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BOCA RATON — The Hurricanes’ hot bats took nine innings to show up, but they arrived just in time.

Miami (10-0) scored seven runs in the ninth inning, coming back from a three-run deficit to beat Florida Atlantic (3-5) 11-7 in Boca Raton on Wednesday night. The victory extends UM’s season-opening win streak to 10 games — the program’s longest season-opening winning streak since 2013.

“There’s just never any panic with the offense that we have and the leadership that we have,” UM coach J.D. Arteaga said. “We’re always in every game.”

There are several other undefeated teams around the country, including Texas, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Clemson, Oregon and Ole Miss. But the Hurricanes are the first team in a Power 4 conference to reach 10 wins.

Miami trailed by three entering the ninth inning, but star third baseman Daniel Cuvet cut the deficit to one with a two-run home run, his sixth of the year. The Hurricanes loaded the bases, and Braylan West drove in two runs with a go-ahead double. Jake Ogden hit a bases-clearing double to drive in three more runs.

“Bases loaded, I was looking for a pitch up,” West said. “He was throwing a lot of splitters in the at bats before. He threw me one, saw it up and I just cranked it.”

FAU held Miami’s bats in check for most of the game. Both teams’ lefty starters worked into trouble but had otherwise solid outings. Miami freshman Sebastian Santos-Olson, making his second career start, pitched 4 1/3 innings and gave up three runs (one of which was earned).

“I thought he pitched really well,” Arteaga said. “Unfortunately, he had that dropped ball in right field with two outs that you shouldn’t give up any runs there and then a young pitcher, you’ve got to kind of regroup and get the next guy out. And it kind of snowballed on him a little bit. The pitch count kind of got up. But he’ll learn.”

UM entered the game averaging 16 runs per game (the Hurricanes scored 30 runs in their previous game), but FAU pitcher Kide Adetuyi held the Hurricanes to just three runs through five frames while striking out 10 UM hitters.

The Hurricanes got on the board first as Alonzo Alvarez reached second base on an error and scored on a single by Braylan West. They built on that lead in the following inning, scoring a run on a single by designated hitter Alex Sosa and another on a single by right fielder Derek Williams.

Williams allowed two Owls runs to score when he dropped what would have been an inning-ending fly ball in shallow right field in the fourth inning. FAU tied the game in the fifth inning with a double by Eli Small.

Williams made up for his prior error by pushing Miami back ahead 4-3 with an RBI single in the seventh inning. Miami’s bullpen could not hold onto the lead, as Owls right fielder Brett Patten knotted the game at four in the bottom half of the inning. FAU took its first lead of the game when UM pitcher Packy Bradley-Cooney could not handle a dribbler back toward the mound.

The Owls extended their lead with an RBI single by Patrick Ward, and they took a three-run lead on a wild pitch. But the lead proved to be too small.

The Hurricanes play another in-state rival, Florida, in a three-game series that starts on Friday night..

“Still got a lot to improve on,” Arteaga said. “It’s nice to be 10-0 and all that, but understanding that there’s been a couple games that we — I don’t want to say we lucked out, but we were fortunate to fight and come back at the end there. But there’s always something to improve on, and we definitely have a lot to improve on still.”

By MARK ROSNER

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Alex Condon scored 23 points, Boogie Fland had 22 and No. 7 Florida beat Texas 84-71 Wednesday night for its eighth consecutive victory.

Florida (22-6, 13-2 Southeastern Conference) has won seven straight SEC road games. The Gators have outscored their last eight opponents by an average of 20.5 points, rounding into form as they seek to defend their national title.

The 6-foot-11 Condon converted 10 of 12 shots from the field. He had five points and an assist during a 14-1 run gave the Gators a 75-65 lead with 4:16 remaining. Fland hit 7 of 10 shots and scored seven during the game-changing burst. Xavian Lee scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half.

Florida, a poor 3-point shooting team most of the season — 30% accuracy — has heated up to 36% during the winning streak. Coach Todd Golden’s Gators made 6 of 9 from long range during the second half against Texas, finishing 8 of 18.

Meantime, the Longhorns (17-11, 8-7) went without a field goal for the final 7:27.

Texas has lost two in a row after winning its previous five. Dailyn Swain led the Longhorns with 21 points, including 15 in the second half. Tramon Mark scored 15 points and Jordan Pope had 14.

Mark scored 13 points in the first half as Texas took a 39-36 lead at the break. He made some difficult, contested shots, finishing 5 of 7 from the field and making three 3-pointers. But Mark attempted just two shots in the second half.

Up next

Florida: Hosts No. 20 Arkansas on Saturday.

Texas: At Texas A&M on Saturday.

___

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TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — The no-parking zone around the home of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie’s mother where journalists and social media streamers have stationed themselves over the past three weeks since her disappearance is being widened in response to bitter complaints from neighbors about congested roads, trespassing and trash left alongside roadways.

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Pima County officials say an effort over the weekend to have one-way traffic flow on the road in front of Nancy Guthrie’s house hasn’t worked as they hoped, leading to expanded parking restrictions.

The new restrictions take effect Thursday. Authorities say journalists and streamers can still have access to the area, but they will have to park elsewhere and get dropped off in the neighborhood. Violators would face a $250 fine. The constant presence of news crews, bloggers and curious onlookers has drawn mixed reaction from neighbors. Some appreciated the attention the case has been getting. Others have placed traffic cones and signs on their properties to keep people off.

Authorities say the tents, generators and satellite trucks set up along the road have created congestion and safety concerns.

Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen at her home just outside Tucson on Jan. 31 and was reported missing the following day. Authorities believe she was kidnapped, abducted or otherwise taken against her will. Drops of her blood were found on the front porch, but authorities haven’t publicly revealed much evidence.

• A sign posted along the road to Nancy Guthrie’s home on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Tucson, Ariz., asks media to work elsewhere. (AP Photo/Felicia Fonseca)
• A sign that reads “No Press” is posted outside the home next door to Nancy Guthrie Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Felicia Fonseca)
• Photographers take images of sheriff’s deputies outside the home of Nancy Guthrie in Tucson, Ariz., Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Felicia Fonseca)

Show Caption1 of 3A sign posted along the road to Nancy Guthrie’s home on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Tucson, Ariz., asks media to work elsewhere. (AP Photo/Felicia Fonseca) Expand

Despite the sheriff’s request for people not to search on their own, volunteers have continued to look. A small group reported finding a black backpack on Sunday, but it wasn’t the same brand as one identified in video surveillance that the FBI released of a masked person at Guthrie’s home the night she disappeared.

Journalists and streamers aren’t the only people to go into the neighborhood. Supporters of the Guthrie family have showed up outside of the home to drop off flowers, yellow ribbons, crosses and prayers.

By PHILIP MARCELO

NEW YORK (AP) — New York’s attorney general has sued video game developer Valve, claiming the “loot boxes” found in Counter-Strike and other popular video game franchises illegally promote gambling.

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State Attorney General Letitia James said in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in New York state court that games such as Counter-Strike 2, Team Fortress 2 and Dota 2 illegally charge users for the chance to win rare items held in the virtual containers.

In Counter-Strike, the process even resembles a slot machine, with an animated spinning wheel that eventually rests on a selected item, James’ office said.

“Valve has made billions of dollars by letting children and adults alike illegally gamble for the chance to win valuable virtual prizes,” James said in a statement. “These features are addictive, harmful, and illegal.”

Messages seeking comment were left Wednesday for the Bellevue, Washington-based company.

“Loot box” items are generally cosmetic, such as a hat for a player’s character or an artistic skin for weapons. They usually don’t serve any vital function in the games, but James’ office said the items can still be sold online for significant sums.

Some of the rarest items can go for thousands of dollars online, according to James’ office. One item, an AK-47 Counter-Strike skin, recently sold for more than $1 million.

