Wisconsin's Midday News

Wisconsin's Midday News has your Top Two at Two. Guests include WTMJ Meteorologist Craig Koplien and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Political Reporter Jessie Opoien. We wrap up with how air quality could play a role in some local events planned, including Brewers games, festivals, etc.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Political Reporter Jessie Opoien talks about Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez dropping out of the gubernatorial race. How does this change the Democratic field ahead of next month’s Primary? What has she heard about Crowley re-entering the race? Could an endorsement come from Governor Evers ahead of the Primary?

WTMJ Meteorologist Craig Koplien talks about how the DNR extended the Air Quality Advisory until 6 tonight. Why did it get extended, and could it get extended again? Will we still see some relief tonight, due to a shift in winds? Is this weekend still expected to get worse? Is there any sign of long-term relief coming?

1. Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez officially ends her campaign for governor, as a former gubernatorial candidate for Wisconsin may be coming back to the race. 2. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources extends the Air Quality Advisory until 6 tonight, as air quality remains in the highest level of the 1-6 ranking scale: level 6 “Hazardous”.

Wisconsin's Midday News has your Three Big Things. Guests include Marquette University Professor of Political Science Julia Azari and TMJ4 News Meteorologist Jacob Montesano. We wrap up with some spoiler-free reviews of The Odyssey.

Marquette University Professor of Political Science Julia Azari analyzes President Trump’s primetime address to the nation last night. Did the lack of a familiar face running the teleprompter impact his speech at all? How significant is it that multiple network stations decided against airing the speech/analyzing the President's threats to their FCC licenses? What's the potential impact this address could have on the mid-terms? What does it say about the Wisconsin Democratic party that there is all this reporting that David Crowley may re-enter the race, and that the Governor may pivot from his previous plans not to endorse a candidate to potentially endorse Crowley?

1. Rodriguez announces she’s suspending her campaign because the scrutiny over her financial reports “would be an ongoing distraction”. 2. Following President Trump's speech last night on election security, the head of the Department of Homeland Security is weighing in today. 3. Southeast Wisconsin can expect some relief today, after breaking a record for worst air quality since the 1980s yesterday.

Wisconsin's Midday News has your Now at Noon headlines. Guests include WTMJ Co-Host Kristin Brey and ABC News Investigative Reporter Peter Charalambous. We wrap up with the Week in Review.

ABC News Investigative Reporter Peter Charlambous talks about how President Trump's longtime teleprompter operator is believed to have made tens of thousands of dollars by placing bets on more than a dozen of Trump's speeches on the prediction market Kalshi, federal investigators with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission found. Why did he previously come under scrutiny by congressional and federal investigators over the edits that were made prior to the delivery of Trump's remarks surrounding January 6th? How will the talks go with federal regulators to settle allegations he used his inside knowledge of the president's speeches to win more than $100,000?

WTMJ Co-Host Kristin Brey talks about how major Wisconsin gubernatorial moves are happening today. What has been the reaction to Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez dropping out of the gubernatorial race? What do we know about the movement to put Crowley back into the race? Would this be an unprecedented move in a Wisconsin gubernatorial race? Would Governor Evers endorse him?

1. Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez is dropping out of the gubernatorial race following the firing of her campaign manager earlier this week. 2. The Wisconsin DNR extended the Air Quality Advisory until 6 today for only Southeast Wisconsin. 3. Reaction continues following President Trump's televised address to the nation Thursday evening.

Wisconsin's Midday News has your Top Two at Two. Guests include Hounds and Tap General Manager Armon Salamati. We also talk about the Milwaukee Brewers releasing their 2027 schedule, Giannis' introduction in Miami, which Wisconsin city made the cut for the Top 10 Fittest Cities in America, and honor another Everyday Hero.

Hounds and Tap General Manager Armon Salamati talks about how wildfire smoke can irritate dogs’ respiratory systems, eyes, and overall health. What can pet owners do to limit their dogs’ exposure to smoke? What symptoms should pet owners look for in their animals if they are exposed to smoke?

1. The Wisconsin DNR and National Weather Service are extending the Air Quality Advisory through noon on Friday. 2. New campaign finance reports are showing which gubernatorial candidates have the resources to compete in the final weeks before next month's primary.

Wisconsin's Midday News has your Three Big Things. Guests include TMJ4 News Meteorologist Jacob Montesano and Dr. Ben Weston from the Medical College of Wisconsin. We also break down the latest campaign finance reports, which offer a clearer picture of the governor's race ahead of the August 11th primary.

