peel back effect

AP Top Stories Digest

Posted 2/20/26

Here are the AP's top stories and promotable content. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan.

…

delmar logo

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $14.99 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already a member? Log in to continue.   Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

Please log in to continue

Log in

AP Top Stories Digest

Posted

Here are the AP's top stories and promotable content. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan.

—————————----—

NATIONAL

———----———————

AP-US-California-Avalanche, 1st Ld-Writethru

Crews hope to resume recovery of 8 bodies from California avalanche after days of dangerous weather

SUMMARY: Crews hope to resume efforts to recover the bodies of eight people killed in an avalanche in California’s Sierra Nevada and search for a person missing but presumed dead on Friday. The renewed push follows days of dangerous weather that has hampered safe access to the area. Avalanche warnings are set to expire early in the day, and drier and milder conditions are predicted for the weekend. Family members of six women who died in the avalanche say they were among a group of eight close friends. Authorities are looking into the decision to follow through with the ski trip despite severe weather advisories and they are investigating whether anything would be considered criminal negligence.

WORDS: 732 - MOVED: 02/20/2026 6:21 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCaliforniaAvalanchestLdWritethru/8a9728f6a7a18049d8da32e8f895b6c1/text

___

AP-US-California-Avalanche-Explainer

Deadly California avalanche highlights inherent risks in the backcountry

SUMMARY: The recovery of skiers killed in the deadliest U.S. avalanche in almost 45 years is dragging out because of what experts say is a prime rule for rescuers: Don’t make yourself a victim. A storm lashing California’s Sierra Nevada remote wilderness Thursday meant more avalanches were possible in the backcountry area where authorities said eight people died and one was still missing two days after the deadly slide. Rescuers faced the same potential perils that killed the backcountry skiers and professional guides as they pursued a sport with inherent risks — compounded by a storm that dropped feet of snow. Recovery efforts were set to resume Friday.

WORDS: 852 - MOVED: 02/20/2026 1:01 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCaliforniaAvalancheExplainer/0e2b95632893803d5d0987be64c55a07/text

___

AP-US-Jesse-Jackson-Memorial

Memorial services for Rev. Jesse Jackson expanded to include South Carolina and Washington, DC

SUMMARY: Memorial services honoring the life of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. will be expanded beyond Chicago with events in Washington, D.C., and South Carolina. The late civil rights leader’s organization announced Thursday that newly added events outside Chicago will take place from March 1 to March 4. Jackson died Tuesday at age 84 after battling a rare neurological disorder that affected his ability to move and talk. As initially planned, Jackson will still lie in repose at the Chicago headquarters of his Rainbow PUSH Coalition with a public celebration of life and homegoing services, though dates for Chicago events have been changed.

WORDS: 301 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 11:55 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSJesseJacksonMemorial/dc690a5153483549898d1dfc548015bb/text

___

AP-US-Immigration-Enforcement-Minnesota, 4th Ld-Writethru

New Trump administration order could lead to the detention of thousands of legal refugees

SUMMARY: The Trump administration has issued a sweeping new order that could lead to the arrest of tens of thousands of refugees who are lawfully in the United States but do not yet have permanent residency. A memo filed by the Department of Homeland Security ahead of a Thursday federal court hearing in Minnesota says refugees applying for green cards must return to federal custody one year after they were admitted to the U.S. for reviews of their applications. DHS “may maintain custody for the duration of the inspection and examination process,” said the memo, which was filed Wednesday.

WORDS: 1018 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 5:05 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationEnforcementMinnesotathLdWritethru/87e5e89ee4f68189638f9e77acfb2994/text

___

AP-US-Austin-Yogurt-Shop-Murders, 8th Ld-Writethru

Judge declares 4 men wrongly accused of 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders innocent

SUMMARY: A Texas judge has declared four men who were wrongfully accused of the 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders innocent. State District Judge Dayna Blazey called her order “an obligation to the rule of law” in a packed Austin courtroom Thursday. The declaration was aimed at closing a dark chapter for the men and for a city that was shaken by the crime and investigators’ inability to solve it for decades. Four teenagers were found bound, gagged and shot in the head at the store where two of them worked. Cold case detectives announced last year that they had connected the killings to a suspect who died in a 1999 standoff with police.

