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February 24, 2026.

Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) reacts after shooting a 3-point shot during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Wendell Carter Jr. scores late winner in Magic’s 110-109 victory over slumping Lakers

February 24, 2026

Wendell Carter Jr. made a go-ahead putback with 6.7 seconds to play, Paolo Banchero scored 36 points and the Orlando Magic finished a strong West Coast trip with a 110-109 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James missed a fallaway 3-point attempt on the last shot by the Lakers. Luka Doncic had 22 points and 15 assists, including a pass in the final minute to James for a go-ahead dunk. After Carter scored on the Magic’s second offensive rebound of their final possession, Doncic belatedly got the ball to James, whose desperation shot didn’t go.

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U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Eric Slover receives a Medal of Honor during President Donald Trump's State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Army pilot wounded in Maduro raid gets Congressional Medal of Honor during Trump’s speech

February 24, 2026

A helicopter pilot wounded in the raid that captured then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has received the Congressional Medal of Honor during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. Trump said Tuesday evening that Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eric Slover was the pilot of the lead CH-47 Chinook helicopter that descended on the “heavily protected military fortress” that held Maduro during the raid. While successful, it left seven U.S. service members with gunshot wounds and shrapnel-related injuries. Trump said Slover was shot four times in the leg and hip from “enemy machine guns” while preparing to land his helicopter. The description of Slover’s actions offers a new, detailed glimpse into the January raid.

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West Virginia National Guard Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe receive the Purple Heart as his mother, Melody, watches during President Donald Trump's State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.(AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Trump honors National Guard members shot in Washington

February 24, 2026

President Donald Trump has presented the Purple Heart medal during his State of the Union Address and honored two National Guard members who were shot while patrolling in Washington last year. Trump paused his speech Tuesday so a military officer could pin the medal on Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe in the House gallery. He also honored Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, who died from her injuries, as “a true American patriot” and introduced her parents. Wolfe and Beckstrom, members of the West Virginia National Guard, were ambushed in November while deployed to Washington as part of Trump’s executive order to battle what he said was rampant crime.

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People hold signs across the street from the Eldon B. Mahon U.S. Courthouse during a trial for nine people connected to a 2025 shooting outside an ICE detention facility Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Trial begins for group accused of antifa links in shooting at Texas immigration detention center

February 24, 2026

Federal prosecutors are describing those who participated in a July 4 gathering outside a Texas immigration detention center that left a police officer wounded as antifa members intent on a “violent campaign” to influence U.S. policy. They made their opening statements Tuesday in federal court in Fort Worth in the trial of nine people facing charges for their alleged involvement related to the gathering at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado last year. Several defense attorneys said their clients weren’t part of any such group and came only to participate in a “noise demonstration” to show support to the immigrants.

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FILE - Immigrants play soccer at a new U.S. government holding center for migrant children, in Carrizo Springs, Texas, July 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

Legal advocates seek to halt CBP policy pressuring unaccompanied children to self-deport

February 24, 2026

Legal advocates are asking a judge to stop U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents from urging unaccompanied immigrant children to voluntarily deport themselves. Advocates said in a motion filed Tuesday that the policy goes against a recent injunction affecting Guatemalan children. The injunction prohibits the government from deporting any Guatemalan unaccompanied minors unless they have gone through some immigration court proceeding. They are also asking the judge to expand the injunction to cover children from other countries. CBP did not respond for a request for comment. Attorneys have found 13 cases of children affected by the policy but believe there are more.

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Former Miami Heat head coach Pat Riley recalls the 2006 season when the team won the NBA championship during a half time celebration Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Pat Riley revives the NBA coach suit debate. Erik Spoelstra wants to keep sideline wear casual

February 24, 2026

Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra are on opposite sides over one oddly persistent issue in the NBA: what coaches wear on the sideline. On Tuesday, Spoelstra revealed that Riley once gave him suits as an assistant, but they looked ridiculous without tailoring. The debate flares again after the Lakers unveil a statue of Riley on Sunday in a sharp Armani suit. Riley says coats and ties make coaches look like leaders. The league has allowed polos and quarter-zips since the 2019-20 bubble. Bucks coach Doc Rivers calls the casual gear comfortable but suggests suits for the playoffs.

