feb2026_news (view)
6,578 rows
This data as json, CSV (advanced)
Suggested facets: date, publisher, article_type, edition, desk
| goid | title | date | publisher | article_type | section | start_page | pagination | edition | desk | dateline | copyright | lexile_score | word_count | authors | subjects | geographic_terms | people | companies | company_tickers | keywords | full_text |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3297937912 | EAT YOUR WAY UP THE COAST AND THE CANYON: SUPPORT L.A.'S COASTAL COMMUNITIES IN REBUILDING AFTER THE PALISADES FIRE BY VISITING LOCAL RESTAURANTS | 2026-02-01 | Los Angeles Times | Feature | Weekend; L; Food Desk | L.6 | L.6 | Home Edition | Food Desk | Copyright Los Angeles Times Feb 1, 2026 | 1400 | 2856 | ['Danielle Dorsey', 'Stephanie Breijo', 'Betty Hallock', 'Bill Addison', 'Jenn Harris'] | ['Bakeries', 'Crustaceans', 'Restaurants', 'Neighborhoods', 'Farmers markets', 'Coasts'] | ['United States--US', 'Pacific Palisades California', 'Malibu California'] | [] | [] | [] | ['RESTAURANTS', 'PACIFIC PALISADES (CA)', 'TOPANGA CANYON', 'MALIBU (CA)'] | L.A.'S COASTAL AND CANYON communities are resilient and rebuilding since the Palisades fire destroyed nearly 7,000 structures, including some of the city's most locally beloved and iconic restaurants. Those that survived the blaze have become even more vital as communal linchpins and gathering places of Palisades, Topanga and Malibu residents. In the Palisades, Sunset Boulevard snakes past swaths of burned-out lots, some punctuated by scaffolding and excavators beginning the rebuilding process. It winds past signs for road closures, park closures, business closures, and past signs that declare "REBUILDING TOGETHER" and "THEY LET US BURN." Neighboring Topanga Canyon saw fewer destroyed structures than the Palisades but faces its own extended rebuilding. Powerline repairs and landslides blocked the canyon's PCH entry for much of 2025, and this access point, when open, is often whittled down to a single lane. Restaurants, the weekly farmers market and other businesses regularly post to social media to raise awareness that "Topanga is open." Farther north along PCH, Malibu restaurants are just beginning to recover. The scenic highway closed to nonresidents for the first five months of 2025. In the time since, business has gradually returned -- but chefs, restaurateurs and staff say it still feels far more depleted than before the fire. Even toward the northern edge of the city, where Lily Castro sells burritos far from the Palisades fire's reach, the popular restaurateur says business fell as much as 50% last year. Some online listings and maps still mark destroyed restaurants as currently open, misrepresenting how affected many of these businesses remain. -- A few restaurants managed to relocate and reopen, such as Flour Pizzeria in Brentwood and Cinque Terre West in Venice, both previously in the Palisades. Others already had additional locations, such as Cholada Thai's Long Beach outpost or Cafe Vida's in Culver City and El Segundo. Some are gradually rebuilding and readying to reopen, such as Duke's, which … | |
| 3297937913 | A PALISADES RESTAURANT RISES AGAIN: A year after the fire, a local-favorite Italian restaurant reopens in Venice | 2026-02-01 | Los Angeles Times | Feature | Weekend; L; Food Desk | L.5 | L.5 | Home Edition | Food Desk | Copyright Los Angeles Times Feb 1, 2026 | 1160 | 1000 | ['Jenn Harris'] | ['Restaurants', 'Pasta'] | ['Italy'] | [] | [] | [] | ['RESTAURANTS', 'VENICE (CA)', 'BRUSH FIRES', 'PACIFIC PALISADES (CA)'] | The patio at Cinque Terre West in Venice is petite but cozy, with a handful of tables and counter seating that offer a prime view into the bustling kitchen. Nestled onto a busy stretch of Rose Avenue, it feels smaller and even livelier than the original Cinque Terre West, a local favorite in the Gardens at Palisades strip mall in the center of the town. But the chef gliding from one end of the kitchen to the other, pan-frying veal chops, draining fresh pasta and dimpling pans of focaccia, is still a smiling Gianbattista "Gianba" Vinzoni. Vinzoni and his wife, Marlo, who lost multiple businesses in the Palisades fire, and whose home was also damaged, are once again starting to feel like part of a thriving community. The two reopened Cinqure Terre West, the restaurant they first introduced to the Palisades in 2019, in Venice at the end of June. The bright blue facade is a beacon of hope at a time when many residents and business owners are still caught in the difficult process of rebuilding after the fires. "Even before we opened, when we were working on the space, people came to welcome us to the neighborhood," says Marlo. "They said they wanted to help us build a new community here in Venice." Gianba, who grew up in the Cinque Terre region of Italy, always dreamed of owning his own restaurant. After running the kitchen in places like Soho House, the Beverly Hilton and Fig and Olive, he and Marlo opened Cinque Terre West with a menu inspired by his family's Ligurian roots. Two years later came Enoteca 5 wine bar in the same Palisades shopping center, followed by Deliziozo Cinque bakery and cafe in 2023. The couple were aboard the last flight to land at Los Angeles International Airport on Jan. 7, 2025. They returned from their winter vacation but couldn't go home to their condo in the Palisades. The next morning, Gianba walked from Santa Monica to the Palisades to find his entire neighborhood burning. His condo was still standing, but there were firefighters on the roof of the strip mall that housed his rest… | |
| 3297937928 | COME FOR THE SEQUOIAS, STAY FOR THE LOCAL CHARMS: Why Visalia is a worthy destination in its own right | 2026-02-01 | Los Angeles Times | Feature | Weekend; L; Travel Desk | L.2 | L.2 | Home Edition | Travel Desk | Copyright Los Angeles Times Feb 1, 2026 | 1580 | 2722 | ['Jessie Schiewe'] | ['Farmers', 'Coffee', 'Farms', 'Autism', 'Recipes', 'Restaurants', 'National parks', 'Museums', 'Breweries'] | ['United States--US', 'Central Valley', 'Tulare County California', 'California', 'Visalia California'] | [] | [] | [] | ['VISALIA (CA)'] | EVEN THOUGH VISALIA holds the title of being the oldest city in the San Joaquin Valley, it's more likely a place you've passed through on your way to visit General Sherman or the infamous carved Tunnel Log. Many Angelenos don't even know how to properly pronounce its name. But Visalia (say it: vai-SAY-lee-uh) -- a place long known as "the gateway to the Sequoias" for its proximity to Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks -- is becoming a destination in its own right. The 151-year-old Central Valley city has been working hard to shed its bucolic stereotypes and reinvent itself as a cosmopolitan oasis with hip boutiques, craft breweries and a revamped downtown. Changes started happening about five years ago when the Darling Hotel opened in the bones of the former 1930s Tulare County Courthouse annex. The Art Deco boutique hotel offers chic accommodations, catering to design-savvy travelers. Nowadays, downtown's East Main Street, which plays host to tchotchke-laden antique stores and patio dining, is a vibrant, walkable hub. At First Friday Downtown Art Walks, people can groove to a steady playlist of popular tunes thanks to a speaker system the city installed along the sidewalks. And although its Chinatown has been dismantled for years, many Chinese restaurants and a sizable Asian population remain, along with some of the community's original Asian-inspired architecture along Main Street. -- With farmlands nearby, farmers markets are held not once but twice a week in Visalia's downtown area, while local farms offer pick-your-own visits and plenty of restaurants make use of the local and seasonal produce at their disposal (seek out the honey glazed shrimp made with locally grown walnuts at Canton Restaurant as well as the berry pies and fruit preserves at the Vintage Press Restaurante). Counterculture types will find respite at music and vintage store Velouria Records, cult film fans can catch free and low-cost screenings at the historic Visalia Fox Theater and paranormal enthusiasts can chase spirits on ghos… | |
| 3297937935 | REVIEW: Two Altadena restaurants bring light and comfort: AT ONE NEIGHBORHOOD CORNER, BETSY AND MIYA ARE HEARTENING SIGNS OF LIFE | 2026-02-01 | Los Angeles Times | Review | Weekend; L; Food Desk | L.4 | L.4 | Home Edition | Food Desk | Copyright Los Angeles Times Feb 1, 2026 | 1270 | 1565 | ['Bill Addison'] | ['Restaurants'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | Stand looking out from the wide intersection of East Mariposa Street and Lake Avenue for one potent, representative view of Altadena a year after the catastrophic Eaton fire. You see rows of businesses, some returned to operation and others still shuttered, possibly forever; emptied lots surrounded by chain-link fencing; and smatterings of short trees, in front of awnings or next to a bus-stop bench, that look almost startling here in their steadfast shades of green. Over 9,000 structures, residential and commercial, burned across Altadena last January. Bureaucracy has made rebuilding slow. Many who lost their homes -- including generations of Black locals who gave the mountain town a defining part of its identity for decades -- remain displaced. -- It is human instinct to search for hopefulness amid overwhelming destruction. On this corner, where low buildings and rising elevation make the sky appear especially vast, two heartening signs of life sit 279 feet apart: Betsy and Miya, restaurants both owned by Altadena residents whose houses were consumed in flames, and whose businesses were spared enough damage that they could reopen last year. They are entirely different places. Betsy falls into the category of ambitious American bistro, powered by a central open hearth. Just across the street, Miya is a quirky, two-room Thai charmer with a relatively concise menu of curries, noodles, soups, salads and vegetables. Geography and tragedy unite them, as does the purr of comfort inherent in their cooking. In an era of extreme division and cynicism, I have all but shed the naive idea of espousing restaurants as hubs of community that bring people closer. Dine at either of these establishments, though, and you feel it. The neighborly goodwill. The ache for vitality among ruin. The absolute rightness of being together. -- Betsy Park along Betsy's block on a dark winter night, walk past the sobering charred brick shell that housed Altadena Hardware for decades and look for the restaurant's inviting string of light… | |
| 3297937941 | A rugged adventure in SoCal -- all on two wheels: An expert cyclist shares 6 scenic spots for bikepacking, backpacking by bike | 2026-02-01 | Los Angeles Times | Feature | Weekend; L; Travel Desk | L.8 | L.8 | Home Edition | Travel Desk | Copyright Los Angeles Times Feb 1, 2026 | 1070 | 1306 | ['Brian E Clark'] | ['All terrain bicycles', 'Satellite communications', 'Backpacking', 'Mountains', 'Camping', 'National parks', 'Roads & highways', 'Bicycling'] | ['Santa Barbara California', 'Los Angeles California', 'United States--US', 'San Gabriel Mountains', 'Southern California'] | [] | [] | [] | ['BICYCLING', 'BACKPACKS', 'CATALINA ISLAND', 'ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST', 'JOSHUA TREE (CA)', 'JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK', 'OJAI (CA)', 'LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST', 'LOS ANGELES'] | GROWING UP, Daniel Connell loved bicycling on streets near his home in Cheviot Hills. In college, he began camping. But it wasn't until he combined the two that his adventures really began. Connell was bikepacking -- backpacking by bike. Bikepackers are usually found off-road, pedaling up and down dirt trails and then finding sites to set up their tents and spend the night. With a bicycle, you can cover more terrain than by foot yet still access rugged trails closed off to cars. In his early days with the sport, Connell rode from Santa Barbara to Medellin, Colombia, on a 1980s mountain bike he bought for $100. He then pedaled from Egypt to South Africa with a couple of friends. Last year, he completed a "Triple Everest" in Santa Barbara, riding the equivalent of three trips up the globe's tallest mountain, more than 87,000 vertical feet. He also rode nearly 3,000 miles from Canada to Mexico on a route that traverses the Rockies in a self-supported race called the Tour Divide. This summer, he plans to set off from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska on his bike and eventually end up at the tip of South America in Patagonia in an effort to break the world speed record for the 13,500-mile ride. Much of the lengthy pedal will be along the Pan American Highway. -- "I feel focused, incredibly free and alive when I'm on my bike," says Connell, known in the cycling world as "Dirty Dan," whose adventures are sponsored by the Trek Bicycle Corp.. Interested in trying bikepacking? Connell says novices should have "at least some exposure to trail riding and camping in the wilderness." He recommends starting small: load up your bike with gear and just practice pedaling with all that extra weight. (His own Trek Supercaliber cross-country mountain bike weighs 55 pounds when completely loaded.) And go with someone more experienced. You can find bikepacking groups on Facebook, Meetup, Reddit or by checking your local bike shop. Topanga Creek Outpost, Connell says, is focused almost entirely on bikepacking. Connell believes that Los Angeles … | |
| 3297937955 | L.A. AFFAIRS: Ultimate deception: In our time together, there were many questions and lies | 2026-02-01 | Los Angeles Times | Feature | Weekend; L; Features Desk | L.10 | L.10 | Home Edition | Features Desk | Copyright Los Angeles Times Feb 1, 2026 | 800 | 1241 | ['Margaret Keane'] | ['Actors'] | ['United States--US', 'Virginia'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | OUR MEET was not cute; he wrote psychological thrillers, not rom-coms. I appeared in his suggested profiles on Instagram. He followed, and I, a wannabe actor who shrewdly noted the CAA tag in his bio, followed back. No matter how much this city jades you, that hope of getting "discovered" is stubborn. I ignored all the other female actors he followed. I ignored the absence of tagged posts and friends in his photos. On our first date, I was 10 months sober in AA and I had been celibate for a year and a half. I had sworn that the next time I had sex would be antithetical to all the sex I'd had before: sober, consensual and with genuine trust and care for each other. He took this oath seriously, and I was grateful. After two months of hand stuff and dry humping, Malibu hiking, making out at Yamashiro and dressing up for Cinespia at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, I finally let him put the P into the V in an Airbnb in Joshua Tree. We had sex under the late October stars, and in the morning, we went at it again on top of a rock in the middle of the park. He bought me vegan Van Leeuwen on the drive back, and from then on, we were sufficiently hooked. He spoke of his past infrequently, but would answer when asked. He was born in Virginia, he told me, where I am also from. But shortly thereafter, he moved to Beachwood Canyon with his parents and younger brother. He promised to one day show me the house he grew up in. He went to UCLA and had been living in Hollywood with his brother ever since they graduated. He mentioned a few friends, but I never saw them. I reasoned that he was in his 30s, and he worked in a lonely, every-man-for-himself kind of industry. And he had his brother, with whom he was supremely close, though I had yet to meet him either. By Christmas, I was antsy. He told me he loved me as the ball dropped on New Year's Eve. A week later, the January wildfires came. We escaped together, and my worried father on the East Coast paid for a hotel room further south. We made romance out of tragedy and took our… | |
| 3297937956 | WOULD YOU TRY CALIFORNIA'S FASTEST ZIP LINES? BUELLTON'S HIGHLINE ADVENTURES OFFERS A ZOOM WITH A VIEW | 2026-02-01 | Los Angeles Times | Feature | Weekend; L; Travel Desk | L.9 | L.9 | Home Edition | Travel Desk | Copyright Los Angeles Times Feb 1, 2026 | 1290 | 1078 | ['Jaclyn Cosgrove'] | ['Families & family life', 'Adventure', 'Drought'] | ['California', 'United States--US', 'Santa Ynez Valley'] | [] | [] | [] | ['BUELLTON (CA)', 'ZIP LINING'] | I FELT LIKE A HAWK catching a gentle breeze as I flew about 400 feet over the oak woodlands and ranchland below me. I was harnessed into the first of three zip lines available at Highline Adventures near Buellton, an expansive adventure park where Californians of every age can find something fun to do -- including zooming down the fastest zip line in the state. Highline Adventures, which opened in 2023, is less than a 10-minute drive from Solvang, situated right behind OstrichLand USA, meaning you can spend your morning scarfing down danishes, go feed dinosaur-like birds and then scoot over to Highline for an afternoon of adventure. I spoke to owner and operator Jeff Hartman about his adventure park, which makes up about 200 acres of his family's 1,200-acre ranch (which you can learn about on your trip). Here's what to know before you visit. -- 1 Highline has the biggest* and fastest zip lines in California On your zip line tour, you will travel down three lines, starting with a 3,360-foot-long journey -- about 7.5 times the length of the Hollywood Sign -- where you gently zoom 400 feet above lush oak woodlands. "Zip line No. 1 is the longest single span that I know of in California," Hartman said, adding there's a private zip line in the Central Coast that's longer but isn't open to the public, hence the asterisk. The second line is 1,600 feet and offers a faster ride, but not the fastest. That comes third when you rocket 2,650 feet down a zip line built at a 26-degree angle, "which is the steepest the engineers can build a zip line with the technology that we have," Hartman said. "That one, I can get you going 55 or 60 miles an hour." Or faster. Your speed will depend on your weight and weather conditions. Riders must be between 75 and 275 pounds. The larger the guest, the faster they will likely go. -- 2 Your adventure begins before the zip lines -- with an epic drive up the mountain and optional hike To reach the first zip line, the Highline staff will take you in 4x4 open-air Humvees on a steep … | |
| 3297937959 | LA Pizza Alliance returns to fight hunger with pies: A growing coalition of pizzerias plans more mutual aid | 2026-02-01 | Los Angeles Times | Feature | Weekend; L; Food Desk | L.5 | L.5 | Home Edition | Food Desk | Copyright Los Angeles Times Feb 1, 2026 | 1150 | 758 | ['Stephanie Breijo'] | ['Pizza', 'Chefs', 'Restaurants'] | ['Los Angeles California', 'United States--US'] | [] | [] | [] | ['PIZZA', 'HUNGER', 'LOS ANGELES', 'VOLUNTEERS', 'RESTAURANTS'] | On a Wednesday night in Chinatown last month, the sidewalk was filled with several mobile pizza ovens. Cardboard boxes of every color and design shuffled in and out of La Sorted's, where the pizzeria once again served as a home base offering food-relief for anyone in need. Some of the region's most famous chefs came together to cook pizzas, sandwiches and tiramisu cups, which then spread to all corners of the city. The LA Pizza Alliance was back, and twice the size of last year's operation. In response to 2025's January fires, roughly two dozen local pizzerias banded together to create a coalition that could feed Los Angeles in its time of need. The free meals were coordinated and delivered by a volunteer team. It returned Jan. 14, sending free pizzas to those affected by the Altadena and Palisades fires, as well as by immigration raids or any other misfortunes in the last year. The message was simple: If you need a warm meal, the LA Pizza Alliance has it covered. "This isn't an anniversary, this isn't a celebration," organizer David Turkell said. "This is just a commitment to the promise we made a year ago to the people of Los Angeles. ... We just want to make sure that the public knows we have their back, no matter what happens in the face of anything that's occurring." According to Turkell, the event delivered more than 1,000 whole pizzas last year. This year it topped 1,800, plus desserts, bagels, salads and other items. "I need 36 pies, y'all, 36!" a voice called out to the ovens on the sidewalk. Chefs sprang into action. Off to one side, Taqueria Frontera owner Juan Carlos "JC" Guerra sliced al pastor from a trompo, helping to fuel the participating pizzaiolos. After the success of the initial LA Pizza Alliance event, chefs asked Turkell about participating throughout the year. He expected 2026's night of free pizza to be bigger but didn't foresee it doubling. Last year more than two dozen participants stepped up to provide food. This year, there were roughly 75. The inaugural event came together in … | |
| 3299129313 | A great American artist who urges us all to hush down | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Arts | E.7 | Final | INBOSTON | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1170 | 1391 | ['Sebastian Smee'] | ['Architecture', 'Traditions', 'Modernism', 'Birds', 'Monks', 'Sculpture', 'Art galleries & museums'] | ['United States--US', 'Atlanta Georgia'] | ['Puryear, Martin'] | ['Cleveland Museum of Art'] | [] | [] | Coming upon a sculpture by Martin Puryear can be like greeting a cowled monk standing sentry at the gates of a mountain monastery. You can try using your words. But chances are nothing will come back. You're best off finding some other way to build rapport. The great American artist, who represented the United States at the 2019 Venice Biennale, is the subject of a traveling career survey at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, this winter. Organized by Emily Liebert with Reto Thüring, it will travel to the Cleveland Museum of Art in the spring and the High Museum of Art in Atlanta in the fall. Puryear is a first-rate draftsman and printmaker, but he's best known for his sculptures, which register as both three-dimensional forms and poetic images. They may, over time, produce meanings. But Puryear's ambivalence about this second function is palpable. Meanings, after all, are just another kind of noise. So much of Puryear's work, as the architect Billie Tsien notes in the catalogue, "feels as if it is trying to make the world more quiet." Having come across a Puryear masterpiece in a Swedish forest last year, I can vouch for Tsien's take. "Meditation in a Beech Wood," as the piece is titled, seemed to be imploring even the birds and the breeze to quit their histrionics. Deranged by noise, we crave quiet. To spend time with Puryear sculptures like "Alien Huddle," "On the Tundra," "Big Phrygian" and "Noblesse O" is to sense the power of certain kinds of silence or opacity. But there's more to them than that. "I am soft sift/ In an hourglass," wrote Gerard Manley Hopkins - "at the wall/ Fast, but mined with a motion, a drift,/ And it crowds and it combs to the fall." Hopkins's image of sand in an hourglass, undermined by its own weight, is both sculptural and kinetic. To read it is to imagine yourself circling around the hourglass looking for signs of the sand's silent, ineluctable motion. You circle around the sculptures of Puryear, 84, in a similar spirit. But, as Hopkins wrote, we are "mined with a motion, a dr… | ||
| 3299129314 | After cancellations, Kennedy Center has no Black History Month events | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | A-Section | A.10 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1460 | 703 | ['Fritz Hahn', 'Travis M Andrews'] | ['Black history', 'Performing arts centers'] | [] | ['Trump, Donald J', 'Kennedy, John Fitzgerald (1917-1963)'] | ['Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts'] | [] | [] | As the calendar turns to February, many museums and cultural centers across the country are readying their programming for Black History Month. At the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, however, the online calendar lists no scheduled events to honor Black History Month, following artist relocations and cancellations. In the past, the national center for the arts has offered an array of programming keyed to the month-long celebration of Black history, including an annual concert and tributes to African American icons, such as D.C. native Duke Ellington. But the choirs that long performed those concerts moved their performances to other venues after President Donald Trump took over the Kennedy Center by purging its board of trustees last year, and it appears no other thematic programming was added in those events' stead. Last February, the Kennedy Center's newly installed trustees elected Trump their chairman and named his ally Richard Grenell as the center's leader. Over the months that followed, a slew of artists pulled out of scheduled performances and ticket sales plunged. In December, the board voted to rename the institution "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts," prompting a fresh wave of cancellations, with many artists citing the politicization of an institution once considered nonpartisan. In January, Washington National Opera said it would cut ties with the center, and Philip Glass pulled out of plans to debut a new symphony there. In mid-January, the center said it had hired entertainment veteran Kevin Couch as its new senior vice president of artistic programming; less than two weeks later Couch resigned. The upheaval at the center has also scrambled its programming department, leading to staffing changes, performance cancellations and a break with long-running traditions. Previous events related to Black History Month appeared on the center's website with the tag "In celebration of Black History Month." No event this year bears this tag. T… | |||
| 3299129315 | The Supreme Court can and should rein Trump in | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | Commentary | Editorial-Opinion | A.19 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1280 | 756 | ['George F Will'] | ['Presidents', 'Constitutional law', 'State laws'] | [] | [] | ['University of Virginia'] | [] | [] | As the Supreme Court prepares a landmark ruling about the scope of presidential power, the current president is acting more unleashed than any predecessor. He is demonstrating that a president not self-restrained by his or her constitutional conscience is almost unrestrainable. The court case concerns whether presidents have the power to remove, for any reason, all principal officers of executive agencies exercising significant executive power. The ruling will emphatically bolster or substantially quarantine the "unitary executive theory." It holds that all executive power is vested in the president, who exercises sole authority over executive branch activities. The theory says Congress has no authority to limit the president from exercising command over administrative policymaking by denying the president's power to remove agencies' principal officers. The Framers could have, but did not, limit the president's removal power. Some unitary executive advocates construe this silence as implied permission. Jurist James Kent wrote to Daniel Webster in 1830: "the power to appoint and reappoint, when all else is silent, is the power to remove." James Madison said "the power to annul an appointment is in the nature of things incidental to the power which makes the appointment." And Madison said the presidential duty to "take care that the laws be faithfully executed" entails the power of removing subordinates to accomplish this. Furthermore, the Constitution's opinions-in-writing clause says: "The President … may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments." This is an empowerment, not a duty: "may" means it is the president's choice. University of Virginia law professor Saikrishna Bangalore Prakash, in "Imperial from the Beginning: The Constitution of the Original Executive," notes that a principal official has an "opinion," but the president decides. In "The President Who Would Not Be King: Executive Power Under the Constitution," Stanford law professor Michael W. … | |||
| 3299129316 | Flirting is trickier than ever. Here's how to approach it. | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | Letter to the Editor | Editorial-Opinion | A.18 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 890 | 658 | [] | ['Women'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | Following Sarah Fletcher's Jan. 4 Sunday Opinion essay, " The magic has gone out of flirting. Maybe this infamous book had a point. ," Post Opinions asked readers: "What should flirting look like in 2026?" Here are some of the responses. Flirting in 2026 should be slow, intentional and honest. It should not rely on tricks, scripts or performance, but on creating respectful tension. A small tease that invites curiosity, an open smile held a second longer than necessary, the courage to meet someone's gaze and not look away too quickly. There is bravery in vulnerability. Opening with something real, not rehearsed or strategic, is a way of saying, "I'm taking a small risk here." That risk breaks the ice. It signals interest without entitlement. I was never good at pickup lines or techniques. What worked for me was a willingness to build something over time. The love of my life made me wait a month from my first approach to our first kiss. That wait mattered. It allowed anticipation to grow, trust to form and intention to become clear. When the kiss finally came, it carried meaning because of everything that preceded it. In an age of instant replies, swipes and outcomes, choosing to slow down may be the most radical form of flirting we have left. The old ways were not better. But taking time to build tension, to be seen and to choose each other is still worth preserving. Diego Hijano, Memphis What is flirting, anyway? Whether young or old, I think it's establishing a connection, realizing together that the moment may be fleeting but that it has captured some nexus that makes you feel you count. It requires exposing yourself in a way, leaving your self-absorption behind and touching someone's senses, though the "touch" is not necessarily physical. For women in midlife, especially, who can often feel unseen, it's showing that they are "seen" and alive. Patricia Aiken O'Neill, Naples, Florida Flirters should not outdo or talk over the flirtee, or discuss other relationships. No work, politics or religion! That … | |||