James’ suit says Valve is violating New York’s constitution by promoting gambling in its games. It wants the company to stop the practice and pay restitution and damages to users, as well as a fine worth three times the amount of its profits from the features.

The attorney general argues that research has found children introduced to gambling are four times more likely to develop a gambling problem later in life than those who are not.

“Loot boxes, like other forms of gambling, can lead to addiction and result in real harm,” the suit reads. “But Valve’s loot boxes are particularly pernicious because they are popular among children and adolescents, who are lured into opening loot boxes by the prospect of winning expensive virtual items that convey status in the gaming world.”

James’ office said demand for “loot box” prizes has drawn interest not just from online speculators and investors that have helped values soar, but also thieves targeting third-party, online marketplaces where the virtual items can be sold for cash.

Valve facilitates those third-party marketplaces, as well as operating its own, the Steam Community Market, where players can sell their items and use the proceeds to buy other video games, gaming hardware or other virtual items.

A day after President Donald Trump demanded Congress impose new rules governing elections, Republicans in the Florida House of Representatives passed a state-level measure Wednesday that mirrors much of what Trump wants on the national level.

The legislation would make multiple changes in Florida election law. The provisions with the biggest potential impact on voters would require citizenship verification of registered voters and eliminate some forms of identification that have long been accepted for voting in Florida.

Supporters said House Bill 991 would keep Florida at the forefront of well-run, honest elections. Opponents said the new rules, if they become law, would prevent some citizens from voting in future elections with the greatest impact on students, seniors and women.

Jessica Lowe-Minor, president of League of Women Voters of Florida, said in a statement that the House-passed bill “will make it harder for eligible Americans to vote. By tying the right to vote to possession of costly documents that many citizens don’t have easy access to, it undermines Floridians’ freedom to vote and moves us away from the concept of a free and fair democracy.”

In her final pitch for passage, state Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, the Fort Myers Republican who sponsored the bill, invoked Trump’s comments from his State of the Union address. “You heard our president last night,” she said, adding that, “Floridians want election integrity.”

State Rep. Dana Trabulsy, R-Fort Pierce, the chief co-sponsor, rejected opponents’ warnings about the impact.

“This bill is not voter suppression. This bill is not driving us to a dictatorship,” she said. “I hear you saying, ‘We have had and do have the safest elections in the United States,’ and maybe we do. Our governor said we do and I believe we do. But that doesn’t mean we always will … We have to keep ahead of the people who want to game our system.”

Over the course of a two-hour debate on the legislation, Democrats argued against it and sought to scale back some of its provisions. Vastly outnumbered, the Democrats’ efforts failed. The bill passed 83-31.

All Broward and Palm Beach county state representatives voted on party lines, with Republicans voting “yes” and Democrats voting “no.”

Several Democrats delivered emotional pleas to their Republican colleagues not to pass the bill.

State Rep. Ashley Gantt, a Miami-Dade County Democrat, expounded on what she’s previously said about one of her aunts, who was born in South Carolina in the Jim Crow era in the 1950s to a mother who wasn’t allowed in a whites-only hospital because she was Black.

Consequently Gantt’s aunt has no birth certificate. Her aunt is a retired federal worker who has been voting for years but has been unable to get a driver’s license renewed because she can’t satisfy the requirements for REAL ID without a birth certificate. The main way the legislation calls for checking voters’ citizenship is by cross-referencing with driver’s license agency citizenship records, something that could snag Gantt’s aunt.

“Our policy has serious consequences. And to be the descendant of people who built this country, and not be able to do something as fundamental as vote because she can’t get her ID, I don’t think y’all understand how much rage that makes me feel for my aunt,” Gantt said.

And, Gantt said, after previous news media coverage of her aunt’s story, she said she’s been contacted by many voters in the same situation.

“We are debating access and equity and who gets to participate in the democracy that we cherish,” said state Rep. RaShon Young, D-Orlando. “Security and access are not opposing values. When we elevate one while eroding the other, we are not advancing democracy … This is fear mongering and disenfranchisement and voter suppression dressed up as security.”

Senate Bill 1334 covers many of the same subjects but differs from the House bill in some ways. In order to go to Gov. Ron DeSantis for his signature, the two bills would need to be synched before the scheduled March 13 adjournment of the annual legislative session.

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Citizenship

Citizenship is already required to vote in Florida. And in legislative committees and in debate on Wednesday, sponsors of the new requirement didn’t cite evidence of more than scattered cases in which non-citizens may have voted.

At a House committee hearing, Persons-Mulicka pointed to what a state report about 2025 election investigations described as 198 “likely noncitizens who illegally registered and/or voted in Florida.” That works out to less than 1 possible noncitizen for every 70,000 registered voters.

Sponsors said the citizenship verification, long sought by Trump who claims droves of non-citizens are voting, would keep it that way.

“This shouldn’t be a problem if you are an American citizen,” Trabulsy said.

Voting rights advocates said verification could cause problems for some voters.

The Brennan Center for Justice has reported that 9% of American citizens — like Gantt’s aunt — don’t have immediate access to the type of documents the legislation would require to prove citizenship. The League of Women Voters said that could translate to more than 1 million Florida voters “who could get caught in this bureaucratic web to prove their citizenship to vote.”

Voting advocates said women would run into compliance problems far more than men, because women are more likely to change their names when they get married and divorced.

Persons-Mulicka said there wouldn’t be problems. “If you are on the voter rolls and you are a U.S. citizen … you should not have any fear that you will be removed,” Persons-Mulicka said. “We want to make sure we know who you are.”

Pressed by opponents about the implementation, which would require coordination between election officials and the state driver’s license agency, Persons-Mulicka said she has “not spoken with anybody” at the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles about her bill.

Voter ID

The ID issue isn’t about whether voters should have to show identification to vote.

That question is controversial in many states, but Florida has long required people to show identification to vote. Most people use their driver’s licenses, with others using state-issued ID cards.

For people without those forms of ID, state law has permitted multiple other forms of identification.

Under the legislation, student IDs, even issued by state colleges and universities, debit or credit cards and retirement center, neighborhood association or public assistance identification would no longer be accepted.

State Rep. Marie Woodson, D-Hollywood, told her colleagues that many of the college students they represent don’t drive. And the new restrictions would prevent some from voting.

Other provisions

House Bill 991 has several other provisions, including changing the system of election recounts in close elections and instituting audits of all elections.

Democrats offered multiple amendments in an attempt to alter the legislation before its final passage. Republicans rejected them all.

One amendment, sponsored by state Rep. Christine Hunschofsky, D-Parkland, would have banned people from carrying firearms inside polling places, within the 150-foot no politicking zone around polling places, and at drop-off locations for mail ballots.

“I don’t think somebody should be able to go to a polling place with an AR-15 because I think that will make other people afraid to go there and exercise their American constitutional duty of voting. Why would we want that?” Hunschofsky said.

State Rep. Robin Bartleman, D-Weston, urged her colleagues to support Hunschofsky’s amendment. “We all been to the polls,” she said. “We see how hot it gets. We have an opportunity to prevent something from happening.

Political writer Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and Mastodon.

By JOSHUA GOODMAN

The Trump administration is blocking Venezuela’s government from paying for the cost of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro’s defense against drug trafficking charges in New York, a move that potentially interferes with his constitutional right to counsel, his lawyer says.

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Attorney Barry Pollack told a Manhattan federal judge in an email last week that the U.S. Treasury Department had blocked the authorization of legal fees that the government of Venezuela is required to pay for Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores under its law and custom. The email was entered into the public court record on Wednesday.

Maduro and his wife have been jailed in New York without bail since they were seized from their Venezuelan home Jan. 3 in a stealth nighttime raid by U.S. military forces. They have both pleaded not guilty.

