The curling competitions at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics became the center of intense drama and athletic achievement, with Sweden playing a central role in both storylines.
A major scandal erupted when Sweden’s men’s team alleged that Canada was cheating through illegal stone contact, sparking a profanity-filled reaction from Canadian curler Marc Kennedy that spread across social media platforms and captured international headlines.
This controversy sparked debates about the quality of officiating and whether World Curling has the capability to oversee a sport that’s becoming increasingly competitive while maintaining its traditional honor system.
Despite the negative attention, the incident succeeded in bringing widespread visibility to a sport that typically receives little coverage outside of Olympic years.
Beyond generating controversy, Sweden demonstrated exceptional performance on the ice, leading all nations with two gold medal victories.
Although their men’s defending champions under Niklas Edin’s leadership were eliminated early following a lackluster showing, siblings Rasmus and Isabella Wranaa secured the mixed doubles championship, while Anna Hasselborg’s squad earned their second women’s title.
“It was super inspiring watching Isabella and Rasmus before we got here. It for sure gave us a lot of energy and inspiration from the start when they played,” Sofia Scharback, who plays lead for the women’s team, explained.
“It’s like riding the wave from their performance. It’s a big thing now coming home with two gold medals for Sweden in curling. It’s huge.”
Canada, widely considered the global center of curling, recovered from previous Olympic setbacks to earn their first men’s championship since 2014, even as Brad Jacobs’ squad faced off-ice disruptions during the cheating allegations.
The country also earned women’s bronze through Rachel Homan’s team, marking the two-time world champions’ inaugural Olympic medal.
“Curling has changed a lot over the last five, ten years, internationally. It’s more challenging than ever to get on top of this podium,” men’s team member Brett Gallant stated.
“It feels like we’ve climbed a mountain together, lifting each other all the way there to the top. What an incredible feeling. We’re so proud to represent Canada.”
Switzerland captured two medals with women’s silver and men’s bronze, while the United States earned silver in mixed doubles competition – marking their first medal in that category.
Italy’s home crowd celebrated as Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner took mixed doubles bronze, though the defending champions from Beijing likely felt some disappointment in not repeating their gold medal performance.
The most crushing defeat may have belonged to Britain’s Bruce Mouat, whose team entered as strong favorites for men’s gold but came up short, falling to Canada in the championship match.
A recently established American military intelligence operation assisted Mexican forces in tracking down one of the world’s most wanted drug kingpins during a deadly weekend raid, according to a US defense official speaking with Reuters.
The operation targeted Nemesio Oseguera, better known by his alias ‘El Mencho,’ who led one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations. The Joint Interagency Task Force-Counter Cartel, a multi-agency American unit focused on gathering intelligence about drug trafficking organizations, contributed to the successful Mexican military mission.
This specialized task force began operations quietly in late 2023, with its primary mission being to chart the complex networks of cartel operatives operating on both sides of the border between the United States and Mexico, according to US government sources.
The American defense official, who requested anonymity when discussing the matter, declined to specify what type of intelligence assistance the US task force provided to Mexican authorities. The source emphasized that Mexican forces conducted the actual raid independently.
According to Mexico’s defense ministry, the confrontation occurred in Jalisco state in western Mexico, where gunfire erupted during the operation. Oseguera sustained severe injuries during the firefight and succumbed to his wounds while being transported by air to Mexico City for medical treatment. Mexican officials acknowledged that American authorities had supplied “complementary information” for the mission.
The successful operation triggered widespread retaliation across Mexico, with criminal associates setting vehicles ablaze and establishing roadblocks on major highways in more than six different states throughout the country.
Repair crews have successfully brought electricity back online for the vast majority of residents affected by blackouts following Ukrainian strikes on power facilities in the Russian-occupied sections of Zaporizhzhia region, according to Moscow-appointed officials.
The Russia-installed regional administrator, Yevgeny Balitsky, announced on his Telegram channel that electrical service had been restored to all areas except for 12,000 homes located in one district. He stated that repair teams continued working to bring power back to the remaining affected households.
According to Balitsky’s earlier statements, the southeastern Ukrainian region experienced two separate electrical outages. Repair workers had already managed to restore electricity to half of the territory, while backup generators kept essential infrastructure operating during the blackouts.
Meanwhile, in the Russian-occupied Luhansk region of northeastern Ukraine, a fuel storage tank ignited following a Ukrainian drone strike on an oil facility, according to Leonid Pasechnik, the Moscow-appointed regional administrator.
Delaware Governor Matthew Meyer has declared a Level 1 Driving Warning across all of Delaware, taking effect immediately as part of the ongoing State of Emergency declaration.
The statewide driving advisory will continue indefinitely, according to state officials. Authorities warn that more severe driving restrictions could be implemented if roadway conditions continue to deteriorate throughout the evening hours.
The driving warning advises motorists to exercise extreme caution while traveling on Delaware roads and to avoid unnecessary trips during the emergency conditions.
The National Weather Service office in Wakefield, Virginia has issued a blizzard warning for Ocean City, Maryland, which remains in effect through Monday evening, February 23, 2026.
The popular resort destination is preparing for dangerous winter weather conditions, including significant snowfall accumulations, powerful wind gusts, and severely limited visibility caused by blowing and drifting snow.
Weather officials are warning residents and any remaining visitors in the area to take the storm seriously as conditions are expected to deteriorate rapidly.
Delaware transportation officials report that a traffic accident has resulted in the closure of one lane along a busy stretch of US Route 13.
The collision occurred on southbound Route 13 near Hopkins Cemetery Road, prompting authorities to block off the right travel lane to traffic. DelDOT crews are currently responding to the scene.
Drivers traveling through the area should anticipate potential delays and may want to seek alternative routes until the roadway can be fully reopened.
This is a developing situation and TV Delmarva will provide updates as more information becomes available.
MESA, Ariz. — Standing tall at 6-foot-5 among his Oakland Athletics teammates, Nick Kurtz maintains a low-key presence in the clubhouse despite the increased attention surrounding his remarkable rookie campaign.
The 22-year-old first baseman, fresh off capturing American League Rookie of the Year honors, spent his offseason the same way he always has — returning to North Carolina where he enjoys relaxing, gaming, and catching up on movies between training sessions.
“First of all, I’m excited for Year 2, I kind of know what to expect and what it’s like to play in the big leagues,” Kurtz explained Sunday prior to his initial Cactus League appearance versus Cleveland. “Am I embracing the spotlight? Not so much, I’m a guy who likes to be out there, but obviously there’s a lot more eyes, a lot more expectations, which I’m all about. I use that as our team, we have higher expectations of ourselves and what we think that we can do, so it’s a good thing.”
Manager Mark Kotsay is exploring the possibility of utilizing Kurtz in the leadoff position — where he batted Sunday — to increase the power hitter’s plate appearances throughout the season.
Following his outstanding 2025 campaign, Kurtz remains humble and consistently acknowledges his teammates’ contributions to his success, according to Kotsay.
“The same way like he’s 13 years old, he’s never going to change,” Kotsay observed at Hohokam Stadium. “It’s awesome to watch him in the clubhouse, on the back field, he comes in the same way, the same guy, just feels blessed to be here, and I don’t think that’s ever going to change for him.”
During his debut season, Kurtz posted a .290 batting average alongside 36 home runs, 86 RBIs and a 1.002 OPS across 117 games, joining an exclusive group as only the eighth rookie since 1901 to achieve an OPS above 1.000 with a minimum of 400 plate appearances. His historic July performance saw him become the first major league rookie to launch four home runs in a single game, powering the Athletics to a commanding 15-3 triumph over Houston.
Teammate Zack Gelof, a second baseman recovering from September shoulder surgery, playfully described watching Kurtz’s daily performance.
“It’s extremely annoying, not fun, because I know whatever I do I can never hit it opposite field that far, so I would say annoying,” Gelof joked from his neighboring locker. “Not as fun.”
The young star believes the Athletics can build upon their late-season momentum from their 76-86 finish and establish themselves as AL West contenders. He’s enthusiastic about the organization’s young core, many secured with long-term deals, and wants to contribute to the franchise’s success before their planned relocation to Las Vegas in 2028.
“My plan is to be here for as long as I can,” Kurtz stated. “I’ll be here for the next six years, minimum, so it’s really exciting to know that when we go to Vegas we have guys that we’ll be super familiar with and some of my best friends I’ve made for life, so it’s really fun.”
Several of those teammates were vacationing together in Maui for left fielder Tyler Soderstrom’s November wedding when news of Kurtz’s Rookie of the Year selection broke, allowing them to share in his achievement. True to form, the celebration remained modest.
“Not a whole lot, maybe a couple beers, just hanging out,” he recalled.
The left-handed batter dedicated his winter to maintaining peak physical condition for another complete major league season, one he hopes concludes with postseason baseball. While he delayed his swing work until December and intensified his weight training, his approach remained consistent.
“I’m not a big changing guy, if it worked last year let’s do it again this year,” he explained.
Center fielder Denzel Clarke admires how the modest Kurtz conducts himself professionally. The first baseman exchanged pleasantries with Cleveland catcher David Fry during his first-inning at-bat before grounding out to third base on four pitches.
“I don’t know how under the radar you can be at 6-5, but he’s just a very calm, very chill guy who’s going to go about his day-to-day life,” Clarke noted. “Nothing too crazy, nothing too flashy, he’s just going to be him.”
Chosen fourth overall in the 2024 amateur draft from Wake Forest, Kurtz demonstrated remarkable poise from his April debut. He celebrates his 23rd birthday on March 12.
“I think he learned it really quickly when he got to us, and he mentioned that,” Kotsay reflected. “He did go through a little bit of failure but he found his routines and his processes pretty quickly and recognized you can’t get caught in the results, you just get caught in your process, and I think for a young player to realize that as quickly as he did it showed in the success that he had.”
LONDON — The British Academy of Film and Television Arts revealed its 2026 award recipients on Sunday, recognizing excellence in cinema across multiple categories.
‘One Battle After Another’ emerged as the evening’s biggest winner, taking home the coveted Best Film award. The production also earned director Paul Thomas Anderson the directing prize, while Sean Penn received recognition as Best Supporting Actor for his role in the same film.
Robert Aramayo had a particularly successful night, earning both the Best Actor award for ‘I Swear’ and the Rising Star honor, which is determined by public voting.
In the actress categories, Jessie Buckley claimed the lead actress prize for her performance in ‘Hamnet,’ while Wunmi Mosaku won Best Supporting Actress for ‘Sinners.’
‘Hamnet’ also secured the British Film award, highlighting domestic cinema achievements.
Technical categories saw ‘One Battle After Another’ continue its winning streak, with Michael Bauman taking cinematography honors and Andy Jurgensen winning for editing. Paul Thomas Anderson added another trophy to his collection with the Adapted Screenplay award.
Ryan Coogler earned the Original Screenplay prize for ‘Sinners,’ which also won the Musical Score category.
Other notable winners included ‘Sentimental Value’ for Best Film Not in the English Language, and ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ for Visual Effects.
In specialized categories, ‘Frankenstein’ dominated design awards, winning both Production Design and Costume Design through Kate Hawley’s work, plus Makeup and Hair.
The animated film category went to ‘Zootropolis 2,’ known as ‘Zootopia 2’ in American markets.
Documentary honors went to ‘Mr. Nobody Against Putin,’ while ‘This is Endometriosis’ won British Short Film and ‘Two Black Boys in Paradise’ claimed British Short Animation.
Industry recognition awards included the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema for Clare Binns, Creative Director of PictureHouse Cinemas, and the BAFTA Fellowship for NBCUniversal Entertainment chairperson Donna Langley.
The Outstanding British Debut award recognized Akinola Davies Jr. and Wale Davies for their writing and directing work on ‘My Father’s Shadow.’
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — A Venezuelan prisoners’ rights organization announced on social media Sunday that it has confirmed the freedom of 16 individuals following the enactment of new amnesty legislation targeting those imprisoned on political charges earlier this week.
This confirmed figure stands dramatically lower than numbers announced by National Assembly leader Jorge Rodríguez just one day earlier. Rodríguez stated Saturday that officials were immediately processing 1,557 applications and that hundreds of people imprisoned under political circumstances were already gaining freedom through the new amnesty legislation.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez put her signature on the amnesty legislation Thursday, marking a significant policy change after last month’s dramatic U.S. military operation in Caracas that resulted in the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro.
The legislation is designed to help opposition figures, political activists, human rights advocates, journalists and numerous others who have spent months or years behind bars.
However, human rights organizations have responded skeptically to the law’s passage, describing it as inadequate since it fails to include imprisoned military officers, among others.
The legislation also does not cover individuals convicted of murder, narcotics trafficking and severe human rights abuses.
Following Maduro’s arrest, Rodríguez’s administration promised to free a substantial number of prisoners as a peace-building measure. Since that time, 464 individuals have gained release while over 600 continue to be held, according to Foro Penal.
These releases have not provided complete freedom but instead represent precautionary measures replacing incarceration. Those freed face restrictions preventing them from media contact, international travel and political participation.
Opposition groups continue pushing for amnesty legislation that would provide complete freedom for political prisoners.
The Venezuelan Red Cross announced Sunday in an official statement that it would accept the government’s request to oversee the prisoner release process under the new amnesty law.
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Republican dissidents and former party members convened near the nation’s capital this weekend, repeatedly cautioning that President Donald Trump and his congressional supporters are damaging America’s democratic foundations.
One ex-lawmaker characterized Trump’s party as a “cult that embraces authoritarianism.” A well-known conservative author called Trumpism a threat to the nation’s existence. A former Army general, his voice trembling with feeling, referenced post-World War II Germany as a model for America’s eventual recovery from the Trump era.
Whether anyone is paying attention remains questionable.
The primary meeting space at this year’s sixth Principles First gathering on Saturday and Sunday was barely half occupied. Organizers arranged approximately 750 seats in a venue capable of accommodating several thousand attendees, yet many remained vacant. No sitting Republican office holders took part in the weekend’s activities.
This represents what’s left of the GOP’s Never Trump faction — a group of Republicans, ex-Republicans and independents who united as Trump gained control of the party. They continue to exist as political outcasts, uncomfortable with Democrats while repulsed by the president’s rejection of traditional Republican principles like free markets and smaller government.
John McDowell, a 69-year-old lifelong Republican until Trump’s rise, admitted the shrinking movement has essentially no influence within his former party.
“It’s just a fact. We’re losing good people,” McDowell explained. The former Hill aide and California county GOP official added, “The party is becoming more and more MAGA-fied.”
White House representative Abigail Jackson rejected the criticism from what she termed “a bunch of deranged has-been politicians.”
“The only people who will pay attention to this event are the journalists who are forced to cover it,” Jackson stated.
Nearly all attendees at the National Harbor, Maryland hotel expressed hope for Democratic wins in November’s midterm contests. Among the few Democrats present was Conor Lamb, a former Pennsylvania congressman who lost his party’s Senate primary to John Fetterman in 2022.
Even amid serious worries, some cautious hope emerged in the partially filled auditorium and quiet hotel corridors.
Multiple attendees applauded last week’s Supreme Court ruling that blocked Trump’s trade tariffs — economic weapons he’s used without legislative consent to pressure nations worldwide. Trump declared he would impose new tariffs regardless of the court decision.
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, once a Trump advisor, pointed to recent AP-NORC survey data indicating one in four Republicans nationally disapprove of Trump’s performance.
“It’s like any show that’s on TV for a long time — the ratings start to go down. And the ratings are going down,” Christie observed. “I am willing to bet you that by next February, this room is going to be twice the size of what it is now. After the midterms, you watch.”
Former Trump supporter Rich Logis, sporting a red “I left MAGA hat,” anticipates “an electoral revolt against MAGA” in the midterms.
“I think there’s a shift in our country right now,” Logis said. “It happens slowly.”
Logis promoted support groups for relatives and friends of Trump followers at a booth outside the main hall. Close by, someone sold books about escaping cult environments.
From the stage, former Republican Representative Joe Walsh urged Trump opponents not to minimize the danger the president represents to America.
“He’s everything our founders feared. Say it. Believe it,” Walsh declared. He described his former party as “an authoritarian-embracing cult” and “a threat to everything I love.”
Retired General Mark Hertling, former commander of U.S. Army forces in Europe, said international partners “haunt” him by questioning “whether American institutions ever can be trusted again.”
“Our nation’s institutions have been shaken. Our alliances have been strained. Our credibility has been damaged. And our nation’s values have been cast aside,” Hertling stated. He recommended America examine Germany’s post-Nazi reconstruction as a blueprint for repairing Trump-related damage.
The country’s healing process, he said with a breaking voice, would require years of dedicated effort to achieve.
Bill Kristol, a veteran of past Republican administrations who co-founded the Weekly Standard publication, labeled Trump and his GOP congressional allies “an existential threat” to America. However, he expressed optimism about November’s elections.
Kristol predicted Democrats are “almost certain to win the House,” “could possibly win the Senate,” and maintain “a good chance to win the presidency” in 2028.
Brittany Martinez, who leads host organization Principles First, attempted an upbeat message despite explaining why she couldn’t continue working as a Republican congressional staffer.
“I hope that Republicans continue to wake up,” Martinez said. “I do think that those folks exist. And I hope that they exist in greater numbers.”
Officials in the United Arab Emirates announced Saturday that they successfully stopped a series of coordinated cyber attacks directed at the country’s essential services and digital networks, according to the state news agency.
The UAE Cybersecurity Council reported that these digital assaults were characterized as terrorist operations aimed at disrupting the nation’s stability and interfering with crucial institutional operations. The country’s cyber defense systems managed to identify and stop these threats before any damage occurred, though officials did not reveal who orchestrated the attacks.
The Cybersecurity Council detailed that the hostile activity “included attempts to infiltrate networks, deploy ransomware and conduct systematic phishing campaigns targeting national platforms.” The organization noted that the attackers utilized artificial intelligence technologies to create advanced attack tools, marking what the council called a significant advancement in terrorist groups’ methods and capabilities.
While authorities confirmed that various sectors were targeted in these digital assaults, they declined to specify which particular systems were involved or when exactly these attempts took place. Officials emphasized that the nation’s cybersecurity measures successfully identified and neutralized all threats before any service interruptions could occur.
As Ramadan begins – a time when charitable donations typically surge throughout the UAE and the broader Muslim community – the council issued warnings for residents to exercise caution while online. They encouraged citizens to follow “safe practices” when using digital services, especially when contributing to charities or providing personal and financial details.
The council additionally offered advice on data protection and fraud prevention, noting that cybercriminals frequently take advantage of seasonal spikes in internet usage. They urged both individuals and businesses to report any questionable cyber activity or suspicious online behavior through official reporting channels.
According to the state news agency, this announcement from the council demonstrates the country’s continued commitment to protecting national digital systems as online threats become increasingly sophisticated.
Delaware remains under an emergency declaration as hazardous blizzard conditions are expected to continue impacting the region through Monday.
Officials are warning residents that travel restrictions could be put in place as weather conditions worsen throughout the area. Authorities are strongly encouraging people to stay home and avoid any trips that are not absolutely necessary.
Emergency management officials are advising residents to make preparations now and to reach out to elderly or vulnerable neighbors who might require help during the severe weather event.
Residents are encouraged to monitor official emergency management channels and trusted news sources for the latest updates as the dangerous weather situation continues to develop.
Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces announced Saturday they have successfully seized Al-Tina, a strategic border town adjacent to Chad, representing yet another territorial advancement in their ongoing conflict against Sudan’s national military.
Through a social media announcement, the RSF declared their forces had overtaken the town, which was previously understood to be under control of Joint Forces supporting Sudan’s army. The declaration included video evidence displaying armed personnel celebrating under a sign identifying “District of Al-Tina.”
Sudan’s military has not yet provided an official response to these assertions. Nevertheless, Darfur Governor Minni Minnawi, an army supporter, delivered harsh criticism of the RSF, alleging they deliberately target non-combatants. Minnawi condemned what he characterized as “repeated criminal behavior embodying the worst offenses against the innocent.”
This alleged seizure of Al-Tina occurs while combat between the RSF and government forces continues throughout Sudan, approaching the two-year mark since hostilities began in April 2023. The ongoing warfare has devastated Sudan’s governmental structures and created massive population displacement, with United Nations officials estimating tens of thousands of deaths and approximately 11 million individuals forced to abandon their residences.
Darfur has experienced particularly devastating humanitarian consequences as RSF operations have intensified in recent months. This past Thursday, the United Nations’ independent investigation team examining Sudan determined that the RSF’s October assault on El Fasher, a major Darfur center, demonstrated “the hallmarks of genocide.” El Fasher had represented one of the final significant population centers in the area not completely dominated by RSF before its collapse.
