Category: News
De nueva cuenta, Chivas es la base de la selección mexicana en su camino al Mundial del 2026
Por CARLOS RODRÍGUEZ
CIUDAD DE MÉXICO (AP) — Por segunda convocatoria consecutiva, Chivas será la base de la selección mexicana que se prepara para el Mundial del 2026.
El entrenador Javier Aguirre citó el jueves por la noche a siete jugadores del “Rebaño Sagrado” a la selección mexicana que enfrentará un encuentro amistoso ante Islandia el miércoles próximo en la ciudad central de Querétaro.
Para los choques amistosos de enero ante Panamá y Bolivia, el “Vasco” Aguirre convocó a ocho elementos del Guadalajara, que es el líder del torneo Apertura mexicano luego de las primeras seis fechas.
Entre los jugadores de Chivas que fueron citados ahora aparece el zaguero central Diego Campillo y el delantero Efraín Álvarez, quienes no fueron requeridos en enero. El lesionado Luis Romo, el delantero Ángel Sepúlveda y el lateral Bryan González no fueron convocados en esta ocasión.
Aguirre recurrió exclusivamente a futbolistas de la liga local por no ser una fecha FIFA.
El encuentro ante los islandeses marcará la última etapa de pruebas para los mexicanos, porque en marzo, cuando sí hay fecha FIFA, Aguirre dijo que usará básicamente al elenco que disputará el próximo Mundial.
México tiene programados partidos el 28 de marzo ante Portugal en la reinauguración del estadio Azteca. Tres días después se medirá ante Bélgica, en Chicago.
El equipo tricolor debuta en el Mundial el 11 de junio ante Sudáfrica.
Uno de los jugadores que tiene una última oportunidad de convencer a Aguirre es el delantero Guillermo Martínez, de Pumas.
El “Memote” tiene una complicada misión para obtener un sitio como centro delantero, un puesto en el que Raúl Jiménez y el lesionado Santiago Giménez parecen seguros, mientras que Armando “Hormiga” González y Germán Berterame, del Inter Miami, pelean por el tercer sitio.
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Equipo:
Arqueros: Luis Ángel Malagón (América), Raúl Rangel (Chivas), Carlos Acevedo (Santos)
Zagueros: Richard Ledezma (Chivas), Jesús Garza (Tigres), Víctor Guzmán (Monterrey), Israel Reyes (América), Everardo López (Toluca), Jesús Gallardo (Toluca), Diego Campillo (Chivas).
Volantes: Erik Lira (Cruz Azul), Erick Sánchez (América), Carlos Rodríguez (Cruz Azul), Denzell García (Juárez), Marcel Ruiz (Toluca), Brian Gutiérrez (Chivas), Alexis Gutiérrez (América).
Delanteros: Efraín Álvarez (Chivas), Roberto Alvarado (Chivas), Guillermo Martínez (Pumas) y Armando González (Chivas).
Tesla Scores FCC Waiver For Wireless Cybercab Charging System
Tesla Scores FCC Waiver For Wireless Cybercab Charging System
On Wednesday, Tesla’s first Cybercab officially rolled off the production line in Texas. The Model Y robotaxi is a two-passenger, self-driving EV with no steering wheel or pedals, though it will have a human “safety monitor” in most cases.
Congratulations to the Tesla team on making the first production Cybercab! https://t.co/TFSVQcbME5
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 17, 2026
What’s more, Musk confirmed that they will cost under $30,000 – something he was challenged to do by YouTuber Marques Brownlee, who vowed to shave his head on camera if Musk could pull off that price point before 2027.
Marques Brownlee in October 2024 on the Cybercab being delivered before 2027 for $30,000:
“There’s no way they’re actually going to be able to do that. If they do, I will shave my head on camera. I’m that confident they won’t do it.”
Today, Tesla announced that the first… https://t.co/CDMz7IfGbG pic.twitter.com/6iu2QDR4Cl
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) February 17, 2026
Yes
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 17, 2026
Wireless Charging Bitchez
Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted Tesla approval to use Ultra-Wideband (UWB) radio technology in its wireless EV charging system – granting the company a waiver so that Cybercabs recharging pads can be installed on fixed outdoor equipment, which is major.
“The Tesla positioning system is an impulse UWB radio system that enables peer-to-peer communications between a UWB transceiver installed on an electric vehicle (EV) and a second UWB transceiver installed on a ground-level pad, which could be located outdoors, to achieve optimal positioning for the EV to charge wirelessly,” the company said in the FCC document granting approval.