The stunning capture following a monthslong military buildup in the Caribbean has paved the way for the Trump administration to assert enormous influence over Maduro’s replacement, his vice president and now acting President Delcy Rodriguez. Under pressure from the U.S., Rodriguez has moved swiftly to open up Venezuela’s oil industry to American investment, free political prisoners and reestablish direct communications with Washington — something unseen since the first Trump administration shuttered the U.S. embassy in Caracas in 2019.

In the email, Pollack said that the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, which administers sanctions against Venezuela, had granted permission on Jan. 9 approving the payment of legal fees by the Venezuelan government.

Less than three hours later, though, the Trump administration snatched back the authorization “without explanation,” though it left in place a license granting permission for Maduro’s wife’s lawyers to be paid, Pollack said.

The dispute over Maduro’s legal fees is intimately linked to U.S. foreign policy. The first Trump administration cut ties with Maduro in 2019, recognizing the then opposition head of the National Assembly as Venezuela’s legitimate leader. The Biden administration hewed closely to the same policy.

However, allowing Rodriguez’s government to pay for the cost of Maduro’s defense could complicate prosecutors’ efforts in court to counter the deposed leader’s argument that his capture was illegal and that as the foreign head of a state he is immune from prosecution under U.S. and international law.

A 25-page indictment against Maduro accused him and others of working with drug cartels and members of the military to facilitate the shipment of thousands of tons of cocaine into the U.S. Both he and his wife face life in prison if convicted.

As part of the purported conspiracy, Maduro and his wife allegedly ordering kidnappings, beatings and murders of those who owed them drug money, according to the indictment. It said that included the killing of a local drug boss in Caracas.

Messages seeking comment from the Treasury Department, White House and the Justice Department were not immediately returned.

Pollack said he asked the Office of Foreign Assets Control on Feb. 11 to reinstate the original license and clear the way for Venezuela to meet its obligation to pay Maduro’s defense costs.

The lawyer added that Maduro “cannot otherwise afford counsel” and will request help from the judge to pay for his defense.

Pollack said the United States was “interfering with Mr. Maduro’s ability to retain counsel and, therefore, his right under the Sixth Amendment to counsel of his choice.”

Goodman reported from Miami. Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani and Fatima Hussein in Washington and Larry Neumeister in New York contributed to this report.

By REBECCA BOONE

Researchers say seven seal pups have tested positive for an avian flu virus at California’s Año Nuevo State Park and several more are showing signs of the illness. The outbreak has prompted park officials to cancel the park’s popular seal-watching tours for the remainder of the seal breeding season.

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Researchers with University of California-Santa Cruz and University of California-Davis made the announcement Wednesday, calling it the first detected outbreak of the virus among marine mammals in California.

The worldwide bird flu outbreak that began in 2020 has led to the deaths of millions of domesticated birds and spread to wildlife around the world, and seals and sea lions appear to be particularly vulnerable to the disease. The virus has led to the deaths of thousands of sea lions in Chile and Peru, thousands of elephant seals in Argentina, and hundreds of seals in New England in recent years.

The virus is considered to be a low risk to humans, but officials said people should avoid approaching the seals and keep pets away from the animals.

Thousands of elephant seals come to Año Nuevo State Park, about 90 minutes south of San Francisco, every winter to fight, mate and give birth. The annual spectacle draws tourists and wildlife watchers eager to see the largest seals on the planet, some watching from public viewing areas and others signing up for docent-led guided walks through the breeding grounds, known as rookeries.

But for now, the viewing area is closed, and tours at Año Nuevo have been canceled “out of an abundance of caution,” said Jordan Burgess, the deputy district superintendent of the California Department of Parks and Recreation. Officials hope the move will help prevent any spread of the disease that might be caused by people tracking through the areas where the elephant seals are living, she said.

“We’re definitely not panicking about human exposure at this point,” but rather trying to ensure the health of the seals and people in general, Burgess said.

• FILE – A female elephant seal watches visitors on a tour of Año Nuevo State Park, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in Pescadero, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez,File)
• FILE – People watch as elephant seals rest on a beach at Año Nuevo State Park, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in Pescadero, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez,File)
• FILE – Elephant seals rest on a beach at Año Nuevo State Park, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in Pescadero, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez,File)
• FILE – Red Star chickens feed in their coop, Jan. 10, 2023, at Historic Wagner Farm in Glenview, Ill.(AP Photo/Erin Hooley, File)

Show Caption1 of 4FILE – A female elephant seal watches visitors on a tour of Año Nuevo State Park, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in Pescadero, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez,File) Expand

Christine Johnson, the director of the Institute for Pandemic Insights at UC Davis’ Weill School of Veterinary Medicine, said the outbreak was spotted quickly because researchers have been on high alert in recent years, watching for any sign of the arrival of the disease. After sick and dead animals were spotted on Feb. 19 and 20, researchers collected samples for testing at the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System. The screening showed the animals were infected with HPAI H5N1 virus.

Tests on samples from about 30 more animals are still pending, Johnson said.

The university researchers are working with state and federal wildlife managers and The West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network to monitor the animals.

By ERIC TUCKER

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department said Wednesday that it was looking into whether it improperly withheld documents from the Jeffrey Epstein files after several news organizations reported that some records involving uncorroborated accusations made by a woman against President Donald Trump were not among those released to the public.

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The announcement followed news reports saying that a massive tranche of records released by the Justice Department did not include several summaries of interviews that the FBI conducted with an unidentified woman who came forward after Epstein’s 2019 arrest and claimed to have been sexually assaulted by both Trump and Epstein when she was a minor in the 1980s.

“Several individuals and news outlets have recently flagged files related to documents produced to Ghislaine Maxwell in discovery of her criminal case that they claim appear to be missing,” the Justice Department said in a post on X. “As with all documents that have been flagged by the public, the Department is currently reviewing files within that category of the production.” Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime confidant, is serving a 20-year prison sentence on a sex trafficking conviction.

It said that if any document is found to have been improperly withheld and is responsive to the federally enacted law mandating the files’ release, “the Department will of course publish it, consistent with the law.”

At issue is a series of interviews said to have been conducted in 2019 with a woman who made an allegation against Trump, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. News reports from recent days say the accuser was interviewed four times but a summary of only one of those interviews was included in the publicly released files.

The missing records were earlier reported by the journalist Roger Sollenberger on Substack and NPR, and have since been documented by other news organizations, including The New York Times, MS Now and CNN.

Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said in a statement that his panel would investigate the withheld records. He said he had reviewed unredacted evidence logs and “can confirm that the DOJ appears to have illegally withheld FBI interviews” with the accuser.

The Justice Department last month said it was releasing more than 3 million pages of records related to Epstein, who took his own life in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The department said at the time that, though it was attempting to be transparent, it was also entitled to withhold records that exposed potential abuse victims, were duplicates or protected by legal privileges, or related to an ongoing criminal investigation.

“Some of the documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election. To be clear, the claims are unfounded and false, and if they have a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already,” the department said in a statement last month as it released the records.

The redaction process was quickly revealed to have been flawed, with the department withdrawing some materials identified by victims or their lawyers, along with a “substantial number” of documents identified independently by the government.

Lawyers for Epstein accusers told a New York judge last month that the lives of nearly 100 victims had been “turned upside down” by sloppy redactions in the government’s latest release of records. The exposed materials include nude photos showing the faces of potential victims as well as names, email addresses and other identifying information that was either unredacted or not fully obscured.

Other uncorroborated claims against Trump and other public figures were included in the publicly available files. The department did not say in its social media post Wednesday why records related to this specific accusation might have been withheld.