Following that development, the paramilitary organization has escalated activities near Chad’s border, raising alarm about potential regional consequences of the conflict. Late last year, two Chadian military personnel died in border violence incidents, highlighting the expanding regional dangers associated with the warfare.
While opposing forces persist in competing for control over municipalities and supply corridors, extensive areas of Sudan continue experiencing violence, trapping civilians between changing battle zones amid an increasingly catastrophic humanitarian emergency.
Syrian officials have revealed they successfully disrupted a significant narcotics smuggling scheme through collaborative efforts with Iraqi security forces, highlighting enhanced intelligence sharing between both nations as they battle international drug trafficking organizations amid mounting regional alarm over Captagon distribution.
An official from Syria’s Interior Ministry spoke with The Media Line, explaining that drug enforcement teams conducted what he called a “high-quality” security operation in Homs province, working alongside Iraq’s General Directorate of Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances. The mission successfully prevented a substantial drug shipment from leaving the country.
The official verified that accurate intelligence shared through joint cooperation channels between both nations made the operation possible.
Law enforcement officials revealed the mission led to capturing two people who operated an international network involved in cross-border drug smuggling. They noted the suspects were trying to transport a shipment of narcotic pills for overseas smuggling when authorities intercepted them and seized the drugs.
An unnamed security official informed The Media Line that law enforcement confiscated roughly 400,000 Captagon pills, weighing approximately 65 kilograms, that were being prepared for distribution beyond Syria’s borders. The arrested individuals have been turned over to judicial authorities for continued investigation and appropriate legal action.
This mission is part of ongoing security efforts Syrian authorities have launched in recent months, targeting domestic and international smuggling operations to stop the drug trade that has emerged as a regional security and economic concern.
Iraq’s Interior Ministry confirmed the operation demonstrates an advanced form of direct security collaboration, stating that a specialized team from the General Directorate for Narcotics Affairs traveled to Syrian territory after high-level coordination with Damascus officials.
This advancement shows a change in security cooperation between both nations, moving from intelligence exchange to conducting joint field missions, indicating an evolution in security partnership levels to address international organized crime.
The border between Syria and Iraq serves as a primary pathway for smuggling operations due to extensive desert landscape and challenges in maintaining complete control, leading both countries to improve intelligence coordination and security presence in border regions.
Security and regional assessments show Captagon has emerged as a major security challenge across the Middle East, being manufactured and transported in massive amounts through various pathways, including Iraq, Jordan, and Gulf nations.
Throughout the past year, Syrian-Iraqi security collaboration has included multiple joint missions resulting in confiscating substantial amounts of hashish and Captagon, along with apprehending internationally sought suspects, as part of efforts to eliminate trafficking sources and boost regional security.
Iraqi intelligence services also previously reported breaking up an international network operating within Syrian territory that planned to smuggle significant drug quantities into Iraq in multiple shipments, showing the scope of challenges these networks present.
Specialists suggest the expanding cooperation between Damascus and Baghdad shows growing awareness that fighting narcotics has become part of regional national security, especially considering connections between these networks and other criminal activities like weapons trafficking, money laundering, and funding armed groups.
Border management and stopping narcotics distribution have also become central to relationships among regional nations, with international pressure mounting to strengthen collaborative efforts in this area.
Following political changes in Syria during late 2024, authorities have worked to rebuild security institutions and strengthen border presence to regain complete control and prevent Syrian territory from serving as a smuggling corridor.
Despite ongoing security campaigns, analysts believe eliminating drug networks demands long-term commitment, including economic development in border areas, improved technological surveillance, and expanded regional and international cooperation.
Leaders in both countries stress the importance of additional joint operations, intelligence sharing, and developing monitoring systems to restrict criminal networks’ ability to exploit shared borders.
With continuing security challenges throughout the region, combating drugs appears to be among the most urgent issues that will influence security cooperation among Middle Eastern nations in upcoming years, particularly with growing concerns this trade could become a steady funding source for organized crime.
A former law enforcement officer who became one of Mexico’s most notorious drug kingpins met his end during a military operation on Sunday. Nemesio Oseguera, better known by his alias ‘El Mencho,’ was killed at age 60 after years of evading capture despite carrying a $15 million U.S. bounty.
The deceased crime boss had commanded the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), a criminal organization that security experts consider among Mexico’s most formidable drug trafficking networks. His organization gained infamy for flooding American streets with deadly substances, particularly fentanyl, contributing to countless overdose fatalities across the United States.
Vanda Felbab-Brown, who studies security issues at the Brookings Institution, emphasized Oseguera’s significance in the criminal underworld. “Apart from the heads of the Sinaloa cartel, ‘El Mencho’ has been the biggest prize for many, many years,” she stated. “And it’s really stunning, just like the heads of the Sinaloa cartel, how long he managed to evade U.S. and Mexican law enforcement gunning for him.”
Following the imprisonment of Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman, many viewed Oseguera as Mexico’s most powerful crime figure. However, unlike Guzman’s media-friendly persona, El Mencho maintained a low profile, becoming known primarily through profanity-filled audio messages where he issued threats against rivals and government officials.
His criminal enterprise extended far beyond drug trafficking, encompassing fuel theft, human trafficking, and forced labor operations. The cartel’s brutal enforcement methods included beheadings and other violent intimidation tactics designed to terrorize opponents.
One particularly audacious escape attempt occurred in May 2015, when his associates used rocket-propelled grenades to down a military helicopter, allowing their leader to flee advancing Mexican forces. His victims were rarely afforded such dramatic rescues.
The cartel’s violence reached staggering levels during a six-week span in 2015, when they executed 24 police officers in western Mexico as a message to authorities. In 2020, they attempted to assassinate Omar Garcia Harfuch, then Mexico City’s police chief and now the nation’s security minister who helped coordinate Sunday’s fatal operation. Two bodyguards died in that attack, though Harfuch survived.
Oseguera’s journey from poverty to criminal prominence began in 1966 in an impoverished mountain village in Michoacan state, a region where illegal drug cultivation has long competed with legitimate avocado farming. After working in agricultural fields as a youth, he migrated to the United States seeking better opportunities but instead entered the heroin trade.
Following his arrest and imprisonment in America, he was sent back to Mexico, where he initially joined law enforcement before transitioning to the Milenio Cartel, which operated under the Sinaloa Cartel’s umbrella. He climbed the criminal hierarchy, serving as an assassin and enforcer before attempting unsuccessfully to seize control of the Milenio organization.
After that failed takeover, he established his own criminal empire, declaring war against his former Sinaloa allies and creating the CJNG through partnerships with local money laundering networks. The organization took its name from Jalisco state, which includes the major city of Guadalajara.
His cartel combined traditional Sinaloa trafficking methods and community engagement with the extreme violence characteristic of the Zetas Cartel, a group known for military-style operations and diversification into kidnapping and extortion.
Corruption played a crucial role in Oseguera’s success, as he systematically bribed law enforcement and sought political protection throughout Jalisco state. Columbia University organized crime researcher Edgardo Buscaglia noted the cartel’s political influence, explaining that “El Mencho’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel was one of the biggest buyers of politicians and political campaigns, which has given it an enormous social base.”
Buscaglia highlighted how the organization cultivated public support, particularly during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic when cartel members distributed food packages bearing CJNG logos to struggling families during lockdowns. “Compared to the Mexican government,” Buscaglia observed, “he was the least bad option.”
Major League Soccer has officially exonerated Lionel Messi after conducting an investigation into video footage that showed the soccer superstar entering what appeared to be a restricted area following Inter Miami’s season-opening loss, league officials announced Sunday.
The incident took place Saturday night after Inter Miami’s 3-0 defeat to LAFC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. According to an MLS spokesperson who spoke with Reuters, league officials examined the footage and concluded that Messi did not breach any regulations since the space he entered was neither the officials’ changing room nor a prohibited zone.
Video from the incident shows teammate Luis Suarez attempting to hold back Messi by grabbing his arm, but the Argentine soccer star proceeded to walk through the doorway located in the lower levels of the stadium before emerging shortly afterward.
League officials explained that any truly off-limits areas at the facility would have been clearly marked with appropriate signage, according to the spokesperson.
Inter Miami representatives had not provided a response to requests for comment as of Sunday.
The defending MLS champions began their season with the disappointing shutout loss in front of 75,673 spectators, marking the largest crowd for any MLS season opener in the league’s history.
Officials in Lewes provided their latest winter weather briefing this afternoon as storm conditions affect the coastal Delaware community.
The municipal government issued its most recent storm-related information at 3:00 p.m. today, February 22, 2026, keeping residents informed about developing weather conditions in the area.
City administrators continue monitoring the situation and plan to release additional updates as circumstances warrant throughout the remainder of the storm event.
Congressional budget analysts have determined that a Republican-backed farm bill proposal would slash nearly $1 billion from a widely-used conservation program over the coming four fiscal years.
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program, which enjoys broad support among farmers, would see its budget authority reduced as Republican members of the House Agriculture Committee redirect those funds toward other legislative priorities, according to the Congressional Budget Office’s analysis.
The proposed legislation essentially treats EQIP as a source of money to finance different aspects of the farm bill, rather than maintaining its current funding levels.
Virginia pulled off a major upset in Atlantic Coast Conference play Sunday, knocking off eighth-ranked Louisville 74-72 on a clutch three-pointer from Romi Levy with just 13 seconds on the clock.
After Levy’s crucial shot put the Cavaliers ahead 74-72, the Cardinals had two chances to answer back. Reyna Scott missed a layup attempt with four seconds remaining, but Laura Ziegler pulled down the offensive rebound. Following a timeout, Imari Berry’s three-point attempt fell short, and Levy grabbed the defensive rebound to clinch the victory for Virginia.
The Cavaliers (19-8, 11-5 ACC) got a balanced scoring attack led by Kymora Johnson’s 16 points. Levy contributed 15 points while Paris Clark chipped in 14 points along with eight assists and six rebounds. Tabitha Amanze dominated the boards with 11 rebounds to go with nine points. Virginia shot an impressive 55.6% from the field in the opening half to build a 41-30 advantage.
For Louisville (24-5, 14-2), Elif Istanbulluoglu paced the scoring with 20 points. Scott finished with 16 points despite the crucial miss, while Berry added 12. Ziegler recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, also dishing out seven assists.
No. 1 Connecticut 81, Providence 38
The top-ranked Huskies cruised to another Big East Conference win at home in Storrs, Connecticut, behind 13 points each from Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd.
UConn (29-0, 18-0 Big East) remained perfect on the season, building a commanding 40-14 halftime advantage. Allie Ziebell contributed 11 points and Ashlynn Shade added 10, while KK Arnold stuffed the stat sheet with 10 rebounds and eight steals.
Providence (14-15, 7-11) was led by Princess Moody’s 11 points and Payton Dunbar’s nine. The Friars struggled with ball security, committing 39 turnovers while managing just 15 field goals.
No. 3 South Carolina 85, No. 17 Mississippi 48
Joyce Edwards poured in 21 points as the Gamecocks dominated the Southeastern Conference matchup in Columbia, South Carolina.
South Carolina (27-2, 13-1 SEC) got additional contributions from Madina Okot, who recorded 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Ta’Niya Latson with 12 points. The Gamecocks were perfect from the free-throw line, converting all 13 attempts.
Ole Miss (21-8, 8-6) was paced by Christeen Iwuala’s 12 points but struggled offensively, managing only nine points in both the second and third quarters. The Rebels shot poorly from beyond the arc, connecting on just 3 of 17 three-point attempts.
No. 13 Iowa 62, No. 6 Michigan 44
Ava Heiden recorded a double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds as the Hawkeyes outfinished the Wolverines in Iowa City, Iowa.
Heiden was efficient from the field, making 11 of 17 shots. Hannah Stuelke added 11 points for Iowa (22-5, 13-3 Big Ten), which overcame poor three-point shooting at 4-of-15. The Hawkeyes sealed the win with a 20-9 scoring advantage in the final quarter.
Michigan (22-5, 13-3) got 13 points from Olivia Olson and 11 from Mila Holloway but couldn’t overcome 24 turnovers. The Wolverines managed just eight points in the second quarter as Iowa built a 27-20 halftime lead.
No. 22 North Carolina 78, Pitt 50
Nyla Brooks scored 18 points and Laila Hull added 17 as the Tar Heels rolled to an ACC victory in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
North Carolina (23-6, 12-4 ACC) broke the game open early in the second quarter, outscoring Pitt 27-6 in the first six minutes to establish a 39-21 lead. Hull was deadly from three-point range in that quarter, knocking down four shots from beyond the arc. Alina Aarnisalo contributed 11 points.
Pitt (8-21, 1-15) was led by Theresa Hagans Jr. with 19 points and Fatima Diakhate with 12, but the Panthers struggled from long range, hitting just 3 of 18 three-point attempts.
No. 25 Alabama 76, Florida 71
Jessica Timmons exploded for 34 points and Ta’Mia Scott added 21 as the Crimson Tide rallied late for a Southeastern Conference road victory in Gainesville, Florida.
Timmons was lights-out from three-point range, making seven of Alabama’s 12 long-range baskets, while Scott connected on the other five. Karly Weathers facilitated the offense with nine assists for Alabama (21-7, 7-7 SEC).
Florida (16-13, 4-10) trailed 38-32 at the break but took the lead in the third quarter before fading down the stretch. Liv McGill scored 19 points and Jade Weathersby had 13 for the Gators, who hurt themselves by missing 10 of 25 free throws.
Team USA has reached the pinnacle of international hockey for the first time since the legendary ‘Miracle on Ice’ nearly half a century ago. Jack Hughes delivered the decisive overtime goal as the United States topped Canada 2-1 in Sunday’s gold medal match at the Milan Olympics, securing the nation’s third-ever men’s hockey championship at the Games.
The victory required no miracle this time around – just grit and determination from Hughes, who found the back of the net despite playing with a bloodied mouth after losing several teeth to a high stick. The 24-year-old New Jersey Devils forward took a stick to the face from Sam Bennett during the third period but managed to beat Canadian netminder Jordan Binnington in the extra frame to deliver Olympic glory.
Meanwhile, in Premier League action, Eberechi Eze continued his dominance over Tottenham by netting a brace in Arsenal’s commanding 4-1 triumph, breathing new life into the Gunners’ championship aspirations. The English midfielder has now found the net in his last five appearances against Spurs, including a hat trick in their previous meeting. Viktor Gyokeres also contributed two goals in the victory. Arsenal has restored their five-point advantage, though Manchester City maintains a game in hand.
Liverpool secured a dramatic 1-0 victory at Nottingham Forest thanks to Alexis Mac Allister’s stoppage-time strike, while Crystal Palace and Fulham also claimed wins during the weekend’s fixtures.
Unfortunately, the weekend was marred by racist incidents targeting three Premier League athletes on social media platforms. Chelsea’s Wesley Fofana and Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri both revealed discriminatory messages they received via Instagram following their teams’ 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge. Wolverhampton’s Tolu Arokodare similarly shared hateful content sent to him after missing a penalty in their 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.
In tragic NFL news, authorities in New Albany, Indiana discovered former Arizona Cardinals receiver Rondale Moore deceased in his hometown garage on Saturday. The 25-year-old athlete, who had signed with the Minnesota Vikings for 2025, died from what police believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Moore’s promising career was derailed by consecutive season-ending knee injuries during training camps after starring at Purdue University.
The WNBA has presented a revised collective bargaining agreement proposal to the players’ union, maintaining their housing payment commitments for this season while making minimal adjustments to revenue-sharing terms. League sources indicate teams would continue covering all player accommodations this year, then provide housing for minimum-wage players and first-year rookies going forward.
World number one Jeeno Thitikul finally captured victory at her home tournament, winning the LPGA Thailand event by a single stroke. The Thai golfer carded a final-round 68 to finish at 24-under par, claiming her eighth LPGA title in emotional fashion. Japan’s Chizzy Iwai finished runner-up at 23-under, while defending champion Angel Yin struggled to a tie for 48th place.
In college basketball, third-ranked Duke made a compelling argument for the tournament’s top seed by dismantling number-one Michigan 68-63 at Capital One Arena in Washington. The Blue Devils, led by freshman sensation Cameron Boozer, snapped the Wolverines’ 11-game winning streak in what coach Jon Scheyer called a perfect ‘tournament environment’ preparation for March Madness.
Governors throughout the Northeast have declared states of emergency as a powerful winter storm threatens to blanket the region with up to two feet of snow and dangerous winds.
The severe weather system prompted emergency declarations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, with officials implementing widespread travel restrictions for non-essential trips. Air travel has been severely disrupted, with more than 15,000 flights experiencing delays by Sunday afternoon and over 3,500 flights completely canceled. The heaviest impact hit major airports including JFK, La Guardia, and Newark.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani implemented strict traffic restrictions, shuttering city streets to all non-essential vehicles, bicycles, and scooters from 9 p.m. Sunday through 12 p.m. Monday. The city also announced the closure of all school buildings during the storm.
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont followed suit with his own transportation restrictions, prohibiting commercial vehicles from using state highways beginning at 5 p.m. Sunday. Meanwhile, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey not only declared an emergency but also called up to 200 National Guard personnel to assist with storm response. The Bay State also implemented its own non-essential travel ban starting Sunday evening.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul deployed 100 National Guard members to assist areas expected to be hardest hit, including Long Island, New York City, and the Lower Hudson Valley region.
The Golden State Warriors will be without center Kristaps Porzingis for Sunday’s matchup against the Denver Nuggets in San Francisco after the team announced he’s dealing with an illness.
The 30-year-old big man recently joined Golden State through a trade with the Atlanta Hawks earlier this month. Porzingis took the court for his first game as a Warrior on Thursday during a 121-110 defeat to the Boston Celtics at home. Playing as a reserve, he contributed 12 points along with one rebound, one assist, and one block across 17 minutes of action.
The Warriors limited Porzingis’ playing time in his return to action, marking his first game since January 7 when he suited up for Atlanta. A six-week absence due to Achilles tendinitis had kept him sidelined before the trade.
This season, Porzingis has posted averages of 16.8 points and 4.9 rebounds across 18 appearances, including 12 games as a starter.
MILAN – In a stunning upset that shook the hockey world, Team USA claimed Olympic gold Sunday with a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory against heavily favored Canada in Milan.
The defeat delivered a crushing blow to Canada, a nation where hockey excellence defines national pride. With nine Olympic men’s hockey championships compared to just three for the United States, Canada entered the final as the expected victor in this storied rivalry.
“Losing hurts, doesn’t matter who it’s to,” Canadian head coach Jon Cooper stated following the match. “I look at this game, I’m so proud of what went on. I’m proud of our country. I’m proud of our players and proud of our team.”
Cooper added: “At the end, you’re going to read in a book that in 2026 USA won the gold in Olympic hockey and Canada won the silver. I think in the grand scheme, the big winner of this tournament was ice hockey.”
Across Canada, devoted fans had risen before dawn to watch their team, with establishments opening their doors at 5 a.m. on the Pacific coast. Instead of celebration, they witnessed American players rejoicing while their own squad absorbed a devastating loss on hockey’s most prestigious platform.
The absence of team captain Sidney Crosby loomed large over the championship game. The Pittsburgh Penguins star, who scored the game-winning goal when Canada defeated the US for Olympic gold in 2010, suffered an injury during the quarterfinal match against the Czech Republic.
“You want to be out here and you want to find any way possible, but not at the expense of what needs to be done,” Crosby explained regarding his decision to sit out. “And watching the way we played today, guys played incredible.”
When questioned about potentially missing his final opportunity for a third Olympic gold medal, the 38-year-old hockey legend, nicknamed “Sid the Kid,” acknowledged: “It might have crossed my mind a little bit. But ultimately it was about what’s best for our group.”
Canadian players expressed their disappointment at being unable to secure victory for their injured captain.
“He’s been everything for this country,” said 19-year-old San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini. “We wanted to get that for him and make him proud.”
Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand shared similar feelings of regret.
“You feel bad letting a guy like that down,” Marchand commented. “One of the best ever to play. Wish we could have got it done for him.”
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid stepped into the leadership role, wearing the captain’s armband in Crosby’s absence – a moment many observers interpreted as a generational transition. However, Crosby downplayed such symbolism.
“I was just so grateful to be part of this group, the way we played, the way we got better with every game, that was so important. You could feel it,” Crosby reflected.
“I was thinking more about that, and just being grateful and thankful to be part of this group more than I was thinking about passing the torch or anything like that. (McDavid) was incredible. And as his teammate, it was fun to watch.”
The championship loss served as a stark reminder that past success provides no guarantee of future victories. Canada had previously triumphed in their last three decisive matchups against the Americans – in 2002, 2010, and during last year’s 4 Nations tournament.
The team had also demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout the Milan tournament, mounting comeback victories in both the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds.
