US & World News Archives - Page 2 of 91

NASA conducts second rocket fueling test that will decide when Artemis astronauts head to the moon

February 19, 2026

By MARCIA DUNN - AP Aerospace Writer

NASA has taken another crack at fueling its giant moon rocket after leaks halted the initial dress rehearsal. Launch teams pumped more than 700,000 gallons of fuel into the rocket Thursday at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. They counted all the way down to the half-minute mark as planned, with minimal hydrogen leakage well within safety limits. Engineers are analyzing the data, and the outcome will determine whether March is possible for the Artemis II lunar fly-around with four astronauts. Two weeks ago, dangerous amounts of liquid hydrogen escaped during the operation. NASA replaced two seals and a clogged filter.

Russian-run areas of Ukraine face water, heat and housing woes

February 19, 2026

By YURAS KARMANAU - Associated Press

Nearly four years into its full-scale invasion, Russia controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory. Many of the estimated 3 million to 5 million people who remain in regions under Moscow’s control face housing, water, power, heat and health care woes. Even President Vladimir Putin acknowledges “many truly pressing, urgent problems” in the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, which were illegally annexed by Moscow months after the Feb. 24, 2022, all-out war began. Russian citizenship, language and culture is forced upon residents, including in school lesson plans and textbooks. Human rights activists say some residents live in fear of being accused of sympathizing with Kyiv, and many have been imprisoned, beaten and killed, according to human rights activists.

Eric Dane, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ star and ALS awareness advocate, dies at 53

February 19, 2026

By MARIA SHERMAN - AP Entertainment Writer

Eric Dane, the actor known for “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Euphoria,” has died at 53 due to ALS. His representatives say he died on Thursday afternoon. His family says he spent his final days with loved ones. Dane rose to fame as Dr. Mark Sloan on “Grey’s Anatomy” and later played Cal Jacobs on “Euphoria.” He also starred on “The Last Ship,” where production paused as he battled depression. In April 2025, Dane shared his diagnosis of ALS, which is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He later spoke publicly to push ALS awareness and research. He leaves two daughters with wife Rebecca Gayheart, who he married in 2004.

Shia LaBeouf used homophobic slurs while assaulting New Orleans bar patrons, police say

February 19, 2026

By JACK BROOK - Associated Press/Report for America

Actor Shia LaBeouf has been charged with battery and is accused of repeatedly using homophobic slurs while hitting multiple people at a New Orleans bar during Mardi Gras. That’s according to a police report obtained Thursday by The Associated Press via a public records request. A local entertainer who police identified in the report says LaBeouf physically attacked him early Tuesday morning and called him homophobic slurs. Jeffrey Damnit says he believes he was targeted because he was wearing lipstick and eye makeup. LaBeouf was released without bond Tuesday by a New Orleans district judge. He has been charged with two counts of simple battery.

Hockey star Laila Edwards’ family saw Olympic gold medal win, thanks to Kelce brothers and GoFundMe

February 19, 2026

By STEFANIE DAZIO and ANNIE RISEMBERG - Associated Press

When U.S. hockey defender Laila Edwards skated onto the Olympic ice ahead of Thursday’s gold medal win against Canada, she immediately scanned the stands for the real MVP. It’s her 91-year-old grandmother. Edwards was the first Black female hockey player to represent the U.S. at the Olympics. Ten family members and four friends made the trip to Milan for her Olympic debut thanks to an outpouring of donations as part of a GoFundMe drive. The contributions included a major push from NFL brother tandem of Travis and Jason Kelce, who also grew up in Edwards’ hometown of Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

Wisconsin passes expanded Medicaid for moms, would leave Arkansas as only state without it

February 19, 2026

By SCOTT BAUER - Associated Press

Women in Wisconsin will soon be eligible to receive expanded Medicaid coverage for up to a year after giving birth following passage of a measure by the Wisconsin Assembly. Passing the bill Thursday will leave Arkansas as the only state yet to expand such benefits. Wisconsin Democrats. Even most Republicans have pushed for years to expand Medicaid coverage for new mothers, only to be blocked by powerful Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos. The Assembly also passed another bill with bipartisan support to require insurance to cover additional cancer screenings for women with dense breast tissue.