As journalist Sawyer Merritt notes on X:
The FCC today officially granted @Tesla a waiver allowing it to use Ultra-Wideband (UWB) radio technology for its wireless EV charging system that will be used to wirelessly charge the Cybercab.
Normally, this kind of radio must be handheld and can’t be installed outdoors on fixed equipment. Tesla’s charging pad is fixed and could be outdoors, so they needed an exception.
The FCC said yes because:
• The signal is very low power
• It only turns on briefly while parking
• It works at very short range
• It won’t interfere with other systems
More information from the filing: “The Tesla positioning system is an impulse UWB radio system that enables peer-to-peer communications between a UWB transceiver installed on an electric vehicle (EV) and a second UWB transceiver installed on a ground-level pad — which could be located outdoors — to achieve optimal positioning for the EV to charge wirelessly.
Prior to the UWB operation, the vehicular system uses Bluetooth technology for the vehicle to discover the location of the ground pad and engage in data exchange activities (which is not subject to the waiver).
When the vehicle approaches the ground pad, the UWB transceivers will operate to track the position of the vehicle to determine when the optimal position has been achieved over the pad before enabling wireless power charging.”
In its waiver request, Tesla states that the UWB signals occur only briefly when the vehicle approaches the ground pad; and mostly at ground level between the vehicle and the pad, and that the UWB signals are then significantly attenuated by the body of the vehicle positioned over the pad.
BREAKING: The FCC today officially granted @Tesla a waiver allowing it to use Ultra-Wideband (UWB) radio technology for its wireless EV charging system that will be used to wirelessly charge the Cybercab.
Normally, this kind of radio must be handheld and can’t be installed… pic.twitter.com/pve5NSoqtc
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) February 19, 2026
We assume that in the not-too-distant future your human-skinned Tesla Optimus will have its own cute little charging pad at home, whichever model you choose. Cyber-Fleshlight not included.
Tyler Durden
Thu, 02/19/2026 – 21:20
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/tesla-scores-fcc-waiver-wireless-cybercab-charging-system
Relevista de Rays Edwin Uceta no se sintió bien al probar su hombro
PORT CHARLOTTE, Florida, EE.UU. (AP) — El relevista dominicano de Tampa Bay Edwin Uceta, quien se retiró del Clásico Mundial de Béisbol por una molestia en el hombro derecho, no se sintió muy bien el jueves, cuando lo puso a prueba jugando como receptor.
“Estaba bien pero, a medida que avanzó, lanzando a mayor distancia, no se sintió muy bien”, informó el manager Kevin Cash, citado por el diario Tampa Bay Times. “Probablemente dejaremos que un médico lo revise y vea cómo está”.
Uceta, un lanzador de rectas potentes, hizo 70 apariciones como relevista con los Rays la temporada pasada, en la que tuvo una marca de 10-3 y una efectividad de 3,70. El derecho de 28 años fue elegible por primera vez para el arbitraje salarial este receso de temporada y ganó su caso para cobrar 1.525.000 dólares, frente a los 815.000 de la temporada pasada, en lugar de la propuesta de 1,2 millones de los Rays.
Había planeado lanzar por República Dominicana en el Clásico Mundial de Béisbol, pero se abstuvo por las molestias que sintió antes de presentarse a los entrenamientos de pretemporada con los Rays.
Uceta podría asumir el rol de cerrador de los Rays tras la salida de Pete Fairbanks, quien se marchó en el receso a Miami como agente libre.
Uceta llegó por primera vez a Tampa Bay como agente libre antes de la temporada 2024. Anteriormente tuvo apariciones en las Grandes Ligas con los Dodgers de Los Ángeles (2021), Arizona (2022) y los Mets de Nueva York (2023).
Abridor del juego inaugural
Los Rays anunciaron que el derecho estelar Drew Rasmussen será el abridor del juego inaugural en San Luis el 26 de marzo.
Rasmussen tuvo una foja de 10-5 con una efectividad de 2,76 en 31 aperturas la temporada pasada, cuando fue seleccionado al Juego de Estrellas por primera vez. Completó la campaña en su regreso tras un procedimiento de sujeción interna de ligamentos.
Fue su tercer procedimiento importante en el codo, después de haberse sometido en dos ocasiones a la cirugía Tommy John.
