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February 12, 2026.

FILE - U.S. Border Patrol officers walk along a street in Minneapolis, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Gray,File)

Prosecutors move to dismiss charges against men accused of hitting ICE officer with broom and shovel

Federal prosecutors in Minneapolis have moved to drop felony assault charges against two Venezuelan men, including one shot in the leg by a immigration officer, after new evidence emerged undercutting the government’s version of events. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota said in a filing Thursday that newly discovered evidence in the case against Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna and Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis is materially inconsistent with the allegations against them. The government’s motion asked the judge for dismissal with prejudice, meaning the charges cannot be resubmitted. The pending dismissal comes after a string of high-profile shootings involving federal immigration agents have seen claims made by federal officers called into question.

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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James smiles as he tries to pass during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

LeBron James becomes the oldest player to have a triple-double in NBA history

LeBron James became the oldest player in NBA history to have a triple-double, accomplishing the feat for the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night against the Dallas Mavericks. James had 28 points and 12 assists when he grabbed his 10th rebound with 2:06 to play in the Lakers’ 124-104 victory. James got a standing ovation when he checked out moments after grabbing his final rebound to complete his 123rd career triple-double, fifth-most in NBA history. At 41 years and 44 days old, James broke the record held by Karl Malone, who recorded a triple-double for the Lakers when he was 40 years and 127 days old.

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President Donald Trump speaks during an event with Environmental Protection Agency director Lee Zeldin announcing that the EPA will no longer regulate greenhouse gases, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Trump heads to Fort Bragg to cheer special forces members who ousted Venezuela’s Maduro

President Donald Trump is visiting Fort Bragg in North Carolina on Friday to praise special forces involved in the capture of Venezuela’s former leader, Nicolás Maduro. First lady Melania Trump is joining the president on Friday’s trip, and they plan to meet with military families. The base is one of the largest in the world by population. Trump was last there in June at an event meant to recognize the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. But that celebration was overshadowed by Trump’s partisan remarks at the time. Since Maduro’s ouster, Trump has pushed for broad oversight of the South American country’s oil industry.

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Journalist Don Lemon, waves to the media after a hearing outside the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building in Los Angeles on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Journalist Don Lemon set to be arraigned in Minnesota church protest case

Former CNN host turned independent journalist Don Lemon is set to be arraigned in federal court in Minnesota on Friday, along with four other defendants indicted for their alleged roles in disrupting a service at a Southern Baptist church in St. Paul where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official was a pastor. Also scheduled for arraignment Friday is a civil rights attorney, Nekima Levy Armstrong. Arraignments in federal court typically include pleas and scheduling of future proceedings. It wasn’t clear ahead of the hearing if Lemon planned to personally appear or let his legal team handle the hearing. Nine people in all have been indicted in the case.

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Sheri's Ranch, a brothel, is shown on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Pahrump, Nev. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)

Sex workers at Nevada brothel fight for the first-ever unionization

Sex workers at a brothel in Pahrump, Nevada, are fighting to unionize. If successful, they’d be the only unionized brothel in the United States. The sex workers at Sheri’s Ranch allege the brothel was pushing them to sign an unfair contract that would give it complete control over the workers’ intellectual property. The brothel says changing workers’ statuses from independent contractors to employees could affect their autonomy. But the women argue they are treated as employees and want the bargaining power that would afford them. Nevada is the only state where people can legally purchase sex.

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President Donald Trump arrives for an event at the Horizon Events Center in Clive, Iowa, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Trump boasts of over $1.5B in political funds. How he chooses to spend it could rock the midterms

President Donald Trump says he’s amassed a collection of campaign funds exceeding $1.5 billion, an unprecedented sum for a lame-duck president. He claims to have raked in that much just between Election Day 2024 and last August, though details on the exact figure are unclear. The funds could play a huge role in influencing this November’s midterms and even the 2028 race to succeed Trump. But it’s also possible the mountain of cash could benefit Trump’s own business interests. In the past, Trump has spent little to support political causes beyond his own — raising questions about the political funds’ true purpose and potential impact on future races.

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Actress Rose Byrne honored as Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year with parade and roast

Rose Byrne, fresh off her Golden Globe Award win and Oscar nomination for the leading role in “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” will be honored as the 2026 Woman of the Year by Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals. Byrne, who also has starred in “Bridesmaids,” “Neighbors,” “Insidious” and “Damages,” will take part in a parade Friday through the streets of Cambridge, Massachusetts. After that, she will receive her pudding pot award at a celebratory roast. She will then attend a performance of Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ 177th production “Salooney Tunes.” Actor Michael Keaton is the 2026 Man of the Year. He received his pudding pot Feb. 6.