The latest Weekly Wellness Check with Dr. Ben Weston from the Medical College of Wisconsin includes the Air Quality Advisory and how this impacts different demographics, a rise in rare cancer in the news, Senator Lindsey Graham’s cause of death, and “gas station heroin”.

1. Early this morning, Milwaukee broke a record for worst air quality since the 1980s. 2. President Trump's longtime teleprompter operator is currently in talks to reach a settlement with federal regulators after they say he made tens of thousands of dollars by placing bets on several of the president's speeches on the prediction market. 3. Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran appear stalled out as both sides threaten the other with additional air strikes.

Wisconsin's Midday News has your Now at Noon headlines. Guests include WTMJ Meteorologist Craig Koplien and ABC News Investigative Reporter Peter Charalambous. We wrap up with the 2026 We Energies Safe Digging "Ambassadogs".

ABC News Investigative Reporter Peter Charalambous talks about how acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appeared for five hours of testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday seeking confirmation to secure his role on a permanent basis. During the hearing, Blanche faced questions over a series of controversies from his time with the Department of Justice, including its handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and a settlement that would exempt President Trump and his family from Internal Revenue Service audits of their past taxes.

WTMJ Meteorologist Craig Koplien talks about how the Canadian wildfire smoke will remain bad in Southeast Wisconsin through tonight. Then, improve during the day Friday before increasing again Saturday and Sunday. What areas of Southeast Wisconsin are expected to be the worst? How long should people avoid exercising outside?

1. The Wisconsin DNR and National Weather Service are extending the Air Quality Advisory through noon on Friday. 2. New campaign finance reports are showing which gubernatorial candidates have the resources to compete in the final weeks before next month's primary. 3. Giannis Antetokounmpo is being officially introduced by the Miami Heat this afternoon.

Wisconsin's Midday News has your Top Two at Two. Guests include WISN 12 Political Director Matt Smith. We also talk about a big development in the debate over changing the clocks twice a year, Milwaukee Brewers roster moves, and current Air Quality/Heat Advisory.

WISN 12 Political Director Matt Smith talks about how new details are emerging regarding the former campaign manager for Sara Rodriguez. What do court records indicate? Is this a death blow for her? Do you expect David Crowley and Missy Hughes’ endorsements to be redirected? Will Governor Evers remain neutral or is there reason to believe he’ll make an endorsement before the primary? Is there any reason to believe Rodriguez will not participate in the upcoming debate?

1. The entire state of Wisconsin is currently under a statewide Air Quality Advisory, due to wildfire smoke. 2. The Wisconsin DNR announced the restitution received as part of a 2025 Green Lake County Circuit Court ruling against a kayaker who staged his death, Ryan Borgwardt, was used to purchase new sonar equipment for emergency response to public safety incidents and natural resource protection cases.

Wisconsin's Midday News has your Three Big Things. Guests include ABC News Correspondent Jim Ryan and TMJ4 News Meteorologist Lauren Larsen. We wrap up with how a new proposal from MCTS would cut bus services to 25% in 2027.

ABC News Correspondent Jim Ryan talks about for the first time, surgeons have operated through humanoid robots, removing gallbladders in two procedures, a key step before any human trials can be carried out. Why have researchers behind the experiment labeled it as a success? What are a few important caveats to keep in mind?

1. President Donald Trump wants Immigration and Customs Enforcement to continue traffic stops after two deadly shootings within a week, seeming to contradict a new policy to halt them. 2. The nationwide fallout over two fatal ICE shootings over the past several days continues, with the agency now stepping in. 3. The family of Mississippi teen Nolan Wells is preparing to meet with the local District Attorney today.

Wisconsin's Midday News has your Now at Noon headlines. Guests include GasBuddy VP of Petroleum Analysis Patrick De Haan and MeidasTouch Chief Washington Correspondent Scott MacFarlane. We also talk about a bill to keep Daylight Saving Time all year long, passing in the House.

MeidasTouch Chief Washington Correspondent Scott MacFarlane talks about how the President is expected to deliver a primetime address from the White House Thursday night. Are his planned comments worthy of a primetime address? Are Republicans in Washington concerned that the rising costs of just about everything will hurt them come election time? The President indicated a 20% toll on cargo ships coming through the Strait would be collected, but now he's pulling back on that idea, why? Todd Blanche’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee today is expected to proceed as scheduled, despite the vacancy left by the death of Lindsey Graham. What is the significance of this?

GasBuddy VP of Petroleum Analysis Patrick De Haan talks about how the war with Iran appears to intensify today, after CENTCOM announced the U.S. has completed another round of strikes on Iran targeting "coastal defense systems". What does this mean for the cost of oil and what you’ll be paying at the pump? Do current escalations mirror the conditions that caused that initial historic shock? If the U.S. resumes a full naval blockade, what is the absolute worst-case scenario for U.S. fuel availability?