However, despite controlling significant portions of Sunday’s final, Canada’s tournament magic finally expired when they needed it most.
Jack Hughes delivered a storybook finish for Team USA, scoring the decisive goal in overtime to defeat Canada 2-1 and capture Olympic hockey gold in Milan. The victory provided a perfect conclusion to a men’s hockey tournament that exceeded all expectations.
The triumph marked the first time NHL players participated in Olympic competition since 2014, and the league couldn’t have asked for a better showcase. The championship game featured the dream matchup between hockey’s two powerhouse nations, battling for the final gold medal available in Milan.
In a remarkable coincidence, the American victory occurred precisely 46 years after their legendary “Miracle on Ice” triumph against the Soviet Union. Fans filled the newly constructed Santagiulia arena to witness what became another historic moment in American hockey history.
“We’re just so proud to be American and win,” Hughes commented after the game.
Tournament organizers faced early challenges completing the venue and addressing complaints about the ice surface dimensions. However, once competition began, those concerns faded as the arena’s distinctive blue lighting made it a prominent landmark for visitors and residents alike.
Hockey emerged as the most sought-after event in Milan, with NHL superstars rushing from airports to practice facilities with minimal preparation time, adjusting to different regulations and schedules.
Both Canada and the United States entered as tournament favorites and maintained flawless records during group play, though they encountered intense opposition in elimination rounds.
The knockout phase delivered exceptional drama, with three of the four quarterfinal matches requiring overtime as NHL teammates found themselves competing against each other for Olympic medals.
Canada, the defending champions from the last NHL-participated Olympics in 2014, mounted an impressive comeback from a two-goal deficit against Finland in semifinal action. Meanwhile, Slovakia surprised many by advancing to the final four, demonstrating the tournament’s competitive depth.
Finland secured the bronze medal with a commanding 6-1 victory over Slovakia on Saturday, but the Americans had the final celebration.
“I know I’m going to speak on behalf of a lot of guys,” said U.S. forward Brady Tkachuk. “This is the most fun two weeks that I’ve almost ever had in my life.”
An Austrian bobsled team pilot narrowly escaped severe injuries following a frightening crash during Olympic competition that left his sled completely overturned, according to Austria’s Olympic Committee announcement on Sunday.
Jakob Mandlbauer’s dramatic accident was among three separate crashes that repeatedly interrupted Saturday’s Four-Man bobsleigh competition, with his upside-down sled creating the most alarming scene. All three of his crew members were able to walk away unharmed from the incident.
Following the crash, the 27-year-old athlete received initial medical evaluation at Codivilla Hospital in Cortina before being moved to Treviso Hospital where doctors monitored a spinal disc condition.
“Jakob Mandlbauer was transferred by air ambulance from Treviso to Salzburg on Sunday afternoon and taken to the accident hospital there,” the Austrian Olympic Committee said in a statement.
“Prior to this, extensive pressure tests on his arms and legs were carried out, along with pain therapy.”
Although Mandlbauer has been wearing a protective neck brace since the accident occurred, he has successfully stood without assistance and maintains a positive outlook regarding his medical treatment.
“I was and still am receiving excellent care,” Mandlbauer said.
Medical professionals plan to have a spine specialist evaluate the bobsledder in Salzburg on Monday as they take a careful approach to his healing process.
“Then hopefully I’ll be able to go home soon,” he added.
Wicomico County leadership activated emergency protocols Sunday afternoon as severe winter weather approaches the Eastern Shore region.
County officials implemented the emergency declaration at 2:30 p.m. on February 22, 2026, positioning local resources ahead of the anticipated storm system.
The emergency status enables county departments to coordinate response efforts and deploy necessary resources to address weather-related challenges that may impact residents and infrastructure.
Government facilities will remain closed on February 23, 2026, as part of the emergency response measures.
Residents in New Castle County, Delaware should prepare for minor coastal flooding beginning at midnight tonight through 4 AM Monday morning.
The National Weather Service has issued a Coastal Flood Advisory warning of up to six inches of water above ground level in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways. Salem County, New Jersey is also included in this advisory.
The flooding is expected to impact the most vulnerable roads along tidal waterways, with some partial or full road closures possible. Officials warn that additional tidal flooding could occur through Monday night’s high tide cycle.
“Minor tidal flooding often results in some road closures, usually affecting the most vulnerable roadways,” according to the National Weather Service.
Safety officials strongly advise residents not to park vehicles in flood-prone areas and never attempt to drive through flood waters. The water depth can be deceiving and may cause significant vehicle damage or put drivers in danger.
The Coastal Flood Advisory remains in effect until 4 AM Monday morning. Residents can monitor water levels and flood impacts for local tide gauges by visiting the National Water Prediction Service website.
Stay with TV Delmarva for continuing weather updates throughout the weekend.
Residents across Kent County, Inland Sussex, and Delaware’s beaches need to prepare for significant flooding tonight as the National Weather Service issued a Coastal Flood Warning effective from 9 PM tonight through 5 AM Monday morning.
The weather service is forecasting one to two feet of water above ground level in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways. This flooding will cause widespread road closures in coastal and bayside communities, with many routes becoming completely impassable.
“Some damage to vulnerable structures may begin to occur,” according to the National Weather Service Mount Holly office. “Some locations may become isolated by the flood waters.”
The flooding threat doesn’t end Monday morning. Additional minor to moderate coastal flooding is likely with Monday afternoon’s high tide, and back-bay flooding could persist through Tuesday morning.
Safety officials stress: never drive through flood waters. The water may be deeper than it appears, putting you in danger and potentially damaging your vehicle.
Residents should follow recommendations from local emergency management officials and stay informed as conditions develop. The Coastal Flood Warning remains in effect until 5 AM Monday morning, though extensions are possible depending on conditions.
MILAN – The United States men’s hockey team made history in Milan, capturing their first Olympic gold medal in 44 years thanks to an overtime goal by Jack Hughes and a spectacular goaltending performance by Connor Hellebuyck in their victory over Canada.
The 32-year-old Hellebuyck turned away 40 shots during regulation as Canada relentlessly attacked the American net seeking the tying goal. When the Canadians finally managed to score, Team USA managed to survive the remaining time and push the championship game into overtime.
During the medal presentation, the loudest applause was directed toward both Hellebuyck and Hughes, with supporters showing equal appreciation for their goaltender’s heroics and their overtime hero.
“Unbelievable game by Hellebuyck,” Hughes said. “He was our best player tonight, by a mile. Unbelievable game, Unreal game by our team. That’s just a ballsy, gutsy win. That’s American hockey right there.”
Forward Matthew Tkachuk also praised the netminder’s championship performance.
“We’re going to be talking about this performance for generations. It was an all-time performance from a superstar at his position,” Tkachuk said. “If we don’t have him, we don’t win.”
The Winnipeg Jets goaltender had faced knee surgery in November and frequently dealt with media scrutiny regarding his playoff performances, but the veteran put those concerns to rest at Milano Cortina.
“At the time, though, it was scary moments having a big injury, and there was some doubt whether it was going to affect my game, but that process played its way out,” Hellebuyck said. “Those critics, they can keep writing, but they don’t understand goaltending. They definitely don’t understand my game. I know what I’m putting forward, and I know what I’m building. You know these are the moments that prove it.”
Throughout the contest, Hellebuyck remained steadfast against Canada’s offensive pressure, including a remarkable save in the third period when he denied Devon Toews by reaching behind himself with his stick to stop a point-blank attempt.
“It’s not my first stick save in my career,” Hellebuyck said. “It’s probably the biggest moment to make a stick save. But when I’m rolling back and the puck’s not in the net, it’s just an overwhelming feeling of ‘I got this’.”
The 24-year-old Hughes, who lost teeth during the game before netting the decisive goal, had also battled through injuries leading up to the Olympics.
His brother and teammate Quinn Hughes reflected on Jack’s journey to this moment.
“I remember when he got injured last year in Vegas, and he was just crushed,” teammate and brother Quinn Hughes said. “For him to make that impact, I’m not surprised, because when I look around the room before overtime, there’s probably three or four guys that look at him like, ‘that guy’s not nervous’. He wants to be that guy. And I felt that way about Jack, just a special guy, happy it happened to him, and just my best friend, but also a special player.”
City officials in Rehoboth Beach have announced emergency snow route restrictions starting Sunday evening as a winter storm approaches the coastal community with expected snowfall accumulation.
The City Manager has authorized the activation of special weather emergency routes designed to keep critical roadways clear for safe passage, effective snow clearing operations, and unimpeded access for first responders throughout the winter weather event.
All vehicles must be removed from Rehoboth Avenue, Bayard Avenue, and State Road by 7:00 PM on Sunday, February 22nd. The parking ban will continue until municipal snow clearing crews finish their work.
City officials have outlined specific requirements while the emergency declaration is active:
No vehicles may park on either side of Rehoboth Ave., Bayard Ave., or State Road
Cars left in restricted areas will receive citations and be towed with all costs charged to owners
Property owners should utilize private driveways or find off-street parking spaces
All motorists must give right-of-way to snow plows and emergency response vehicles
Blocking or interfering with snow removal crews is strictly forbidden
Citizens are asked to ensure fire hydrants remain clear and reachable
Should the Governor implement county-wide driving limitations for Sussex County, complete information is available at: SnowDEDrivingRestrictions.pdf
For emergency situations, dial 911. Non-urgent matters can be reported to 302-227-2577.
Cambridge officials are alerting residents about a sanitary sewer overflow that took place Thursday afternoon during periods of intense rainfall.
The Cambridge Department of Public Services issued the public notification following regulations under COMAR 26.08.10.08, stating that the sewer overflow incident happened on February 20, 2025.
According to the department, the overflow lasted approximately four and a half hours, beginning at 11:00 am and continuing until 3:30 pm. Officials attributed the incident to the heavy rain that impacted the area during that timeframe.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA’s massive lunar rocket will be transported back to its hangar facility this week for additional technical work after encountering fresh mechanical issues that have postponed the mission until at least April.
The space agency announced Sunday that it plans to begin the slow, four-mile journey across Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday, depending on weather conditions.
Just as NASA completed a second fuel loading test on Thursday to verify that hazardous hydrogen leaks had been resolved, a new technical challenge emerged.
The rocket’s helium system experienced a breakdown, pushing back the first crewed lunar mission in more than five decades even further.
Technical teams had successfully addressed the hydrogen leak problems and established a March 6 launch target — already delayed by a month — when the helium malfunction occurred. The helium supply to the rocket’s second stage was interrupted; this gas is essential for cleaning the engines and maintaining proper pressure in fuel storage tanks.
“Returning to the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy is required to determine the cause of the issue and fix it,” NASA said in a statement.
According to NASA, moving the rocket back quickly helps maintain the possibility of an April launch window, though officials emphasized this timeline depends entirely on repair progress. The agency has only limited launch opportunities each month to send the four-person crew on their lunar journey.
The mission crew — three American astronauts and one Canadian — continues waiting in Houston. These four individuals are set to become the first humans to travel to the moon since NASA’s Apollo missions, which transported 24 astronauts to lunar orbit between 1968 and 1972.
MILAN – Team USA’s men’s hockey squad has finally broken their decades-long Olympic gold medal drought, claiming victory over Canada in a heart-stopping 2-1 overtime battle that concluded Sunday’s championship match.
Jack Hughes netted the decisive goal to secure America’s third Olympic hockey title and their first golden triumph since the legendary 1980 “Miracle on Ice” achievement. The timing couldn’t have been more poetic – the victory came precisely 46 years after that historic Lake Placid moment.
During the intense three-on-three overtime period, Hughes received a feed from Zach Werenski and buried the puck into the net just one minute and 41 seconds into the extra frame. The hero’s celebration was marked by a bloodied, gap-toothed smile after taking a high stick to the face during the third period.
Equipment went flying across the ice as Hughes’ teammates rushed to celebrate with their champion after the goal.
“The best experiences I have are playing for my country, playing to break the golden drought with this group of guys and for us to win gold here at the Olympics,” Hughes stated.
Speaking to reporters afterward with a noticeable lisp from his injury and the scent of victory champagne in the air, Hughes added, “Just an unbelievable moment.”
The Americans struck first when Matt Boldy found the net six minutes into the game on their opening shot attempt. Canada answered back through Cale Makar’s equalizer, setting up a tension-filled final period.
American netminder Connor Hellebuyck delivered a stellar performance with 40 saves throughout regulation time, capping off an outstanding tournament run where he never allowed a power-play goal in Milan.
Canada played without their leader Sidney Crosby, the 38-year-old who famously scored the overtime winner against the U.S. for gold on Canadian soil in Vancouver 2010. Crosby departed the quarterfinals with an injury, leaving fans to wonder if they witnessed his final Olympic appearance.
“You want to be out there and you want to find every way possible but not at the expense of what needs to be done,” Crosby commented. “It’s just unfortunate we couldn’t find a way.”
This marks the first occasion where American teams have swept both the men’s and women’s hockey tournaments at a single Olympics, following the women’s overtime victory over Canada on Thursday.
The competition unfolded amid ongoing political friction between the United States and Canada, with President Donald Trump repeatedly suggesting he might make Canada America’s 51st state through “economic force.”
The White House’s social media account shared an image showing an American eagle dominating a Canadian goose, and U.S. head coach Mike Sullivan revealed that Trump phoned to congratulate the team following their triumph.
“This game in a lot of ways was an inspiration to our country,” Sullivan remarked.
The highly anticipated matchup between these North American powerhouses lived up to expectations after NHL stars returned to Olympic competition following a 12-year hiatus, delivering an aggressive battle for the final gold medal of the Milano Cortina Games.
Spectators at the Santagiulia arena created a raucous atmosphere with competing “USA!” and “Canada!” chants as both teams exchanged physical play.
America waited until the sixth minute to register their first shot, but Boldy made it memorable by maneuvering past two Canadian defenders and slipping a backhand shot past the goaltender.
The Americans had maintained a perfect penalty kill record throughout the tournament, but faced their biggest test when two players were penalized simultaneously. They successfully defended during the five-on-three disadvantage in the second period’s middle stages.
Canada finally solved Hellebuyck with under two minutes remaining in the second period when Devon Toews found Makar wide open, and the Canadian defenseman converted with a precise wrist shot.
Team USA missed a golden opportunity to avoid overtime when Sam Bennett, a late addition to Canada’s roster, received a four-minute penalty for striking Hughes in the mouth during the third period.
“I looked down at the ice and saw my teeth. I was like ‘Here we go again’,” Hughes recalled. “The last time that happened, it wasn’t very fun.”
Despite the crowd’s passionate pleas, neither team could break the deadlock as regulation time expired.
Following his older brother Quinn’s heroic quarterfinal performance four days earlier, Jack Hughes seized his moment to shine, proudly displaying his battle-scarred grin while draped in the Stars and Stripes.
The team honored the memory of late Johnny Gaudreau by holding up his jersey after the victory, paying tribute to the Columbus Blue Jackets forward who represented the United States. Gaudreau and his brother Matthew tragically died in a vehicle accident in 2024.
“Just a subtle reminder that him, his brother, that they’re kind of with us in spirit,” team captain Auston Matthews explained.
British engineering company Rolls-Royce Holdings is reportedly preparing to unveil a major shareholder return program worth up to 1.5 billion pounds ($2.02 billion) when it releases annual earnings results this week, according to Sky News.
The television network reported Sunday that the aerospace manufacturer plans to announce the substantial share buyback initiative alongside its yearly financial report. TV Delmarva was unable to independently confirm these details, and company representatives have not yet responded to requests for comment.
The potential announcement comes after Rolls-Royce demonstrated strong financial momentum throughout the previous year. Last July, the company raised its annual profit projections during its mid-year earnings report, boosting its operating profit forecast by 300 million pounds to reach 3.2 billion pounds. The firm also increased its free cash flow expectations by 200 million pounds to 3.1 billion pounds.
This would represent the second significant buyback program from Rolls-Royce in consecutive years. The company previously initiated a 1 billion pound share repurchase plan approximately one year ago when announcing its annual results.
The current exchange rate shows $1 equivalent to 0.7417 pounds.
Canada’s flagship airline announced Sunday it has temporarily halted all flights to the popular Mexican resort city of Puerto Vallarta due to continuing security concerns in the region.
The decision by Air Canada comes amid reports that Mexican military forces conducted an operation that reportedly resulted in the death of notorious cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, who goes by the alias “El Mencho.”
The airline has not specified how long the flight suspension will remain in effect, citing the fluid nature of the security situation in the coastal tourist destination.
A Dubai aviation firm appears poised to complete the acquisition of an aircraft leasing business, according to industry insiders familiar with the negotiations.
Sources indicate that DAE Capital, headquartered in Dubai, is approaching a final agreement to acquire control of Macquarie AirFinance’s leasing operations. Both companies have not yet provided responses to inquiries about the potential transaction.
Earlier this year in January, reports surfaced that DAE Capital had advanced to the final selection round for purchasing Macquarie’s aviation leasing portfolio. The company faced competition from Saudi Arabia’s AviLease and Qatar’s Lesha Bank during the bidding process.
The anticipated transaction emerges from an intense competitive bidding environment, driven by unprecedented demand for commercial aircraft. Major manufacturers Boeing and Airbus are currently struggling to produce sufficient numbers of jets to satisfy airline requirements worldwide. This supply shortage has generated lucrative opportunities for aircraft leasing company owners to command higher sale prices.
DAE Capital’s parent company, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, previously completed a significant acquisition in 2017 when it purchased AWAS, a Dublin-headquartered firm that ranked as the world’s tenth-largest aircraft lessor at the time.
Following their historic overtime victory over Canada that secured America’s first Olympic hockey gold in over four decades, the U.S. men’s hockey team made sure to remember a fallen teammate who couldn’t be there to celebrate with them.
Johnny Gaudreau, a 31-year-old forward who had competed alongside many of these players, was tragically killed in August 2024 when a drunk driver struck him and his brother Matthew while they were riding bicycles. The fatal accident occurred just three months after Gaudreau had represented the United States at the World Championships.
During Sunday’s medal presentation ceremony in Milan, team members displayed Gaudreau’s number 13 jersey as they stood together celebrating their dramatic victory. The touching tribute continued when players Zach Werenski and Dylan Larkin brought Gaudreau’s children from the spectator area down to the ice surface, where they participated in the championship team photograph alongside their father’s jersey.
“Just to get it done, to score that big goal that USA Hockey, the guys that have worn this jersey before us, have been missing, it’s just an incredible feeling,” Larkin said.
“This is for a lot of people. This is for the guys that wore this jersey before us, and Johnny Gaudreau especially. All those people, they should be here with us, Johnny, Matty his brother, and to get it done today is just an unbelievable feeling.”
American supporters in the Santagiulia arena could be heard shouting “Johnny Hockey” — Gaudreau’s well-known nickname — throughout the celebration that followed the championship victory.
Team captain Auston Matthews explained the deep connection many players shared with Gaudreau and how the team kept his memory present throughout their Olympic journey.
“I think he’s had a big impact on a lot of guys in our room, a lot of guys grew up with him, played with him, spent a lot of time with him,” captain Auston Matthews said.
“We had his jersey in our room last year at the Four Nations. We had his jersey in the room here at the Olympics.
“Just a subtle reminder that him and his brother, they’re kind of with us in spirit. And to be able to get it done like that, to win, to have his jersey out there and the team photo and have his kids come out and be with us.
“We’re obviously thinking of him and we just felt like the impact that he’s had on so many guys in our room was special and he was with us here in spirit the whole tournament.”
Weather officials have issued a coastal flood advisory for the Delmarva Peninsula that began Thursday afternoon at 1:02 PM and will continue until 4:00 AM Friday morning.
The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey issued the alert on February 22nd, warning residents of potential tidal flooding along coastal areas throughout the advisory period.
Local residents in flood-prone areas should monitor conditions and take necessary precautions during high tide cycles while the advisory remains active.
Delaware coastal areas are under a flood warning issued by the National Weather Service Mount Holly office on Thursday afternoon.
The warning went into effect at 1:02 PM on February 22nd and will remain active until 5:00 AM on February 23rd.
Residents and visitors along Delaware’s coastline should prepare for potential flooding conditions during this timeframe.
The National Weather Service typically issues coastal flood warnings when conditions are expected to cause significant flooding that poses a threat to life and property in low-lying coastal areas.
A high-ranking Mexican government source has confirmed that notorious drug cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, better known by his alias ‘El Mencho,’ was fatally shot during a military raid, according to Reuters reports from Sunday.
Oseguera, who previously worked in law enforcement, commanded the influential Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), a criminal organization that derives its name from the western Mexican state where the country’s second-largest city, Guadalajara, is located.
Within a relatively brief timespan, the CJNG expanded into a massive international criminal network that competed directly with the Sinaloa Cartel, previously led by infamous drug trafficker Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman, who is currently serving time in an American federal prison.
