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February 27, 2026.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams (6) falls into Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) as he goes after a rebound during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

Tempers flare between Nuggets and Thunder as Dort is ejected after fouling Jokic

February 27, 2026

Tempers flared in the fourth quarter between Oklahoma City and the Denver Nuggets and resulted in the ejection of the Thunder’s Lu Dort. Dort fouled Denver’s Nikola Jokic in the midst of a tight game and Jokic got in Dort’s face. A scrum ensued, and Jokic and Oklahoma City’s Jaylin Williams were called for offsetting technical fouls. Dort was issued a Flagrant 2 and ejected. Oklahoma City won 127-121 in overtime.

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Electrolyte supplements are poured into glass of water Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Electrolyte supplements are everywhere. Who benefits from them and when?

February 27, 2026

Social media is filled with influencers rating electrolyte supplements or even telling followers how to make their own. But experts say many of the claims about the health benefits of these drinks need to be taken with a grain of salt. We lose some electrolytes through sweat, primarily sodium chloride — which is what is in table salt. But if you aren’t sweating intensely, you don’t really need to replace that salt. There is no one-size-fits-all, but experts say a good rule of thumb is that if you are exercising for less than two hours, plain water is probably fine.

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Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, right, jokes with assistant coach Sam Cassell during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Celtics post one of NBA’s best offensive performances as they await Jayson Tatum’s possible return

February 27, 2026

The Celtics have been one of the NBA’s hottest teams since returning from the All-Star break. They can add one of the best offensive performances in league history to their list of accomplishments as they await a possible return of star Jayson Tatum to action. Boston shot a season-high 66.7% from the field in their 148-111 win over the Brooklyn Nets. It was the second-best field goal percentage in team history, falling just short of the 67.9% they shot against the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 21, 1984. The Celtics also shot 64.7% from the 3-point line Friday, which equated to an 80.8% effective field goal percentage – the highest in NBA history.

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FILE - The WNBA logo is seen near a hoop before an WNBA basketball game at Mohegan Sun Arena, May 14, 2019, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)

WNBA players’ union sends offer to league with revenue sharing, housing concessions, AP source says

February 27, 2026

The WNBA players’ union sent a counterproposal to the league Friday night for a new collective bargaining agreement that included some concessions on revenue sharing and housing — two key areas on which the sides differ — according to a person familiar with the negotiations. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Friday night on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the negotiations. The union’s proposal came a week after it received one from the league. The WNBA told the union Monday that it needs to get a deal in place by March 10 to start the season on time, another person familiar with the discussions told the AP. That person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Monday because of the sensitive nature of the negotiations.

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Alabama Supreme Court denies Charles Bediako’s request to play for Alabama again

February 27, 2026

The Alabama Supreme Court has denied a request by former professional basketball player Charles Bediako to play for the University of Alabama again this season while he appeals his eligibility case against the NCAA. According to online court records, the high court on Friday denied Bediako’s emergency motion for an interim injunction so he could play again for the Crimson Tide. Bediako said an expedited decision was needed because the end of the regular season and postseason tournaments are fast approaching. An email seeking comment was left with Bediako’s lawyer after regular business hours.

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Former President Joe Biden interacts with the crowd after speaking to the South Carolina Democratic Party on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

Joe Biden returns to bask in ‘thank you’ event from South Carolina Democrats

February 27, 2026

Former President Joe Biden returned to South Carolina on Friday for a warm homecoming from the Democrats who resurrected his 2020 presidential campaign. The state party hosted the event to mark the anniversary of Biden’s key primary win, when key support from South Carolina’s Black voters helped him course correct following losses in other early-voting states. Biden has largely been out of the public eye following his announcement last year that he had prostate cancer that was also present in his bone.