WORDS: 863 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 5:02 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSAustinYogurtShopMurdersthLdWritethru/031d80ce017ab9d9b614c9afbd679df4/text

___

AP-US-Epstein, 1st Ld-Writethru

New Mexico reopens investigation into alleged illegal activity at Epstein's former Zorro Ranch

SUMMARY: New Mexico’s attorney general has reopened an investigation into allegations of illegal activity at Jeffrey Epstein’s former Zorro Ranch. Attorney General Raúl Torrez’s office says the decision was made after reviewing information recently released by the U.S. Department of Justice. Although New Mexico’s initial case was closed in 2019 at the request of federal prosecutors in New York, state prosecutors say now that “revelations outlined in the previously sealed FBI files warrant further examination.” The New Mexico Department of Justice says special agents and prosecutors at the agency will be seeking immediate access to the complete, unredacted federal case file.

WORDS: 361 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 9:15 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSEpsteinstLdWritethru/12dffa70784c6f468627962da3cf51b7/text

___

AP-US-Ice-Rink-Shooting-Hero, 6th Ld-Writethru

When Rhode Island shooter started firing, bystanders jumped into action to end the carnage

SUMMARY: Moments after Robert Dorgan starting shooting family members at a hockey game, three people in the stands rushed toward the shooter. Among them was Michael Black, who recalled hearing the shots and lunging for Dorgan's gun. Black managed to catch his hand in the gun and jam it. Two others helped him subdue Dorgan, but not before the 56-year-old could reach for a second gun and die from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The shooter's ex-wife Rhonda Dorgan and adult son Aidan Dorgan were killed Monday and three others were injured: Rhonda Dorgan’s parents, Linda and Gerald Dorgan; and a family friend, Thomas Geruso.

WORDS: 937 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 4:31 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSIceRinkShootingHerothLdWritethru/fcf58def325c4c6698775e5d46e260fc/text

___

AP-US-Savannah-Guthrie-Mom-DNA, 1st Ld-Writethru

Genealogy sites have helped solve major crimes. Police in Nancy Guthrie's case might turn to them

SUMMARY: Authorities trying to solve the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie say they might tap DNA genealogy databases. It's the same step that police took to unravel a series of murders in California and the fatal stabbings of four college students in Idaho. The strategy could pay off: If unknown DNA evidence can be connected to someone in a genealogy database, it could lead investigators to a suspect in Guthrie’s apparent kidnapping in Arizona. A law enforcement database didn't turn up any matches to DNA found in gloves a few miles from Guthrie's home.

WORDS: 620 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 4:50 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSavannahGuthrieMomDNAstLdWritethru/10ee20a0186bd8859c9b0a90f1d5c7da/text

___

AP-US-HUD-Immigration

HUD proposes rule that would force noncitizens from public housing

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is proposing a rule that would limit public housing mostly to citizens, which advocates fear could lead to tens of thousand of people being evicted. The rule, published Thursday in the Federal Register, calls for limiting funding for those in public housing and other HUD-related housing to citizens and eligible noncitizens. Advocates fear the rule would hit mixed-status families hardest. The left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has estimated that up to 80,000 people could lose assistance due to changes in eligibility.  A similar measure which was proposed but never finalized during the first Trump administration.

WORDS: 462 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 6:50 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSHUDImmigration/c5bec13a1a05f49bc701d417edac7cd9/text

___

—————————----—

WASHINGTON/POLITICS

———----———————

AP-US-Supreme-Court-Tariffs, 10th Ld-Writethru

Supreme Court strikes down Trump’s sweeping tariffs, upending central plank of economic agenda

SUMMARY: The Supreme Court has struck down President Donald Trump’s far-reaching global tariffs, handing him a significant loss on an issue crucial to his economic agenda. Friday's 6-3 decision centers on tariffs he unilaterally imposed under an emergency powers law, including the sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs levied on nearly every other country. The Republican president has called the case one of the most important in U.S. history and said a ruling against him would be an economic body blow to the country. But legal opposition crossed the political spectrum, including libertarian and pro-business groups typically aligned with the GOP. Administration officials have said they expect to keep the tariff framework in place under other authorities.

WORDS: 1103 - MOVED: 02/20/2026 3:07 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSupremeCourtTariffsthLdWritethru/0485fcda30a7310501123e4931dba3f9/text

___

AP-US-Trump-Tariff-Politics

Trump's made tariffs central to his presidency. Chaos may come next

SUMMARY: President Donald Trump suffered a rare rebuke when the Supreme Court ruled against his tariff agenda. The decision Friday throws U.S. trade policy back into uncertainty. Trump has built his economic message around tariffs and the deals that he says they force. He argues they bring factories and jobs back. He also warns that losing them harms the economy. The White House says it is looking for other laws to keep tariffs in place. Democrats say the decision proves Trump broke the law. Polling from AP-NORC finds that most adults oppose tariffs and expect higher prices.