Reports of Oseguera’s death emerged after federal security forces conducted an operation in Tapalpa, a municipality within Jalisco state, as confirmed by Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro in a social media post.
Following the military action, numerous vehicles were torched across Jalisco and neighboring states, according to news reports and government officials.
Michoacan state Governor Alfredo Ramirez Bedolla posted on social media that his office had been notified of highway blockades occurring as a consequence of the Jalisco operation.
The foreign minister of Oman has verified that diplomatic discussions between the United States and Iran are scheduled to take place in Geneva this Thursday, according to reports from Cairo on February 22nd.
The Omani foreign minister, representing a nation that has served as an intermediary in negotiations between Washington and Tehran, indicated the discussions will proceed “with a positive push to go the extra mile towards finalising the deal.”
Oman has previously played a crucial role in facilitating dialogue between the two countries during diplomatic efforts.
A dangerous blizzard is barreling toward the Delmarva Peninsula, prompting the National Weather Service to issue an Extreme Blizzard Warning through Monday evening at 6 PM.
The major winter storm will dump between 11 and 17 inches of snow across New Castle and Kent Counties in Delaware, along with Caroline, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot Counties in Maryland. Wind gusts up to 45 mph will create whiteout conditions and significant snow drifts.
Rain will transition to heavy snow this afternoon and evening, with the most severe conditions expected overnight. Snow rates could exceed 2 inches per hour, with record-breaking totals possible in some areas.
Travel will be extremely dangerous to impossible, especially during Monday morning and evening commutes. Blowing snow will drastically reduce visibility, and gusty winds may down tree branches and cause isolated power outages.
Officials are urging residents to restrict travel to emergencies only. If you must venture out, carry a winter survival kit and stay with your vehicle if stranded. Check road conditions by calling 511.
The blizzard warning remains in effect until Monday at 6 PM. Stay with TV Delmarva for continuing coverage of this dangerous storm.
A dangerous blizzard is pummeling southern Delaware with potentially record-breaking snowfall and life-threatening conditions through Monday evening. The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Warning for Delaware Beaches and Inland Sussex County, with snow accumulations between 13 and 17 inches expected.
The major winter storm began this afternoon as rain transitioned to heavy snow. The most severe conditions are occurring tonight, with snowfall rates potentially exceeding 2 inches per hour. Wind gusts up to 55 mph are creating blizzard conditions with near-zero visibility due to blowing and drifting snow.
Travel is extremely dangerous and should be restricted to emergencies only. The hazardous conditions will severely impact Monday morning and evening commutes across the region. Strong winds may cause tree damage and scattered power outages throughout the area.
If you must travel, carry a winter survival kit and stay with your vehicle if stranded. For current road conditions, dial 511.
The storm will gradually weaken Monday with snow tapering off during the day. The Blizzard Warning remains in effect until 6:00 PM Monday evening. Stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel until conditions improve.
Delaware transportation officials are reporting a vehicle accident that has shut down one lane of traffic on a major roadway in New Castle County.
The crash occurred on Governor Printz Boulevard in the southbound direction near Lore Avenue, forcing authorities to close the right lane to traffic. The incident is causing delays for drivers in the area as emergency responders and cleanup crews work at the scene.
DelDOT is advising motorists to use caution when traveling through the area and to consider taking alternate routes if possible to avoid congestion.
No information has been released regarding injuries or the cause of the accident. The timeline for reopening the closed lane remains unclear as crews continue their work.
The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey has declared a blizzard warning for the Delmarva Peninsula region, effective from Friday, February 22 at 1:23 PM through Saturday, February 23 at 6:00 PM.
Weather officials are urging residents across Delaware and the Eastern Shore to prepare for dangerous winter conditions as the storm system approaches the area.
The warning indicates that significant snowfall, strong winds, and reduced visibility are expected to create hazardous travel conditions throughout the weekend period.
Local authorities recommend that residents avoid unnecessary travel during the warning period and ensure they have adequate supplies in case of power outages or other weather-related emergencies.
Salisbury officials have activated an emergency declaration that takes effect at 8:00 p.m. tonight, shutting down city operations for Monday, February 23.
The emergency order will continue until city leaders decide to lift it or Maryland state officials make additional determinations. Weather forecasters predict ongoing precipitation through today and into the overnight hours, with officials particularly worried about refreezing conditions that could create treacherous black ice on roadways.
All municipal offices and facilities will remain shuttered on Monday, February 23.
Street Maintenance and Public Safety
Details about snow clearing operations and designated emergency routes can be accessed through the city’s official website.
City maintenance crews will work around the clock to keep municipal streets passable. Officials are urging citizens to remain at home when possible and avoid parking on emergency routes to allow plow trucks to operate effectively.
Requirements for Sidewalk and Fire Hydrant Clearing
Building and property owners along city streets must remove snow from adjacent sidewalks within 24 hours once snowfall stops, ensuring a minimum four-foot-wide walkway for safe pedestrian passage. Citizens living near fire hydrants must shovel out a three-foot clearance around these emergency fixtures to ensure first responders can access them quickly. Officials warn against dumping or shoveling snow into roadways, which creates additional dangers and complicates street clearing operations.
Municipal Services
Garbage and recycling pickup scheduled for Monday, February 23 has been rescheduled to Saturday, February 28.
The Salisbury Zoo will remain closed on Monday, February 23.
Wicomico County has similarly announced that county offices will be closed Monday.
The scheduled City Council session for Monday will likely be moved to Tuesday, February 24.
Critical personnel from the Salisbury Police Department and Salisbury Fire Department will continue normal operations. Citizens needing emergency water service shutoffs should call the police non-emergency number at 410-548-3165.
Additional details about snow removal operations and ongoing storm updates are available at https://salisbury.md/ and through the city’s Facebook and Instagram social media accounts.
Delaware Governor Matthew Meyer issued an emergency declaration at noon today as the First State prepares for a significant winter storm heading toward the region.
The emergency order, announced from Smyrna, enables state officials to deploy resources across Delaware and coordinate response efforts for the approaching severe weather system. The Delaware Emergency Management Agency is urging residents throughout the state to make necessary preparations immediately.
As part of the emergency response, the National Guard has been activated to assist with storm-related operations. Officials indicate that travel restrictions are very likely to be implemented as conditions deteriorate.
The emergency declaration provides state authorities with the legal framework to mobilize personnel, equipment, and other critical resources needed to address the winter storm’s impacts on Delaware communities.
DEMA officials are emphasizing the importance of public readiness as the storm approaches, encouraging residents to stock up on essential supplies and avoid unnecessary travel once conditions begin to worsen.
The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey has issued a blizzard warning for the Delmarva Peninsula that took effect at 1:23 PM on February 22nd and will remain active until 6:00 PM on February 23rd.
Weather officials are urging residents across Delaware and the Eastern Shore to prepare for severe winter conditions as the storm system moves through the region.
The warning indicates that dangerous blizzard conditions with heavy snow, strong winds, and severely reduced visibility are expected to impact travel and daily activities throughout the warning period.
Residents should monitor weather conditions closely and avoid unnecessary travel during the storm. Emergency officials recommend having adequate supplies and staying indoors when conditions deteriorate.
Movie theaters across the nation experienced a sluggish weekend as returning films dominated the charts, with Sony Pictures Animation’s family-friendly ‘GOAT’ claiming the number one position by a narrow margin over Warner Bros.’ R-rated ‘Wuthering Heights.’
The animated feature ‘GOAT’ brought in $17 million during its second weekend in theaters, while ‘Wuthering Heights’ collected $14.2 million, based on Sunday’s studio projections. Both movies are now in their second week of release.
The weekend proved particularly challenging for new releases, with every fresh title failing to reach the $10 million mark. This included the faith-centered follow-up ‘I Can Only Imagine 2,’ Glen Powell’s dark comedy ‘How to Make a Killing,’ and the critically panned horror flick ‘Psycho Killer,’ which currently holds a dismal 0% score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, Baz Luhrmann’s immersive documentary ‘EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert’ provided a bright note, generating $3.3 million from just 325 IMAX locations during its limited run before expanding nationwide on Feb. 27.
‘These somewhat slower weekends can be a land of opportunity,’ said Paul Dergarabedian, the head of marketplace trends for Comscore.
The Stephen Curry-produced ‘GOAT,’ featuring the voice of ‘Stranger Things’ star Caleb McLaughlin as a determined goat pursuing athletic greatness, experienced only a modest 38% decline in its sophomore weekend. Studio executives credit strong audience recommendations for the film’s staying power. The movie has now accumulated more than $58.3 million domestically and reached $102.3 million worldwide.
In contrast, ‘Wuthering Heights’ saw a steeper 57% drop from its debut weekend, bringing its North American earnings to $60 million. International markets contributed an additional $26.3 million, elevating the global tally to $151.7 million against its $80 million production cost. The United Kingdom remains the film’s strongest overseas territory, generating $22.5 million in that market alone.
Lionsgate and Kingdom Story’s ‘I Can Only Imagine 2’ secured third place with an $8 million opening. This sequel to the 2018 Dennis Quaid drama, which earned $86 million on a $7 million budget, fell short of the original’s $17 million debut but met industry forecasts. Despite the modest opening, audiences awarded the film a rare A+ CinemaScore rating.
Amazon and MGM’s ‘Crime 101’ dropped 59% in its second outing, earning $5.8 million for fourth position. The heist thriller starring Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo has accumulated $24.7 million against its reported $90 million production budget. ‘Send Help’ completed the top five with $4.5 million in receipts.
A24’s ‘How to Make a Killing’ captured sixth place with $3.6 million from 1,600 theaters across North America. The StudioCanal production, drawing inspiration from ‘Kind Hearts and Coronets,’ features Powell as a man systematically eliminating family members to claim a $28 billion inheritance. John Patton Ford, director of ‘Emily the Criminal,’ helmed the project, which received lukewarm critical reception with a 47% Rotten Tomatoes score.
20th Century Studios’ ‘Psycho Killer’ performed significantly worse, landing outside the top ten with only $1.6 million from 1,110 locations. The horror-thriller, penned by ‘Seven’ writer Andrew Kevin Walker and directed by first-time filmmaker Gavin Polone, failed to connect with both critics and moviegoers. PostTrak data revealed that merely 31% of viewers would recommend the film to others.
Current box office figures show the year running approximately 5% higher than the previous year, with Dergarabedian anticipating increased activity when ‘Scream 7’ debuts next weekend.
‘It’s been a kind of rollercoaster ride at the box office,’ he said.
The weekend’s top ten, based on estimated Friday through Sunday ticket sales at U.S. and Canadian theaters according to Comscore:
1. ‘GOAT,’ $17 million.
2. ‘Wuthering Heights,’ $14.2 million.
3. ‘I Can Only Imagine 2,’ $8 million.
4. ‘Crime 101,’ $5.8 million.
5. ‘Send Help,’ $4.5 million.
6. ‘How to Make a Killing,’ $3.6 million.
7. ‘EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert,’ $3.3 million.
Syrian authorities announced Sunday that a sprawling detention facility once holding tens of thousands of women and children connected to the Islamic State has been completely evacuated.
The last group of residents departed the al-Hol camp Sunday morning, according to Fadi al-Qassem, who represents Syria’s Foreign Ministry in overseeing the facility’s operations.
Over recent weeks, hundreds of people from the isolated northeastern Syrian facility have been relocated to the Akhtarin detention center in Aleppo province, while others have been sent back to Iraq.
Authorities explained their decision to close al-Hol stemmed from its isolated desert position, which placed it far from essential services and dangerously close to regions where government control remains incomplete.
The United Nations refugee agency confirmed it facilitated the return of 191 Iraqi nationals from al-Hol to Iraq this past Thursday.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring organization based in the United Kingdom, also documented that some residents “left the camp individually, without waiting for the organized convoys.”
Following ISIS’s collapse in 2019, approximately 73,000 people resided at al-Hol, primarily Syrian and Iraqi nationals, though thousands came from other nations. The population consisted mainly of women, including current and former wives of ISIS fighters, along with their children.
The population gradually decreased as various nations retrieved their citizens, dropping to roughly 24,000 people by last month.
While residents weren’t officially classified as inmates and most faced no criminal charges, they remained in effective imprisonment at the heavily secured compound for years.
Syrian government troops seized control of al-Hol last month during a weeks-long military campaign against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which had operated the border facility for ten years. The conflict ended with a ceasefire agreement.
Many families reportedly fled the camp during and after the military operations.
Questions remain about the future of the smaller Roj camp in northeastern Syria, which stays under SDF administration. That facility primarily houses foreign nationals whose home countries have generally declined repatriation requests.
Syrian officials rejected a group of 34 Australian women and children on February 16 after they departed Roj camp and traveled toward Damascus to catch a flight to Australia. Australian officials subsequently stated they would not accept the families’ return.
A Syrian government representative, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization for public statements, explained Sunday that the situation resulted from “the lack of prior coordination with the Syrian government” by the SDF and the families before attempting their Damascus journey.
The official noted that “whether they will be allowed (to return) will depend on the Australian government.”
MEXICO CITY — Mexican military forces have eliminated the head of one of the country’s most dangerous criminal organizations during a weekend operation, according to a federal government source.
Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, widely known by his alias ‘El Mencho,’ was killed Sunday during military action in Jalisco state in western Mexico, confirmed an official who spoke on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorization for public statements.
The operation triggered violent responses across multiple Mexican states, with cartel members establishing burning vehicle barricades on roadways for several hours. These disruptive tactics represent standard cartel strategy for impeding government military actions.
Social media footage captured thick smoke clouds rising above Puerto Vallarta, a prominent Jalisco city, while other videos showed people running in fear through the state capital’s airport terminal.
United States authorities had placed a bounty of up to $15 million on El Mencho’s capture. His criminal organization ranks among Mexico’s most influential and rapidly expanding illegal enterprises.
The Trump administration classified the group as a foreign terrorist organization this past February.
This particular cartel has distinguished itself through exceptionally violent military confrontations, including helicopter attacks, and has pioneered the use of drone-delivered explosives and landmine installations. The organization executed a brazen 2020 assassination attempt in central Mexico City, using grenades and high-caliber weapons against the capital’s police chief, who currently serves as federal security director.
Drug enforcement officials consider this criminal network equivalent in strength to the notorious Sinaloa cartel, maintaining operations throughout all American states where it moves massive drug quantities. The organization serves as a primary cocaine supplier to American markets and generates billions through fentanyl and methamphetamine manufacturing, similar to the Sinaloa organization.
A decade ago, critics questioned whether NBC made a costly mistake when the network committed $7.75 billion in 2014 to broadcast the Olympics in America through 2032.
Those doubts are fading as NBC celebrates its highest Winter Olympics viewership in more than a decade.
Data from Nielsen and Adobe Analytics shows NBC drew an average of 24 million viewers during its afternoon block from 2-5 p.m. and evening coverage from 8-11 p.m. through Friday’s Milan Games coverage. This represents a dramatic 94% jump compared to the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
The Milan success continues a positive trend that began with the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, which saw an 82% increase over the Tokyo Games in 2021.
Final viewership statistics covering all 17 days of competition, including Team USA’s thrilling 2-1 overtime hockey victory against Canada on Sunday, will be announced Monday.
“I think that the Paris Games deserve a lot of the credit for rejuvenating that interest and enthusiasm, and some of that momentum continued through to Milan,” NBC Sports President Rick Cordella said from Milan.
NBC’s Olympics president and executive producer Molly Solomon and her production team earned recognition for overhauling the network’s broadcasting strategy following Beijing’s disappointing ratings.
Rather than saving marquee events for evening broadcasts, NBC began streaming competitions live across multiple platforms while transforming primetime programming into a highlight show featuring athlete interviews and expert commentary for audiences who watched events earlier.
“How do we best make sure that we are continuing to tell the story (of athletes) after they leave the venues? I do think that one of the improvements we made from our Paris coverage was to follow the athletes to their after-parties and reunions with their friends and families,” said Solomon, who is overseeing coverage from NBC Sports’ headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.
“When Alex Ferreira won (the gold medal in men’s halfpipe), we went to the bar where he was celebrating. There was a Team USA celebration for Mikaela Shiffrin, where we were there for the toast, and she talked about not being able to help Breezy Johnson get on the platform.”
“These athletes trusted us to have our cameras there, and I do think it made for even richer storytelling and taking the audience there.”
NBC embraced broadcasting methods long used internationally while responding to American viewers calling for changes. Although the network had offered online streaming for all Olympic events since London 2012, the launch of Peacock in 2020 marked a significant expansion.
By Friday, Americans had streamed 14.8 billion minutes of Milan Olympics content, more than twice the combined total of all previous Winter Games at 6.9 billion minutes.
Increased viewership also reflects improved American athletic performance after disappointing showings in Tokyo and Beijing, both held in isolated, largely empty venues during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thursday’s overtime victory by the U.S. women’s hockey team over Canada, combined with Alysa Liu’s figure skating gold medal, drew 26.7 million viewers across NBC, USA Network, Peacock and other NBCUniversal digital properties.
The women’s hockey championship game alone attracted 5.3 million viewers on USA Network and Peacock, setting a new record for women’s hockey television audience. Viewership peaked at 7.7 million during overtime when Megan Keller scored the winning goal.
“It was truly a golden hour. We popped between control rooms, and you just never know what’s going to happen,” Solomon said. “The energy in our control rooms on site, we couldn’t believe the confluence of drama and excitement, but that really is what the Olympics is about. It’s unpredictable, thrilling, and it just coincided in the golden 64 minutes.”
NBC expects to maintain this positive trajectory for upcoming Games. The 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics will feature comprehensive live coverage throughout each day, while the 2030 Winter Olympics in France’s Alps will use the successful formula developed for Paris and Milan.
The 2032 Brisbane Summer Games present scheduling challenges since most events will occur overnight for American audiences, but the 2034 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics will again provide live coverage in favorable time zones.
NBC secured Olympic broadcasting rights through 2036 after agreeing to a $3 billion deal last year for the 2034 and 2036 Games.
“Paris begets Milan, and Milan will beget LA. I think the Olympics are just unique in many respects,” Cordella said. “The U.S.-Swiss curling match, there are hundreds of thousands of people online streaming. They’re seeking it out and watching these matchups of these athletes; they probably didn’t know about them before the Olympics began. It’s compelling TV, and that’s kind of what the Olympics does.”
A notorious Mexican cartel leader known as ‘El Mencho’ has reportedly been killed during a federal military operation, according to a government official with knowledge of the mission who spoke to Reuters on Sunday.
The deadly confrontation took place during a federal security mission in Tapalpa, a city located in Jalisco state, based on information shared by Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro through his social media account.
Following the military action, numerous vehicles were torched across Jalisco and neighboring states, as reported by local media and government officials.
The operation’s aftermath also triggered highway blockades in the adjacent state of Michoacan, according to Governor Alfredo Ramirez Bedolla, who posted on social media that his office had been notified of the road closures stemming from the Jalisco operation.
Mexican military forces launched a federal security operation Sunday targeting one of the country’s most wanted drug kingpins, Nemesio Oseguera, better known by his alias ‘El Mencho,’ according to reports from Mexican media outlets Reforma and Milenio.
The operation took place in Tapalpa, a city located in Jalisco state, as confirmed by Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro in a social media post on X.
The military action triggered a violent response across the region, with numerous vehicles being torched throughout Jalisco and neighboring states, according to reports from media organizations and government officials.
Sweden’s women’s curling team has reached new heights after capturing their second Olympic gold medal on Sunday, with team captain Anna Hasselborg declaring the squad is at peak performance following their historic victory in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
The Swedish team edged Switzerland 6-5 in the final match, making Olympic history as the first women’s curling squad to secure three total Olympic medals. This latest gold joins their 2018 Pyeongchang victory and their 2022 Beijing bronze medal.
“Everything we’ve been working for the last four years – we’re going a little bit harder without the hammer, going aggressive, really putting rocks in play – everything just came together this weekend,” Hasselborg explained after the victory.
“Technically, we’re so strong, but I think the key one thing is our team spirit, and the trust we have for each other, and all the fun we’re having…”
“Eight years later (after Pyeongchang), I think this is the strongest we have ever been, mentally, technically, strategically and just that we have believed in each other for the whole way. It’s never been a doubt. It’s just unreal,” the team leader added.
The path to gold wasn’t expected to be easy for Sweden, as they entered the Games without favored status. The team faced significant personal challenges during the previous Olympic cycle, including roster changes and the fact that three players, including Hasselborg, welcomed babies in 2023.
The squad gradually regained their competitive edge leading up to the Games, securing their third European Curling Championships crown in November. Their Olympic performance was dominant, finishing with a strong preliminary round and becoming the first team to advance to the semifinals.