| 3299129317 | The TSA PreCheck Touchless ID program is expanding to more airports | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Travel | F.6 | Final | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1330 | 1072 | ['Natalie B Compton'] | ['Airline security', 'Passports & visas', 'Biometrics', 'Loyalty programs', 'Airports', 'Air travel', 'Facial recognition technology', 'Privacy', 'Passenger screening'] | ['United States--US', 'Alaska'] | ['Kennedy, John Fitzgerald (1917-1963)'] | ['Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport', 'John F Kennedy International Airport'] | [] | [] | A faster way to get through airport security may be coming to an airport near you. TSA PreCheck Touchless ID, a new program that uses facial recognition, is expanding to 65 airports this spring. The expansion will prioritize 2026 World Cup host cities, where travel is expected to surge, said Transportation Security Administration spokesperson R. Carter Langston. "Passengers seem to absolutely appreciate it - the speed, the efficiency," Langston said. "All they show is their face, and the officer just waves them right into the checkpoint. No hassling with passports or IDs or phones." The TSA launched the first iteration of the program in 2021 in partnership with Delta Air Lines at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. It's now available for five airlines across 28 airports. Critics worry that the program raises privacy concerns. It is voluntary, and travelers can opt out at any time and use a standard ID verification instead. What is PreCheck Touchless ID? The TSA said in an email that the initiative is a joint effort from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, airports and airlines that allows travelers "to move through dedicated lanes with ease, enjoying a smoother and more convenient airport experience." The program uses the CBP Traveler Verification Service to create "a secure biometric template of a passenger's live facial image taken at the checkpoint and matches it against a gallery of templates of pre-staged photos that the passenger previously provided to the government (e.g., U.S. Passport or Visa)," the agency website said. Who is eligible? To use the program, fliers must be a current TSA PreCheck member with a valid "known traveler number" and an active airline profile (such as being enrolled in a loyalty program). They must also have a valid passport uploaded to their airline profile. The airlines currently participating in the program include: --Alaska --American --Delta --Southwest --United TSA PreCheck Touchless ID offers current TSA PreCheck members an expedited airport se… | |||
| 3299129318 | Republican Dan Cox files to again run for governor | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Metro | B.16 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1350 | 721 | ['Olivia George', 'Katie Shepherd'] | ['Primaries & caucuses', 'Local elections', 'Congressional districts', 'State elections', 'Governors', 'Voters', 'Political parties'] | ['Maryland', 'United States--US'] | ['Trump, Donald J'] | ['Republican Party', 'Democratic Governors Association'] | [] | [] | Republican Dan Cox has filed to run for governor of Maryland again, setting up a potential rematch with Democratic Gov. Wes Moore, who beat the MAGA-aligned Cox in a landslide four years ago. A former state delegate, Cox has been vying for statewide or congressional office for a decade, with no luck in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2 to 1. Cox's candidacy was posted on the Maryland elections board website Friday and listed Rob Krop as his running mate. Cox did not respond to a request for comment Saturday morning. He first ran for governor in 2022, earning the endorsement of President Donald Trump and catapulting the Republican primary into a high-profile tug of war between two starkly different visions of the GOP: one embraced by Cox and Trump, underpinned by claims of election fraud; the other favored by then outgoing-Gov. Larry Hogan (R), buoyed by cross-party coalitions. News of Cox's second attempt for the governor's office ricocheted across the state, with Democratic operatives quick to tie him to the president while some Republicans nudged a more moderate potential candidate to consider a run as the GOP struggles to find its footing in Maryland in a post-Hogan landscape. Hogan - who has previously disavowed Cox as a "whack job" unworthy of endorsement - recently said he would not run for his old job, capping months of speculation. During his 2022 campaign, Cox won the Republican nomination after the Democratic Governors Association pumped more than $2 million into political ads and mailers promoting his ties to Trump, with the hope that his extreme positions would put off independent voters in the general election. Cox, for example, has said he believes the 2020 election was "stolen," and unsuccessfully sued and tried to impeach Hogan over restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic. In the general election, Cox lost resoundingly to Moore, an author and then a political outsider who won more than 64 percent of the vote. Despite a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's residence and resor… | |||
| 3299129319 | 'Ice is unpredictable': Coast Guard helps cruise ship stuck in Antarctica | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Travel | F.2 | Final | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1220 | 868 | ['Andrea Sachs'] | ['Cruises', 'Cooperation'] | ['New Zealand', 'United States--US', 'Antarctica'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | On the 12th day of their Antarctica cruise, a group of passengers aboard the Scenic Eclipse II helicoptered into the McMurdo Dry Valleys, the largest ice-free area on the frozen continent. Hours later, they found themselves in the polar opposite situation. Sea ice had surrounded the luxury cruise ship, hindering its passage to open water. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the Australian-owned ship rang for help around 11 p.m. local time. Polar Star, the U.S. military's only active heavy icebreaker, took two "passes," or laps, around the 551-foot cruise ship, slicing through the ice slabs as easily as a knife in soft butter. "It was just a happy coincidence that she was there and it happened to be the ship's 50th birthday as well, which was a pretty cool coincidence," James Griffiths, general manager of ocean operations at Scenic Group, said from New Zealand, the cruise's endpoint. "It was a great experience, and our guests loved it." An unexpected show On a danger scale of 1 to Endurance, the Scenic Eclipse II's predicament was low-risk, according to Griffiths. The ship's ice-strengthened hull is categorized as 1A Super, the strongest of the Finnish-Swedish ice classes. The vessel can maneuver through ice; however, it can't chop through dense blocks with the same force and speed of an icebreaker like Polar Star, which the Coast Guard describes as the world's most powerful nonnuclear icebreaker. "Sea ice can be three feet thick, or two or three times that if it's accumulated over multiple years," said Robert Sherrell, a professor in the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences at Rutgers University in New Jersey. "It takes raw power to break through ice." Polar Star has been stationed in Antarctica since November in its 29th deployment with Operation Deep Freeze, a multi-armed-forces mission that provides operational and logistical support to the National Science Foundation's U.S. Antarctic Program. One of the ship's primary duties is to maintain a navigable channel by blasting through miles of ice as thi… | |||
| 3299129320 | Judge orders release of 5-year-old held by ICE | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | A-Section | A.1 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1360 | 845 | ['Gaya Gupta'] | ['Immigration policy', 'Families & family life', 'Deportation', 'School districts', 'Detention centers', 'Demonstrations & protests', 'Judges & magistrates'] | ['Texas', 'United States--US', 'Minnesota'] | [] | ['US Immigration & Customs Enforcement', 'Department of Homeland Security'] | [] | [] | Detention of child and his father in Minneapolis added to searing tensions A federal judge has ordered 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, to be released from federal immigration custody after the pair were detained in their driveway in Minnesota last month, sparking outrage nationwide and protests at the family detention center in Dilley, Texas, where they have been held. In a sharply worded statement, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery said the administrative warrants issued by the executive branch to its own agents "do not pass probable cause muster." "That is called the fox guarding the henhouse," he wrote. "The Constitution requires an independent judicial officer." Below his signature, the judge also included the now well-known photo of Ramos as he was taken into custody wearing a Spider-Man backpack and a bright blue hat. The photo and Liam's detainment sparked outrage across the country and further inflamed tensions between Minnesota residents and the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts there. Jennifer Scarborough, one of the attorneys representing Liam and his father, said in a statement that they were "grateful" for the decision. "We are now working closely with our clients and their family to ensure a safe and timely reunion," Scarborough and the other attorneys wrote in a joint statement. "We are pleased that the family will now be able to focus on being together and finding some peace after this traumatic ordeal." The Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment. The judge ordered that Liam and his father be released from custody "as soon as practicable," and no later than Tuesday. "Ultimately, Petitioners may, because of the arcane United States immigration system, return to their home country, involuntarily or by self-deportation," Biery wrote. "But that result should occur through a more orderly and humane policy than currently in place." The detention of children has prompted a widening backlash in recent weeks - prot… | |||
| 3299129321 | U.S. arms sales to Israel, Saudi Arabia approved | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | A-Section | A.7 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1520 | 491 | ['Frances Vinall'] | ['Military sales', 'Armed forces', 'Congressional committees'] | ['Iran', 'Middle East', 'Gaza Strip', 'United States--US', 'Saudi Arabia', 'Israel'] | ['Trump, Donald J'] | [] | [] | [] | House Democrat says administration bypassed congressional review The United States on Friday approved arms sales worth close to $6.7 billion for Israel and $9 billion for Saudi Arabia, deals that come as the Middle East remains on edge with President Donald Trump weighing military strikes on Iran. The sales were approved by the State Department, according to news releases published through the Defense Department. Congress has been notified of the approvals, according to the releases. But Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (New York), the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the Trump administration had sidestepped the committee review process for significant arms sales for the transactions involving Israel. "This is yet another repudiation by Donald Trump of Congress' Constitutional oversight role," he said in a statement, adding that the administration was also "refusing to engage Congress on critical questions about the next steps in Gaza and broader U.S.-Israel policy." Meeks said Secretary of State Marco Rubio had "failed to provide any justification or documentation" for bypassing the review process. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The U.S. in 2024 said that while Israel may have violated international law using U.S. weapons during its military campaign in Gaza, there was insufficient information to prevent the flow of American military aid to the country. Amid famine in Gaza last year, a number of Democrats called for sales of offensive weapons to Israel to be cut off, in a notable shift for the party. In the sales announced Friday, Israel is set to buy 30 Apache attack helicopters and related equipment for an estimated $3.8 billion and more than 3,000 joint light tactical vehicles worth almost $2 billion, including weapons and personnel carriers. The rest of the sales include light utility helicopters and power packs for armored personnel carriers. "The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national inte… | |||
| 3299129322 | For travelers with feline friends, 'pet-friendly' hotels can be anything but | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Travel | F.6 | Final | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1220 | 1532 | ['Andrea Sachs'] | ['Travel', 'Rentals', 'Cats', 'Vacations', 'Pets', 'Dogs', 'Airports', 'Hotels & motels'] | ['North America', 'Japan', 'Europe'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | Traveling is the cat's meow, unless you're actually a cat. Liebchen, a rescue tabby from the Netherlands who travels with an E.U. pet passport, learned this hard truth at the Max Brown Hotel in Amsterdam. A few days before Christmas, the property refused to honor his family's reservation because he was a cat, not a canine. "Hotels will say they're pet-friendly, but they really mean dogs," said Erin Geldermans, who adopted "Liebs" in Colorado. "So we'll show up with our cat, and they're like, 'Oh, sorry, cats aren't allowed.'" Cast into the night without a room, Geldermans and Liebs landed on their feet, finding more inclusive accommodations at the Jan Luyken Amsterdam next door. The hotel didn't even charge them a pet fee. However, the experience was a stark reminder that, for jet-setting cats, it's a dog's world. Travelers who vacation with their feline companions say they have encountered an anti-cat bias around the world. They come across it in airports and on planes, at hotels and vacation rentals. The owners say they must often overcome hurdles to earn the same trust and acceptance granted to dogs. "This is discrimination," said Anna Karsten, a France-based travel blogger who has faced a double standard when traveling with her Ragdoll, Poofy. "It's a higher risk, apparently, which, if you think about it, is outrageous. The cat is literally going to sleep, but the dog might destroy the entire room if it's stressed." During check-in at a rental in the Dutch city of Leiden, Karsten had to provide references that Poofy was a model guest. Stung by a previous incident involving cat pee, the apartment's owner said the family would have to keep Poofy in a "cage." After several minutes of negotiations, the two sides agreed to sequester the cat in the bathroom whenever the family was out. Karsten abided by the rule the first day but eventually left the door ajar. By the end of the week-long stay, the host had experienced a change of heart. "She loved the cat," Karsten said triumphantly. Cons include cat pee, … | |||
| 3299129323 | Nice Breeze is taking its lo-fi sound to new heights | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Arts | E.3 | Final | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1410 | 498 | ['Chris Richards'] | ['Musical performances'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | 'Everything Disappears" is a pretty great album title for a band that keeps sticking around. It's been more than a decade since Nice Breeze formed somewhere between D.C. and Northern Virginia, but back in November, after a long, strange drip of digital releases, the trio finally issued its first vinyl record - the kind of black plastic saucer that scientists say might take more than a millennium to biodegrade. As for the music, it's aptly encoded with cosmic winks and shrugs - layers of paradoxical noises that feel messy and mannered, casual and serious, loose and tight, hungry and wise. Try to imagine three Xers drilling down on some median coordinate between early Pavement, earlier Half Japanese and earliest Sonic Youth, then try not to, because the more you listen to this stuff, the more Nice Breeze sounds like an entity unto itself. At first, it's vocalist Andy Fox who makes the band's shaggy clang feel so personal, with lyrics that contemplate the fates of strangers in restaurants, the provenance of unnamed tattoos, the metaphysical implications of "diplomatic immunity" and more. When Fox's phrasing falls off the beat like a toppled beverage, it's that much easier to clock drummer Martha Hamilton's locomotive steadiness - a rhythmic dependability that also frees John Howard to make his guitar jangle, mumble and gnash. Melodies and textures continuously swap roles as foreground and background. If you've forgotten what a band sounds like, this is it. Different people being themselves, together. And while Howard is credited with recording "Everything Disappears" in a modest Arlington basement, the album's distinctive lo-fi sound isn't the result of circumstance. With today's home recording software, making songs this rumpled and unclean requires effort, and Nice Breeze put meticulous care into the mess-making. Sometimes we get entangled, like when the guitars go fritzy during the album closer "PS Brix!" - it sounds more like our earbuds shorting out than a guitar amp glitch. Where is this music happening, exa… | |||
| 3299129324 | This doctor has a remedy for depression: Cure society's ills | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | BookWorld | C.3 | Final | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1320 | 1277 | ['Becca Rothfeld'] | ['Patients', 'Mental depression', 'Psychiatry', 'Textbooks', 'Colonialism', 'Mental health care', 'Books', 'Mental disorders'] | ['Zimbabwe', 'Rhodesia-pre-1979'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | "Psychiatry underwent two major shifts during the twentieth century," writes the doctor and medical anthropologist Khameer Kidia, "from biological to psychoanalytic, then back to biological." First came crude physical treatments like shock therapy and lobotomies, then came Freudian analysis. Finally, we traded in surgeries for pills but otherwise ended up back where we started - or so goes Kidia's implausibly simplistic story. Now, he hopes to usher in yet another shift, this time from the reductively biological to the expansively social and political. In his ambitious but uneven new book, "Empire of Madness: Reimagining Western Mental Health Care for Everyone," Kidia argues that the medicalization of thorny human problems is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, deeming distress a "disease" is a way of destigmatizing it. A malfunctioning brain is no more the fault of a patient than, say, a malfunctioning spleen. On the other hand, to define a person's suffering as an illness is to individualize it - to sequester it in the "private realm" and thereby remove it from the knottier domains of politics and history. Kidia writes provocatively that he is "calling for the end of psychiatry, or at least a kind of end." What he means is partially that the clinical solutions on offer - pills, sessions on the couch and, in extreme cases, stints in the psychiatric ward - are overly individualistic. Rather than involving a person's community in her care, we exile her to the margins and keep her out of view. "The more we medicalize mental distress," he writes, "the less help we will get from the social support structures in which patients are embedded, and the more likely we are to fail." But Kidia means to question not only the going therapies but also the usual repertoire of diagnoses. In some cases, he goes so far as to contest a behavior's very designation as an "illness." Often, he argues, anguish is not a dysfunction but a "rational reaction" to injustice. Take the case of Kidia's mother, a Zimbabwean Indian woman who… | |||
| 3299129325 | Siblings can't persuade parents to address the clutter in their home | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Arts | E.5 | Final | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 930 | 830 | ['R Eric Thomas'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | Dear Eric: My parents are retired and enjoying the empty-nest stage of life. They have a rather large home, and my mother's mobility has been severely hampered in the past few years. They refuse to get rid of the things that no longer serve them. My mother overbuys for everything, and at times I think she forgets what they already have and just buys more, never cleaning out what she already has. My siblings and I are growing extremely frustrated, as there are rooms in the house that are no longer able to be moved through or are overrun with stuff from decades ago. We have offered to help clean areas out; we've offered to hire a professional organizer to get the home in order and create a safe environment for them. They refuse all help. We've also explained to them that we do not believe it is fair that they are going to leave this large home of stuff for us to clean up one day, not knowing what may be important or an heirloom, and they tell us to just throw it all away. We love our parents dearly, but we are also extremely frustrated with how cavalier they seem to be when it comes to putting the burden of cleaning all this up on us when they are gone when we are more than happy to help now. Your thoughts would be deeply appreciated. - Overwhelmed by Clutter Overwhelmed: If you believe that the clutter in the house poses a safety risk and they've refused your help, it may be time to reach out to the hoarder task force at your local fire department or seek out other municipal resources to pay your parents a house call. They can assess the risk (to your parents and to any paramedics/firefighters who might have to come into the home to help) and provide solutions. There's a separate issue here, however, and it's an anticipatory frustration that may not really be something your parents need to deal with. You're envisioning how hard it's going to be to clean up after them, which is understandable from a logistical standpoint. But they're still living their lives; this is still their stuff. So, it's not really fair … | |||
| 3299129326 | Americans now know what they're against. They saw it in Minneapolis. | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | Commentary | Editorial-Opinion | A.19 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1220 | 805 | ['Kathleen Parker'] | ['Fascism', 'Border patrol'] | ['United States--US', 'Minnesota'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | A proven antidote to political division is a common enemy. The greater the powers organized against people, the stronger the bond becomes among disparate groups. Think 9/11. Now turn your gaze to Minneapolis. Never did I imagine that the existential threat to America's democratic republic would be posed by our own government. Maybe I've been naive, but I've always believed that a constitutional commitment to moral principles, especially the rule of law, meant we were protected from the fates of less blessed nations. America was the exceptional country, created by a confluence of great men and minds at a unique moment in history. But something has happened to the nation. We're not the same people we were as recently as 2016, when the norm-shattering Donald Trump came to power. He stepped into a role tailor-made for him at a time when the future seemed up for grabs. His vision for the United States has hardened into something unrecognizable while his methods have escalated into lawlessness. I'm reminded of the character Randall Flagg from Stephen King's 1978 novel, "The Stand." Flagg was a sorcerer and cult leader who served chaos, darkness, destruction and conflict to bring down civilization. King's horror story, which culminates in a showdown between good and evil, could be a metaphor for today's partisan hostility. The recent killings of two Minnesota citizens protesting the roughly 3,000-strong federal invasion and stormtrooper tactics make King's masterpiece seem hauntingly prescient and, perhaps, prescriptive. The Minneapolis chaos isn't random but likely politically retributive (note the preference from Immigration and Customs Enforcement for blue states) and perhaps tied to the midterms and 2028 election, both of which Trump probably wouldn't mind canceling. By creating chaos, this unrestrained president can justify imposing stricter controls, potentially leading to more military occupation across the country. That's one way to obstruct the nation's electoral system. The Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Cap… | |||
| 3299129327 | Right on cue: Toddler is recognized for his mastery of trick shots | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | A-Section | A.16 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1260 | 553 | ['Victoria Craw'] | ['Billiards'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | He loves cartoons and is tucked in bed by 6:15 p.m. But with a cue in his tiny hand, this toddler can perform feats many adults can only dream of. Jude Owens, a 3-year-old from Manchester in northern England, holds two Guinness World Records for mastering trick shots, maneuvers on a billiards table that require significant skill. The first he achieved at the age of 2 years 261 days in September, when he became the youngest person to make two balls sink into different pockets from a single strike of the cue, known as a snooker double pot, GWR said in a statement Tuesday. The following month, Jude nabbed the record for being the youngest person to make a pool bank shot - which GWR described as when the cue ball hits another ball off one or more rails before sinking it in a pocket - at the age of 2 years 302 days. It makes him the youngest person ever to perform both trick shots, and one of the youngest double record holders in Guinness World Records history, the organization said. "To see someone as young as Jude display such skill, enthusiasm and determination is incredibly special," said Craig Glenday, editor in chief of Guinness World Records. Jude is not yet tall enough to take his shots standing on the ground, so he must first clamber onto a stool. Videos online show him stretched across a table, or dressed in a tiny waistcoat and bow tie and expertly chalking his cue. "There's a lot of snooker stars that have started young, but I don't think ever this young," Jude's mother, Sinead Owens, said in a phone interview Wednesday. She said Jude's father, Luke, is an avid fan of snooker - a sport similar to pool that is also played on a billiards table and is popular in the United Kingdom. Jude started playing just after he turned 2 when he got a miniature table for Christmas. He quickly showed a knack for it, despite having to use half a cue. "He doesn't know the rules or anything," Sinead said, adding that it "started with trick shots and then it kind of went from there." The family started a TikTok page… | |||
| 3299129328 | In Sin City, a commitment to Excel(lence) | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Sports | B.1 | Suburban | IN LAS VEGAS | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1070 | 2839 | ['Jesse Dougherty'] | ['Athletes', 'College sports', 'Students', 'Coaches & managers', 'Weightlifting', 'Gaming machines'] | ['New York', 'United States--US', 'Austria', 'Arizona'] | ['Carrot Top (comedian)'] | ['National Collegiate Athletic Association--NCAA', 'Starbucks Corp'] | [] | [] | You know how hard it is to be the most distinct person at the Luxor Hotel & Casino on a Monday afternoon? In the hotel check-in line, there's a woman with a safari hat on her head and a giant plastic parrot on her shoulder. In the bathroom, there's a man brushing his teeth, his eyes a little bloodshot, a foot-high stack of $100 chips forming a perfect triangle on the sink to his right. And on the casino floor, an older man uses Google Maps to find his way, though he seems confused about whether to turn right at the Wizard of Oz slot machine or keep walking past a sleeping roulette table, where he would eventually hit a sign for an overpriced buffet, then another for tickets to see Carrot Top do whatever Carrot Top does. And yet, near the front desk, at what might be the world's saddest Starbucks, sits Benjamin Weber, who traveled 24 hours from rural Austria, not far from the Hungarian border, to defend his individual title in college Excel. Yes, competitive spreadsheeting. Weber types a formula in the amount of time it takes to blink twice. He types a lot. If his jeans fit him a bit better, you wouldn't see he's wearing Christmas-themed socks - red, green and striped - three weeks before the holiday. But in this reality, the socks are impossible to ignore, as is the fact that, straight behind him, two paramedics are pushing an empty stretcher to God knows where. "Two years ago, I came out of nowhere," Weber says, looking up from his laptop. "No one knew me, then I almost won the whole thing. Then last year, boom, I won it all. So now I just hope there isn't someone like that, someone I don't even know yet who could take me down." He pauses. "You know, I'd really like to win again." The formula for success Nathan Wang also came to Vegas for the Excel competition, but at the moment he's trying to set the record for food consumed at an all-you-can-eat buffet. "You should see the carving station," Wang says, narrating his five-course meal to his mother on FaceTime, his iPhone propped on a tripod that doubles … | ||
