Undercover investigation of Meta heads to trial in New Mexico in first stand-alone case by state

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The first stand-alone trial from state prosecutors in a stream of lawsuits againstMetais getting underway in New Mexico, with jury selection starting Monday.

Meta New Mexico Lawsuit

New Mexico's case is built on a state undercover investigation using proxy social media accounts and posing as kids to document sexual solicitations and the response from Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. It could give states a new legal pathway to go after social media companies overhow their platforms affect children, by using consumer protection and nuisance laws.

Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed suit in 2023, accusing Meta of creating a marketplace and "breeding ground" for predators who target children for sexual exploitation and failing to disclose what it knew about those harmful effects.

"So many regulators are keyed up looking for any evidence of a legal theory that would punish social media that a victory in that case could have ripple effects throughout the country, and the globe," said Eric Goldman, codirector of the High Tech Law Institute at Santa Clara University School of Law in California. "Whatever the jury says will be of substantial interest."

The trial, with opening statements scheduled for Feb. 9, could last nearly two months.

Meta denies the civil charges and says prosecutors are taking a "sensationalist" approach. CEOMark Zuckerbergwas dropped as a defendant in the case, but he has been deposed and documents in the case carry his name.

In California, opening arguments are scheduled this week for a personal injury case in Los Angeles County Superior Court that could determine how thousands of similar lawsuits against social media companies will play out.

The allegations against Meta in New Mexico

Prosecutors say New Mexico is not seeking to hold Meta accountable for content on its platforms, but rather its role in pushing out that content through complex algorithms that proliferate material that can be addictive and harmful to children.

The approach could sidestep immunity provisions for social media platforms under a First Amendment shield andSection 230, a 30-year-old provision of the U.S. Communications Decency Act that has protected tech companies from liability for material posted on their platforms.

An undercover investigation by the state created several decoy accounts for minors 14 and younger, documented the arrival of online sexual solicitations and monitored Meta's responses when the behavior was brought to the company's attention. The state says Meta's responses placed profits ahead of children's safety.

Torrez, a first-term Democrat elected in 2022, has urged Meta to implement more effective age verification and remove bad actors from its platform. He's also seeking changes to algorithms that can serve up harmful material and criticizing end-to-end privacy encryption that can prevent the monitoring of communications with children for safety.

Separately, Torrez brought felony criminal charges of child solicitation by electronic devices against three men in 2024, also using decoy social media accounts to build that case.

How Meta has responded

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Meta denies the civil charges while accusing the attorney general of cherry-picking select documents and making "sensationalist, irrelevant and distracting arguments."

In a statement, Meta said ongoing lawsuits nationwide are attempting to place the blame for teen mental health struggles on social media companies in a way that oversimplifies matters. It points to the steady addition of account settings and tools — including safety features that give teens more information about the person they're chatting with and content restrictions based on PG-13 movie ratings.

Goldman says the company is bringing enormous resources to bear in courtrooms this year, including New Mexico.

"If they lose this," he said, "it becomes another beachhead that might erode their basic business."

Many other lawsuits are underway

More than40 state attorneys general have filed lawsuitsagainst Meta, claiming it is harming young people and contributing to the youth mental health crisis by deliberately designing features that addict children to its platforms. The majority filed their lawsuits in federal court.

The bellwether trial underway in California against social video companies, including Meta's Instagram and Google's YouTube, focuses on a 19-year-old who claims her use of social media from an early age addicted her to technology and exacerbated depression and suicidal thoughts. TikTok and Snapchat parent company Snap Inc. settled claims in the case that affects thousands of consolidated plaintiffs.

A federal trial starting in June in Oakland, California, will be the first to represent school districts that have sued social media platforms over harms to children.

In New Mexico, prosecutors also sued Snap Inc. over accusations its platform facilitates child sexual exploitation. Snap says its platform has built-in safety guardrails and "deliberate design choices to make it difficult for strangers to discover minors." A trial date has not been set.

The jury weighs guilt, but a judge has final say on any sanctions

A jury assembled from residents of Santa Fe County, including the politically progressive state capital city, will weigh whether Meta engaged in unfair business practices and to what extent.

But a judge will have final say later on any possible civil penalties and other remedies, and decide the public nuisance charge against Meta.

The state's Unfair Practices Act allows penalties of $5,000 per violation, but it's not yet clear how violations would be tallied.

"The reason the damage potential is so great here is because of how Facebook works," said Mollie McGraw, a Las Cruces-based plaintiff's attorney. "Meta keeps track of everyone who sees a post. … The damages here could be significant."

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Undercover investigation of Meta heads to trial in New Mexico in first stand-alone case by state

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The first stand-alone trial from state prosecutors in a stream of lawsuits againstMetais getting u...

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Iran says it now considers EU militaries to be terrorist groups

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The speaker of Iran's parliament said Sunday that the Islamic Republic now considers all European Union militaries to be terrorist groups, lashing out after the bloc declaredthe country's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard a terror groupover itsbloody crackdown on nationwide protests.

The announcement byMohammad Bagher Qalibaf, a former Guard commander, of the terror designation will likely be mostly symbolic. Iran has used a 2019 law to reciprocally declare other nations' militaries terror groups following the United States declaring the Guard a terror group that year.

However, it comes as tensions are high in the Mideast asU.S. President Donald Trump weighs a possible military strikeagainst Iran. The Islamic Republic also planned a live fire military drill for Sunday and Monday inthe strategic Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all oil traded passes.

Qalibaf made the announcement as he and others in parliament wore Guard uniforms in support of the force. The Guard, which also controls Iran's ballistic missile arsenal and has vast economic interests in Iran, answers only to Iran's 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"By seeking to strike at the (Guard), which itself has been the greatest barrier to the spread of terrorism to Europe, Europeans have in fact shot themselves in the foot and, once again through blind obedience to the Americans, decided against the interests of their own people," Qalibaf said.

Lawmakers at the session later chanted: "Death to America!" and "Death to Israel!" at the session.

Trump has laid out two red lines for military action: the killing of peaceful protesters or the possible mass execution of those detained in a major crackdown over the demonstrations. He's increasingly begun discussing Iran's nuclear program as well, which the U.S. negotiated over with Tehran in multiple sessions beforeIsrael launched a 12-day war with Iranback in June.

The U.S. bombed three Iranian nuclear sitesduring the war. Activity at two of the sites suggestIran may be trying to obscure the view of satellitesas it tries to salvage what remains there.

Trump on Saturday night declined to say whether he'd made a decision on what he wanted to do regarding Iran.

Speaking to reporters as he flew to Florida, Trump sidestepped a question about whether Tehran would be emboldened if the U.S. backed away from launching strikes on Iran, saying, "Some people think that. Some people don't."

Trump said Iran should negotiate a "satisfactory" deal to prevent the Middle Eastern country from getting any nuclear weapons but said, "I don't know that they will. But they are talking to us. Seriously talking to us."

Ali Larijani, a top security official in Iran, wrote on X late Saturday that "structural arrangements for negotiations are progressing." However, there is no public sign of any direct talks with the United States, something Khamenei has repeatedly ruled out.

Associated Press writer Will Weissert aboard Air Force One contributed to this report.