In the semifinals, they defeated Canada, the world’s top-ranked women’s team and two-time world champions, before claiming the gold medal match.
Hasselborg, 36, had previously characterized her team as a “circus” due to their large traveling family group, and she emphasized how meaningful this victory was with her children watching from the stands.
“It’s everything I ever dreamt of. Becoming a mother, it’s not always easy to find that balance and motivation, because becoming a mom is so much more important than everything else,” she reflected.
“But we found that, we found that at the right time. We just found the balance that was perfect… I think they (children) have had a really fun weekend. They were also taken by the moment. They understood there was something big happening.”
“Especially my daughter, who is a little bit older. I’m so proud to be able to show them that anything is possible, with the support of the family. You can do anything,” Hasselborg concluded.
According to a report from The Athletic, the Cleveland Guardians have reached an agreement with veteran first baseman Rhys Hoskins on a minor league contract.
Sources indicate Hoskins would receive a base salary of $1.5 million if he successfully makes Cleveland’s major league roster. The deal remains contingent on the player passing a physical examination, though Hoskins was already present at the team’s spring training facility in Arizona on Sunday.
The veteran slugger will celebrate his 33rd birthday next month and brings significant experience from his time in the National League. Hoskins spent his first six professional seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies before joining the Milwaukee Brewers for the last two campaigns.
His 2023 season was completely wiped out after suffering a torn ACL during spring training preparations. Throughout his major league career, Hoskins has compiled a .238 batting average while launching 186 home runs and driving in 530 runs.
Injuries limited Hoskins to just 90 appearances for Milwaukee last season, as he dealt with both a left thumb UCL sprain and bone bruise. During that abbreviated campaign, he managed a .237 batting average with 12 home runs and 43 RBIs. The Brewers eventually acquired Andrew Vaughn from the Chicago White Sox to handle first base duties.
Golf superstar Tiger Woods has fans buzzing after hinting at a potential return to competitive play at this year’s Masters tournament during a Saturday television appearance.
The legendary golfer, who has claimed five Masters victories and 15 major championships throughout his career, created excitement during his guest commentary stint with Jim Nantz and Trevor Immelman in the CBS broadcast booth. Woods was providing analysis during the third round of the Genesis Invitational, an event he hosts at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California.
The 50-year-old athlete hasn’t played competitively since the 2024 Open Championship, after which he underwent disc replacement surgery in October. He also had surgical treatment for a torn Achilles tendon last March.
During the broadcast, Nantz mentioned that world-ranked golfer Rory McIlroy would be defending his Augusta National title and that top-ranked Scottie Scheffler would also be participating. Nantz then posed the question to Woods: “Anybody else you know who might be playing this year?”
“I know I’ll be there,” Woods responded with a grin. “We’re going to open up The Patch (a local municipal golf course), and Trev and I are going to be part of a great (champions) dinner.”
After Nantz clarified he wasn’t specifically referring to Woods, the golf champion continued his playful exchange.
Immelman then posed a straightforward question to Woods.
“Is there a possibility that you can get out there?” Immelman inquired.
“There is,” Woods confirmed.
When Nantz followed up by asking whether Woods planned to participate in any tournaments prior to the Masters, Woods replied with uncertainty.
“I don’t know,” Woods stated.
Throughout his illustrious career, Woods has secured 82 PGA Tour victories, including Masters wins in 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, and 2019.
Authorities have released the name of the young woman killed in a devastating head-on collision Friday night in Wilmington. Delaware State Police confirm that Unique Williams, 19, of Newark, Delaware, lost her life in the two-vehicle crash.
The investigation remains active under the Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit. Officials are urging anyone who may have witnessed the deadly accident or possesses relevant details to reach out to Corporal K. Oakes at (302) 365-8483. Witnesses can also share information through a private message to the Delaware State Police Facebook page or by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
For families and individuals affected by sudden loss or traumatic incidents, support is available around the clock. The Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit, working alongside the Delaware Victim Center, provides assistance through their 24-hour helpline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). Those needing help can also reach out via email at [email protected].
(Smyrna, Del.) — Delaware officials have declared a State of Emergency as a powerful winter storm approaches the Delmarva Peninsula and southern New Jersey, prompting statewide preparations and emergency response mobilization.
Governor Matt Meyer signed the emergency declaration effective noon Sunday, citing the potential for crippling snow, strong winds, and increased coastal flooding risk. The action authorizes the state to marshal critical resources, including the activation of the Delaware National Guard to assist with storm response and safety operations.
“I’m declaring a State of Emergency and activating every available state resource to ensure Delawareans are protected as this blizzard blankets our communities, including increased risks for coastal flooding,” Governor Meyer said in a statement urging residents to prepare now and avoid travel once the storm begins.
The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) has been on Enhanced Watch, and will shift to full activation Sunday evening to coordinate with partners including DelDOT, state police, health services, county officials, and the National Weather Service. A Joint Information Center is also operational to disseminate updates.
Blizzard Conditions and Heavy Snow Expected
The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Warning for all of Delaware, with snow expected to continue through Monday. Anticipated snowfall totals range from 12 to 20 inches, and widespread closures and infrastructure impacts are likely as the storm unfolds.
Southern New Jersey is also forecast to see major snowfall and blizzard conditions, with similarly heavy accumulations and wind-driven whiteout conditions as the storm moves up the Mid-Atlantic coast.
Travel Restrictions and Public Safety Measures
Officials warn that state-mandated driving restrictions could be implemented to reduce danger on roadways. Travelers are strongly urged to avoid nonessential travel once conditions deteriorate. Roads may be restricted to essential personnel only under higher levels of emergency travel orders.
Broad Preparations Underway
State agencies and emergency services are preparing for multiple storm impacts, including heavy snowfall, blizzard conditions, strong winds, and potential coastal flooding along Delaware Bay and Atlantic shorelines. Residents are encouraged to secure supplies, stay informed through official alerts, and follow guidance from state and local authorities throughout the event.
The United States men’s hockey team made history Sunday at the Milan Cortina Olympics, claiming the gold medal with a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory over Canada in the championship game.
Jack Hughes delivered the game-winning goal in the extra period, securing America’s third Olympic men’s hockey title and ending a 46-year championship drought that dated back to the legendary “Miracle on Ice” victory in 1980. Remarkably, Sunday’s triumph came exactly 46 years to the day after that iconic upset against the Soviet Union.
The gold medal match served as the final event of the Winter Olympics, providing a dramatic conclusion to the Games with Team USA’s long-awaited return to the top of the Olympic hockey podium.
Cambridge city officials have activated a snow emergency that will remain in place from Sunday afternoon through Monday midday.
The emergency declaration takes effect at 2 PM on Sunday, February 22nd and will continue until 12 PM on Monday, February 23rd, 2026.
During snow emergency periods, parking restrictions and other municipal protocols typically go into effect to help crews clear roadways and maintain public safety.
Student demonstrations continued across Iranian universities for the second straight day on Sunday, with violent confrontations breaking out between protesters and security forces, according to reports from local media outlets and social media platforms.
The ongoing campus unrest occurs as Iran works toward finalizing a nuclear agreement with the United States, even as American military forces increase their presence in the region.
These latest campus disturbances come on the heels of widespread anti-government protests that swept the country last month, resulting in thousands of deaths in what became Iran’s most severe domestic crisis since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
Iranian state television broadcast footage showing what officials described as individuals “pretending to be students” who allegedly attacked government supporters on Tehran campuses. These pro-government students had been participating in counter-demonstrations to denounce January’s unrest. The footage showed the alleged attackers hurling stones and injuring students.
Additional protests occurred at educational institutions in Mashhad, located in Iran’s northeastern region, based on video evidence released by HRANA, a human rights organization based in the United States. The group reported that security force intervention during these demonstrations resulted in student injuries.
Video footage from Saturday allegedly captured large groups of demonstrators at Tehran’s Sharif University of Technology chanting against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whom they labeled a “murderous leader.” The protesters also voiced support for Reza Pahlavi, the exiled heir to Iran’s former monarchy, calling for his return as ruler.
The current wave of protests began in December, initially focusing on economic difficulties before evolving into broader political opposition. Authorities responded with the harshest crackdown on dissent witnessed since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Cars were set ablaze across Mexico’s Jalisco state on Sunday after federal authorities carried out a security operation, according to Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro.
The governor announced the incidents on social media Sunday afternoon, stating that the federal operation took place in Tapalpa, a city within Jalisco, and resulted in confrontations in the region.
Navarro did not identify which organizations were part of the conflicts and offered no additional details about the nature of the federal operation.
News organizations in the area reported that cars were seen burning in Guadalajara, the state’s largest city.
A classified weapons agreement valued at 500 million euros ($589 million) between Iran and Russia has come to light, according to a Financial Times investigation published Sunday.
The confidential contract, finalized in Moscow this past December, outlines Russia’s commitment to supply 500 portable “Verba” launching systems along with 2,500 “9M336” missiles spanning three years, the Financial Times reported. The publication cited confidential Russian documentation and multiple sources with knowledge of the arrangement.
Reuters has not been able to independently confirm these details.
The weapons shipments are planned to occur in three separate deliveries between 2027 and 2029, according to the Financial Times report.
Negotiations took place between Rosoboronexport, Russia’s government-owned arms export company, and Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics representative stationed in Moscow, the Financial Times stated.
Iran initially submitted a formal request for these weapon systems in July of last year, based on contractual documents reviewed by the Financial Times. This request came after U.S. military forces targeted Iran’s three primary nuclear installations in June, during Iran’s involvement in Israel’s military operations against the country.
President Donald Trump announced that the strikes successfully eliminated Iran’s major nuclear infrastructure. A preliminary U.S. intelligence evaluation, however, indicated that while the attacks caused damage, they did not completely eliminate Iran’s nuclear program and only delayed it by several months.
Tehran officials have consistently maintained that Iran has bounced back from the wartime damage and claims its military capabilities have reached unprecedented levels.
Iran and Russia maintain a strategic alliance agreement, though it lacks provisions for mutual military defense. This month, a Russian naval vessel participated in joint exercises with Iran’s navy in the Gulf of Oman, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported.
Minnesota Twins All-Star pitcher Joe Ryan is dealing with lower back inflammation after missing his scheduled spring training appearance on Saturday, the team announced.
The 29-year-old right-hander received an MRI and shared the results with media on Sunday. The injury news comes just two days after the organization revealed that pitcher Pablo Lopez will need Tommy John surgery this week, sidelining him for the entire 2026 season.
“I didn’t do any deep dives and don’t have Twitter. … I’m sorry to scare everyone,” Ryan said when speaking with reporters on Sunday.
Ryan recently signed a $6.2 million deal to avoid going to arbitration this offseason.
During the 2024 campaign, the right-handed pitcher compiled a 13-10 win-loss record along with a personal-best 3.42 earned run average and 194 strikeouts across 31 games, including 30 starts. Last summer marked his debut appearance in the All-Star Game.
A major and potentially historic winter storm is set to bring crippling snowfall, blizzard conditions, damaging winds, and significant coastal flooding to the Delmarva Peninsula and southern New Jersey through Monday.
The storm is rapidly intensifying as it tracks northeast along the Mid-Atlantic coast. Forecast guidance continues to show the low deepening dramatically offshore, potentially reaching near 970 millibars. This strengthening coastal system will place Delmarva and South Jersey in a prime zone for heavy snow, strong winds, and dangerous conditions.
Heavy Snow Becoming Intense This Evening
Light precipitation is already spreading into the region, but colder air will quickly take over this afternoon and evening. Any early rain or mix will transition to all snow as the heaviest precipitation moves in.
Snowfall rates are expected to exceed 2 inches per hour at times tonight, especially across Delaware and southern New Jersey. Widespread totals of 1 to 2 feet are expected across much of Delmarva, with locally higher amounts possible near the Delaware and New Jersey coasts where banding sets up.
Southern New Jersey is expected to see some of the heaviest snowfall, particularly along the coastal counties where intense snow bands may persist for several hours.
Thundersnow Possible Tonight
With very strong upward motion in the atmosphere and intense snow bands developing, thundersnow is possible tonight across parts of Delmarva and southern New Jersey. This rare phenomenon occurs when lightning and thunder develop within heavy snow bands, often signaling extremely heavy snowfall rates and rapidly deteriorating visibility.
If thundersnow develops, snowfall rates could briefly become even more intense, leading to near whiteout conditions.
Blizzard Conditions and Life-Threatening Travel
As the storm strengthens offshore tonight, winds will ramp up significantly. Northeast winds of 20 to 35 mph will shift north and northwest into Monday, with gusts of 35 to 45 mph inland and up to 60 mph along the coast.
The combination of heavy, wet snow and strong winds will produce blowing and drifting snow, sharply reduced visibility, and potentially impossible travel conditions. Blizzard Warnings are in effect across all of Delaware and all of New Jersey.
Even outside of strict blizzard criteria, travel is expected to become extremely dangerous Sunday night into early Monday. Residents are strongly urged to avoid travel once conditions worsen.
Power Outages Likely
Snow will initially be heavy and wet, sticking to trees and power lines. Combined with strong wind gusts, this increases the risk for scattered power outages across the region.
Coastal Flooding Expected Tonight
In addition to snow and wind, widespread coastal flooding is expected during tonight’s high tide cycle.
Strong onshore winds will push water into the back bays and along the Atlantic coastline of southern New Jersey and Delaware. Moderate coastal flooding is likely, with some locations potentially reaching major flood stage, especially from Ocean County, New Jersey southward through Sussex County, Delaware.
Coastal Flood Warnings remain in effect for Atlantic and Cape May Counties in New Jersey and for Kent and Sussex Counties in Delaware.
Another round of minor to moderate flooding may occur Monday as ocean swells remain elevated, even as winds gradually shift offshore.
No Tidal Flooding for Maryland Eastern Shore Rivers
While Atlantic coastal areas face significant flooding concerns, tidal flooding is not expected along the tidal Maryland Eastern Shore waterways.
Delaware transportation officials have blocked off a portion of Harmony Road while crews address urgent utility infrastructure problems.
The roadway shutdown spans from Route 273 to Greentree Road, according to DelDOT traffic alerts. Officials have not provided an estimated timeframe for when the road will reopen to vehicle traffic.
Drivers in the area should plan alternate routes while the emergency repairs are underway. DelDOT continues to monitor the situation and will update the public when the roadway is safe to reopen.
European Union leaders are pushing back against new American tariffs, insisting Washington must honor the terms of a trade agreement reached between the two sides last year.
The European Commission, speaking for all 27 EU nations in trade matters, called on the United States to provide complete transparency about its next moves following a recent Supreme Court decision that invalidated former President Trump’s worldwide tariff system.
The Supreme Court eliminated Trump’s global tariff structure on Friday, prompting the former president to respond by implementing temporary tariffs of 10% on all imports, which he then raised to 15% just one day later.
European officials stated that the current circumstances do not support achieving the mutually beneficial transatlantic trade relationship that both parties committed to in their previous agreement. The Commission emphasized: “A deal is a deal.”
This response marked a significantly tougher stance compared to the EU’s initial reaction on Friday, when officials had simply indicated they were reviewing the Supreme Court’s decision and maintaining communication with American officials.
The trade agreement established last year set American tariff rates at 15% for most European products, excluding items already subject to specific sector tariffs like steel. The deal also eliminated tariffs entirely on certain goods including aircraft and replacement parts. In exchange, European nations removed import fees on numerous American products and abandoned plans for retaliatory tariffs.
EU leadership stressed that European goods must continue receiving the most favorable treatment possible, with no tariff increases above the comprehensive limits previously established. Officials warned that unpredictable tariff policies create disruption and damage confidence in worldwide markets.
The Commission reported that EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic held discussions about the situation with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Saturday.
Fresh waves of anti-government demonstrations have erupted across Iranian universities as students gather to honor those who died in previous nationwide protests, according to witness accounts emerging Sunday from the Middle East.
State media in Iran confirmed that students demonstrated at six universities total – five in the capital city of Tehran and one in Mashhad – during weekend protests that began Saturday. These demonstrations coincided with traditional 40-day mourning ceremonies for victims killed during anti-government rallies in January.
Iranian officials have remained silent regarding these latest campus demonstrations.
The memorial services have been taking place throughout the past week, following Iranian customs that mark a 40-day period of mourning. Activist groups monitoring the situation believe most of the deaths occurred around January 8th and 9th.
Citizens throughout Iran continue to grapple with trauma, sorrow and anxiety following the brutal suppression of earlier demonstrations – marking the most lethal government response during 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s tenure. Death tolls reached into the thousands while tens of thousands faced detention.
While the harsh crackdown succeeded in quelling major demonstrations, smaller acts of resistance persist, as evidenced by protester accounts and social media footage.
This pattern of memorial-turned-protest echoes events from Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, when 40-day commemorations for killed demonstrators frequently transformed into new rallies that authorities attempted to suppress, creating cycles of violence and remembrance.
Social media reports from the weekend suggest security personnel worked to prevent citizens from attending certain memorial gatherings.
These developments unfold as Iran prepares for possible American military strikes, with the Trump administration demanding Iranian concessions on nuclear matters and other disputes. U.S. military buildup in the Middle East has reached levels not seen in decades.
The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reports that at least 7,015 people died during the previous protest wave and subsequent crackdown, including 214 government personnel. This organization has demonstrated accuracy in previous casualty counts and maintains connections with Iranian activists to verify deaths.
Their death count continues climbing as the organization cross-references information despite communication difficulties within Iran.
Iranian authorities provided their sole official casualty figure on January 21st, claiming 3,117 deaths. The country’s theocratic government has historically minimized or omitted fatality reports from civil unrest.
Independent verification of death tolls remains impossible for news organizations due to Iranian restrictions on internet access and international communications.
President Donald Trump indicated Friday that targeted military action against Iran remains possible, even as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated Tehran anticipates presenting a proposed agreement within days following indirect nuclear negotiations with Washington.
The positioning of additional American naval vessels and aircraft, including the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier near the Mediterranean entrance, doesn’t ensure military action but strengthens Trump’s capacity to authorize strikes if desired.
BRUSSELS — European Union leadership is demanding complete transparency from the United States and insisting America stick to its trade obligations following a Supreme Court ruling that overturned several of former President Donald Trump’s extensive tariff policies.
In response to the court’s decision, Trump criticized the ruling and announced Saturday his intention to implement a worldwide 15% tariff, an increase from the 10% rate he had previously proposed just one day before.
The European Commission stated that current circumstances do not support achieving trade and investment across the Atlantic that is “fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial,” as both nations committed to in their EU-U.S. Joint Statement from August 2025.
Last year, U.S. and European Union representatives finalized a trade agreement establishing a 15% import duty on 70% of goods shipped from Europe to America. The European Commission represents all 27 EU nations in trade negotiations.
A senior EU legislative leader announced Sunday his intention to recommend that the European Parliament’s negotiating committee temporarily halt the ratification process for the agreement.
“Pure tariff chaos on the part of the U.S. administration,” wrote Bernd Lange, who chairs Parliament’s international trade committee, in a social media post. “No one can make sense of it anymore — only open questions and growing uncertainty for the EU and other U.S. trading partners.”
According to Eurostat, the EU’s statistics office, trade between Europe and the United States in goods and services totaled 1.7 trillion euros ($2 trillion) during 2024, averaging 4.6 billion euros daily.
“A deal is a deal,” declared the European Commission. “As the United States’ largest trading partner, the EU expects the U.S. to honor its commitments set out in the Joint Statement — just as the EU stands by its commitments. EU products must continue to benefit from the most competitive treatment, with no increases in tariffs beyond the clear and all-inclusive ceiling previously agreed.”
The top European exports to America include pharmaceuticals, automobiles, aircraft, chemicals, medical devices, and alcoholic beverages including wine and spirits. Major American exports to Europe consist of professional and scientific services such as payment processing and cloud computing infrastructure, petroleum and natural gas, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, aerospace technology, and vehicles.
“When applied unpredictably, tariffs are inherently disruptive, undermining confidence and stability across global markets and creating further uncertainty across international supply chains,” the commission stated.
Being fundamentally a commercial alliance, the EU possesses significant retaliatory capabilities through its Anti-Coercion Instrument. This mechanism encompasses various options for blocking or limiting trade and investment from nations determined to be applying excessive pressure on EU member states or businesses.
These countermeasures might involve restricting the flow of goods and services in both directions, excluding nations or corporations from EU government contracts, or constraining foreign direct investment. At its most extreme level, such action would effectively deny access to the EU’s 450-million consumer marketplace and cause billions in damages to American businesses and the U.S. economy.
LONDON (AP) — Celebrity attendees gathered in London on Sunday evening for the prestigious British Academy Film Awards ceremony, an important precursor to the Academy Awards scheduled for next month.