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FILE - A data center owned by Amazon Web Services, front right, is under construction next to the Susquehanna nuclear power plant in Berwick, Pa., Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)

As electricity costs rise, everyone wants data centers to pick up their tab. But how?

Politicians from President Donald Trump to local lawmakers agree that tech companies should cover the power costs of artificial intelligence data centers. But they still fight over what “fair share” means. The debate ties directly to cost-of-living pressure ahead of the midterm elections. Data centers keep spreading fast, and some use as much electricity as a small city. Utilities often spread new power plant and grid costs across all customers. States have started writing rules that require long-term contracts and big upfront payments. Consumer advocates warn the short-term squeeze still pushes up bills.

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FILE - Bard College President Leon Botstein speaks during the 153rd Commencement at Bard College, May 25, 2013, in Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y. (AP Photo/Philip Kamrass, File)

Professors in the Epstein files say they hoped friendship would lead to research funding

A new trove of documents released by the Justice Department reveals that Epstein’s reach into academia was wider than previously known. He kept close with dozens of researchers who exchanged chummy emails while leaning on him to fund their projects. Some sent him gifts and visited him in New York and Florida. Some offered sympathy as he faced backlash for his crimes. New scrutiny is landing on numerous academics whose emails surfaced among millions of newly released files, revealing conversations covering topics from research to romance. At least one has resigned over new revelations, and Yale pulled another from teaching while it investigates his Epstein ties.

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FILE - A view of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, top left, in Portland, Ore., Oct. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)

Affordable housing residents near Portland ICE building to ask judge to limit feds’ use of tear gas

Residents of an affordable housing complex across from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland, Oregon, are set to testify Friday in a lawsuit seeking to limit federal officers’ use of tear gas during protests at the building. The apartment complex’s property manager and multiple residents filed the suit after months of repeated exposure. They argue the use of chemical munitions has violated residents’ rights by sickening them and contaminating their apartments. According to the complaint, tenants have experienced difficulty breathing, coughing, headaches and other symptoms. The federal government says officers have deployed crowd control devices in response to violent protests.

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Photographer Krystle Hickman photographs wild bees as desert sunflowers blanket the valley floor at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in San Diego County, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

A California photographer is on a quest to photograph hundreds of native bees

California photographer and conservationist Krystle Hickman is on a quest to document hundreds of species of native bees, which are under threat by climate change and habitat loss, some of it caused by the more recognizable and agriculturally valued honey bee. Of the roughly 4,000 types of bees native to North America, Hickman has photographed over 300. Though she doesn’t have a formal science education, she is a community scientist and has become a bee expert through her passion and keen observation skills. She has published a book documenting California’s native bees and conducted research with universities.

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A shopper looks at produce at a grocery store Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

U.S. core inflation may fall to 5-year low in report out Friday

Inflation is forecast to have fallen to a 2.4% annual rate in January from 2.7% in December in the latest government report on consumer prices to be issued Friday. That would be the lowest rate in nine months. Core prices, which exclude the volatile food and gas categories, are expected to decline to 2.5% from 2.6%, the lowest in nearly five years, according to data provider FactSet.

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FILE - In this photo provided by the U.S. Navy, the USS Gerald R. Ford embarked on the first of its sea trials to test various state-of-the-art systems on its own power for the first time, April 8, 2017, from Newport News, Va. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ridge Leoni/U.S. Navy via AP, File)

Second US aircraft carrier is being sent to the Middle East, AP source says

The world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, has been ordered to sail from the Caribbean Sea to the Middle East. That’s according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity. It comes as U.S. President Donald Trump considers whether to take possible military action against Iran. The move, first reported by The New York Times, will put two carriers and their accompanying warships in the region as Trump increases pressure on Iran to make a deal over its nuclear program.

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All-Star reliever Elroy Face, who saved 3 games for Pirates in 1960 World Series, dies at 97

Elroy Face, an All-Star reliever for the Pittsburgh Pirates who saved three games in the 1960 World Series to help them upset the New York Yankees, has died. He was 97. In a news release, the Pirates announced they confirmed Face’s death. Team historian Jim Trdinich said the club was contacted by Face’s son, Elroy Jr., and informed the former pitcher died Thursday at an independent senior living facility in North Versailles, Pennsylvania. No cause of death was provided. Selected to six All-Star teams, Face went 104-95 with a 3.48 ERA in 16 major league seasons with Pittsburgh, Detroit and Montreal. He compiled 191 career saves — although saves didn’t become an official statistic until 1969.