San Luis fue también el escenario donde Rasmussen concretó su regreso el 7 de agosto de 2024, casi 15 meses después de la cirugía más reciente. Lanzó dos entradas sin permitir carreras para cerrar ese duelo.
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Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Se intensifican primarias al senado federal en Texas después de una entrevista eliminada con Colbert
Por JOHN HANNA y JAMIE STENGLE
FORT WORTH, Texas, EE.UU. (AP) — La representante federal Jasmine Crockett, demócrata por Texas, hizo un llamado el jueves a sus simpatizantes a tomar en cuenta su experiencia durante una reñida contienda en las primarias demócratas rumbo al senado federal con el representante estatal James Talarico, quien está sacando provecho a una mayor atención en la recta final de la campaña después de que no se transmitió al aire una entrevista con el presentador Stephen Colbert.
Las primarias del 3 de marzo en Texas son la primera gran contienda nacional en las elecciones legislativas de 2026. Y, con la votación anticipada ya en marcha, Talarico y Crockett han intensificado sus campañas mientras algunos demócratas ven una creciente oportunidad en las elecciones de noviembre a pesar de no haber ganado una contienda estatal en Texas en más de 30 años.
Crockett realizó varios eventos en su ciudad natal, Dallas, y en Fort Worth, haciendo campaña en el condado en donde un demócrata logró el mes pasado una sorprendente victoria en una elección especial en un distrito con clara preferencia republicana que votó a favor del presidente Donald Trump.
“Ahora, no estoy diciendo que este sea un momento sencillo, pero al menos ustedes saben exactamente cómo opero en este momento a nivel federal”, dijo Crockett a sus simpatizantes en Fort Worth. “Saben quién soy. Saben cómo me muevo”.
Talarico inició esta semana una gira por todo el estado y se sentó para una entrevista en el programa de Colbert. Pero Colbert anunció en su emisión del lunes que los abogados de CBS habían dicho que el programa no podía transmitir la entrevista por temor a incomodar a los reguladores federales.
La campaña de Talarico informó que recaudó 2,5 millones de dólares en las 24 horas posteriores a que se dio a conocer el retiro de la entrevista. Crockett comentó esta semana en una entrevista en MS NOW que eso probablemente le dio a su rival “el impulso que buscaba”.
El presidente del Partido Demócrata para el condado de Harris, Mike Doyle, señaló en Houston que era “innegable” el repunte en la campaña de Talarico tras la cancelación de la entrevista.
“Quién sabe si se mantendrá a largo plazo o no”, declaró Doyle.
Dos intensas primarias al Senado en Texas
Tanto Crockett como Talarico alcanzaron relevancia nacional gracias a videos que se viralizaron en redes sociales antes de entrar a la contienda al Senado el año pasado. Talarico es conocido en particular por vincular sus posturas con su fe cristiana y citar con frecuencia a Jesús, mientras que los clips más conocidos de Crockett la muestran arremetiendo públicamente contra los republicanos.
Ambos compiten por el escaño que el senador republicano John Cornyn ha ocupado durante cuatro periodos. Cornyn enfrenta la contienda más complicada de su larga carrera política, enfrentándose al fiscal general de Texas, Ken Paxton, y el representante federal Wesley Hunt.
Los demócratas no han ganado una elección al Senado en Texas desde 1988, pero ven un resquicio este año para impulsar sus remotas esperanzas de recuperar la mayoría en el Senado, especialmente si los republicanos nominan a Paxton, quien es popular entre los votantes MAGA pero ha tenido problemas legales durante varios años.
“Fue un honor votar en esta elección. Era mi nombre el que estaba en la boleta”, señaló Talarico después de votar de manera anticipada en Austin esta semana. “Pero este es un movimiento que incluye a miles de texanos. Estamos construyendo un movimiento para recuperar nuestro estado y nuestro país”.
La importancia de Colbert en Texas
Colbert dijo en su programa del lunes por la noche que los abogados de la cadena, CBS, le habían aconsejado no transmitir la entrevista con Talarico, argumentando posibles violaciones a las directrices regulatorias del gobierno federal.
Los programas de entrevistas han estado exentos del requisito de dar a los candidatos en una contienda el mismo tiempo al aire. Aun así, el presidente de la Comisión Federal de Comunicaciones (FCC por sus iniciales en inglés), Brendan Carr, ha cuestionado si la exención debería mantenerse. El material en internet no está sujeto a la norma y el programa de Colbert publicó la entrevista en línea, donde hasta el jueves había acumulado casi 8 millones de visualizaciones en YouTube.