The ceremony, formally known as the EE BAFTA Film Awards, features winners selected by thousands of British academy members comprised of film industry professionals. However, one category stands apart from the rest — the Rising Star Award — which allows the general public to vote from a predetermined list of candidates.
Those honored during the ceremony will receive the distinctive bronze mask trophy that has become synonymous with BAFTA recognition.
The event showcased numerous photo opportunities as celebrities walked the red carpet before the awards presentation.
MILAN – Team USA’s men’s hockey squad secured Olympic gold Sunday evening, edging out Canada 2-1 in a nail-biting overtime showdown that captivated viewers worldwide.
The dramatic victory in Milan represents the third time American men have claimed hockey’s top Olympic prize, ending a 44-year drought that stretched back to the iconic 1980 Lake Placid games when the underdog U.S. team stunned the hockey world.
Sunday’s championship game required extra time to determine a winner, with the Americans ultimately prevailing in the sudden-death overtime period to deny Canada what would have been their latest addition to an already impressive Olympic hockey legacy.
VERONA, Italy – Several hundred demonstrators filled the streets of Verona on February 22nd, staging a protest just hours before the Winter Olympics closing ceremony was set to begin at the city’s historic Roman arena at 8:30 p.m.
University students and advocacy groups organized the demonstration under the banner “Olympics? No thanks,” expressing opposition to what they describe as an event that harms forests, covers sensitive land with concrete, and worsens social disparities.
“We are here to defend our territory from speculation… and from the impossible cost of attending events,” declared 76-year-old activist Giannina Dal Bosco, pointing out that closing ceremony tickets were priced around 400 euros.
Demonstrators carried signs with messages like “Fewer Games for the few, more homes for everyone.”
Francesca, a 34-year-old who made the 60-kilometer journey from Vicenza, criticized how new Olympic facilities have altered the natural environment. “They built concrete monstrosities like the bobsleigh track, which will serve no purpose,” she stated. “Public money has been wasted that could have been used for hydrogeological safety and housing plans.”
Among the crowd, some participants displayed Palestinian flags and wore keffiyeh scarves as they marched.
The demonstration route took protesters on a two-hour walk outside the security zone, starting at the historic 16th-century Porta Palio and ending at Arsenal Square from the 19th century.
This protest was smaller than an earlier demonstration in Milan that drew nearly 10,000 participants on the Games’ opening day and eventually became violent.
LIVIGNO, Italy – Eileen Gu made Olympic history in spectacular fashion, earning three medals that propelled China past the United States in freestyle skiing dominance at the Milano Cortina Games.
The 22-year-old athlete secured one gold and two silver medals through breathtaking aerial maneuvers in the Italian Alpine resort town, establishing herself as the most accomplished freestyle skier in Olympic history.
Gu, who was born in America but competes for China in honor of her mother’s heritage, entered these games with three previous Olympic medals. Her latest achievements brought China’s freestyle skiing medal total to nine, surpassing America’s count of eight.
The competition showcased unprecedented athleticism, with skiers executing more complex aerial tricks and achieving greater heights than ever witnessed before. Judges evaluate performances based on both technical execution and innovative creativity.
Norway’s Tormod Frostad exemplified this elevated standard in big air competition, earning an exceptional score of 195.5 out of a possible 200 points.
“Year after year we get to see the progression of a sport as the average of everybody rises,” Gu said.
“We all get better, and maybe the people at the top are contributing a little bit more, but everybody is contributing to that growth.”
China’s strength extended beyond Gu’s individual success, particularly in aerials competition. The married duo of Wang Xindi and Xu Mengtao claimed gold medals in their respective women’s and men’s aerial events.
Despite their dominance, China fell short of sweeping all aerial competitions when the United States successfully defended their mixed team aerials championship.
Canadian veteran Mikael Kingsbury provided another highlight, competing in his fourth and final Olympics at age 33. The moguls specialist earned silver in men’s competition and gold in the newly-added dual moguls event, cementing his status as freestyle skiing’s most decorated male athlete with his collection spanning multiple Winter Games.
American Alex Ferreira also completed his medal set, adding halfpipe gold to his previous bronze and silver medals from earlier Olympics.
British security officers assigned to protect Prince Andrew received orders to work security at a dinner party hosted by Jeffrey Epstein at his New York residence in December 2010, according to new media reports published Sunday.
The Sunday Times broke the story after reviewing email communications from the Epstein document files, which appear to show detailed plans for Prince Andrew’s visit to stay with the disgraced financier, accompanied by two Metropolitan Police protection officers from London.
An email sent one day prior to the gathering, titled “Security for party,” revealed that a staff member notified Epstein that both officers had received “instructions on the door.”
These revelations surface just days after authorities announced Friday they were reaching out to former security personnel who previously worked for Prince Andrew, encouraging anyone with information about sexual offense allegations connected to Epstein to contact police.
Law enforcement officials stated they have not discovered any misconduct by the protection officers during their current investigation. When asked about Sunday’s news reports, the Metropolitan Police declined to provide additional statements.
Prince Andrew faced arrest Thursday on charges of suspected misconduct in public office as part of a different investigation, spending over 10 hours in custody with Thames Valley Police before being released pending further investigation.
The arrest stems from accusations that he transmitted classified government materials to Epstein during his tenure as a trade representative. Thames Valley Police officers continued searching his previous Windsor estate on Sunday as part of their ongoing probe.
Prince Andrew has consistently maintained his innocence regarding any improper conduct involving Epstein, though he has expressed regret about their association.
The royal reached a civil settlement in 2022 with Virginia Giuffre, who had filed a lawsuit in American courts alleging he sexually assaulted her as a minor at locations belonging to Epstein and his associates. Prince Andrew has maintained he never encountered Giuffre.
WASHINGTON – Federal officials backtracked Sunday on plans to halt TSA PreCheck services, announcing the expedited airport screening program will continue operating despite a partial agency shutdown.
The Department of Homeland Security had initially indicated that PreCheck would be temporarily suspended as part of broader agency closures, but reversed that decision in a Sunday announcement.
The program allows pre-approved travelers to move through airport security more quickly without removing shoes, belts, or laptops from bags.
Diplomatic tensions escalated Sunday following controversial statements by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee regarding Israeli territorial rights across the Middle East, prompting condemnation from numerous Arab and Muslim nations while American officials insist the remarks were misinterpreted.
During a Friday interview with conservative host Tucker Carlson, Huckabee addressed biblical references to land promised to Abraham’s descendants, which Carlson described as encompassing much of today’s Middle East, including portions of Jordan, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. When Carlson cited Genesis Chapter 15 and questioned whether Israel possessed rights to this territory, Huckabee replied: “It would be fine if they took it all.”
US Embassy officials responded Sunday, stating that Huckabee’s remarks were mischaracterized and emphasized that American policy toward Israel remains unchanged.
The ambassador provided additional context during the interview, explaining: “They’re not asking to go back and take all of that, but they are asking to at least take the land that they now occupy, they now live in, they now own legitimately, and it is a safe haven for them.” Huckabee clarified that Israel has no intentions of conquering Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, or Iraq, but seeks to safeguard its citizens.
Fifteen countries and multiple Arab organizations issued a unified condemnation Sunday, labeling Huckabee’s statements as “dangerous and inflammatory” and warning they threaten regional peace.
“These statements directly contradict the vision put forward by U.S. President Donald J. Trump … based on containing escalation and creating a political horizon for a comprehensive settlement that ensures the Palestinian people have their own independent state,” the coalition statement declared.
The signatories included Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Syria, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, the Palestinian territories and various Arab governing organizations.
Israel gained control of the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem from Jordan, along with Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, and the Golan Heights from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War. Following the 1973 conflict, Israel returned the Sinai to Egypt as part of their peace agreement and later withdrew unilaterally from Gaza in 2005. Since the Hamas ceasefire began in October after two years of conflict, Israeli forces have maintained control over most of Gaza’s eastern regions.
Recent months have seen Israel strengthen its grip on the occupied West Bank through expanded settlement construction, legitimizing unauthorized outposts, and implementing major administrative policy shifts. President Trump has stated his opposition to Israeli annexation of the West Bank and promised to prevent such actions.
An evangelical Christian with strong pro-Israel views, Huckabee has consistently supported West Bank settlements and rejected the concept of a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians.
Carlson, who has criticized American support for Israel during the Gaza conflict, has faced scrutiny for promoting far-right ideologies, including white supremacist replacement theory claiming minorities are displacing white Americans.
Regional anxiety remains elevated as Israel braces for potential Iranian retaliation. Iran has previously threatened to strike both Israeli and American targets throughout the Middle East if attacked by the United States.
Trump indicated Friday that limited military action against Iran could occur, while Iranian diplomats suggested a proposed agreement might emerge within days from ongoing nuclear negotiations with Washington.
The deployment of additional American naval vessels and aircraft to the region, including positioning the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier near the Mediterranean entrance, doesn’t guarantee military action but enhances Trump’s strike capabilities.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu cautioned last week that Iranian aggression against Israel would provoke “a response that they cannot even imagine.”
Last year’s Israeli attack on Iran during indirect US-Iranian negotiations triggered a 12-day conflict, during which the United States participated by targeting Iranian nuclear facilities.
Secret Service agents fatally shot an intruder who breached the security perimeter at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, early Sunday morning.
The incident unfolded at 1:30 a.m. when the suspect, described as a man in his early twenties from North Carolina, drove through the resort’s north gate while another vehicle was leaving the property. Both President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were at the White House when the breach occurred.
According to Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi, the intruder was carrying a shotgun and a gas can when he entered the restricted area. Palm Beach County Sheriff Rick Bradshaw explained during a news conference that two Secret Service agents and a deputy sheriff confronted the armed individual.
“He was ordered to drop those two pieces of equipment that he had with them. At which time he put down the gas can, raised the shotgun to a shooting position,” Bradshaw stated. The law enforcement officers then “fired their weapons to neutralize the threat.”
Sheriff Bradshaw confirmed that the suspect was not previously known to law enforcement authorities. The man’s family had reported him missing several days before the incident, and investigators believe he traveled south from North Carolina, acquiring the shotgun during his journey. Officials recovered the weapon’s packaging from his vehicle.
Federal investigators are requesting residents living near the resort to review their security footage for any material that might assist in the investigation. Authorities are currently developing a psychological profile of the suspect while working to determine his motives.
This security breach represents the latest in a series of threats against the former president. Trump survived an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania campaign rally on July 13, 2024, where he sustained injuries. Just two months later, on September 15, 2024, another armed individual was apprehended after positioning himself near Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course while the president was playing. That suspect received a life sentence earlier this month.
The incident occurs amid a concerning pattern of political violence across the nation. Recent attacks have included the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the killing of Minnesota’s Democratic state House leader and her spouse, shootings targeting other lawmakers and their families, and an arson attack at Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s official residence.
A separate security incident took place five days prior when U.S. Capitol Police arrested a Georgia man carrying a shotgun as he ran toward the Capitol’s west entrance.
The leader of Greenland has turned down President Donald Trump’s proposal to dispatch a U.S. hospital vessel to the Arctic territory, delivering the rejection through social media on Sunday.
Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen dismissed the offer from Trump, who has made numerous public statements about his desire to acquire Greenland from Denmark’s control.
On Saturday, Trump announced through his social media channels that he was collaborating with Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, who serves as his special representative to Greenland, to deploy a medical ship to the region.
Nielsen responded to the proposal on his Facebook page, stating: “President Trump’s idea of sending an American hospital ship here to Greenland has been noted. But we have a public healthcare system where treatment is free for citizens. It is a deliberate choice.”
While declining the hospital ship offer, Nielsen indicated that Greenland welcomes continued discussions and partnership opportunities, including with the United States.
However, he criticized Trump’s communication approach, saying: “But talk to us instead of just making more or less random outbursts on social media.”
The exchange occurs as the United States, Denmark, and Greenland initiated formal diplomatic discussions in late January aimed at addressing the ongoing dispute between the nations. The talks follow several months of rising tensions within the NATO military alliance stemming from Trump’s public threats regarding the Arctic region.
Trump’s hospital ship announcement came just hours after Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command reported conducting an emergency medical evacuation of a crew member from a U.S. submarine operating in Greenlandic waters, positioned seven nautical miles from Nuuk, Greenland’s capital city. Officials have not confirmed whether Trump’s social media post was related to this medical emergency.
LIVIGNO, Italy – What should have been purely a moment of triumph turned bittersweet for Olympic champion Eileen Gu on Sunday. The 22-year-old freestyle skier made history by becoming the most successful Olympic athlete in her sport, only to receive devastating news moments later about her grandmother’s passing.
During a press conference following her victory in Livigno, Gu became emotional while speaking about her grandmother, Feng Guozhen, who had been a major source of inspiration throughout her career.
“A lot of people just cruise through life, but she was a steamship,” Gu shared through tears. “This woman commanded life and she grabbed it by the reins and she made it into what she wanted it to be.”
Gu, who was born in America but chose to compete for China in honor of her mother’s and grandmother’s heritage, secured her sixth Olympic medal with Sunday’s women’s halfpipe victory.
The champion reflected on conversations with her grandmother about pursuing professional skiing, including discussions about competing in the Milano Cortina Games.
“I didn’t promise her that I was going to win, but I did promise her that I was going to be brave like she has been brave,” Gu explained.
“And that’s why I keep referring to this theme of betting on myself and being brave and taking risks. It actually goes back to that promise I made my grandma.”
“I’m really happy that I was able to uphold that and hopefully do her proud,” she continued, “but it’s also a really difficult time for me now.”
WASHINGTON – America’s leading trade official reports that international partners are standing by their tariff agreements with the United States, even after the Supreme Court eliminated numerous trade policies implemented during President Donald Trump’s administration.
During an appearance on CBS’s “Face the Nation” Sunday, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer described ongoing discussions with nations that have established tariff agreements with America. According to Greer, none of these countries have suggested they plan to abandon their current arrangements following Friday’s high court ruling that overturned a significant portion of Trump’s tariff policies.
Greer revealed he has already conducted talks with European Union trade officials and plans additional conversations with representatives from other nations in the coming days.
“I haven’t heard anyone yet come to me and say the deal is off,” Greer stated during the television interview.
Federal agents fatally shot an armed intruder who breached security at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, early Sunday morning, according to the U.S. Secret Service.
The president was not at his Florida property during the security breach, remaining at the White House with First Lady Melania Trump throughout the weekend.
Authorities have not disclosed the identity of the deceased individual. Secret Service officials reported that the man “was observed by the north gate of the Mar-a-Lago property carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can” during the 1:30 a.m. incident on Sunday.
During a news briefing, Palm Beach County Sheriff Rick Bradshaw explained that law enforcement officers – two Secret Service agents and one sheriff’s deputy – confronted the intruder.
“He was ordered to drop those two pieces of equipment that he had with them. At which time he put down the gas can, raised the shotgun to a shooting position,” Bradshaw stated. The officers “fired their weapons to neutralize the threat.”
Federal investigators are requesting assistance from Mar-a-Lago area residents, asking them to review their security camera footage for any evidence that might aid the investigation.
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi revealed that the deceased individual was in his early twenties and originally from North Carolina. His family had filed a missing person report several days prior to the incident. Authorities believe he traveled south from North Carolina, acquiring the shotgun during his journey, with investigators recovering the weapon’s packaging from his vehicle.
According to Guglielmi, the suspect gained access by driving through Mar-a-Lago’s north entrance as another car was departing the property.
Law enforcement officials are currently developing a psychological assessment of the individual, while his motivations remain unclear. When questioned about whether the man had previous encounters with police, Bradshaw responded “not right now.”
This security breach occurs amid a troubling pattern of political violence across the nation in recent years. The previous year witnessed several high-profile attacks, including the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the murder of Minnesota’s Democratic House leader and her spouse, an attack on another legislator and his wife, and an arson incident at Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s official residence.
Saturday’s intrusion happened just miles from Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course, where Ryan Routh attempted to assassinate the former president during a golf outing in the 2024 election cycle. A Secret Service agent discovered Routh positioning a rifle through nearby vegetation before Trump entered the area. When Routh aimed his weapon at the agent, the officer returned fire, forcing Routh to abandon his rifle.
Routh received a guilty verdict last year and was sentenced to life imprisonment this month.
Trump also survived another assassination attempt during a 2024 campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania. That attacker discharged eight rounds before a Secret Service sniper eliminated the threat.
The White House has not yet provided a statement regarding Sunday’s incident.
WASHINGTON — Federal authorities confirmed Sunday that an armed individual was fatally shot by law enforcement after breaching the protected boundaries of Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump’s Florida resort located in Palm Beach.
The president was not present at the property during the security breach, remaining instead at the White House. First lady Melania Trump was also with the president in Washington on Saturday evening.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the identity of the deceased individual. The Secret Service reported that the person was “observed by the north gate of the Mar-a-Lago property carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can.”
Both Secret Service personnel and a deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office fired the fatal shots, according to the federal agency.
This incident adds to a series of security concerns involving Trump. The former president sustained injuries during an attempted assassination at a Pennsylvania campaign event in Butler on July 13, 2024.
Another security incident occurred on September 15, 2024, when authorities apprehended an individual armed with a rifle who had positioned himself near Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course while the president was playing. That suspect received a life sentence earlier this month.
The White House has not yet provided a statement regarding Sunday’s incident.
Want to launch your own business, master artificial intelligence, or dive into a fascinating new pastime? Educational institutions across the country are seeing record numbers of adults signing up for both credit-bearing and non-credit courses.
Countless American adults are enrolling in college programs to obtain professional certifications, develop new capabilities, or work toward academic credentials. Many of these returning students seek career progression, better compensation, and employment stability, while others are driven by curiosity and personal enrichment.
Eric Deschamps, who oversees continuing education at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona, explains the diverse backgrounds of these learners. “They might have kids, they might be working full-time, they might be older non-traditional students,” Deschamps noted. However, returning to the classroom “opens doors to education for students that might not have those doors open to them otherwise.”
These mature students frequently bring valuable professional and life experiences to their academic pursuits, though they must navigate the complex challenge of balancing coursework with employment, family care, and other obligations. While demanding, this juggling act often helps clarify goals and delivers deep personal satisfaction.
Educational specialists share insights about re-entering academia, important considerations before enrolling, and strategies for managing studies alongside professional and personal duties.
The continuing education arm of the University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA Extension, provides over 90 certificate and specialty programs spanning interior design, early childhood education, accounting, photography, paralegal training, and music production. Individual classes address diverse subjects including retirement planning, novel writing, business management for athletes and artists, and ikebana, the traditional Japanese practice of flower arrangement.
Approximately 33,500 students participated in the most recent academic year, with nearly half being over age 35. During the same timeframe, UCLA recorded full-time enrollment of roughly 32,600 undergraduate degree candidates.
Traci Fordham, UCLA’s interim associate dean for academic programs and learning innovation, offers a fresh perspective on these students. “I prefer calling our (adult) learners not only continuous, but the new majority student. These are learners who tend to already be employed, often supporting a family, looking for up-skilling or sometimes a career change,” Fordham explained.
Higher education specialists observe that many adults pursue classes for career development as economic uncertainties, technological progress, and evolving workplace demands create feelings of professional vulnerability.
Deschamps provided a current example: “A great example of that is artificial intelligence. These new technologies are coming out pretty quickly and for folks that got a degree, even just 5 or 10 years ago, their knowledge might be a little bit outdated.”
Academic counselors recommend that adults considering a return to education should evaluate their available time and financial resources, carefully weighing potential advantages and drawbacks, including monetary costs, risk of exhaustion, and educational benefits that may take time to realize.
Deschamps recommends considering your five or ten-year aspirations and determining how additional coursework or certification might help achieve those objectives. For instance, someone hoping to open a microbrewery would benefit from learning brewing techniques or business management. Those seeking promotions or career transitions might pursue job training, skill updates, or industry knowledge to demonstrate their qualifications.
Universities like UCLA and Northern Arizona University strive to make continuing education accessible through affordable pricing compared to degree programs and various financial aid options. Multiple learning formats are typically available, including face-to-face and online classes, intensive and flexible scheduling, helping adults blend academic work with personal and professional responsibilities.
Katie Swavely, assistant director for academic advising and student success at UCLA, began her educational journey at community college before transferring to UCLA for anthropology studies. She waited a decade after graduation before pursuing her master’s degree in counseling with an academic advising concentration. Swavely finished that program in 2020, made possible through employer-provided tuition benefits from her workplace at the time.
Swavely, who is married with two children, reflected on her journey: “I felt like in so many ways I didn’t really know who I was or what I wanted to do other than just pay the bills and survive. It was hard. And I thought about quitting many times. We had to budget to the extreme and find additional ways to make it work.”
She continued: “There are questions of how are we going to make it work and do we have the money. As a parent, sacrifices are there all the time. You make those judgment calls every day. But making sure that you’re investing in yourself. There’s always gonna be reasons why it’s not today, not this month, not this year, but it’s also OK to just jump in and go for it and see how it works out.”