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Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden, right, who is out injured with a right thumb fracture, talks with Cavaliers guard Tyrese Proctor (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Detroit Pistons, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Blaring horn after a power surge delays Pistons and Cavaliers in 3rd quarter

February 27, 2026

The Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers were delayed for 18 minutes in the third quarter by a blaring horn after a power surge caused the overhead scoreboard to malfunction. During a timeout with the Pistons leading 65-64, the horn sounded to warn both teams that they needed to return to the floor. However, the horn kept blasting despite frantic work from workers at Little Caesars Arena. The teams returned to the benches for a few minutes, but were eventually told to go back onto the floor and warm up. After 13 minutes, the horn stopped to loud cheers from the crowd, but only because the arena staff shut down the entire overhead scoreboard.  The scoring crew used a manual airhorn the rest of the game.

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An official portrait of LAUSD Superintendents, Alberto Carvalho, left, and former Superintendent Austin Beutner, are displayed at Los Angeles Unified School District board room at LAUSD headquarters, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Los Angeles school superintendent placed on paid leave amid federal probe

February 27, 2026

Los Angeles schools superintendent Alberto Carvalho is being put on paid leave while he is part of a federal investigation. The move on Friday by the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education comes two days after the FBI served search warrants at his home and the district’s headquarters. Authorities have not provided details of the nature of the investigation involving the nation’s second-largest school district, which serves more than 500,000 students. Carvalho became superintendent in 2022. He previously led the public schools in Miami. Andres Chait, the chief of school operations, will take over the helm while Carvalho is on leave, the district said.

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President Donald Trump gestures from the stairs of Air Force One upon his arrival at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Friday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

Treasury Department terminates union contracts for IRS and Bureau of the Fiscal Service workers

February 27, 2026

The Treasury Department says it has ended its collective bargaining agreement with unionized workers employed at the Internal Revenue Service. Agency leaders told employees Friday they were using a Trump executive order signed last March to make the change. Workers at the Bureau of the Fiscal Service are also affected. The National Treasury Employees Union says the IRS cannot end the contract on its own. The union had sued the federal government last year over the executive order, but an appeals court decision this week cleared the way for the order to proceed.

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FILE - Protesters yell at cars coming and going near a defaced sign for Bishop Whipple Federal building in Minneapolis on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Laura Bargfeld, File)

Federal judge extends order protecting refugees in Minnesota from being arrested and deported

February 27, 2026

A federal judge has extended his order protecting refugees in Minnesota who are lawfully in the U.S. from being arrested and deported. U.S. District Judge John Tunheim granted a motion by advocates for refugees to convert a temporary restraining order that he issued in January into a more permanent preliminary injunction. The order applies only in Minnesota. But the implications of a new national policy on refugees that the Department of Homeland Security announced Feb. 18 were a major part of the discussion at a hearing held by the judge the next day. The Trump administration asserts it has the right to arrest potentially tens of thousands of refugees across the U.S. who entered the country legally but don’t yet have green cards.

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FILE-A FedEx cargo plane is shown on the tarmac at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Tuesday, April 20, 2021, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

Retail customers file lawsuits over tariffs against FedEx and Ray-Bans maker

February 27, 2026

At least two retail customers have filed proposed class-action lawsuits against companies that have sued in trade court to ensure they receive refunds from tariffs now-deemed illegal. Miami-based Matthew Reiser filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against FedEx and New York-based Nathan Ward made a similar claim against sunglasses maker EssilorLuxottica. The suits seek to ensure that should tariffs be refunded to the companies, they get returned to the customers. The moves follow a rush of more than 1,000 companies that have filed suit in the U.S. Court of International trade over tariff refunds. On Feb. 20, The Supreme Court invalidated tariffs implemented under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, worth an estimated $130 billion to $175 billion.

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Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, speaks during a news conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

All eyes focused on Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza as QBs take center stage at NFL scouting combine

February 27, 2026

Fernando Mendoza possesses all the traits NFL teams covet in a franchise quarterback. He’s smart, mobile, makes fast reads and quick releases. He has a strong arm and prototypical size. He has three years of starting experience and a national championship, too. But the once lightly recruited Mendoza learned long ago not to take anything for granted. So if the overwhelming favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in April ’s draft fulfills those expectations, he’ll eagerly embrace the pressure to succeed. And if the quarterback-needy Las Vegas Raiders do the unthinkable and bypass Mendoza, the former Indiana star won’t fret. Instead, the Boston-born Mendoza hopes to steal a page from Tom Brady’s playbook.