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President Donald Trump speaks during an event with Environmental Protection Agency director Lee Zeldin to announce the EPA will no longer regulate greenhouse gases, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Trump pardons 5 former NFL players for crimes ranging from perjury to drug trafficking

President Donald Trump has pardoned five former NFL players for crimes that include perjury, counterfeiting and drug trafficking. White House pardon adviser Alice Marie Johnson announced the pardons on X Thursday night. She says Trump supports second chances. The White House did not return a request for comment on the reasons for the pardons. The players include Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry and the late Billy Cannon.

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Christian Siriano invites New York Fashion Week guests into his surrealist dream

Rather than rely on a dramatic set, Designer Christian Siriano let his designs speak for themselves Thursday at his New York Fashion Week show. The designer transported guests to his surrealist dream of vibrant colors and eye-catching fabrics. The designer said he wanted to invite his attendees to escape with him. The designer’s fall 2026 show featured an iridescent green liquid ombré gown that the designer only had little time to transform before his show Thursday after a hold up at customs. Siriano’s supermodel muse Coco Rocha closed the show in the gown as celebrities cheered her on from the sidelines.

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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo smiles as he takes a selfie with a fan during spring training baseball Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Robots are coming to assist MLB umpires. Even so, the human touch still matters

For those worried robots are about to take over Major League Baseball, Colorado Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer has some experience with the Automated Ball/Strike system that’s coming to stadiums this summer. Yes, the machines have a lot of power. But the human touch still matters. The ABS system made a cameo last year in MLB spring training and was greeted with a mix of curiousity, excitement, disdain and uncertainty. Now that it’s here for regular-season games in 2026, the novelty is quickly giving way to strategy.

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FILE - White House counsel Kathryn Ruemmler listens as President Barack Obama speaks at an installation ceremony for FBI Director James Comey at FBI Headquarters, in Washington, Oct. 28, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)

Goldman Sachs’ top lawyer Kathy Ruemmler to resign after emails show close ties to Jeffrey Epstein

Goldman Sachs’ top lawyer Kathy Ruemmler is resigning after emails revealed she had a close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. She described Epstein as “another older brother” and downplayed his sex crimes. Ruemmler had previously tried to distance herself from these emails. In a statement before her resignation, a Goldman Sachs spokesperson said Ruemmler “regrets ever knowing him.” Before joining Goldman in 2020, Ruemmler was White House counsel for President Barack Obama. During her private practice, she received expensive gifts from Epstein. Despite CEO David Solomon’s support in December, the controversy led to her resignation.

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Joey Logano watches the leader board during NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Daytona, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Joey Logano wins the first Daytona 500 qualifying race; Casey Mears grabs a transfer spot

Joey Logano has won the first Daytona 500 qualifying race under caution, and a late crash changed who made NASCAR’s opener. A five-car accident forced overtime at Daytona International Speedway. Logano controlled the restart and held the lead to the finish. Corey LaJoie was in position to grab one of the open spots in the field. Then another crash caused LaJoie to spin on the last lap. Casey Mears slipped through the wreck and stole the transfer spot. Mears also recovered from an earlier pit road issue. Ryan Blaney finished second, and Austin Dillon was third.

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People attend an anti-ICE protest outside the Bishop Whipple Federal building in Minneapolis, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)

A judge orders DHS to give Minnesota detainees swift access to lawyers before transfers

A federal judge has ordered the Department of Homeland Security to give detained immigrants in Minnesota quick, private access to lawyers. U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel issued the emergency restraining order Thursday. She said detainees held at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building face major barriers to contacting counsel and may be pressured to sign deportation papers without legal advice. The temporary restraining order expires in two weeks. It comes in a lawsuit filed by the Advocates for Human Rights and a detainee late last month.

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Ryo Hisatsune, of Japan, slams his club into the sand of a fairway bunker at the 10th hole after hitting a shot during the final round of the Phoenix Open golf tournament Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Hisatsune leads Pebble Beach on a gorgeous day with low scores. Scheffler didn’t take advantage

Ryo Hisatsune is the leader at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am with a 62 at Pebble Beach. He leads by one shot over Sam Burns and Keegan Bradley. Chris Gotterup had the best start of the day by opening with six birdies. This comes after he finished his victory in the Phoenix Open with three straight birdies. So that’s nine in a row in two tournaments on two very different golf courses. A beautiful day meant low scoring and just about everyone took advantage. The exception was the No. 1 player in the world. Scottie Scheffler settled for a 72.