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Iran says it now considers EU militaries to be terrorist groups

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Millions of Delhi residents lost water for days. Some say it’s still toxic

Ravinder Kumar wades through ankle-deep sludge every day to leave his home in Sharma Enclave in northwest Delhi – yet inside the brick tenement, he does not have a drop to drink.

Surrounded by filth, the 55-year-old twists his plastic taps regularly, hoping for relief.

"Water comes once every three days, and even then, you only get clean water for an hour," the father of three told CNN on Monday.

"It's difficult to bathe. The water is black at times. We wash once every four or five days."

Kumar is one of millions of residents in the Indian capital suffering sporadic water shortages due to rising ammonia levels in the Yamuna River that last week forced six of the city's nine major water plants to shut down.

Water from the Yamuna – considered sacred and worshipped by millions – has become so polluted by ammonia from industrial waste that water plants have been unable to treat it.

In this city of 20 million people, the Delhi Water Board said last Thursday that 43 neighborhoods – home to about two million people – had been affected by water shortages.

CNN reached out to resident welfare associations in all 43 neighborhoods on Tuesday, and of those, 10 – representing more than 600,000 people – told CNN they'd received no water for days.

Others said it was turned off for no more than a day, and some said the water was still available but at a reduced level.

The board told CNN supplies were restored two days later – on January 24. However, earlier this week, some residents told CNN they still didn't have a reliable supply.

When CNN visited Sharma Enclave on Friday, some residents were using water they'd stored when taps flowed for a short time on Thursday. The water was yellow and smelled like rotting eggs. They told CNN they didn't expect any new supplies until Sunday as water is brought every three days.

"Everyone's health is deteriorating," said Shashi Bala, who lives in the neighborhood. "Everything is dirty here."

CNN has contacted the Delhi chief minister's office and the Haryana state government for comment regarding the high pollution levels in the Yamuna River and the consequent water shortage, but received no response.

The Yamuna River flows south from a glacier in the Himalayas for 855 miles (1,376 kilometers) through several Indian states.

Delhi was designed around its banks in the 17th century, when the river fed the canals that cooled royal palaces.

Today, the Yamuna serves as the backbone of Delhi's water infrastructure, providing roughly 40% of the capital's supply. But for decades, sections of it have been plagued by the dumping of toxic chemicals and untreated sewage.

Though only 2% of the river's length flows through the capital, Delhi contributes about 76% of its total pollution,according to a government monitoring committee.

Dissolved oxygen levels frequently plummet to zero, transforming the historic waterway into a septic drain that suffocates aquatic life.

The most visible sign of this decay is the toxic white foam that now coats the surface, a thick layer of sewage and industrial waste that has formed over sections of the river.

Activists descended on the riverbanks last Sunday for a clean-up. For hours, they pulled discarded clothes, plastic waste, and submerged religious idols from the river's murky depths.

The pungent fumes from the foam engulfed the air as activists waded through the toxic water. At one point, they attempted to stop an individual from immersing an idol into the banks and polluting it further.

"Delhi became a city because the Yamuna flowed," said one volunteer Pankaj Kumar, no relation to Ravinder Kumar, who said he knows that removing the debris won't rid the river of its worst ailment – industrial toxins.

"We have finished this river," Kumar said.

Delhi's water crisis is compounded by its chaotic growth.

Unplanned urbanization has left millions living in unauthorized colonies off the grid, lacking essential pipelines or drainage, while the absence of sewage management allows waste to seep into the soil, also poisoning the city's groundwater reserves,according toa 2022 study of heavy metal pollution in Delhi's groundwater.

Mismanagement at a construction site near Ravinder Kumar's home, combined with garbage-choked drains, has inundated Sharma Colony, a low-income neighborhood, leaving its narrow alleys flowing with stagnant wastewater.

Bala's home was flooded with dirty water for six months as a result, making her family sick. The 70-year-old grandmother used to wade through the filth to leave her home, but she said she was forced to stop after spraining her ankle on the debris hidden in the muddy water.

"One of my sons is disabled," she said. "His leg doesn't work. We're all just stressed."

To add to her worry, the taps in her small home were dry for three days straight.

When the water returned last Monday, it was dirty, but she said she had no choice but to use it for washing – clothes had been piled up for a week – even though it irritates her skin.

Bala can't go out to buy clean water, because the bottles are too heavy to carry home. Her son can't either due to his disability.

"My neighbors have helped a lot. If it wasn't for them, we would have had no water to drink," she said.

Of the dirty water, the Delhi Water Board told CNN Friday that less than 1% of areas in Delhi reported "temporary water quality issues, mainly due to illegal booster pumps and unauthorized connections that disturb pipeline pressure," and that it was working to restore normal supply in those areas.

Delhi's water supply has long been an issue, and in 1993 the government of the day launched the Yamuna Action Plan, a clean-up strategy intended to overhaul the city's sewage treatment. But millions of rupees and more than three decades later, experts say the river remains a toxic drain.

Battling chronic shortages, the Delhi government said last week that it aims to almost double its sewage treatment capacity to 1,500 million gallons per day and install sewage networks inall of the city's unauthorized coloniesby 2028.

In the West Delhi neighborhood of Raghubir Nagar, resident Raja Kamat said the water was off for five days straight. And when it did arrive last Friday, the water was black and seemed toxic. It's still only available for about 30 minutes each day, she said.

Kamat can barely afford to buy drinking water either. She survives on a monthly government pension of about $13 a month, and with a single 5-liter bottle of water costing 30 cents, she is forced to ration every drop.

Her neighbor, Bhagwanti, said the "system is deteriorating" in front of them.

"There is so much smelly black water coming in," the 70-year-old resident who goes by one name, said, adding she has no choice but to drink it.

"There's no facility for cleaning. There's no facility for water. They don't care if you live or die."

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Ohio State hires Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State hired Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator Saturday, the second straight year coach Ryan Day has turned to a coordinator with extensive NFL experience.

Smith was the Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive coordinator the past two seasons after being the Atlanta Falcons head coach from 2021 through '23.

"He will bring immediate value to our program and was exactly what we were looking for as we set out to find our next offensive coordinator," Day said in a statement. "His track record in the NFL, experience as coordinator, player caller and a head coach checked every box during the search. He'll do a great job in helping our players reach their potential on the field while also connecting with them as people."

Smith replaces Brian Hartline, who was hired as South Florida's head coach after eight seasons in Columbus.

The 43-year old Smith has not been on a college staff since he was a defensive intern at Ole Miss in 2010.

Smith also interviewed for the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans head coach openings as well as the Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator position. He was on the Titans staff from 2011 through '20. rising from a quality control coach to offensive coordinator his last two years. He began his NFL coaching career as a quality control coach in Washington in 2007.

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He is the only offensive coordinator/head coach in the NFL to have seven different running backs with at least 1,000 yards from scrimmage in that past seven years — Derrick Henry at Tennessee, Cordarrelle Patterson, Tyler Allgeier and Bijan Robinson at Atlanta, and Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell with the Steelers.

Smith has also coached quarterbacks Ryan Tannehill, Matt Ryan, Marcus Mariotta, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers.