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Wisconsin man gets 16½ years in prison for forging threats against Trump in a deportation scheme

February 27, 2026

A judge has sentenced a Wisconsin man who forged threats against President Donald Trump as part of a deportation scheme to 16½ years in prison. Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Kristy Yang sentenced Demetric Scott on Friday. A jury found Scott guilty of felony identity theft, witness intimidation, bail jumping and reckless endangerment in January. According to court documents, Scott was arrested in Milwaukee after he stabbed Mexican immigrant Ramon Morales Reyes. While in jail, Scott wrote letters posing as Morales Reyes to government officials threatening to kill Trump, hoping to get him deported and derail the case. Federal immigration authorities took Morales Reyes into custody, but investigators determined he didn’t write the letters because he can’t write in English.

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FILE - Recording artist Neil Sedaka poses for a portrait Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Jeff Christensen, File)

Neil Sedaka, the singer-songwriter behind dozens of hits of the 1960s and ’70s, dies at age 86

February 27, 2026

Neil Sedaka, the million-selling singer and songwriter, has died. His many hits included “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” “Calendar Girl” and “Oh! Carol,” a lament for his high school sweetheart, Carole King. Among those covering his work were Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and the Captain & Tennille, whose version of “Love Will Keep Us Together” was a No. 1 smash in 1975. Sedaka kept performing dozens of concerts a year well into his 80s. He retained the enthusiasm and broad vocal range of his youth and never tired of the standards he had sung hundreds of times.

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Brooks Koepka lines up a putt at the 16th green during the first round of the Phoenix Open golf tournament at the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Koepka makes the cut at PGA National, bounces back in second round of Cognizant Classic

February 27, 2026

Brooks Koepka and alternate Ben Silverman rebound at the Cognizant Classic and reach the weekend at PGA National. On Friday, Koepka fired a 5-under 66 and jumped inside the cut at 2 under. He says he does not come to tournaments just to make cuts. He hit few fairways but sank more putts and made six birdies. Silverman shot 67 after getting in when Will Zalatoris withdrew hurt. Silverman says he feels the home energy near Jupiter. A.J. Ewart and Mackenzie Hughes also made big moves.

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FILE - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at Mar-a-Lag, Jan. 3, 2026, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Pentagon to cut ties with Columbia, Yale, Brown and others Hegseth accuses of ‘wokeness’

February 27, 2026

The Pentagon will forbid members of the military from attending Columbia, Yale, Brown and other universities starting next school year amid a campaign to cut ties with institutions that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called “factories of anti-American resentment.” Hegseth announced the policy in a video posted to social media on Friday, three weeks after he said the military was cutting ties with Harvard University. Without citing evidence, Hegseth said the universities have become “breeding grounds of toxic indoctrination” that undermine military values. Hegseth said the ban applies to Columbia, Brown, Yale, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and “many others.”

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FILE - The complaint and affidavit in support of an arrest warrant against Sherry Xue Li and Lianbo "Mike" Wang is photographed on Monday, July 18, 2022. (Department of Justice via AP, File)

New York woman who duped investors and funneled money to Trump fundraiser gets 9 years in prison

February 27, 2026

A New York businesswoman has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison over a financial scheme that prosecutors say ripped off more than $30 million from foreign investors and funneled some of the stolen funds to U.S. political campaigns, including a campaign fundraiser for President Donald Trump. Sherry Xue Li, of Oyster Bay, pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy charges. Her lawyer didn’t immediately comment. Li’s co-defendant, Lianbo Wang, was sentenced to five years in prison after also pleading guilty. Prosecutors say the political campaigns were unaware of the scheme and weren’t accused of any wrongdoing.