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FILE - Mississippi quarterback Trinidad Chambliss throws during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal game against Miami, Jan. 8, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)

Judge grants Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss a preliminary injunction for extra eligibility

A Mississippi judge granted Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss a preliminary injunction that gives him another year of eligibility after a fight with the NCAA. On Thursday, the judge said the NCAA ignores its own rules and failed to weigh Chambliss’ medical history. The NCAA denied his waiver on Jan. 9. The NCAA also rejected his appeal on Feb. 4. Chambliss has spent five years in college but played only three healthy seasons. He started at Ferris State and then transferred to Ole Miss. Ole Miss finishes 13-2 and loses to Miami in the playoff semifinals.

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FILE - Kevin Warsh speaks to the media about his report on transparency at the Bank of England, in London, Dec., 11, 2014. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool, File)

GOP senator says he’s open to compromise on Trump’s nominee to chair the Federal Reserve

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis from North Carolina suggests he could support a compromise that would allow the Senate Banking Committee to start hearings on Kevin Warsh, President Donald Trump’s nominee to chair the Federal Reserve. But Tillis on Thursday also reiterated his view that the Justice Department had to drop its investigation of Fed chair Jerome Powell before he would support moving forward with any new Fed nominee. The Justice Department has subpoenaed Powell over comments he made about an office building renovation during testimony before the banking committee last June.

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FILE - Republican Arizona Gubernatorial candidate Karrin Taylor Robson speaks to supporters at a campaign party, Aug. 2, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)

Arizona GOP candidate drops out of primary, narrowing field to two

President Donald Trump-endorsed housing developer Karrin Taylor Robson suspended her campaign Thursday for Arizona governor. The announcement narrows the Republican field to two. Taylor Robson says she wanted to avoid a divisive GOP primary that could undercut conservative causes. Her exit leaves U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, who also was endorsed by Trump and by the conservative youth group Turning Point USA, and U.S. Rep. David Schweikert. Taylor Robson sought the governor’s job in 2022. She narrowly lost the 2022 GOP primary to Kari Lake — who went on to lose the general election to Democrat Katie Hobbs.

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FILE - Analilia Mejia, center, speaks during a rally calling for SCOTUS ethics reform, May 2, 2023, in Washington. (Joy Asico/AP Images for Center for Popular Democracy Action, File)

Analilia Mejia, progressive ally of Bernie Sanders, wins special New Jersey House primary

Analilia Mejia, a longtime progressive organizer allied with Sen. Bernie Sanders, has won a crowded special Democratic House primary to fill the open seat formerly held by New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill. Mejia, 48, overcame former Rep. Tom Malinowski and about a dozen other candidates in New Jersey’s 11th District, which traditionally has elected more moderate representatives. Malinowski had already conceded the race, and Mejia has consolidated support among top Democratic leaders in the state ahead of the April 16 special general election against Republican Joe Hathaway.

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A general view of residential areas near the Hsinchu Science Park, in Hsinchu, Taiwan, on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Daniel Ceng)

Trump administration reaches a trade deal to lower Taiwan’s tariff barriers

Taiwan has reached a trade deal with the United States that cuts almost all of its tariff barriers. The U.S. Trade Representative’s office says the agreement covers 99% of Taiwan’s tariffs. The U.S. relies on Taiwan for computer chip production. U.S. data shows chip exports from Taiwan help drive a large trade imbalance. The gap reached nearly $127 billion in the first 11 months of 2025. U.S. officials attended the signing through the American Institute in Taiwan. The deal comes ahead of President Donald Trump’s planned visit to China in April and suggests a deepening economic relationship between the U.S. and Taiwan.

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Alejandro Barranco, the son of a man detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, speaks at a Democratic Steering and Policy Committee hearing on Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Capitol, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

Judge dismisses California deportation case for Mexican father of 3 U.S. Marines

An immigration judge has dismissed the deportation case against a landscaper who was arrested in California last year. Now the father of three U.S. Marines is on a path toward legal permanent residency in the U.S. The June detention of Narciso Barranco, who came to the U.S. from Mexico in the 1990s, caught widespread attention.  The judge said in a Jan. 28 order that Barranco had provided evidence that he was the father of three U.S.-born sons in the military, making him eligible to seek lawful status. Barranco’s lawyer says he feels “extreme relief.” The Department of Homeland Security said Thursday that it would appeal the judge’s decision.