Colbert y Talarico han criticado a CBS por ceder ante la presión del gobierno de Trump, mientras que la cadena ha dicho que sus abogados simplemente dieron “orientación legal” al programa de Colbert. Crockett ha estado antes en el programa de Colbert y dijo que publicar la entrevista de Talarico en YouTube fue una “buena estrategia” para llamar la atención.
Crockett moviliza a sus simpatizantes
Durante su evento del jueves en Fort Worth, Crockett les dijo a sus simpatizantes: “No pueden aflojar el paso” porque la democracia en el gobierno de Trump “pende de un hilo”.
“La gente quiere saber que esto no es más de lo mismo y que ustedes van a dar la pelea porque importa”, agregó. “La gente está enojada”.
Ivon Gonzalez, una enfermera titulada de 41 años de edad que acudió al evento después de votar de manera anticipada por Crockett, dijo que se enteró de lo que pasó con Talarico y el programa de Colbert, pero no ha visto la entrevista.
“Creo que él tiene muchos seguidores y en general parece un buen tipo”, declaró. “Yo sólo quiero a alguien con más garra, con más valentía”.
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Hanna informó desde Topeka, Kansas.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Amid Minnesota Fraud Scandal, Legitimate Autism Centers Face Closure
Amid Minnesota Fraud Scandal, Legitimate Autism Centers Face Closure
Authored by Troy Myers via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),
A Minnesota autism center for adults and children, which has been operating for more than 20 years, is facing closure in the wake of the massive fraud scandal in the state that dates back more than a decade and involves more than $9 billion of U.S. taxpayer money.
The Holland Center is one of many legitimate centers in the state, which collectively serve thousands of disabled people. Founder, owner, and CEO Jennifer Larson built the Holland Center for her autistic, non-speaking son, who is now 25 years old.
She said she has recently been forced to put hundreds of thousands of her own dollars into keeping the center afloat because the state didn’t pay a single claim for nearly two months.
Because of the payment delays, Larson said autism centers like hers are being forced to reduce hours, cut staff, and close in some instances. Families are scrambling for help, disabled children and adults are regressing, and parents are leaving jobs to care for their disabled loved ones.
Larson told The Epoch Times her facility can’t continue much longer.
“The feds say it’s the state. The state says it’s the feds,” Larson said.
“The kids are going to be the collateral damage.”
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services paused child care and family assistance funds to Minnesota in early January due to the alleged rampant fraud. The state is appealing.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services told The Epoch Times via email that the federal government’s threat of withholding funds is “not impacting the current payment situation.”
However, Larson’s center accumulated nearly two months of unpaid claims from Dec. 5 to Jan. 29, totaling more than $600,000.
‘Everything Was Flagged’
Beginning in late December 2025, the state began using a new pre-payment review vendor called Optum, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) “at every step” of its claims and reimbursement processes. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz had announced the contract with the new system in late October 2025.
“They implemented it because of the fraud. Obviously, the state wasn’t catching the fraud in the 300 or 400 centers that popped up in the last three years,” Larson said. She blames the Minnesota government for turning a blind eye to the “crime ring” involving fraud at Somali-run autism centers to an immense scale.
Neither Walz nor his office could be reached for comment during multiple attempts via emails and phone calls.
Now, she said, Optum is causing the delay of claims with few or unclear explanations in the review process.
“The state has failed and lost millions and millions of dollars in the system, so, clearly, the state wasn’t going to be able to tell Optum what to look for because they didn’t know what they were doing,” Larson told The Epoch Times after she recently testified in Congress.
“All of us, for the first round, nobody got anything. Everything was flagged.”
Larson told a House subcommittee hearing on Jan. 21 that her center and numerous others in Minnesota are facing collapse after becoming collateral damage from the massive fraud scandal.
Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.) asked Larson: “Ms. Larson, none of this would have happened if the fraud did not occur, is that accurate?”
“Yes,” she responded. “What happened in Minnesota had nothing to do with the ethical, longstanding autism providers.”
Larson said in her testimony that the state government’s “clumsy response” to fraud failed to distinguish between criminals and caregivers.
She said abrupt disruption or loss of service can destroy weeks or years of progress for disabled children and adults, causing lifelong consequences.