General Daily Insight for February 26, 2026

Soft focus helps us hear quiet truths. As the nurturing Moon enters Cancer, we lean toward comfort, choosing slower steps and kinder words in the early hours. Soon after, Mercury turns retrograde in Pisces at 1:48 am EST, asking us to review messages and renegotiate plans while intuition steadies tricky conversations. We can tidy calendars, revisit promises, and reply with patience, allowing knowledge to unfurl as we take the time to rewrite what no longer fits. Slow fixes today make future choices feel lighter.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

What stories do you tell yourself about your past? As adroit Mercury starts reversing through your contemplative 12th house, its retrograde invites you to press pause on the cosmic movie in favor of reviewing what’s already happened. Old issues can clutter your mind, making it tough to move forward. Protect the time you have to rest! If you must be busy, try to work on less immediately visible tasks or refine your next move. Quiet prep strengthens your courage for clearer starts.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Progress returns as you slow plans down. Your 11th House of Connected Communities calls for review as cerebral Mercury goes retrograde, so group efforts may stall around demands for clearer roles. Your steady nature helps people breathe while you confirm who does what (and when, and where). Don’t push through mixed signals — stop and clear them up! You could also revisit a long-range dream with an ally, because practical pacing protects the friendship’s shared goal. Choose patience to keep teamwork solid.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Thinking fast doesn’t always mean you make great decisions (not right now, at least). Mercury whirls retrograde in your 10th House of Purpose, pulling attention to your long-term goals and how you talk about them. Be wary of technology, especially if you’ve got big presentations to make. Ready yourself for some glitches! You may also need to accept a few edits, because otherwise you could write something that sounds clever to you, but confuses everyone else. Remember: measure twice, cut once!

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

This morning invites a thoughtful pause. Your 9th House of Growth receives the oft-muddled energy of Mercury Retrograde — travel plans, watch out! You’d be wise to spend this time planning a trip rather than actually booking or actively beginning one. When trying to learn something new, keep a careful eye on your sources to avoid accidentally memorizing false information. You can shine by helping others through this confusing time, particularly those who are learning or traveling at your side. Take your time.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Shared truths grow when fertilized with trust and patience. This may look like nothing much is happening as clever Mercury goes retrograde in your 8th House of Mutual Bills, inviting you to review agreements and analyze trust. If a legal document looks off, don’t hesitate to get the details and ask respectful questions before you propose a fair fix. It’s okay to have personal rules about lending money or avoiding other, similar risks. Keep collaborating and communicating, and solutions will eventually come to light.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Limits are a universal factor in every connection at this time, but they don’t have to be painful. Partnership thrives when messages stay kind, even as mental Mercury goes retrograde in your 7th House of Partnerships. If a partner or a client misunderstands you, don’t let it go unacknowledged. Show them you get their concerns, then explain how you’d handle them. Your eye for detail becomes an even greater gift when you’re willing to improve your process. Choose transparency to strengthen shared plans.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Where can simplicity bring harmony back? Small fixes prevent messes as information-gathering Mercury turns retrograde in your 6th House of Wellness, nudging you to refine routines and rest your body and mind. Be wary of double-booking yourself (or your entire group)! You may need to rework your schedule and send out a few apologies for missed commitments. Small adjustments brighten the day and let you enjoy working as a team without unfair stressors. Handle all details with care to support a continued steady peace.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Welcome honesty as soon as it knocks. Mischievous Mercury spins retrograde in your 5th House of Charm, which makes this a better time for second drafts and continued efforts rather than fresh starts or totally new ideas. Be wary of the temptation to read between the lines — even if someone isn’t saying everything, it’ll be extra tough to tell what, exactly, they do mean. Your depth helps you swim through confusion into a rich pool of connection. Don’t settle for half-truths; seek meaningful joy.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

You love possibilities, so retrace your steps to find some extra ones. You may be in and out the door all day long with Mercury reversing course through your family-centric 4th house. Factor in excess time for deliveries or errands, because you never know when you’ll have to adjust your timeline during Mercury Retrograde. You can still dream big while you tidy your base camp, because a lighter home makes room for fresh adventures. Organize first to help freedom feel more spacious.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Clear structure returns as you review messages. Your 3rd House of Day-tripping needs buffers as chatty Mercury goes retrograde, insisting upon all sorts of edits to plans you once thought were solid. Don’t take it too hard — just avoid making any particularly time-sensitive plans for this evening. Do your best to keep moving and stay level-headed. Your careful planning turns complex detours into smooth reroutes because you know the reliability of patience over speed today. Double-check directions to protect your responsible reputation.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Morning checks help money choices stay clear. Your 2nd House of Self-Worth requests a review as studious Mercury twirls retrograde, prompting checks on prices and subscriptions while you choose what deserves your hard-won resources. If a charge looks odd, contact support and keep screenshots to prove your point. Be willing to pause a purchase until the details line up! Search for smarter ways to save or share with style without losing your spark. Spend with intention to feel grounded and free.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Your voice strengthens as you turn inward. Mercury is moving retrograde in your sign, shifting attention to how others perceive you in varying circumstances. You may feel unusually sensitive, so do your best to find time to recharge your social batteries as necessary. Otherwise, you risk running on empty in a very visible way! Practice a script that protects your needs and honors your generous spirit. Gaining this space should let you be a social butterfly and get the rest your heart needs.

By JOE REEDY

The Federal Communications Commission is seeking public comments on the ongoing shift of live sports from broadcast channels to streaming services.

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FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced the request for comment Wednesday. The comment period runs through March 27 and replies to the comments are due April 13.

“For decades, Americans enjoyed turning on their TV & quickly finding the game they wanted to see. Yet watching your favorite team play isn’t as easy these day. Many games are still on broadcast, but an increasing number are on a range of different online platforms,” Carr posted. “Today, the FCC asks for comment on sports rights and broadcasting. We want to understand the marketplace today, the experience of consumers, and how the changes impact the ability of broadcast TV stations to continue delivering local news, information, and other programming.”

Last year, the House Judiciary Committee requested briefings from the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB on whether antitrust exemptions should still be granted for coordinating their broadcast television rights.

The Sports Broadcasting Act exemption passed in 1961 applies only to broadcast television. Courts have ruled in the past that it does not apply to other mediums, including cable, satellite and streaming.

The Sports Broadcasting Act includes a rule allowing blackouts of local games, which still applies to out-of-market packages sold by the leagues. The NFL ended local TV blackouts, which applied to games within 75 miles of a team’s market if they did not sell out 72 hours before kickoff, after the 2014 season.

The public notice Wednesday said NFL games aired on “10 different services, which, according to some estimates, could cost a consumer over $1,500 to watch all games.”

The NFL aired games last season on CBS, NBC, ABC/ESPN/ESPN+, Fox, NFL Network, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and YouTube TV.

Forbes estimated the cost of watching every NFL game via streaming last season at $765.

The NFL also offers most of its games on broadcast television, including options for all local games on cable or streaming.

“The NFL has the most accessible, fan-friendly distribution model across all of sports and entertainment, with over 87% of our games shown on free broadcast television in addition to numerous, popular digital platforms,” the league said in a statement to AP.

All four of the major North American professional sports leagues have deals with streaming platforms.

The NBA is in the first season of an 11-year deal where games on Monday nights are shown on Peacock, while Amazon Prime Video also has games, mostly on Thursday and Friday nights.

MLB agreed to three-year deals with Netflix and Peacock that begin this season.

The NHL is in the fifth season of its seven-year rights deal where some games appear on ESPN+ and Hulu.

The FCC is asking the public to answer a wide range of questions, including:

• With respect to the sports media marketplace, how have recent developments in the marketplace affected the ability of broadcasters to obtain media rights to sports programming?
• How have changes in the marketplace affected viewers’ ability to watch nationally televised live sports, as well as their local team(s), on broadcast TV?
• How prevalent are sports media rights deals between local TV broadcasters and local sports teams and what are their terms and conditions?
• How have changes in the marketplace impacted costs to consumers?

The last two questions are becoming increasingly significant due to the demise of regional sports networks.