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FILE - Trees sway in high winds as the Eaton Fire burns structures Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope, File)

California announces investigation into delayed evacuation orders during LA-area wildfire

California’s top prosecutor is opening a civil rights investigation into how delayed evacuations impacted a historically Black community ravaged by one of the January 2025 Los Angeles-area wildfires. Attorney General Rob Bonta said Thursday the investigation was spurred by months of conversation with community members and fire survivors concerned about the disparate impact of the Eaton Fire fire on the west side of Altadena, California. Reporting by the Los Angeles Times and The Associated Press found that side of town received evacuation orders well after other areas. The LA County Fire Department did not immediately comment on the launch of the investigation.

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From left, Joseph Edlow, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Rodney Scott, commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Todd Lyons, senior official performing the duties of the director at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, listen during a Senate Homeland Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)

Trump immigration officials shown video of Minneapolis protester’s death in tense Senate hearing

Sen. Rand Paul has challenged federal immigration officers over the shooting death of Alex Pretti and said the public has lost trust. On Thursday, Paul played a video from the Minnesota operation and said Pretti was retreating while officers pepper-sprayed him. Paul urged ICE and Border Patrol to admit mistakes. Other Republicans avoided criticizing the officers and focused instead on threats against agents. Democrats condemned the shooting and broader use of force by immigration enforcement officers. CBP chief Rodney Scott defended his officers, saying Pretti wasn’t complying with orders. ICE’s Todd Lyons also said his officers are held accountable, saying that 37 cases have been opened looking into excessive use of force by officers.

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Apple CEO Tim Cook during the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Trump’s FTC chairman chides Apple boss Tim Cook for content of Apple news feed

President Donald Trump’s Federal Trade Commission chairman has written to Apple chief Tim Cook, complaining that the company has “suppressed” content from conservative news sources in the Apple News feed loaded onto many of its devices. FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson cited a study from the right-leaning Media Research Center that said none of the 620 articles featured on the app in January were from conservative outlets like Fox News, the New York Post or Daily Wire. Instead, it said the majority of pieces in the curated news feed were from “leftist” outlets like The Associated Press, NBC News and The New York Time.

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Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, right, speaks during a new baseball stadium news conference as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis looks, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, at Hillsborough College in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred optimistic major leaguers will play in 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred is optimistic that major leaguers will be able to participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Manfred spoke to reporters at the league’s owners meetings Thursday in Palm Beach, Florida. He said there are still issues to resolve with the Major League Baseball Player’s Association before but is confident MLB players will participate. Manfred also addressed salary cap questions amid the Los Angeles Dodgers’ latest veteran pickup, World Baseball Classic insurance and prediction markets.

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Artwork portraying Frederick Douglass rests on a table during a formal dedication of the House Press Gallery to be named after Frederick Douglass on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Feb., 12, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

House renames press gallery after Frederick Douglass in bipartisan recognition of Black history

The press gallery overlooking the U.S. House chamber has been renamed after the prominent abolitionist Frederick Douglass. The move was led by Republican Congressman Byron Donalds of Florida and supported by dozens of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. The move comes as the Trump administration continues its efforts to overhaul how American history is taught and commemorated throughout the country. Critics have argued the moves seek to whitewash history while White House allies defend the policies as a necessary corrective. Artifacts from Douglass’ life were on display during the event, which was attended by prominent Black conservative activists, faith leaders and White House officials.

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Garrett Mitchell speaks at the memorial service for former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his family in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

From YouTuber to NASCAR driver: Cleetus McFarland expands his racing resume at Daytona

Garrett Mitchell is better known as “Cleetus McFarland” to his millions of followers gained over the years as a racing influencer. He’s been called a YouTuber for years. A more fitting title might be NASCAR driver. McFarland will make his Truck Series debut at Daytona International Speedway on Friday and then will race in the ARCA Series the following day. He has more racing in his future, too, hinting that details are coming soon. He made four ARCA starts in 2025, beginning with the season opener at Daytona. He crashed 17 laps into that one but found more success in other events. It should pay dividends on the high banks at Daytona.

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FILE - An FBI seal is displayed on a podium before a news conference at the field office in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)

Top Trump antitrust official leaves post following disputes over big mergers

The top antitrust official in the Trump administration is leaving her post amid tension about greenlighting big mergers in recent months. Gail Slater, the Justice Department’s assistant attorney general for antitrust, said it was with “great sadness” that she was leaving after just a year in the role. The move comes after a fight over whether to allow a Hewlett Packard Enterprises deal to go through. The Justice Department initially tried to block the $14 billion takeover of rival Juniper Networks, arguing in a lawsuit it could lead to higher prices and less innovation. But the suit was soon settled, and the merger allowed to go through.

