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February 22, 2026.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is seen after a B'nai B'rith Youth Organization International Convention on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)

As antisemitism rises and strife over Israel continues, Josh Shapiro turns toward his Jewish faith

February 22, 2026

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro may be the nation’s most prominent Jewish politician as antisemitism surges across America. But he insists on living his faith “out loud.” The 52-year-old Democrat is attempting to straddle an almost impossible chasm as both a Jewish progressive and a Zionist as he marches toward a dominant reelection this fall. Already, Shapiro may be one of his party’s leading 2028 presidential prospects. He’s also among the Democratic Party’s most vilified from within, almost entirely because of his faith and staunch support for Israel. Perhaps more than any other issue, Shapiro’s ability to navigate glaring personal and political risks related to his faith will ultimately determine how far he can rise in an evolving Democratic Party.

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Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is seen after a B'nai B'rith Youth Organization International Convention on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)

Josh Shapiro, in his own words, on political violence and antisemitism

February 22, 2026

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is opening up about his Jewish faith at a pivotal moment in his political rise. The Democratic governor is eyeing a reelection this fall in one of the nation’s most important swing states. If he wins, it could propel him into the very top of his party’s presidential nomination fight. But he’s also navigating physical and political risks that have threatened his family’s life and his standing in a party that’s deeply divided by Israel’s war in Gaza. Shapiro spoke about these challenges in a recent interview with The Associated Press.

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FILE - Kouri Richins, a Utah mother of three who wrote a children's book about coping with grief after her husband's death and was later accused of fatally poisoning him, looks on during a hearing on Aug. 26, 2024, in Park City, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, Pool, File)

Trial begins for Utah mom accused of killing husband then writing a children’s book about grief

February 22, 2026

A murder trial is set to begin for a Utah mother of three who published a children’s book about grief after her husband’s death and was later accused of killing him. Kouri Richins faces a slew of felony charges for allegedly killing her husband with fentanyl in March 2022 at their home just outside the ski town of Park City. Prosecutors say she slipped five times the lethal dose of the synthetic opioid into a cocktail that he drank. Richins has vehemently denied the allegations and will aim to convince a jury she is telling the truth as her trial begins Monday inside a Park City courtroom.

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FILE - FBI director Kash Patel arrives before President Donald Trump speaks in the East Room of the White House, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, file)

FBI director joins US men’s hockey team in locker room celebration of Olympic gold medal

February 22, 2026

FBI Director Kash Patel joined the American men’s hockey players in the locker room for a rowdy celebration of winning the gold medal at the Winter Olympics in Milan. Videos shared on social media showed a pumped-up Patel drinking beer from a bottle and spraying the rest around the locker room. After one of the players draped his gold medal around Patel’s neck, he joined the players as they jumped up and down. While Patel was in Milan, the U.S. Secret Service shot and killed an armed man at President Donald Trump’s resort in Florida. Hours later, during the hockey game, Patel posted on X that the FBI was “dedicating all necessary resources in the investigation.”

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President Donald Trump dances after speaking at a rally at Coosa Steel Corporation in Rome, Ga., Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

How Trump will use his State of the Union address to sell skeptical midterm voters on his plans

February 22, 2026

President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday is likely to be a test run of the message that Republicans will give to voters in November’s elections for control of the House and Senate. Polls show that much of America distrusts how Trump has managed the government in his first year back in office. Though Trump is expected to focus on domestic issues, his intensifying threats that he may launch military strikes on Iran over its nuclear program are casting a shadow over the address. Democrats’ reactions in the chamber could also shape the night.

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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James smiles during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Katie Chin)

LeBron James, Pat Riley both wonder what might have been if their Heat partnership had lasted longer

February 22, 2026

LeBron James and Pat Riley both sometimes wonder what might have been if their four-year partnership with the Miami Heat had lasted a whole lot longer. Both NBA icons speculated on that period in their careers after James’ Lakers honored Riley with a statue outside their downtown arena recognizing his years as the Lakers’ coach. Riley says he selfishly wished James had stayed in Miami for another six or eight years after his four-year tenure alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Riley and James helped the Heat win two titles and reach four NBA Finals.

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Tyler Reddick drives on the track during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Hampton, Ga. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

Tyler Reddick wins at Atlanta to give Michael Jordan second straight NASCAR Cup victory

February 22, 2026

Tyler Reddick rebounded from a crash to become the first driver in 17 years to sweep the first two races of a NASCAR Cup Series season, winning in double overtime Sunday at Echo Park Speedway. A week after winning the Daytona 500, Reddick gave 23XI Racing and co-owner Michael Jordan another victory by outdueling Chase Briscoe, Ross Chastain and Carson Hocevar. Bubba Wallace, who also drives for 23XI, led entering the final restart but was shuffled to eighth. Reddick raced to his 10th victory in NASCAR’s premier series despite front-end damage to his No. 45 Toyota sustained in a nine-car crash on the 224th lap. He’s the sixth driver to open a Cup season with consecutive victories and the first since Matt Kenseth in 2009.

