many immigrants who use Medicaid, food stamps and other government benefits, dealing a setback to one of the president's most aggressive moves yet to cut legal immigration and make it more based on employment skills than family ties.The rulings in California, New York and Washington came in quick succession four days before the new rules were set to take effect.

Pelosi calls Pres. Trump 'potty-mouth' after his remarks on Biden

WASHINGTON — Speaker Nancy Pelosi says President Donald Trump has become a "potty-mouth," but that's not why House Democrats are pursuing impeachment.In a conference call Friday, Pelosi told her House Democratic colleagues to stay focused on their "just the facts, ma'am," impeachment probe.Pres.

President Trump: Kevin McAleenan out at Homeland Security

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says Kevin McAleenan is out as the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and says he will be announcing a new acting secretary in the next week.President Trump says on Twitter that McAleenan has done an outstanding job and border crossings are down.But the president says McAleenan wants to "spend more time with his family and go to the private sector.'President Trump says he has "Many wonderful candidates" to fill the position.

Report: NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is going to be a father

MILWAUKEE -- A report from EuroHoops.net says Milwaukee Bucks MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is going to be a father in the coming months!The website reports the news was shared in an Instagram post by Giannis' girlfriend Mariah Danae Riddlesprigger.