Virginia judge temporarily blocks Democrats’ redistricting work on bid to flip 4 congressional seats

February 19, 2026

By OLIVIA DIAZ - Associated Press/Report for America

A Virginia court is temporarily blocking Democrats from preparing for an April voter referendum to redraw the state’s congressional maps. The ruling hands Democrats another setback in their efforts to pick up four more U.S. House seats in the national redistricting battle. The Tazewell Circuit Court in Virginia granted a temporary restraining order requested by the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee over the ballot referendum’s timing and phrasing.

New Mexico’s promise of free child care comes with a fiscal escape hatch

February 19, 2026

By MORGAN LEE and SAVANNAH PETERS - Associated Press

An ambitious program to provide free universal child care to working families in New Mexico is being enshrined into law. State lawmakers are tapping into a financial windfall from oil and gas production to pay for it, but they’re wary of an uncertain future and have left the door open to copays from high-income households. New Mexico last year became the first state to offer universal free child care to families of all income levels. From New York to San Francisco, more Democratic leaders are looking to expand access to free and subsidized care. However, the political stakes are high as the potential for fraud has increased scrutiny on such social programs.

US beats Canada in OT for women’s hockey gold medal

February 19, 2026

The Associated Press,

United States’ players celebrate after a women’s ice hockey gold medal game between the United States and Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) MILAN (AP) — The U.S. women’s hockey team delivered an Olympic comeback for the ages by beating Canada 2-1 in overtime to win the gold medal…

Slavery exhibit removed by Trump administration is returning to Independence Mall in Philadelphia

February 19, 2026

By MARYCLAIRE DALE and TASSANEE VEJPONGSA - Associated Press

Federal workers are restoring an exhibit on the people once enslaved by President George Washington in Philadelphia despite an ongoing legal fight between the city and the Trump administration. Mayor Cherelle Parker visited the site Thursday morning to thank the National Park Service workers reinstalling the panels. The work is set to continue Friday, the deadline set by a judge who ordered it restored. The exhibit details the lives of the nine people enslaved at the former President’s House on Independence Mall. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is appealing the judge’s ruling. A spokesperson says the office has no comment on the restoration work.

New Mexico reopens investigation into alleged illegal activity at Epstein’s former Zorro Ranch

February 19, 2026

By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN - Associated Press

New Mexico’s attorney general has reopened an investigation into allegations of illegal activity at Jeffrey Epstein’s former Zorro Ranch. Attorney General Raúl Torrez’s office says the decision was made after reviewing information recently released by the U.S. Department of Justice. Although New Mexico’s initial case was closed in 2019 at the request of federal prosecutors in New York, state prosecutors say now that “revelations outlined in the previously sealed FBI files warrant further examination.” The New Mexico Department of Justice says special agents and prosecutors at the agency will be seeking immediate access to the complete, unredacted federal case file.

White House pressure leads universities to cut ties with nonprofit that helps racial minorities

February 19, 2026

By JOCELYN GECKER and COLLIN BINKLEY - AP Education Writers

The Trump administration says that 31 universities have agreed to cut ties with a nonprofit that helps racial minorities earn doctorate degrees. The announcement Thursday by the Department of Education is the latest development in the Republican administration’s campaign to end diversity programs in higher education. The PhD Project was a little-known group until it became a target of conservative strategists last year and then the focus of an investigation by the Education Department. The group of 31 colleges includes major public research universities such as Arizona State, Ohio State and the University of Michigan, along with private schools like Yale, Duke and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The travertine quarries that built ancient Rome are carving rock for a new generation of temples

February 19, 2026

By NICOLE WINFIELD and FRANCESCA PRIMAVILLA - Associated Press

The same travertine quarries near Rome that built St. Peter’s Basilica and the Colosseum are still being dug out today, providing the distinctive pock-marked rock to build a new generation of churches, temples and mosques worldwide. It is prized by architects for several reasons: It’s strong, plentiful and can withstand any number of climactic and environmental assaults. Depending on how and where it’s cut, it has a variety of looks: rough or sleek, in various colors. One of the latest projects is a new travertine façade for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple in New York City.

Federal judge accuses Trump administration of ‘terror’ against immigrants in scathing ruling

February 19, 2026

By SUDHIN THANAWALA - Associated Press

A federal judge has accused the Trump administration of terrorizing immigrants and recklessly violating the law in its efforts to deport millions of people living in the country illegally. Citing the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota, the judge said in a scathing decision late Wednesday that the White House had also “extended its violence on its own citizens.” U.S. District Judge Sunshine Sykes in Riverside, California ordered the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to provide detained immigrants around the country with notice of her earlier decision that they may be eligible to seek release on bond. The department said in a statement that the Supreme Court had “repeatedly overruled” lower courts on the issue of mandatory detention.