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robert whatzel

Robert Whetzal

February 22, 2026

Robert Alan Whetzal November 30, 1948 – February 13, 2026 Robert Alan Whetzal of Sturgis, SD, passed away peacefully on

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Jacob Bridgeman chips to the fourth green during the final round of the Genesis Invitational golf tournament at Riviera Country Club, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman )

Jacob Bridgeman holds on at Riviera for first PGA Tour title

February 22, 2026

Jacob Bridgeman held on to win the Genesis Invitational at Riviera for his first PGA Tour title. It was a lot harder than he expected. Bridgeman started with a six-shot lead and expanded it to seven with 12 holes to play. But he didn’t make a birdie over the last 15 holes in his closing round of 72. Rory McIlroy and Kurt Kitayama made late charges that made Bridgeman sweat it out. They finished one shot behind. Bridgeman is the first player to make his Riviera debut and leave with a trophy since Adam Scott in 2005.

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A statue of former Los Angeles Lakers coach Pat Riley is unveiled outside the Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Greg Beacham)

Lakers unveil statue of Pat Riley, the coaching mastermind of their 1980s Showtime era

February 22, 2026

The Los Angeles Lakers have honored Pat Riley with a statue outside their downtown arena. He spent two decades with the organization, eventually becoming the coach who masterminded their Showtime championship era. The 8-foot likeness of the Hall of Fame coach wearing one of his famed Giorgio Armani suits will stand between statues of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson. Riley proudly recognizes his NBA roots are in Los Angeles, where he remains a city icon after spending two decades with the Lakers as a player, a broadcaster and coach. He won six championship rings with the franchise.

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Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz works out during spring training baseball Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Slugging 1B Nick Kurtz looks to build on AL Rookie of the Year award in second season with Athletics

February 22, 2026

Nick Kurtz isn’t changing much in his second big league season. Even now with the extra fanfare and attention on him this spring training as reigning AL Rookie of the Year at just 22. Kurtz stuck with his usual winter routine of returning home to North Carolina, where he likes to “chill,” play video games and watch movies when he’s not busy training. A’s manager Mark Kotsay will consider Kurtz for the leadoff spot — where he was hitting against Cleveland in his spring opener — to maximize the slugger’s at-bats.

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FILE - Republican presidential candidate former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks during a gathering, June 6, 2023, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

Never Trump Republicans are still issuing dire warnings. Is anyone listening?

February 22, 2026

The Republicans and former Republicans who gathered in suburban Washington this weekend are warning that President Donald Trump and his allies in Congress are tearing at the very fabric of U.S. democracy. It’s unclear how many people are listening. The main convention hall at the sixth annual Principles First summit was half empty. Not a single sitting Republican elected official participated in the two-day speaking program. This is what remains of the Grand Old Party’s Never Trump movement. Despite the weak attendance, there was a slight sense of optimism that Trump and his party will be defeated in this fall’s midterm elections.

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This image provided by NASA shows NASA's moon rocket sits on the pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (NASA via AP)

NASA will return its moon rocket to the hangar for more repairs before astronauts strap in

February 22, 2026

NASA’s giant moon rocket is headed back to the hangar for more repairs. The space agency said Sunday it’s targeting Tuesday for the four-mile trek, weather permitting. NASA had barely finished a repeat fueling test last week to ensure hydrogen fuel leaks were plugged when another problem cropped up. This time, the rocket’s helium system malfunctioned, further delaying astronauts’ first trip to the moon in decades. The earliest three Americans and one Canadian assigned to the Artemis II mission can launch is April.

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FILE - Hazel Soares, 94, center, gets her picture taken with some of her classmates before the start of commencement exercises at Mills College, in Oakland, Calif., Saturday, May 15, 2010. ( AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)

Why adults pursuing career growth or personal interests are the ‘new majority’ student

February 22, 2026

Millions of adults are continuing their education by returning to school and enrolling in credit and non-credit courses, certificates, micro-credentials, job training and degree programs. While some students are seeking career advancement, higher pay and job security, others are pursing personal passions or trying new things. Experts say fast shifts in work, like artificial intelligence, make ongoing learning feel necessary. Universities are also reducing barriers by offering lower-cost courses, financial help and easier sign-ups. Advisors urge adults interested in returning to school to plan. They say potential students should check their time, money and support system.

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Amanda Mogoi, an advance practice registered nurse who provides care for transgender patients in Wichita, Kan., participates in a protest against a new Kansas law that prevents transgender people from changing their birth certificates and driver's licenses to reflect their gender identities and imposes new, tough enforcement provisions in state restrictions on their bathroom use with a sit-in during a legislative committee hearing, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

New law puts Kansas at vanguard of denying trans identities on drivers licenses, birth certificates

February 22, 2026

Kansas is set to invalidate about 1,700 driver’s licenses held by transgender residents and roughly as many of their birth certificates. It’s because of a new law that goes beyond Republican-imposed restrictions in other states on listing gender identities in government documents. The law takes effect this week after the Legislature’s Republican supermajorities last week overrode a veto by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. The new law prohibits the documents from listing any sex other than the one assigned birth and invalidates any that reflect a conflicting gender identity. A handful of states don’t allow changes in the documents, but only Kansas requires undoing past changes.

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