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FILE - Washington Wizards guard Trae Young, center, looks on from the bench during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Jan. 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

Trae Young returns to Atlanta for the first time since blockbuster trade to the Wizards

February 24, 2026

Trae Young has returned to Atlanta for the first time since the Hawks dealt their star guard to the Washington Wizards in a blockbuster trade last month. He wasn’t in uniform as he continues his comeback from a sprained right knee and quadriceps contusion. Young hasn’t played in nearly two months, and the Wizards seem in no rush to get him back on the court when their poor record could lead to a high draft pick. Young says there are no hard feelings toward his former team, even if his tenure did end on a sour note.

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From left, Sen. Ruben Gallego D-Ariz., Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., join Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for a news conference as they criticize President Donald Trump's policies and agenda ahead of his State of the Union speech, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Pentagon appeals order blocking Sen. Mark Kelly’s punishment for call to resist unlawful orders

February 24, 2026

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is appealing a judge’s order that blocks him from punishing Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, a former Navy pilot, for participating in a video that called on troops to resist unlawful orders. Justice Department officials filed a notice on Tuesday that they will ask a panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to review the Feb. 12 ruling. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon concluded that Hegseth violated Kelly’s First Amendment free speech rights. In November, Kelly and five other Democratic lawmakers appeared on a video in which they urged troops to uphold the Constitution and not to follow unlawful military directives from the Trump administration.

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One Franklin Square, home of the Washington Post newspaper in downtown Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Judge bars government from ‘wholesale’ search of Washington Post reporter’s seized devices

February 24, 2026

A magistrate judge has barred federal authorities from conducting an unsupervised, wholesale search of electronic devices that they seized from a Washington Post reporter’s Virginia home while investigating allegations that a Pentagon contractor illegally leaked classified information to the journalist. In Tuesday’s ruling, U.S. Magistrate Judge William Porter said he will independently review the contents of Post reporter Hannah Natanson’s devices instead of allowing a Justice Department “filter team” to perform a search. Porter said he balanced the need to protect Natanson’s free speech rights with the government’s duty to safeguard top secret national security information.

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FILE - California Gov. Gavin Newsom reacts during a news conference in Wasco, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

Gov. Gavin Newsom takes heat from Republicans and LGBTQ+ lawmakers during book tour

February 24, 2026

If politicians write memoirs to generate online buzz and headlines, California Gov. Gavin Newsom is getting plenty of both – favorable and not. Just a few days into a national book tour, the two-term Democrat who is widely expected to seek the presidency in 2028 is facing conservative backlash over remarks that critics are calling racist and indignation from LGBTQ+ advocates for saying the Democratic Party needs to become “more culturally normal.” Newsom’s kickoff swing for “Young Man in a Hurry: A Memoir of Discovery” comes at a time when he’s sought to position himself as the leading Democratic adversary to President Donald Trump.

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Rachel Reid delays ‘Unrivaled’ release to June 2027, citing Parkinson’s and fame

February 24, 2026

Author Rachel Reid says she is delaying her next hockey romance novel because sudden fame and worsening Parkinson’s disease symptoms have slowed her writing. Reid shared the news in an Instagram video posted Tuesday. She said her life has quickly changed since an HBO miniseries based on her books became a sensation. She planned to release “Unrivaled” this fall. She now expects it in June 2027. Reid said she needs quiet time to make the book as good as possible. She also said her Parkinson’s symptoms have gotten worse. She learned she had Parkinson’s in 2023.

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United States hockey player Matthew Tkachuk arrives at E11EVEN after the team won the gold medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

US men’s hockey team visits Trump at the White House on its way to his State of the Union

February 24, 2026

The gold-medal-winning U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team landed at Joint Base Andrews and visited President Donald Trump at the White House before attending his State of the Union address on Tuesday night. Forward Matthew Tkachuk posted pictures on social media of members of the team celebrating on what appears to be a U.S. government plane. The U.S. beat Canada 2-1 in overtime on Sunday at the Milan Cortina Olympics. The team received a State of the Union invitation from Trump following the game. The women’s team also won gold over Canada. They declined a State of the Union invite, citing scheduling issues.

