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WSUM News Team compiles recent news in under 5 minutes every Monday through Thursday. Originally aired on the 91.7 FM stream, each newscast is re-posted in audio form.
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,
Dane County Judge denies city of Madison’s request to drop lawsuit over uncounted ballots on Monday. A group of Madison residents are suing the city after 193 absentee ballots went uncounted during the November 2024 election. That margin wasn't enough to change the outcome of any race, but the error resulted in an investigation from the Wisconsin Elections Commission and city clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl's resignation. The city argued that the lawsuit should be dropped because voting by absentee ballot is a privilege, not a right. Judge David Conway found that to be untrue. He said, Quote “Once a voter casts a valid absentee ballot that complies with the Legislature’s rules for utilizing the absentee process, the voter has exercised the same constitutional right to vote as someone who casts a valid in-person ballot at a polling place. And that right to vote would be a hollow protection if it did not also include the right to have one’s vote counted” End-Quote.
For WSUM News, I’m Nathan Jahn
IN NATIONAL NEWS,
Average Americans retirement savings accounts are staggeringly low. The average American worker aged 21 to 64 years old has less than $1,000 saved for retirement, the National Institute of Retirement Security said. This statistic includes Americans with 401(k) plans and the 56 million workers who currently lack access to any employer-sponsored retirement plan. Average American workers need around $1.5 million to retire comfortably. For those with retirement accounts, the average balance is only $40,000. Social security benefits which provide around half of the typical senior’s annual income are used by millions of Americans, however if Congress does not create a change, a cut of 20% could occur starting in 2034. President Trump is rolling out “Trump Accounts” which are created to help children save money over their lifetime to buy a home, fund education, or start a business. Unfortunately, this development will not benefit the millions of Americans financially struggling due to a lack of retirement plans options.
ALSO IN NATIONAL NEWS,
Federal provisions being implemented could cut off federal student loans for thousands of U.S. college students. The federal provision, the ‘Do No Harm’ rule, was introduced under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and could limit student’s opportunities to receive higher education. The rule impacts 40,000 students currently enrolled in colleges for certain associate and bachelor degrees. It is now required that college programs are able to prove their graduates earn more than typical high school graduates within four years of completing their degree before grants can be administered. If a program fails to meet ⅔ consecutive years, they may lose the ability to offer federal student loans. Arts, religion, and trade fields are the most vulnerable to losing access, the higher education analysis firm HEA Group said. The affected programs would include 8% of Studio and Fine Arts programs, 3% of Design and Applied Arts programs, and 1% of English degree programs. This Republican change was developed due to loan losses as graduated students fail to repay debt. Students subject to loan loss may need to seek private financing options, which typically require good credit scores and minimum income levels.
IN INTERNATIONAL NEWS,
Iran ratcheted up its crackdown on dissenters amid an ongoing wave of protests against the authoritarian government in that country. The regime made several prominent arrests: Javad Emam, the spokesperson for the country’s main reform coalition, and Hossein Karoubi, the son of major dissident Mehdi Karoubi, were both taken into custody. In total, five leaders of Iran’s Reformist Front were detained, along with a number of filmmakers and other activists. Meanwhile, the government is continuing to seek a diplomatic agreement with the Trump administration. Iran floated diluting some of its stockpiled enriched uranium in exchange for sanctions relief. Tehran maintains it uses uranium only for civilian purposes, but enriches it to 60 percent, more than 15 times the percentage needed for civilian power. U.S. and international intelligence officials have warned that Iran could develop a nuclear weapon within two years, even after U.S. strikes in 2025. Iran claims that the protests there were “riots” encouraged by Israel and the United States, and has threatened preemptive strikes on targets in Israel and the U.S. Propaganda posters seen in Tehran this week threatened missile attacks on the Ben-Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, as well as a number of other Israeli sites. For WSUM News, I’m Daniel Stein.
TURNING OVER TO SPORTS, HERE’S WITH AN UPDATE
55 medals handed out in three days in Milan-Cortina Olympics. The U.S. took home two gold medals, since the start of the Olympics last Wednesday. Norway and Switzerland are currently tied for the most gold medals with three. Italy leads the way in total medals with nine, including six bronze medals. The U.S. won one gold in Alpine Skiing, and one in Freestyle Skating. Breezy Johnson won the skiing, and the skating was a team event. The Women’s Hockey team, with six total Badgers, including four active members of the team, are currently 3 and 0 in group play, before their matchup with Canada tomorrow. The U.S. mixed doubles curling team has also guaranteed themselves at least a silver medal, with a win over reigning champion Italy in the semifinal matchup today. The Olympics continue through February 22nd.
For WSUM News, I’m Nathan Jahn.
OUTRO: THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN! FROM THE WSUM NEWS BOOTH, I’M TALULA HAYES. HAVE A GREAT EVENING MADISON!