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FILE - Philadelphia Phillies' Nick Castellanos runs after hitting a double to score Alec Bohm and J.T. Realmuto during the ninth inning in Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Oct. 6, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

Phillies release Nick Castellanos, who admits to bringing beer into dugout

The Philadelphia Phillies released outfielder Nick Castellanos on Thursday after the team was unable to make a deal to trade him. Castellanos then revealed he was benched last season after bringing beer into the dugout during a game. The team wanted the situation resolved before its first full-squad workout at spring training, which is Monday. Castellanos was benched last season after he made what Phillies manager Rob Thomson described as “an inappropriate comment” after he was pulled for a defensive replacement. Castellanos said in September that communication with Thomson had been “questionable, at least in my experience.”

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FILE - Actor Chadwick Boseman appears at an interview for the film, "Marshall," in Washington on Sept. 21, 2017. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

Colorectal cancer is rising in younger adults. Here’s who is most at risk and symptoms to watch for

The death of “Dawson’s Creek” actor James Van Der Beek highlights a rising trend in colorectal cancer among young adults. While overall colorectal cancer rates have inched down in recent years, rates for those under 50 have risen. It is now the top cancer killer of Americans under 50. Van Der Beek died this week at 48 from colon cancer. Doctors say people should reduce their risk by eating a healthy diet, get screened starting at age 45 and don’t wait to have worrisome symptoms examined.

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., right, is joined by Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., left, during the Senate Republican policy luncheon news conference at the Capitol, Tuesday, Feb., 10, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Homeland Security shutdown seems certain as funding talks between White House and Democrats stall

A shutdown for the Department of Homeland Security appears certain. Lawmakers in the House and Senate are set to leave Washington for a 10-day break, while negotiations with the White House over Democrats’ demands for new restrictions have stalled. The White House and Democrats have traded offers in recent days. Democrats have said they want curbs on President Donald Trump’s broad campaign of immigration enforcement. They’ve demanded better identification for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal law enforcement officers, a new code of conduct for those agencies and more use of judicial warrants, among their requests.

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FILE - This is a 2025 photo of Sebastian Walcott of the Texas Rangers baseball team. This image reflects the Texas Rangers' active roster as of Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, when this image was taken in Surprise, Ariz. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

Rangers lose top prospect, infielder Sebastian Walcott, to UCL injury and surgery

Top prospect Sebastian Walcott of the Texas Rangers is having elbow surgery, and the infielder is expected to miss most of the season. Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said Walcott has a UCL injury and was experiencing elbow discomfort. He could be back by the end of the season but it’s too early to tell. The 19-year-old Walcott is the No. 7 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. He hit .255 with 13 home runs, 59 RBIs and 32 stolen bases at Double-A Frisco last year.

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FILE - Trucks come and go from the "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in Collier County, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell,File)

Lawyers say access to ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ is still hard to get as a judge weighs the case

Attorneys say detainees at Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” still struggle to reach their lawyers, despite state claims that access problems are fixed. On Thursday, two lawyers filed statements with a federal court that their clients cannot call them using staff cellphones. They also say they still cannot make unannounced visits. A private contractor testified late last month that both options exist. A judge has not ruled on a request to match access at federal detention centers. The lawsuit says the rules force visits to be booked three days ahead. It says delays and transfers block legal help. State and federal officials deny rights violations.

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FILE - John Sarcone, acting U.S. Attorney for Northern New York, leaves Manhattan federal court in New York, on Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Sisak, File)

Top US prosecutor appointed to New York Albany office by judges is immediately ousted

A lawyer appointed by judges to be the U.S. attorney for northern New York has been fired by the Justice Department in the latest clash between the Trump administration and the judiciary over the process for selecting top federal prosecutors. Donald Kinsella spent less than a day in the position before he was dismissed. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced his firing in a social media post.  It was unclear Thursday who was supervising the office, which handles federal prosecutors and other legal matters for a broad swath of upstate New York. President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the office is John Sarcone. He is among a number of interim U.S. attorneys installed by the administration who have been found by judges to be unlawfully serving in their positions.

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President Donald Trump speaks during an event on coal power in the East Room at the White House, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Trump is gathering Latin American leaders in Florida in March, ahead of his trip to China

President Donald Trump has invited Latin American leaders to take part in a summit in Florida next month, gathering the officials at a moment when the administration is spotlighting what it sees as concerning Chinese influence in the region. Plans for the March 7 summit were confirmed on Thursday by a White House official who was not authorized to comment publicly about the yet-to-be formally announced gathering. It will also come just weeks before Trump is expected to travel to Beijing for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Trump administration has made it a priority to assert dominance over the Western Hemisphere, where China has long built influence through massive loans and expansive trade.

