LOADING ERROR LOADINGDemocrat Taylor Rehmet won a special election for the Texas state Senate on Saturday, flipping a reliably Republican district that President Donald Trump won by 17 points in 2024. His victory added to Democrats’ record of overperforming in special elections so far this cycle. Hancock easily won election each time he ran for the office, and Republicans have held the seat for decades. Trump won the county by 5 points in 2024, but Democratic President Joe Biden carried it in 2020 by about 1,800 votes out of more than 834,000 cast. Democratic candidates also have won special elections in Kentucky and Iowa.

President Donald Trump says he's instructed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem not to intervene in protests in Democratic-led cities unless local authorities request federal helpTrump says feds won't intervene during protests in Democratic-led cities unless asked to do soFrom left, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks as Attorney General Pam Bondi, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem listen during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)From left, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks as Attorney General Pam Bondi, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem listen during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump said Saturday that he has instructed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem not to intervene in protests occurring in cities led by Democrats unless local authorities ask for federal help amid mounting criticism of his administration's immigration crackdown. But Saturday's order comes as opposition to such tactics has grown, particularly in Minnesota's Twin Cities region. Trump sent Homan to Minneapolis following the killings of Good and Pretti, seeming to signal a willingness to ease tensions in Minnesota.

- Athletics New ZealandA 16-year-old from New Zealand has set a new world record for the fastest mile run by an under–18 athlete. I still don’t believe it… I’m completely stoked,” Ruthe told the track broadcaster Flo Track after the record-breaking outing. AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementRuthe caught the attention of the athletics world last March, when he became the youngest athlete on record to run a sub-four-minute mile, clocking 3:58.35 in Auckland. I feel like I’m the luckiest person in the world.”AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementThe teen athlete comes from a family of runners. Ruthe’s time now ranks as the 11th-fastest indoor mile for all ages, but he is still 3.7 seconds off the indoor world record set last year by Jakob Ingebrigtsen, 25, who ran a time of 3:45.14 in Liévin, France.

Every hint, nudge and outright answer you need to complete today's NYT Strands puzzle. Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're a giver. NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal? Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical. NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is GenerosityNYT Strands word list for February 1BonusGrantPresentGenerosityDonationAwardOfferingLooking for other daily online games?

NHL players return to the Olympic stageFor the first time since 2014, NHL players will compete at the Winter Olympics [4]. An agreement was finalized between the NHL, NHL Players’ Association, International Ice Hockey Federation and International Olympic Committeein July 2025 [5]. Team USA women’s hockey history-making storylinesThe U.S. women’s hockey team features a blend of Olympic champions and exciting newcomers. Twenty-one-year-old University of Wisconsin senior Laila Edwards will become the first Black woman to represent the U.S. in Olympic women’s hockey [26]. The most decorated U.S. cross-country skier in history, with three Olympic medals, arrives fresh off her third Tour de Ski title [37].

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LOADING ERROR LOADINGTech billionaire Elon Musk has for years distanced himself from the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Musk himself, who, in emails, asked about making visits to Epstein’s island. Records released by the Justice Department on Friday revealed Musk contacted Epstein several times, including in 2012 and 2013, inquiring about visiting Epstein’s island, where many of his sick crimes against children took place. “What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?” Musk wrote in a November 2012 email to Epstein. In a post on X Saturday morning, Musk denied ever attending Epstein’s parties, but did not deny the newly released emails.

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LOADING ERROR LOADINGLOS ANGELES (AP) — The latest collection of government files released on Jeffrey Epstein include emails from 2003 between Casey Wasserman, the head of the Los Angeles Olympics organizing committee, and Epstein’s one-time girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell. Among the exchanges included Wasserman telling Maxwell “I think of you all the time. AdvertisementFILE - Casey Wasserman, LA28 chairperson and president, takes questions from the media during a news conference in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 5, 2025. He has grabbed more headlines recently as the frontman for the LA Olympic effort; his lobbying played a big role in bringing the Summer Olympics back to the U.S. in 2028. Los Angeles previously hosted in 1984 and this will be the first Summer Games in the United States since Atlanta in 1996.

LOADING ERROR LOADINGABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (AP) — President Donald Trump said the U.S. was beginning to talk with Cuban leaders as his administration is putting greater pressure on the communist-run island and cutting off key oil supplies. It comes in the wake of his moves in recent weeks to cut off supplies of oil from Venezuela and Mexico, which he suggested Saturday would force Cuba to the negotiating table. (Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Bloomberg via Getty ImagesAdvertisementHis recent moves to cut off its oil supplies have squeezed the island. This past week, Trump signed an executive order to impose a tariff on any goods from countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba. The move put pressure on Mexico, which Cuba became dependent on for oil after Trump halted oil shipments from Venezuela in the wake of Maduro’s ouster.

With Ozzy Trapilo going down due to a serious patellar tendon injury that will require a long recovery, this team’s left tackle for the 2026 season might not be on the roster. The Bears’ draft position and the lack of amazing tackle options leaves them in something of a bind, though. That said, Chicago had excellent luck with Trapilo, who no doubt would’ve been the team’s starting left tackle heading into 2026 had he remained healthy. Aside from that, perhaps the Bears could see if massive Northwestern left tackle Caleb Tiernan (6-7, 325 pounds) is worth a look. But this team can’t abandon its mission to lock down its left tackle spot.

If you’re planning to visit one of the 11 most popular national parks in the U.S., staff might ask a question that could be disquieting: Are you an American citizen? The updates to visitor verification and fees was announced in November by the Trump administration, which said that beginning Jan. 1 it would implement “America-first” entry fee policies. When you present your pass, or if you purchase one at a park entrance, staff must ask for your identification and determine your citizenship status. You will only be asked your citizenship status, by way of ID verification, when buying or using an annual pass, officials say. The agency’s updated policy is that all digital-pass holders must show a photo identification matching the name on the pass.

Democrat Christian Menefee, a former Harris County Attorney, won the special election runoff in Texas’ 18th Congressional District, ending a long vacancy and narrowing Speaker Mike Johnson’s razor-thin majority in the US House. Texas’ 18th Congressional District has been empty since March following former Rep. Sylvester Turner’s death — and 13 of the last 18 months in total. The first round of the special election to replace Greene takes place in March with a potential runoff to follow in April. There’s also an April special election for the New Jersey seat vacated by Democrat Mikie Sherrill after she was elected governor. The 18th District was made even more Democratic and absorbed much of the current 9th District, which became Republican-leaning.

Ok I’m unsure on this so take it with a grain of salt but there might be a surprise performer. But producers did say there would be 18-19 performances and we’ve had either 17 or 18 performances announced (depending on if Rosé and Bruno performances are considered separate or not) so maybe. Full quote is this:“He also has a potential surprise performance planned à la the Weeknd’s appearance in 2025, which wasn’t announced in advance. “It would be my preference to announce it, if I’m honest, but it might end up having to be a surprise,” Winston says of whatever he has in the works for Sunday. “Sometimes artists are like, ‘Don’t say,’ I think because they want the audience to be surprised.

Ok I’m unsure on this so take it with a grain of salt but there might be a surprise performer. But producers did say there would be 18-19 performances and we’ve had either 17 or 18 performances announced (depending on if Rosé and Bruno performances are considered separate or not) so maybe. Full quote is this:“He also has a potential surprise performance planned à la the Weeknd’s appearance in 2025, which wasn’t announced in advance. “It would be my preference to announce it, if I’m honest, but it might end up having to be a surprise,” Winston says of whatever he has in the works for Sunday. “Sometimes artists are like, ‘Don’t say,’ I think because they want the audience to be surprised.