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Court says the IRS can continue to share immigrants’ taxpayer data with ICE

February 24, 2026

A federal appeals court is allowing the IRS to keep sharing some taxpayer data with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. On Tuesday, the D.C. Circuit court rejected a bid by immigrant rights groups to temporarily block the agreement. The deal lets ICE send names and addresses to the IRS to check against tax records. In his decision, Judge Harry Edwards said the groups were unlikely to win because addresses do not count as protected “taxpayer return information” under the privacy law. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the decision was a “crucial victory” that will help the Trump administration continue its immigration crackdown.

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FILE - Children play outside Royce Hall at the University of California, Los Angeles, campus, Aug. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

Justice Department suit accuses UCLA of failing to protect Jewish employees from campus hostility

February 24, 2026

The Justice Department is suing the University of California over allegations that UCLA failed to protect Jewish employees from antisemitic harassment amid pro-Palestinian protests that roiled the campus in 2023 and 2024. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in California, is the latest escalation in the Trump administration’s campaign to punish top universities that it says have been soft on antisemitism. The suit accuses UCLA of failing to discipline those who were involved in protests, including dozens who were arrested in 2024 for failing to leave a campus encampment. UCLA officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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FILE - New York Jets running back Breece Hall (20) carries the ball during an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Dec. 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis, File)

Jets plan to use a tag on Hall, while futures for Walker and Montgomery remain uncertain

February 24, 2026

The New York Jets don’t plan to let running back Breece Hall hit the open market at the start of the league year, while the futures of other top running backs such as Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III and David Montgomery remain more in flux. Jets general manager Darren Mougey said at the NFL scouting combine that the team plans to use either the franchise tag or the transition tag on Hall before the deadline on March 3. Seattle general manager John Schneider wouldn’t commit to tagging Walker, while Detroit could be open to trading Montgomery.

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FILE - Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes speaks to reporters as Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield listens outside the Supreme Court, on Nov. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

States sue Trump administration over changes to childhood vaccine recommendations

February 24, 2026

More than a dozen states are suing the Trump administration over its changes to vaccine recommendations for children. The lawsuit filed Tuesday says the federal government is putting children’s lives at risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stopped recommending that all kids be immunized against the flu, RSV and other infections. The lawsuit also challenges Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s move to replace members of a vaccine advisory panel with his own picks. The CDC and Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond for comment on the lawsuit.

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Pennsylvania residents question police response to student ICE protesters after juveniles detained

February 24, 2026

Some residents in the Philadelphia suburb of Quakertown are calling for the police chief to resign after a scuffle between police and students protesting ICE policies left several juveniles in custody. Video circulating online shows an older man in street clothes approach a group of young protesters outside a delicatessen and put his arm around the neck of a teenage girl as they fall to the ground. The American Civil Liberties Union identifies the man as Police Chief Scott McElree. The county prosecutor is investigating. At least five students detained since Friday are due in juvenile court Tuesday for bail hearings.

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FILE - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) building is seen in Washington on Sept. 21, 2017. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

Appeals court questions shifting reasons for Trump’s EPA killing clean energy contracts

February 24, 2026

A federal appeals court is weighing whether the Trump administration unlawfully shut down a $20 billion green bank program and froze money meant for climate nonprofits. On Tuesday, judges pressed the EPA about what one judge calls shifting reasons for the move. The agency said whatever its reasoning, it shouldn’t face allegations that it broke the law. Lawyers for the nonprofits say the money had already been placed in a Citibank account for their use. But the judges also questioned whether that argument was weakened when Congress repealed part of the law behind the program.

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FILE - Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley talks during a news conference at Harbor–UCLA Medical Center, in the West Carson area of Los Angeles, Feb. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)

Ex-LA fire chief sues the city over her firing after the Palisades Fire

February 24, 2026

The former Los Angeles fire chief has filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging that her ouster was part of an orchestrated effort to smear her conduct and decision-making so Mayor Karen Bass could avoid accountability for the most destructive wildfire in LA history. Crowley’s filing last week accuses the first-term Democrat of trying to distract from criticism for being in Africa in a presidential delegation when the Palisades Fire started, even though weather reports had warned of dangerous wildfire conditions in the days before she left. The mayor’s office didn’t immediately comment on the lawsuit.