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Samoan tenor Pene Pati poses outside of the Park Avenue Armory in New York on Sept. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Ron Blum)

Pene Pati rises from doubted Samoan singer to one of Opera’s most-watched new stars

Tenor Pene Pati has emerged from a childhood in Samoa and New Zealand to become one of opera’s most-watched new stars. Now 38 and booked by top houses through 2030, Pati impressed last month in his first staged performances of Massenet’s “Werther” at Paris’ Opéra Comique, a 1,200-capacity jewel box that turned down the composer’s 1887 offer to stage the premiere. Pati sang in an Auckland choir growing up and planned on a computer science career. He was encouraged to pursue piano and singing by his high school’s music director.

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Corey LaJoie and Noah Gragson, from left, speak during a NASCAR Daytona 500 media day, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Daytona, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Caught red-handed! NASCAR busts Gragson for sticking hand out window during Daytona 500 qualifying

Noah Gragson was the first driver busted during Daytona 500 qualifying for violating the new rule that specifies drivers are banned for sticking their hands out the opening of the window during the qualifying run. Gragson’s time in the No. 4 Ford for Front Row Motorsports was thrown out Wednesday because he used his left hand in an attempt to deflect air and gain an advantage on the track. Gragson said he “completely forgot about that rule.” The 27-year-old did not advance to the second round of qualifying and lost his chance to race for the pole. The Daytona 500 is on Sunday.

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FILE - Campers' belongings sit outside one of Camp Mystic's cabins near the Guadalupe River, Monday, July 7, 2025, in Hunt, Texas, after a flash flood swept through the area. (AP Photo/Eli Hartman, File)

Camp Mystic parents seek stronger camp regulations in other states

The parents of an Alabama girl who was killed at camp Mystic are seeking more safety oversight on summer camps. Eight-year-old Sarah Marsh of Mountain Brook, Alabama, was one of 27 Camp Mystic campers and counselors swept to their deaths when floodwaters engulfed cabins at the Texas camp. Grieving parents pushed Texas lawmakers to approve new safety requirements on camps. Sarah’s parents are urging Alabama to do the same. The Alabama bill, named the Sarah Marsh Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act, will require camps to meet safety standards, including obtaining an emergency preparedness license from the Alabama Emergency Management Agency and establishing emergency and evacuation plans.

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FILE - U.S. warship the USS Truxtun sails in Bosporus Strait en route to the Black Sea, in Istanbul, Turkey, March 7, 2014. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel, file)

2 US Navy ships collide in the Caribbean, leaving 2 sailors with minor injuries

The U.S. military says two Navy ships deployed as part of the Trump administration’s massive military buildup in the Caribbean Sea have collided. U.S. Southern Command said in a statement Thursday that two personnel reported minor injuries and that both are in stable condition. The ships kept sailing safely after the collision Wednesday that happened while a supply ship was replenishing the destroyer USS Truxtun. The administration built up the largest military presence in the region in generations as it’s carried out deadly strikes on alleged drug boats, seized sanctioned oil tankers and conducted a surprise raid that captured Venezuela’s then-president, Nicolás Maduro.

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President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after signing a spending bill that ends a partial shutdown of the federal government in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Judge blocks Trump administration from moving former death row inmates to ‘Supermax’ prison

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from transferring 20 inmates with commuted death sentences to the nation’s highest security federal prison. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly ruled Wednesday that the government cannot move the former death row inmates to the “Supermax” federal prison in Florence, Colorado, because it likely would violate their violate their Fifth Amendment rights to due process. The judge said the inmates haven’t had a meaningful opportunity to challenge their transfer because it appears the outcome of the process was predetermined once President Donald Trump took office. President Joe Biden commuted their death sentences a month before Trump returned to the White House.

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FILE - Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump's choice to be Secretary of Health and Human Services, appears before the Senate Finance Committee for his confirmation hearing, at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, file)

RFK Jr. promised to restore trust in US health agencies. One year later, it’s eroding

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reshaping U.S. health policy as HHS secretary, and doctors say his changes are eroding trust. Survey results show Americans’ confidence keeps sliding, not rising. Kennedy has cut vaccine guidance, dismissed advisers and pushed claims medical groups call unverified. Doctors warn this confusion leads people to skip shots. They say that raises the risk of outbreaks. Polls from KFF and Gallup show trust in the CDC falling across groups. HHS says Kennedy is adding transparency and accountability. Critics say he is doing the opposite.