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor Formerly Known As Prince Andrew

Police say the former Prince Andrew has been released after his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office

February 19, 2026

The Associated Press,

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew(CNN) LONDON (AP) — The former Prince Andrew has been released after his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The Thames Valley Police force said the former prince was released Thursday evening. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was photographed in a car leaving the station near his home in eastern England about 11 hours after…

Oscars will bring back last year’s acting winners — Saldaña, Culkin, Madison and Brody — to present

February 19, 2026

AP

The film academy says last year’s acting winners return as presenters at the next Oscars. On Thursday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Adrien Brody, Mikey Madison, Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldaña will hand out trophies. The ceremony takes place on March 15 with Conan O’Brien as host. Saldaña, Madison and Culkin became first-time winners last year. Brody earned his second best actor Oscar. This year, “Sinners” leads nominations with a record 16. Michael B. Jordan, Wunmi Mosaku and Delroy Lindo are the “Sinners” cast members up for acting trophies.

Jordan Stolz’s Olympic gold streak ends with loss to China’s Ning Zhongyan in the 1,500

February 19, 2026

By HOWARD FENDRICH - AP National Writer

American speedskater Jordan Stolz’s bid for a third gold medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics has come up short with a loss to China’s Ning Zhongyan in the 1,500 meters. Ning won Thursday in an Olympic-record time of 1 minute, 41.98 seconds. Stolz, skating in the day’s last heat, finished 0.77 off the pace, and adds a silver to the golds he claimed earlier at these Winter Games in the 500 and 1,000. The 21-year-old from Wisconsin will participate in his last race, the mass start, on Saturday. Two-time 1,500 defending Olympic champion Kjeld Nuis of the Netherlands got the bronze on Thursday.

Iranians grieve defiantly for thousands killed in last month’s crackdown

February 19, 2026

By AMIR-HUSSEIN RADJY and KAREEM CHEHAYEB - Associated Press

Iranians are still reeling with shock, grief and fear after Iran’s rulers unleashed the deadliest crackdown ever seen in the Islamic Republic last month. But a vein of defiance persists. In some districts of the capital and other cities, residents shout anti-government slogans from their roofs and balconies at night. And this week, memorials marking the passage of 40 days since protesters’ deaths are being held, turning a traditional rite of mourning into political protests. In videos of some 40-day memorials, hundreds gather and often chant against the government.

FCC chairman says the agency is investigating ABC’s ‘The View’ over equal time rule

February 19, 2026

By MEG KINNARD - Associated Press

The Federal Communications Commission is investigating ABC’s “The View” over possible violations of the requirement that broadcast stations give equal time to political candidates when they appear on-air. That’s according to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. At issue is a Feb. 2 appearance by James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for the Senate in Texas. There are exceptions to the equal time rule, including for newscasts, “bona fide” interview programs, and coverage of live events or documentaries. Carr has raised questions about the talk show exemption and whether it should stand. Stephen Colbert said CBS executives pulled an appearance by Talarico on Colbert’s program this week over fears it ran afoul of equal time provisions.

Judge declares 4 men wrongly accused of 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders innocent

February 19, 2026

By JIM VERTUNO - Associated Press

A Texas judge has declared four men who were wrongfully accused of the 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders innocent. State District Judge Dayna Blazey called her order “an obligation to the rule of law” in a packed Austin courtroom Thursday. The declaration was aimed at closing a dark chapter for the men and for a city that was shaken by the crime and investigators’ inability to solve it for decades. Four teenagers were found bound, gagged and shot in the head at the store where two of them worked. Cold case detectives announced last year that they had connected the killings to a suspect who died in a 1999 standoff with police.

Modi’s AI summit turns awkward as tech leaders Sam Altman and Dario Amodei dodge contact

February 19, 2026

By SHEIKH SAALIQ and MATT O'BRIEN - Associated Press

India’s prime minister has put AI rivals Sam Altman and Dario Amodei in an awkward spotlight at a summit in New Delhi. On Thursday, Narendra Modi invited a group of tech leaders to hold hands and raise them together on stage to reflect their commitment to building inclusive AI. Altman and Amodei stood next to each other but didn’t clasp hands. They hesitate, then lift their fists instead. The moment went viral online and highlighted the rivalry between OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude.