| 3299129329 | How commutes have changed since covid | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Metro | B.16 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1160 | 1196 | ['Rachel Weiner'] | ['Work at home', 'Commuting', 'Tolls', 'Traffic', 'Pandemics', 'Telecommuting', 'Return to office'] | ['Maryland', 'United States--US', 'Virginia'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | Despite the upheaval of the past six years, one thing has not changed - D.C. traffic is bad. A new survey taken by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) between March and June of last year finds that at 41 minutes, the average commute in the area is about as far and long as it was in 2019. Commuting patterns have changed, however. More people are teleworking at least two days a week and taking transit; on the other hand, the region has grown, and a larger proportion of suburbanites in Maryland and Virginia are driving to work alone. "More and more people are coming into the office just for a few hours," Kanti Srikanth, head of planning at the regional group. "All of that shift is going to change when there is demand on our roadways and on our transit system." The peak rush hour is not 6:30 to 7:30 in the morning; it's now about an hour later. All of that will have to be considered as plans are made for new transit and road infrastructure. The group interviewed 7,524 commuters in D.C. and 11 surrounding jurisdictions. Here's what else we learned. 1. People are back in offices, but not all the time While working from home part of the time remains far more common than it was before the pandemic, more people are returning to the office. In 2022, the last time this survey was taken, 75 percent of hybrid commuters teleworked at least three times a week. In 2025, that percentage was 35 percent. Remote work "does not appear to be the ultimate solution we expected and hoped for" to deal with traffic congestion, Neil Harris, chair of MWCOG's Transportation Planning Board said Wednesday at a discussion of the survey results among local leaders. The decrease has largely been driven by federal workers. Before the pandemic, they were the group most likely to telework. Now, because of return-to-office policies under the Trump administration, they are the only one with fewer teleworkers than in 2019, down from 48 to 23 percent. Nearly half of workers who can telework are doing "split shifts" at least… | |||
| 3299129330 | Why communist leaders inevitably purge their generals | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | Commentary | Editorial-Opinion | A.19 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1160 | 896 | ['Miles Yu'] | ['Paranoia', 'Leadership', 'Armed forces', 'Collusion'] | ['China', 'Union of Soviet Socialist Republics--USSR'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | The dramatic purge of China's highest-ranking uniformed officer, Gen. Zhang Youxia, last weekend is the latest evidence that communist dictatorships require absolute loyalty from their senior military leaders. And because absolute loyalty can never be absolutely verified, pursuing it inevitably breeds paranoia. This is not an accident or a pathology unique to individual leaders. It is the structural logic of communist rule itself. From Joseph Stalin to Mao Zedong, from Kim Jong Un to Xi Jinping, concentrated power demands total obedience - and demanding total obedience produces endless purges. At the core of every communist regime sits a single supreme leader who monopolizes authority over the party, the state, the military and the security apparatus. Such concentration of power leaves no room for genuine collective leadership. Yet the leader must still rely on human agents who wield enormous operational authority. This dependency creates a fatal contradiction: Those closest to power are simultaneously the most indispensable and the most dangerous. The result is predictable. The supreme leader becomes obsessed with hidden dissent, double loyalty, and especially foreign collusion. Xenophobic paranoia becomes the most lethal weapon of regime survival. Accusations of conspiring with hostile external forces provide a perfect justification for eliminating rivals while preserving the moral mythology of the system. The leader is never wrong; traitors are simply everywhere. Stalin perfected this logic. In 1937, Marshal Mikhail Tukhachevsky, the Red Army's most brilliant commander, was accused of colluding with Nazi Germany to overthrow Stalin. The charge was fabricated, but that was beside the point. Tukhachevsky's modernizing vision, prestige within the military and proximity to power made him intolerable. He was executed, along with much of the Red Army's senior leadership. During the Great Purge, Stalin fixated on "Trotskyites" - figures with international connections who could plausibly be portrayed as agents of… | |||
| 3299129331 | Horoscope | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Arts | E.10 | Final | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 790 | 653 | ['Georgia Nicols'] | ['Families & family life', 'Peace'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | Happy Birthday | Sunday Feb. 1: You are multitalented, charismatic and quick to evaluate a situation. You're strong-willed, grounded and sensible. This is a year of building and construction. It's time to create foundations, both internally and externally. Simplicity is key. Take charge of your health. Physical exercise will be important. Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The Moon is in Leo. ARIES (March 21-April 19) Parents will have to be tolerant with their kids because this is the classic day for hissy fits, meltdowns and rebellions. Be patient with yourself and cut others some slack. This same tension could arise with romantic partners as well. Stay chill to keep the peace. (You'll be happier.) TAURUS (April 20-May 20) This is the classic day for difficulties with bosses, parents, VIPs and the police. Authority figures will oppose you at home, as well as with your family. Do what you can to keep the peace. Do not challenge others. And do not underestimate the power of courtesy if you are challenged. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Steer clear of arguments with others. Not only will this ruin your peace of mind, it could also trigger an accident because of the distraction it could create. Be patient with siblings, relatives and daily contacts to get through this day. Be smart. CANCER (June 21-July 22) You're never casual about money, and this might be one reason financial discussions with others about shared property, shared costs, shared responsibilities - whatever - could lead to arguments. Do your best to keep a lid on things. Postpone these discussions for a better time. Not today. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) This is a challenging day for you. With the Moon in your sign, you're a bit more emotional than usual. However, your luck is better. Three planets oppose your Moon, which will create difficulties if dealing with partners and close friends. Use patience and your Leo charm to keep the peace. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Be patient with work colleagues, or anything rel… | |||
| 3299129332 | Gamers' backlash to AI forces studios to regroup | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Business | B.11 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1350 | 1423 | ['Hunter Tatum'] | ['Role playing', 'Artists', 'Computer & video games', 'Virtual communities', 'Art', 'Consumers', 'Film adaptations', 'Generative artificial intelligence', 'Chatbots'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | Smartphones, social networks and search engines are being flooded with "smart" new features as the tech industry bets that artificial intelligence will revolutionize every facet of life. But in one segment of the digital economy, a growing pocket of resistance from consumers is holding back the AI flood. Video game developers are, like companies in other industries, experimenting with AI tools to help workers be more productive. But as more studios have released games with AI-generated art, characters and dialogue, a growing number have later backtracked or sworn to limit their use of the technology. The reversals have come after aggressive pushback from gamers online, who argue that AI threatens what they love about games if it replaces the creative work of human developers. In December, Running With Scissors, a game publisher known for the Postal shooter franchise, scrapped a forthcoming title after online accusations there were AI-generated graphics in its trailer. The role-playing game "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" won Game of the Year at this year's prestigious Indie Game Awards, but the accolade was rescinded after its developer, Sandfall Interactive, said it had experimented with AI-generated images but ultimately didn't include them. Some players and industry employees say gaming's battle over AI could foreshadow the rise of resistance to AI's encroachment into other spheres. Despite survey data showing a majority of Americans have negative feelings about the technology, use of AI is surging and many people are being compelled to adopt it at work, school and home. If gamers can leverage online communities and targeted campaigns to keep AI out of their favorite products, perhaps other groups could, too. Others suggest the protests are a doomed campaign against the technology's inevitable adoption. For now, gaming companies must tread carefully - or face a brutal dressing-down from their most vocal and internet-savvy customers. "Our whole professional careers got canceled in one hour," said Artem Korov… | |||
| 3299129333 | Skater taps grief, achieves glory | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | Feature | A-Section | A.1 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 970 | 3955 | ['Robert Samuels'] | ['Parents & parenting', 'Music', 'Olympic games', 'Skating', 'Figure skating', 'Grief', 'Coaches & managers', 'Competition'] | ['Italy', 'United States--US'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | The ice rink at the base of the lush mountains of northern Italy became Maxim Naumov's sanctuary. The wood rafters sloped upward like the ceiling of a cathedral, and the sun beamed through slits of stained-glass windows. Benoît Richaud, a pale, bald French figure skating choreographer who ran a camp for elite skaters there, often wondered whether the place was sometimes visited by the Holy Spirit. Naumov, 24, had his mother's square jaw and his father's penetrating eyes, and in the summer of 2025, he longed for his athletic pursuits to connect with something divine. He relished this time outside the Boston suburbs, away from the familiar sheet of ice where he spent hours being coached by his mom and dad, far from the home filled with pictures that devastated him and videos he could not bear to watch. "What do you want to accomplish?" Richaud recalled asking him. "I want to make the Olympic team," he said. The childhood dream was no longer just his own. One year ago, on Jan. 29, 2025, his parents and coaches - Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov - were two of 28 people associated with figure skating who died when a plane on its way to Reagan National Airport and an Army helicopter flying over the Potomac River collided. Sixty-seven died in all. Families of victims often search for ways to graft logic onto the inexplicable. They find purpose in testifying before Congress and in starting foundations; they hug their loved ones tighter and discern deeper meaning from each rising sun. Some try to protect their inner peace by shielding themselves from the public glare. Naumov decided to lace up his skates. In doing so, his journey became the most public quest to process last year's tragedy. "I think everybody saw him as the center of their grief," reflected Scott Hamilton, a 1984 Olympic gold medalist and the sport's elder statesman in the United States. "There was such an unspeakable loss that I think people were just looking for somebody, something, to hang on to, because … it just didn't make any sense." Over … | |||
| 3299129334 | Another federal shutdown begins, but a speedy end is likely this time | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | A-Section | A.1 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1350 | 1253 | ['Jacob Bogage'] | ['Immigration policy', 'Agreements', 'Bipartisanship', 'National security', 'Funding', 'Legislators', 'Appropriations', 'Government shutdowns', 'Accountability', 'Bills', 'Budgets', 'Deadlines'] | ['New York', 'United States--US', 'Louisiana'] | ['Trump, Donald J'] | ['Department of Defense', 'Department of Homeland Security', 'Internal Revenue Service--IRS', 'Senate-US', 'Republican Party', 'Congress-US', 'Democratic Party', 'US Immigration & Customs Enforcement'] | [] | [] | The second government shutdown of President Donald Trump's second term began early Saturday, as aggressive immigration enforcement in Minneapolis derailed congressional negotiations to fund the agencies driving the administration's policies. Lawmakers missed a midnight deadline to approve six new spending bills because the Senate changed some of the measures after the House passed them, in response to deadly shootings of U.S. citizens by federal immigration agents in Minnesota. Without funding, the IRS will shutter just days into tax season. Money for housing assistance programs could be at risk in the aftermath of a winter storm that sent temperatures in much of the country plummeting to historic lows. Federally backed scientific research will immediately halt. Military service members, transportation security agents and air traffic controllers will continue to work - unpaid. But this shutdown may be brief and have limited effects: The Senate on Friday evening approved a bipartisan agreement backed by Trump to pass five major appropriations bills and a temporary funding extension for the Department of Homeland Security. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) has said his chamber will aim to pass the package when lawmakers return early next week, despite frustrations from conservative members of the Republican caucus and skepticism from House Democrats. "The House is going to do its job," Johnson said Thursday night. Congress faced a similar situation less than three months ago, when Republicans and Democrats deadlocked over expiring subsidies that made Affordable Care Act health insurance plans less expensive. Without a deal in place to preserve them, Senate Democrats refused to back new spending bills, leading to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. Lawmakers eventually brokered a compromise to reopen federal agencies, funding some for the full fiscal year. For others - including the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Labor, Treasury, Health and Human Services and more - Congress s… | |||
| 3299129335 | Seahawks could be put on the market soon | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Sports | B.2 | Suburban | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1200 | 367 | ['Mark Maske'] | ['Sports franchises'] | [] | [] | ['Portland Trail Blazers'] | [] | [] | The Seattle Seahawks could be put up for sale after they play in the Super Bowl next weekend. Some NFL team owners believe Jody Allen, chair of the Seahawks, is ready to sell the franchise, according to two people familiar with the owners' views and their deliberations on the matter. There have been discussions within the ownership ranks that the sale process could begin soon after the Super Bowl, according to those people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity Friday because the prospective sale has not been announced. Those people warned that the timing may not be certain. The Seahawks face the New England Patriots on Feb. 8 in Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California. ESPN reported Friday that the team is expected to be put up for sale after the Super Bowl. The trust of late owner Paul Allen has owned the team since the Microsoft co-founder's death in 2018. Jody Allen, his sister, has served as the de facto owner of the franchise in her role as trustee. She serves as chair of the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers under the same circumstances. A spokesperson for the Paul G. Allen Estate said in a statement Friday that the Seahawks are not for sale. "We don't comment on rumors or speculation, and the team is not for sale," the spokesperson said. "We've already said that will change at some point per Paul's wishes, but I have no news to share. Our focus right now is winning the Super Bowl and completing the sale of the Portland Trail Blazers in the coming months." The NFL declined to comment. The estate said in May that it started the process of selling the Trail Blazers. The team said in a statement at the time that it was "consistent with Allen's directive to eventually sell his sports holdings and direct all estate proceeds to philanthropy." A group led by Tom Dundon, owner of the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, agreed in August to buy the Trail Blazers at a reported valuation of approximately $4.25 billion. The sale is not yet complete. CNBC's 2025 NFL franchise valuations estimated the Seahawks were worth $… | |||
| 3299129336 | Einstein was out of reach, so the Nazis went after his family | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | BookWorld | C.4 | Final | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1200 | 1053 | ['Clare McHugh'] | ['Jewish people', 'Nazi era', 'War crimes', 'Massacres', 'Books'] | ['Italy', 'Switzerland', 'United States--US', 'Germany'] | ['Einstein, Albert (1879-1955)'] | [] | [] | [] | As the Allies battled their way up the Italian peninsula in the summer of 1944, behind German lines reprisal killings became sickeningly common. In answer to partisan attacks, Italian civilians - men, women and children - were shot by German soldiers "in cold blood, looking the innocent in the eyes," as one war crimes prosecutor later put it. To those who committed these atrocities, their victims - more than 2,000 - had no names. But one incident from that murderous period, described in Thomas Harding's new book, "The Einstein Vendetta," stands out, because the three people killed were targeted precisely on account of the name they bore. Harding tries, with missionary zeal, to uncover the facts of this crime. Best known for "The House by the Lake: One House, Five Families, and a Hundred Years of German History," a 2015 book about his grandmother's childhood home outside Berlin, the author has set himself a difficult task here. So much valuable information has been lost to time. Still, Harding skillfully and suspensefully recounts the events, their aftermath and the struggles of other earnest investigators over the decades to bring the perpetrators to justice. Albert Einstein, the renowned theoretical physicist, grew up in the 1880s in a household that included his first cousin, Robert, four years younger. Their fathers were brothers and partners in an electrical engineering business in Munich and later in Milan. Albert called Robert "Bubi," little boy. Whereas Albert studied in Switzerland and later settled in Berlin, Robert Einstein, trained as an engineer in Italy, married an Italian Christian woman named Nina Mazzetti, and they had two daughters. In 1937, Robert moved his family to the Villa Il Focardo, an elegant stucco house down a narrow lane, deep in the Tuscan countryside. As a Jew and a vocal critic of the Nazi party, Albert Einstein could no longer live in Germany after Adolf Hitler's takeover. Press reports revealed that the Nazis had placed a bounty, the equivalent of 1,000 British pounds, on the … | |||
| 3299129337 | Trump's 250-foot arch would dwarf Lincoln Memorial | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | A-Section | A.1 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1400 | 1292 | ['Dan Diamond', 'Hannah Dormido', 'Tim Meko'] | ['Design', 'Architecture', 'Presidents', 'Military cemeteries and funerals', 'Architects', 'Memorials & monuments', 'Construction'] | ['United States--US', 'Atlanta Georgia', 'Washington DC'] | ['Trump, Donald J'] | ['Arlington National Cemetery', 'Truth Social', 'Commission of Fine Arts'] | [] | [] | Monument proposed for nation's 250th Architectural experts worry about scale and location The White House stands about 70 feet tall. The Lincoln Memorial, roughly 100 feet. The triumphal arch President Donald Trump wants to build would eclipse both if he gets his wish. Trump has grown attached to the idea of a 250-foot-tall structure overlooking the Potomac River, according to two people who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe his comments, a scale that has alarmed some architectural experts who initially supported the idea of an arch but expected a far smaller one. The planned Independence Arch is intended to commemorate the United States' 250th anniversary. Built to Trump's specifications, it would transform a small plot of land between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery into a dominant new monument, reshaping the relationship between the two memorials and obstructing pedestrians' views. Trump has considered smaller versions of the arch, including 165-foot-high and 123-foot-high designs he shared at a dinner last year. But he has favored the largest option, arguing that its sheer size would impress visitors to Washington, and that "250 for 250" makes the most sense, the people said. Architectural experts counter that the size of the monument - installed in the center of a traffic circle - would distort the intent of the surrounding memorials. "I don't think an arch that large belongs there," said Catesby Leigh, an art critic who conceived of a more modest, temporary arch in a 2024 essay - an idea that his allies championed and brought to the White House. His allies also passed along Leigh's recommendation of an architect, Nicolas Leo Charbonneau, who has been retained by the White House to work on the project. Charbonneau did not respond to requests for comment. Asked about the arch's height, the White House on Saturday referred to the president's previous comments. "The one that people know mostly is the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. And we're gonna top it by, I thin… | |||
| 3299129338 | Where to go in 2026, without crowds | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Travel | F.1 | Final | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1300 | 2402 | ['Natalie B Compton', 'Hannah Sampson', 'Andrea Sachs'] | ['Tourism', 'Art galleries & museums'] | ['Portugal', 'Mexico', 'Wisconsin', 'United States--US', 'Dominica', 'Uruguay', 'Uzbekistan'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | More than 1.5 billion people traveled internationally last year, according to a United Nations estimate. Depending on where you went in 2025, it may have felt as if they were all right there with you. Paris, Tokyo, Mexico City, Barcelona? Amazing places - and all bursting with tourists. Perhaps this is the year to expand your horizons. John Montgomery, co-founder of Landed, a luxury travel company that plans custom trips in South and Central America and Antarctica, said his company is working with more customers who are seeking solitude this year. They're "looking for a place where they can think, where they can reconnect with nature," he said. They desire destinations where they can feel "the concept of awe." Maybe that's a quiet place to stargaze and ponder the universe. Maybe it's a boiling lake at the end of a rigorous hike or a world-renowned wine region on the other side of the globe. We asked industry experts for their favorite less-traveled destinations (and mined our own recent travels) to bring you inspiration for 2026. Flagstaff, Arizona Often part of a Grand Canyon game plan, this high-altitude city is worth its own pin. Especially this year, when Flagstaff celebrates 25 years as the first International Dark Sky City and the 100th anniversary of Route 66. A 14-mile section of the Mother Road runs through the city. A few vintage buildings are still standing, such as Motel Du Beau, which opened in 1929 and has retained such vintage features as motor court parking and "mountain air cooling," a fancy name for window fans. For nonmotorized activities, consider the world's largest ponderosa pine forest and the Flagstaff Urban Trails System, which will boast 130 miles of recreational pathways when completed. Several national monuments are within an hour's drive, including Sunset Crater Volcano, which last erupted less than 1,000 years ago, and the ancient pueblo of Wupatki. José Ignacio, Uruguay Tucked in a coastal pocket between Argentina and Brazil, Uruguay has long been a favorite vacation desti… | |||
| 3299129339 | Don Winslow is soft-spoken. His fiction smashes you in the teeth. | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | BookWorld | C.1 | Final | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1080 | 1988 | ['Travis M Andrews'] | ['Fiction', 'Criminal sentences', 'Writing', 'Novels', 'Books', 'Text messaging'] | ['California', 'United States--US', 'Rhode Island'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | Walk down the Otter Point Trail at the Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, and you'll emerge from a narrow path lined with trees to the edge of a coastal salt pond. At sunrise, your camera is ready to immortalize some water fowl, but you might be surprised to find all is quiet. You might think it's empty. You're wrong. You have to watch the edges. Ask crime writer Don Winslow. He often comes here at dawn, when the birds are active and most people are still in bed. "I can't tell you how many times I've come to a place like this and been like, yeah, there's nothing," Winslow said. "But then to have the discipline and patience to go ahead and glass it, to slowly glass the edge, and all of a sudden: 'Oh! There's a heron!'" Winslow built a life by watching the edges to see what others miss, even back when he was cobbling together a living to support his writing habit. It helped him spot the lies perps would tell when he worked as a private investigator in California and New York. It helped him as a safari guide for amateur wildlife photographers touring Kenya and western China. "Detail is critical when trying to put your clients in a position to take great photos," he said. "You want light in the animals' eyes." First, he said, you have to find the animals, which you do by searching for details in the biome. The clues are everywhere. "Looking for leopards, for instance," he says: Don't look for the big cat. Look for the type of tree they lounge in. "Then, look for the tail hanging down from a limb." Winslow learned to be still so birds and animals grew comfortable enough to reveal themselves. He learned to keep things moving so the tourists didn't get restless. "He's had a lot of different jobs, and he's seen a lot of life," said fellow crime writer Lou Berney. "He's seen it as a writer, even when he wasn't a writer." The skills port. Keep the story moving. But guide the reader's eyes to the interesting things they probably wouldn't see, the things you see only with the … | |||
| 3299129340 | Judge denies Minnesota's request to scale back ICE surge | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | A-Section | A.7 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1440 | 1067 | ['Mark Berman', 'Jeremy Roebuck'] | ['Immigration policy', 'Court hearings & proceedings', 'Attorneys general', 'Public safety', 'Cooperation', 'Racial profiling', 'Border patrol', 'Judges & magistrates'] | ['United States--US', 'Minnesota'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | The state argued that the agency's operations endangered public safety A judge on Saturday declined to order the Trump administration to immediately scale back its immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota, rejecting pleas from state officials who said the campaign was stepping on their sovereignty and endangering the public. Minnesota and the Twin Cities had not definitively shown that the administration's decision to flood the state with thousands of agents was unlawful or designed to force local officials into cooperating with the administration's objectives, U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez said in her ruling. Although Menendez acknowledged evidence that immigration agents had engaged in acts of racial profiling, excessive force and other disruptions in nearly all aspects of Minnesotans' lives, the judge stressed she was not tasked with ruling on any of those claims. Menendez said the Trump administration also had presented plausible arguments for the need for its enforcement operation, dubbed Operation Metro Surge. "The Court is particularly reluctant to take a side in the debate about the purpose behind Operation Metro Surge," she wrote. "Not only is it difficult to identify a single motivation for a significant multifaceted operation, but doing so would venture into a uniquely controversial political question." Although the judge did not grant a preliminary injunction to end the immigration crackdown, she noted in her 30-page opinion that she was not making a final determination on the state's claims until the lawsuit is heard fully. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D) also emphasized that the decision was not the last word in the case. "We're obviously disappointed in the court's ruling today, but this case is in its infancy and there is much legal road in front of us, so we're fighting on," Ellison said in a statement. "We're not letting up in defending our state's constitutional powers." The ruling is a setback for state and local officials who have sought an end to the mammoth federa… | |||