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FILE - Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., appears before the Senate Finance Committee, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Sept. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, file)

RFK Jr. pledged more transparency. Here’s what the public doesn’t know anymore

Health experts say the federal government now shares less public health data, even after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promised “radical transparency.” But many types of health information that steadily flowed from the government for years or decades has been delayed, deleted and in some cases stopped all together. Researchers say that slows work on abortion, overdoses, smoking and LGBTQ health. A health department spokesman says Kennedy “is leading the most transparent HHS in history.” He pointed to a government webpage on the agency’s transparency efforts. It includes a list of canceled government contracts and the repackaging of previously available information.

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In the shadow of the Clairton Coke Works, the community’s next generation learns

At 2 p.m. on a chilly January afternoon, the elementary floor of the Clairton City School District’s building was buzzing. What was going on? “Beartopia.” The name nods to Clairton’s Bears — a district long known for its powerhouse football program — but this version of Bear pride is built around leadership, responsibility and imagination. The school had transformed into “Beartopia” — a world run by students in which each classroom is a business venture. This microsociety unfolds just two-thirds of a mile from the hulking, smoky Clairton Coke Works. Today, as the city attempts to turn a corner after the sale of its biggest business and a tragic explosion, its 793-student school district is searching for creative ways to inspire scholarship.

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After deadly explosion at US Steel mill outside Pittsburgh, maintaining safety now falls to Nippon

Last year, an explosion at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works outside Pittsburgh killed two U.S. Steel workers and injured 11 others, including contractors. Six months later, workers remain rattled and community concerns about air pollution from the plant are heightened. The blast comes on top of a string of other accidents at the Clairton plant over time as well as a long history of legal battles between U.S. Steel and Allegheny County regulators. Some current and former workers at Clairton Coke Works say poor management and underinvestment have exacerbated air pollution and undermined workplace safety at the plant where operators already have little margin for error. That’s according to reporting from Pittsburgh’s Public Source and The Associated Press.

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FILE - Observers film while federal agents conduct immigration enforcement operations Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy, File)

Republicans’ edge on immigration shrinks as independents balk at Trump’s tactics, AP-NORC poll shows

A new AP-NORC poll finds that about 6 in 10 U.S. adults believe that President Donald Trump has “gone too far” in sending federal immigration agents into U.S. cities. The survey also shows that the Republican Party’s political advantage on Trump’s signature domestic issue has shrunk since October. The new polling comes as the nation watches the human impact of Trump’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota, where thousands of heavily armed masked agents have descended upon the capital city. About 9 in 10 Democrats and about 7 in 10 independents say Trump has “gone too far” in sending federal immigration agents into U.S. cities, compared to only about one-quarter of Republicans.

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FILE - Cars race during the Busch Light Clash NASCAR exhibition auto race at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Feb. 3, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

Hall of Fame driver Tony Stewart and UFC boss Dana White are leading Ram back into NASCAR

Ram returns to NASCAR’s Truck Series with a marketing-heavy push that includes Tony Stewart driving at Daytona and UFC boss Dana White helping promote it. On Friday night, the season opens at Daytona International Speedway. Ram has not raced in NASCAR since 2012. Ram partners with Kaulig Racing and becomes NASCAR’s first new national-level manufacturer since 2007. Ram and Kaulig also create a YouTube reality show called “Race for the Seat.” Fifteen drivers compete for a ride. Timothy “Mini” Tyrrell wins and joins Ram’s lineup. New rules also give Ram a short-term qualifying safety net.

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This photo provided by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections shows Kendrick Simpson, 45, on Aug. 11, 2025, who is scheduled to be executed, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Oklahoma, for the 2006 drive-by shooting deaths of two men. (Oklahoma Department of Corrections via AP)

Oklahoma set to execute man convicted of double killing in 2006 drive-by shooting

Oklahoma is set to execute a man convicted of killing two men in a drive-by shooting in 2006. Forty-five-year-old Kendrick Simpson is scheduled to receive a lethal injection Thursday in Oklahoma’s first execution this year. Simpson admitted at a clemency hearing last month that he shot and killed 19-year-old Anthony Jones and 20-year-old Glen Palmer and apologized to their families. Oklahoma’s five-member board narrowly voted to deny Simpson clemency. Simpson’s attorneys had argued he suffered from chronic trauma growing up in a New Orleans housing project. He moved to Oklahoma City after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005.

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