As someone passionate about literature, Swavely now hopes to enroll in a book editing course and continue her educational pursuits through the university.
Some specialists identify psychological obstacles as a primary challenge for returning students. Concerns about outdated writing abilities, insufficient mathematical or technological knowledge can trigger feelings of doubt or inadequacy.
Fordham addressed this barrier: “I think this is tied to access. Many of our learners, not all of them, haven’t imagined themselves in any kind of higher education, post-secondary education environment.”
Swavely emphasized the importance of establishing a support system and utilizing available counseling and advising resources during her student experience.
She urges adults advancing their education to focus on “finding your community.” Having supportive people at home and in classes who boosted her confidence helped her complete graduate school, Swavely explained. She also recommends establishing limits and showing yourself compassion when assistance is needed.
Swavely concluded with encouragement: “The biggest piece of advice is for people to realize you’re never too old to learn.”
Winter Olympics organizers are revealing the staggering food consumption numbers from the recent games, showing just how much fuel elite athletes need to compete at the highest level.
According to Andrea Varnier, CEO of the Milano Cortina Games, competitors went through approximately two wheels of Grana Padano cheese daily throughout the competition. Over the entire 16-day event, athletes consumed roughly one ton of the renowned Italian cheese.
The daily food totals were equally impressive: athletes downed about 132 pounds of Grana Padano cheese, 805 pounds of pasta, 10,000 eggs, 8,000 cups of coffee, and 12,000 pizza slices each day. When laid end to end, those pizza slices would stretch nearly 1,800 meters.
Varnier put the scale into perspective with another comparison. “Just to give an idea of the scale, if we stacked all the trays used for each meal every day, they would form a 60-km tower – around 18 times the height of Mount Tofana in Cortina, which is 3,225 metres high,” he explained.
The enormous food requirements reflect the high energy demands of elite athletic competition, Varnier noted. Kitchen staff prepared up to 4,500 meals daily at the Milan Olympic village, with nearly 4,000 more in Cortina and 2,300 in Predazzo. Planning the extensive menus required about twelve months of preparation, according to organizers.
Games chairman Giovanni Malago praised the results of that planning effort. “Apart from the quantity, everyone praised the quality of the food provided,” he stated.
The games proved successful beyond just feeding athletes well. Varnier reported that organizers sold approximately 1.3 million tickets, representing 88% of total available capacity across all competition sessions.
International visitors made up the majority of spectators, with 63% coming from outside Italy while 37% were domestic attendees. German visitors represented the largest foreign contingent at 15%, followed by Americans at 14%, and British and Swiss fans each comprising about 6% of the audience.
Several sports drew particularly strong crowds. “Among the most popular disciplines with spectators was skimo, introduced for the first time at these Olympics in Bormio, which was sold out in both sessions. It was followed by speed skating and short track, both at 95% capacity, figure skating at 93% and ice hockey at 93%,” Varnier reported.
The Olympic cauldrons in Milan and Cortina became major attractions themselves, emerging as some of the most photographed symbols from the 2026 Winter Games. Since February 6, approximately 300,000 people have watched the 88 daily four-minute light and music presentations at Milan’s Arco della Pace.
“It was a great success that energised the city,” Varnier said of the cauldron displays.
The twin cauldrons will present their final performance on Sunday before being temporarily extinguished during closing ceremonies in Verona. After remaining dark for several days, organizers will relight them with updated colors and music for the Paralympic Games running from March 6 through 15.
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – German bobsledders delivered a spectacular performance at the Winter Olympics, securing gold medals in three team competitions while falling just short of a complete sweep when they narrowly lost the women’s Monobob event.
The impressive showing marked Germany’s second consecutive Olympics where their men’s teams occupied all three medal positions in their respective races – a feat no nation had accomplished before the Beijing Games four years earlier.
While Germany’s dominance was undeniable, it came after disappointing results in luge and skeleton events, where the traditional sliding powerhouse managed only three of five possible golds in luge and zero medals in skeleton after previously winning every title in those sports.
The Monobob competition provided the most dramatic moment when Germany’s Laura Nolte held the lead through three runs but stumbled in her final attempt. That opening allowed 41-year-old American Elana Meyers Taylor to claim her first Olympic gold after collecting three silver and two bronze medals across five Olympic appearances. Meyers Taylor edged Nolte by just four hundredths of a second, while defending champion Kaillie Humphries earned bronze for the United States.
Nolte quickly bounced back, successfully defending her Two-Woman title alongside pusher Deborah Levi. Despite holding a commanding lead after three runs, she executed her final run flawlessly this time, winning by half a second over teammate Lisa Buckwitz. Humphries added another bronze medal, bringing her Olympic total to six medals – three earned for Canada and three for the United States.
Germany’s most dominant performance came in the Two-Man event, where they had claimed all podium spots in six of seven World Cup races during the season. Johannes Lochner and Georg Fleischhauer controlled the competition from beginning to end, posting the fastest time in every run and finishing 1.34 seconds ahead of perennial champion Francesco Friedrich and Alexander Schuller. Adam Ammour and Alexander Schaller completed the German sweep with bronze.
The Four-Man competition nearly produced another complete German podium takeover, but Switzerland’s Michael Vogt disrupted those plans with a final-run surge to capture bronze – Switzerland’s first medal in the event in two decades. Lochner claimed his second gold of these Games while Friedrich settled for silver. Thorsten Margis, competing behind Lochner, made Olympic history by earning his fifth medal after previously winning four golds as Friedrich’s pusher.
Some observers argue that Germany’s technological superiority makes them nearly unbeatable in events where teams use their own equipment, unlike the Monobob where identical sleds level the playing field. Friedrich, now the most decorated Olympic bobsled pilot with four golds and two silvers, rejected those criticisms.
“If we look at the start times and we look at the lines that we drive on the ice and at the push, then the others don’t have to talk about our equipment,” Friedrich stated following the Two-Man sweep. “If they push fast, or faster than us, or they drive better than us, and they lose, then they can talk about the material. But until this point arrives, they have a lot of work to do.”
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Federal agents fatally shot an intruder who attempted to breach the secured grounds of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate on Sunday, according to the U.S. Secret Service.
The incident involved a man in his twenties who tried to gain unauthorized access to the protected area surrounding the Florida resort, officials confirmed. Secret Service personnel responded with deadly force during the security breach.
The former president was not at the West Palm Beach property during the incident, as he was located in the nation’s capital at the time of the attempted intrusion.
Norway’s Johannes Klaebo achieved unprecedented success on the slopes of Italy, claiming victory in every men’s cross-country skiing competition while a playful canine unexpectedly became an internet sensation during the Milano Cortina Olympics.
The 29-year-old Norwegian athlete made Winter Games history by capturing gold in all six men’s cross-country events, marking the first time any competitor has won six gold medals in a single Winter Olympics. His remarkable performance brings his Olympic career total to 11 gold medals, establishing a new Winter Olympics record and trailing only American swimmer Michael Phelps, who holds 23 golds overall.
French competitor Mathis Desloges, who earned three silver medals, praised the champion’s abilities: “He’s the best skier in the world. I will try to just do the same, maybe one day.”
The athlete known as “King Klaebo” dominated his competition with significant leads in nearly every competition, capturing social media attention when he powered up a challenging final ascent on his skis during one of his defining moments of the Games.
“It’s hard to find the words. It’s unbelievable,” Klaebo expressed following his final competition. “Even though I’ve been nervous at some of the competitions, it still feels really good to race, and I’m always looking forward to going out there, fighting for the medals.”
American men’s cross-country skiing also reached new heights, securing two medals for the first time in five decades and achieving their best-ever Olympic performance, suggesting a potential shift toward greater U.S. competitiveness in the discipline. Ben Ogden earned silver in the men’s classic sprint and added another medal with teammate Gus Schumacher in the team sprint event.
“This era started a while ago, but it’s cool to prove it at the Olympics,” Schumacher commented.
Sweden’s women nearly claimed every gold medal available, falling short only in the women’s relay due to multiple dramatic crashes by Ebba Andersson at the race’s start. Despite the setbacks, the Swedish team recovered to finish second behind Norway, overcoming a deficit of more than one minute and 20 seconds after Andersson lost equipment during a spectacular tumble.
These Olympics introduced the women’s 50km classic race for the first time, generating mixed reactions among competitors. Sweden’s Ebba Andersson dominated this inaugural event, winning by an impressive two minutes and 15 seconds, though silver medalist Heidi Weng criticized the distance as excessive.
American skier Jessie Diggins, competing in her fourth and final Olympics, celebrated the milestone: “I’m so proud to be part of the group doing the first-ever (women’s Olympic Winter Games) 50km. We should have had it all along, but now we finally get it and that’s amazing.”
Diggins placed fifth in the 50km race and earned bronze in the 10km freestyle, though her results fell below expectations after sustaining an injury earlier in the competition.
Beyond Klaebo’s impressive uphill charge, another moment captured global attention when Nazgul, a two-year-old wolfhound, unexpectedly joined the women’s team sprint qualifying round.
Video footage of the dog running alongside two competitors became one of the most cherished highlights of the entire Olympics.
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – Johannes Lochner of Germany captured his second bobsled gold medal at the Milano-Cortina Olympic Games on Sunday, taking the Four-Man competition in what he announced would be his final competitive race.
The German athlete’s victory marked another dominant performance for Germany’s sliding sports program during these Olympics. Fellow German Francesco Friedrich, the two-time defending champion in this event, finished second to claim silver.
Germany nearly achieved an unprecedented sweep of all three medal positions, but Switzerland’s Michael Vogt managed to edge out German pilot Adam Ammour for the bronze medal on the final run by just four hundredths of a second.
Throughout his career, Lochner has often been overshadowed by Friedrich’s success, earning two Olympic silver medals while competing against his compatriot. However, this season has belonged to Lochner, who maintained his excellent form to achieve this double gold performance.
Lochner’s Four-Man team included Thorsten Margis, who earned his fifth Olympic gold medal, along with Jorn Wenzel and Georg Fleischhauer. Fleischhauer had also served as Lochner’s brakeman during their Two-Man victory earlier in the Games.
“It’s unbelievable that my plan worked out so perfectly with my last run,” Lochner said. “I still can’t believe it, and it will take forever for it to sink in.”
“It’s simply a dream that’s been playing out in my head for two years. That it’s now true – indescribable. This is a moment for eternity,” the German athlete continued. “This is the most perfect ending ever.”
Entering the final day of competition, Lochner held a 0.43-second advantage over Friedrich. Racing first in the rotation, he extended that margin during his third run down the track.
With his competitors unable to mount any serious challenge or make significant mistakes that might have created opportunities, Lochner navigated his final trip down the Cortina course without incident, ultimately winning by a commanding 0.57 seconds.
The victory represented a historic fifth Olympic gold for Margis, making him the most decorated bobsledder in Olympic history after his decision to switch from Friedrich’s crew to join Lochner’s team.
“It’s a little bit difficult to put that in words,” Margis explained. “One and a half years ago, Hansi (Lochner) asked me to come in his sled and we made a plan. It’s quite cool if such a plan works out, and it’s pretty amazing to beat the most successful bobsleigh pilot in the world for our time (Friedrich).”
“I am a little bit overwhelmed with my feelings,” he added.
Friedrich’s silver medal performance was sufficient to secure second place comfortably. His collection of four golds and two silvers from Olympic competition now surpasses Andre Lange’s record, establishing him as the most successful pilot in Olympic bobsled history.
Ammour, the third German pilot, had climbed to third place on Saturday after a disappointing fifth-place finish in his opening run. However, he entered the final run with only a slim lead over his closest pursuers. Early errors during that crucial final descent cost him the medal, allowing Vogt to secure Switzerland’s first medal in this event since they also earned bronze in 2006.
The Winter Olympics welcomed its newest sport this week as ski mountaineering took center stage in Bormio, Italy, marking a historic moment for Milano Cortina’s only fresh addition to the Games program.
Despite challenging weather conditions with heavy snowfall, the competition proceeded without issues and attracted enthusiastic spectators, giving competitors confidence that this debut won’t be the sport’s final Olympic appearance.
European nations demonstrated their strength in the discipline during both Thursday’s individual sprint competitions and Saturday’s team relay event, confirming their continued leadership in ski mountaineering worldwide.
Spain achieved a remarkable milestone when Oriol Cardona Coll captured his nation’s first Winter Olympic gold medal since 1972 in the men’s sprint competition on Thursday.
In the women’s sprint event, Switzerland’s Marianne Fatton upset the favored competitor Emily Harrop from France to claim victory.
Saturday’s mixed relay format featured one male and one female athlete from each country working together. Harrop, perhaps motivated by her earlier defeat, took control early alongside teammate Thibault Anselmet. The French pair maintained their advantage throughout the entire race to secure a decisive win. Switzerland’s Fatton teamed with Jon Kistler for second place, while Spain’s Cardona Coll partnered with Ana Alonso Rodriguez to earn bronze.
Team USA delivered an impressive performance as Anna Gibson and Cam Smith climbed to an unexpected fourth-place finish in the relay competition.
The newly minted Olympic medalists expressed strong hopes that their sport will continue appearing in future Games rather than becoming a one-time showcase.
Gibson reported encountering significant enthusiasm for ski mountaineering throughout her Olympic journey. When questioned about her message to officials deciding the sport’s future inclusion, she responded: “I’d say go re-watch the race. That was awesome. And also turn up the volume so you can hear the crowd cheering. I think it speaks enough for itself.”
All ski mountaineering competitions at the Games achieved complete ticket sales, demonstrating strong public interest.
Given France’s success in earning medals across every ski mountaineering event at Milano Cortina, the nation appears unlikely to exclude the sport when hosting the 2030 Winter Olympics.
USA SkiMo’s Head of Sport Sarah Cookler announced in December her intention to advocate for the sport’s presence at the 2034 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. She particularly emphasized including longer individual competitions, which many consider the core of ski mountaineering. The decision to omit these events from Milano Cortina created controversy within the sport’s community.
Olympic champion Cardona Coll remains optimistic about expansion opportunities.
“I think it will grow, this time we are doing the sprint race and mixed relay, hopefully in the next Olympic Games, it’s also going to be the individual race, which is the queen race of ski mountaineering,” he stated.
ASSISI, Italy — In an unprecedented religious event, the skeletal remains of St. Francis of Assisi were unveiled to the public for the first time on Sunday, marking the end of an eight-century mystery surrounding his physical remains and demonstrating the continued significance of sacred relics among Christians worldwide.
Close to 400,000 individuals pre-registered for the opportunity to view these bone fragments, which are housed within a thin, bulletproof Plexiglas container located in the lower section of the Basilica of St. Francis in this hilltop Umbrian community that the medieval monk helped make renowned.
The Franciscan order chose to showcase these remains for a month-long period, concluding March 22, in recognition of the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ passing in 1226. Their goal is to reinvigorate his teachings of peace and brotherhood that established him as among Christianity’s most cherished saints and motivated Pope Francis to adopt his name, becoming the first pontiff to do so.
The public presentation of his physical remains is especially significant considering the complex history surrounding St. Francis’ body. Born in 1182 as the son of a prosperous merchant, he abandoned all worldly goods to embrace the life of a begging friar.
Near his life’s end, St. Francis’ body reportedly developed the stigmata, marking the first recorded instance of a saint receiving Christ’s crucifixion wounds.
Following his death, his body disappeared for centuries after being secretly interred by a devoted follower who worried it might be taken during the medieval period’s widespread competition for sacred relics.
This historical account is detailed in an exhibit housed within the Franciscan monastery, located next to the basilica, which visitors can explore as part of their scheduled viewing of the remains.
Brother Giulio Cesareo, the Franciscan spokesperson in Assisi, emphasized that this display wasn’t a morbid celebration of death. Instead, he explained, it continues the longstanding Christian practice of honoring saints’ physical remains to connect with the spirit that once inhabited them.
“It is not so much about venerating Francis, but rather encountering Francis by venerating the Holy Spirit who filled that humanity and made it capable of giving itself,” he said. “And it is, at least for a believer, a way to renew oneself in this one life.”
Throughout history, the attraction to relics has certainly resulted in misconduct, including theft, counterfeiting, and currently online commerce, all forming part of their legacy. However, this doesn’t reduce their influence on believers, according to Sean Pilcher, who operates Sacra: Relics of the Saints, offering consultation and verification services to the Catholic Church.
If saints represent our spiritual siblings in heaven, “then it makes sense that we’re going to have things that we hold on to,” he said. “And what the church does is just take this natural desire that we all have for connection and belonging and direct it in a way that leads us toward Christ.”
What strikes contemporary observers is St. Francis’ small physical size: Known for experiencing poor health and inadequate nutrition, the fragile, delicate skeletal structure appears to validate his petite build.
For Fiorella Farina, a resident from northern Reggio Emilia whose devotion to St. Francis led her to purchase a countryside home in Assisi and name her children Francesco and Francesca, this exhibition represents an extraordinary opportunity.
“Just talking about it gives me goosebumps,” she said outside the basilica. “It’s an event I couldn’t miss.”
St. Francis, she explained, challenged all social conventions to live according to the Gospel’s message of peace, caring for the impoverished and protecting the environment.
“In this historic moment, we need him,” she said.
Security measures were extensive yet unobtrusive on Sunday morning as initial pilgrims passed through metal detection systems before entering the basilica. Law enforcement officials declined to share specifics but confirmed that additional officers, detection dogs, undercover personnel, surveillance cameras, and other protective protocols were implemented to safeguard the relics.
Considering St. Francis’ body’s history, such precautions appear entirely justified.
Even prior to his death, St. Francis had developed such a reputation for holiness that he required armed protection during his final journey back to Assisi, according to Brother William Short, professor of Christian spirituality at the Franciscan School of Theology at the University of San Diego.
Contemporary records also describe people attempting to grab pieces of his robe as he passed by on horseback, believing his relics possessed healing powers or could ward off disaster, Short explained during an interview at the Franciscan residence in Rome, where he leads an international Franciscan research center.
When St. Francis passed away on October 3, 1226, he was first interred in a modest Assisi church called San Giorgio. Within two years, Pope Gregory IX had declared him a saint and established the foundation for a basilica to contain his burial site.
However, on the night before the planned transfer, St. Francis’ loyal assistant, Brother Elias, removed the body and secretly buried it within the basilica, concerned about potential theft, Short noted. The body stayed there, concealed within a column without identification, until 1818. At that time, excavation work uncovered the remains, and Pope Pius VII verified the bones as belonging to St. Francis.
“It was a matter of safety and economics,” Short explained. “If you have a big saint, a new saint — and this guy had the potential to be a really big saint — whoever gets the body gets the pilgrims.”
And Assisi currently has numerous visitors.
Some individuals registered to view the relics when the exhibition was initially announced in October, receiving assigned time slots of 10 minutes beginning Sunday morning.
Silvanella Tamos journeyed to Assisi from Pordenone, located north of Venice, accompanied by a group of 54 people from her diocese. They secured one of the earliest appointments on Sunday at 9:30 a.m.
“It’s a body that’s alive,” she said. “It’s not a dead body. He still has a lot to tell us today,” she said.
TOPEKA, Kan. — A groundbreaking law taking effect Thursday will make Kansas the first state in the nation to actively reverse gender identity changes on official government documents, affecting approximately 1,700 driver’s licenses and nearly 1,800 birth certificates held by transgender residents.
The legislation became law after Republican legislators used their supermajority to override a veto from Democratic Governor Laura Kelly last week. This action represents the most aggressive approach yet among GOP-led efforts nationwide to restrict transgender rights through official documentation policies.
While states including Florida, Tennessee, and Texas currently prohibit driver’s licenses from reflecting transgender individuals’ gender identities, and at least eight other states prevent changes to birth certificates, Kansas stands alone in mandating the reversal of modifications already completed for transgender residents.
“It tells me that Kansas Republicans are interested in being on the vanguard of the culture war and in a race to the bottom,” stated Democratic state Representative Abi Boatman, a transgender Air Force veteran who was appointed in January to represent a Wichita district.
The measure received overwhelming Republican backing and continues a pattern of annual legislative efforts to limit transgender rights in statehouses nationwide, supported by policies and messaging from President Donald Trump’s administration.
Republican officials, including Trump, characterize scientific findings about gender fluidity as extremist “gender ideology.” Kansas GOP legislators consistently refer to transgender girls and women using male pronouns while claiming their actions protect women.
Kansas Senate Majority Leader Chase Blasi echoed his Republican colleagues, arguing that Trump’s electoral victory and other 2024 GOP wins demonstrate public support for “returning to common sense” regarding gender issues.
“When I go home, people believe there are just two sexes, male and female,” Blasi explained. “It’s basic biology I learned in high school.”
