There was 'a bridge called Jesse Jackson' across decades of civil rights advocacy
CHICAGO (AP) — The Rev. Jesse Jackson kept up his more than half-century-long fight for civil and human rights through his final years despite challenges over his health, the coronavirus pandemic, racial injustice and political divisions. Whether appearing at the funerals of Black people killed by police or participating in COVID-19 vaccination drives to address hesitancy in communities of color, Jackson built on a life in public advocacy that included running for president, international diplomacy and influencing the lexicon of racial identity in America. Jackson, a protégé of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., died on Tuesday. He was 84.
Minnesota’s Legislature braces for a federal immigration fight as the enforcement surge winds down
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Democrats’ top priority as the 2026 session of the Minnesota Legislature gets underway is reining in the power of federal law enforcement to conduct immigration crackdowns. For Republican lawmakers, who have largely supported the Trump administration’s methods in the state, their priority is curbing the massive fraud that has plagued taxpayer funded programs. President Donald Trump has cited such fraud as justification for sending thousands of federal immigration officers into the state. While the immigration enforcement surge is winding down, the aftermath will reverberate at the state Capitol.
Iran says it temporarily closed the Strait of Hormuz as it held more indirect talks with the US
GENEVA (AP) — Iran has announced the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz for live fire military drills. The rare show of force came as its negotiators held another round of indirect talks with the United States over its disputed nuclear program. It was the first time Iran has announced the closure of the key international waterway, through which 20% of the world’s oil passes, since the U.S. began threatening Iran and rushing military assets to the region. It was not immediately clear if the strait had been closed, but such a rare and perhaps unprecedented move could further escalate tensions that threaten to ignite another war in the Middle East.
Federal judge rules Kilmar Abrego Garcia can’t be re-detained by immigration authorities
A federal judge has ruled that Immigration and Customs Enforcement cannot re-detain Kilmar Abrego Garcia because a 90-day detention period has expired and the government has no viable plan for deporting him. The Salvadoran national’s case has become a focal point in the immigration debate after he was mistakenly deported to his home country last year. Since his return, he has been fighting a second deportation to a series of African countries proposed by Department of Homeland Security officials. Abrego Garcia has an American wife and child and has lived in Maryland for years, but he immigrated to the U.S. illegally as a teenager.
New subpoenas issued in inquiry on response to 2016 Russian election interference, AP sources say
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has issued new subpoenas in an investigation into perceived adversaries of President Donald Trump and the U.S. government response to Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. That's according to multiple people familiar with the matter. An initial wave of subpoenas in November asked recipients for documents related to the preparation of a U.S. intelligence community assessment that detailed a sweeping, multi-prong effort by Moscow to help Trump defeat Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Though the first subpoenas requested documents from a monthslong time frame surrounding the January 2017 publication of the Obama administration intelligence assessment, the latest subpoenas issued in recent weeks ask for any records through the present.
Warner Bros reopens takeover talks with Paramount after receiving a waiver from Netflix
NEW YORK (AP) — Warner Bros. Discovery is briefly reopening takeover talks with Skydance-owned Paramount to hear the company’s “best and final” offer, while the Hollywood giant continues to back the studio and streaming deal it struck with Netflix. In a Tuesday regulatory filing, Warner said that Netflix had granted it a waiver to open discussions with Paramount for seven days. Paramount now has until Feb. 23 to negotiate a possible transaction. But in the meantime, Warner’s board is still recommending shareholders support of its proposed merger with Netflix. A special meeting is now scheduled for Friday, March 20 to hold a vote on that deal.
Police credit a good Samaritan for ending a deadly shooting at a Rhode Island ice rink
A gunman who opened fire at a Rhode Island youth hockey game, killing two adults and injuring three others, was stopped after a fellow spectator intervened. Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves said Monday that the shooter died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot. Goncalves says investigators think the shooting at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket on Monday afternoon was targeted and may have involved a family dispute. Video online shows players and fans scrambling for cover and rushing to exits. Gov. Dan McKee says the state is grieving again after another recent mass shooting.
Russian and Ukrainian officials meet in Geneva for US-brokered talks after almost 4 years of war
GENEVA (AP) — Russian and Ukrainian delegations are meeting in Geneva for U.S.-brokered talks although both sides are far apart on issues such as land, security and a possible ceasefire. The head of the Ukrainian delegation, Rustem Umerov, posted photos on social media of the meeting at a Swiss hotel. The talks are due to run over two days. A person familiar with the talks said that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will be taking part. The same person also said military chiefs will discuss how a ceasefire monitoring could work. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia’s latest drone and missile attacks undermine the push for peace.
New Orleans celebrates Mardi Gras, the indulgent conclusion of Carnival season
NEW ORLEANS, La. (AP) — As the sun rose in New Orleans, rows of parade-goers already lined the street. People set up chairs, coolers, grills and ladders — offering a higher vantage point to catch the eye of float riders throwing glimmery plastic beads to revelers. Mardi Gras is also known as Fat Tuesday. It falls on the day before Ash Wednesday. The big bash marks the end of Carnival season and a final chance for indulgence and revelry before the Christian Lent period of sacrifice and reflection. New Orleans has the nation’s largest and best-known celebration. Parade-goers will line the streets hoping to catch beads, toys and trinkets unique to each parade.
Italy pulls off a stunner in Olympic men's speedskating team pursuit, earns first gold since 2006
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — The Italian men's speedskating team pulled off a stunner in team pursuit, surging past the United States to gold at the Milan Cortina Olympics. The group of Davide Ghiotto, Andrea Giovannini, and Michele Malfatti pulled away over the final laps and win by 4.5 seconds. The Canadian women's team defended their Olympic gold in the same event. Elsewhere at the Games, organizers scrubbed the women’s snowboard slopestyle final after heavy snow hit the facility in Livigno. France rallied past favored Norway to win gold in the men's biathlon relay. Norway’s Jens Luraas Oftebro takes another Nordic combined title, this time on the large hill.