| 3299129341 | With six sidelined, Caps stage unlikely comeback | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Sports | B.1 | Suburban | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1070 | 1191 | ['Bailey Johnson'] | ['Professional hockey'] | ['United States--US', 'Detroit Michigan'] | ['Andersen, Frederik'] | ['Capital One Financial Corp'] | [] | [] | Capitals 4, Hurricanes 3 (OT) Washington 'just found a way' after trailing 3-0 Jakob Chychrun had a feeling. Though his Washington Capitals were trailing the Carolina Hurricanes by three goals and missing six players from their lineup Saturday, Chychrun had an intense belief Washington was going to find a way to win. Chychrun scored the tying goal with 6:42 left in the third period as the Capitals erased that three-goal deficit to force overtime. And in overtime, rookie forward Justin Sourdif scored the winner for Washington to beat Carolina, 4-3, at Capital One Arena and win back-to-back games for the first time since early December. "I just felt like we were playing so well," Chychrun said. "… We just had a great first, had a great second and just kept pushing. It's a heck of a job by [goaltender] Clay [Stevenson] to keep us in it, and [we] just found a way. It's just a really, really fun game to be a part of. That's what we needed." What was already going to be a difficult game for the Capitals - a matchup with the No. 1 team in the Metropolitan Division after they slogged through a 12-day, six-game road trip - became even more challenging as their injury list grew in recent days. They knew they would be without center Pierre-Luc Dubois, who has missed most of the season; goaltender Logan Thompson, who has an upper-body injury; and defenseman Matt Roy, who has a lower-body injury. Then forward Connor McMichael (week-to-week, upper body) and goaltender Charlie Lindgren (lower body) were injured in Thursday's 4-3 win in Detroit, and shortly before warmups Saturday, defenseman Martin Fehervary was ruled out for personal reasons. "We don't feel sorry for ourselves at any point," Chychrun said. "We just continue to push. Feels like we've had a lot of adversity throughout the year already, and they're all good learning moments for this group. We just continue to fight." Stevenson, who backed up Lindgren against Detroit and earned the starting role Saturday because of Lindgren's injury, made 19 saves on 22 … | |||
| 3299129342 | TV and radio listings | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Sports | B.2 | Suburban | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1440 | 619 | [] | ['Professional soccer', 'Women', 'College basketball', 'Professional basketball', 'Professional golf'] | ['Mexico', 'United States--US', 'Ohio', 'Illinois', 'Tennessee', 'Florida', 'Alabama', 'North Carolina', 'Michigan', 'Iowa', 'Oklahoma'] | [] | ['Ligue 1'] | [] | [] | NBA top16%3:30 p.m. top84% Milwaukee at BostonESPN top16%6 p.m. top84% Sacramento at WashingtonMonumental Sports Network, WJFK (106.7 FM) top16%7 p.m. top84% Los Angeles Lakers at New YorkWRC (Ch. 4), WBAL (Ch. 11) top16%9:30 p.m. top84% Oklahoma City at DenverWRC (Ch. 4), WBAL (Ch. 11) NHL top16%6:30 p.m. top84% Boston at Tampa BayESPN top16%9:30 p.m. top84% Vegas at AnaheimESPN Women's professional basketball top16%7:30 p.m. top84% Unrivaled: Phantom vs. Lunar OwlsTruTV top16%8:45 p.m. top84% Unrivaled: Breeze vs. RoseTruTV Men's college basketball top16%Noon top84% Rhode Island at DuquesneUSA Network top16%1 p.m. top84% Purdue at MarylandWUSA (Ch. 9), WJZ (Ch. 13), WTEM (980 AM) top16%1 p.m. top84% Alabama at FloridaWJLA (Ch. 7), WMAR (Ch. 2) top16%1 p.m. top84% Chattanooga at FurmanESPN2 top16%2 p.m. top84% Iowa State at Kansas StateWTTG (Ch. 5), WBFF (Ch. 45) top16%2 p.m. top84% TCU at ColoradoTNT top16%2 p.m. top84% Wichita State at TulsaESPNU top16%2 p.m. top84% Kansas City at St. ThomasCBS Sports Network top16%3 p.m. top84% Tulane at MemphisESPN2 top16%4 p.m. top84% Illinois at NebraskaFox Sports 1 top16%7 p.m. top84% East Tennessee State at WoffordCBS Sports Network top16%8 p.m. top84% Iowa at OregonFox Sports 1 Women's college basketball top16%Noon top84% Tennessee at ConnecticutWTTG (Ch. 5), WBFF (Ch. 45) top16%Noon top84% Wake Forest at DukeACC Network top16%Noon top84% Richmond at VCUESPNU top16%Noon top84% Alabama at LSUSEC Network top16%Noon top84% Michigan at Michigan StateFox Sports 1 top16%Noon top84% Ball State at Kent StateCBS Sports Network top16%1 p.m. top84% Baylor at West VirginiaESPN top16%1 p.m. top84% North Carolina Wilmington at William & MaryMASN top16%2 p.m. top84% George Washington at DaytonUSA Network top16%2 p.m. top84% Louisville at CaliforniaWDCW (Ch. 50), WNUV (Ch. 54) top16%2 p.m. top84% Boston College at Georgia TechACC Network top16%2 p.m. top84% Kentucky at ArkansasSEC Network top16%2 p.m. top84% North Carolina A&T at HamptonMonumental Sports Ne… | |||
| 3299129343 | Is building more homes enough to lower prices? Experts are still arguing. | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Business | B.10 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1210 | 1492 | ['Julie Z Weil'] | ['Regulation', 'Urban planning', 'Median', 'Books', 'Zoning', 'Homeowners', 'Housing prices', 'Supply & demand', 'Affordable housing'] | ['Montana', 'United States--US', 'Los Angeles California', 'San Francisco California'] | [] | ['London School of Economics & Political Science'] | [] | [] | For years, housing activists couldn't agree on what was driving prices higher, let alone how to fix it. The divide stems from two schools of thought: One side lays the blame on a lack of inventory. Build more housing - especially in dense, transit-accessible neighborhoods - and the laws of supply and demand will lower prices for everyone, goes the thinking of the YIMBY (Yes in My Back Yard) movement. On the flip side are the "supply skeptics," who tend to believe housing affordability calls for government policies, not just market forces. From city council hearings to the halls of academia, the debate raged for years. Then came 2020, and Americans raced to buy homes during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic. Prices shot up, pushing the U.S. median to $410,800, a 30 percent increase in five years, Federal Reserve data shows. Median prices go significantly higher in the West ($531,100) and Northeast ($796,700). Now even starter homes are increasingly out of reach. The political pressure to rein in housing costs has led to a wave of YIMBY legislative victories. Last year, 13 states passed laws peeling back regulations to remove barriers to home construction, according to the group Welcoming Neighbors Network. Dennis Shea, a housing expert at the Bipartisan Policy Center, says the YIMBYs have put the housing debate to rest. "They've won," he says flatly. Most Americans seem to agree, a YouGov survey found, with nearly 7 in 10 saying the amount of available housing contributes "a great deal" or "a fair amount" to the cost of housing. Nearly 6 in 10 also blame government regulation for housing costs. But supply skeptics like Michael Storper, an urban planning professor at UCLA and the London School of Economics, say there's enough home construction. "To put it bluntly, in America we haven't actually been underbuilding," said Storper, an urban planning professor at UCLA and the London School of Economics. "The problem is demand is now split in a very unequal society. The supply you get is the wrong kind… | |||
| 3299129745 | Economy's growth rests on some shaky pillars | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Business | B.9 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1210 | 933 | ['Abha Bhattarai', 'Alyssa Fowers'] | ['Gross Domestic Product--GDP', 'Consumer spending', 'Investments', 'Artificial intelligence', 'Unemployment', 'Economists', 'Economic growth', 'Securities markets', 'Pandemics', 'Labor market'] | ['United States--US'] | [] | ['Moodys Investors Service Inc'] | [] | [] | On paper, the economy is booming. Low unemployment, strong consumer spending and steady business investments have helped fuel the largest expansion in years. The U.S. economy grew at a robust annual rate of 4.4 percent in the most recent quarter, defying fears of an imminent slowdown. But economists caution that growth is increasingly concentrated. The result is a steady but fragile economy, built on a series of narrowing pillars. "There are one-legged stools everywhere you look and yet when you put it all together, we're still standing," said Diane Swonk, chief economist at KPMG, who began using the phrase last summer to describe the economy. "The question is, how long can we keep ourselves upright?" Here, in charts, are three pillars holding up the U.S. economy. The job market has been surprisingly sturdy, even in the face of high interest rates, changing economic policy and looming uncertainty. The unemployment rate, at 4.4 percent, is near historic lows. But the bulk of the job market's recent gains has come from one industry: health care. Health care and social assistance positions accounted for 97 percent of the 733,000 private-sector jobs created across the economy last year. Hospitals, doctor's offices and residential care facilities added hundreds of thousands of positions in 2025, helping make up for losses in manufacturing, transportation and white-collar professions such as advertising and computer science. "It's really impressive how much job growth has been driven by health care and social assistance," said Daniel Zhao, chief economist at careers site Glassdoor. "It's the last remaining pillar of growth." But having nearly all job growth concentrated in one sector is risky for the economy, he added. It'd be much better if gains were spread across a variety of industries, especially given that health care hiring has slowed in recent months. Employers added an average 421,000 health care and social assistance jobs a month in the first half of 2025; in the second half, that figure fell to 363,000.… | |||
| 3299129746 | Trump calls for Grand Prix-like race around D.C. landmarks | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Metro | B.14 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1410 | 631 | ['Jenny Gathright'] | ['Automobile racing', 'Executive orders', 'Birthdays', 'National parks'] | ['United States--US'] | ['Trump, Donald J'] | ['US Capitol'] | [] | [] | An IndyCar Grand Prix race could be coming to the streets of D.C. in August, President Donald Trump announced in an executive order he signed Friday. Trump's "Freedom 250 Grand Prix" would coincide with the massive celebration his administration is planning for the nation's 250th birthday. As part of the slate of events - which so far includes a fair, a competitive youth athletic event and a UFC fight on the grounds of the White House - cars would speed around areas near the District's monuments in a yet-to-be-determined route, Trump's order said. "This race, the first motor race ever to be held in our Nation's capital near the National Mall, will showcase the majesty of our great city as drivers navigate a track around our iconic national monuments in celebration of America's 250th birthday," the executive order reads. The event will be held Aug. 21 to 23, according to a news release from the Department of Transportation - presenting Trump and local D.C. officials with about seven months to organize the event and navigate regulations related to advertising on federal lands. Trump's order said that within two weeks, Doug Burgum and Sean P. Duffy, the secretaries of the interior and transportation, respectively, should determine a suitable route through the nation's capital. It also instructs the secretaries to ensure that necessary approvals are granted "as expeditiously as possible." The executive order said the government may need to take steps to make sure that drones and other forms of aerial photography can be used around the events without compromising government facilities nearby; the District's airspace is highly regulated. Trump has also instructed his Cabinet members to coordinate with D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D), who was enthusiastic about the prospect at an unrelated news conference Friday. "We love it. We absolutely love it," said Bowser, who said she was briefed on the event a few weeks ago. Bowser has long emphasized sports as key to her economic strategy for the city - a reputation she … | |||
| 3299129747 | Why deporting 'worst of the worst' isn't a good idea for one family | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | A-Section | A.2 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1300 | 1064 | ['Karen Tumulty'] | ['Prison overcrowding', 'Immigration policy', 'Criminal sentences', 'Deportation', 'Murders & murder attempts', 'Imprisonment', 'Immigrants', 'Families & family life', 'Criminals', 'Convictions'] | ['Mexico', 'United States--US', 'Minnesota'] | ['Trump, Donald J'] | ['US Immigration & Customs Enforcement'] | [] | [] | On April 20, 1999, the nation's attention was fixed on a shooting massacre that occurred at Columbine High School near Littleton, Colorado, killing 12 students and one teacher. That same day, in the small southern Minnesota town of Waseca, another horror was unfolding: Jayme Larson, 16, returned home from school to find the body of her 12-year-old sister, Cally Jo, stabbed, sexually assaulted and left hanging in the stairwell of their bungalow. It took police nearly a year to find the man who would be convicted. He turned out to be Lorenzo Bahena Sanchez, a Mexican citizen in the United States illegally who is now serving a life sentence in Minnesota Correctional Facility-Stillwater. The soonest he could be released on parole is 2030. The review process will begin in early 2027, and Cally's family has vowed to fight every step of the way. Cally's loved ones now have a new terror: Under the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement effort, Sanchez might be turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, deported and sent elsewhere, perhaps to his native Mexico, where he might walk free. Last week, Jayme's husband, Chad, sent a frantic, anguished email to state officials, including Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minnesota Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell and his two U.S. senators. (The couple spoke on the condition that neither their last name nor their location be used.) "We do not care if he was born here or born in Mexico, he committed a crime here. He needs to finish his sentence here - where we know exactly where he is and we know that he won't hurt anyone else," Chad wrote Tuesday. "We want him to take his last breath in a Minnesota prison. When he is up for parole in about a year, we will be there demanding he remain in prison. Until that time, we are seeking confirmation that he will never be turned over to ICE for deportation." President Donald Trump has repeatedly pledged to deport the "worst of the worst" immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally, calling out rapists, m… | |||
| 3299129748 | A divorce memoir with a mystery at its center: Why did he leave? | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | BookWorld | C.2 | Final | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1080 | 1056 | ['Jennifer Reese'] | ['Autobiographies', 'Marriage', 'Hedge funds', 'Divorce'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | I didn't expect to relish "Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage," the surprise bestseller by first-time author Belle Burden. A Harvard-educated heiress descended from Vanderbilts, Burden didn't seem relatable, nor was I keen to dive into a saga of wounding midlife divorce, having observed too many of these in real life. I picked the book up doubtfully, tore through it feverishly and have been thinking about it ever since. "Strangers" turns out to be a hypnotic nail-biter, unfolding like a true-crime novel, though not a drop of blood is shed, and no laws are broken. The circumstances of Burden's divorce were peculiar and profoundly mysterious, and she writes about the experience with grace and candor. But what gives the story its chilly resonance in 2026 are the undercurrents of brittle masculine entitlement, meanness and greed. In March 2020, Burden and her husband, James (a pseudonym), fled covid-ravaged Manhattan for the safety of their secluded vacation home on Martha's Vineyard. They brought their two daughters, 12 and 15, while their son, 17, quarantined with friends. All seemed enviably snug. Burden deftly grounds her story in details that evoke moods ranging from smug complacency to blistering humiliation. James cuts firewood and mixes whiskey sours, appearing "proud of his role as father and husband, nurturing us, protecting us." A week into their stay, James roasts a chicken "using our outdoor grill as an oven, standing on our deck in the dark, adjusting the knobs, making sure the temperature stayed at four hundred degrees. It came out perfectly: moist and golden brown." Later, as Burden mops the kitchen, a stranger leaves a message on her phone: James is having an affair with his wife. In the immediate aftermath, James assured Burden that the dalliance meant nothing. Listening to his avowals, she experienced a creeping sense of shame, newly aware of "my matronly pajamas and my socks, an oil stain from dinner on the thin cotton of my pajama pants." This is how Burden wins you over: You quietly begrudged he… | |||
| 3299129749 | Why the pope is right to weigh in on AI | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | Commentary | Editorial-Opinion | A.17 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1360 | 850 | ['Nuno Castel-Branco'] | ['Popes', 'Science', 'Artificial intelligence', 'Christianity', 'Industrial Revolution', 'Diplomatic & consular services'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | Earlier this month, Pope Leo XIV addressed the Holy See Diplomatic Corps, as is customary at the beginning of every year, where he warned of the danger of pairing artificial intelligence with nuclear weapons. It is a warning that speaks to the broader and ongoing debate regarding AI and its potential. As the pope put it, artificial intelligence "is a tool that requires appropriate and ethical management." Yet, tech titans Elon Musk and Sam Altman's increasing permissiveness toward immoral sexualized uses of AI and President Donald Trump's executive order to curtail the ability of states to regulate this technology run directly against this calling. Most of the AI debate is about whether it will achieve some of its early promises. But as these cases show, and the pope suggests, the debate should also focus on what it shouldn't achieve. Leo's intervention is a reminder that the papacy has often been a dual force that promotes innovation and tempers it with moral principles when necessary. I still remember learning in my early years as a graduate student in the history of science about the impressive engineering project that placed an Egyptian obelisk at the center of St. Peter's Square, and which today serves as the pointer of a giant sundial. At the core of this Renaissance enterprise was the promotion not only of technology, but also of Egyptian knowledge and culture. In the past millennium, popes have regularly promoted ideas drawn from outside Christianity and adapted them to their needs and faith. Just as today's AI research emerged from the secular, non-Christian culture of Silicon Valley, so too Hindu-Arabic numerals came to Europe a thousand years ago after Pope Sylvester II studied them in Islamic Iberia. Perhaps the most famous case is that of Nicolaus Copernicus who dedicated his groundbreaking theory placing the sun at the center of the universe to Pope Paul III. True, papal intervention in science has sometimes been too strong, especially if you think of the Galileo affair. Yet, as I teach my stud… | |||
| 3299129750 | Literary Calendar Feb. 1-7 | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | BookWorld | C.4 | Final | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1000 | 481 | [] | ['Libraries', 'Book clubs'] | ['United States--US', 'Washington DC'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | 1 SUNDAY | 2 P.M. Francene Hill discusses "Tiny Tots in Tiaras and Tuxedos" and Linda R. Moore discusses "Reaching for Resilience" at the Olney Public Library, 3500 Olney Laytonsville Rd., Olney. 240-773-9545. 2 P.M. Ashanté M. Reese discusses "Black Food Geographies: Race, Self-Reliance, and Food Access in Washington, D.C." at the Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St., Arlington. 703-228-5990. 5 P.M. Cheryl W. Thompson discusses "Forgotten Souls: The Search for the Lost Tuskegee Airmen" with Leonard Downie at Politics and Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW. 202-364-1919. 5 P.M. Jay Martel 's "Codebreaker" is discussed at Wonderland Books' Teen Book Club at Wonderland Books, 7920B Norfolk Ave., Bethesda. 301-347-7136. 2 MONDAY | 6 P.M. Clay Cane discusses "Burn Down Master's House" with Ibram X. Kendi at the Arlington Central Library. 7 P.M. John Sayles discusses "Crucible" at Politics and Prose. 7 P.M. Rachel Gillig 's "The Knight and the Moth" is discussed at Wonderland Books' Romantasy Book Club at Wonderland Books. 3 TUESDAY | 7 P.M. Tammye Huf discusses "Inharmonious" at One More Page Books, 2200 N. Westmoreland St., Arlington. 703-300-9746. 7 P.M. Kwame Alexander discusses "The Mighty Macy" at Wonderland Books. 7 P.M. Lily Meyer discusses "The End of Romance" at Politics and Prose. 4 WEDNESDAY | 6:30 P.M. Mychal Threets presents "I'm So Happy You're Here: A Celebration of Library Joy" at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW. 202-727-0321. 7 P.M. Jon Ralston discusses "The Game Changer: How Harry Reid Remade the Rules and Showed Democrats How to Fight" at Politics and Prose at the Wharf, 610 Water St. SW. 202-488-3867. 7 P.M. Jeffrey L. Katz discusses "Unsettled Ground: Reflections on Germany's Attempts to Make Amends" at Wonderland Books. 7 P.M. Brooke N. Newman discusses "The Crown's Silence: The Hidden History of the British Monarchy and Slaver2y in the Americas" with Cassandra Good at Politics and Prose. 5 THURSDAY | 6 P.M. Kwame Alexander discusses "The Mighty Mac… | |||
| 3299129751 | While some towns depend on wildlife, others can barely bear it | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Arts | E.2 | Final | INPARK CITY, UTAH | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1260 | 1087 | ['Jada Yuan'] | ['Polar bears', 'Helicopters', 'Theater', 'Audiences', 'Documentary films', 'Tranquilizers', 'Motion picture festivals', 'Wildlife conservation', 'Inuit'] | ['Manitoba Canada', 'Canada'] | [] | ['Inuit Tribe'] | [] | [] | In the snowy subarctic wilds of northern Manitoba, the Inuit have a word for polar bears who've lost their fear of being around humans: avinnaarjuk, or "nuisance bear." That's a rather sweet name for a hypercarnivorous, unpredictable apex predator that can weigh 1,500 pounds and outrun or outswim any human. But the documentary "Nuisance Bear," which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, thrusts us so thoroughly into the bears' perspective that it turns the whole notion of who is predator and who is prey completely on its head. This is no typical nature documentary. It's an edge-of-your-seat thriller from A24 that plays out like "The Fugitive," as the bears are chased by humans who want to capture or kill them. Then, as we switch to the perspective of the Inuit fighting off the growing horde of polar bears invading their streets, it starts to feel, thrillingly, like a zombie movie. It produced the kind of audience reactions usually reserved for midnight horror films, with the entire theater shouting commands to the screen or cheering in unison. (It's still seeking distribution.) Canadian directors Jack Weisman and Gabriela Osio Vanden essentially have been making this movie since 2015. That's when they started taking their cameras to Churchill, Manitoba, a town that used to house a military base, with a mixed Inuit and White population of roughly 870 people. It's known, at least in ecotourism marketing, as the "Polar Bear Capital of the World." The Sundance film is an extension of a wordless, widely viewed 14-minute documentary short from 2022. While more than half of the feature's 86 minutes are spent immersed with bears, it also adds the perspectives of two human communities with opposite views on how to combat what they see as a growing polar bear menace. In Churchill, polar bear tourism is the economic lifeblood, and a vigilant "bear patrol" guards over the town's border with big trucks, helicopters and tranquilizer guns. In Arviat, an Inuit community 160 miles to the north, the population is being bes… | ||
| 3299129752 | Airplane food doesn't have to be terrible. These standout meals prove it. | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Travel | F.2 | Final | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1220 | 1091 | ['Hannah Sampson'] | ['Rice', 'Beef', 'Meals', 'Seafood', 'Food', 'Airlines'] | ['Qatar', 'Japan'] | [] | ['Ethiopian Airlines', 'Qatar Airways', 'All Nippon Airways Co Ltd', 'Air France', 'Japan Airlines Corp'] | [] | [] | In the photo, the tray table meal was supposed to be first class, but the traveler who received it called it a "bowl of sadness." Shiny layers of meat, squares of cheese and a bruised whole tomato are visible in the X post that has more than 15 million views since it was posted Jan. 4. The robust response included commenters sharing photos of their own sad airline meals. A few compared the food to the famously paltry offerings at Fyre Festival. Many suggested flying private or a BYO meal approach. For a select few, it was an opportunity to do a little bragging. "Caviar service is always on point" on Lufthansa, one person wrote. Turkish Airlines, Emirates, KLM, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines all got shout-outs with photos of multiple courses and beautiful spreads. Aside from a Delta Shake Shack burger here and there, the praise was almost entirely heaped on airlines based outside the United States. Proving that airline food doesn't always have to be the butt of a joke - or bane of a flight - travel experts shared some of the most memorable meals they've had in the air. Bibimbap on Korean Air Rani Cheema, a former culinary travel specialist who now focuses on creative retreats, loves the bibimbap - a mix of rice, beef and vegetables - in economy class on Korean Air. "There was a flight where I ate bibimbap for dinner and woke up and ate it for breakfast," she said in an email. The dish comes with a tube of gochujang, which Cheema said she couldn't eat because of an allergy. But friends asked her to collect the condiment for them because the version the airline used was so good. She said she upgraded herself to business class on Korean Air but doesn't even remember that meal. She still remembers how amazed she was at the bibimbap. "Must have been one of the most surprising meals on a flight I've ever had," she said. Vegetable soups on Virgin Atlantic It was a chilly day last March when Madison Blancaflor, managing editor at the Points Guy, boarded her Virgin Atlantic flight from London to New York… | |||
| 3299129753 | SPORTS ROUNDUP | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Sports | B.2 | Suburban | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1300 | 1100 | [] | ['Tournaments & championships', 'Stadiums', 'Women', 'Professional basketball', 'Professional golf'] | ['Maryland', 'Pittsburgh Pennsylvania', 'Los Angeles California', 'United States--US', 'Virginia', 'Oregon', 'Japan'] | [] | ['National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing'] | [] | [] | colleges Maryland women lose fourth straight contest Ehis Etute had a career-high 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Oregon in a 68-61 win over No. 16 Maryland in a women's basketball game Saturday night at Xfinity Center. The Ducks (17-7, 5-6 Big Ten) pulled ahead off an 11-0 run in the fourth quarter. A ddi Mack made a layup and hit two free throws to get the Terrapins (17-6, 5-6) within two with 27 seconds remaining, but Oregon made 5 of 6 free throws to seal the win. Maryland finished the first half with a 14-0 run to lead 36-30. Oluchi Okananwa was 11-for-17 shooting and scored 27 points, 23 in the first half. Mack added 17. The loss is Maryland's fourth straight. … In other area women's games, Howard beat Norfolk State, 68-59, at Burr Gymnasium; American beat host Lafayette, 70-60; James Madison beat South Alabama, 88-52, in Harrisonburg; George Mason beat Saint Louis, 66-51, at EagleBank Arena; and Navy won at Loyola Maryland, 68-62. … Vincent Iwuchukwu and KJ Lewis scored 17 points each in the Georgetown men's basketball team's 77-64 win against Butler in Indianapolis. Iwuchukwu added six rebounds for the Hoyas (12-10, 4-7 Big East) against the Bulldogs (13-9, 4-7). Lewis was 5 for 9 from the field, including 3 for 5 from three-point range, and added three steals. Malik Mack had 14 points for Georgetown. … Thijs De Ridder had 17 points, Malik Thomas added 14 points, and No. 17 Virginia (18-3, 7-2 ACC) held off host Boston College (9-12, 2-6) for a 73-66 victory. … Cameron Boozer finished with 24 points to lead No. 4 Duke (20-1, 9-0 ACC) to a 72-58 win over Virginia Tech in Blacksburg for its 31st win in its past 32 ACC games. Amani Hansberry had 20 points for the Hokies (16-7, 5-5). … In other area men's games, American lost, 67-65, to Lafayette on a last-second layup at Bender Arena; George Washington lost, 79-65, to Fordham at Smith Center; James Madison lost at Southern Mississippi, 73-65; Howard won, 66-49, at Norfolk State; George Mason won at St. Bonaventure, 77-73; Navy defeated Loyola… | |||