Tariffs paid by midsize US companies tripled last year, a JPMorganChase Institute study shows

February 19, 2026

By JOSH BOAK - Associated Press

New research shows midsize U.S. companies pay far more in Trump-era tariffs, and the costs land at home. The JPMorganChase Institute study says tariff payments for these companies tripled over the past year. The report says these businesses may have to raise prices, cut hiring, or accept lower profits. Researchers also see signs companies are shifting purchases away from China and toward other parts of Asia. The study adds to other work, including New York Fed research, that says U.S. firms and consumers bear most tariff costs. The White House has sharply criticized that claim.

An arts panel made up of Trump appointees unanimously approves his White House ballroom proposal

February 19, 2026

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE - Associated Press

A federal panel made up of President Donald Trump’s appointees has unanimously approved his plan to build a massive ballroom on the site of the former White House East Wing. Approval came Thursday by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. The project is scheduled for additional discussion at a March 5 meeting of the National Capital Planning Commission, which is led by one of Trump’s top White House aides. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has sued in federal court to halt construction of the ballroom. A court decision in the case is pending.

US trade deficit declined in 2025, but gap for goods hits a record despite Trump tariffs

February 19, 2026

By PAUL WISEMAN - AP Economics Writer

The U.S. trade deficit slipped modestly in 2025, a year in which President Donald Trump upended global commerce by slapping double digit tariffs on imports from most countries. The Commerce Department reported Thursday that the gap the between the goods and services the U.S. sells other countries and what it buys from them narrowed to just over $901 billion from $904 billion in 2024.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over ties to Epstein

February 19, 2026

The Associated Press,

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew(CNN) LONDON (AP) — Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former British prince who was stripped of his royal titles because of his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office. While Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with his friendship with Epstein, concerns about Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to…

The former Prince Andrew went from helicopter pilot to trade envoy to royal pariah

February 19, 2026

By JILL LAWLESS - Associated Press

The former Prince Andrew is the first senior British royal in modern history to be arrested by police. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was detained Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, in an investigation stemming from his relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He was born in 1960, the second child of Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip. He spent 22 years in the Royal Navy, serving as a helicopter pilot during the 1982 Falklands War. Andrew was named Britain’s special representative for international trade in 2001. He was forced to step down from that role in 2011 amid growing concern about his friendship with Epstein. Last year that friendship cost him his royal title and honors.

Catholics return to confession focused on grace, not a get-out-of-hell-free card

February 19, 2026

By GIOVANNA DELL'ORTO - Associated Press

The Lenten period for penance started this week with Ash Wednesday and Catholic priests are happily bracing for long lines outside the confessional. The faithful across the United States are embracing anew the sacrament that’s shifted from embarrassing recitation of sin to cathartic quest for grace. For Catholics, the sacrament of penance and reconciliation is supposed to be a regular practice, where penitents tell a priest their sins, pledge not to commit them again, and receive forgiveness. But today, confession is turning more into a conversation focused on God’s mercy and love than in a recitation of sins followed by a prescription for 10 Hail Marys.

Alysa Liu carries US medal hopes into concluding women’s free skate at the Milan Cortina Olympics

February 19, 2026

By DAVE SKRETTA - AP Sports Writer

Alysa Liu carries U.S. gold hopes as women’s figure skating heads into its final night at the Milan Cortina Games. On Tuesday, Japan’s Ami Nakai took the short program lead, with Kaori Sakamoto just a point behind. Their Japanese teammate Mone Chiba stayed close too, while Liu sits among that trio. The 20-year-old world champion has returned strong after a two-year retirement, and now Liu is chasing the first Olympic women’s gold medal for the U.S. since 2002. Adeliia Petrosian is the wildcard. The neutral athlete from Russia has the ability to land a quad jump and could upend the standings on Thursday night.

Iran and the US lean into gunboat diplomacy as nuclear talks hang in balance

February 19, 2026

By JON GAMBRELL - Associated Press

Iran and the United States are both applying naval pressure to the talks over Tehran’s nuclear program. Tehran held drills Thursday with Russia. Meanwhile, the Americans brought another aircraft carrier closer to the Mideast, the USS Gerald R. Ford. The movements of additional American warships and airplanes to the region don’t guarantee a U.S. strike on Iran. But it does give President Donald Trump the ability to carry out one should he choose to do so. Meanwhile, Iran struggles with unrest at home following its deadly crackdown on protests. Mourners are holding ceremonies honoring their dead.