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From left, Brent Ganger consoles his mother, Donna, and father, Tim Ganger, parents of Renee Good, during an interview in Denver, on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Renee Good’s parents remember her love and laughter in interview with AP

February 27, 2026

Renee Good loved sparkles and laughter and any excuse for a celebration. She loved pretty much everyone she met, and was late for pretty much everything. That’s according to her mother, Donna Ganger, who along with other family members sat down for an AP interview Friday. Ganger said her daughter “had this way of making you feel special and loved that I didn’t even understand that until we lost her.” Good was shot and killed Jan. 7 as immigration agents surged through the Minneapolis area, sparking waves of protests. Her death and that of another protester, Alex Pretti, just weeks later sparked outrage across the country and calls to rein in immigration enforcement.

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Chan Po-ying, wife of Leung Kwok-hung, one of the defendants in the national security case and the former chairperson of the now-disbanded League of Social Democrats arrives at the West Kowloon Law Courts Building ahead of the national security appeal cases, in Hong Kong, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/May James)

Exiled activist Anna Kwok vows to keep fighting after Hong Kong jails her father

February 27, 2026

A prominent Hong Kong activist in exile in the U.S. says a court ruling back in Hong Kong to imprison her father for eight months has only made her more determined to fight for the territory and its people. Anna Kwok spoke to The Associated Press on Friday, a day after a Hong Kong court jailed her father. It was the first case targeting a family member of a pro-democracy advocate wanted by Hong Kong to have been brought under the 2024 national security law. Kwok called the punishment ridiculous and said the case brought home the personal cost of her activism. The U.S. government has condemned the sentencing of her father and called for his release.

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FILE - Vehicles enter Paramount Pictures in Los Angeles on Dec. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

Actor Tessa Thompson, Sen. Adam Schiff and more sound off on Paramount eying Warner Bros. Discovery

February 27, 2026

Paramount’s possible takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery’s studio and streaming business is sparking loud political and Hollywood pushback. Sen. Adam Schiff of California says regulators need the highest scrutiny and no White House influence. Actor Mark Ruffalo warns consolidation hurts competition, wages and quality. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts calls the idea an antitrust disaster. She says it could mean higher prices and fewer choices. Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut threatens breakups if Democrats regain power. California Attorney General Rob Bonta says the deal is not done. He says his office has an open investigation and plans a tough review.

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FILE - Water is dropped by helicopter on the advancing Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent, File)

LA firefighter says he warned brush fire wasn’t out before massive blaze ignited

February 27, 2026

A Los Angeles firefighter has testified that the ground was still smoldering from a brush fire days before a massive wildfire exploded last year in Pacific Palisades. Scott Pike’s testimony during a deposition in a lawsuit against the city by fire victims was made public this week. He says he told colleagues the ground was still hot when he was sent to help clean up a brush fire on Jan. 2, 2025. Authorities say that fire reignited on Jan. 7 to become the most destructive blaze in city history. An attorney for the plaintiffs says other firefighters didn’t corroborate Pike’s account.

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The Rev. Dr. Mandy Todd, left, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Lindsborg, Kan., and Rabbi Moti Rieber, right, executive director of Kansas Interfaith Action, protest a new Kansas law that will invalidate hundreds of driver's licenses and birth certificates for transgender people that reflect their gender identities, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, outside the Kansas Senate chamber in the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

2 trans men sue Kansas over a law invalidating their driver’s licenses and about 1,700 others

February 27, 2026

Two transgender men are suing Kansas over a new law that invalidated their driver’s licenses and about 1,700 others for reflecting people’s gender identities and not their sex assigned at birth. The men filed their lawsuit Thursday, the same day the law took effect. They argue it violates rights to privacy, personal autonomy and due legal process guaranteed by the Kansas Constitution. They’re asking a Douglas County judge to block the law, which also invalidates about 1,800 trans people’s birth certificates and imposes new enforcement provisions for a state policy restricting trans people’s use of bathrooms and other facilities. The law’s backers say it protects girls and women.