Payment Process
The Minnesota Department of Human Services told The Epoch Times that it sent the first batch of more than 100,000 claims to Optum for review in late December 2025.
The department said every two weeks, Optum receives batches of claims from the state. The system analyzes and flags any that need further review. Unflagged claims are paid after the initial analysis, the Minnesota Department of Human Services said.
The agency will continue sending payments for unflagged claims on regular two-week cycles. A provider will receive an update every two weeks on a flagged or suspended claim, accompanied by reason codes, the department said.
“If a claim is flagged, we may need additional information and documents from the provider before payments are made, which may cause further delay,” the Minnesota Department of Human Services said. Claims in Optum are listed as suspended until the state reaches a payment decision.
The department did not provide detailed answers on why the Holland Center or other similar, longstanding facilities might have their claims flagged.
The agency said it did not wish to disclose what kind of identifiers cause it to suspect someone is billing for services they did not provide, but officials generally look for “patterns of concern—claims that fall outside expected norms,” some of which could be blamed on administrative errors or poor documentation rather than intentional fraud.
“Optum helps the state of Minnesota identify potential fraud, waste, and abuse by conducting pre‑payment reviews,” the company said in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times. “Optum has no authority to approve, deny, delay, or suspend claims, and payment decisions are made exclusively by [the Minnesota Department of Human Services] and the Office of Inspector General.”
Most claims should be paid within 30 days, and legitimate claims that may have been flagged within 90 days, as required by the federal government, according to the agency.
Financial Hit
Meanwhile, with a payroll of $250,000 every two weeks, Larson has been forced to ask many of her employees to take unpaid leave.
After nearly two months of unpaid claims, her center was partially paid on Jan. 29, bringing the owed amount down to about $300,000, Larson said. She said there’s been little to no word from state or health officials on why her claims were flagged in the first place.
Larson doesn’t expect to get another payment for two weeks, putting her in a several-hundred-thousand-dollar deficit she doesn’t think will ever rebalance.
She’s spent so much of her own money to keep the center’s lights on, Larson said, that she’s been forced to cut back on other bills to make ends meet. Fortunately, Larson said her landlords have been understanding of the situation.
New Centers
Years ago, when Larson witnessed new autism treatment centers popping up around her area and the state, she was initially relieved because, to her, it meant more help was coming for disabled children and adults.
“There’s a need, and there’s a high prevalence of autism in the Somali community in Minnesota,” Larson said. “And I know that and I service a lot of the kids, but we can’t take them all. We’ve always had a waiting list.”
A 2023 study by the University of Minnesota showed autism rates in 4-year-olds to be much higher among Somali children compared to other races and ethnicities. The report found 1 in 18 Somali children had autism, compared to 1 in 64 for white children, 1 in 31 for Hispanic children, and 1 in 30 for non-Somali black children.
But when hundreds of autism centers popped up, it was a red flag for Larson.
“No one wants to talk about it because everyone’s scared of saying anything wrong,” Larson said. “That’s why we’re here. It’s because everyone’s too afraid to say something.”
Independent journalist Nick Shirley, who brought national attention to the alleged Minnesota fraud at day care centers with his viral video posted Dec. 26, 2025, attended the congressional hearing with Larson.
“What we saw in Minnesota is how complicit the government has been in enabling this fraud to happen. Quality ‘Learing’ Center had over 90 violations, yet they continued to give that daycare $1.9 million,” Shirley said in his testimony.
Meanwhile, the closure of Holland Center would dismantle a lifetime of work for Larson that all started with the birth of her son.
Read the rest here…
Tyler Durden
Thu, 02/19/2026 – 20:55
SIP expresa preocupación por intervención estatal a empresa editora de dos diarios en Ecuador
Associated Press
QUITO (AP) — La Sociedad Interamericana de Prensa expresó el jueves su preocupación por la intervención estatal a Granasa, empresa editora de dos diarios en Ecuador, que en los últimos tiempos ha mantenido una línea editorial crítica al gobierno del presidente Daniel Noboa.
El presidente de la SIP, Pierre Manigault, advirtió en un comunicado difundido en el sitio de la entidad que el control sobre empresas independientes “no puede, en ninguna circunstancia, convertirse en un mecanismo indirecto de censura o presión editorial” y exigió el respeto al debido proceso legal.
Granasa, que publica los diarios Expreso y Extra, ha mantenido una línea editorial crítica al gobierno de Noboa y publicado notas acerca de la presunta corrupción en el sistema estatal de salud, así como la aparente falta de transparencia en millonarias contrataciones en el área eléctrica.
