Republican lawmakers in North Carolina have pressed Charlotte-area leaders about crime-fighting efforts after recent light-rail stabbings. The August fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska and a December non-fatal stabbing on the same rail system have fueled GOP critiques. During a legislative committee meeting on Monday, GOP Rep. Brenden Jones cited failures in criminal justice functions for Zarutska's death. Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles and others have highlighted additional safety measures for the light rail. Most of the committee’s vitriol was targeted at the Mecklenburg County sheriff.

Social media users incorrectly identified a young boy who was part of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday as Liam Conejo Ramos. He's the 5-year-old who, along with his father, was detained by immigration officials in Minnesota and held at an ICE facility in Texas. The boy in the halftime show was actually Lincoln Fox Ramadan, a child actor from Costa Mesa, California, who is also 5 years old, according to his Instagram profile.

Arizona remained firmly atop The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll for a ninth consecutive week. The Wildcats claimed all 59 first-place votes to be the unanimous choice for a fourth straight week. Michigan remained No. 2. Houston was next at No. 3 after jumping five spots. Duke, Iowa State, UConn, Nebraska, Illinois, Kansas and Michigan State rounded out the top 10. Kentucky cracked the poll at No. 25 for the first time since early December. The Wildcats are coming off a win against Tennessee that knocked the Volunteers from the poll.

RIVER FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Up-and-coming dancers performed traditional and contemporary styles at the semifinals of the annual Youth America Grand Prix dance competition in River Forest, Illinois, at the Dominican University Performing Arts Center. This is a photo gallery…

Federal authorities have denied attempting to expedite an end to asylum claims for the family of a 5-year-old boy who was detained with his father during the immigration crackdown that has shaken the Minneapolis area. Images of Liam Conejo Ramos wearing a bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack surrounded by immigration officers stirred outrage over the crackdown. Danielle Molliver, a lawyer for the boy and his father, told the New York Times that the government’s attempts to expedite the deportation proceedings “extraordinary” and possibly “retaliatory." The government denied targeting the family, with Homeland Security official Tricia McLaughlin saying “these are regular removal proceedings.”

Nurses and two major hospital systems in New York City have reached a deal to end a nearly monthlong strike over staffing levels, workplace safety and other issues. The tentative agreement announced Monday involves Montefiore and Mount Sinai hospital systems. Nurses remain on strike at NewYork Presbyterian. The walkout began Jan. 12. The hospitals scrambled to hire legions of temporary nurses to fill in during a demanding flu season. Mount Sinai alone hired 1,400 temporary nurses. The three-year-deal, which still needs to be approved by union members, affects roughly 10,500 of the some 15,000 nurses on strike at some of the city’s biggest private, nonprofit hospitals.

Authorities investigating the apparent kidnapping of the mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie have returned to the 84-year-old's Arizona neighborhood several times over the weekend. There’s still no word on whether Nancy Guthrie is alive, and authorities say they have no suspects connected to the case. Her purported abductors sent ransom notes with a Monday deadline demanding money for her return. Savannah Guthrie says the family is prepared to pay. Investigators say they believe Nancy Guthrie was taken from her home against her will on Jan. 31, and there are growing concerns about her health because she needs daily medication.

Lawmakers tried to interview Ghislaine Maxwell, but the former girlfriend and confidante of Jeffrey Epstein invoked her 5th Amendment rights to avoid answering questions that would be incriminating. Maxwell was questioned Monday during a video call to the federal prison camp in Texas where she’s serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking. She’s come under new scrutiny as lawmakers try to investigate how Epstein, a well-connected financier, was able to sexually abuse underage girls for years. Maxwell has been seeking to have her conviction overturned, arguing that she was wrongfully convicted.

President Donald Trump has lashed out at reporters raising questions about the Epstein files, demanding that the country “get onto something else,” but that's highly unlikely since many documents haven't been released, and the ones that are now public are heavily redacted. Now members of Congress will be able to see the unredacted files. A letter to lawmakers obtained by The Associated Press says they can come to the Justice Department with 24 hours notice and review the more than 3 million files without redactions. They can't bring anyone with them, and can take notes but not make electronic copies.

Lindsey Vonn's crash in the Olympic downhill has sparked debate over whether she should have raced with a severely injured knee. Nine days before the crash, Vonn revealed she had a ruptured ACL, an injury that typically sidelines athletes for months. Despite this, she decided to compete after consulting with her medical team. The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) president, Johan Eliasch, says the decision should be left to the athlete. Vonn underwent surgery for a broken leg after the crash. Many in the skiing community support her choice, emphasizing personal responsibility in the sport.

Olympic fans came to Cortina with heavy winter coats and gloves. Their coats were unzipped Sunday and their gloves were pocketed. Climate Central says the timing of winter, the amount of snowfall and temperatures are all less reliable and less predictable because Earth is warming at a record rate. This poses a growing and significant challenge for organizers of winter sports. The International Olympic Committee says that staging future Winter Games as early as January and the Paralympic Winter Games in February is a possibility because of the effects of rising temperatures.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing a battle to stay in post as he comes under heavy criticism for his decision in 2024 to appoint veteran Labour politician Peter Mandelson as the U.K. ambassador to the U.S. despite his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer’s judgment is in the spotlight like never before after the recent release of millions of Epstein-related documents by the U.S. Justice Department showed how close those ties were. Starmer's leadership has now been called into question as some lawmakers call for him to quit. He could resign or he could face a leadership challenge.