| 3299129754 | Israeli airstrikes kill 32 in Gaza Strip, enclave officials say | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | A-Section | A.15 | Regional | JERUSALEM - | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1490 | 436 | ['Gerry Shih', 'Siham Shamalakh', 'Lior Soroka'] | ['Militancy', 'Military air strikes', 'Truces & cease fires', 'Civil defense'] | ['Gaza Strip', 'Israel', 'Egypt'] | [] | ['Hamas'] | [] | [] | Attack precedes opening of border crossing agreed to by Netanyahu in truce JERUSALEM - Airstrikes killed at least 32 people in the Gaza Strip late Friday into Saturday, according to hospital and emergency response officials in the enclave, as Israel launched what it said were extensive strikes targeting Hamas militants and weapons sites. It was one of the bloodiest nights in Gaza since the Israel-Hamas ceasefire brokered by President Donald Trump in October, as the peace process enters its precarious second phase. Israel is due to open the key Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Sunday and begin allowing the limited entry and exit of people - a concession made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under pressure from Trump. Egypt, a mediator in the conflict, condemned the strikes as the latest of Israel's "repeated violations" of the ceasefire. An Israeli security official said Hamas had provoked Israel with "blatant violations" of the ceasefire by sending eight militants out of a tunnel in Rafah the previous night. Israel also struck weapons storage, manufacturing and launch sites in Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement. The Gaza Civil Defense emergency response team and hospital officials said Israel struck a tent in Khan Younis that housed the Abu Hadayed family, killing seven people; a residential building in the al-Nasr neighborhood west of Gaza City; and a police station in Gaza City's Sheikh Redwan area. The majority of the 32 dead as of Saturday afternoon were women and children, according to Gaza Civil Defense spokesman Mahmoud Bassal. The Israeli military has killed 509 Gazans and injured more than 1,400 since the ceasefire took effect Oct. 11, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The Israeli campaign has killed more than 71,000 people in the enclave since October 2023, according to the ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. The Israeli government launched the campaign after Hamas led an assault on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and took … | ||
| 3299129755 | China's efforts to boost births have failed. Is coercion next? | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | A-Section | A.14 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1350 | 1261 | ['Simon Elegant'] | ['Birth rate', 'Feminism', 'Population', 'Cooling', 'Family planning', 'Marriage', 'Demographics', 'Maternity & paternity leaves', 'Divorce', 'International relations', 'Political parties', 'Fertility', 'Children & youth', 'Women', 'Abortion', 'Babies'] | ['Beijing China', 'China'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | Women may hold up half the sky, as Chinese Communist Party founder Mao Zedong once famously declared, but these days they must do so while also holding a baby - or preferably three - in their arms at the same time. Since the end of the disastrous "one child policy" a decade ago, Chinese authorities have tried with increasing desperation to boost the country's birth rate: They allowed families to have two children. Then three. They encouraged people to get married, and made it harder to get divorced. They've offered tax incentives to have babies and financial support for raising them. When these efforts failed, the authorities moved to more punitive measures like taxing condoms and making it harder to get abortions and vasectomies. Family planning officials - once responsible for keeping birth numbers low - intrusively call women of childbearing age every month to ask why they're not pregnant yet. Beijing's abject failure to boost the birth rate was underscored last month when official data showed only 7.9 million babies were born in China last year, down 17 percent from 2024, falling to the lowest level since Mao established the People's Republic of China in 1949. The issue risks turning into an existential crisis for Beijing, which sees a growing economy with a large workforce as critical to enabling China to realize leader Xi Jinping's vision to eclipse the United States as a superpower. The unfolding demographic crash is on course to slash China's working-age population as the overall population ages, straining the health care and pension systems. Now, experts are worried that Chinese authorities may be tempted to return to their former habits and use the machinery of the state to bludgeon demographic trends to their will. China's large population-planning bureaucracy is "currently being repurposed in the service of the state's new pronatalist goals," said Carl Minzner, a senior fellow in China studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. "Party authorities are steering China back to an earlier, more pa… | |||
| 3299129756 | S.C. measles outbreak nation's worst in a quarter-century | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | A-Section | A.1 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1310 | 1797 | ['Lena H Sun'] | ['Vaccines', 'Students', 'Epidemics', 'Religious exemptions', 'Quarantine', 'Measles', 'Families & family life', 'Public health', 'Childhood', 'Infections', 'Viruses', 'Children & youth', 'Immunization', 'Adults'] | ['South Carolina', 'Texas', 'United States--US', 'Spartanburg County South Carolina'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | South Carolina is battling the country's largest measles outbreak since the disease was eliminated from the United States more than a quarter-century ago, with more than 840 cases overwhelmingly in unvaccinated children and adults. The outbreak that started in October has taken hold in the Spartanburg area where vaccination coverage has fallen below levels needed to stop transmission. Vaccination rates for measles have slipped nationwide, as religious exemptions to school immunization mandates rise and clusters of susceptible people allow the highly contagious virus to spread. In 16 weeks, South Carolina infections surpassed the case count over seven months in Texas, where an outbreak last year drove the country's highest annual measles tally in 33 years. "This is a milestone that we have reached in a relatively short period of time, very unfortunately," South Carolina's state epidemiologist, Linda Bell, recently told reporters in a briefing. In South Carolina, 19 adults and children have been hospitalized for measles, which can cause fatal pneumonia, long-term complications and damage the immune system, leaving the person vulnerable to other diseases. More than 440 unvaccinated people in South Carolina, many of them schoolchildren, are being told to stay home in quarantine for up to 21 days after being exposed because they weren't immunized and have been exposed to someone contagious. Unlike the rural swath of West Texas struck by measles nearly a year ago, Bell said South Carolina is susceptible to sustained transmission because of a dense, relatively under-vaccinated population. South Carolina has already seeded cases across the country, including some in neighboring North Carolina, which has reported 15 cases. In Washington state, three members of a South Carolina family visited King and Snohomish counties while infectious, leading to three cases there. Across the United States, more than 500 measles cases have been reported in January, primarily driven by South Carolina's outbreak, compared with more … | |||
| 3299129757 | Nick Reiner's life | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Arts | E.1 | Final | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1170 | 4692 | ['Amy Kaufman'] | ['Thanksgiving', 'Cocaine', 'Parents & parenting', 'Heroin', 'Shootings', 'Addictions', 'Drug abuse', 'Childhood'] | ['Los Angeles California', 'United States--US', 'Maine'] | ['Fonda, Henry', 'Reiner, Rob'] | [] | [] | [] | by Amy Kaufmann Rob Reiner lifted a turkey leg and asked those gathered around the Thanksgiving table to partake in a holiday tradition. The guests would pass the meat to one another, each taking a turn sharing what they were grateful for. Nick Reiner, Rob's son, was seated next to his father. It was 2018, and Nick was living in the guesthouse on his parents' $13.5-million compound in Brentwood, where the garden was filled with roses planted by the home's original owner, Henry Fonda. Unemployed at 25, Nick had spent a decade bouncing between this gated enclave and at least 18 rehab facilities paid for by his parents, Rob and Michele Singer Reiner. He struggled to kick his addictions to the substances he began experimenting with as a teenager. He has told stories on an addiction podcast about going to downtown Los Angeles's Skid Row to procure heroin and shooting crack cocaine in a McDonald's bathroom in Maine. But after each bout of degeneracy or failed treatment, he always seemed to end up back here, with his parents. For as much as he resisted their interventions, Nick had become accustomed to the trappings of his privileged upbringing. Unlike at rehab, he had a staff to tidy up for him at home. He was so attached to his private quarters that he once demanded the family's housekeeper retrieve him from a friend's house across town so he could use his own bathroom, a childhood friend recalled. Tensions were high that Thanksgiving, according to a guest who attended the meal with roughly 20 others. This person saw signs that Nick might be using again - using air freshener to cover smells in the billiard room, "screaming, yelling, cursing," throwing tantrums so violent one longtime household employee threatened to quit. As the turkey leg made its way around the personalized place settings and professional flower arrangements, guests and family waxed rhapsodic about the bountiful blessings in their lives. Then it was Nick's turn. "Well, I'm certainly not grateful for this fucking food, and I'm not grateful for… | |||
| 3299129758 | privilege, pills and pain | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Arts | E.1 | Final | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1170 | 4692 | ['Amy Kaufman'] | ['Thanksgiving', 'Cocaine', 'Parents & parenting', 'Heroin', 'Shootings', 'Addictions', 'Drug abuse', 'Childhood'] | ['Los Angeles California', 'United States--US', 'Maine'] | ['Fonda, Henry', 'Reiner, Rob'] | [] | [] | [] | by Amy Kaufmann Rob Reiner lifted a turkey leg and asked those gathered around the Thanksgiving table to partake in a holiday tradition. The guests would pass the meat to one another, each taking a turn sharing what they were grateful for. Nick Reiner, Rob's son, was seated next to his father. It was 2018, and Nick was living in the guesthouse on his parents' $13.5-million compound in Brentwood, where the garden was filled with roses planted by the home's original owner, Henry Fonda. Unemployed at 25, Nick had spent a decade bouncing between this gated enclave and at least 18 rehab facilities paid for by his parents, Rob and Michele Singer Reiner. He struggled to kick his addictions to the substances he began experimenting with as a teenager. He has told stories on an addiction podcast about going to downtown Los Angeles's Skid Row to procure heroin and shooting crack cocaine in a McDonald's bathroom in Maine. But after each bout of degeneracy or failed treatment, he always seemed to end up back here, with his parents. For as much as he resisted their interventions, Nick had become accustomed to the trappings of his privileged upbringing. Unlike at rehab, he had a staff to tidy up for him at home. He was so attached to his private quarters that he once demanded the family's housekeeper retrieve him from a friend's house across town so he could use his own bathroom, a childhood friend recalled. Tensions were high that Thanksgiving, according to a guest who attended the meal with roughly 20 others. This person saw signs that Nick might be using again - using air freshener to cover smells in the billiard room, "screaming, yelling, cursing," throwing tantrums so violent one longtime household employee threatened to quit. As the turkey leg made its way around the personalized place settings and professional flower arrangements, guests and family waxed rhapsodic about the bountiful blessings in their lives. Then it was Nick's turn. "Well, I'm certainly not grateful for this fucking food, and I'm not grateful for… | |||
| 3299129759 | Violent crime in D.C. is dropping | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Metro | B.14 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1330 | 1356 | ['Emma Uber', 'Peter Hermann'] | ['Shootings', 'Councils', 'Gun violence', 'Law enforcement', 'Vending machines', 'Robbery', 'Firearm laws & regulations', 'Murders & murder attempts', 'Violent crime', 'Cities', 'Pandemics', 'Immigration', 'COVID-19'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | Only one homicide so far in 2026 Varied reasons for fall, but mirrors national shift Four minutes after midnight on Jan. 21, D.C. police raced to a deadly shooting inside a residence in Northeast Washington. The high school student they found inside the gray-bricked rowhouse on Varnum Street was the District's first homicide victim of 2026, ending a three-week respite from deadly violence. As of Friday, 18-year-old Malik Delonte Moore was the only person killed in D.C. in January. It capped a remarkable period of calm for a city entering its third year recovering from a generational crime spike that in 2023 thrust the nation's capital into the top tier of the country's deadliest urban centers. D.C. hadn't started a year with more than 10 days without a slaying in three decades. By this time last year, there had been nine homicides in the city. Carjackings have also plummeted, dropping fivefold compared with the first month of last year and tenfold compared to 2024. "It's a testament to the work the members of the Metropolitan Police Department have been doing," interim D.C. police chief Jeffery Carroll said in an interview. "Those are people's families that don't have to deal with a loved one who's no longer here." And to Moore's family, he pledged police are "going to do everything we can to try to solve and bring to justice the person who killed Malik." Violent and property crimes in the District have largely fallen to or below pre-pandemic levels, police statistics for January show. Those include homicides, robberies, carjackings, burglaries and vehicular thefts. Assaults with dangerous weapons, which include nonfatal shootings, are the lone crime category up this month, although they are still lower than in the years immediately after covid struck in 2020. Crime spiked in cities across the country during pandemic-induced shutdowns that upended routines and jobs and shattered the social safety net. Reasons for the crime drop are complex, and just as authorities and politicians spread blame when crime sp… | |||
| 3299129760 | Clearing the 'snowcrete' | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Metro | B.20 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1160 | 1532 | ['Brittany Shammas', 'Michael Laris', 'Ruby Mellen'] | ['Walkways', 'National parks', 'Ice', 'School districts'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | Cindy Sherman didn't want to take her chances on city plows making their way to her block, a tidy cul-de-sac dotted with colonial houses on the D.C. side of Chevy Chase. So after a monster storm left the Washington region encased in ice-crusted snow, she sent an email to her neighbors: would anyone want to go in on hiring a private snowplow? The price she was initially quoted - $1,500 for the stretch of road bounded by 44 houses - struck her as steep. But as a 28-year resident, Sherman knew from experience that the little street would be low on the city's list of priorities. And she wanted to see her grandchildren. Maybe her neighbors, who had doctor's appointments and work to get to, would want to chip in. Sure enough, 10 responses hit Sherman's inbox within about a half hour. Others followed, bringing the price to a more reasonable level. It wasn't long before a snowplow was rumbling down the street, clearing the layer of snow and ice until, by Monday night, the pavement shone through again. Later, when an advisory neighborhood commissioner noted in an update to residents that Stuyvesant Place NW had amazingly been plowed even as other streets were thick with snow, Sherman felt compelled to set the record straight. "I thought, 'I am not letting the city take credit for this one,'" she said in an interview. "I emailed her back and said, 'I'm going to solve your mystery for you. We hired a private company to do it.'" As mounds of stubborn snow remained on some residential streets, across national park land and piled on sidewalks that businesses or homeowners had neglected to clear, and around some Metro stops, many Washingtonians found their own ways of digging out, whether through charity, camaraderie or commerce. Across the region, scenes played out of people taking their shovels to carve out pathways, banding together to push out stuck cars, sharing tips on the right equipment for the "snowcrete" - pickaxes, pitchforks, metal shovels and hammers, reported commenters on one Reddit thread - and helping each… | |||
| 3299129761 | What's good - and scary - about Google's quest to personalize its AI tools | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Business | B.9 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1190 | 1049 | ['Geoffrey A Fowler'] | ['Personal information', 'Artificial intelligence', 'Privacy', 'Chatbots'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | Google's artificial intelligence now wants to access your Gmail, photo library and search history. Should you let it? That's a new privacy decision you'll need to make if you use Google's increasingly popular Gemini chatbot and AI Mode web search. Last month, the company introduced a tech in beta called Personal Intelligence that promises to deliver smarter tailored responses, once it's allowed to ingest some of your most intimate data. It's off by default, but raises some privacy issues we've not had to deal with before. My advice: It's worth experimenting with Personal Intelligence if you find Gemini or AI Mode useful. But I wouldn't leave it turned on permanently. Let me explain what's to like - and what to be wary of. But first, why is this happening? Personalization is a big focus right now for AI companies. You might have noticed ChatGPT, Claude and Meta AI using your chat histories or a "memory" file they build about you to tailor responses. Their goal is to make their bots more useful, and also (in some cases) to fuel targeted advertising businesses. This means AI companies are gathering a lot more data, and sometimes their tailored answers can veer into creepy sensitive topics. In December, I wrote a guide to the broader AI privacy settings you should adjust, so look for that article if you want tips. What to like about Personal Intelligence If Gemini helps you keep up with life and work, giving it access to what Google already knows about you makes some sense. Once you turn it on, Personal Intelligence can tap into the contents of your Gmail, Google Photos, past Search queries and YouTube history when you ask it a question. That means it can use your data to inform its "reasoning," better understanding your personal context and surfacing personal insights in its answers without you having to tell it where to look. For example, after switching on Personal Intelligence, I tried asking: "When should I make my next appointment for a haircut?" After thinking for a few seconds, Gemini found records of… | |||
| 3299129762 | I've reported on UFO sightings for decades - and come to this conclusion | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | Commentary | Editorial-Opinion | A.17 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1480 | 938 | ['Michael Shermer'] | ['Aircraft', 'Venus', 'Meteors & meteorites', 'Extraterrestrial life', 'Books', 'Armed forces', 'Religiosity'] | ['United States--US'] | [] | ['Department of Defense', 'National Aeronautics & Space Administration--NASA'] | [] | [] | On Jan. 13, Vermont legislator Troy Headrick (I) proposed creating a state task force that would get to the bottom of "unidentified anomalous phenomena," or UAPs, that appeared to be buzzing about U.S. military air bases. Days later, Helen McCaw, a former senior analyst in financial security at the Bank of England, urged the bank's governor to prepare for possible financial collapse should the White House disclose the existence of alien intelligence. I have been following and writing about UFO phenomena and the people who believe they represent alien visitation since the 1990s, and until recently the topic was always largely treated by the public and media as fringe and beneath serious consideration. That began to change in 2017, when the New York Times published a front-page story about the Pentagon having established the secret Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program to learn what was really going on with all these sightings, many of which happened over military facilities. Since then there have been congressional hearings involving, not tinfoil-hat-wearing kooks, but - for example - former Navy pilots David Fravor and Ryan Graves and government intelligence employees Luis Elizondo and David Grusch, who told Congress and millions of online viewers that the U.S. government was covering up evidence of alien visitation. The UAP initialism, gradually adopted by the Pentagon around 2020, signifies the subject's transformation into the official conversation. All of this was packaged into a documentary released last year by the noted filmmaker Dan Farah, "The Age of Disclosure," which has been widely reviewed in mainstream media and discussed not only on popular podcasts with UFO enthusiasts but at the highest levels of government, including by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Before we consider how this happened, let me address the claims themselves. First, even some ufologists admit sightings are overreported. In her 2010 book "UFOs: Generals, Pilots, and Government Officials Go on the Record," Leslie K… | |||
| 3299129763 | Jennette McCurdy's novel dials up the squirm factor | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | BookWorld | C.3 | Final | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1030 | 977 | ['Sophia Nguyen'] | ['Autobiographies', 'Writing', 'Novels', 'Books'] | [] | ['McCurdy, Jennette'] | [] | [] | [] | When Jennette McCurdy's "I'm Glad My Mom Died" was published in 2022, it landed like a glitter bomb: It got everywhere and had almost freakish staying power. The memoir pulled back the curtain on McCurdy's career as a teen star on the Nickelodeon sitcom "iCarly," recounting her struggles with bulimia, alcohol, the entertainment industry and her abusive stage mom. Even by the standards of celebrity tell-alls, it was a blockbuster, selling more than 3 million copies and earning McCurdy a multimillion-dollar advance for her next two book projects. (She is also writing, executive producing and show-running a TV series inspired by the memoir.) As first impressions go, it's hard to outdo the one left by "I'm Glad My Mom Died." The cover design, featuring the author in a sarcastic simper, evoked the nostalgic, tooth-rotting thrills of Sweet Valley High. The title dared readers to flinch. But in her debut novel, "Half His Age," McCurdy takes a stab at besting it. We're dropped right in the middle of a sex scene, narrated by 17-year-old Waldo, who is utterly unimpressed by her partner's technique - with his "slimy tongue that loop-de-loops over and over like a carnival ride, mechanical and passionless" and penchant for squeezing her "like a kid with a ball of Play-Doh." Readers of McCurdy's memoir will immediately clock the parallels: Our protagonist is a high school senior, financially responsible for her household's bills - she works at Victoria's Secret - and emotionally responsible for her erratic mother. She has learned to feel embarrassed by their working-class background and is tortured by impossible beauty standards. She has a frank, spiky sense of humor: When, in bed, a boy asks if she's "ready," Waldo thinks: "I want to remind him this isn't Apollo 13." Restless and impulsive, Waldo is driven by a gnawing emptiness that she tries to fill with shopping binges and underwhelming hookups. Then she finds a worthier pursuit: her creative-writing teacher, Mr. Korgy, who is 40 and married. She instigates a sexual re… | |||
| 3299129764 | Minn. volunteers step up ICE monitoring after 2 killings | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | A-Section | A.6 | Regional | MINNEAPOLIS - | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1330 | 1543 | ['Annie Gowen'] | ['Criminal investigations', 'Coffee', 'Neighborhoods', 'Enforcement', 'Volunteers', 'Political dissent', 'Border patrol', 'Immigration', 'Diplomatic & consular services', 'Coffeehouses', 'Grocery stores'] | ['United States--US', 'Minnesota'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | Thousands in Minnesota train to monitor, protest immigration personnel MINNEAPOLIS - Jordan's parents didn't want her to become an ICE watcher. But on Tuesday, after a single day of training, she climbed into her Jeep and joined hundreds of neighbors patrolling the streets of this embattled city, where federal immigration agents have shot and killed two people last month who were monitoring and attempting to disrupt their activities. "I'm not really nervous, it's more like, I want to prevent bad things from happening in my neighborhood," Jordan, 40, said as she headed out. Her family, however, had deeper worries - that she too might get shot, or federal agents could identify and harass her. She agreed to be interviewed on the condition that her last name not be used, for fear of government reprisals. More than 34,000 Minnesotans have signed up to be trained as U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement observers with various activist groups in recent weeks, many of them since Jan. 7, when a federal agent shot and killed Renée Good, a poet and mother of three, after an encounter with an ICE convoy in South Minneapolis. The killings of Good and, on Jan. 24, ICU nurse Alex Pretti underscore the dangers for the city's widespread resistance movement, a loosely connected network of neighborhood volunteers who communicate on Signal, the private messaging app, as they play cat and mouse with heavily armed and masked federal agents on snowy streets. Last week, those ICE observers vowed to continue their work despite signs of a political thaw on the national stage, after Trump removed border patrol head Greg Bovino from Minneapolis and renewed talks with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), a frequent critic. Bovino's replacement, border czar Tom Homan, said at a news conference Thursday that the administration would focus on "targeted" operations and that the 3,000 agents deployed to the city could be reduced if state and local leaders cooperated more with federal authorities. But, he warned, "justice is coming" for those wh… | ||
| 3299129765 | In shift, trade workers gain edge in labor market | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Business | B.11 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1430 | 1576 | ['Telford Taylor'] | ['Students', 'College graduates', 'Employment', 'Community colleges'] | ['South Carolina', 'United States--US'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | For nearly 50 years, research has shown that having a bachelor's degree or higher led to better employment prospects, from higher pay to greater job security. Now, with the stability of white-collar work in question as U.S. companies embrace artificial intelligence, federal data suggests that's beginning to change. The unemployment gap between workers with bachelor's degrees and those with occupational associate's degrees - such as plumbers, electricians and pipe fitters - flipped in 2025, leaving trade workers with a slight edge for six months out of the past year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It's the first time trade workers have had a leg up since the BLS started tracking this data in the 1990s. This shift coincides with a broad reassessment of what the best career paths are in today's labor market, which economists have called one of the most vexing in generations - especially for entry-level applicants. The soaring costs of a four-year degree, combined with an uncertain outlook amid the rise of AI, are prompting young people to consider alternative routes to economic prosperity. Community colleges and blue-collar employers are trying to harness the rising interest in skilled trades, amping up recruiting efforts aimed at young people. With more students pursuing occupational and technical degrees in fields with labor shortages such as construction, manufacturing and health care, enrollment at community colleges rose 3percent in the fall compared with the year before, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse, more than double the growth seen at public four-year colleges. Enrollment at private four-year institutions declined by more than 1.5 percent. "For decades, college graduates have typically faced lower unemployment rates, found jobs faster, and experienced more stable employment than high school graduates without college experience," according to a 2025 report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, adding that recent job data is "indicating that a long period of … | |||