WORDS: 585 - MOVED: 02/20/2026 4:35 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpTariffPolitics/b8b6d5d44ebb3640a88f7202754cb361/text

___

AP-US-Trump-Election-Conspiracists

Trump has stocked his administration with people who have backed his false 2020 election claims

SUMMARY: President Donald Trump has long spread conspiracy theories about voting that are designed to explain away his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Now that he’s president again, Trump has stocked his administration with many people who have promoted his falsehoods and in some cases helped him try to overturn his loss. The first concrete action from Trump's mandate to investigate the 2020 election was the seizure in late January of ballots and election records from Fulton County in Georgia, a Democratic stronghold that includes Atlanta. The county has long been a target of election conspiracy theorists aligned with Trump.

WORDS: 410 - MOVED: 02/20/2026 12:44 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpElectionConspiracists/d91027ec4152419cd761a6087d8139c6/text

___

AP-US-Governors-Trump, 3rd Ld-Writethru

Trump's refusal to invite all governors to a White House meeting prompts group to back out

SUMMARY: The National Governors Association is pulling out of an annual meeting at the White House after President Donald Trump declined to invite two Democratic governors. The Republican president is still expected to meet with governors at the White House on Friday but the event won't be facilitated by the governors' group. Trump had refused to include Democratic Jared Polis of Colorado and Wes Moore of Maryland and he recently blasted them on social media as “not worthy of being there.” The episode underscores the confrontational approach Trump has taken during his second term toward state leaders he doesn't like.

WORDS: 928 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 5:15 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSGovernorsTrumprdLdWritethru/5e078af4172aba3ea3c734c910e4e0c0/text

___

AP-US-Trump-Georgia, 10th Ld-Writethru

Trump visits Georgia, a target of his election falsehoods, as Republicans look for midterm boost

SUMMARY: The White House has insisted that President Donald Trump was visiting Georgia to promote the economy. But in the opening minutes of his first stop at a local restaurant, the president raised the prospect of voter fraud without evidence and talked up his plan to require voters to show identification before casting ballots. He was visiting the congressional district previously represented by Marjorie Taylor Greene, a former supporter who resigned in January after feuding with Trump. The White House has long said Trump would focus more on the economy, but recent months have been dominated by other issues, including deportation efforts in Minneapolis, military action in Iran, and his false claims about the 2020 election.

WORDS: 1116 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 5:07 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpGeorgiathLdWritethru/29075b0f22be1569aafe144ab7ca025b/text

___

AP-US-Election-2026-Redistricting-Virginia, 5th Ld-Writethru

Virginia judge blocks Democrats' referendum, a blow to redistricting effort over 4 U.S. House seats

SUMMARY: A Virginia judge is temporarily blocking Democrats’ plan to hold an April referendum on new congressional maps that could seriously impact the midterm elections. The decision threatens Democrats' push for more U.S. House seats. On Thursday, a Tazewell Circuit Court judge granted a temporary restraining order sought by Republicans. The order runs until March 18 and clashes with early voting set to begin March 6, which could doom the referendum. Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones says he will appeal the ruling. Republicans say the referendum's timing and wording break the law. Democrats argue it levels the playing field ahead of the midterms.

WORDS: 608 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 9:46 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionRedistrictingVirginiathLdWritethru/d4ece389549224ff188a86b9e3bad201/text

___

AP-US-Trump-White-House-Ballroom, 7th Ld-Writethru

Arts panel made up of Trump appointees approves his White House ballroom proposal

SUMMARY: A federal panel made up of President Donald Trump's appointees has approved his plan to build a massive ballroom on the site of the former White House East Wing. The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts is one of two federal agencies that must approve Trump’s plans. The National Capital Planning Commission, which has jurisdiction over construction and major renovation to government buildings in the region, is also reviewing the project. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has sued in federal court to halt construction. A decision in the case is pending.

WORDS: 1134 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 12:38 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpWhiteHouseBallroomthLdWritethru/f2a15d0b1c9c95f24816fe60b6b1ee5f/text

___

AP-US-Trump-Tariffs-Study, 6th Ld-Writethru

Tariffs paid by midsize US companies tripled last year, a JPMorganChase Institute study shows

SUMMARY: New research shows midsize U.S. companies pay far more in Trump-era tariffs, and the costs land at home. The JPMorganChase Institute study says tariff payments for these companies tripled over the past year. The report says these businesses may have to raise prices, cut hiring, or accept lower profits. Researchers also see signs companies are shifting purchases away from China and toward other parts of Asia. The study adds to other work, including New York Fed research, that says U.S. firms and consumers bear most tariff costs. The White House has sharply criticized that claim.