Day is hoping Smith's hire goes as well as his selection of Matt Patricia as defensive coordinator last year. The Buckeyes had the nation's top-ranked defense and allowed only 8.2 points per game.

Ohio State was 18th in the nation in scoring offense and 24th in total offense in 2025. Heisman finalist Julian Sayin will be returning at quarterback as as dynamic wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, an AP All-America selection the past two years.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign uphereandhere(AP News mobile app). AP college football:https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-pollandhttps://apnews.com/hub/college-football

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Ohio State hires Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State hired Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator Saturday, the second straight year coach Ry...

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Seahawks' Klint Kubiak in 2nd round of head coach interviews with Raiders and Cardinals

Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak interviewed Saturday for the Las Vegas Raiders' head coaching job and was also scheduled, according to multiple reports, to meet with Arizona Cardinals officials about their vacancy.

This was the second round of interviews with Kubiak for both teams — the last two NFL clubs still searching for head coaches.

If Kubiak reaches an agreement with either team, no announcement can be made until after theSuper Bowlon Feb. 8 between the Seahawks and New England Patriots in Santa Clara, California.

Kubiak also could decide to stay in Seattle and wait another year rather than take on a challenge of turning around a franchise — either one — that since 2022 represent two of the three worst in terms of losses.

The Raiders haven't won a playoff game since their last Super Bowl appearance in the 2002 season. They have made the postseason just twice since, most recently in the 2021 season. The Raiders went 3-14 this season, resulting in thefiring of Pete Carroll.

Las Vegas has been a revolving door of coaches, and the Raiders will begin next season with a different person in charge for the third year in a row.

But the Raiders also have the top pick in this year's NFL draft and are expected to take quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The Heisman Trophy winnerled Indiana to the national championshipand could be the franchise QB the organization has long sought.

Management will have nearly $90 million in salary cap space to surround Mendoza with potential talent, the second-highest amount in the league, according to overthecap.com.

Both teams have taken their time to fill this position, though the Raiders seemed to have focused recently on Kubiak. That became even more clear this week when Denver quarterbacks coach Davis Webb reportedly pulled his name from consideration.

Team minority owner Tom Brady was notably complimentary of the 38-year-old Kubiak while serving as the Fox Sports analyst during theNFC championshipon Sunday between the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams NFC championship. Sam Darnold completed 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns in the 31-27 victory.

Arizona's stealthy, meandering search is nearing four weeks. Jonathan Gannonwas fired on Jan. 5 after a 15-36 recordover three years, including a 3-14 mark this season.

The Cardinals haven't officially announced any interviews, but have been linked to discussions with several candidates, including Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, former Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile, Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and former Panthers and Commanders coach Ron Rivera.

Campanile appears to be out of the running after signing a new deal with the Jaguars. Joseph was the Cardinals' defensive coordinator from 2019 to 2022.

Arizona hasn't made the playoffs since 2021 and has the No. 3 overall pick in the upcoming draft. The Cardinals' roster could be in a state of flux — particularly at quarterback. Kyler Murray is in the middle of a $230.5 million deal that could keep him in the desert through 2028, but the 28-year-old missed most of last season with a foot injury and it's unclear whether the franchise wants to stick with him after seven seasons.

It was Kubiak's work with Darnold that got the attention of both Southwest-based teams. Darnold, taken third overall by the New York Jets in the 2018 NFL draft, had been considered a bust until leading Minnesota to a 14-win season in 2024. But the Vikings moved on from Darnold, and he proved that season was no fluke by winning 14 games in Seattle en routeto leading the Seahawks to the Super Bowlagainst New England.

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Seahawks' Klint Kubiak in 2nd round of head coach interviews with Raiders and Cardinals

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Jordon Hudson Planning ‘Huge Bash’ for Boyfriend Bill Belichick on ‘Same Day' as Football Hall of Fame Ceremony (Exclusive)

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NEED TO KNOW

• Jordon Hudson is planning a "huge bash" for boyfriend Bill Belichick on the same day as the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony, a source tells PEOPLE exclusively

• The eight-time Super Bowl-winning coach didn't reach the final round of voting to be inducted this year

• Tom Brady, Jimmy Johnson and Bill Parcels, as well as "many of the outspoken supporters," are invited to the summertime party to celebrate Belichick, according to the insider

Jordon Hudsonis planning a "huge bash" for boyfriendBill Belichick, after the eight-time Super Bowl-winning coach was snubbed by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

As A-listers from all over the sports world — includingTom Brady,LeBron James,Deion SandersandPatrick Mahomes— said they're baffled after Belichick, 73, was not voted as a first ballot Hall-of-Famer, a source tells PEOPLE exclusively that Hudson, 24, is planning to celebrate the former New England Patriots coach with a party on the same day as the HOF ceremony on Aug 8.

"Jordon is planning to throw Bill a huge bash on the same day as the Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremony," the insider says.

"Tom Brady, Jimmy Johnson, Bill Parcels and others who were planning on attending Bill's HOF induction ceremony in Canton are invited," the source continues, referring to some big names in the NFL world.

Other invitees, the source adds, include "many of the outspoken supporters from the wake of Belichick's HOF snub."

Jared C. Tilton/Getty

According to the source, the planned party lines up with the HOF ceremony this summer, because those invited "were already planning to travel to support Bill."

"The purpose of the bash is to celebrate alongside all of his people," the insider adds.

This year's official HOF inductees — which may include Patriots owner Robert Kraft, 49ers running back Roger Craig and Bengals quarterback Kenny Anderson — will be revealed next week.

Kevin Mazur/Getty

When Belichick was first announced as a Hall of Fame finalist in December, he set aside his feud with Kraft, 84, who wasdenied nominations for the honor more than a dozen timesafter he was involved in scandals like"Deflategate"andaccused of soliciting sex workersat a spa in Florida. (Those charges were later dropped.)

After it was revealed that Belichick, who has dealt with heavy public interest surrounding his relationship with Hudson, was not voted into the Hall of Fame when first eligible, sports stars from all leagues expressed their confusion.

Belichick's longtime quarterback Brady, 48, said, perESPN, "I don't understand it. I mean, I was with him every day. If he's not a first-ballot Hall of Famer, there's really no coach that should ever be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, which is completely ridiculous because people deserve it."

The retire athlete added, "There's no coach I'd rather play for. If I'm picking one coach to go out there to win a Super Bowl — give me one season — I'm taking Bill Belichick. So that's enough said."

Chiefs quarterback Mahomes, 30, said in a poston X, "Insane… don't even understand how this could be possible," while football coach Sanders, 58, called the snub "straight out IGNORANT," writingon Xthat Belichick is "arguably the BEST NFL COACH TO EVER COACH THE GAME!"

NBA star James, 41,saidin his own social media post, "Man there's no way I read that right! Right? Ain't no WAY Bill Belichick ain't 1st Ballot HOF!! That's IMPOSSIBLE, EGREGIOUS, and quite frankly DISRESPECTFUL!"

J.J. Watt also expressed his shock on X. "I can't be reading this right. This has to be some knock-off Hall of Fame or something, it can't be the actual NFL Hall of Fame, There is not a single world whatsoever in which Bill Belichick should not be a First-Ballot Hall of Famer," hewrote.