| 3299129766 | Final cost, impact on wildlife unknown in Potomac spill | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Metro | B.14 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1380 | 1329 | ['Dana Hedgpeth', 'Jenny Gathright'] | ['Invertebrates', 'Pathogens', 'Drinking water', 'Wildlife', 'Rivers', 'Repair & maintenance', 'Bacteria'] | ['Maryland', 'Potomac River', 'United States--US'] | [] | ['Potomac Riverkeeper', 'University of Maryland'] | [] | [] | Repair crews working to stem overflow but don't have a completion date More than a week after part of a major D.C. Water sewage pipeline collapsed, causing more than 200 million gallons of untreated wastewater to spill into the Potomac River, concerns are rising about the impact on wildlife and experts warn that the cleanup and emergency repair costs will likely be several million dollars. The Washington Post talked to D.C. Water and city officials, engineering and water management experts and environmental groups to answer some questions about what the spill means for the D.C. region. What happened? On the evening of Jan. 19, D.C. Water officials - through security cameras at one of their nearby facilities - discovered the collapse of part of a large pipeline, known as the Potomac Interceptor, along the Clara Barton Parkway near the Capital Beltway in Maryland. The interceptor is a 54-mile sewer line that is roughly 60 years old and carries up to 60 million gallons of wastewater daily from Loudoun and Fairfax counties and areas near Washington Dulles International Airport, Vienna, Herndon and Montgomery County, Md., to the Blue Plains wastewater plant in D.C. for treatment. The break caused an estimated 40 million gallons of untreated sewage a day initially to spill into the Potomac River - an amount D.C. Water called a "significant overflow." There's a certain amount of sewage and stormwater that already leaks from D.C. Water's pipelines - about 600 million gallons a year on average, according to its reports and experts. This incident spilled roughly two-thirds of that amount in a few days. "It's a nasty, massive sewage spill," said Gussie Maguire, a scientist for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Maryland office. What's being done to fix the pipe, and when will it be finished? Late Thursday afternoon, D.C. Water officials said engineers had reported "no sanitary sewer overflows escaping from a damaged section" of the interceptor, according to a news release. Officials said a "small amount of residual w… | |||
| 3299130311 | Trump's tariffs can't cover a bill this staggering | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | Commentary | Editorial-Opinion | A.18 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1140 | 1066 | [] | ['Sovereign wealth funds', 'Federal budget', 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act 2025-US', 'Child care', 'National debt', 'Income taxes', 'Budget deficits', 'Defense spending', 'Tariffs'] | ['United States--US', 'Ukraine'] | ['Trump, Donald J'] | [] | [] | [] | Every time a big expense comes up, President Donald Trump assures Americans that all the money raised from tariffs will take care of it. The Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, has been tracking Trump's promises on how he would spend the revenue going back to the campaign. Added together, Trump has said the windfall from his tariffs will help cover nearly $6 trillion in costs. That's over 22 times more than the administration's own estimates for how much revenue his taxes on imports will generate this year. We ran the numbers, and they just don't pencil. Here's the math: According to the Treasury, tariffs raised $264 billion in revenue in 2025. In 2024, tariff revenue was $79 billion. The tariff revenue funded a lapse in appropriations for the WIC program during the government shutdown last October, which provides baby formula and services to low-income mothers. "President Trump and the White House have identified a creative solution to transfer resources from Section 232 tariff revenue to this critical program," said Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. That transfer cost $0.3 billion. The money would also cover child care. He called child care costs relatively small when compared to the "very substantial tax" that foreigners would pay at a September 2024 event. "Those numbers are so much bigger than any numbers that we're talking about, including child care." The One Big Beautiful Bill Act contained the expansion of three child care tax credits, which is estimated to cost $16 billion over 10 years, or $1.6 billion per year. At the same event, Trump said that tariff revenue would also seed a new sovereign wealth fund for the U.S.: "We'll put tremendous amounts of money, through all this money that will be taken in through tariffs and other intelligent things." Once in office, he issued an executive order to plan for creating a sovereign wealth fund. Though there is still no single entity called a sovereign wealth fund, the federal government under Trump has taken stakes in several private companies, port… | |||
| 3299130312 | of | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Arts | E.1 | Final | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1170 | 4692 | ['Amy Kaufman'] | ['Thanksgiving', 'Cocaine', 'Parents & parenting', 'Heroin', 'Shootings', 'Addictions', 'Drug abuse', 'Childhood'] | ['Los Angeles California', 'United States--US', 'Maine'] | ['Fonda, Henry', 'Reiner, Rob'] | [] | [] | [] | by Amy Kaufmann Rob Reiner lifted a turkey leg and asked those gathered around the Thanksgiving table to partake in a holiday tradition. The guests would pass the meat to one another, each taking a turn sharing what they were grateful for. Nick Reiner, Rob's son, was seated next to his father. It was 2018, and Nick was living in the guesthouse on his parents' $13.5-million compound in Brentwood, where the garden was filled with roses planted by the home's original owner, Henry Fonda. Unemployed at 25, Nick had spent a decade bouncing between this gated enclave and at least 18 rehab facilities paid for by his parents, Rob and Michele Singer Reiner. He struggled to kick his addictions to the substances he began experimenting with as a teenager. He has told stories on an addiction podcast about going to downtown Los Angeles's Skid Row to procure heroin and shooting crack cocaine in a McDonald's bathroom in Maine. But after each bout of degeneracy or failed treatment, he always seemed to end up back here, with his parents. For as much as he resisted their interventions, Nick had become accustomed to the trappings of his privileged upbringing. Unlike at rehab, he had a staff to tidy up for him at home. He was so attached to his private quarters that he once demanded the family's housekeeper retrieve him from a friend's house across town so he could use his own bathroom, a childhood friend recalled. Tensions were high that Thanksgiving, according to a guest who attended the meal with roughly 20 others. This person saw signs that Nick might be using again - using air freshener to cover smells in the billiard room, "screaming, yelling, cursing," throwing tantrums so violent one longtime household employee threatened to quit. As the turkey leg made its way around the personalized place settings and professional flower arrangements, guests and family waxed rhapsodic about the bountiful blessings in their lives. Then it was Nick's turn. "Well, I'm certainly not grateful for this fucking food, and I'm not grateful for… | |||
| 3299130313 | A dozen states advance in DNC's early-primary effort | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | A-Section | A.2 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1460 | 422 | ['Maeve Reston'] | ['Primaries & caucuses', 'Committees', 'Nominations', 'Presidential elections', 'Voters'] | ['South Carolina', 'New Hampshire', 'Nevada', 'United States--US', 'Michigan', 'Iowa', 'Georgia'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | A powerful Democratic committee that will determine which states hold the party's first nominating contests in the 2028 presidential race voted Saturday to advance 12 states that had applied to hold the first in the nation contests. Iowa had traditionally held the first caucuses, and New Hampshire has long relished its status as the first-in-the-nation primary. But in 2024, Joe Biden's allies pressed the Democratic Party to move up South Carolina's primary ahead of New Hampshire to highlight his strength among Black voters. After steep losses in the 2024 general election, party leaders have said they are ready to completely rethink the early-state lineup. On Saturday, Democrats advanced the 12 states that applied to hold the first nominating contests: Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Over the course of this year, the members of the Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee will winnow that list to four states - one from each geographic region. The committee is also expected to choose one additional state to hold its contest in the early window. The states that want to be in the early lineup were required to prove their fairness, rigor and efficiency, said Rules and Bylaws Committee Co-Chair Minyon Moore. The intent is to craft "a calendar that produces the strongest possible Democratic nominee for president," she said Saturday. Party representatives from the 12 states will be invited to present their arguments to members of the Rules and Bylaws Committee. The early states in the nominating cycle are more likely to have their voters' issues heard by the candidates vying for the presidential nomination as well as the financial investment that campaigning brings. The shake-up of the map also exemplifies the broader debate among Democrats over how to come back from the political wilderness by winning back young voters, Black and Hispanic men, and other critical blocs who gravitated toward Dona… | |||
| 3299130314 | Understated Rybakina is a champion Down Under | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Sports | B.1 | Suburban | MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1100 | 848 | ['byJohn Pye'] | ['Tennis', 'Tournaments & championships'] | ['Australia', 'Kazakhstan'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | Australian Open titleis the second major win for quietly rising star MELBOURNE, Australia - Elena Rybakina finally won her second Grand Slam title with a victory over top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka at the Australian Open on Saturday, and it was something of a testament to quiet achievers. After some tumult at the start of 2025, including the suspension of her coach, Rybakina finished off last year with a title at the WTA Finals in November. And now she has started the new year with a major championship. Her low-key celebration was symbolic of her understated run through the tournament: a small fist pump, a quick embrace with Sabalenka, a handshake with the chair umpire, a smile, and a few hand claps on the strings of her racket and a wave to acknowledge the crowd. It came after Rybakina closed with an ace to cap a third-set comeback and a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win over a regular rival who beat her in the final here in 2023. "The heart rate was definitely beating too fast. Even maybe [my] face didn't show, but inside it was a lot of emotions," the 26-year-old Rybakina, who was born in Moscow but represents Kazakhstan, said of her calm and clinical finish. She knew she had to capitalize quickly this time after she admitted getting tight and needing almost a half hour from her first match point to her match-winning point in a semifinal win over Jessica Pegula. Three years ago, Rybakina won the first set of the Australian final but dropped the last two. This time, after breaking in the first game and taking the first set, she rallied after losing the second set and going down 3-0 in the third. She won five straight games to regain control. "It gives me a kind of relief," she said. "Also, a lot of confidence, for sure, for the rest of the season." It was the second major title for the fifth-seeded Rybakina, who won Wimbledon in 2022 and entered that Australian final three years ago as the only major winner in the contest. While Sabalenka went on to win another three majors - including back-to-back triumphs in Australia… | ||
| 3299130315 | The economy's strength is built atop three tenuous pillarsHealth care jobs are propping up the labor marketThe wealthiest Americans are driving spendingAI-related investments are propelling business spending and the stock market | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Business | B.9 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 930 | 23 | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | The top 10 percent account for a record 45 percent of spending Changes since 2022 in ... Consumer spending Labor market Investment returns | |||
| 3299130316 | The winds might be shifting in Trump's war against offshore energy projects | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Business | B.10 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1430 | 1580 | ['Jake Spring'] | ['Injunctions', 'Computer centers', 'Wind power', 'Infrastructure', 'Electricity', 'Energy industry', 'Wind farms', 'Endangered & extinct species', 'Renewable resources', 'Presidents', 'Alternative energy sources', 'Offshore', 'Coasts', 'Litigation'] | ['New York', 'United States--US', 'Virginia', 'Rhode Island'] | ['Trump, Donald J'] | ['Orsted AS'] | [] | [] | On his first day in office, President Donald Trump launched a campaign against wind energy with an executive order to stop leasing and permits for offshore wind farms. The administration went on to block wind farms already under construction, while Trump himself vowed in Cabinet meetings that he would not allow any to be built under his watch, as he criticized them as ugly, inefficient and harmful to animals. A year later, Trump appears to be losing his war on wind on several fronts. In court last month, four of the five offshore projects that were blocked won injunctions to continue construction. And in recent months, an informal coalition of companies has emerged across the energy industry, including oil and clean energy firms, to push for an end to the targeting of wind energy, fearing they could fall prey to the same tactics in the future. "We know what administrations can do to our projects when they have opposition to building pipelines or other energy infrastructure. This has never just been about wind," said Mike Sommers, president of the American Petroleum Institute lobby group. The blocked wind projects have become inextricably linked to a push in Congress to overhaul the system for permitting infrastructure projects, a top legislative objective for oil firms. While a bill passed in the House, Senate debate broke down after the administration's Dec. 22 stop-work orders for all five offshore wind projects under construction on the East Coast. Negotiations remain on hold. "It's time for both sides to put their weapons down and let's work on getting comprehensive permitting reform done in this Congress," Sommers said. Still, analysts agree that Trump's personal preferences are driving the anti-wind policy. More than a decade ago, he unsuccessfully sued to stop offshore wind turbines built near a Scottish golf course he owned and has apparently nursed a grudge ever since. The mounting court losses and industry pressure may not change his mind. "Given the legal rulings so far, we can expect the proje… | |||
| 3299130317 | Democrats look for a winning message on ICE tactics | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | A-Section | A.4 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1450 | 1480 | ['Yasmeen Abutaleb', 'Marianna Sotomayor', 'Theodoric Meyer'] | ['Immigration policy', 'Primaries & caucuses', 'Polls & surveys', 'National security', 'Political leadership', 'Enforcement', 'Funding', 'Border security', 'Election results', 'Presidential elections', 'Voters', 'Border patrol', 'Political advertising'] | ['Texas', 'United States--US', 'Massachusetts', 'Maine', 'Illinois'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | After a year of relative silence on immigration, Democrats in tough races across the country are making President Donald Trump's aggressive enforcement tactics the focus of their campaigns. But there are still divisions over just how far to go, with many carefully avoiding the "abolish ICE" slogan that leaders concluded was politically toxic and may have contributed to recent election losses. Many Democrats are calling for an overhaul of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and making clear they oppose "Trump's ICE" - without uttering the word "abolish." Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) advocated stripping the agency "down to its studs." Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minnesota) said "we need to start over with ICE" and "reimagine" it. Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Arizona), a possible 2028 presidential candidate, called for cleaning house to "bring new leadership, bring in new standards, protocols, rules." Steve Israel, former chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said the party learned the hard way that slogans like "abolish ICE" and "defund the police" alienated centrist and independent voters. "Voters want fairness, and they want fixes, but very few of them want anarchy," he said. "Democrats have a real opportunity to lean into ending ICE abuses without falling into the trap of appearing to oppose the constitutional enforcement of immigration laws." That has not stopped some Democrats from resurrecting the slogan - which became popular with some progressives during Trump's first term - particularly those involved in tough primaries ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, where they are trying to win over the party's left. Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Massachusetts), who is facing a primary challenge, said last week that Democrats had an opportunity to "defund and abolish ICE." Democratic Senate candidates in Illinois and Michigan have also used the phrase in recent days. In Maine, Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner said "dismantling ICE is the moderate position." And in Texas, Rep. Jasmine C… | |||
| 3299130318 | Inside Nick Reiner's life of privilege, pills and pain | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Arts | E.12 | Final | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1200 | 3907 | ['Amy Kaufman'] | ['Thanksgiving', 'Cocaine', 'Parents & parenting', 'Heroin', 'Shootings', 'Addictions', 'Murders & murder attempts', 'Childhood'] | ['Los Angeles California', 'United States--US', 'Maine'] | ['Fonda, Henry', 'Reiner, Rob'] | [] | [] | [] | by Amy Kaufmann in los angeles Rob Reiner lifted a turkey leg and asked those gathered around the Thanksgiving table to partake in a holiday tradition. The guests would pass the meat to one another, each taking a turn sharing what they were grateful for. Nick Reiner, Rob's son, was seated next to his father. It was 2018, and Nick was living in the guesthouse on his parents' $13.5 million compound in Brentwood, where the garden was filled with roses planted by the home's original owner, Henry Fonda. Unemployed at 25, Nick had spent a decade bouncing between this gated enclave and at least 18 rehab facilities paid for by his parents, Rob and Michele Singer Reiner. He has told stories on an addiction podcast about going to downtown Los Angeles's Skid Row to procure heroin and shooting crack cocaine in a McDonald's restroom in Maine. But after each bout of degeneracy or failed treatment, he always seemed to end up back here, with his parents. For as much as he resisted their interventions, Nick had become accustomed to the trappings of his privileged upbringing. Unlike at rehab, he had a staff to tidy up for him at home. He was so attached to his private quarters that he once demanded the family's housekeeper retrieve him from a friend's house across town so he could use his own bathroom, a childhood friend recalled. LOS ANGELES - Rob Reiner lifted a turkey leg and asked those gathered around the Thanksgiving table to partake in a holiday tradition. The guests would pass the meat to one another, each taking a turn sharing what they were grateful for. Nick Reiner, Rob's son, was seated next to his father. It was 2018, and Nick was living in the guesthouse on his parents' $13.5 million compound in Brentwood, where the garden was filled with roses planted by the home's original owner, Henry Fonda. Unemployed at 25, Nick had spent a decade bouncing between this gated enclave and at least 18 rehab facilities paid for by his parents, Rob and Michele Singer Reiner. He has told stories on an addiction podcast about g… | |||
| 3299130319 | From Gaza to Chicago, a life in pieces and personas | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | BookWorld | C.2 | Final | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1280 | 1077 | ['Ron Charles'] | ['Novels', 'Books'] | ['Chicago Illinois', 'Gaza Strip', 'United States--US'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | For too long, Naeem Murr's name has been whispered among judging panels instead of toasted in book clubs. Since his 1998 debut, "The Boy," he has received the kind of critical accolades that confer honor but not sales. His latest novel, with the poetic if enigmatic title "Every Exit Brings You Home," deserves to awaken a much larger audience. This is one of those rare stories that feels at once universal and impossibly strange, rooted in the ordinary challenges of the American Dream but lashed to horrors unfolding on the other side of the planet. Murr's hero is a handsome Middle Eastern man in his late 30s named Jack. He serves, dutifully, as the president of his condo association in Chicago. With the Great Recession decimating the housing market, he and all his fellow owners are underwater on their mortgages, and their shoddily converted building is groaning for costly repairs. None of that is known to Marcia, a pugnacious woman who moves into the basement garden apartment with her young daughter and elaborately tattooed partner. Immediately, Jack swoops down from the top floor to serve as host, therapist and diplomat. Juggling angry texts from an embittered neighbor - "ARE YOU HERDING ELEPHANTS? WHAT IS HORRIBLE NOISE?" - he welcomes Marcia and her family, sweeps their daughter up to his wife for babysitting and helps them get settled. This expansive role as the ultimate hospitality director seems natural to Jack, but we quickly learn that it's another persona constructed by "an inchoate being," a lost man who's been "diffusing himself throughout this country" for almost 20 years. At home, Jack - actually Jamal - is a devoted husband to Dimra, a Palestinian woman who's suffered several miscarriages and hopes that IVF might finally bring them a child. But at work, Jack is a flight attendant posing as a gay man in a long-term relationship with an imaginary partner. How this bizarre duplicity began is not nearly as interesting as what it suggests about Jack's fluid desires and the clashing demands he navigates.… | |||
| 3299130320 | Epstein photos appear to show Andrew kneeling over a female | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | A-Section | A.1 | Regional | LONDON - | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1180 | 720 | ['Karla Adam'] | ['Electronic mail systems', 'Sex offenders', 'Females', 'Privacy', 'Photographs', 'Documents'] | [] | ['Epstein, Jeffrey'] | [] | [] | [] | LONDON - A man who appears to be Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the now former prince and Duke of York, is photographed kneeling on all fours and positioned over a female person. An email account labeled "The Duke" messages convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to suggest dinner "and lots of privacy" at Buckingham Palace, a month after Epstein's house arrest ended in 2010. The message is signed "A." Epstein emails "The Duke" account to say he has a "beautiful" Russian woman he would like him to meet. The latest tranche of Epstein documents released on Friday by the Justice Department offers yet more documentary evidence of the long-running association between Epstein and Andrew, who was stripped of his royal titles and evicted from his longtime residence as punishment for their friendship. The documents, including previously unseen photographs and email messages, contain no allegations of criminal activity by Andrew, who has long denied any wrongdoing. But they mark a new reputational low, reinforcing how a scandal Andrew sought to paper over refuses to fade. Among the materials are photographs showing a man who appears to be Andrew crouched on all fours over a female, who is fully clothed. In one image, he is touching her stomach; in another, he looks directly at the camera. The disclosures dominated the British press over the weekend. "Andrew invited paedophile to Palace a month after his release," screamed a front-page headline in the Daily Mail. "Epstein email to Andrew: I have Russian friend for you. She's 26," the Daily Telegraph proclaimed. While the newly released files do not allege any criminal activity, the photographs and emails are already intensifying scrutiny of his judgment and associations - particularly given their timing. In emails sent in early August 2010, just weeks after Epstein completed a jail sentence in Florida for soliciting sex from a minor - Epstein writes to the account named "The Duke" saying he wants to introduce him to a Russian woman whom he "might enjoy having dinner wit… | ||
| 3299130321 | The real-life Murdoch saga is even odder than TV | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | BookWorld | C.5 | Final | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1170 | 2012 | ['Casey Schwartz'] | ['Diaries', 'Siblings', 'Biographies', 'Books'] | ['New York', 'United States--US'] | ['Murdoch, Rupert'] | ['New York Post'] | [] | [] | BONFIRE OF THE MURDOCHS How the Epic Fight to Control the Last Great Media Dynasty Broke a Family - and the World By Gabriel Sherman. Simon & Schuster. 256 pp. $29 Journalist and screenwriter Gabe Sherman never seems to tire of the media-mogul beat. He wrote a biography of Fox CEO Roger Ailes. He wrote "The Apprentice," the feature film about Donald Trump's rise in 1980s New York and his relationship with Roy Cohn. But even spending time with those psychohistories did not prepare him for the generations of cruelty he encountered while writing "The Bonfire of the Murdochs," a fast-paced, personality-driven chronicle of Rupert Murdoch's family and the dramatic bequeathing of his media empire. "A member of the family told me that 'Succession' was good but that the family was even weirder," Sherman said of the HBO series that was inspired by the Murdochs. "And that stuck in my head when I was doing the book: that the real-life story was even more unexpected than the TV show." Sherman, 46, bespectacled and jet-lagged after returning from a Christmas trip to his home state of New York, was speaking from London, where he recently relocated with his family. So what, one might reasonably ask, could possibly be "weirder" than "Succession"? One example, for Sherman, is the way that Wendi Deng, Murdoch's third wife, 38 years his junior, found out that their two daughters, Chloe and Grace, would not be included in the family trust as full voting members like their four much older siblings from Murdoch's previous marriages: Lachlan, James, Elisabeth and Prudence. Wendi learned of this life-altering fact by watching an interview with her husband on "The Charlie Rose Show." When Rupert returned to their ranch house in Monterey, California, after the show aired, Wendi made him sleep in the garage and even, Sherman told me, disinvited Rose from a conference the couple was hosting shortly afterward. (Murdoch is on his fifth marriage now.) "Rupert is the opposite of Logan Roy [in 'Succession']," Sherman said. "Brian Cox pla… | |||
| 3299130322 | Republicans relearn the lesson that shutdowns tend to go poorly for them | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | A-Section | A.8 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1390 | 1405 | ['Paul Kane'] | ['Immigration policy', 'Local elections', 'Presidents', 'Government shutdowns', 'Deportation', 'Bipartisanship', 'Political activism', 'National security', 'Tax credits', 'Funding'] | [] | [] | ['Department of Homeland Security', 'Republican Party'] | [] | [] | Just two and a half months removed from a painful government shutdown, Republicans have learned a lesson that these standoffs almost never break their way politically and should be avoided whenever possible. By a wide bipartisan vote, 71-29, the Senate approved a government funding bill late Friday that takes almost all of the fiscal risk off the table until late in the year. With President Donald Trump's support, Republicans agreed to demands from Democrats to peel off one bill funding the Department of Homeland Security and let a slew of other big agencies get their full budgets for the rest of the fiscal year. There is a lapse of funding over the weekend, technically a brief, partial shutdown that should have little impact. And that should be resolved when the House returns to session Monday and is expected to approve the plan. Lawmakers have two more weeks to try to find a compromise for Homeland Security Department funding, which if unsuccessful will leave agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration and Federal Emergency Management Agency in shutdown territory. Congress did not pass a single one of the 12 bills funding federal agencies last year and instead approved several resolutions largely maintaining the previous year's level of funding, effectively running the government on autopilot. By Monday, 95 percent of all federal funding could be set for this year. That's still four months behind schedule, but compared with last year, it's the sort of bipartisan agreement that has been in short supply of late. This also marks a real pivot from just last weekend, when both sides appeared to dig in and a shutdown seemed likely for major departments, including Defense, Labor, Homeland Security and Health and Human Services. After the Jan. 24 killing of an intensive care unit nurse by immigration authorities in Minneapolis, Trump administration officials labeled the victim a "domestic terrorist." Democrats threatened to block the funding bill without some tangible restrictions on federal per… | |||