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FILE - This is a 2019 photo of LaTroy Lewis of the Tennessee Titans NFL football team. This image reflects the Tennessee Titans active roster as of Thursday, May 23, 2019 when this image was taken. (AP Photo, file)

Falcons dismiss assistant defensive line coach LaTroy Lewis

February 27, 2026

The Atlanta Falcons have dismissed assistant defensive line coach LaTroy Lewis, the team announced Friday. The dismissal came shortly after the Falcons said they were looking into sexual assault allegations that recently surfaced on social media. The allegations date to Lewis’ time at the University of Michigan, where he served as a graduate assistant for the 2022 season before being promoted to assistant defensive line coach for the next two seasons. A direct message seeking comment was sent to Lewis on social media.

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This image provided by Lee County Sheriff's Office, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission staffers net an injured mother manatee and her calf in the Orange River near Fort Myers, Fla., on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026 (Lee County Sheriff's Office via AP)

Injured mother manatee and calf are rescued in Florida and taken to SeaWorld

February 27, 2026

Officials in Florida say an injured mother manatee and her calf have been rescued from a river and taken to SeaWorld Orlando for rehabilitation. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office shared video on social media showing Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission staffers netting the pair on Wednesday. Drone video shows the rescue boat circling around the manatees to corral them in what looks like a fishing net before the crew hauls the sea cows aboard. Officials didn’t have details about how the mother manatee was injured or their current conditions. The mother and calf are among at least six manatees rescued in the county since Feb. 19 because of cold stress, watercraft injuries and malnutrition.

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Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (14) speaks during a news conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Diego Pavia to throw at the NFL combine, betting big despite size concerns

February 27, 2026

Quarterback Diego Pavia says he plans to throw at the NFL scouting combine, even as Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza waits for his pro day on April 1. Pavia shared his plans on Friday, a day before quarterbacks run drills. He said he will skip other on-field work at the combine and will do those later at Vanderbilt’s pro day on March 18. Scouts see him as a later-round pick because of his height. He measures just under 5-foot-10. Pavia says his mental processing sets him apart. He also joked about maturing at age 24.

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President Joe Biden is seen on a plane before takeoff traveling from Washington to South Carolina, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard)

Biden flies commercial from Reagan National Airport and winds up stuck in delays like everyone else

February 27, 2026

Former presidents are just like us. Joe Biden has gotten stuck in delays while flying commercially from Reagan National Airport. On Friday morning, fog triggered an hourlong ground stop and crowds packed the American Airlines commuter gate. Travelers soon noticed Biden because Secret Service agents and local police surrounded him. Keeping a low profile, Biden sat with a newspaper as he awaited his flight to South Carolina for a Democratic Party event. Passengers thanked the former president and shook his hand as they filed past him on the plane. Federal law gives former presidents lifelong Secret Service protection but not special travel.

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Washington resident Maya Edwards is interviewed via Zoom on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo)

Callers to Washington state hotline press 2 for Spanish and get accented AI English instead

February 27, 2026

Callers to Washington state’s driver’s license agency who select automated service in Spanish are instead hearing an AI voice speaking English with a strong Spanish accent. The agency has apologized and says it’s trying to fix the problem and find out how the error happened. The voice slips Spanish numbers into key phrases. A recording of the odd-sounding accent has drawn attention on social media. The Washington Department of Licensing says the self-service line has been upgraded to support 10 languages using newer AI technology but that the upgrade backfired.

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FILE - The emblem of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is displayed on a podium in Vail, Colo., Feb. 16, 2016. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Civil Rights agency rules against transgender Army worker who asked to use women’s bathroom

February 27, 2026

A U.S. civil rights agency has determined that the federal government can bar transgender employees from using bathrooms aligned with their gender identity, dismissing an appeal from a transgender woman who worked for the U.S. Army. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission decided Thursday against a civilian IT specialist who worked for the Army at Fort Riley, Kansas and asked to use bathrooms and locker rooms that aligned with her gender identity. In its finding, the EEOC found that the Army’s decision did not violate Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion and national identity. That’s a retreat from the agency’s landmark finding a decade ago.