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Pedestrians walk past a billboard depicting a U.S. aircraft carrier with damaged fighter jets on its deck and a sign in Farsi and English reading, "If you sow the wind, you'll reap the whirlwind," at Enqelab-e-Eslami (Islamic Revolution) Square in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

CIA offers tips to potential informants in Iran as Trump considers military action

February 24, 2026

The CIA is offering help to potential informants in Iran as President Donald Trump mulls possible military action. The agency posted a message to X, YouTube and Instagram on Tuesday offering instructions in Farsi on how to safely contact U.S. intelligence. Tuesday’s post follows similar videos in the past in Farsi, Russian, Korean and Mandarin, but it comes at an especially uneasy time in U.S.-Iran relations and as the Iranian theocracy faces new protests at home. The U.S. has assembled its largest military force in the region in decades. Talks on Iran’s disputed nuclear program are planned for later this week.

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FILE - Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley watches the fourth round match between Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece and Jannik Sinner of Italy at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Mark Baker, file)

Craig Tiley will become the CEO of the US Tennis Association after 13 years at Tennis Australia

February 24, 2026

Craig Tiley will take over as the CEO of the U.S. Tennis Association this year. The group that runs the U.S. Open announced Tiley’s hiring on Tuesday. Tiley is leaving his post as the head of Tennis Australia and the tournament director of its Grand Slam tournament, the Australian Open. The USTA said that Tiley will start the new job in the coming months. He replaces Lew Sherr, who left the USTA last year to join the New York Mets as their president of business operations. Tiley was the Australian Open’s tournament director since 2006 and became the CEO of Tennis Australia in 2013.

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Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Raiders describe traits they want in franchise QB but remain silent on Mendoza as NFL combine opens

February 24, 2026

Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek never uttered the name Fernando Mendoza while speaking at the NFL’s annual scouting combine. He didn’t need to. As Spytek ran through the list of traits he needs in a franchise quarterback, it seemed he was using the same words and phrases so often used to describe Mendoza by his college teammates during last season’s Heisman Trophy campaign. Selecting Mendoza only seems natural for the team holding the No. 1 pick in April’s NFL draft.

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Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) passes the puck against the Utah Mammoth during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

Mikko Rantanen will miss at least 2 weeks for the Dallas Stars after getting hurt in the Olympics

February 24, 2026

Mikko Rantanen will miss at least two weeks for the Dallas Stars after sustaining a lower-body injury in the Olympics. Coach Glen Gulutzan said Tuesday that all indications are that Rantanen will be back before the end of the regular season, but that the team will see where he is in two weeks. Gulutzan didn’t elaborate on what the exact injury was for Rantanan, who got hurt in the Olympic semifinals and didn’t play for Finland in its win over Slovakia for the bronze medal.

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Tiger Woods speaks to the media at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, ahead of the Genesis Invitational, where he is the tournament host. (AP Photo/Doug Ferguson)

Tiger Woods nearing decisions on whether to play in the Masters and be Ryder Cup captain

February 24, 2026

Tiger Woods has a few big decisions facing him next month. Getting most of the attention is whether he will play in the Masters. But he also is facing what has been described to The Associated Press as a soft deadline to be Ryder Cup captain. He’s the top choice. But the PGA of America is hopeful of getting an answer sooner rather than later so it doesn’t wait to long like it did last time. Key to these decisions is what occupies most of Woods’ time. He’s the chief architect in the biggest overhaul of the PGA Tour schedule.

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Roger Schoon

February 24, 2026

Roger Schoon was born on July 23, 1941, to Henry and Lena (Mehlhaff) Schoon on the family farm near Parkston,

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FILE - This Wisconsin State Capitol is seen on Dec. 31, 2020, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)

Wisconsin schools, teachers file lawsuit against GOP-led Legislature seeking more funding

February 24, 2026

A coalition of Wisconsin school districts, teachers’ unions, advocacy groups, parents, students and others has filed a lawsuit against the state Legislature alleging that it’s failing to fund public schools adequately. The lawsuit announced on Tuesday asks the court to adopt a new school finance system that meets the needs of districts unless the Legislature and governor enact one “in a timely fashion.” Several states have filed similar lawsuits in recent years, but the fight over school funding in Wisconsin has historically taken place in the Statehouse. Now it will move to the courthouse, where this challenge will almost certainly end up before the liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court.