Diamond Sports Group was the largest owner of regional sports networks when it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March 2023.

At the time of the filing, Diamond operated 19 networks under the Bally Sports banner and had the rights to 42 professional teams (14 baseball, 16 NBA and 12 NHL).

The networks emerged from bankruptcy last March under Main Street Sports Group, with their networks rebranded as FanDuel Sports Network. However, they are on the verge of insolvency and could go out of business if a new majority owner or investors are not found.

MLB will handle production and distribution for 15 of its 30 teams this season after Main Street Sports Group failed to make scheduled rights payments to seven teams.

Main Street currently has 15 owned-and-operated networks under the FanDuel banner, with rights to 20 pro teams: 13 NBA and seven NHL. It has committed to airing games for its remaining teams through the end of the regular season but is likely to go out of business after that.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Here are the top stories for Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. Get the weather forecast for today here.

SUBSCRIBE NOW: Get our free Morning Update email. Sign up here.

Broward schools provide new details about layoffs and job cuts

Unnamed couple agrees to genetic testing in embryo mix-up case

‘We’re expecting a huge hug’: Delray Beach Garlic Fest to make stinky, bittersweet return to Old School Square

Breeze adding eight cities from Fort Lauderdale, including Tallahassee, Jacksonville

‘We’re winning so much.’ Trump’s State of the Union seeks to calm economic jitters ahead of midterms

Delray Beach suspends Coco Market for three months after reported dog attack

Former Plantation mayor sentenced to probation

Man put to death for killing grocery store owner in Florida’s second execution this year

Maxwell: Florida’s property tax cut plan is flailing. Here’s what should happen

Miss Manners: I’m not enthusiastic about attending my son’s ‘wedding’ party

Boca Raton residents are inundated daily with propaganda promoting “One Boca,” set for a March 10 vote.

“One Boca” is actually seven acres of 12-story buildings controlled by a developer over a 99-year lease. The drawings show mature trees along a central walkway, omitting buildings on both sides, blocking out the sun.

The flyers take credit for Memorial Park across the street, claiming they will honor veterans and enhance existing park amenities, but this is not the project being voted on. The flyers do not mention the density of the 12-story complex of residences, hotel, offices and garages.

Our park will be in the shadow of 12-story buildings and won’t get enough sun to evaporate the dew until early afternoon. And $4 billion in new revenue for the city? Experts see severe flaws in the calculation, suggesting little net benefit. This is over 99 years, with minimal amounts in the first 30 years. Vote no.

Pam Paschke, Boca Raton 

Investing in Boca’s future

Opinion Editor and columnist Steve Bousquet’s recent commentary noted that Boca Raton was considered an elite place to live. He didn’t specifically endorse this as what Boca should aspire to maintain, but rather contrasted it with what it shouldn’t be.

Boca and similarly idyllic communities are sarcastically referred to as “God’s waiting room,” where people buy homes many times bigger than they need and where they may spend a couple of productive hours a day buying and selling investment assets from their desktop computers.

As an octogenarian whose working days have ended, I migrated here to where the living is easy. I praise to my friends the good weather and no personal state income tax as reasons why they should join me. I have no other metric to apply as to the desirability of relocating here.

The future of Boca as a place where young generations come to build their careers and raise families depends on how others invest capital in the city. Investors risking their own and other investors’ capital do so with confidence, and a positive view of Boca’s economic future.

Sheldon I. Saitlin, Boca Raton

Cost comparisons needed

Your editorial correctly states that the current Boca Raton police station is not hurricane-proof. Has a study compared improvements that could be made at the current location compared to a new station? Plenty of land is adjacent to the existing station to expand. The cost to develop land near Spanish River Boulevard should be reviewed and compared.

The study that the city used to demonstrate the billions of dollars that would eventually be generated from this project is not complete, in my opinion. For example, if the same development now being contemplated on city land is built a few blocks east on private commercial land, what percentage of the promised billions would still be generated?

My guess is it would be a majority. Plus, improving old commercial buildings would be better-looking and safer while generating more taxes with no debate pitting citizens against each other.

Noah Silver, Boca Raton

Bondi and Trump

Americans may need a refresher on why Attorney General Pam Bondi continues to embarrass herself and her office.

More than a decade ago, Bondi reached out to Donald Trump to solicit a donation for her 2014 re-election for Florida Attorney General. Trump donated $25,000 through a nonprofit charity, a disbursement in violation of federal tax law. The payout coincided with Bondi’s office weighing whether to join a fraud investigation of Trump University. Bondi’s office dropped the case, fueling allegations of “pay-to-play” politics.

Bondi won re-election, and her relationship with Trump morphed into a deeply personal, cult-like advocacy. To this day, she remains an unshakeable surrogate, proving that when qualifications for Cabinet posts are subordinate to ideology and blind allegiance, democratic norms erode and America’s security is compromised.

Jim Paladino, Tampa 

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

 

Please submit a letter to the editor by email to letterstotheeditor@sunsentinel.com or fill out the online form below. Letters may be up to 200 words and must be signed with your email address, city of residence and daytime phone number for verification. Letters will be edited for clarity and length.

[contact-form]

DEAR MISS MANNERS: While I have many friends, I enjoy traveling and dining by myself on occasion. When I ask for a table for one, the response is usually, “Are you all by yourself?” Or, “Are you waiting for someone?”

Then I am offered a seat at the bar, or a table near the restroom or kitchen door, which I decline. Once seated, it’s the same: “Is it just you?” Or, “Do you want to wait for someone before ordering?”

Is there a polite response to this, other than saying, “I’m all alone; isn’t that sad and pathetic?”

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GENTLE READER: As the recipient of Gentle Readers’ mail, Miss Manners is all too aware of the deluge of rudeness in the modern world. But the transgressions of waitstaff — who live in hope of generous tips — usually take the form of ill-judged humor, not intentional put-downs.

The subtext you infer is most likely not intended to suggest that you are unpopular, but only to know the size of your party. This merits nothing more than saying you prefer a table elsewhere, and noting when you are ready to place your order.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I work in a fast-food restaurant, in which we only go by our first names.

Often, when customers decide that I am the cause of whatever is not going their way, they ask me for my name. My first name is clearly spelled out on my name tag, but I always say it for them anyway, as it is difficult to pronounce. It is an unusual name, and no one else in the store has it.

However, they also often ask for my last name, which I decline to give them. I don’t feel that it is any of their business. I just politely tell them that I don’t give out my last name.

Often, they take this as rudeness on my part.

Am I in the wrong?

GENTLE READER: The reason stores use first names — or first names and last initials — on name tags is to balance two reasonable, but competing, requirements.

A customer is entitled to lodge a legitimate complaint through normal channels about inadequate performance by a salesperson. So the tag has to give enough information to uniquely identify the alleged offender.

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But the salesperson also has to be protected against illegitimate complaints or unwarranted approaches outside of normal channels. This is why name tags do not include a full name, which could be used to look up and harass the salesperson away from the store.

From your letter’s calm tone, Miss Manners likes to think that it is the complainant who is being unreasonable. But she nevertheless suggests you give this answer: “I am sorry that you are dissatisfied, but you do not need my last name to identify me to management. If you want to lodge a formal complaint against me, just give my first name and the time of my shift. I assure you that they will know how to find me.”

This response appeals to Miss Manners both for its politeness and because it calls out the customer’s attempt to intimidate.

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, gentlereader@missmanners.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Today is Wednesday, Feb. 25, the 56th day of 2026. There are 309 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Feb. 25, 1986, President Ferdinand Marcos fled the Philippines after 20 years of rule in the wake of a tainted election; opposition leader Corazon Aquino — the first woman to lead the country — assumed the presidency.

Also on this date:

In 1870, Republican Hiram R. Revels of Mississippi was sworn in as a U.S. senator, becoming the first African American member of either house of Congress.