Despite Governor Kelly’s support for transgender rights, Republican lawmakers have successfully overturned her vetoes in three of the last four years. Kansas has already prohibited gender-affirming medical care for minors and excluded transgender women and girls from participating on female athletic teams from elementary school through college.
The state also restricts transgender individuals from using public restrooms, locker rooms, and other single-gender facilities that align with their gender identity, though enforcement mechanisms were strengthened only with this year’s legislation.
Transgender advocates emphasize that carrying identification documents that don’t match their gender identity subjects them to invasive questioning, harassment, and potential violence when presenting IDs to law enforcement, businesses, and other entities.
In 2023, Republicans blocked gender identity changes on Kansas birth certificates and driver’s licenses through legislation that ended official state recognition of transgender residents’ gender identities. While that law didn’t explicitly reference either document, it legally established male and female classifications based on an individual’s “biological reproductive system” at birth.
A legal challenge resulted in state court rulings that allowed driver’s license modifications to resume last year.
According to bill-tracking software Plural, lawmakers in at least seven additional states are reviewing similar proposals to prevent transgender individuals from altering one or both types of documents. However, none of these measures would undo previously approved changes.
The decision by Kansas legislators to take this additional step sends a clear signal “that trans people aren’t welcome,” according to Anthony Alvarez, a transgender University of Kansas student who advocates for LGBTQ rights.
State officials plan to mail notices to transgender residents informing them their driver’s licenses are invalid and directing them to visit local licensing offices for replacement documents, explained Zachary Denney, a spokesperson for the issuing agency.
Since the Legislature didn’t allocate funding for implementation costs, affected individuals must pay the $26 fee for a standard license replacement.
Alvarez has already obtained four different IDs over four years due to name changes, gender marker updates, and reaching age 21. Despite his challenges, he had planned to remain in his home state of Kansas after completing his history degree this spring.
However, he noted, “They’re just making it harder and harder for me to live in the state that I love.”
President Donald Trump is questioning Iran’s unwillingness to surrender its nuclear ambitions despite Washington’s expanding military presence in the Middle East, according to his special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Speaking on Fox News Saturday, Witkoff explained Trump’s mindset regarding the ongoing standoff. “I don’t want to use the word ‘frustrated,’ because he understands he has plenty of alternatives, but he’s curious as to why they haven’t… I don’t want to use the word ‘capitulated,’ but why they haven’t capitulated,” Witkoff stated.
The envoy questioned Iran’s resistance to diplomatic overtures given the mounting pressure. “Why, under this pressure, with the amount of seapower and naval power over there, why haven’t they come to us and said, ‘We profess we don’t want a weapon, so here’s what we’re prepared to do’? And yet it’s sort of hard to get them to that place,” he said.
The president has directed a massive deployment of military assets to the Middle East while preparing for possible extended airstrikes against Iran. Iranian officials have warned they will target American bases if attacked.
Washington is demanding Tehran abandon its stockpile of enriched uranium, which American officials claim could be weaponized, while also ending support for regional militant groups and accepting restrictions on its missile capabilities.
Iran maintains its nuclear activities serve peaceful purposes but has indicated willingness to accept certain limitations in exchange for sanctions relief. However, Tehran refuses to link nuclear discussions to other issues like missiles or proxy groups.
Witkoff highlighted the urgency of Iran’s nuclear advancement, noting the country’s uranium enrichment levels. “They’ve been enriching well beyond the number that you need for civil nuclear. It’s up to 60% (fissile purity),” he explained. “They’re probably a week away from having industrial, industrial-grade bomb-making material, and that’s really dangerous.”
A senior Iranian official confirmed to Reuters Sunday that significant disagreements remain between Tehran and Washington regarding sanctions relief during ongoing negotiations.
The envoy also disclosed meeting with Iranian opposition leader Reza Pahlavi at Trump’s request. Pahlavi, whose father was overthrown during Iran’s 1979 revolution, currently lives in exile but provided no additional meeting details.
The opposition figure became a symbol for protesters during last month’s anti-government demonstrations across Iran, which reportedly resulted in thousands of deaths in the worst domestic violence since the revolutionary period.
Earlier this month, Pahlavi endorsed potential American military action against Iran as a way to preserve lives and urged Washington against prolonged negotiations with Iran’s religious leadership over nuclear agreements.
VATICAN CITY – During his weekly Sunday address, Pope Francis delivered a heartfelt plea for an immediate resolution to the ongoing war in Ukraine, declaring that efforts toward peace “cannot be postponed” while the United States continues working to facilitate negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
The conflict, which began when Russia launched its comprehensive military assault on Ukraine on February 24, 2022, continues with fresh overnight strikes involving drones along with ballistic and cruise missiles, according to Ukrainian defense officials and local authorities who reported the attacks on Sunday.
Speaking to gathered pilgrims at St. Peter’s Square following Sunday prayers, the pontiff expressed his continued concern for the crisis. “My heart goes out again to the dramatic situation that everyone can see,” Pope Francis stated.
“So many victims, so many broken lives and families, so much destruction, so much unspeakable suffering,” he added.
American diplomatic efforts to facilitate dialogue between the warring nations have encountered significant obstacles, with Moscow insisting that Ukraine must abandon territories in the eastern Donbas region that remain under Ukrainian control – a condition that Kyiv has firmly rejected.
“Peace cannot be postponed,” the Pope emphasized. “It is an urgent necessity that must find space in hearts and be translated into responsible decisions.”
The Holy Father characterized warfare as a “wound inflicted on the entire human family,” noting that conflict creates lasting damage through “death, devastation, and a trail of pain that marks generations.”
MOSCOW – Russian aviation authorities temporarily suspended flight operations at four major airports serving the nation’s capital on Sunday as the city came under assault from unmanned aircraft, according to the country’s aviation regulatory agency Rosaviatsia.
Moscow’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, confirmed that defense systems successfully intercepted no fewer than seven drones that were heading toward the city, as reported by the Interfax news service.
The flight restrictions were implemented as a precautionary security measure while authorities responded to the aerial threat against Russia’s largest metropolitan area.
Swedish cross-country skier Ebba Andersson pulled away from the competition field to capture gold in Sunday’s historic 50-kilometer classic race, marking the first time women have competed at this distance in Olympic history.
The dominant performance in Tesero, Italy, served as sweet redemption for Andersson, who had experienced multiple tumbles during a relay competition that potentially prevented her team from earning gold.
Throughout these Milano-Cortina Games, Andersson has collected three runner-up finishes, including silver medals in both the skiathlon and 10-kilometer freestyle events, plus another second-place result following a strong relay comeback.
“That’s the point with sports. Sometimes you lose and sometimes you win, it’s both ups and downs. You just need to be patient in everything and trust the process, and that’s what I’ve been doing the past week,” she said.
Norway’s Heidi Weng captured the silver medal, crossing the finish line two minutes and 15 seconds after Andersson but maintaining a comfortable four-and-a-half-minute lead over bronze medalist Nadja Kaelin of Switzerland.
During the early stages, Andersson maintained the lead with Weng trailing closely, while other competitors battled for third place. Despite experiencing a minor tumble during an equipment change, Andersson managed to separate herself from Weng, and both athletes maintained secure positions for the race’s final half.
Kaelin made her decisive move during the concluding uphill section, pulling ahead of heavily favored American Jessie Diggins, who entered the competition as the top-ranked athlete.
“I tried until the end not to think about the medal, but then on the last uphill I was thinking, ‘OK, now let’s go for the medal’,” said Kaelin, who also earned silver in the team sprint competition.
Diggins, competing in her final Olympic event, finished fifth after recovering from her own fall during a ski change and collapsed upon reaching the finish line. Kaelin completed the course six minutes and 41 seconds behind Andersson.
Two Swedish medal contenders, Jonna Sundling and Frida Karlsson, withdrew from the competition due to illness, while Norway’s Astrid Oeyre Slind exited early.
“At first, I tried to fight for it, but then I realised that I didn’t have a chance today. I’ve been in this situation before and tried to finish the race, and it just doesn’t (work),” she said.
This competition marked the inaugural time women have raced this distance at Olympic Games. While some athletes embraced the challenge, others questioned whether the distance was excessive, especially with World Cup competition resuming soon.
“It’s too long. But it was good to have family here to support me,” said silver medallist Weng.
American figure skater Alysa Liu achieved an incredible comeback story by capturing Olympic gold in the women’s competition, while her teammate Ilia Malinin experienced a devastating fall from grace during a competition filled with unexpected twists in Milan.
Liu had walked away from competitive skating at age 16 following the 2022 Beijing Olympics, citing exhaustion and burnout. Two years later, the California skater returned to the ice with renewed strength and artistic vision.
The American athlete clinched her victory with a spectacular final performance that included seven flawless triple jumps. As the packed arena erupted in applause, Liu gestured toward the heavens in celebration.
Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto settled for silver in what will be her final Olympic appearance, though Japanese skating showed promise for the future. Seventeen-year-old Ami Nakai earned bronze while 20-year-old Mone Chiba placed fourth, both making impressive Olympic debuts.
The men’s competition told a dramatically different story as Malinin’s performance crumbled before a celebrity-filled audience.
The two-time world champion entered the final skate with a commanding lead, expected by many to claim Olympic gold. His revolutionary jumping ability has redefined the sport, but those skills abandoned him when it mattered most.
Malinin’s signature quadruple Axel – a jump no other competitor has successfully completed in competition – reduced to a simple single rotation. Two additional falls sent him tumbling to eighth place overall.
“I blew it,” Malinin stated directly after his performance.
Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov seized the opportunity to claim the men’s title, appearing shocked as the final results confirmed his unexpected victory.
The 21-year-old American acknowledged that mental exhaustion contributed to his struggles. He revealed receiving support from gymnastics superstar Simone Biles, who attended the men’s final.
Biles overcame her own mental challenges following the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, eventually returning to dominate at the 2024 Paris Games. Malinin hopes to follow a similar path of redemption at the next Winter Olympics in France.
Despite his disappointment, Malinin has shown grace in defeat, supporting his teammates from the audience and delivering a powerful exhibition performance that addressed the pressures of modern athletic fame and social media scrutiny.
The ice dancing competition produced another surprise result, as France’s newly-formed team of Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron upset American veterans Madison Chock and Evan Bates, who had won three world championships.
In pairs skating, Japan’s Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara delivered their career-best performance to win their nation’s first Olympic pairs gold medal with a commanding Gladiator-themed routine.
The 10-day competition began with Liu and Malinin helping Team USA narrowly defeat Japan for their second consecutive Olympic team championship.
The games concluded with Malinin’s exhibition skate, where his signature backflip earned a standing ovation that seemed to acknowledge both his exceptional talent and the immense pressure he had endured.
“I feel like this gala has been so helpful to overcome the stress of everything that happened to me over the last week,” Malinin wrote afterward. “Glad I am able to express myself in such a poetic way.”
The genteel sport of curling is wrestling with a fundamental question about its future after a heated Olympic controversy exposed serious flaws in how the game polices itself.
For generations, curling has operated on an honor system where athletes are trusted to call their own rule violations. But that tradition came under intense scrutiny when Swedish and Canadian teams engaged in a bitter dispute over alleged cheating, complete with profanity and accusations flying on the ice.
Officials found themselves powerless to do much beyond issuing warnings after the heated exchange, highlighting the limitations of the current system. When World Curling attempted to give referees more authority, players immediately pushed back and criticized the training of officials, forcing leadership to quickly reverse course.
World Curling President Beau Welling acknowledged the sport’s governing body was already examining potential changes before the Olympic incident.
“We were in the process of looking at some rules, empowering our umpires. We have highly trained umpires, but their role, pursuant to our rules, is really to help players make decisions,” Welling explained to Reuters.
“The actual power about rules and infractions are with the players. We come from a call-your-own-foul sort of culture, but we increasingly see a need to have more umpires be able to make decisions.”
Welling emphasized that expanding referee authority would represent a fundamental shift that couldn’t happen quickly.
“It’s a change for athletes, who have to be willing to accept decisions,” he noted.
“Umpires have to be confident to make decisions, and we’ve got to make sure that those decisions are accurate. It’s a process for us. If anything, this might have accelerated that process.”
The Olympic controversy reached a boiling point when Canadian player Marc Kennedy, who cursed twice during the dispute, proclaimed that curling’s traditional spirit had died and predicted teams would resort to any tactics necessary for victory.
Despite the turmoil, Welling maintains the sport can evolve while preserving its core values.
“It is a game of honour, integrity, and values. We don’t ever want to lose that,” he stated.
“We still want that to be part of our DNA… We’ve got to hold on to the spirit of curling, but we have to adapt.
“No offence to the NBA, but we don’t want to become like that. Is the spirit of the sport going to be challenged? Yes. Do I think we’re going to have to evolve? Yes. But we all want to keep that.”
While the controversy raised questions about curling’s future, it also delivered an unexpected benefit: unprecedented attention for the typically low-profile sport.
The heated exchanges sparked countless internet memes, intense online discussions, and extensive media coverage worldwide.
“I tend to be in the camp that any publicity is good publicity, to be honest, and this has certainly put a lot more eyeballs on the sport,” Welling observed.
“I’ve got people calling me from the United States that are like, ‘holy smokes, I didn’t realise you guys did that in curling’.
“We’ve also had incredible curling, and the publicity that we’re getting really around the world is just amazing… It’s very exciting, so we’ve been super pleased with the Games.”
Looking toward the 2030 Winter Olympics, Welling expressed optimism about upcoming developments, particularly changes to the world championship structure.
Starting in the 2026-27 season, the annual world tournament will grow from 13 to 18 participating teams, a move Welling believes will boost revenue, increase global interest, and provide more countries with pathways to Olympic qualification.
“It’s really going to make curling even broader … you’re going to have more countries have a more realistic chance to qualify for 2030 than we would have had for 2026,” he concluded.
Following a disappointing performance at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, Canada’s top Olympic official is pressing Prime Minister Mark Carney to significantly increase sports funding if the nation wants to maintain its status as a winter sports powerhouse.
David Shoemaker, head of the Canadian Olympic Committee, made his case during a Sunday press conference after Canada fell short of its medal expectations. The country had set a goal to exceed the 26 medals earned at the 2022 Beijing Olympics but will conclude these Games with a maximum of 21 medals.
“It was just a month ago that Prime Minister (Mark) Carney made international headlines with his inspiring speech at Davos (World Economic Forum),” Shoemaker stated. “In that speech, he talked in large part about ambition, about the strength of Canada at home and the values we can and should project to the world. We realise sport isn’t the answer to all of this government’s many urgent priorities.”
Shoemaker continued his appeal to the Prime Minister, saying: “But to Prime Minister Carney, who addressed Team Canada in a hockey jersey, who called Team Canada athletes as they topped the podium this week, who believes as much as anyone in the power of sport, I would say this: Sport is an integral part of that strength of character and country.”
“Sport represents a set of values that define us. Through sport, we have a real opportunity, if not a responsibility, to be ambitious about how we want to show up as a nation, both on the world stage and in communities across the country,” he added.
The funding crisis has been building for years. Canadian Olympic and Paralympic committees, along with national sports organizations, had requested a $144 million funding increase in Carney’s November 4 budget to compensate for two decades of stagnant support.
However, the federal budget allocated no additional money for sports programs.
“Core funding for national sports organisations has not increased in 20 years,” Shoemaker emphasized. “It needs to. It’s the money these organisations count on to fund operations, athletes, coaches and support staff. They safeguard the pathway from playground to podium.”
The medal shortfall represents a significant decline from Canada’s peak winter Olympic performances. The nation captured a record 29 medals at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games and led in gold medals with 14 during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, finishing third overall with 26 total medals.
Canada’s chef de mission Jennifer Heil warned about the broader implications of the funding freeze. “Flat operational funding to NSOs in an inflationary world is a cut,” she explained. “We’re creating a pay-to-play system in Canada, where wealth and luck are some of the major determining factors as to who gets to stand on a podium.”
Despite the overall disappointment, Canada’s hockey programs showed their traditional strength, with both men’s and women’s teams competing for gold medals. The women’s team fell to their longtime rivals, the United States, in the championship game.
“Those are two of the greatest rivalries in Olympic sport, certainly in the Winter Games,” Shoemaker noted. “We know that people have been trying their best to find jerseys here in Milan and they’re not available. And even back home, stores are sold out.”
Shoemaker believes the enthusiasm for these iconic sporting moments reflects deeper national aspirations beyond athletics. “It goes back to that core message, that this feeling of patriotism, pride in country, the aspiration to do great things on the world stage, to sing ‘O Canada,’” he said.
These Olympics also raised challenging questions about Canada’s international presence, according to Shoemaker. “These Games brought us together, as they always do,” he reflected. “In return, they provided an opportunity to ask ourselves, ‘How do we want to show up on the world stage? What kind of country do we want to represent? Who do we want to be?’”
“In some ways, I think waiting eight days for a gold medal emphasised this point,” he added.
The wait for Canada’s first gold medal became historically significant when Mikael Kingsbury finally broke through on Day 9, marking the nation’s longest drought for an Olympic title since the 1988 Calgary Games.
Looking ahead, Shoemaker expressed determination to continue advocating for increased support. “We see the countries ahead of us,” he concluded. “We aspire to do better. What you’re sensing from us is this collective seriousness that in order to do better we have to continue delivering this message.”
MILAN (AP) — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman envisioned February 2025’s 4 Nations Face-Off as an appetizer for Olympic hockey when organizers first planned the tournament.
The event exceeded expectations, becoming both a spectacular showcase that spotlighted the sport and a strategic roadmap for Team USA and Canada’s Olympic roster construction. This marked the first international competition featuring the world’s elite players in almost ten years, providing crucial insights that shaped USA Hockey and Hockey Canada’s decisions throughout the past year.
The strategy proved successful as both nations secured spots in Sunday’s gold medal match — a repeat of the 4 Nations championship game. Canada claimed that overtime victory, setting up this highly anticipated rematch. While the Olympics feature multiple competitive teams with no guaranteed outcomes, the final will now put both countries’ roster decisions to the ultimate test.
“We didn’t build our team just to play Canada,” U.S. general manager Bill Guerin said. “We built the best team possible. We feel that we built the best team possible. We did that with us in mind. We’re worried about us, not anybody else.”
Guerin’s management team chose to retain forwards Vincent Trocheck and J.T. Miller for their penalty-killing abilities and defensive skills. Meanwhile, four of America’s top ten league scorers — Jason Robertson, Lane Hutson, Cole Caufield and Alex DeBrincat — didn’t make the Olympic cut.
Team USA prioritized players capable of handling specialized roles while maintaining flexibility across different line combinations, allowing coach Mike Sullivan to adjust throughout the tournament.
“One of the things that we’ve tried to do is cast these guys in roles where they know what the expectations are and the contribution that they can make to help us have success,” Sullivan said.
Canada introduced six fresh faces not present at 4 Nations, with injuries to Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli opening opportunities for Sam Bennett and Seth Jarvis. Among the notable additions is 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini, who has impressed since beginning his NHL rookie season in fall 2024.
“I didn’t even know I was on the radar or even in the conversation,” Celebrini said. “When (GM Doug Armstrong) brought that to my attention, it was a little bit of a push and excitement —- just a little bit more of something that I can look forward to and work to.”
Celebrini has emerged as one of Canada’s standout performers with 10 points, trailing only tournament leader and teammate Connor McDavid’s 13 points.
“He’s got a lot of skill and a lot of confidence,” winger Mitch Marner said. “He’s not afraid of the big moments.”
Another fresh addition, Nick Suzuki, netted the equalizing goal when Canada faced elimination with less than four minutes remaining in their quarterfinal match. Tom Wilson earned a starting position on the right wing alongside Celebrini and McDavid, contributing size, physical play, and even fighting to Canada’s Olympic campaign.
Canada replaced both goaltenders from 4 Nations, selecting Logan Thompson and Darcy Kuemper this time, though coach Jon Cooper had already designated Jordan Binnington as his starter. Cooper made this decision immediately following Binnington’s championship performance at 4 Nations, and the 32-year-old goalie’s stellar play through his first four Olympic starts confirmed that choice.
“You don’t have to be a scout to see what he did in the Stanley Cup (Final), what he did in the 4 Nations, and there’s a massive belief,” Armstrong said. “When players see that time and time again, that’s just a foundation that they know that, ‘OK, when push comes to shove, we have faith in this guy,’ and I think that’s where they are with Binner.”
Team USA has leaned heavily on Connor Hellebuyck, who excelled during 4 Nations and currently holds the NHL MVP award and Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender. Similar to how Binnington knows the American players who will attempt to score against him, Hellebuyck is familiar with Canada’s star-filled roster.
“He’s won a lot of trophies,” winger Jake Guentzel said. “We feel good with him back there.”