ESPNandUSA Todayreported earlier this month that Belichick didn't reach the final round of voting, securing only 40 of the 50 votes needed for induction. Inductees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame (also referred to as the NFL Hall of Fame) are selected by a committee of up to 50 people.

The official list of who did and didn't write Belichick's name down hasn't been released. The official list of 2026 inductees will not be announced until theNFL Honorson Feb. 5.

Belichick will not be able to be reconsidered for the HOF spot until 2027.

Read the original article onPeople

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Jordon Hudson Planning ‘Huge Bash’ for Boyfriend Bill Belichick on ‘Same Day' as Football Hall of Fame Ceremony (Exclusive)

Kevin Mazur/Getty NEED TO KNOW Jordon Hudson is planning a "huge bash" for boyfriend Bill Belichick on the same day as the Pro...

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February 2026 calendar: Super Bowl, Valentine's Day, Mardi Gras, more

February is only 28 days long, but it's jammed with holidays, events, and more.

From Groundhog Day to Super Bowl Sunday and Valentine's Day to Presidents Day, the shortest month of the year is filled with different holidays and celebrations. February is also Black History Month.

The Winter Olympics are also scheduled to begin in February.

Despite how busy it is, there's only one holiday in the month that actually gives people the day off (unless your boss is really cool or super into groundhogs). Fortunately, Valentine's Day falls on the long weekend, giving lovebirds a chance to recover from their V-Day plans.

Here's what you need to know about the shortest month of the year.

February's federal holidays

There's only one federal holiday in February, according to theOffice of Personnel Management(OPM):

• Presidents Day/ George Washington's Birthday- Monday, Feb. 16.

There won't be another federal holiday until Memorial Day, which falls on Monday, May 25.

More news:Here's why people are celebrating the 'perfect February' calendar

Will banks be closed on Presidents Day?

Presidents Day is a bank holiday, so some organizations will likely be closed.

The United States Postal Service, schools, and most banks, like Wells Fargo, Citibank, Bank of America, Truist, and others, will also be closed on Feb. 16.

Other special dates in February 2026

Unfortunately, the only extra day off in February is Presidents Day, but here are a few more significant dates:

• National Freedom Day- Sunday, Feb. 1

• Imbolc- Sunday, Feb. 1

• Groundhog Day- Monday, Feb. 2

• Super Bowl Sunday- Sunday, Feb. 8, at 6:30 p.m.

• Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday)- Tuesday, Feb. 17

• Ash Wednesday- Wednesday, Feb. 18

• Valentine's Day- Saturday, Feb. 14

Celestial events taking place in February 2026

The followingcelestial eventswill take place in February:

• Snow Moon (February's full moon)- Sunday, Feb. 1

• New moon- Tuesday, Feb. 17

• Planetary parade- Saturday, Feb. 28

During the planetary parade at the end of the month, backyard astronomers will be able to see Mercury, Venus, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus, and Jupiter, according toNASA. However, only four of the planets are visible with the naked eye. Those who would like to see Uranus and Neptune will need optical assistance. Mercury can also be hard to spot sometimes.

When is National Freedom Day? When is Black History Month?

National Freedom Daykicks off Black History Month on Sunday, Feb. 1.

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The day commemorates the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln signing the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution on Feb. 1, 1865, according to theCalifornia African American Museum.

The amendment abolished "slavery across the United States and in every territory under its control, except as a criminal punishment," theRonald Reagan Presidential Library and Museumstated on its website.

Although it isn't a federal holiday, the president of the United States can issue a proclamation each year designating the day as National Freedom Day, according to theUnited States House of Representatives.

Black History Month takes place throughout February. This year marks the 100th year of national commemorations of Black history.

When are the Winter Olympics?

In 2026, the first day of the Winter Olympics will fall on Friday, Feb. 6, the weekend before superbowl. The opening ceremony will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Italy is hosting the games in 2026, and it will take place across the northeastern part of the country.

When is Super Bowl Sunday?

The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots will face each other during the big game on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 8, at 6:30 p.m. ET.

When is Valentine's Day?

Valentine's Day is on Saturday, February 14.

The best part is that it falls on a Saturday during a long weekend, so make sure to have any dinner reservations, hotel bookings, or flower deliveries squared away before then.

When is Mardi Gras?

Mardi Gras season, or Carnival season, kicked off on Jan. 6. Actual Mardi Gras, or "Fat Tuesday", is on Feb. 17 this year.

The day after Mardi Gras, a Christian holiday, is Ash Wednesday, which starts Lent, a 40-day period of prayer and fasting before Easter Sunday.

February 2026 National Days

There are also some notable National Days in February. They include:

• National Tater Tot Day (Feb. 2)

• National Pizza Day (Feb. 9)

• Galentine's Day (Feb. 13)

• Singles Awareness Day (Feb. 15)

• Random Acts of Kindness (Feb. 17)

• National Love Your Pet Day (Feb. 20)

• National Margarita Day (Feb. 22)

Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers popular toys, scientific studies, natural disasters, holidays, and trending news. Connect with her onLinkedIn,X,Instagram, andTikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:February 2026 calendar includes Groundhog Day, Presidents Day, more

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February 2026 calendar: Super Bowl, Valentine's Day, Mardi Gras, more

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Blast in Iran port city kills 1, wounds 14 before Strait of Hormuz naval drill watched by US

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An explosion tore through an apartment building Saturday inIran's port city of Bandar Abbas, killing a 4-year-old girl as local media footage purportedly showed a security force member being carried out by rescuers.

The blast happened a day beforea planned naval drill by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all oil traded passes. The U.S. military has warned Iran not to threaten its warships or commercial traffic in the strait, on which Bandar Abbas sits.

State television quoted a local fire official as blaming the blast on a gas leak. Media reported at least 14 others injured in the explosion.

A local newspaper, Sobh-e Sahel, aired footage of a correspondent speaking in front of the building. The footage included a sequence that showed a man in a green security force uniform being carried out on a stretcher. He wore a neck brace and appeared to be in pain, his left hand covering the branch insignia on his uniform.

The newspaper did not acknowledge the security force member being carried out elsewhere in its reporting. Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard did not discuss the blast, other than to deny that a Guard navy commander had been hurt.

Another explosion blamed on a gas explosion Saturday in the southwestern city of Ahvaz killed five people, state media reported.

Iran remains tense overa threat by U.S. President Donald Trumpto potentially launch a military strike on the country over the killing of peaceful protesters or the possible mass execution of those detained in a major crackdown over the demonstrations.

Trump on Saturday night declined to say whether he'd made a decision on what he wanted to do regarding Iran.

Speaking to reporters as he flew to Florida, Trump sidestepped a question about whether Tehran would be emboldened if the U.S. backed away from launching any strikes on Iran, saying, "Some people think that. Some people don't."

Trump said Iran should negotiate a "satisfactory" deal to prevent the Middle Eastern country from getting any nuclear weapons but said, "I don't know that they will. But they are talking to us. Seriously talking to us."

