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Feb 23, 2026 - World

A panel of three federal judges declined to strike down a Utah redistricting map that could help Democrats regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives.In a ruling on Monday, the Tenth Circuit panel responded to a demand by Utah's Republican-led legislature that new court-drawn maps not be used for the upcoming midterm elections."The Tenth Circuit convened a three-judge district court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2284to consider whether a state district court may impose a congressional redistricting map upon a state under the Elections Clause of the United States Constitution," Judges Timothy M. Tymkovich, Robert J. Shelby, and Holly L. Teeter wrote. "Plaintiffs seek a preliminary injunction to prevent the Lieutenant Governor of Utah from using the state district court's selected map in the upcoming 2026 congressional election.""The Lieutenant Governor takes no position on the merits of Plaintiffs' claim; however, she represents to this court that she must know by February 23, 2026, which redistricting map to implement," the ruling continued. "Because we conclude Plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate a likelihood of success on the merits, and because the Purcell principle counsels this court not to enjoin a state's election laws in the period close to an election, we DENY Plaintiffs' preliminary injunction motion."Last week, the Utah Supreme Court also ruled for the plaintiffs — the League of Women Voters of Utah, Mormon Women for Ethical Government, and a handful of Salt Lake County voters — and refused to strike down the map because the federal appeals process had not been completed."Utah voters deserve fair representation and clarity heading into our elections," League of Women Voters of Utah President Katharine Biele said in a statement about the ruling. "We are encouraged that the court dismissed this improper appeal and allowed the process to move forward without disruption to voters or election administrators. The League of Women Voters of Utah will continue in our fight for fair maps for Utahns."If the map stands, it is expected to create one Democratic-leaning district and three Republican districts.

Feb 23, 2026 - World

When Mexican soldiers finally cornered Nemesio El Mencho' Oseguera Cervantes, the world's most wanted cartel boss, the ground he stood on was already soaked with the blood of a conflict that had ravaged Mexico for years.

Feb 23, 2026 - World

Count current and former FBI officials among those who were appalled watching FBI Director Kash Patel chugging beer and partying with the Olympic hockey team in Italy, as if he had some part in their 2-1 overtime victory over Canada.According to MS NOW’s Ken Dilanian, Patel claimed he had important business in Italy, and it was just a coincidence that the Winter Olympics, awarded to Milan in 2019, happened to be running concurrently.Speaking with Ana Cabrera, Dilanian asserted no one is buying the embattled FBI director’s story.“He said he had official meetings and he did have official meetings,” the MS NOW reporter explained. “But when those videos began to emerge last night showing him celebrating in the locker room, that really underscored that whatever else he was doing, he definitely went there to watch the U.S. try to win and ultimately win the gold medal.”“And that really rubbed a lot of people the wrong way,” he continued. “And there was another exchange. Patel himself screen-shotted a post by my colleague Carol Leonnig underscoring what happened, why he was at the hockey game and suggesting that it was inappropriate to even mention that because he also had official visits. None of this, none of this, is going over well with current and former FBI officials.”He pointed out, “Look, Kash Patel is a controversial figure. A lot of people don't like him anyway. I have never seen the kind of disgust from current and former FBI officials, as we are hearing about and seeing in response to his, what they are calling, his antics in the locker room. And this is from people who normally support Patel and Donald Trump,” he observed. He added, “People chug beer and celebrate all the time after championship wins, but not the FBI director. That's just not how any previous FBI director has ever behaved. Some are even pointing out that technically, FBI agents are not supposed to drink alcohol while on duty. So did he violate some kind of code there?” - YouTube youtu.be

Feb 23, 2026 - World

With the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, or El Mencho, Mexican forces have dealt a major blow to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, responsible for drug trafficking and attacks across the country.

Feb 23, 2026 - World

Deadliest start to a year in more than a decade, according to the International Organization for Migration A least 606 people trying to reach Europe in search of refugee have been reported dead or missing in the Mediterranean since the beginning of 2026, marking the “deadliest start to a year” in more than a decade, the UN’s migration agency said on Monday.The figure includes at least 30 people who are feared dead or missing after their boat capsized in severe weather off the coast of Greece on Saturday. Authorities rescued 20 people, including four minors, and recovered the bodies of three men and one woman, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), said. Continue reading...