1. The entire state of Wisconsin is currently under a statewide Air Quality Advisory, due to wildfire smoke. 2. Today marks a major money deadline for Wisconsin's governor's race. 3. A bipartisan Wisconsin panel in Wisconsin finds that Elon Musk likely broke state law when he handed out checks to voters in the 2025 state supreme court election.

Wisconsin's Midday News has your Top Two at Two. Guests include ABC News Correspondent Jim Ryan and ABC News Technology Mike Dobuski. We wrap up with a sad update about Captain Sully.

ABC News Technology Reporter Mike Dobuski talks about how Apple is now alleging OpenAI stole trade secrets in a new lawsuit. The iPhone maker claims some former employees who've jumped over to OpenAI improperly stole information related to unreleased hardware products - even going so far as to say the artificial intelligence firm is "rotten to its core." How does this reshuffle OpenAI's plans to get into the gadget game?

ABC News Correspondent Jim Ryan talks about how new documents, still images and videos dating from the 1940s to 2025 have been released, offering tantalizing tidbits to scientists, military specialists and conspiracy theorists. The newly published material relates to unidentified anomalous phenomena, UAPs.

1. New York places the first-ever, one-year moratorium on the issuance of data center permits. 2. Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Joel Brennan slams the Rodriguez fundraising scandal as “disqualifying.”

Wisconsin's Midday News has your Three Big Things. Guests include Better Business Bureau Serving Wisconsin Senior Director of Investigations Lisa Schiller and TMJ4 News Meteorologist Lauren Larsen. We wrap up with WisDOT Aerial Enforcement Week and an audit of MMSD.

Better Business Bureau Serving Wisconsin Senior Director of Investigations Lisa Schiller talks about lost pet scams, following a Scam Tracker report involving a woman who lost her dog and was contacted by a man trying to get $300 from her. How does the scam work? What should you do next if someone says they’ve found your lost pet?

1. That brief gas pain relief is about to end, according to an analysis from GasBuddy. 2. One of the largest media transactions in history faces a new batch of legal challenges. 3. Investigators in Mississippi's Jackson County are trying to build a timeline of what led up to teenager Nolan Wells' death on July 4th.

Wisconsin's Midday News has your Now at Noon headlines. Guests include Wisconsin Gubernatorial Candidate Joel Brennan and Brewers.com Beat Writer Adam McCalvy. We wrap up with a new seating option from United Airlines.

Brewers.com Beat Writer Adam McCalvy talks about what he does during the All-Star Break, the logic behind not throwing Jacob Misiorowski, and what moves could change the course of this franchise.

Wisconsin Gubernatorial Candidate Joel Brennan talks about how Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez fired her longtime campaign manager, following the discovery of widespread financial irregularities and "egregious" reporting errors. Why does he view her actions as grounds for disqualification rather than a sign of swift accountability? What is his message to nervous Democratic donors who are now worried that institutional campaign funds are being mismanaged in this race? What specific internal financial checks and balances do campaigns employ to prevent the kind of "egregious reporting errors"?

1. Another heat wave is blanketing Southeast Wisconsin this week. 2. West Nile Virus is back in the headlines, and back in Wisconsin. 3. Foreign policy experts say it's like we're back to square one now that the ceasefire with Tehran has been declared over.

Wisconsin's Midday News has your Top Two at Two. Guests include Healthy Living Expert Paul Fulford and Kenosha Native/Brewers Draft Pick Chance Ruby.

Healthy living expert Paul Fulford joins the show to discuss how and why smoking cigarettes is making a comeback with Gen Z.

1. Donald Trump has shared who he would like to replace Lindsay Graham - Graham's sister. 2. The blockade is back on!

Wisconsin's Midday News has your Three Big Things. Guests include TMJ4 News Meteorologist Lindsey Slater. We also talk about where to watch the Milwaukee Bucks on TV, misreporting of campaign funds for one Wisconsin governor candidate, and the annual bed bug report!

Orkin has released their annual bed bug report. Greg Matzek reveals the city and state that have the highest record of bed bug reports.

Adam Roberts talks about the new scandal in the Sara Rodriguez campaign - the candidate for Governor has fired her campaign manager over alleged misreporting of campaign funds.

One of the Brewers' new draft picks, Kenosha native Chance Ruby, joins Wisconsin's Midday News to share what it's like to be drafted by your favorite team!

Milwaukee Bucks CEO/President Josh Glessing talks about the new way to watch Bucks games over-the-air!