Ali Larijani, a top security official in Iran, wrote on X late Saturday that "structural arrangements for negotiations are progressing." However, there is no public sign of any direct talks with the United States, which Iran's 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has repeatedly ruled out.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi on Saturday called for de-escalation and said Egypt is working to bring the U.S. and Iran to the negotiating table to achieve a "peaceful and comprehensive settlement to the Iranian nuclear file," according to a statement on his phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Qatar in a statement said Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani visited Tehran on Saturday and met with Larijani about "efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region."

Associated Press writers Samy Magdy in Cairo and Will Weissert aboard Air Force One contributed to this report.

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January 31, 2026

Blast in Iran port city kills 1, wounds 14 before Strait of Hormuz naval drill watched by US

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An explosion tore through an apartment building Saturday inIran's port city of Ba...

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Shooting at Louisiana parade leaves 5 people wounded, including 6-year-old, sheriff says

CLINTON, La. (AP) — A 6-year-old and four other people were wounded when gunfire erupted during a small-town parade Saturday in Louisiana, sending people in the crowd fleeing for cover, authorities said.

East Feliciana Parish Sheriff Jeff Travis told reporters the shooting happened shortly after the midday start of the Mardi Gras in the Country Parade in Clinton, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Baton Rouge.

Investigators are trying to piece together what happened, why and who was responsible, but those answers weren't immediately clear even with extra law enforcement on hand at the time to help with the parade, he said. Travis said three people in the area who had firearms were taken into custody but that it wasn't clear whether they were involved in the shooting.

Gov. Jeff Landry reacted to the shooting in a post on the social platform X, calling it "absolutely horrific and unacceptable" and urging people to pray for the victims.

Details about them and their conditions weren't immediately released. But Chief Criminal Deputy Bill Cox from the sheriff's office toldThe Advocatethat everyone was expected to survive.

The sheriff's office asked for anyone with photos or video of the shooting or nearby areas to share those with investigators.

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January 31, 2026

Shooting at Louisiana parade leaves 5 people wounded, including 6-year-old, sheriff says

CLINTON, La. (AP) — A 6-year-old and four other people were wounded when gunfire erupted during a small-town parade Satu...

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Nelly Korda leads Tournament of Champions; play suspended by high winds

Before the third round was suspended due to high winds, World No. 2 Nelly Korda shot an 8-under-par 64 to vault into the lead at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions on Saturday in Orlando, Fla.

Korda, who is seeking her first LPGA Tour victory since November 2024, sat in a tie for eighth through two rounds but is now at 13-under 203 and is the clubhouse leader pending those in contention finishing 54 holes.

With the 17th hole unplayable due to high winds, LPGA officials suspended the third round at 4:18 p.m. ET. The LPGA announced Saturday evening that the third round will resume and the final round will begin concurrently at 10 a.m. Sunday.

A native of Florida, Korda occasionally wore earmuffs and gloves Saturday, but the weather didn't affect her performance, especially early in the round.

"I started off great," Korda said. "Birdied the first two holes and then made an eagle from the fairway on No. 3, so I can't complain ever starting my round like that."

Korda added five more birdies and only ran into trouble on the par-3 17th hole, notching her lone bogey of the day.

"I knew the conditions were going to be tough, so getting off to a good start like that really helped," she said. "Overall, just stayed really focused and super committed on my lines. It's really easy to doubt yourself and your lines in winds and conditions like this."

Amy Yang finished 16 holes and currently sits in second place at 10 under, followed by fellow South Korean Youmin Hwang (16 holes) and New Zealand's Lydia Ko (15 holes) -- a three-time major champion -- who are tied for third at 8 under.

Canada's Brooke M. Henderson (66) sits alone in fifth. Beginning her round on the back nine, she notched seven birdies and only one bogey, which came on the par-4 No. 8 hole. She then birdied the last hole to complete her best round of the tournament and sits at 7-under 209.

"My shot into 18 I was really pleased with," Henderson said. "That's not an easy shot at any time, and then the wind was coming left-to-right off the lake and pin was kind of on the left side there, so happy to hit it in there pretty close and then make the putt for birdie."

Japan's Miyu Yamashita (68) also completed the third round and is currently tied for sixth at 5 under with countrywoman Nasa Hataoka and England's Lottie Woad, who each have two holes remaining.

World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand endured a tough day, sitting alone in ninth at 4-under after shooting a sloppy 1-over round with four bogeys and three birdies.

Rose Zhang is among five players tied for 10th after her 2-under Saturday showing left her at 3-under through three rounds.

--Field Level Media

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Nelly Korda leads Tournament of Champions; play suspended by high winds

Before the third round was suspended due to high winds, World No. 2 Nelly Korda shot an 8-under-par 64 to vault into...

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2026 NFL mock draft: Expert projections for top picks ahead of Super Bowl 60

Just one game remains in the 2025 NFL season. The New England Patriots andSeattle Seahawkswill face off inSuper Bowl 60to determine which team is able to emerge with the Lombardi Trophy in a Super Bowl 49 rematch.

What about the rest of the teams around the NFL? They have shifted their focus to the offseason and have begun preparing for free agency andthe 2026 NFL Draft.

The top of the 2026 NFL Draft could end up being unpredictable.Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendozais a near-lock to be the No. 1 overall selection, but Oregon quarterbackDante Moore's return to schoolhas thrown the remainder of the top five into flux.

Will the New York Jets go with a defensive talent at No. 2 with Moore off the board? If so, players like Arvell Reese, Rueben Bain Jr. and David Bailey will draw attention. Should the Jets want to continue building up their offense, they could roll with receiving weapons like Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson or even Makai Lemon.

There are a few other blue-chip stars who play at lower-value positions that could interest the Jets. Notably, running back Jeremiyah Love and safety Caleb Downs could draw consideration as the team looks to improve in all facets of the game.

How could the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft look? Below are the latest expert projections with both the first-round order and the draft pool largely set.

2026 Senior Bowl week: NFL draft prospects in action

2026 NFL mock draft roundup: Round 1

Here's how the first 32 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft could unfold, according to draft experts fromCBS Sports,NFL Media,The AthleticandYahoo Sportsas Super Bowl 60 draws nearer.

1. Las Vegas Raiders

• CBS Sports (Blake Brockermeyer): Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

• NFL Media (Eric Edholm): Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

• The Athletic (Nick Baumgardner and Scott Dochterman): Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

• Yahoo Sports (Charles McDonald and Nate Tice): Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

Yahoo Sports: "Mendoza is a clean operator whose sheer professionalism could lift the floor up for a franchise that's been in the doldrums for oh so long. Mendoza is accurate, has good size, moves well in the pocket, and constantly finds the right answer from the pocket (he's already a standout in situations like third down, the red zone and two-minute drives). He's not an overwhelming athlete, but can create and scramble for yards when things go astray."

2. New York Jets

• CBS Sports: Arvell Reese, edge, Ohio State

• NFL Media: Arvell Reese, edge, Ohio State

• The Athletic: Arvell Reese, edge, Ohio State

• Yahoo Sports: Rueben Bain Jr., edge, Miami (FL)

NFL Media: "Reese is far from a finished product, and there will be pressure on the Jets to weaponize him early, but if they're patient, he could become a forceful pressure player and eventual game-changer."