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FILE - Philadelphia Union's Cavan Sullivan warms up before an MLS soccer match against CF Montréal, Wednesday, July 16, 2025, in Chester, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

16-year-old MLS prodigy Cavan Sullivan becomes youngest American to score in CONCACAF Champions Cup

February 27, 2026

Cavan Sullivan delivered an American scoring record with his first professional goals for the Philadelphia Union. The 16-year-old Sullivan broke through with the game of his young career when he scored twice and had two assists to lead the Union to a 7-0 win over Defence Force FC on Thursday night in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Sullivan became the youngest American goalscorer in a CONCACAF Champions Cup game at 16 years, 4 months, 29 days. Sullivan says “it took a long time in my eyes. I wish I had it sooner. This is a special moment.”

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FILE - The Target logo displayed on a sign outside a store, Nov. 18, 2025, in Salem, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

Target to stop selling cereals with certified synthetic colors by end of May

February 27, 2026

Target will stop selling its entire assortment of cereal with certified synthetic colors by the end of May. The move, announced Friday, underscores the acknowledgment that American consumers and the U.S. government under President Donald Trump are paying attention to what goes into packaged foods. The Minneapolis-based discounter said it had been phasing out synthetic colors in cereals for several years and currently nearly 85% of its cereal sales already come from products made without certified synthetic dyes. Some of the artificial food dyes detailed by Target are being reviewed by U.S. Food and Drug Administration like Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5 and 6 and Blue No. 1.

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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., arrives for a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

House Democrats say they’re headed back to power. Their agenda is a work in progress

February 27, 2026

Democrats are growing more confident of winning a majority in the House in the November elections. But the party’s agenda remains a work in progress. House Democrats came together at a Virginia resort this week for a conference to discuss the path forward. Beyond opposing President Donald Trump, Democrats face the challenge of developing a unifying policy agenda capable of holding together a party that’s undergoing generational and ideological change. Focusing on affordability is a top goal. But one Democrat cautions that it’s “hard to say that there’s one silver bullet” for that issue.

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Rom-coms are having a moment, from ‘Heated Rivalry’ to ‘Nobody Wants This’ and even Broadway

February 27, 2026

A fresh wave of romantic comedies is heating up winter screens and Broadway, and creators say audiences still crave love stories. There’s the HBO Max hockey romance “Heated Rivalry” and the Netflix agnostic-falls-for-a-rabbi series “Nobody Wants This.” The see-you-next-year movie “People We Meet on Vacation” has become a huge Netflix hit. The musical “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)” leans into the classic opposites-attract setup. A British optimist meets a world-weary American who hates Christmas songs. Experts say rom-coms come in waves and the genre deserves more respect. New hits add twists like same-sex romance and faith questions.

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FILE - Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, attends a news conference with Republicans, Jan. 4, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

What to watch as the midterms begin with Tuesday’s primaries

February 27, 2026

The first primaries of the 2026 election season will offer an early read on voter mood in President Donald Trump’s second term and on how both parties are adapting. Texas, North Carolina, and Arkansas are holding primaries on Tuesday. Some races will test the power of Trump’s endorsement, but he’s stayed neutral in a few key contests. Democrats are considering whether to back more confrontational or younger candidates as they fight for power in Washington. Redistricting is also changing the political landscape. The latest congressional map in North Carolina leaves only one contested House race.

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FILE - Marilyn Vann, president of the Descendants of Freedmen of the Five Tribes Association of Oklahoma City, testifies before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee about the status of the descendants of enslaved people formerly held by the Muscogee (Creek), Chickasaw, Choctaw, Seminole and Cherokee Nations, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Despite recent gains, tribal citizens descended from slaves face disparate treatment

February 27, 2026

Federal reforms have made Native American health care and education programs more accessible to tribal citizens who are descended from slaves held by citizens of several tribal nations in Oklahoma. But Freedmen descendants still face barriers when exercising their rights. A report released by the U.S. Government Accountability Office ahead of Black History Month shows that enrolled Cherokee and Seminole Freedmen descendants are still sometimes asked for proof of “Indian blood” while seeking federal services. The Muscogee, Chickasaw and Choctaw nations deny their Freedmen descendants citizenship altogether.