WORDS: 816 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 11:16 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpTariffsStudythLdWritethru/2a25158ff1d06bd7f72d909a8ec64f25/text

___

AP-US-Trump-Board-of-Peace, 15th Ld-Writethru

Trump gets pledges for Gaza reconstruction and troop commitments at inaugural Board of Peace talks

SUMMARY: President Donald Trump has announced at the inaugural Board of Peace meeting that nine members have agreed to pledge $7 billion toward a Gaza relief package. He also says five countries have agreed to deploy troops as part of an international stabilization force for the war-battered Palestinian territory. While lauding the pledges, Trump faces the unresolved challenge of disarming Hamas, a sticking point that threatens to delay or even derail the Gaza ceasefire plan that his administration notched as a major foreign policy win. The dollars pledged on Thursday, while significant, represent a small fraction of the estimated $70 billion needed to rebuild the Palestinian territory decimated after two years of war between Israel and Hamas.

WORDS: 1192 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 5:03 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpBoardofPeacethLdWritethru/22e587df67e27cd1e1d96e446cb88378/text

___

—————————----—

INTERNATIONAL

———----———————

AP-EU-Britain-Epstein-Andrew, 3rd Ld-Writethru

Police search former Prince Andrew's home a day after his arrest

SUMMARY: Police have searched the former home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, a day after the former prince was held in custody on suspicion of misconduct in public office. His arrest is linked to his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and marked one of the most tumultuous days in the modern history of Britain’s royal family. The former Prince Andrew is back at his new home on the Sandringham estate, King Charles III’s private retreat. Police have concluded their search there but are still searching Royal Lodge, his 30-room former home in the grounds of Windsor Castle, just west of the capital.

WORDS: 1064 - MOVED: 02/20/2026 9:43 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUBritainEpsteinAndrewrdLdWritethru/61ea3c437680b8341e623e4d9efa47b8/text

___

AP-ML-Saudi-Arabia-US-Nuclear, 2nd Ld-Writethru

Saudi Arabia may have uranium enrichment under proposed deal with US, arms control experts warn

SUMMARY: Saudi Arabia could have some form of uranium enrichment within the kingdom under a proposed nuclear deal with the United States. That's according to congressional documents and an arms control group. Both U.S. Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden tried to reach a nuclear deal with the kingdom to share American technology. Nonproliferation experts warn any spinning centrifuges within Saudi Arabia could open the door to a possible weapons program for the kingdom. The kingdom's assertive crown prince has suggested he could pursue a nuclear weapon if Tehran obtains an atomic bomb.

WORDS: 916 - MOVED: 02/20/2026 8:06 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLSaudiArabiaUSNuclearndLdWritethru/18cb979f0abf5f0d81c1c91f45d6a6ef/text

___

AP-EU-Russia-Ukraine-War-Occupation, 2nd Ld-Writethru

Life is harsh and dangerous in Russian-run parts of Ukraine, activists and former residents say

SUMMARY: Four years into its full-scale invasion, Russia controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, where an estimated 3 million to 5 million people live. Life in shattered cities and villages alike remains difficult, with residents facing problems with housing, water, power, heat and health care. Across the illegally annexed regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, Russian citizenship, language and culture has been forced upon residents, including in school lesson plans and textbooks. Some say they live in fear of being accused of sympathizing with Ukraine. Many have been imprisoned, beaten and killed, according to human rights activists.

WORDS: 1814 - MOVED: 02/20/2026 5:01 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWarOccupationndLdWritethru/cf2ca7071c54da307650c3b9e2fa8f07/text

___

AP-AS-India-US

India joins US-led initiative to build secure technology supply chains

SUMMARY: India joined a U.S.-led initiative to strengthen technology cooperation among strategic allies in a move Friday that underscores the nations’ warming ties after a brief strain over New Delhi’s unabated purchase of discounted Russian oil. The decision aligns India closely with Washington’s efforts to build secure supply chains for semiconductors, advanced manufacturing and critical technologies at a time geopolitical competition with China is intensifying. It also signals a reset in relations following friction over energy trade and tariffs. Nations that have joined the Pax Silica framework include Japan, South Korea, the U.K. and Israel.