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FILE - Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) looks on after an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker,File)

Raiders GM tamps down trade talk around Crosby, says he expects star edge rusher to stay with team

February 24, 2026

The Las Vegas Raiders are planning to keep star edge rusher Maxx Crosby despite the trade talk around the five-time Pro Bowl pick. General manager John Spytek reaffirmed the team’s commitment to Crosby at the NFL combine in Indianapolis. Crosby has been rehabilitating from left knee surgery he underwent three days after the regular season ended. Crosby said earlier this month he doesn’t want out. His future with the club that drafted him in 2019 became a subject when he was placed on injured reserve with two games left against his wish.

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Warner Bros gets a new offer from Paramount in heated fight for the storied Hollywood studio

February 24, 2026

Warner Bros. Discovery says it’s reviewing a new takeover offer from Skydance-owned Paramount, but its board is still recommending the company’s deal with Netflix in the meantime. Warner disclosed that it had received a “a revised PSKY proposal” on Tuesday — after a seven-day window to renew talks with Paramount elapsed on Monday night. Paramount also confirmed that it had submitted a revised proposal, but did immediately not provide further details on the latest bid. The company was widely expected to have raised its offer price.

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FILE - Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) walks off the field after an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik, File)

Falcons GM confirms the team has told QB Kirk Cousins he’ll be released when free agency opens

February 24, 2026

The Atlanta Falcons have informed quarterback Kirk Cousins they plan to release the 14-year veteran when free agency opens. New general manager Ian Cunningham made the announcement at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. Cousins played two seasons with the Falcons and started 22 of 34 games. He signed a $180 million contract before they drafted Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in 2024. The 37-year-old Cousins is 88-77-2 as a starter with Washington, Minnesota and Atlanta. He would have his 2027 salary fully guaranteed if he were on the roster by the third day of the new league year.

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FILE - The Supreme Court is seen, Jan. 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)

Supreme Court rules the Postal Service can’t be sued, even when mail is intentionally not delivered

February 24, 2026

A divided Supreme Court has ruled that Americans can’t sue the U.S. Postal Service, even when employees deliberately refuse to deliver mail. By a 5-4 vote Tuesday, the justices ruled against Texas landlord Lebene Konan, who alleges her mail was intentionally withheld for two years. Konan is Black and claims racial prejudice played a role in postal employees’ actions. Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in his majority opinions the federal law that generally shields the Postal Service from lawsuits over missing, lost and undelivered mail includes “the intentional nondelivery of mail.” Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in dissent the immunity doesn’t apply to situations when the decision not to deliver mail “was driven by malicious reasons.”

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FILE - Derek Schiller, president and CEO of the Atlanta Braves, speaks during a news conference about the Speedway Classic baseball game, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

Braves announce BravesVision will be the new local TV home for more than 140 games in 2026 season

February 24, 2026

The Atlanta Braves have announced BravesVision as their local television home, beginning with the 2026 season. The Braves will oversee the production, sales, marketing and distribution of the telecasts of more than 140 games this season. The Braves chose to control the BravesVision plan instead of having the telecasts produced by Major League Baseball. MLB will produce broadcasts for 14 teams this season. The Braves say they are finalizing deals to partner with cable, satellite and streaming services. The BravesVision telecasts will be available on MLB’s streaming platform.

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Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Texas, left, visits at a coffee shop, in Corpus Christi, Texas, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Mayra Flores fights to reclaim a Rio Grande Valley seat in Congress as Trump backs a rival

February 24, 2026

Mayra Flores is fighting for a political comeback in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley. She made history in 2022 by winning a special election, becoming the first Republican to win a seat in Congress in this part of Texas in more than 150 years. Her victory gave Republicans hope of winning in the Rio Grande Valley, and it foreshadowed Trump’s win there in 2024. But Flores went on to lose twice to Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez. She’s running again, but must win a GOP primary on March 3. Trump has endorsed Eric Flores, a former prosecutor and Army officer.