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In 1913, the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, giving Congress the power to levy and collect income taxes, was declared in effect by Secretary of State Philander Chase Knox.

In 1956, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev railed for hours against the brutality and “cult of personality” of his late predecessor, dictator Josef Stalin, in a speech to a Communist Party congress.

In 1964, Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay) became world heavyweight boxing champion for the first time as he defeated Sonny Liston in Miami Beach.

In 1991, during the Persian Gulf War, 28 American soldiers were killed when an Iraqi Scud missile hit a U.S. barracks in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

In 1994, American-born Jewish settler Baruch Goldstein opened fire with an automatic rifle inside the Tomb of the Patriarchs in the West Bank during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, killing 29 Muslims before he was beaten to death by worshippers.

In 1997, a jury in Media, Pennsylvania, convicted chemical fortune heir John E. du Pont of third-degree murder, deciding he was mentally ill when he shot and killed world-class wrestler David Schultz. (Du Pont died in prison in December 2010 while serving a 13- to 30-year sentence; he was 72.)

In 2024, the U.S. and Britain struck 18 Houthi targets in Yemen, answering a recent surge in attacks by the Iran-backed militia group on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including a missile strike that set fire to a cargo vessel.

Today’s birthdays:

• Former talk show host Sally Jessy Raphael is 91.
• Actor Tom Courtenay is 89.
• Film director Neil Jordan is 76.
• Rock musician-actor John Doe (punk band X) is 73.
• Comedian Carrot Top is 61.
• Actor Tea Leoni is 60.
• Actor Sean Astin is 55.
• Singer Daniel Powter is 55.
• Comedian-actor Chelsea Handler is 51.
• Actor Rashida Jones is 50.
• FBI Director Kash Patel is 46.
• Actor Jameela Jamil is 40.
• Golfer Hideki Matsuyama is 34.
• Actor Isabelle Fuhrman is 29.
• Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix is 26.

By Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES — Guillermo Zambrano faced at least 10 years in federal prison if convicted of working with Sinaloa cartel associates — but then ICE sought to deport him last June. Now he faces none.

Zambrano, a Venezuelan citizen in the midst of political asylum proceedings in the U.S., pleaded not guilty to charges of helping conceal drug trafficking proceeds. For 17 months, he remained free on a $60,000 bond with an ankle monitor while awaiting trial in the Central District of California.

But amid President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown last summer, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers came to Zambrano’s home, removed his ankle monitor and took him into custody. The move surprised everyone, including prosecutors. If convicted, Zambrano would have faced deportation after serving a prison sentence.

When ICE didn’t release Zambrano from custody this month, U.S. District Judge Dolly M. Gee dismissed the criminal indictment with prejudice, barring the government from refiling the same charges. Gee cited “an ongoing violation of Zambrano’s right to pretrial release.”

The dismissal underscores how the administration’s aggressive deportation push has begun to collide with federal prosecutions and exposes a clash of priorities between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. In recent months, immigration authorities have taken undocumented defendants into custody, and in at least one case deported the accused, while criminal proceedings were underway.

That case drew outrage because the deported man was awaiting trial in what authorities called the largest jewelry heist in U.S. history: an estimated $100-million theft of a Brinks semitruck’s haul. Prosecutors said they were unaware the defendant had been deported to Ecuador and victims were left indignant, as much of the loot has not been recovered.

“They wanted to deport a million people in the first year and this is how they do that,” said John Targowski, a defense attorney representing Zambrano. “Ultimately we invite the idea that somebody can go out and commit an offense, not be here lawfully and accept pretrial deportation instead of punishment.”

Federal defense attorneys have filed motions to dismiss indictments, citing difficulties accessing their clients in immigration detention centers and, in at least one case, struggling to locate them at all.

In December, a federal judge dismissed with prejudice a separate case against Carlitos Ricardo Parias, a TikTok streamer charged with assault on a federal officer after he was shot during an immigration operation. The judge found that Parias had been denied access to counsel while in immigration detention and that the government failed to comply with discovery deadlines. The government is appealing that order.

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice told the Los Angeles Times that “those who enter our country illegally and break our nation’s laws will be held fully accountable for their actions, despite the best efforts of activist liberal judges who would rather see violent illegal aliens walk free.”

The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment. The U.S. attorney’s office in L.A. declined to comment. Prosecutors are appealing Gee’s dismissal order. Zambrano remains in custody at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center.

John Sandweg, who served as acting ICE director under President Obama, said there have been cases over the years involving victimless crimes, where authorities opted for deportation instead of a prosecution, finding that “it’s cheaper, easier, it’s better for the taxpayer.”

But historically, Sandweg said, the agency deferred to federal prosecutions.

“There was a perception that a criminal prosecution is more important from a public safety perspective than a deportation,” Sandweg said. “You have victims who want justice, you have people who maybe are entitled to restitution orders, you have all sorts of good reasons to say, ‘Hey, the criminal prosecution takes priority over the deportation.’”

Targowski said he has two clients facing federal charges currently being held in ICE custody. In the past, he said, “DHS would routinely wait until criminal proceedings were over” before taking a defendant into custody.

“By not doing that or selectively not doing that, I think they’re cutting off their nose to spite their face,” he said. “They’re willing to remove somebody before justice is pursued against them, at the expense of victims.”

In Zambrano’s case, Gee scolded the government over how the detention unfolded.

“This Court joins other District Courts that have concluded that the Executive Branch must choose between taking a noncitizen into custody for the purpose of removing and deporting that individual or temporarily declining to do so while criminal proceedings are maintained against that person,” Gee wrote in her order.

::

The charges against Zambrano came into question after his ICE detention on June 24. The following month, an immigration judge denied Zambrano’s request for bond.

In November, Targowski filed a motion to dismiss the charges against Zambrano, or order him released, citing the conflict between his client’s immigration and criminal proceedings and the fact that “he cannot effectively prepare for trial while in immigration detention.”

In response, prosecutors argued in a court filing opposing dismissal that the law “permits the government to simultaneously initiate removal proceedings and criminal proceedings.”

“The existence of ongoing criminal proceedings is not a basis to require ICE to release an individual from immigration custody,” the prosecutors wrote.

They cited Zambrano’s charges, which include conspiracy to aid and abet the distribution of cocaine and methamphetamine and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. Prosecutors alleged that Zambrano “was observed ferrying bulk quantities of cash drug trafficking proceeds between co-conspirators.”

“In this case, defendant actively worked to launder, transport, and conceal drug trafficking proceeds belonging to the Sinaloa Cartel, whose activities have caused untold devastation in the United States, Mexico, and elsewhere,” prosecutors wrote. “In doing so, defendant intentionally facilitated the financial lifeline that makes the Sinaloa Cartel’s nefarious activities possible.”

At a Feb. 5 court hearing, Assistant U.S. Atty. Jeremy Keller Beecher told the judge the prosecution team’s efforts to undo Zambrano’s detention “were unsuccessful.” Beecher argued Zambrano could eventually be granted asylum and “receive a real windfall” if the court were to dismiss with prejudice.

Targowski told the judge it had been “a real Kafkaesque experience for my client in this case from its origin.”

“We have the inability of the DHS and the DOJ, which are both members of the Cabinet, to effectively communicate with each other as it relates to Mr. Zambrano and that has clearly affected my ability to communicate with him, to represent him,” Targowski said.

Judge Gee told the government she would dismiss the indictment with prejudice unless Zambrano was released from custody within seven days under the conditions of the previous bail order.

“This is not a one-off. This is happening repeatedly,” Gee said, according to a court transcript. “The only way that I can see to effect some sort of meaningful change is for both agencies to see that this is causing friction and that this needs to be harmonized in some way. And without some sort of remedy that makes that clear, it’s not going to happen.”