WORDS: 375 - MOVED: 02/20/2026 7:09 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASIndiaUS/994d1cea76275cae7649fb8dcec13125/text

___

AP-ML-Mideast-Wars-West-Bank, 5th Ld-Writethru

Israeli settlers kill 19-year-old Palestinian American, officials and witnesses say

SUMMARY: The Palestinian Health Ministry and a witness say that Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank shot and killed a Palestinian American in an attack on a village. Resident Raed Abu Ali says the attack took place Wednesday in the village of Mukhmas. The Israeli military said its soldiers responded to a violent confrontation there and tried to disperse a riot. Separately, the Committee to Protect Journalists has reported that detained Palestinian journalists faced beatings, stress positions and medical neglect while in Israeli detention. The U.N. says Gaza’s destruction is so vast that clearing rubble alone will take seven years.

WORDS: 1062 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 11:41 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLMideastWarsWestBankthLdWritethru/ec2736c95acf273a9fb1f2d541f46bb5/text

___

AP-EU-Russia-Ukraine-War-Occupation-Takeaways

Russian-run areas of Ukraine face water, heat and housing woes

SUMMARY: Nearly four years into its full-scale invasion, Russia controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory. Many of the estimated 3 million to 5 million people who remain in regions under Moscow’s control face housing, water, power, heat and health care woes. Even President Vladimir Putin acknowledges “many truly pressing, urgent problems” in the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, which were illegally annexed by Moscow months after the Feb. 24, 2022, all-out war began. Russian citizenship, language and culture is forced upon residents, including in school lesson plans and textbooks. Human rights activists say some residents live in fear of being accused of sympathizing with Kyiv, and many have been imprisoned, beaten and killed, according to human rights activists.

WORDS: 1046 - MOVED: 02/20/2026 5:08 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWarOccupationTakeaways/11fa1be55833294fdc8c45c7c1a5dd77/text

___

AP-AS-South-Korea-Martial-Law

Ex-South Korean president remains defiant following life sentence for rebellion

SUMMARY: Ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday remained defiant in his first reaction to a life sentence imposed by a Seoul court for his short-lived declaration of martial law but didn’t clearly say whether he would appeal. In a statement released by his lawyers, Yoon denounced the judiciary and maintained that his poorly-planned power grab in December 2024 was “solely for the sake of the nation and our people.” Yoon, who was removed from office amid a political crisis set off by his unsuccessful power grab, has long rejected the eight criminal cases brought against him for what prosecutors described as a coup attempt and other allegations.

WORDS: 752 - MOVED: 02/20/2026 6:53 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASSouthKoreaMartialLaw/8e897feb85caaf581f0e7a607556f832/text

___

AP-AS-North-Korea-Party-Congress, 5th Ld-Writethru

Kim lauds North Korea's economy and regional standing as major party meeting opens

SUMMARY: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has lauded his nation’s improving economy and regional standing as he opened the country’s most important political event. Kim is expected to set his domestic and foreign policy agenda for the next five years at the Workers’ Party Congress. State media said Friday the congress began the previous day. Kim said the North has made significant progress since the last congress in 2021, held during the COVID-19 pandemic, citing economic gains and a firmer regional footing that he said marked an “irreversible” strengthening of the state’s status. South Korea’s spy agency has said it was watching for signs that Kim could use the congress to position his teenage daughter as a potential successor.

WORDS: 1048 - MOVED: 02/20/2026 12:08 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASNorthKoreaPartyCongressthLdWritethru/13331f3c040c01f92cabc0cd14972765/text

___

AP-ML-Iran, 13th Ld-Writethru

Trump warns of 'bad things' if Iran doesn't make a deal, as second US carrier nears Mideast

SUMMARY: Iran held annual military drills with Russia as a second American aircraft carrier drew closer to the Middle East. Both the United States and Iran are signaling they are prepared for war if talks on Tehran’s nuclear program fizzle out. President Donald Trump said Thursday he believes 10 to 15 days is enough time for Iran to reach a deal. But talks on its nuclear program have been deadlocked for years, and Iran has refused to discuss wider U.S. and Israeli demands that it scale back its missile program and sever ties to armed groups. Indirect talks held in recent weeks made little visible progress, and one or both sides could be buying time for final war preparations.

WORDS: 1262 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 8:04 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranthLdWritethru/0456903e0d7a24cfcdc33d53732dee2f/text

___

AP-EU-Britain-Epstein-Andrew-Profile, 3rd Ld-Writethru

The former Prince Andrew went from helicopter pilot to trade envoy to royal pariah

SUMMARY: The former Prince Andrew is the first senior British royal in modern history to be arrested by police. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was detained on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, in an investigation stemming from his relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He was born in 1960, the third child of Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip. He spent 22 years in the Royal Navy, serving as a helicopter pilot during the 1982 Falklands War. Named Britain’s special representative for international trade in 2001, he was forced to step down from that role in 2011 amid growing concern about his friendship with Epstein. Last year that friendship cost him his royal title and honors.