UN experts say destruction by Sudan’s rebels in el-Fasher in October bears ‘hallmarks of genocide’

February 19, 2026

By JAMEY KEATEN and SAMY MAGDY - Associated Press

U.N.-backed investigators say Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces have carried out a campaign in el-Fasher that shows hallmarks of genocide against non-Arab communities. The fact-finding mission says the group inflicted mass killings and starvation-like siege conditions that targeted the Zaghawa and Fur people. U.N. officials say thousands of civilians were killed and many others disappeared after the city fell to RSF fighters in late October. The team’s report describes executions, rape, torture, abductions and selective targeting of women and girls. It said the violence looks planned, not chaotic. It calls for accountability and stronger civilian protection as the war spreads.

A beloved teacher in Morocco unmasked: Frenchman investigated over abuse of 89 boys

February 19, 2026

AP

A Frenchman who seemed like a beloved teacher in Morocco now faces accusations of decades of abuse. French prosecutors say Jacques Leveugle is under investigation for raping and sexually assaulting 89 boys across several countries. Prosecutors revealed the allegations last week and say many cases involve North Africa. Investigators tie the claims to a digital memoir found on a USB drive. In Morocco, residents in Khenifra describe shock and shame. Neighbors say he tutored kids, gave money, and organized outings. Advocates say his profile matches common patterns.

Governors arrive in Washington eager to push past Trump’s partisan grip

February 18, 2026

By JOEY CAPPELLETTI and STEVEN SLOAN - Associated Press

Governors are arriving in Washington for an annual gathering that has traditionally been a show of bipartisanship. But President Donald Trump has disrupted norms by not inviting all governors to meetings at the White House. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, joined Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, both Republicans, in opening this year’s National Governors Association on a panel where they emphasized bipartisanship regardless of Trump’s actions. The break with tradition reflects Trump’s broader approach in his second term. He has taken a confrontational stance toward some state leaders, withholding federal funds from states that draw his ire and deploying federal troops to cities over the objections of local officials.

Gov. Wes Moore on Trump: ‘I pray for him and I just feel bad for him’

February 18, 2026

By JOEY CAPPELLETTI and STEVEN SLOAN - Associated Press

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is pushing back on President Donald Trump while trying to rally Democrats in his state around a mid-decade redistricting fight. On Wednesday, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries visited Annapolis as Moore pushed state lawmakers for a straight vote on new maps. Moore says Trump prompted the issue by urging states to redraw districts. Trump, meanwhile, has been stepping up attacks on Moore, blocking him from a White House dinner and blaming him for a Potomac River sewage spill. Moore notes the sewage pipe sits in Washington, D.C., on federal land.

As political pressure prompts exodus of Minnesota prosecutors, some defendants catch a break

February 18, 2026

By RYAN J. FOLEY and JIM MUSTIAN - Associated Press

The federal prosecutor’s office in Minnesota has been gutted by a wave of career officials resigning or retiring over objections to Trump administration directives. Because of the turmoil, 12-time convicted felon Cory Allen McKay caught a break. He was scheduled to stand trial next month on methamphetamine trafficking charges that could have locked him up for 25 years. Instead, he walked free after the prosecutor on his case retired. The diminished U.S. Attorney’s Office has been forced to dismiss some cases, kill others before charges are filed and seek plea agreements and delays. Local officials worry the office will be unable to bring charges against some of the state’s most serious offenders.

Trump heads to Georgia, a target of his election falsehoods, as Republicans look for midterm boost

February 18, 2026

By JEFF AMY and STEVE PEOPLES - Associated Press

President Donald Trump is weighing military action against Iran, leading an immigration crackdown, and teasing a federal takeover of state elections. But on Thursday, White House insists he will focus on the economy when he visits battleground Georgia. The trip aims to boost the Republican president’s political standing heading into the high-stakes midterm elections. The White House has long said the president would focus more on the economy, but recent months have been dominated by his immigration crackdown, global conflicts and his interest in nationalizing state elections, among other issues. Trump’s visit comes less than a month after federal agents seized voting records and ballots from Fulton County, home to the state’s largest concentration of Democrats.