La Superintendencia de Compañías justificó la intervención aduciendo que tiene el objetivo de “supervigilar la marcha económica financiera y propiciar la corrección de irregularidades” con el propósito de “evitar perjuicios a sus socios y/o terceros”.
Los problemas comenzaron por las divergencias en torno a la transferencia accionaria a una de las integrantes de la familia dueña de Granasa por parte de otra compañía, pero el abogado de la empresa editora, Eduardo Carmigniani, aseguró que “no existe una orden judicial firme que anule la transferencia de acciones realizada hace más de seis años”.
Martha Ramos, presidenta de la Comisión de Libertad de Prensa e Información de la SIP, dijo en el mismo comunicado que la intervención estatal “representa un acto intimidatorio que puede inhibir el ejercicio del periodismo libre e independiente”.
De su lado, la organización no gubernamental ecuatoriana Fundamedios, que vigila la libertad de expresión en Ecuador, rechazó la intervención a la que calificó como “una acción desproporcionada y de alto riesgo para la independencia editorial”.
Photos: US women’s hockey wins gold medal with OT win over Canada
Megan Keller backhanded in a shot 4:07 into overtime and the United States won its third Olympic gold medal in women’s hockey, beating Canada 2-1 at the Milan Cortina Games on Thursday night to close another thrilling chapter of one of sports’ most heated rivalries.
United States’ players celebrate after the overtime women’s ice hockey gold medal game between the United States and Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
United States players surround Megan Keller (5) after she scored the winning goal in overtime to beat Canada in the women’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
United States’ Megan Keller celebrates after scoring the winning goal against Canada during the overtime period of the women’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
United States’ Megan Keller (5) scores the overtime winner past Canada’s Ann-Renee Desbiens (35) during a women’s ice hockey gold medal game between the United States and Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
United States’ Megan Keller (5) scores the overtime winning goal against Canada goalkeeper Ann-Renee Desbiens (35) during the overtime period of the women’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
United States’ Megan Keller scores the game-winning goal in overtime against Canadians Claire Thompson #42 and Ann-Renee Desbiens #35 to win the gold medal during the women’s gold medal match of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games, Feb. 19, 2026. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty)
United States’ Megan Keller (5) celebrates scoring the winning goal during a women’s ice hockey gold medal game between the United States and Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
United States’ Megan Keller scores the game-winning goal past Canada’s Ann-Renee Desbiens in overtime to win the gold in the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games, Feb. 19, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (David W Cerny/Getty)
United States’ Megan Keller reacts after scoring the winning goal as Canada’s Claire Thompson falls to the ice in overtime of the women’s hockey final during the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics at Santagiulia Arena in Milan, Feb. 19, 2026. Team USA took home the gold medal and Canada the silver. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
United States’ Megan Keller gets past the Canadian defender to score the winner on Ann-Renee Desbiens #35 to win the gold medal at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic games, Feb. 19, 2026. (Sarah Stier/Getty)
United States’ Megan Keller (5) and Abbey Murphy (37) celebrate after their overtime win against Canada in the women’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Family, friends and supporters of U.S. Olympic hockey player Abbey Murphy, an Evergreen Park native, cheer the game-winning goal in overtime against Canada on Feb. 19, 2026, at a watch party at Barraco’s Pizza in Evergreen Park. Team USA won 2-1 at the Milan Cortina Games to earn gold. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
Team United States players celebrate after beating Canada 2-1 in overtime in the women’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
United States’ Cayla Barnes, left, Megan Keller celebrate winning the gold medals over Canada at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games, Feb. 19, 2026. (Gregory Shamus/Getty)
Canada’s players wait on the podium after a women’s ice hockey gold medal game between the United States and Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Gold medalist Kendall Coyne of the United States holds her son after the medal ceremony for women’s hockey match against Canada at the Olympic Games, Feb. 19, 2026, in Milan, Italy. (Bruce Bennett/Getty)
Fans cheer during the first period of the women’s hockey gold medal game between the United States and Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
United States’ Alex Carpenter fights for the puck during the women’s ice hockey gold medal game between the United States and Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Kristin O’Neill of Canada fights for the puck amid a group of players in the first period of the women’s hockey final during the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics at Santagiulia Arena in Milan, Feb. 19, 2026. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
United States’ Hilary Knight (21) celebrates after scoring the game-tying goal in the women’s ice hockey gold medal game against Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Family, friends and supporters of U.S. Olympic hockey player Abbey Murphy, an Evergreen Park native, cheer the game-tying goal late in the third period against Canada on Thursday at a watch party at Barraco’s Pizza in Evergreen Park. Team USA won 2-1 in overtime at the Milan Cortina Games to earn gold. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
Canada’s Kristin O’Neill (43) celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the women’s hockey gold medal game between the United States and Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
The ice is prepared before the women’s hockey gold medal game between the United States and Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Canada’s players arrive for the warm up ahead of the women’s ice hockey gold medal game between the United States and Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/19/photos-us-womens-hockey-gold-medal-photos/
Carlos Alcaraz alcanza las semifinales en Doha pero Jannik Sinner se desinfla ante Mensik
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — No habrá una final entre Carlos Alcaraz y Jannik Sinner en Doha.