WORDS: 794 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 12:22 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUBritainEpsteinAndrewProfilerdLdWritethru/d64e61fd0214a68b9a05fc0da95d9486/text

___

AP-ML-Iran-Still-Defiant, 1st Ld-Writethru

Iranians grieve defiantly for thousands killed in last month's crackdown

SUMMARY: Iranians are still reeling with shock, grief and fear after Iran's rulers unleashed the deadliest crackdown ever seen in the Islamic Republic last month. But a vein of defiance persists. In some districts of the capital and other cities, residents shout anti-government slogans from their roofs and balconies at night. And this week, memorials marking the passage of 40 days since protesters' deaths are being held, turning a traditional rite of mourning into political protests. In videos of some 40-day memorials, hundreds gather and often chant against the government.

WORDS: 1320 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 5:04 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranStillDefiantstLdWritethru/71e5db503a287126a2d31cb32a2809eb/text

___

AP-EU-Britain-Epstein-Andrew-What-To-Know, 3rd Ld-Writethru

What to know about the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

SUMMARY: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office that is centered on his close relationship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. His arrest Thursday follows years of allegations over his links with Epstein, who took his own life in a New York prison in 2019. The accusation at the heart of his arrest is that he shared confidential trade information with the disgraced financier. It is one of the gravest crises to affect the House of Windsor since its establishment more than a hundred years ago.

WORDS: 1042 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 3:03 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUBritainEpsteinAndrewWhatToKnowrdLdWritethru/18bfbaa26488b45f2db79911bba1b53c/text

___

—————————----—

BUSINESS

———----———————

AP-US-Philanthropy-Elevate-Prize, 2nd Ld-Writethru

Elevate Prize winners gain more than $300K in funding. They learn to better tell their own stories

SUMMARY: The Elevate Prize Foundation named its 10 winners for 2026 on Tuesday, including Monica Ramirez of Justice for Migrant Women and Mara Fleishman of the Chef Ann Foundation. Each group gets $300,000 in unrestricted funding. Winners also get training to grow and raise their profile. CEO Carolina Garcia Jayaram tells The Associated Press that increasing a group's visibility not only can increase fundraising and finding partners. It also helps protects leaders under pressure. The foundation also launched its “Good Is Trending” initiative Tuesday, taking over NASDAQ's Times Square billboards to promote the stories of this year's winners.

WORDS: 837 - MOVED: 02/17/2026 1:00 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSPhilanthropyElevatePrizendLdWritethru/8487c559b1428ae56bbe704222c3b6cc/text

___

AP-Financial-Markets, 10th Ld-Writethru

US stocks tick higher after the Supreme Court strikes down Trump's sweeping tariffs

SUMMARY: U.S. stocks are ticking higher after the Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs, which had triggered panic in financial markets when announced last year. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% Friday. It had been flipping between small gains and losses earlier in the morning following discouraging reports showing slowing growth for the U.S. economy and faster inflation. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 124 points, and the Nasdaq composite rose 1.1%. Other markets showed relatively muted reactions. Treasury yields edged higher, the U.S. dollar’s value edged down against other currencies and gold's price briefly dipped.

WORDS: 681 - MOVED: 02/20/2026 5:21 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFinancialMarketsthLdWritethru/9e92f1913a1b97aa49f674fda96f0b65/text

___

AP-US-Trump-Tariffs-Other-Options

Trump has other tariff options after Supreme Court strikes down his worldwide import taxes

SUMMARY: President Donald Trump is dealing with a major legal defeat Friday after the Supreme Court struck down many of the tariffs he imposed last year on nearly every country on earth. The truth, though, is that Trump still has options to keep taxing imports aggressively even though the justices ruled against him. He can re-use tariff powers he deployed in his first term and can reach for others, including one that dates back to the Great Depression. Trump had warned an adverse ruling by the Supreme Court would leave the United States “defenseless’’ and possibly “reduced to almost Third World status.’’