3. Arizona Cardinals

• CBS Sports: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)

• NFL Media: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

• The Athletic: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)

• Yahoo Sports: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)

CBS Sports: "Francis Mauigoa excelled during the Hurricanes' playoff run and has been a model of consistency over the past two seasons at right tackle. He's thickly built with excellent power and can move defenders against their will in the run game. He's above average in pass protection with good technique and the feet to play in space."

4. Tennessee Titans

• CBS Sports: Rueben Bain Jr., edge, Miami (FL)

• NFL Media: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

• The Athletic: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

• Yahoo Sports: Arvell Reese, edge, Ohio State

The Athletic: "The Titans could go edge at No. 4 (Texas Tech's David Bailey), but everything in GM Mike Borgonzi's world right now has to be about helping quarterback Cam Ward. There are spots in need of upgrades all over the place, but the Titans are pretty desperate for a true WR1."

5. New York Giants

• CBS Sports: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

• NFL Media: Makai Lemon, WR, USC

• The Athletic: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

• Yahoo Sports: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

NFL Media: "Don't rule out an offensive lineman here, but Lemon and Malik Nabers could be an excellent duo for Jaxson Dart and a new Giants offense. Lemon is a tough, competitive, yards-after-catch specialist who'll fit a hard-nosed John Harbaugh team."

6. Cleveland Browns

• CBS Sports: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

• NFL Media: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)

• The Athletic: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

• Yahoo Sports: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

Yahoo Sports: "Cleveland has to rebuild its offensive line, no matter who is the head coach of this team next season. TheBrownsare getting a little old up front (and, frankly, bad) so it's time to add talent at offensive tackle. Spencer Fano has the ability to start right away with long-term development upside that the Browns need."

7. Washington Commanders

• CBS Sports: David Bailey, edge, Texas Tech

• NFL Media: David Bailey, edge, Texas Tech

• The Athletic: David Bailey, edge, Texas Tech

• Yahoo Sports: David Bailey, edge, Texas Tech

CBS Sports: "David Bailey is a natural edge rusher with the ability to win with speed and exceptional quickness in tight spaces. He's a dynamic player who can wreck a game and has shown improvement against the run."

8. New Orleans Saints

• CBS Sports: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

• NFL Media: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

• The Athletic: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

• Yahoo Sports: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

NFL Media: "The Saints don't need to splurge for a back this early, but Love might be too good to pass up. Kellen Moore thrived with a balanced Eagles attack in 2024, and he could add a terrific playmaker to a budding offense behind Tyler Shough. Imagine Love's spin moves on the Superdome turf – it could be electric."

9. Kansas City Chiefs

• CBS Sports: Keldric Faulk, edge, Auburn

• NFL Media: Rueben Bain Jr., edge, Miami (FL)

• The Athletic: Rueben Bain Jr., edge, Miami (FL)

• Yahoo Sports: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

The Athletic: "Miami led the nation in sacks, and Bain was an offense-wrecking machine. He frequently drew double teams, yet still finished with 9.5 sacks and 83 total pressures, according to PFF. Lined up alongside Chris Jones, Bain immediately would revitalize the Chiefs' slumping defense."

10. Cincinnati Bengals

• CBS Sports: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

• NFL Media: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

• The Athletic: Keldric Faulk, edge, Auburn

• Yahoo Sports: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

CBS Sports: "The Bengals' defense, especially the secondary, had a rough season, but help is on the way. Caleb Downs is a high-IQ leader who excels in both phases. He can erase tight ends, play in the box as a run stuffer and is an excellent tackler in space."

11. Miami Dolphins

• CBS Sports: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

• NFL Media: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

• The Athletic: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

• Yahoo Sports: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

Yahoo Sports: "McCoy is still in the running to be the first cornerback selected despite not playing this season due to a knee injury. The Dolphins could draft any position and it would make sense, but they could use a young cornerback with some pedigree."

12. Dallas Cowboys

• CBS Sports: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

• NFL Media: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

• The Athletic: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

• Yahoo Sports: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

NFL Media: "It won't shock me if Styles ends up going higher than this come April, even if off-ball linebackers don't tend to come off the board in the top 10 very often in this era. Styles is a prospect bursting with upside and potential – and one of my favorite players in the entire class."

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13. Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)

• CBS Sports: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

• NFL Media: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

• The Athletic: Makai Lemon, WR, USC

• Yahoo Sports: Aveion Terrell, CB, Clemson

CBS Sports: "[Simpson] has a strong arm, can hit every area of the field with velocity and touch and processes quickly with strong anticipation. Experience will be his biggest hurdle."

14. Baltimore Ravens

• CBS Sports: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

• NFL Media: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

• The Athletic: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

• Yahoo Sports: Keldric Faulk, edge, Auburn

The Athletic: "A big, powerful athlete with quick hands and plenty of grit in the run game, Ioane played both guard spots, right tackle and even a bit of center at Penn State. One of the few consistent bright spots for theNittany Lionsthis season, Ioane just feels like a Raven."

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• CBS Sports: Cashius Howell, edge, Texas A&M

• NFL Media: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

• The Athletic: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

• Yahoo Sports: C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia

Yahoo Sports: "Allen has been a steadying force for Georgia's defense ever since he stepped on the field as a freshman. He has intangibles and a well-rounded game that would fit in Todd Bowles' defense. And really any defense, to be fair."

16. New York Jets (via Colts)

• CBS Sports: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

• NFL Media: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

• The Athletic: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

• Yahoo Sports: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

NFL Media: "The Jets probably can't afford to get out of Round 1 without some offensive firepower, and Tyson brings it. He's a splash-play machine and a deep threat, although his injury history could be a limiting factor."

17. Detroit Lions

• CBS Sports: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

• NFL Media: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

• The Athletic: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

• Yahoo Sports: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

The Athletic: "The Lions' offensive line could use a youth infusion, and Lomu, more than any of the other available offensive tackles, would fit perfectly with what Dan Campbell wants. He is durable (800 snaps at left tackle last season) and allowed only two quarterback hits all year, according to PFF. It's possible he could step in at guard before shifting outside, if required."

18. Minnesota Vikings

• CBS Sports: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

• NFL Media: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

• The Athletic: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre

• Yahoo Sports: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

NFL Media: "We don't yet know if Harrison Smith will return for another season, but either way, the Vikings must upgrade at safety. I'll bet Brian Flores will love watching the highly impactful McNeil-Warren meet ball-carriers and make plays all over the field."

19. Carolina Panthers

• CBS Sports: Makai Lemon, WR, USC

• NFL Media: Keldric Faulk, edge, Auburn

• The Athletic: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

• Yahoo Sports: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

Yahoo Sports: "Woods could go much higher than this, or much lower. His flashes are as good as any defensive player in this draft class, but he had a maddeningly inconsistent year on an underwhelming Clemson team. ThePanthersneed to continue to add needle-movers to their defense and if Woods reaches his ceiling, the Panthers could have a monster front with Woods and Derrick Brown."