Gee said she hoped Beecher would “communicate this shot over the bow to those who have the authority to make changes in this regard.”

::

The judges are not all aligned in dismissing these cases. On Feb. 12, U.S. District Judge Kenly Kiya Kato denied a motion to dismiss a case against Mandeep Singh, who is charged with wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft.

Singh, a citizen of India who lacks legal status in the U.S., was detained by ICE after a magistrate judge ordered him released on bond. He has been held in Adelanto since November.

Kato found that Singh’s placement in immigration detention has not jeopardized the court’s ability to try him. However, she ordered the government to transport Singh to a courthouse to meet with his attorney, Targowski, and warned about the government’s need to address access issues.

“I imagine if you continue to have these cases, after the government having been put on notice that this is a problem, dismissals are going to become more frequent and common,” Kato said at the hearing in Riverside.

Last Friday, in a downtown L.A. courtroom, Claire Kennedy, a deputy federal public defender, argued for a judge to dismiss the case against her client, Manuel Basmadjian, due to access issues in immigration detention.

Basmadjian was set to go to trial in less than a month on charges including possession with intent to distribute meth and heroin, carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

He was ordered released on bond in August, but was instead picked up by ICE and transferred to Adelanto, where Kennedy said her client’s access to counsel “steadily deteriorated.”

In her motion to dismiss the case with prejudice, Kennedy told the judge that for weeks no appointments were available through Adelanto’s online scheduling system. In January, Basmadjian was transferred to ICE detention in Texas, Kennedy said.

“The amount of time I have spent just trying to find Mr. Basmadjian, keep up with the ever-changing rules, keep track of which state he’s in, which facility he’s in — I have spent more time doing that than on the substantive work that needs to be done on his case,” Kennedy told the judge at the Friday hearing.

U.S. District Judge Hernán D. Vera pressed the prosecutor on why Basmadjian had been transferred out of state. Assistant U.S. Atty. Brenda Galván said ICE planned to deport Basmadjian, but Armenia was unwilling to accept him.

“So the government basically has no interest, or at least DHS didn’t have any interest, in having him prosecuted for this crime?” Vera asked.

“The prosecution team in this case is very interested in prosecuting Mr. Basmadjian,” Galván said.

“I’m sure you are, you’ve put in a lot of work for it,” Vera said.

But he questioned why he shouldn’t dismiss the case, given the fact that Kennedy couldn’t meet with her client. “And that’s not her fault, it’s the government’s fault for moving him,” he said.

At the end of the roughly hourlong hearing, Vera said he was granting Kennedy’s motion to dismiss with prejudice, finding a violation of Basmadjian’s right to counsel. Vera stressed that he was not placing the blame on Galván personally, “but the circumstances here are beyond unacceptable.”

©2026 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By KONSTANTIN TOROPIN, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — A helicopter pilot wounded in the raid that captured then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro received the Congressional Medal of Honor during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday evening.

Trump said Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eric Slover, who appeared using a walker, was the pilot of the lead CH-47 Chinook helicopter that descended on the “heavily protected military fortress” that held Maduro during a raid that, while successful, left seven U.S. service members with gunshot wounds and shrapnel-related injuries.

“While preparing to land, enemy machine guns fired from every angle, and Eric was hit very badly in the leg and hip, one bullet after another,” Trump said, adding that Slover “absorbed four agonizing shots, shredding his leg into numerous pieces.”

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

Months of covert planning led to the brazen operation that plunged the South American country’s capital into darkness as troops infiltrated Maduro’s home and whisked him to the United States to face drug trafficking charges.

Trump’s description of Slover’s actions that night offer a new, detailed glimpse into the military action that has been largely shrouded in secrecy since it was carried out in the early hours of Jan. 3.

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As Slover prepared to land his helicopter, he was confronted with “two machine gunners who escaped the wrath of the previous planes,” according to Trump.

“Eric maneuvered his helicopter with all of those lives and souls to face the enemy and let his gunners eliminate the threat,” Trump said, “saving the lives of his fellow warriors from what could have been a catastrophic crash deep in enemy territory.”

The president said “the success of the entire mission and the lives of his fellow warriors hinged on Eric’s ability to take searing pain.”

Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga, commander of Joint Special Operations Command, presented Slover with the Medal of Honor in the gallery overlooking the House chamber.

Slover was in his dress uniform and used a walker to steady himself. Trump said the soldier was still recovering from his wounds.

Trump also said 10 other service members who took part in the operation will be receiving medals at a private ceremony soon to be held at the White House.

First lady Melania Trump presents the Congressional Medal of Honor to World War II Navy pilot Capt. Royce Williams as President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

In addition to Slover, Trump also presented the Medal of Honor to retired Capt. E. Royce Williams, a Navy pilot who shot down multiple Soviet jets during the Korean War, upgrading his existing award of a Navy Cross.

Trump called the 100-year-old former fighter pilot “one of the last living legends.”

By MATTHEW LEE and DÁNICA COTO

Secretary of State Marco Rubio flies into the Caribbean country of St. Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday for talks with regional leaders who, like others around the world, are unsettled and uncertain about Trump administration policies.

After President Donald Trump ordered a military operation last month to remove and arrest Venezuela’s then-leader, Nicolás Maduro, stepped up aggressive tactics to combat alleged drug smuggling and turned up pressure on Cuba, Rubio will attend a summit of the Caribbean Community, or CARICOM.

During his State of the Union address Tuesday night, Trump called Maduro’s capture “an absolutely colossal victory for the security of the United States. And it also opens up a bright new beginning for the people of Venezuela.”

Leaders from the 15-nation bloc are gathering to debate pressing issues in a region that Trump has targeted for a 21st century incarnation of the Monroe Doctrine meant to ensure U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere.

Trump said his administration is “restoring American security and dominance in the Western Hemisphere, acting to secure our national interests and defend our country from violence, drugs, terrorism and foreign interference.”

CARICOM leaders have complained about administration measures that include demands for nations to accept third-country deportees from the U.S., reject Cuban medical missions and chill relations with China.

Godwin Friday, newly elected prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, echoed the fears of many European leaders when he said the Caribbean is “challenged from inside and out. International rules and practices that we have become used to over the years have changed in troubling ways.”

Caribbean leaders point to shifting global order

During Tuesday’s opening ceremony, Terrance Drew, prime minister of St. Kitts and Nevis and CARICOM chair, said the region “stands at a decisive hour.”

“The global order is shifting,” he said. “Supply chains remain uncertain, energy markets fluctuate and climate shocks intensify.”

Like other leaders, Drew spoke about changing geopolitics and said the humanitarian situation in Cuba must be addressed and taken seriously, something also stressed by Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

“It must be clear that a prolonged crisis in Cuba will not remain confined to Cuba,” Holness warned. “It will affect migration, security and economic stability across the Caribbean basin.”

Holness said Jamaica “stands firmly for democracy” and that his country also “supports constructive dialogue between Cuba and the U.S. aimed at de-escalation, reform and stability.”

Bahamian Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell told The Associated Press on Tuesday ahead of the summit that he doesn’t know if individual topics will come up in talks with Rubio but said he expects a full discussion on the nature of the relationship with the U.S.

“It is about mutual respect and a rules-based order,” he said. “Those are some of the things we would expect from the meeting, and we are also available for any private dialogue with Mr. Rubio.”

The State Department has not said which officials Rubio will meet with Wednesday but that he intends to discuss ways to promote regional security and stability, trade and economic growth in group and bilateral meetings.

Caribbean leaders also are expected to talk about other issues like security, reparations, climate change and financing, and a single market economy.

US policy in the Caribbean

Rubio’s visit comes more than a month after the U.S. captured Maduro and brought him to the U.S. to face drug trafficking charges.