WORDS: 902 - MOVED: 02/20/2026 4:10 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpTariffsOtherOptions/a3e43fe91fa8335eac383921bed55f7e/text

___

AP-US-Economy-GDP, 2nd Ld-Writethru

US economic growth weaker than thought in fourth quarter with government shutdown, consumer pullback

SUMMARY: America’s gross domestic product — the nation’s output of goods and services — increased at an 1.4% annual rate  in the fourth quarter, the Commerce Department reported Friday, down from 4.4% in the July-September quarter and 3.8% in the quarter before that. A downturn in government and consumer spending contributed to the slowdown in fourth-quarter growth, the government said. Consumer spending rose just 2.2%, a significant slowdown from the third quarter’s healthy 3.5% gain. The U.S. economy grew 2.2% in 2025, down from 2024’s 2.8% expansion.

WORDS: 743 - MOVED: 02/20/2026 1:45 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSEconomyGDPndLdWritethru/0e5caca783b93eaf2231496e3e0f54f3/text

___

AP-US-Consumer-Spending, 1st Ld-Writethru

Inflation rose more quickly than expected in December

SUMMARY: A key inflation gauge accelerated in December, a sign that many prices are still rising more quickly than most Americans would prefer — and faster than the Federal Reserve’s target of 2% a year. The figures show that inflation remains elevated, even as it has come down from a peak near 7% in 2022. With many prices still rising more quickly than they did before the pandemic, the report points to a key reason that many Americans remain unhappy with the economy, even as unemployment remains low and growth is solid.

WORDS: 414 - MOVED: 02/20/2026 1:40 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSConsumerSpendingstLdWritethru/4cf2b9b627cc3ad1bbf6c31f77d27a02/text

___

AP-US-United-States-Indonesia, 3rd Ld-Writethru

Indonesia's president reaches a trade deal with US while in Washington for Trump's Board of Peace

SUMMARY: The White House has announced a trade agreement with Indonesia. It was announced Thursday while Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was in Washington to attend the first meeting of President Donald Trump's Board of Peace. Under the agreement, Southeast Asia’s largest economy will eliminate tariffs for 99% of American goods while the U.S. would maintain tariffs on most Indonesian goods at 19%. The White House is calling it a “great deal" that will “help both countries to strengthen economic security." Indonesian and U.S. companies also reached several business deals this week. They cover agricultural products and cooperation on critical minerals and computer chips.

WORDS: 825 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 10:55 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSUnitedStatesIndonesiardLdWritethru/9e8d5ea68089d9cffdf6253edcd03bc8/text

___

AP-US-Trade-Gap, 4th Ld-Writethru

US trade deficit declined in 2025, but gap for goods hits a record despite Trump tariffs

SUMMARY: The U.S. trade deficit slipped modestly in 2025, a year in which President Donald Trump upended global commerce by slapping double digit tariffs on imports from most countries. The Commerce Department reported Thursday that the gap the between the goods and services the U.S. sells other countries and what it buys from them narrowed to just over $901 billion from $904 billion in 2024.

WORDS: 439 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 1:41 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTradeGapthLdWritethru/9eb6bd10ff635d63e46ee99d34ce1d05/text

___

—————————----—

HEALTH/SCIENCE

———----———————

AP-MED-ALS-Explainer

What is ALS, the disease that killed actor Eric Dane?

SUMMARY: The fatal nervous system disease known as ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, killed actor Eric Dane less than a year after he announced his diagnosis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ALS is rare. In 2022, there were nearly 33,000 estimated cases. Researchers project that cases will rise to more than 36,000 by 2030. ALS is slightly more common in men than in women and tends to strike in midlife, between the ages of 40 and 60. Dane, known for his roles on “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Euphoria,” died this week at age 53.

WORDS: 624 - MOVED: 02/20/2026 4:42 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMEDALSExplainer/fa5eab17cf57163158c9ab6f58826cba/text

___

—————————----—

CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT

———----———————

AP-US-Climate-Trump-Environmental-Justice

Trump climate health rollback likely to hit poor, minority areas hardest, experts say

SUMMARY: The Trump administration’s revocation of a scientific finding that climate change is a danger to public health is likely to affect communities of color the most. Extensive research has found that Black, Latino, Indigenous and other racial and ethnic groups are more vulnerable to the health consequences from climate change than white people. The Environmental Protection Agency, in a 2021 report, concluded the same. That EPA report found, for example, that Black people were 40% more likely to live in places with the highest projected increases in deaths because of extreme heat driven by climate change.