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FILE - Alex Palou celebrates after winning the IndyCar championship Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

Alex Palou and Chip Ganassi Racing end McLaren contract fight after $12 million ruling

February 27, 2026

Alex Palou and Chip Ganassi Racing have settled the driver’s contract fight with McLaren Racing. Four-time IndyCar champion Palou says he mishandled it. In January, he was ordered by London’s High Court to pay McLaren more than $12 million after a five-week trial in which the F1 team argued Palou backed out of two different deals. McLaren was initially seeking closer to $30 million and said after the ruling it would still pursue legal fees from Palou. Ganassi says “I cannot condone what happened and I’m glad the matter is over.”

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Deon Cole returns to host NAACP Image Awards and says ‘terrible’ BAFTA disruption will be addressed

February 27, 2026

Deon Cole returns to host the NAACP Image Awards, and he says the night remains focused on celebrating Black excellence. The show will air live Saturday across several Paramount networks, including BET and CBS. Cole says the NAACP Image Awards is planning to address the recent disruption at the BAFTA Film Awards and calls it “terrible.” At the BAFTAs on Sunday, a racial slur came from the audience as two Black actors were announcing an award. The Image Awards ceremony will also honor Viola Davis with the Chairman’s Award and Colman Domingo with the President’s Award.

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Plano East varsity soccer player Aliya Jacob, left, controls the ball against Rock Hill's Hanna Schinner during a soccer game, Jan. 30, 2026, in Murphy, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Teenage girls are most likely to tear their ACLs. Parents say more must be done to protect them

February 27, 2026

The ranks of female high school athletes who tore their anterior cruciate ligament are growing fast and researchers are pressing the sports world to take the devastating injury more seriously and trying to bolster prevention efforts. Despite decades of research on it, parents, researchers and trainers say that information isn’t being used enough by teams, coaches or sports leagues. High school-age female athletes are the most vulnerable, sustaining ACL injuries at higher rates than both adults and their male counterparts. Trainers and researchers say there are effective pre-workout warm ups and strengthening routines that are designed to reduce the risk of an ACL injury.

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New sleeping sickness pill gets nod, paving the way for use in Africa

February 27, 2026

European drug regulators are endorsing a new and simpler treatment for sleeping sickness, in what could be a giant boost to efforts to eliminate the disease. A European Medicines Agency committee gave its nod to acoziborole, made by Sanofi, on Friday. The decision is a crucial step in making it available in Congo, the country with the most sleeping sickness cases. It also paves the way for its use in other African countries.

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FILE - Vehicles move along the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV assembly line at the General Motors Orion Assembly June 15, 2023, in Lake Orion, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)

US wholesale prices arrive hotter than expected, up 0.5% from December and 2.9% from a year ago

February 27, 2026

U.S. wholesale prices came in hotter than expected last month. The Labor Department reported Friday that its producer price index, which measures inflation before it hits consumers, rose 0.5% from December and 2.9% from January 2025. Economists had forecast a 0.3% increase for the month and 1.6% year over year, according to a survey by the data firm FactSet. Driving the increase was an uptick in the wholesale price of services, led by higher profit margins for retailers and wholesalers.

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FILE - Fishermen pass an oil tanker in the Gulf of Venezuela off the shore of Punta Cardon, Venezuela, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix, FIle)

US moves to legally control tanker and 2M barrels of oil seized off Venezuela’s coast in December

February 27, 2026

The Justice Department has filed a complaint to legally take ownership of a sanctioned tanker and nearly 2 million barrels of petroleum seized off the coast of Venezuela in December. It’s another step by President Donald Trump’s administration to assert power over the country’s oil sector after capturing leader Nicolás Maduro. It’s the first complaint filed by the U.S. to start the legal process to formally take control of one of at least 10 oil tankers intercepted by American authorities since late last year. A federal judge must sign off on the U.S. government’s bid to permanently take ownership of the Skipper and its cargo so the oil can potentially be sold.