Trump gathers members of Board of Peace for first meeting, with some US allies wary of new body

February 18, 2026

By AAMER MADHANI and MATTHEW LEE - Associated Press

President Donald Trump is gathering with representatives from more than two dozen countries that have joined his Board of Peace —and several others that have opted not to. Thursday’s inaugural meeting will focus on reconstruction for a war-battered Gaza. But ahead of the gathering, the Gaza ceasefire deal remains fragile and Trump’s expanded vision for the board has triggered fears that he’s looking to create a rival to the United Nations. A senior Trump administration official said more than 40 countries and the European Union have confirmed they will send officials. Germany, Italy, Norway and Switzerland are among more than a dozen countries that have not joined the board but are expected to attend.

Genealogical sites have helped solve major crimes. Police in Nancy Guthrie’s case might turn to them

February 18, 2026

By ED WHITE - Associated Press

Authorities trying to solve the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie say they might tap DNA genealogy databases. It’s the same step that police took to unravel a series of murders in California and the fatal stabbings of four college students in Idaho. The strategy could pay off: If unknown DNA evidence can be connected to someone in a genealogical database, it could lead investigators to a suspect in Guthrie’s apparent kidnapping in Arizona. A law enforcement database didn’t turn up any matches to DNA found in gloves a few miles from Guthrie’s home.

Snow drought helped set the stage for deadly California avalanche, leading to unstable conditions

February 18, 2026

By TAMMY WEBBER - Associated Press

Experts say a weekslong “snow drought” in Norther California’s Sierra Nevada helped set the stage for Tuesday’s deadly avalanche, after several feet of new snow fell on an earlier layer that had hardened. The new snow didn’t bond to the earlier layer before the avalanche near Lake Tahoe killed at least eight backcountry skiers, said San Jose State University meteorology professor Craig Clements. Six skiers survived and rescuers were searching for another who was still missing. The group was on a three-day backcountry trek when they were trapped by the avalanche as a winter storm pummeled the West Coast.

Bernie Sanders and Gavin Newsom become adversaries over push to tax California billionaires

February 18, 2026

By MICHAEL R. BLOOD - AP Political Writer

Bernie Sanders has traveled to Los Angeles to kick off a campaign for a proposed “billionaires tax” that has set off an uproar in the Silicon Valley and led to divisions among Democrats. Sanders said at a rally that passage of the tax would show “the billionaire class cannot have it all.” The proposal has not qualified for the ballot so far. It calls for a one-time 5% tax on the assets of billionaires to backfill federal health funding cuts for lower-income people. The proposal has created a rift between Gov. Gavin Newsom and prominent members of his party’s progressive wing ahead of this year’s elections.

Afghanistan faces catastrophic hunger crisis as aid cuts force the WFP to turn away 3 in 4 children

February 18, 2026

By ABDUL QAHAR AFGHAN and ELENA BECATOROS - Associated Press

Afghanistan is facing a surging child malnutrition crisis as aid cuts leave most families without food or treatment. The World Food Program says it has to turn away three out of four acutely malnourished children and that 4 million children are at risk, with more than 500 child deaths logged in recent months. It can now reach only 2 million of the 17.4 million people facing acute hunger. The WFP also reported desperate suicide calls from women.

Grandson of the inventor of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups accuses Hershey of cutting corners

February 18, 2026

By DEE-ANN DURBIN - AP Business Writer

The grandson of the inventor of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups is lashing out at The Hershey Co., accusing the candy company of hurting the Reese’s brand by shifting to cheaper ingredients in many products. Hershey acknowledges some recipe changes but said on Wednesday that it’s trying to meet consumer demand for innovation. In a Feb. 14 letter posted on his LinkedIn profile, Brad Reese said Hershey replaced milk chocolate with compound coatings and peanut butter with peanut crème in multiple Reese’s products. , The 70-year-old is the grandson of H.B. Reese, who invented Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in 1928. High cocoa prices led some candy manufacturers to experiment with using less chocolate in recent years.

How one displaced family in Gaza is observing Ramadan’s first day under a fragile ceasefire deal

February 18, 2026

By WAFAA SHURAFA and MARIAM FAM - Associated Press

Ramadan has begun in Gaza under a fragile ceasefire deal, but many say the joyous spirit of the month has disappeared. They grapple with the hardships of their daily lives and the grief and losses of the Israel-Hamas war. One displaced family is breaking its fast with meals from a charity kitchen and some soup. The father is sad that he cannot provide for his large family. He says the war has deprived his family of many things and prays for safety and security. While the heaviest fighting has subsided, there has been almost daily Israeli fire in Gaza.