WORDS: 1014 - MOVED: 02/20/2026 7:03 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSClimateTrumpEnvironmentalJustice/55d9679f4a21855d1b1b8da100f99f78/text

___

—————————----—

ENTERTAINMENT

———----———————

AP-ENT-Obit-Eric-Dane, 6th Ld-Writethru

Eric Dane, 'Grey's Anatomy' star and ALS awareness advocate, dies at 53

SUMMARY: Eric Dane, the actor known for “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Euphoria,” has died at 53 due to ALS. His representatives say he died on Thursday afternoon. His family says he spent his final days with loved ones. Dane rose to fame as Dr. Mark Sloan on “Grey’s Anatomy” and later played Cal Jacobs on “Euphoria.” He also starred on “The Last Ship,” where production paused as he battled depression. In April 2025, Dane shared his diagnosis of ALS, which is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. He later spoke publicly to push ALS awareness and research. He leaves two daughters with wife Rebecca Gayheart, who he married in 2004.

WORDS: 810 - MOVED: 02/20/2026 2:33 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APENTObitEricDanethLdWritethru/a2eaf3916d047c038ac1121af9a99f17/text

___

AP-ENT-Oscars-What-to-Know

Oscars will bring back last year's acting winners — Saldaña, Culkin, Madison and Brody — to present

SUMMARY: The film academy says last year’s acting winners return as presenters at the next Oscars. On Thursday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Adrien Brody, Mikey Madison, Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldaña will hand out trophies. The ceremony takes place on March 15 with Conan O’Brien as host. Saldaña, Madison and Culkin became first-time winners last year. Brody earned his second best actor Oscar. This year, “Sinners” leads nominations with a record 16. Michael B. Jordan, Wunmi Mosaku and Delroy Lindo are the “Sinners” cast members up for acting trophies.

WORDS: 297 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 7:44 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APENTOscarsWhattoKnow/3f8cbb0f7c9ede99bbe7efa2386f5b92/text

___

—————————----—

SPORTS

———----———————

AP-OLY-BIA-Men's-Mass-Start, 2nd Ld-Writethru

Norway wins its 17th gold medal, breaking record for most golds won in a single Winter Olympics

SUMMARY: Johannes Dale-Skjevdal of Norway was the only biathlete to hit all 20 of his targets in the 15-kilometer mass start race Friday and skied his way to gold Norway’s 17th gold medal of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics — breaking the record for the most gold medals won by a nation at a single Winter Olympics. Norway had set the record at the 2022 Beijing Olympics with 16 gold medals. Dale-Skjevdal was followed by teammate Sturla Holm Laegreid, who won silver. Quentin Fillon Maillet of France, who missed four on the day, passed German biathlete Philipp Horn on the trails to the finish for a bronze, 25.6 seconds behind Dale-Skjevdal.

WORDS: 653 - MOVED: 02/20/2026 1:59 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APOLYBIAMensMassStartndLdWritethru/8d64eaeceeaf2d94e36df59d8d204639/text

___

AP-OLY-FIG-Women's-Free-Skate, 5th Ld-Writethru

Alysa Liu dazzles to win figure skating gold, ending a 24-year Olympic drought for US women

SUMMARY: Alysa Liu won Olympic gold for the U.S. in women’s figure skating, ending a 24-year drought. Liu delivered a near-flawless free skate at the Milan Cortina Games to beat out Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai of Japan on Thursday night. Liu had returned to the sport after stepping away following the Beijing Games. She posted a career-best 226.79 points, while Sakamoto took silver after a mistake. Nakai earned bronze after a slip as well. American teammate Amber Glenn celebrated in the kiss-and-cry area with Liu after Nakai’s score was read. Glenn rebounded from Tuesday’s short program and finished fifth.

WORDS: 1129 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 10:26 AM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APOLYFIGWomensFreeSkatethLdWritethru/437ba97a98c0f43b1317dfc26275b633/text

___

AP-OLY-Milan-Cortina-Roundup, 2nd Ld-Writethru

Winter Olympics recap: Alysa Liu wins figure skating gold, US tops Canada in women's hockey final

SUMMARY: On a night of American comebacks at the Milan Cortina Games, Alysa Liu delivered the U.S. its first women’s figure skating Olympic gold medal in 24 years. The 20-year-old Liu performed a near-flawless free skate to upstage Japanese rivals Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai. She finished with a career-best 226.79 points. Nakai and Sakamoto each made a mistake on a combination sequence. Liu was third after the short program two nights ago. In women's hockey, the U.S. beat Canada 2-1 in overtime to win the gold medal. Hilary Knight's late goal forced overtime and Megan Keller won it 4:07 into OT.

WORDS: 713 - MOVED: 02/19/2026 7:45 PM PST

https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APOLYMilanCortinaRoundupndLdWritethru/f3a41eaa38ac197e5f37defba12712c4/text

___

<END>

Members and subscribers make this story possible.
You can help support non-partisan, community journalism.

x
X