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FILE - A detail view of the 50 yard line prior to an NFL football game between the Detroit Lions and the Houston Texans, Sunday, Nov 10, 2024 in Houston. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker, File)

UFL restricts punting beyond 50-yard line and makes 60-plus field goals worth 4 points

February 24, 2026

The UFL won’t allow punts after a team crosses the 50-yard line until late in each half and is making all field goals 60 yards or longer worth four points in the innovative spring football league’s latest rule changes. The provisions announced include the elimination of the tush push. That means players behind the quarterback can’t push him toward the line of scrimmage right after the snap. The UFL’s tweaks on rules have gained visibility ever since the NFL adopted radical changes to the kickoff two years ago.

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President Donald Trump during an event to proclaim "Angel Family Day" in the East Room of the White House, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

5 questions heading into Trump’s State of the Union address

February 24, 2026

President Donald Trump will use his State of the Union speech to defend his agenda. On Tuesday, he returns to the House chamber days after the Supreme Court struck down his sweeping tariff policy. Trump has blasted the justices who ruled against him. Some justices may skip the speech to avoid a confrontation. Democrats also plan a quieter approach after last year’s signs and heckling. Some Democrats say they will not attend. Trump also faces voter anxiety about consumer prices and immigration enforcement.

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Butcher Dario Ceccini of Italy, welcomes guests to a private dinner at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, in Miami Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

The food festival isn’t dead. But social media is rewriting the recipe

February 24, 2026

Food festivals are changing. Social media has given fans direct access to chefs if they want it. Many smaller festivals have faded after the pandemic, facing rising costs and less chef interest. And there are newer, more local food festivals that are drawing in foodies. Instead of Food Network chefs, these festivals celebrate local communities. Yet the biggest events still sell the magic of being there. The South Beach Wine & Food Festival just marked its 25th year in Florida with sellout crowds. It offered intimate dinners and celebrity chefs, among other draws.

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FILE - A shopper checks out at a cash register in a grocery store in Schaumburg, Ill., Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

US consumer confidence improves modestly in February after cratering the first month of 2026

February 24, 2026

The American consumer’s confidence in the U.S. economy improved slightly in February after cratering a month earlier. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index rose to 91.2 in February from an upwardly revised 89 last month. A measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for their income, business conditions and the job market rose four points to 72, remaining well below 80, the marker that can signal a recession ahead. It’s the 13th consecutive month that reading has come in under 80. The measure of consumers’ assessments of their current economic situation fell by 1.8 points to 120.

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Taylor Sheridan has never been to prison. His new book still maps how to survive it

February 24, 2026

Taylor Sheridan has a new book coming out, and it tackles prison survival even though he has never been behind bars. Simon & Schuster announced the project on Tuesday and said it will be released June 23. The book is called “How to Not Die in Prison.” The publisher calls it a darkly funny guide to life in a maximum-security facility. Sheridan said research on his TV show “Mayor of Kingstown” pushed him deeper into prison politics. Former inmate Tom Nelson co-wrote the book. He joked that their mix of Hollywood and prison time makes good entertainment.

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CORRECTS CITY TO NORTH PORT FLORIDA NOT BRADENTON - Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale delivers in the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in North Port, Fla., Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Left-hander Chris Sale and the Atlanta Braves agree to contract adding $27 million for 2027 season

February 24, 2026

Left-hander Chris Sale and the Atlanta Braves have agreed to a contract adding $27 million for the 2027 season. A 36-year-old who won the 2024 NL Cy Young Award in his first season with Atlanta, Sale agreed to a deal that includes a $30 million team option for 2028. Atlanta acquired Sale from Boston in December 2023 and he agreed to a reworked $38 million, two-year contract that included an $18 million club option for 2026. The Braves exercised the option in November. Sale is 25-8 with a 2.46 ERA in 49 starts and one relief appearance with the Braves. He made the All-Star team twice, raising his total to nine.