| 3299130323 | Barrier-breaking mathematician helped develop GPS | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | Obituary | Metro | B.18 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1450 | 1127 | ['Harrison Smith'] | ['Deaths'] | ['United States--US', 'Virginia'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | As a young girl in the Jim Crow-era South, Gladys West passed the time counting fenceposts, dreaming of life beyond her family farm south of Richmond. Each day, she walked three miles to a segregated one-room schoolhouse with a leaky roof and a solitary, underpaid teacher. And each way, there and back, she counted the fenceposts along the road, discovering that she had an aptitude for numbers that would help her bridge the distance between poverty and opportunity, between a life working in the fields and a career helping society advance beyond its limits. Dr. West, who died Jan. 17 at 95, used her mathematical skills to become a barrier-breaking researcher for the Navy, mastering a bulky supercomputer known as Stretch while calculating satellite orbits and developing a precise model of the Earth's surface. Her research laid the groundwork for the Global Positioning System, GPS, a technology that has made getting lost a thing of the past. Thanks in part to Dr. West, anyone with a smartphone - or a receiver-equipped car, airplane or boat - can navigate easily from one place to the next, without having to stop to ask for directions. Without the mathematical model that she and her team helped develop, "the extraordinary positioning, navigation, and timing accuracy of GPS would be impossible to achieve," the U.S. Space Force said in an online biography of Dr. West, who was named one of the military's Space and Missile Pioneers in 2018. "I have to be honest with you, it's mind-boggling that they pulled it off," said Reza Malek-Madani, a retired mathematics professor at the U.S. Naval Academy, who interviewed Dr. West for a 2021 paper on her work. "We are finding, now, that GPS finds our position within a few meters of where we are. Just the fact that we can come within the scale of a kilometer, say, was a significant accomplishment." Dr. West's achievement was all the more remarkable given that she faced twin prejudices, as an African American and as a woman, from the outset of her 42-year career at the Naval Surf… | |||
| 3299130324 | Husband is neglecting family dinners and chores in favor of … pickleball | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Arts | E.4 | Final | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 870 | 790 | ['Carolyn Hax'] | ['Marriage', 'Pickleball'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | Dear Carolyn: Can pickleball destroy my marriage? Seems like a silly question - even my therapist chuckled at the idea. But I am truly struggling. We are middle-aged, working full time, and have two elementary school kids. My husband picked up a pickleball hobby about a year ago, and it has now consumed him. His quest for more medals, tournament wins and a higher player rating has overshadowed his other priorities. He plays 20 hours a week or more - no joke, I've tracked it - averaging three hours per weekday evening and four or more on weekend days. I work an intense job, and his pickleball has resulted in my carrying much more of the child care load - pickups, bedtimes, etc. Most significantly, he regularly misses family dinners and skimps on his household duties (piles of laundry sit for weeks), and when I'm busy or traveling, the poor kids are dragged to his pickleball courts until far past bedtime on school nights. We used to have slivers of family time in our busy schedules; now it's gone. And couple time - forget it. I have no problem with the hobby itself. He has gotten healthier and made friends, and it's great for his mental health. But every time I bring up that the pickleball and family time balance is just really off, he takes offense, gets angry and accuses me of trying to tell him to stop doing something he loves. Help. I don't want him to stop completely. But the kids need their dad back, and I need to feel like I have a hubby again. I worry if this goes on, we won't survive it. - Pickleballed Out Pickleballed Out: Um. Anything to excess can destroy a marriage, of course. (And a chuckle can destroy trust in a therapist, if a real answer doesn't ensue.) Take out "pickle," and everything about your question is serious. Emotional neglect of spouse and children, defensiveness, gaslighting, plus burnout for you as you pick up 20-plus hours of your husband's logistical and emotional slack every week. So, yes, your marriage is dying of pickleball. Next. The "next," unfortunately, is to hold your gro… | |||
| 3299130325 | Post readers rang in the new year with blossoms and a big snow | 2026-02-01 | The Washington Post | News | Metro | B.15 | Regional | Copyright WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post 2026 | 1170 | 752 | ['Alisa Tang'] | ['New year', 'Newsletters', 'Snow'] | ['Maryland', 'United States--US', 'Virginia'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | As editor of the Post Local newsletter, I invite readers to share their photos of life across D.C., Maryland and Virginia. In January, your photos ranged from flowers in bloom during a warmer spell to a frozen stream and fun in the snow after the winter storm. Here's how we began the new year. As editor of the Post Local newsletter, I invite readers to share their photos of life across D.C., Maryland and Virginia. In January, your photos ranged from flowers in bloom during a warmer spell to a frozen stream and fun in the snow after the winter storm. Here's how we began the new year. Remember the warm spell this month? The Capital Weather Gang says the high temperature in D.C. was 63 degrees on Jan. 7 - which was when Margaret Dikel, of North Bethesda, took this photo. "The camellia bush in front of my house is blooming with the warmth, and some bees are taking advantage of the flowers," she wrote. Sandy Pugh, 74, of Vienna, took two of her grandkids to the State Fairs exhibit at the Renwick Gallery. A retired art teacher and volunteer gallery guide, she prepared quite an outing for them. "I printed out 10 images (5 for each) of various pieces in the exhibition - and we went on a scavenger hunt," Sandy wrote. "I was making my morning latte, and I saw these two foxes dart across the meadow, stop and start playing with/chasing each other in the tall grass/brush," wrote Noel Anderson, 58. "Our lot is close to a neighborhood tree house and open field, which is great for observing the foxes, deer and hawks that appear often." "I have visited the Peacock Room several times to enjoy those Thursdays when the shutters are open. Experiencing the room as it was intended at creation is very rewarding in a subtle way," wrote Capitol Hill resident Molly Mullin. "You can imagine the 19th-century London dinner parties that would have been held in it." "The front yard, after the storm, before the shoveling dumped more on this poor flamingo," wrote Eileen Schramm, 67, of Silver Spring. "The two buddies are completely … | |||
| 3299132502 | Death Notice: Elizabeth Mae Shimmin | 2026-02-01 | Chicago Tribune | Obituary | Obituaries | Copyright Tribune Publishing Company, LLC 2026 | 1420 | 177 | [] | [] | ['United States--US', 'Illinois'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | Elizabeth “Betty” Mae (Krieger) Shimmin, passed away on January 26, 2026. On January 3, 1926 Betty was born in South Bend, Indiana to Darold Krieger and Florence (Hanna) Krieger. She was the 5th among 12 children. Betty is survived by her daughter Deana (Jeff) Stillman, her “daughter” Elsa Pillar, her grandchildren Matt (LeeAnna) Pallet, David Pendleton, Tim Pendleton, Linda Pendleton, Liz (Josh) Kulzer, Becky (Sam) Brown, Mandy Stillman, 11 great grandchildren, cousin Doty Lepak who attended Betty’s wedding, nieces, nephews, and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, her husband Bernie, and her daughters Cindy (Larry) Pendleton, Sharon (Norman) Shimmin, and Jackie (Chuck) Forbes. Visitation will be held Wednesday, February 4, 2026 from 10 am until time of the service at 11 am at N.H. Scott & Hanekamp Funeral Home, 1240 Waukegan Road, Glenview, Illinois. Live Stream Link. In lieu of flowers or plants, memorials can be sent to support online ministries at Village Bible Church – Sugar Grove, Illinois or St. John’s Lutheran Church, Chaska, Minnesota. For full obituary go to www.nhscotthanekamp.com. | |||||
| 3299132503 | Death Notice: Linda Manis | 2026-02-01 | Chicago Tribune | Obituary | Obituaries | Copyright Tribune Publishing Company, LLC 2026 | 1150 | 251 | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | Linda Kritz Manis, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away on January 19, 2026, at her home in Oswego, Illinois. Born on July 14, 1954, in Whiting, Indiana, Linda’s vibrant spirit and kind heart touched the lives of everyone she met. Linda was the cherished daughter of Joseph and Doris (nee Koskell) Kritz, who preceded her in death along with her beloved grandparents, Sylvia and Bill Matteson. She is lovingly remembered by her husband, Jeff Manis, with whom she shared a beautiful life filled with love and laughter. She is survived by her three children: John Manis, Karalee Manis, and Lauren (Ben) Moon and her grandchildren: Benjamin Moon, Matthew Moon, Madelynn Moon, Emma Moon, Micah Moon, Mason Manis, and Madison Manis, who were a constant source of pride and joy for her. In addition to her immediate family, Linda is also survived by her siblings: Joellen Hein, Joseph Kritz, Cindy Kruis, and Jeff Kritz. When she wasn’t busy with family or work, Linda had a passion for crafts and photography, capturing the essence of life’s precious moments through her lens. She found joy in the simple pleasures, including her love for Hallmark movies, which brought warmth and comfort to her heart. A gathering of family and friends was held on Saturday, January 31, 2026, from 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM with a prayer service at 3:30 PM at DUNN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME with CREMATORY 1801 S. Douglas Road, Oswego, IL 60543. For information, 630-554-3888 or visit her memorial page at www.dunnfamilyfuneralhome.com | |||||
| 3299132504 | Death Notice: Robert A. Shonk | 2026-02-01 | Chicago Tribune | Obituary | Obituaries | Copyright Tribune Publishing Company, LLC 2026 | 1080 | 241 | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | Robert A. Shonk, age 94, died peacefully Thursday, January 15, 2026, after a long illness. Born in Logan, OH, Bob served in the U.S. Army and earned accounting degrees from the University of Notre Dame and DePaul University. As finance director of the City of Evanston (1971-1998), Bob was respected for his knowledge and integrity. Bob was married to his beloved wife, Marguerite Delacoma, for 58 years, and was a devoted father to their three children. He was a fan of Notre Dame football, an avid reader, and he volunteered for St. Athanasius Catholic Church in Evanston. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Charles Shonk and Grace Murtha Shonk. He is survived by his wife, Marguerite; his children, Katherine (Victor Hernandez), Robert, and Carrie (Chris Kranz); his sisters, Sr. Grace Shonk, CSC, Martha Laughlin (the late Michael), and Rosemary Brandl (the late Thomas); his grandchildren, Evan and Lillian; his sisters-in-law, Dorothy Andries and Wynne Delacoma; his brother-in-law, Steven Nidetz; and many beloved nephews and nieces. Visitation, Saturday, February 7, 2026, from 9 a.m. until time of Mass of Christian Burial, 10 a.m., at St. Athanasius Church of St. John Henry Newman Catholic Parish, 1615 Lincoln St., Evanston. Private Interment, Memorial Park Cemetery, Skokie. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Jim Raeder Helping Hand Scholarship for students of Logan High School in Logan, OH. Funeral info: 847.673.6111 or habenfuneral.com to leave a condolence message. | |||||
| 3299132505 | Death Notice: Jerome P. Craven | 2026-02-01 | Chicago Tribune | Obituary | Obituaries | Copyright Tribune Publishing Company, LLC 2026 | 1140 | 148 | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | Jerome “Jerry” P. Craven, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, Retired Chicago Fireman and Local 134 IBEW. Beloved husband of Marie nee Burns for 56 years. Loving father of Annmarie (Mike) Savitski, Karen Craven, Jennine Craven, Kevin (Jami) Craven, & Brian (Maura) Craven. Cherished grandfather of Taylor Craven, Thomas Craven, Michael Craven, Bridget Finco, Fiona Craven, Hannigan Chambers, & Claire Chambers. Dear brother of Steve (Cathy) Craven, & the late Thomas & Barb Craven, Francis “Frank” & Helen Craven, Mary & George Liskewicz, Eugene & Patricia Craven, & Patricia “Patsy” & Bill Ryan. Proud uncle of many nieces & nephews. Family will greet friends and neighbors, Friday, February 6th from 9:00 am until the time of the Memorial Mass at 10:00 am at St. Bede the Venerable Church, 8200 S. Kostner Ave. in Chicago. Inurnment following at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Thompson & Kuenster Funeral Home. thompsonkuensterfuneralhome.com 708-425-0500 | |||||
| 3299132506 | Death Notice: Albert & Susan Roupp | 2026-02-01 | Chicago Tribune | Obituary | Obituaries | Copyright Tribune Publishing Company, LLC 2026 | 1220 | 286 | [] | [] | ['Chicago Illinois', 'United States--US', 'Vermont'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | Albert Allen Roupp (September 12, 1930–January 19, 2026) and Susan Carol (Nagy) Roupp (July 5, 1941–March 15, 2025), beloved husband and wife of 59 years, died in Vermont after long, full lives. Sue was born in Chicago, IL, and later made her home in Evanston, where she and Al raised their children. Sue had a deep love of poetry, cooking, writing, women’s rights, and liberal politics. Later in life, she discovered a passion for memoir writing and taught classes encouraging others to tell their stories. She also had a lifelong soft spot for animals, especially cats. Sue was the daughter of Charlie and Esther Nagy. Charlie was a typesetter for the Chicago Tribune during the era of linotype machines, when newspapers were still set in hot metal. Al was born in Hesston, KS, to Walter and Bertha Roupp, and raised in Elkhart, IN. After World War II, he traveled with PAX, a Mennonite service organization, helping rebuild Europe. He later studied architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology and spent his professional life in commercial property review in Chicago, including work on major downtown buildings. He was known for his dry humor and constant projects, whether gardening, restoring woodwork, or building for his family. Al and Sue met while working at the Chicago Civic Center and married in 1966. In 2021, they moved to Vermont to be closer to family. Sue died on March 15, 2025, and Al followed on January 19, 2026, both at the Miller McClure Respite House. They are survived by their children Aimee (Roupp) Loiter (Jeffrey) and Chris Roupp (Daniella), and by their grandchildren Zachary, Talia, Cecilia, Caroline, and Augie. Donations in Sue and Al’s memory may be made to the Miller McClure Respite House, Colchester, VT. | |||||
| 3299132507 | Death Notice: Josephine A. Koza | 2026-02-01 | Chicago Tribune | Obituary | Obituaries | Copyright Tribune Publishing Company, LLC 2026 | 1020 | 132 | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | Josephine A. Koza, age 101 years, of Mundelein, formerly of Morton Grove; beloved wife of the late Walter; dear mother of Connie (the late Jim) Scanlon, Paul (Maureen) Koza, Claudia (Richard) Ovington and David Koza; loving grandmother of 10 and cherished great grandmother of 18. She was preceded in death by 7 brothers and sisters. A memorial visitation will be held at Simkins Funeral Home 6251 Dempster St. Morton Grove, IL on Wednesday February 11th from 8:30 a.m. until departure for church at 9:30 a.m. Memorial Mass 10 a.m. at St. Martha Church 8523 Georgiana Ave. Morton Grove. Inurnment to follow at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Center For Enriched Living 280 Saunders Rd. Riverwoods, IL 60015. Sign online guestbook at www.simkinsfh.com | |||||
| 3299132508 | Death Notice: Richard J. Loewenthal | 2026-02-01 | Chicago Tribune | Obituary | Obituaries | Copyright Tribune Publishing Company, LLC 2026 | 730 | 54 | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | Richard J. Loewenthal, age 95. Husband of the late Audrey. Dear father of Anne (Eric) Shain, Jean (Mark) Burnstine and John. Devoted grandfather of Brian (Joanna) Shain, Kevin (Jessica) Shain, Jill (Adam) Cohn and Jeffrey Burnstine. Loving great-grandfather of four. Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice. Chicago Jewish Funerals, (847)229-8822. | |||||
| 3299132509 | Death Notice: Warren P. Brown | 2026-02-01 | Chicago Tribune | Obituary | Obituaries | Copyright Tribune Publishing Company, LLC 2026 | 1160 | 357 | [] | ['Music'] | ['United States--US', 'Illinois'] | [] | [] | [] | [] | Warren Pierce Brown died peacefully on December 28, 2025, surrounded by the love of family. The son of Robert C. Brown, Jr. and Alice Haas Brown, Warren grew up in Highland Park. After receiving his BA and MA in Education and Administration, his career highlights included teaching 5th grade science in Deerfield, Illinois, and serving as a K-12 principal in rural Ohio, Illinois. After retirement, Warren lived in the eclectic Evanston community for over 28 years. He was truly part of the fabric of the neighborhood – everyone seemed to know the kind, gentle man with his little white dogs. Warren found great joy in all kinds of music throughout his life. He was an avid listener of classical music, sang in church choirs, and played jazz piano. He passed on his love of music to his daughters and grandchildren who all became accomplished musicians and art appreciators. Warren attended many Northwestern University dance and music performances, and WFMT classical radio programming was his musical lifeline in the later years. Warren was a beloved father, papa/grandfather, neighbor, and friend – known for his compassion, unconditional love, soft-spoken advice, and cute quirky interests that he loved to share. Warren is survived by his beloved dog Lucy; his three daughters Karen A. Brown of Thiensville, Wisconsin, Kristin M. Brown of Portland, Oregon, and Karla J. Brown (Eric Traynor) of Boise, Idaho; his seven grandchildren Sean Condon (Rebecca), Emily McArdle (Tanner), Will Condon, Mia Cywinski, Clara Cywinski, Wren Traynor, and Leo Traynor; his brother Lawrence Brown (Ann); and his former wife Barbara J. Brown. Warren was preceded in death by his beloved Maltese dogs Teddy and Minnie, his parents Robert C. Brown and Alice Haas Brown, and, recently, his younger brother Ronald Brown of San Diego, CA. A memorial service will be held on February 21, 2026, at 11:00 AM in the Chapel of Peace Mausoleum at Memorial Park Cemetery, 9900 Gross Point Rd, Skokie, IL 60076. The burial will follow the service, and all are invit… | |||||
| 3299132510 | Death Notice: Joseph T. Magee | 2026-02-01 | Chicago Tribune | Obituary | Obituaries | Copyright Tribune Publishing Company, LLC 2026 | 500 | 14 | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | 2/4/1928 – 2/8/2021 Happy Birthday, Hon. You are in our hearts, always and forever. Your beloved Maureen. | |||||
| 3299132511 | Death Notice: Paul Menely Randle | 2026-02-01 | Chicago Tribune | Obituary | Obituaries | Copyright Tribune Publishing Company, LLC 2026 | 1340 | 294 | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | [] | Paul Menely Randle, age 66, died peacefully on Thursday, January 15, 2026, surrounded by his family. He was born on June 14, 1959, in Chicago, Illinois, to Mariann (Menely) Randle and the late Burton (Givens) Randle. Devoted husband of Tina M. Randle for the last 11 years. He was preceded in death by his father Burton G. Randle (2023), his eldest brother John K. Randle (2004), his aunt Virginia Randle Loveland (James), and cousin Janice Loveland Jaworsky. He leaves behind his wife, Tina M. Randle, his mother Mariann M. Randle, his daughter Jennifer M. (Matthew) Randle-Kilbride, his step-son Aaron J. (Tiffany) Landers, his five grandchildren who he absolutely adored, Adalynn, Loegan, & Ashlynn Kilbride, Kenosha, WI, AJ Landers & Jamie Landers, Grayslake, IL, his elder brother David B. Randle, Skokie, IL, and cousin Randle J. (Cate) Loveland, Vancouver, WA. Paul had the biggest heart imaginable. He was humble, kind, funny, and hard working. Whenever someone needed a hand with anything big or small, Paul was always there to help in any way he could, with a big smile. He always put everyone ahead of himself. Paul’s Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 7, at Warren Cemetery, 1475 N. Cemetery Road, Gurnee, IL, with Visitation at 10:00am, Service at 11:00am, Burial at 12:00pm, and Light Reception at 12:30pm. www.warrencemetery.com . In Lieu of flowers, at Paul’s request as an avid animal lover, gifts may be given to Save-A-Pet, a No-Kill animal shelter, 31664 N. Fairfield Rd in Grayslake, IL, with a note saying “In Memory of Paul Randle.” Donations of time volunteered, monetary gifts, or items listed on their website are greatly appreciated. https://www.saveapetil.org . A donation box will be present that day at the service. A memorial brick will be given in Paul’s memory from the family at Save-A-Pet. | |||||
| 3299143700 | BESTSELLERS | 2026-02-01 | Los Angeles Times | News | Sunday Entertainment; E; Calendar Desk | E.10 | E.10 | Home Edition | Calendar Desk | Copyright Los Angeles Times Feb 1, 2026 | 740 | 508 | [] | ['Autobiographies', 'Books'] | [] | [] | ['Simon & Schuster Inc'] | [] | [] | Paperback bestsellers lists and more at latimes.com/bestsellers. Southern California bestsellers from CALIBA *--* Fiction weeks on list 1. The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (Crown: $28) A 21 lifelong letter writer reckons with a painful past. 2. Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy (Ballantine Books: 1 $30) A teenager embarks on a secret relationship with her teacher in the debut novel by the author of the bestselling memoir "I'm Glad My Mom Died." 3. Heart the Lover by Lily King (Grove Press: $28) A 17 woman reflects on a youthful love triangle and its consequences. 4. What We Can Know by Ian McEwan (Knopf: $30) A 18 genre-bending love story about people and the words they leave behind. 5. The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai 16 (Hogarth: $32) The fates of two young people intersect and diverge across continents and years. 6. Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash (Farrar, Straus & 2 Giroux: $28) A family comes undone in a small coastal town. 7. James by Percival Everett (Doubleday: $28) An 82 action-packed reimagining of "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." 8. The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave (Scribner: $29) 3 A woman and her stepdaughter must go on the run after someone from their past reappears in the sequel to "The Last Thing He Told Me." 9. Crucible by John Sayles (Melville House: $33) A 1 sweeping historical novel about Henry Ford and his attempt to rule Detroit. 10. Twelve Months by Jim Butcher (Ace: $30) Professional 1 wizard Harry Dresden struggles to move on after narrowly managing to save Chicago. *--* *--* Nonfiction weeks on list 1. Firestorm by Jacob Soboroff (Mariner Books: $30) An 3 account of the Palisades fire from a journalist who reported on the ground as his hometown was destroyed. 2. A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst (Riverhead 18 Books: $28) The true story of a young couple shipwrecked at sea. 3. One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against 25 This by Omar El Akkad (Knopf: $28) Reckoning with what it means to live in a West that betrays its values. 4. Football by Chuck Klost… | |
| 3299143702 | Voices: Impeaching Noem would send a message: People notice who is protected, who is sacrificed and who is allowed to lie with impunity | 2026-02-01 | Los Angeles Times | Commentary | Main News; A; Opinion Desk | A.17 | A.17 | Home Edition | Opinion Desk | Copyright Los Angeles Times Feb 1, 2026 | 1040 | 698 | ['Matt K Lewis'] | ['Border patrol', 'Immigration'] | [] | ['Noem, Kristi L', 'Trump, Donald J'] | [] | [] | [] | The Trump administration's response to the two recent killings in Minneapolis has achieved the peculiar distinction of being both horrifying and ridiculous at the same time -- like watching "The Death of Stalin," except without the self-awareness or the courtesy of being fiction. One of the faces of this farce is that of Kristi Noem, the cowgirl-hat-wearing secretary of Homeland Security, who told the nation that Renee Good and Alex Pretti were "domestic terrorists," while the immigration officers who killed them were just practicing, you know, wholesome, all-American defensive shooting. It takes a special kind of audacity to announce the exact opposite of what everyone can plainly see on viral videos. Which raises an obvious question: Why would anyone attempt a lie this naked and doomed? Noem became a serial prevaricator the same way that teenager in the old anti-drug ad learned to smoke weed: "I learned it by watching you." Trumpworld is a finishing school for shamelessness. Graduates are taught that prudence is weakness, apology is surrender and reality itself is alterable -- if you just say the right words with enough swagger. In this environment, everyone must butch up, flex, overcompensate and constantly project toughness, cruelty and dominance. But strictly adhering to the MAGA prime directive isn't enough to guarantee your job. Eventually, some loyalists get thrown under the bus. They're sacrificed not for disobedience, but for no longer being useful. We saw this recently when the Border Patrol commander, Gregory Bovino, was ousted from his role in Minneapolis. Bovino wasn't demoted because Trumpworld suddenly discovered he did something immoral or incompetent, but because the polls moved, Republicans got spooked and the boss needed a scapegoat. Which brings us back to Noem -- and the question of whether she deserves to be the focus of our attention and lawmakers' next impeachment campaign. Noem didn't create this culture. Nor did she pull the trigger. So why focus on Noem? Why obsess over mere w… | |
| 3299143708 | Voices: State violence can dehumanize us all. You aren't powerless: The worst response to killings by immigration authorities would be acceptance. There's a lot you can do instead. | 2026-02-01 | Los Angeles Times | Commentary | Main News; A; Opinion Desk | A.16 | A.16 | Home Edition | Opinion Desk | Copyright Los Angeles Times Feb 1, 2026 | 1070 | 1114 | ['Pablo Alvarado'] | ['Violence', 'Deportation', 'Manual workers', 'Oppression', 'Murders & murder attempts', 'Immigrants', 'Dehumanization', 'Immigration'] | [] | ['Trump, Donald J'] | ['National Day Laborer Organizing Network'] | [] | [] | Millions of us saw what the killers did to Renee Good and Alex Pretti on the icy streets of Minneapolis. Millions of us are witnesses to the violence. Like it or not, this forces us to make a decision. We know what happened -- what are we going to do about it? For many thousands, the answer is to keep showing up and speaking out. The good people of Minneapolis are carrying on the work of Good and Pretti. They are bearing nonviolent witness to a campaign of dehumanized violence against immigrants and people of color. In the face of terrifying armed aggression, they are fighting back, armed only with their humanity. As disaster rages around them, they have decided to be the helpers. And in working to save immigrants, they are also saving themselves. Today I'm asking everyone, all of us, all across the country -- to do the same. I'm not asking you to step into any line of fire. We don't want more martyrs. I'm just trying to persuade you to take some action wherever you are, now, today, this week -- to stop yourselves from being dehumanized. At this moment, in this terrible time, we should all be deeply worried about state violence. Worried about the death of our democracy. Worried about the violations of human rights that always go hand in hand with dehumanization. But although we all talk of President Trump dehumanizing his many enemies and victims, too few of us are identifying the dehumanization of the rest of the population, of those not in the deportation crosshairs. I am speaking, respectfully, of you -- you who are watching the news, sharing the videos, reading op-eds and wondering what to do. People can bring dehumanization upon themselves when they commit cruelty and violence. When they brutalize the weak and innocent. But they can also shed their humanity when they tolerate such abuse by others, or ignore it, or allow themselves to grow numb to it. Facing up to horrors is difficult. But we damage our souls by tuning out. The rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, a refugee and survivor of Nazi genocide, war… | |