20. Dallas Cowboys (via Packers)

• CBS Sports: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

• NFL Media: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

• The Athletic: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

• Yahoo Sports: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

The Athletic: "Cisse was known as one of the fastest players in South Carolina's program last year after transferring from NC State. That's some serious gas on a team that includes world-class sprinter Nyck Harbor, who has topped 22 miles per hour on the GPS."

21. Pittsburgh Steelers

• CBS Sports: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

• NFL Media: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

• The Athletic: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

• Yahoo Sports: Makai Lemon, WR, USC

CBS Sports: "Kadyn Proctor settled in this season and had his best year for the Tide. I'd consider kicking him inside to guard, where I think he can excel. He can maul in the run game and has shown better consistency in protection."

22. Los Angeles Chargers

• CBS Sports: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

• NFL Media: Cashius Howell, edge, Texas A&M

• The Athletic: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

• Yahoo Sports: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

NFL Media: "The Chargers don't mind pass rushers with atypical measurements, and Howell matches the temperament they are looking for, with a violent, urgent play style. This feels like a great match to protect against Khalil Mack's potential departure/retirement."

23. Philadelphia Eagles

• CBS Sports: Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia

• NFL Media: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

• The Athletic: Cashius Howell, edge, Texas A&M

• Yahoo Sports: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

Yahoo Sports: "Freeling has been a big riser over the back half of the college season and might go even higher than this when this cycle is all said and done. He has good size with long arms and a frame that could add even more bulk."

24. Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars)

• CBS Sports: Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech

• NFL Media: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

• The Athletic: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

• Yahoo Sports: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

The Athletic: "Trying to land QB2 in this draft class (whether it's Simpson or another prospect) should be on the table for Cleveland, either by trading up or sticking at 24 and hoping he falls. If that doesn't work, though, landing Boston – a big receiver who runs like a smaller receiver (with great ball skills) – would be a fine alternative."

25. Chicago Bears

• CBS Sports: Zion Young, edge, Missouri

• NFL Media: T.J. Parker, edge, Clemson

• The Athletic: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

• Yahoo Sports: Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech

NFL Media: "Parker's declined production in 2025 could keep him out of Round 1, but he checks a lot of boxes for the type of edge the Bears seek, with his long-arm rush a difference-making move."

26. Buffalo Bills

• CBS Sports: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

• NFL Media: C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia

• The Athletic: C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia

• Yahoo Sports: T.J. Parker, edge, Clemson

CBS Sports: "Explosive on screens and slants, KC Concepcion can break tackles and also stretch the defense vertically. He has good acceleration, separates after the catch and attacks the ball in the air. He's also a dangerous return weapon."

27. San Francisco 49ers

• CBS Sports: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

• NFL Media: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

• The Athletic: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

• Yahoo Sports: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

Yahoo Sports: "Miller is a right tackle with good size, quickness and light feet as a pass protector. His agility would make him a great fit for a Shanahan offense that likes to have its linemen constantly on the move."

28. Houston Texans

• CBS Sports: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

• NFL Media: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

• The Athletic: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas

• Yahoo Sports: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

CBS Sports: "Kenyon Sadiq is a fluid mover who runs like a big wide receiver. He catches naturally away from his body, finds soft spots in coverage and is a dependable target you can count on. He offers big-play ability after the catch and is a solid blocker."

29. Los Angeles Rams

• CBS Sports: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

• NFL Media: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

• The Athletic: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

• Yahoo Sports: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

The Athletic: "ACC offenses wisely stayed away from Terrell this year, but that didn't limit his impact. The younger brother of Falcons starter A.J. Terrell, Avieon didn't record an interception but broke up nine passes and forced five fumbles. His play is reminiscent of former LSU and NFL star Tyrann Mathieu."

30. Denver Broncos

• CBS Sports: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

• NFL Media: Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati

• The Athletic: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

• Yahoo Sports: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas

Yahoo Sports: "A long-term linebacker prospect is exactly what the Broncos need and they get a talented one here in Hill. He was injured to close the season, but the Broncos can use his talents here to give them a more complete defense with young talent at all three levels."

31. New England Patriots

• CBS Sports: Akheem Mesidor, edge, Miami (FL)

• NFL Media: Akheem Mesidor, edge, Miami (FL)

• The Athletic: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

• Yahoo Sports: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

NFL Media: "The Patriots' first four picks a year ago were on offense, and though they could continue helping Drake Maye, a pass rusher also makes sense. Mesidor fits their needs, assuming his age and injury history are not overly concerning to New England decision-makers."

32. Seattle Seahawks

• CBS Sports: Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon

• NFL Media: R Mason Thomas, edge, Oklahoma

• The Athletic: T.J. Parker, edge, Clemson

• Yahoo Sports: Cashius Howell, edge, Texas A&M

CBS Sports: "Emmanuel Pregnon is physical at the point with excellent strength and leverage, and he's also effective as a puller. He can maul defenders and has held up well in pass protection with good hands and a strong anchor."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:2026 NFL mock draft roundup: Pre-Super Bowl Round 1 picks, predictions

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2026 NFL mock draft: Expert projections for top picks ahead of Super Bowl 60

Just one game remains in the 2025 NFL season. The New England Patriots andSeattle Seahawkswill face off inSuper Bowl 60t...

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Cavaliers coach receives hefty fine for interaction with NBA official

Cleveland Cavaliershead coach Kenny Atkinson has been fined for an aggressive interaction with an official during a game against thePhoenix Sunson Jan. 30.

James Jones, who serves as the NBA's Executive Vice President/Head of Basketball Operations, announced that Atkinsonwas fined $50,000for "aggressively pursuing, berating and making inadvertent contact" with a referee.

Atkinson was assessed his second technical foul of the game and was ejected with 10:59 left in the fourth quarter of Friday night's contest. The Suns went on to beat the Cavaliers 126-113, the loss snapping Cleveland's five-game winning streak.

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Atkinson was upset about a no-call on Suns guard Collin Gillespie, who was aggressively defended by Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill.

When do Cavaliers play next?

The Cleveland Cavaliers will play thePortland Trail Blazerson Sunday, Feb. 1, at 9 p.m. ET.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson fined for interaction with NBA official

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January 31, 2026

Cavaliers coach receives hefty fine for interaction with NBA official

Cleveland Cavaliershead coach Kenny Atkinson has been fined for an aggressive interaction with an official during a game...

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Trump says his Fed nominee Warsh could pick up support from Democrats

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE, Jan 31 (Reuters) - U.S. ​President Donald Trump said ‌he thinks Kevin Warsh, his pick ‌to head the Federal Reserve, could pick up votes from some Democrats ⁠in the ‌Senate, calling him a "high-quality person" who should ‍not have any trouble winning Senate confirmation.

Trump, a Republican, told ​reporters aboard Air Force ‌One on Friday that he expected Warsh to lower interest rates if confirmed, citing Warsh's comments in interviews ⁠and other ​statements.

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Asked if Warsh ​had made any commitments to do so, Trump ‍said, "I ⁠don't want to do that. I couldn't do that."

(Reporting ⁠by Trevor Hunnicutt; Writing by ‌Andrea Shalal; Editing by ‌William Mallard)

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January 31, 2026

Trump says his Fed nominee Warsh could pick up support from Democrats

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE, Jan 31 (Reuters) - U.S. ​President Donald Trump said ‌he thinks Kevin Warsh, his pick ‌to head the...