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A midtown Manhattan pop-in: Oprah Winfrey delivers Tayari Jones’ ‘Kin’ news face-to-face

February 24, 2026

Oprah Winfrey picked Tayari Jones’ new novel “Kin” for her book club, and she delivered the news in person. On a recent day in midtown Manhattan, Winfrey surprised Jones at her publisher’s office. The two already share history. Winfrey also chose Jones’ 2018 novel “An American Marriage.” “Kin” was published Tuesday and follows motherless girls from Honeysuckle, Louisiana. It tracks how their lives diverge over time. Winfrey called the story a trip back home. She praised its view of family bonds. Jones said the pick feels like a dream.

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FILE - Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger delivers her State of the Commonwealth address before a joint session of the Virignia General Assembly at the Capitol, Jan. 19, 2026, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

Democrats bet on Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s cost-focused message to counter Trump

February 24, 2026

Democrats hope Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger can deliver a forceful response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address that sharpens their message heading into the midterm elections. Spanberger flipped a Republican-held office by focusing on lowering costs and affordability while on the campaign trail. Democratic leaders who selected Spanberger to deliver their party’s rebuttal want to bring that message to the national stage. Spanberger will have a tough task to combat Trump’s Tuesday speech with a small fraction of the time. But Democrats feel they have the political winds at their back ahead of this year’s House and Senate elections. Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla of California delivers the Spanish language response.

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FILE - The Pentagon, the headquarters for the U.S. Department of Defense, is seen from the air, Sept. 20, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, FIle)

US military boards third oil tanker in the Indian Ocean after tracking it from the Caribbean

February 24, 2026

The Pentagon says U.S. military forces have boarded a third sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean after tracking it from the Caribbean Sea. U.S. Southern Command said Tuesday in a post on X that U.S. forces boarded the Bertha overnight. President Donald Trump had ordered a quarantine of sanctioned tankers near Venezuela in December to pressure then-President Nicolás Maduro before his capture. Venezuela faced U.S. sanctions on its oil for several years, relying on a shadow fleet of falsely flagged tankers to smuggle crude into global supply chains. The Treasury Department’s website states the Bertha is under U.S. sanctions related to Iran.

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Jennifer Loving, CEO of Destination: Home, poses for a portrait outside of her office and housing units, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Laure Andrillon)

TED’s Audacious Project raised $1B from donors in 2 days to fund big nonprofit initiatives

February 24, 2026

A collaborative of funders called The Audacious Project raised $1 billion over two days to fund large projects proposed by more than a dozen nonprofits. The initiative, which is housed at TED, announced the grantees on Tuesday. Thirty-five major donor families contributed to funding the projects, which span multiple years and take on major challenges. As part of the application process, the nonprofits record something like a TED Talk that introduces themselves and their project. Grantees include the San Jose-based nonprofit Destination: Home, which will use the funds to expand a homelessness prevention initiative to other cities.

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FILE - Deputy Utah County Attorney Chad Grunander appears on the witness stand during a hearing for Tyler Robinson, the man accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk, in 4th District Court, Feb. 3, 2026, in Provo, Utah. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP, Pool, File)

Utah judge is set to rule on disqualifying prosecutors in the Charlie Kirk case

February 24, 2026

A judge is set to rule on keeping prosecutors on the case of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s killing in Utah. Kirk was shot onstage while speaking outdoors at a college in Orem in September. Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty against Tyler Robinson, who is charged with aggravated murder. Robinson has not yet entered a plea and a trial date is not set. Defense attorneys seek to remove from the case a deputy prosecutor whose adult daughter was in the audience where Kirk was shot. The judge in the case has said he will rule on the request Tuesday.

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Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) reacts after scoring a 3-point goal during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Kevin Durant says he wants to play for U.S. men’s basketball team at 2028 Olympics in LA

February 24, 2026

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant will be less than two months shy of his 40th birthday when the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics begin, but he says he told USA Basketball Managing Director Grant Hill he’d like to be considered for the U.S. men’s team when the time comes. Durant has played in the last four Olympics, becoming USA men’s basketball’s career scoring leader in the process, but he says he doesn’t want to just be handed a spot on the 2028 team. He wants to earn it. During the 2024 Paris games, Durant became the first American player to win four Olympic gold medals in men’s basketball.

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