Pope laments ‘ashes of international law’ left by today’s conflicts in Ash Wednesday liturgy

February 18, 2026

AP

Pope Leo XIV has opened the church’s penitential Lenten season by presiding over Ash Wednesday. He is lamenting the “ashes of international law and justice” that have been left by today’s wars and conflicts.Leo revived the traditional prayer and procession that Pope Francis largely had to delegate to others in his final years. The American pope led dozens of monks, priests, bishops and cardinals from one Roman church to another and then sprinkled ashes on the heads of cardinals. Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and reflection. It starts a season of self-denial and repentance from sin known as Lent. It leads up to observances of Jesus’ death on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter.

Green Bay’s Doug Gottlieb gets 1-game suspension from Horizon League after criticizing officiating

February 18, 2026

AP

Green Bay coach Doug Gottlieb received a one-game suspension from the Horizon League for comments he made criticizing the officiating after a 75-72 loss to Milwaukee last Sunday. Gottlieb had slammed his hands on the table at one point in his postgame news conference while complaining about what he perceived as inconsistency in the officiating. Video of his news conference garnered attention on social media. The suspension will take effect for Friday when Green Bay visits Oakland. Gottlieb issued a statement Wednesday apologizing for his comments.

Transportation Department says more than 550 driving schools should close over safety failures

February 18, 2026

The Associated Press,

FILE – Freight trucks travel northbound on Interstate 5 Highway, Sept. 3, 2025, in Tracy, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File) More than 550 commercial driving schools in the U.S. that train truckers and bus drivers must close after investigators found they employed unqualified instructors, failed to adequately test students and had other safety issues, the federal Transportation Department planned…

Sports helped shape Jesse Jackson’s career and inspired the ex-quarterback to fight for equal rights

February 18, 2026

By CLIFF BRUNT - AP Sports Writer

The Rev. Jesse Jackson was an athlete from a young age, and throughout his life he immersed himself in the world of sports. He accepted a football scholarship at Illinois, then transferred to historically Black North Carolina A&T after a year. Jackson was a quarterback for the Aggies in the early 1960s and was inducted into A&T’s athletic Hall of Fame in 1984. His sports experiences fueled a deep passion for ensuring athletes were given equal opportunities and treatment, regardless of race, gender, sport or native country. Jackson was a champion of the NFL’s Rooney Rule that attempted to address the lack of minority head coaches. He was a fixture at sporting events, especially the NBA.

Eight backcountry skiers found dead and 1 still missing after California avalanche

February 18, 2026

The Associated Press,

(credit: Nevada County Sheriff’s Office) TRUCKEE, Calif. (AP) — Eight backcountry skiers have been found dead and 1 remains missing after an avalanche near Lake Tahoe in California, officials said, making it the deadliest avalanche in the U.S. in more than four decades. Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon announced the deaths at a news conference Wednesday. Search and rescue crews…

Paul Allen’s estate says it has begun the process of selling the Super Bowl champion Seahawks

February 18, 2026

By ANDREW DESTIN - AP Sports Writer

The Seattle Seahawks are going up for sale in accordance with the wishes of late team owner Paul Allen. Allen’s estate announced Wednesday that it has begun the process of selling the team, which is just coming off its second Super Bowl victory in franchise history.

Jesse Jackson’s 1988 presidential run inspired generations to carry his message

February 18, 2026

By MATT BROWN - Associated Press

The Rev. Jesse Jackson’s two presidential runs and his life of activism inspired leaders across generations. Politicians and activists shared tributes after Jackson’s death Tuesday and said his message still guides their work. Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock says Jackson showed him what was possible and pushed him to fight for justice. Jackson’s 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns led Democrats to open up their primary system. That shift helped former President Barack Obama win two decades later. Jackson also mentored young leaders through his Rainbow PUSH Coalition. Scores of activists, political operatives and members of Congress credited their careers to Jackson.

Loose dog makes Olympic cameo on the cross-country ski course at the Milan Cortina Games

February 18, 2026

AP

A surprise participant in Wednesday’s action at the Milan Cortina Olympics had four legs and zero concern for race times. As elite cross-country skiers pushed to the finish in the women’s team sprint heats, a dog wandered onto the course and ran with athletes down the straightaway. Racers stayed focused as spectators cheered on the canine intruder before it crossed the finish line and was restrained by venue officials. The dog had slipped away from a local owner while out on a nearby walk, officials later said.

US & World News

Severe Weather