WSUM Daily Newscast

INTRO GOOD (DAY) EVENING MADISON! YOU’RE LISTENING TO THE 5/6 O’CLOCK NEWS UPDATE ON WSUM 91.7 FM MADISON STUDENT RADIO. I’M TALULA HAYES.

IN THE NEWS TODAY,

IN STATE NEWS,
Online sports betting bill passes Wisconsin senate on Tuesday. The bill would allow state residents to gamble exclusively using tribal casinos, meaning companies like FanDuel or DraftKings would still be illegal in the state. The bill passed 21 to 12 with bipartisan support. Chairwoman of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Nicole Boyd advocated for the measure during the State of the Tribes Address, emphasizing its importance for tribal communities. She said that the bill would allow them to sustain tribal culture and provide for their families. One republican senator said, "I cannot be a party to the destruction of your lives, or potential for the manipulation of those who can least afford the havoc that expanded sports betting will be”. The Sports Betting Alliance, which represents industry giants Bet365, BetMGM, Fanatics, FanDuel and DraftKings, opposes the bill. The group argued that a tribal-only model would create a monopoly that hurts consumers by limiting competition and choice in the sports betting market.
For WSUM News, I’m Nathan Jahn

ALSO IN STATE NEWS,
Senate passes bill to address PFAs contamination. The bill promises over 130 million dollars and now sits on Governor Evers desk. Evers immediately signalled after the bills passed that he would sign them into law. The rare bipartisan compromise offers at least some hope for Wisconsin villages, towns and cities grappling with PFAs pollution in their groundwater. PFAs, short for polyfluoroalkyl substances, are manmade chemicals that don’t easily break down in nature. They're found in a range of products, including cookware and stain-resistant clothing, and previously were often used in airborne fire extinguishers. The chemicals have been linked to health problems including low birth weight, cancer and liver disease, and have been shown to make vaccines less effective. Many residents throughout the state are likely drinking contaminated water, because government regulation does not apply to private wells. In 2025 a 125 million dollar fund was created to address the issue but this is the first time Evers and the legislature have agreed on how to spend it.
For WSUM News, I’m Nathan Jahn

IN NATIONAL NEWS,
The White House pick for DHS outlined his priorities for the Senate on Wednesday. Markwayne Mullin, a Republican pick from Oklahoma, said he would continue to loyally follow President Trump’s outline on restrictive immigration. This is following an array of controversy the DHS faced under Kristi Noem, who was recently fired and must be replaced. The senate grilled him on his ideas for the DHS and questioned how he plans to prioritize mass deportations. Democrats have halted funds for the DHS following the deaths of three American citizens by ICE agents. They are hoping to see more restraints on immigration officers power by the DHS before funds are renewed. Mullin does not have a quota for the number of immigration arrests the DHS makes. He claims officers would primarily only use a warrant signed by a judge to enter homes for arrests. Mullin is known for a combative style of leadership, but kept a softer tone throughout most of the confirmation hearing. There was, however, a heated debate with the head of the committee over previous charged comments. Later, he retracted his description of a Minneapolis man killed by an ICE agent, where he said he was “deranged”.

IN ECONOMIC NEWS,
U.S. stocks are sinking due to oil prices rising toward 110 dollars a barrel on Wednesday. The S&P fell .5%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell .8%, and the Nasdaq composite also fell .5%. Stocks fell due to a 6.2% climb in Bent crude oil prices which rose to over 109 dollars per barrel. The benchmark U.S. oil rose to over 97 dollars per barrel. These spikes are due to disruptions with the Persian Gulf’s energy industry following war efforts. Iran announced on state television Wednesday that the Islamic Republic would attack oil and gas infrastructure in certain countries. They plan to attack Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates following an attack on their own natural gas facilities. Wall Street believes the Federal Reserve may announce it will keep interest rates steady following its latest meeting instead of continuing cuts. President Trump is pushing for cuts which would improve the job market and investment prices, but they would worsen inflation.

OUTRO: THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN! FROM THE WSUM NEWS BOOTH, I’M TALULA HAYES. HAVE A GREAT EVENING MADISON!