| 3299143710 | NOTHING'S CERTAIN, BUT COUNT ON THE GRAMMYS TO SHAKE THINGS UP: WITH KENDRICK, GAGA AND BAD BUNNY AT THE TOP OF THE LISTS, ALL BETS ARE OFF. HERE ARE PREDICTIONS ON WHO WILL WIN AND ALSO WHO SHOULD. | 2026-02-01 | Los Angeles Times | News | Sunday Entertainment; E; Entertainment Desk | E.8 | E.8 | Home Edition | Entertainment Desk | Copyright Los Angeles Times Feb 1, 2026 | 1490 | 1667 | ['Mikael Wood'] | ['Nominations', 'Awards & honors', 'Musical performances', 'K-pop music', 'Voters'] | [] | ['Lamar, Kendrick', 'Nelson, Willie', 'Doechii', 'Bieber, Justin', 'Antonoff, Jack', 'Nelson, Lukas', 'Lady Gaga (musician)', 'Church, Eric', 'Mars, Bruno', 'Cyrus, Miley', 'Eilish, Billie'] | ['Linkin Park', 'Bon Iver'] | [] | ['GRAMMY AWARDS', 'MUSIC INDUSTRY'] | A year after Beyonce finally took home a long-overdue award for album of the year, music's royalty will gather Sunday night to find out what fresh justice or outrage might be served up during the 68th Grammy Awards. Kendrick Lamar leads the field with nine nominations, followed by Lady Gaga and the producers Cirkut and Jack Antonoff, each of whom have seven, and Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, Leon Thomas and the recording engineer Serban Ghenea, each of whom has six. The telecast, set to air live on CBS from Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, will be hosted by Trevor Noah (for what he says is the final time) and will feature performances by Carpenter, Thomas, Clipse, Pharrell Williams, Addison Rae, Alex Warren, Olivia Dean and others. Here are my predictions for how the night will go down across 13 categories -- along with the winners I'd pick if I were handing out the awards. -- ALBUM OF THE YEAR Bad Bunny, "Debi Tirar Mas Fotos" Justin Bieber, "Swag" Sabrina Carpenter, "Man's Best Friend" Clipse, "Let God Sort Em Out" Lady Gaga, "Mayhem" Kendrick Lamar, "GNX" Leon Thomas, "Mutt" Tyler, the Creator, "Chromakopia" Most insiders agree that the Grammys' top category amounts to a three-way race between Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga and Bad Bunny, none of whom has ever won album of the year. Lamar and Gaga both have been nominated four previous times, which means either could benefit from the kind of "It's their turn" energy that helped push Beyonce to victory with "Cowboy Carter" after four earlier losses; a win for Bad Bunny would mark the first time a Spanish-language LP took album of the year -- an attractive prospect, perhaps, to voters longing to send a message to President Trump amid his aggressive actions with ICE. That said, the Recording Academy never goes too long without making a choice that baffles everybody, as when Jon Batiste beat Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift in 2022. Will win: Kendrick Lamar, "GNX" Should win: Bad Bunny, "Debi Tirar Mas Fotos" -- RECORD OF THE YEAR Bad Bunny, "… | |
| 3299143726 | BUSINESS: Don Lemon's arrest escalates Trump's clashes with journalists: The former CNN anchor arrested Friday has never been afraid of controversy, despite some career setbacks. | 2026-02-01 | Los Angeles Times | News | Main News; A; Business Desk | A.12 | A.12 | Home Edition | Business Desk | Copyright Los Angeles Times Feb 1, 2026 | 1310 | 1382 | ['Stephen Battaglio'] | ['Journalism', 'Presidents', 'Journalists', 'Careers', 'Arrests', 'Television news', 'Social networks'] | ['Chicago Illinois', 'Los Angeles California', 'United States--US'] | ['Haley, Nikki', 'Trump, Donald J', 'Lemon, Don'] | ['CNN'] | [] | ['LEMON, DON', 'REPORTERS', 'ARRESTS', 'CONSPIRACY', 'MINNEAPOLIS (MN)', 'CHURCHES', 'DEMONSTRATIONS', 'IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (U.S.)', 'IMMIGRANTS', 'DEPORTATION', 'JOURNALISM', 'CENSORSHIP', 'HARASSMENT'] | For years at CNN, Don Lemon had been a thorn in the side of President Trump, frequently taking him to task during his first term over his comments about immigrants and other matters. On Friday, the former CNN anchor -- now an independent journalist who hosts his own YouTube show -- was in a federal courtroom in Los Angeles and charged with conspiracy and interfering with the 1st Amendment rights of worshipers during the Jan. 18 protest at the Cities Church in St. Paul, Minn. Lemon was arrested by federal agents in Los Angeles on Friday, along with a second journalist and two of the participants in the protest of the U.S. government's immigration enforcement tactics in Minneapolis. Lemon identified himself at the protest as a journalist. His attorney said in a statement Lemon's work was "constitutionally protected." "I have spent my entire career covering the news," Lemon told reporters after he was released on his own recognizance Friday afternoon. "I will not stop now. There is no more important time than right now, this very moment, for a free and independent media that shines a light on the truth and holds those in power accountable. Again, I will not stop now. I will not stop, ever." The scene of a reporter standing before a judge and facing federal charges for doing his job once seemed unimaginable in the U.S. The arrest marked an extraordinary escalation in the Trump administration's frayed relations with the news media and journalists. Last month, the FBI seized the devices of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson in a predawn raid as part of an investigation into a contractor who has been charged with sharing classified information. Such a seizure is a rare occurrence in the U.S. Last spring, the Associated Press was banned from the White House. The AP sued White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and two other administration officials, demanding reinstatement. Even the Committee to Protect Journalists, an organization that monitors and honors reporters imprisoned by authoritarian governme… | |
| 3299143727 | IT'S TIME FOR THE HAPPY COUPLE TO RIP OFF MASKS: LUKE THOMPSON AND YERIN HA ON NAVIGATING THE SPOTLIGHT AS THE LATEST FANTASY MATCH IN A NEW 'BRIDGERTON' SEASON. SPOILERS AHEAD. | 2026-02-01 | Los Angeles Times | Interview | Sunday Entertainment; E; Entertainment Desk | E.4 | E.4 | Home Edition | Entertainment Desk | Copyright Los Angeles Times Feb 1, 2026 | 920 | 2574 | ['Yvonne Villarreal'] | ['Television programs', 'Actors'] | [] | [] | ['Netflix Inc'] | [] | ['THOMPSON, LUKE', 'HA, YERIN', 'BRIDGERTON (TELEVISION PROGRAM)'] | Luke Thompson and Yerin Ha are lounging on a blue velvet couch in a swanky green room inside of Netflix's offices in New York, bracing for the whirlwind that inevitably envelops every pair of actors who become the central couple in a season of the popular romance drama "Bridgerton." And they're still settling into the idea of being romantic leads. "It doesn't feel real," Ha says fresh into their first press day in early December. "Because for a very long time, I didn't think that it was possible for me -- maybe I should have dreamed bigger. To keep saying that I'm the lead of a season feels really bizarre." "But maybe that's a way of coping with it," Thompson says. "I remember in Season 1, I just finished a Zoom call and I just sat in my living room and it was the first time I really touched into the idea that millions of people are watching this thing. Millions of people. And I never did it again." "You just did it for me now," Ha says with a smidgen of dread that launches the pair into laughter. "That's not really helping." Thompson, though, isn't feeling the pressure of keeping the romance alive and extremely meme-able as they take up the mantle of the Regency-era fairy tale. "It's a show that's proven time and time again that there's huge appetite for romance," he says. "It was a genre that might have been, not looked down on, but not really taken very seriously. To be able to incarnate some projection of romance for people, particularly in January and February, when people are feeling a bit miserable, maybe, it's lovely to be part of that." The duo play Benedict and Sophie, affectionately dubbed #Benophie, a couple whose story gives the classic Cinderella tale a bit of steam and is one that readers of Julia Quinn's "An Offer From a Gentleman," which inspired this season, know well. Thompson's Benedict, whom "Bridgerton" viewers have come to know as the artistic, pansexual second-oldest son of the Bridgerton clan, has long shown disinterest in settling down or adhering to societal norms. But then in Par… | |
| 3299143728 | LETTERS | 2026-02-01 | Los Angeles Times | Letter to the Editor | Main News; A; Letters Desk | A.16 | A.16 | Home Edition | Letters Desk | Copyright Los Angeles Times Feb 1, 2026 | 1310 | 862 | [] | ['Immigration policy', 'Stock prices', 'Recycling', 'Executive orders', 'Plastic pollution'] | ['Los Angeles California', 'United States--US'] | ['Trump, Donald J'] | [] | [] | [] | An overreach or needed action? Re "Trump order skirts permit rules," Jan. 28 PRESIDENT Trump's executive order attempting to override Los Angeles and California authority over rebuilding permits after the January 2025 wildfires is an unprecedented and dangerous federal overreach. Permitting and land-use regulation have always belonged to cities and counties, protected under the 10th Amendment. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is not equipped to replace local building departments, and allowing developers to "self-certify" compliance risks unsafe rebuilding and added confusion for Palisades and Altadena families trying to recover. If Washington truly wants to help survivors, it should deliver long-delayed disaster funding, ensure insurers pay claims fairly and support the local systems already moving recovery forward. This order is not about speeding rebuilding -- it is about political control. Los Angeles needs partnership and resources, not a federal permitting takeover. Steven Kern Los Angeles :: I haven't cheered Trump for a very long time, but I certainly did when he signed the executive order in an effort to help fire victims rebuild sooner. I only regret that this order was top-down rather than bottom-up. We should all be challenging the permitting requirements right here. Property owners should have the right to move forward with rebuilding right now. After all, they pay taxes, including property taxes, and their tax money should not be used against them in rules and regulations. Plus, these excessive permitting requirements have obviously discouraged building and therefore, I believe, been a factor in homelessness. Building permit requirements must go. The executive order is hopefully a start. The real reason local and state officials are upset is because the order is a threat to their power and their ability to fill government coffers. Alice Lillie Pomona -- Rethinking plastic pollution Re "How to fight epic fail in plastics recycling," Jan. 26 It has been clear for some time that… | |
| 3299143729 | ESSENTIAL CALIFORNIA: This hardware store has love on its shelves | 2026-02-01 | Los Angeles Times | News | California; B; Metro Desk | B.1 | B.1 | Home Edition | Metro Desk | Copyright Los Angeles Times Feb 1, 2026 | 1010 | 781 | ['James Rainey'] | [] | ['California', 'United States--US'] | [] | [] | [] | ['LOS ANGELES COUNTY', 'HARDWARE STORES', 'FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS', 'CUSTOMER SERVICE'] | The Urban Dictionary offers many definitions for the noun "baller," including this one: "An individual with status derived from possession of 'game.' " I like that. And it might also be applied to Baller Hardware, the store that has been a Silver Lake staple for 66 years. It's clearly a place that's gained status, derived from the possession of a certain kind of old-school game. That game involves fairness, customer service and heart. When I dropped by Tuesday for a visit, customers couldn't tell me enough about how much they love the place and its employees for being so relentlessly familiar, noncorporate and adept at advising on everything from kitchen cleaners to bathroom remodels. I visited Baller because Essential California reader Laurie MacDonald wrote when we asked readers to name local businesses they couldn't live without. The E.C. team still wants to hear about other essential local places, from Imperial County in the south to Siskiyou County, way up north. So write EssentialCalifornia@latimes.com with your favorites. What makes Baller (the name rhymes with "valor") so unusual is that it has been run by the same family for four generations, since Edward and Edith Baller founded the place in 1959. The Hyperion Avenue store is a throwback to a time of individualized service in an era of big-box anonymity and diminishing expertise. (There's a second store in Highland Park.) -- Inventory full of small-town charm Among the things you can get at Baller that you'll find almost nowhere else: a personal store account. Once approved, you can come in and buy whatever you want and the checker will just add it to your tab, to be billed later, when you're not in such a hurry. "I think especially for people who live here in Silver Lake, they just love this place," said Michael Koepke, a 30-year customer who works in the entertainment industry. "It has kind of a family, small-town feel in the middle of the big city. I've seen everyone here get older, myself included. That's what this represents: just local. No… | |
| 3299143730 | BUSINESS: L.A. pipe maker says law firm filed bogus asbestos lawsuits | 2026-02-01 | Los Angeles Times | News | Main News; A; Business Desk | A.12 | A.12 | Home Edition | Business Desk | Copyright Los Angeles Times Feb 1, 2026 | 1510 | 951 | ['Laurence Darmiento'] | ['Mesothelioma', 'Conspiracy', 'Manufacturing', 'Attorneys', 'Asbestos', 'Law firms', 'Litigation', 'Racketeering', 'Fraud'] | ['Los Angeles California', 'United States--US'] | [] | ['JM Eagle'] | [] | ['LOS ANGELES', 'JM EAGLE (COMPANY)', 'SUITS', 'ASBESTOS', 'EMPLOYEES', 'LAW FIRMS', 'FRAUD'] | A Los Angeles pipe manufacturer that has been sued thousands of times for allegedly causing asbestos-related disease in workers handling its products is accusing a leading law firm of filing fraudulent cases. J-M Manufacturing, which does business as JM Eagle, filed a federal RICO lawsuit Wednesday in Illinois alleging the Gori Law Firm in Edwardsville, Ill., brought sham lawsuits against it as part of a strategy to reach costly mass settlements. The lawsuit alleges the law firm's plaintiffs -- who might suffer from lung cancer or mesothelioma, a rare aggressive organ cancer caused by asbestos -- were coached by trained attorneys to identify the company's pipe as the source of their exposure, even when that was demonstrably false. It accuses the law firm of a "systematic scheme of fraud operating beneath the surface of ostensibly ordinary asbestos litigation." The company said it learned of the alleged fraud after a former attorney at the firm came forward. "We are outraged by these ridiculous claims from an asbestos company. These scare tactics will not stop us from fighting for justice for our clients who are hurt by manufacturers like J-M Manufacturing Co.," the firm said in response to the lawsuit. The firm's website says it has "recovered" more than $4 billion for its clients. Asbestos is a mined fibrous silicate that was widely used in home insulation, automobiles and other applications through the 1970s until its use was slowly phased out as its health effects became widely known. JM Eagle is a large producer of plastic and PVC pipe, a business it got into in 1982 after purchasing those operations from Johns-Manville Corp., which went bankrupt because of asbestos claims. It is privately held by Los Angeles billionaire Walter Wang, chairman and chief executive, and has about $2 billion in annual revenue. From 1983 to 1988 the company also supplied asbestos-cement pipe used by municipal water systems, sewer systems and other customers. The company contends the pipe poses no health threat unless impro… | |
| 3299143731 | PERSPECTIVES: Voices: Kentucky's Beshear is un-Gavin in his approach: The red state's blue governor sees healing, not antagonizing, as way to White House. | 2026-02-01 | Los Angeles Times | Commentary | Main News; A; National Desk | A.2 | A.2 | Home Edition | National Desk | FRANKFORT, KY. | Copyright Los Angeles Times Feb 1, 2026 | 1160 | 1148 | ['MARK Z BARABAK'] | ['Presidents', 'Governors', 'Sexual orientation discrimination', 'Voters', 'Political parties'] | ['Davos Switzerland', 'California', 'Switzerland', 'United States--US', 'Kentucky'] | ['Beshear, Andy', 'Trump, Donald J'] | [] | [] | ['BESHEAR, ANDY', 'KENTUCKY', 'GOVERNORS', 'DEMOCRATIC PARTY', 'PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES', 'POLITICAL STRATEGY'] | Gavin Newsom was in his element, moving and shaking amid the rich and powerful in Davos. He scolded European leaders for supposedly cowering before President Trump. He drew disparaging notice during a presidential rant and captured headlines after being blocked from delivering a high-profile speech, allegedly at the behest of the White House. All the while, another governor and Democratic presidential prospect was mixing and mingling in the rarefied Swiss air -- though you probably wouldn't know it. Flying far below the heat-seeking radar, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear leaned into the role of economic ambassador, focusing on job creation and other nutsy, boltsy stuff that doesn't grab much notice in today's performative political environment. Like Newsom, Beshear is running-but-not-exactly-running for president. He didn't set out to offer a stark contrast to California's governor, the putative 2028 Democratic front-runner. But he's doing so just the same. Want someone who'll match Trump insult for insult, over-the-top meme for over-the-top meme and howl whenever the president commits some new outrage? Look to Sacramento, not Frankfort. "I think by the time we reach 2028, our Democratic voters are gonna be worn out," Beshear said during a conversation in his state's snowy capital. "They're gonna be worn out by Trump, and they're gonna be worn out by Democrats who respond to Trump like Trump. And they're gonna want some stability in their lives." Every candidate enters a contest with a backstory and a record, which is condensed to a summary that serves as calling card, strategic foundation and a rationale for their run. Here's Andy Beshear's: He's the popular two-term governor of a red state that three times voted overwhelmingly for Trump. He is fluent in the language of faith, well-liked by the kind of rural voters who have abandoned Democrats in droves and, at 48, offers a fresh face and relative youth in a party that many voters have come to see as old and ossified. The fact he's from the South, where Ar… |
| 3299143732 | Voices: People must take to the streets: Protests remain a powerful tool for shaping public opinion and forcing leaders to act | 2026-02-01 | Los Angeles Times | Commentary | Main News; A; Opinion Desk | A.17 | A.17 | Home Edition | Opinion Desk | Copyright Los Angeles Times Feb 1, 2026 | 1200 | 1081 | ['Robin Abcarian'] | ['Due process of law', 'Raids', 'Demonstrations & protests'] | ['New York', 'United States--US'] | ['Trump, Donald J'] | ['New York Times Co'] | [] | [] | Before June, when the ICE raids first began in Los Angeles, Daniel Sosa had not been active in the immigrants' rights movement. A cannabis dispensary owner, he'd previously directed his political energy to fights around legalization and the implementation of California's onerous rules around weed dispensaries. On June 6, however, the first day of major, aggressive ICE raids all over Los Angeles County, something changed in him. "ICE really started snatching people off the streets in L.A.," Sosa told me Thursday. "These are just people that are in my community, and people that I know." That evening, Sosa joined hundreds of protesters at the downtown Metropolitan Detention Center, the federal prison that sits on Alameda Street next to the Roybal federal building. It has been -- and still is -- the site of round-the-clock anti-ICE protests. Some protesters were graffiting the building, a few threw water bottles and, according to news reports, some chucked rocks and broken concrete at law enforcement vehicles. "I don't engage in that stuff," Sosa told me. But he was still caught in the turmoil. A flash-bang stun grenade that exploded close to his ear that night sent him to urgent care the next morning, where he was diagnosed with an inflamed cochlea and given prednisone. That next evening, undaunted, he returned to the protests. After dark, once again, things got ugly. "Describe what happened to you," encouraged a KCAL News reporter on the scene, holding a microphone to Sosa, 42, who wore dark glasses and a beanie pulled down over his ears. "I tasted a little tear gas," Sosa said. "Tasted like fascism." A few days later, Stephen Colbert aired the clip, which has been viewed millions of times, and pronounced Sosa "the most L.A. guy ever." What's happening in cities like L.A., Chicago and, of course, Minneapolis, does feel like something out of a dystopian novel about the crumbling of the American experiment. Unidentified masked men carry weapons of war in residential neighborhoods. Their hair-trigger tempers … | |
| 3299143738 | A WORST-TO-BEST RANKING BEFORE WINNER TAKES ALL: THE OSCAR BEST PICTURE NOMINEES WILL FACE FINAL SCRUTINY COME MARCH, BUT FOR NOW, WHERE DO THE HOPEFULS FALL IN A CRITIC'S LINE OF SIGHT? | 2026-02-01 | Los Angeles Times | Feature | Sunday Entertainment; E; Entertainment Desk | E.2 | E.2 | Home Edition | Entertainment Desk | Copyright Los Angeles Times Feb 1, 2026 | 1160 | 1306 | ['Amy Nicholson'] | ['Table tennis', 'Nominations', 'Audiences', 'Voters', 'Motion picture directors & producers', 'Academy awards', 'Motion pictures'] | [] | ['Chalamet, Timothee'] | [] | [] | ['MOVIES', 'ACADEMY AWARDS'] | This was a year of big swings and I'm not just talking about Timothee Chalamet's ping-pong serve. The Academy Awards feel like they're in motion too -- a body less affixed to an idea of what a best picture contender is and more willing to race after talent from around the globe. But they can't all be winners. Here's my ranking of the 10 nominees, from whiff to smash. -- 10. HAMNET Chloe Zhao's ye olde dysfunctional marriage weepie deserved a supporting actor nomination for 12-year-old Jacobi Jupe, who is so heartbreaking as William Shakespeare's brave son that he casts a spell over the movie. He turns on the waterworks; his parents Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley just come off soggy. As with Maggie O'Farrell's original novel, "Hamnet" soft-pedals the reveal that Mescal's pasty, ordinary-seeming father of three is the greatest wordsmith in English literature. Frankly, even after we find out, it's impossible to believe. Unlike "Shakespeare in Love," the script doesn't have Tom Stoppard punching up the dialogue. Audiences who endured the Miramax era have been browbeaten to believe that the best picture Oscar should go to a period piece that chokes out a sob from audiences. Get me to a nunnery, but I'm weary of presenting filmland's biggest honor to the kind of movie people rarely want to watch twice. -- 9. F1 Nominating this popcorn trifle for best picture is silly, but at least it didn't get a screenplay nod for a script that's simply: See Brad Pitt go, go, go. Still, I'll admit that I recommended this rumbler to everyone who wanted an excuse to speed to the multiplex. (I elbowed my uncle, a hobbyist racer, to go see it a half-dozen times.) Not once in "F1" does it feel like we're invested in Pitt's bizarrely constructed character, a throwback fossil with jokey Gen-Z tattoos. The movie is fueled by pure star power and you can't fault Oscar voters for huffing its fumes. -- 8. SENTIMENTAL VALUE Director Joachim Trier's follow-up to 2021's "The Worst Person in the World" also feels like it's playing a dated ve… | |
| 3299143745 | New downtown L.A. gallery goes for the win: POP ARTIST SETS UP FAB LA IN THE HISTORIC FINE ARTS BUILDING. ITS LATEST SHOW FEATURES POSTER ART OF GRAMMY WINNERS, JUST IN TIME FOR THE CEREMONY. | 2026-02-01 | Los Angeles Times | News | Sunday Entertainment; E; Entertainment Desk | E.9 | E.9 | Home Edition | Entertainment Desk | Copyright Los Angeles Times Feb 1, 2026 | 1420 | 1216 | ['LINA LECARO'] | ['Fine arts', 'Design', 'Visual artists', 'Buildings', 'Posters', 'Art exhibits'] | ['Los Angeles California', 'United States--US'] | ['Parton, Dolly'] | [] | [] | ['ARENS, KII', 'CONCERTS', 'POSTERS', 'GALLERIES', 'ART EXHIBITS'] | Pop artist Kii Arens made a name for himself in music over the years, creating concert posters for bands and vocalists such as Radiohead, Elton John, Dolly Parton, the Weeknd, Sonic Youth, Tame Impala, Diana Ross and more. That work is taking center stage at Arens' new downtown Los Angeles gallery, FAB LA, in a show titled "And the Winner Is." Curated by Arens and featuring poster art of Grammy winners, the exhibition opened Friday, two days before the 2026 Grammys descended on the city, and just in time to welcome plenty of visiting celebrity faces to the gallery's third-ever event. A glittering party scene is part of every exhibition Arens hosts, dating back to his previous gallery, LA-LA Land, which he opened two decades ago on Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood and ran until its lease came up last year. FAB LA officially launched in October with "XO, LA: A Love Letter to Los Angeles," an exhibition that reflected the eclectic voices and existential challenges that define L.A. culture with paintings, illustrations and mixed media works by Shepard Fairey, Corita Kent, Anthony Ausgang, Ashley Dreyfus, Paul Frank and others. The flamboyant "Mick Rock's Rocky Horror Art Show" followed in December. The exhibition was among the last events marking the famous cult film's 50th anniversary, and featured Rock's famous photographs alongside pieces by pop star designer Michael Schmidt and digital portraitist Plasticgod. As with previous events at LA-LA Land, the opening attracted rockers, drag queens and club world cognoscenti. DJs Sean Patrick (Simon Says) and Chris Holmes (Paul McCartney's touring DJ, and creative collaborator with Cosm) manned the decks, and "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars" winner and podcaster, Alaska Thunderf--, performed as Tim Curry's Dr. Frank-N-Furter, dancing and prancing around the grand environs. There are galleries all over Los Angeles, but few can be described as works of art unto themselves. FAB LA is that and more. Its majestic headquarters are housed inside downtown's historic Fine A… | |
| 3299143747 | Voices: He's taking the civil rights fight home to Minneapolis: Californian is among the attorneys aiding civilians there | 2026-02-01 | Los Angeles Times | Commentary | California; B; Metro Desk | B.1 | B.1 | Home Edition | Metro Desk | Copyright Los Angeles Times Feb 1, 2026 | 1280 | 1342 | ['ANITA CHABRIA'] | ['Official misconduct', 'Kickboxing', 'Law', 'Shootings', 'Attorneys', 'Civil rights', 'Immigration'] | ['United States--US', 'Minnesota'] | ['Trump, Donald J'] | [] | [] | ['CALIFORNIANS', 'CIVIL RIGHTS', 'ATTORNEYS', 'LEGAL AID', 'MINNEAPOLIS (MN)', 'IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (U.S.)', 'IMMIGRANTS', 'ARRESTS', 'DEPORTATION', 'DEMONSTRATIONS'] | How do you find the missing? If you do find them, how can you help? Oakland civil rights attorney James Cook has been on the ground in Minnesota for months figuring out answers to these question as he goes. A fast-talking Minneapolis native who still lives in the Twin Cities part time, Cook is one of a handful of attorneys who have dropped everything to aid (for free) those caught up in the federal crackdown -- protesters, immigrants and detained citizens -- too many of whom have found themselves facing deportation, arrest or even been disappeared, at least for a time. "They are leaders that are on the ground really helping people through this process," Minnesota school board member Chauntyll Allen told me. She's one of the protesters arrested inside a local church, charged with conspiracy to deprive others of their constitutional rights by Pam Bondi's politicized Department of Justice, which Friday also arrested journalist Don Lemon for the same incident. Cook is one of the lawyers now representing Allen. "It shows us that the judicial arm, or some of the judicial arm of our democracy, is willing to step up and ensure that our democracy stands strong," Allen said of Cook and others like him. While it's the images of clashes in the streets that captivate media and audiences, it's lawyers like Cook who are fighting an existential battle in the background to preserve the rule of law in a place where it is increasing opaque, to put it gently. The legal work behind detentions has largely been an overlooked battlefield that will likely rage on years after ICE departs the streets, leaving in its wake hundreds if not thousands of long-and-winding court cases. Beyond the personal fates they will determine, the outcome of the civil litigation Cook and others are spearheading will likely force whatever transparency and accountability can be pulled from these chaotic and troubling times. It's time-consuming and complicated work vital not just to people, but history. Or, as Cook puts it, "I'll be 10 years older wh… |
Advanced export
JSON shape: default, array, newline-delimited
CREATE VIEW feb2026_news AS SELECT * FROM "/data/feb2026_news.parquet";;