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FILE - A total lunar eclipse, known as the blood moon, is visible between skyscrapers Friday, March 14, 2025, in downtown Chicago. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

A total lunar eclipse will turn the moon blood red on Tuesday across several continents

February 27, 2026

A blood-red moon will soon grace the skies for a total lunar eclipse. There won’t be another until late 2028. The spectacle will be visible Tuesday morning from North America, Central America and western part of South America. Australia and eastern Asia will see it Tuesday night. During a full lunar eclipse, the Earth is between the sun and moon, casting a shadow that covers the full moon. The moon looks red because of stray bits of sunlight filtering through Earth’s atmosphere. A partial lunar eclipse is in store for August, visible across the Americas, Europe, Africa and west Asia.

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FILE - Former President Bill Clinton speaks in the Cash Room of the Treasury Department during an event for the anniversary of the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund,, Nov. 21, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

Bill Clinton faces grilling from lawmakers over his connections to Jeffrey Epstein

February 27, 2026

Former President Bill Clinton is testifying before members of Congress investigating convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Clinton is expected to tell lawmakers his connections to the disgraced financier ended before his sexual abuse came to light. Friday’s closed-door deposition in Chappaqua, New York, will mark the first time a former president has been compelled to testify to Congress. It comes a day after former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sat with lawmakers for her own deposition. Republicans want to press Bill Clinton on a well-documented relationship with Epstein and Epstein’s former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell. They interacted in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial.

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FILE - Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., listens to testimony as the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight holds a field hearing on violent crime in Charlotte, N.C., Sept. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond, File)

He’s blasted Speaker Johnson and Democrats alike. Now this Republican faces a critical decision

February 27, 2026

Republican congressman Kevin Kiley has seen the political ground shift beneath him this past year. The boundaries of Kiley’s California district have been upended by the nation’s partisan redistricting war, clouding his path to reelection. But Kiley has made clear he’s not going away quietly. Or to hear him put it, he’s “not going away at all.” It’s the kind of defiance that has come to define Kiley’s recent tenure. Some days, Kiley is blasting Democrats including California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Other days, Kiley blasts fellow Republicans, bucking President Donald Trump on tariffs and criticizing House Speaker Mike Johnson’s leadership. Kiley plans to announce a decision on his reelection plans on Monday.

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Florida head coach Kelly Rae Finley yells to her players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Vanderbilt, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Florida women end a 25-game skid against ranked teams but could be on the verge of another reboot

February 27, 2026

Florida is on the verge of missing the NCAA Women’s Tournament for the ninth time in 10 years and could have a coaching change in the coming weeks. Kelly Rae Finley is 92-73 in five seasons in Gainesville, including 30-49 in league play following a win against No. 19 Ole Miss. The victory ended a 25-game skid against ranked teams in the regular season. It could be the breakthrough Finley needs to save her job. The Gators made the NCAA Tournament in her interim season, but her tenure has been mostly downhill since despite having three McDonald’s All-Americans on her roster.

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President Donald Trump shakes hands with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the end of a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, Dec. 29, 2025, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

A new Gallup poll shows how Americans’ sympathies have shifted in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

February 27, 2026

A new Gallup poll shows that American sympathies in the Middle East have shifted dramatically toward the Palestinians after decades of overwhelming support for the Israelis. That shift accelerated during the war in Gaza. Fifty-four percent of Americans sympathized more with the Israelis three years ago compared to 31% for the Palestinians. Their support is now about evenly balanced between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The numbers reflect how support for Israel has become deeply contentious in the U.S. with profound implications for American politics and foreign policy. The changing sentiment has been largely driven by Democrats who are now much more likely to sympathize with Palestinians.

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