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Judge orders release of 5-year-old, father detained in Minnesota ICE raid

By Kalea Hall

DETROIT, Jan 31 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Saturday ordered the release of Adrian Conejo Arias and his five-year-old son, Liam Conejo Ramos, whom ​immigration officers detained during a Minnesota raid.

The boy — seen in a now-viral photo ‌wearing a blue bunny hat outside his house as federal agents stood nearby — was one of four students ‌detained by immigration officials earlier this month in a Minneapolis suburb, according to the Columbia Heights Public School District.

"The case has its genesis in the ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas, apparently even if it requires traumatizing children," U.S. District Judge Fred Biery wrote in ⁠a ruling published on Saturday.

"Ultimately, ‌Petitioners may, because of the arcane United States immigration system, return to their home country, involuntarily or by self-deportation. But that result should occur ‍through a more orderly and humane policy than currently in place."

The Ecuadorean boy and his father, who entered the United States legally as asylum applicants, were sent to a family detention facility in Dilley, ​Texas, their attorney Marc Prokosch previously told Reuters.

Prokosch and the Department of Homeland Security ‌did not immediately return requests for comment.

Judge Biery, appointed by then-President Bill Clinton, blasted the administration of President Donald Trump in his three-page order.

He likened the Trump administration's behavior to that of the British king decried in the U.S. Declaration of Independence, including sending "Swarms of Officers to harass our People," exciting "domestic Insurrection among us" and "quartering large Bodies of Armed Troops ⁠among us."

Biery cited the Constitution's requirement that an arrest ​warrant must be based on a judge finding probable ​cause of a crime. The use of "administrative warrants," issued by immigration officials, "is called the fox guarding the henhouse," he wrote.

"Observing human behavior confirms that for ‍some among us, the ⁠perfidious lust for unbridled power and the imposition of cruelty in its quest know no bounds and are bereft of human decency," Biery wrote. "And the rule of law ⁠be damned."

Armed and masked officers detained two 17-year-olds and a 10-year-old in addition to Liam, school district Superintendent ‌Zena Stenvik said last week.

(Reporting by Kalea Hall; Additional reporting by William ‌Mallard; Editing by Sergio Non and Alistair Bell)

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January 31, 2026

Judge orders release of 5-year-old, father detained in Minnesota ICE raid

By Kalea Hall DETROIT, Jan 31 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Saturday ordered the release of Adrian Conejo Ari...

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Chicago mayor tells police to probe allegations of illegal activity by immigration agents

By Kalea Hall

DETROIT, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has signed an executive order directing the city's police department ​to investigate any alleged illegal activity by federal immigration ‌agents and refer the agents for prosecution if necessary, his office said Saturday.

"With today's ‌order, we are putting ICE on notice in our city. Chicago will not sit idly by while Trump floods federal agents into our communities and terrorizes our residents," Johnson wrote in a statement.

The order instructs ⁠Chicago police officers to ‌preserve body-camera footage from incidents and identify the federal supervisory officer on scene. Chicago officers are also supposed ‍to complete reports on any state or local laws allegedly violated by federal agents.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a ​request for comment.

Federal agents are generally immune from state prosecution for actions taken ‌as part of their official duties. Immunity only applies when an officer's actions were authorized under federal law and were necessary and proper.

Prominent state and local Democratic leaders around the country have been pushing back against the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts, especially following the ⁠deaths of two U.S. citizens killed ​by federal agents in Minneapolis.

Minnesota officials sued ​the federal government over the surge of immigration officers in that state, but a federal judge on Saturday declined to ‍issue a preliminary ⁠injunction that would have ended the operation.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, introduced a bill on Friday aimed at ⁠banning local law enforcement from being deputized by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to ‌take part in immigration enforcement operations.

(Reporting by Kalea Hall; ‌Editing by Sergio Non, Rod Nickel)

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January 31, 2026

Chicago mayor tells police to probe allegations of illegal activity by immigration agents

By Kalea Hall DETROIT, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has signed an executive order directin...

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UNC freshman Caleb Wilson puts on a high-flying show for the home folks in Atlanta

ATLANTA (AP) — Caleb Wilson put on quite a show for the home folks, includinga dazzling dunkthat looked like he was about to soar out of the building.

Maybe he'll be wearing a more familiar uniform next season.

The 6-foot-10 native of Atlanta scored 22 points and added three more slams to his nation-leading total, leading No 16 North Carolina toa 91-75 routof Georgia Tech on Saturday.

Wilson is projected to be one of the top picks in this summer's NBA draft. The hometown Hawks figure to be one of the teams selecting early, having landed a first-round choice from the lowly New Orleans Pelicans in a trade.

"I would love to play for the Hawks," Wilson said. "It would be nice to come back home and play for my home city, but then again I'm just ready to make an impact for whatever's out there."

He sure showed off his skills against Georgia Tech, though it took him a while to get going. The Yellow Jackets double-teamed Wilson at the offensive end, forcing him to look for his teammates.

Turns out, that was just what the Tar Heels needed.

"It started with Caleb," coach Hubert Davis said. "I thought they would have to double the post if we threw the ball into Caleb. Instinctively, as soon as the ball touched his hands, he got it to the open teammate. That ignited everyone else on how to play."

When the Yellow Jackets backed off Wilson, he took control of the game. The freshman scored 14 points in the final 7:46 of the half, pushing North Carolina to a 52-37 lead at the break.

"I just had to figure out what's going on," Wilson said nonchalantly.

His most spectacular play came at the end of a fast break, as the Tar Heels raced from one end of the court to the other after a Georgia Tech miss.

Kyan Evans lobbed the ball toward the basket, but it looked to be too high for Wilson. Not at all. He leaped up to snare it with his right hand — and slammed it through the hoop in a stunning display of his high-flying style.

"I just jumped as high as I could," Wilson said. "I didn't want it to be a turnover. I wanted to try to grab it and save it. So I grabbed the ball and just threw it in the hole."

Wilson set a couple of school freshman records by notching his 15th game with 20 points and reaching double-figure points for the 21st consecutive game to start his college career.

It doesn't figure to be a long stay in Chapel Hill, obviously.

The NBA beckons — possibly with a return to Atlanta.

He's already played well in a couple of appearances in his hometown, scoring 20 points and grabbing 15 rebounds when the Tar Heels edged Ohio State 71-70 a little over a month ago during the CBS Sports Classic at nearby State Farm Arena, which just happens to be home of the Hawks.

"I think for anybody, being able to come back home is a big deal," Davis said. "He grew up with traffic about 25 minutes from here. One of the things that did help him today was he already played in Atlanta. ... He played really well against Ohio State, but I think he came in more settled this time, the second time around."

Wilson was thrilled to have another strong performance in the A-T-L, with plenty of family and friends rooting him on.

"I know there are people looking out for me," he said. "People who want to see me do well."

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January 31, 2026

UNC freshman Caleb Wilson puts on a high-flying show for the home folks in Atlanta

ATLANTA (AP) — Caleb Wilson put on quite a show for the home folks, includinga dazzling dunkthat looked like he was abou...

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