The U.S. also has killed at least 151 people in strikes targeting small boats accused of smuggling drugs since early September. The latest attack Monday killed three people in the Caribbean Sea. The U.S. has not provided evidence that the targeted boats are ferrying drugs.

Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Trinidad and Tobago’s prime minister, has previously praised the attacks. Tuesday was no exception as she thanked Trump, Rubio and the U.S. military “for standing firm against narcotrafficking” and for their cooperation in national security matters.

“The crime is so bad, I cannot depend on just my military, my protective services,” she said.

Cuba’s situation also is expected to dominate talks at CARICOM’s summit.

Cuba’s U.N. resident coordinator Francisco Pichón told AP on Monday that the U.S. oil embargo is preventing humanitarian aid from reaching those still struggling to recover from Hurricane Melissa, which struck eastern Cuba in late October as a Category 3 storm.

He noted that the energy blockade and fuel shortages “affect the entire logistics chain involved in being able to work in Cuba at this time, anywhere in the country.”

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Lee reported from Washington, and Coto from San José, Costa Rica. Associated Press reporters Bert Wilkinson in Georgetown, Guyana, and Andrea Rodríguez in Havana contributed to this report.

By JAKE OFFENHARTZ, REBECCA BOONE and HALLIE GOLDEN

NEW YORK (AP) — Snowplows cleared the way for ambulances and fire trucks in Rhode Island. New York City workers geared up to dump massive basins of warm water on piles of snow and ice. And in Boston, officials tried to clear sidewalks coated in packed snow that cut off access for people using wheelchairs.

The gigantic snowstorm this week across the Northeast U.S. dropped piles of powder from Maryland to Maine and left cities on Wednesday scrambling to clear towering heaps that were not showing signs of melting anytime soon.

By Tuesday evening, New York City had spread 143 million pounds (65 million kilograms) of salt, according to Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and signed up at least 3,500 people as emergency shovelers. The $30-per-hour shifts involve clearing snow across public streets and bus stops.

But with another storm expected Wednesday, there was plenty more work left to do, especially for the many people with disabilities.

Jeff Peters, spokesperson for the Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York, described parts of the city as impassable islands.

“You’ll find a portion of a sidewalk that is clear, and then there’s maybe a 6-inch (15-cm) pathway that can only be walked with one foot in front of the other and no room for a stroller, rollator, walker or crutches,” Peters said. “Then you get to the corner and not only is it unshoveled, but you have basically a glacier at the end of it.”

Tina Guenette, who uses a motorized wheelchair, had to shovel out her yard this week after more than 33 inches (84 centimeters) fell in Harrisville, Rhode Island, a town about 17 miles (27 kilometers) northwest of Providence.

“I really have no choice if my service dog wants to go outside,” Guenette said Tuesday. Harrisville has a volunteer snow-shoveling program, but it hasn’t had volunteers for the last few years, she said.

The National Weather Service warned another storm originating in the Great Lakes could push into the Northeast on Wednesday. The clipper storm brings the prospect of a combination of rain and some snow, though it’s not forecast to be nearly as severe.

NYC Emergency Management warned Wednesday morning commuters that the forecast light snow and freezing temperatures could bring slick roads and sidewalks as well as black ice.

Monday’s storm blanketed the region with snow, canceled flights, disrupted transit, downed power lines and killed at least one person. More than 3 feet (0.9 meters) fell in Rhode Island — surpassing snow totals from the historic Blizzard of 1978 that struck the Northeast, the National Weather Service said.

Meteorologist Ryan Maue, former chief scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said if all of the snow that fell from Maryland to Maine fell just on Manhattan, the snow would tower over a mile high.

In Newport, Rhode Island, Joseph Boutros, 21, was found unconscious inside a vehicle covered in snow Monday night, the city’s police department said in a statement. The Salve Regina University student was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead due to carbon monoxide poisoning, police said.

Some large school districts moved back to in-person classes on Wednesday, including Philadelphia, which had switched to online learning during the first two days of the week.

In New York City, more than 900,000 students in the nation’s largest public school system had a regular day Tuesday. Many students and their caregivers scrambled over mountainous snow banks and dodged salt spreaders during the morning drop-off.

Power had returned for many of the hundreds of thousands who had lost electricity in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Delaware and Rhode Island. But about 173,000 customers in Massachusetts were still without power early Wednesday.

Thousands of flights in and out of the U.S. have been canceled in recent days. By Wednesday, the disruptions seemed to be subsiding, with only around 150 grounded, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware.

When Jamie Meyers’ flight landed in New York from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday evening, the cabin full of relieved passengers burst into applause. The Manhattan resident was supposed to arrive home Sunday but faced a cancellation and significant delay.

The weather service referred to Monday’s storm as a “classic bomb cyclone/nor’easter off the Northeast coast.” A bomb cyclone happens when a storm’s pressure falls by a certain amount within a 24-hour period.

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Golden reported from Seattle and Boone reported from Boise, Idaho. Associated Press writers Jennifer Peltz, Michael R. Sisak and Philip Marcelo in New York; Mike Catalini in Morrisville, Pennsylvania; Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire; and Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu contributed.

TALLAHASSEE — Malik Reneau scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, Tre Donaldson had 21 points, six assists, and six rebounds, and Miami held on late to defeat Florida State, 83-73 on Tuesday night.

The Hurricanes (22-6, 11-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) led by 11 points with 3:16 remaining in regulation, but FSU cut the deficit to four points down the stretch. Miami ended the game on an 8-2 run to prevent the comeback.

Reneau has scored 20 or more points in 16 games this season, and picked up his eighth double-double of the year. He ranks fifth in the ACC in scoring.

Miami shot 53% from the floor and 43% from beyond the arc. They entered tonight’s game sitting atop the ACC and 11th nationally in field goal percentage.

The ‘Canes closed the first half up 38-32, and Tru Washington scored 10 of his 11 points in the opening frame. Washington also had a game-high four steals.

For the Seminoles (14-14, 7-8), Lajae Jones scored 21 points (8-of-14 shooting), and Chauncey Wiggins added 14 points and five rebounds.

Up next

Miami: hosts Boston College on Saturday.

By JONATHAN J. COOPER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, who survived a gunshot wound to the head while patrolling with the National Guard in Washington last year, was presented the Purple Heart medal during Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday.

Trump honored Wolfe and his colleague, U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom during his speech, before pausing so Gen. James Seward, head of the West Virginia National Guard, could pin the medal on Wolfe’s civilian suit.

“With God’s help, Andrew has battled back from the edge of death—and we’re talking about the edge—on his way to a miraculous recovery,” Trump said.

“Nice to see you,” he added, looking up at Wolfe in the gallery.

West Virginia National Guard Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe is awarded a Purple Heart during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump recalled his mother’s determination that he would recover, even as others doubted it would be possible to survive his severe injuries. She buried her head in her son’s chest as the president spoke.

Wolfe and Beckstrom, members of the West Virginia National Guard, were shot in an ambush on Nov. 26 while deployed to Washington as part of Trump’s executive order to battle what he said was rampant crime. Beckstrom died on Thanksgiving Day.

Evalea and Gary Beckstrom, the mother and father of National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, receive a Purple Heart on behalf of their daughter during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, as West Virginia National Guard Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe watches at left. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Trump also spoke directly to Beckstrom’s parents in the gallery.

“Your daughter was a true American patriot and she will be greatly missed,” Trump told Evalea and Gary Beckstrom.

The tributes prompted several minutes of bipartisan applause.

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Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who was wounded in the attack, has been charged in connection with the shooting. He has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody. Authorities say he drove across the country from his home in Washington state to execute the attack.

Lakanwal, 29, entered the United States in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, officials said. The Biden administration program evacuated and resettled tens of thousands of Afghans after the U.S. withdrawal from the country.

Trump, who halted asylum decisions in response to the shooting, said during his speech that the gunman “shouldn’t have been in our country.”