Alcaraz prolongó su marcha invicta en el comienzo de la temporada tras gestar una remontada para doblegar el jueves por 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-3 a Karen Khachanov e instalarse en las semifinales del Abierto de Qatar. Pero Jannik Sinner, su máximo rival, sufrió una inesperada derrota por 7-6 (3) 2-6 6-3 frente a Jakub Mensik.
“Fue un partido muy ajustado y duro”, admitió Alcaraz tras completar un trámite de 2 horas y 26 minutos para someter a Khachanov, campeón del torneo en 2024.
“En el primer set tuve varias oportunidades de quiebre y no pude convertirlas”, añadió el número uno del mundo. “Pero sabía que iba a tener opciones y las aproveché en el segundo set. Estoy muy orgulloso por el esfuerzo”.
Alcaraz quedó 10-0 en los albores de la temporada, una que comenzó con una histórica consagración en el Abierto de Australia. Con 22 años de edad, el astro español emergió del Melbourne Park como el hombre más joven en completar el Grand Slam en la carrera.
Se palpitaba otra final entre las dos grandes figuras del tenis masculino, pero Sinner —el número dos del ranking y dueño de cuatro títulos de Grand Slam— trastabilló en el último acto de la jornada. Mensik, un checo de 20 años, se impuso 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-3.
Sinner cometió errores inusuales y Mensik apiló 28 golpes ganadores para superar al italiano de 24 años que sufrió apenas su segunda derrota antes de la ronda de semifinales en la gira desde junio.
“Para ser sincero, no lo sé”, respondió Mensik sobre cómo logró asegurar su triunfo. “Sé de la calidad de Jannik. Un gran tipo, un gran campeón. Lo que ha hecho en su joven carrera es impresionante, así que sabía que iba a ser difícil. Pero incluso con esa idea, llegué al partido para ganarlo, con una mentalidad ganadora”.
Alcaraz se las verá ahora con el campeón defensor Andrey Rublev. El ruso dio cuenta 6-3, 7-6 (2) del griego Stefanos Tsitsipas.
En la otra semifinal, Mensik enfrentará a Arthur Fils, victorioso 6-3, 6-3 sobre el checo Jiri Lehecka.
___
Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Do Democrat Cities And States Love Rolling In Their Own Filth?
Do Democrat Cities And States Love Rolling In Their Own Filth?
Were Democrats raised in a barn? It’s far worse – they were raised in places like San Francisco where sanitation standards are not far from street poop capitals like India.
There’s just something about left wing government that attracts a stench. Maybe it’s the laziness and the entitlement of socialism. Maybe it’s the inevitable economic malaise beating people down until they no longer care about the state of their surroundings. Maybe leftists simply revel in decay, like pigs in their own filth.
Examples of this lackadaisical gutter dweller mindset are rampant. Wherever Democrats are in control, crime and a river of putrescence follows. Everyone is familiar with San Francisco’s infamous sidewalk poop problem; so much so that the city’s “poop tracker map” became a meme. Tuberculosis outbreaks have also increased by 25% since 2020 and rare disease clusters are making more frequent appearances in areas where third world immigration is rampant.
Los Angeles is also experiencing a worsening crisis of illegal dumping, trash accumulation, and human waste on the streets, with reports rising over 20% by late 2024. The problem is fueled by homeless encampments, overflowing bins, and construction debris, causing public health hazards, rat infestations, and severe neighborhood blight. Compared to two decades ago, LA has seen a 450% rise in sanitation threats from trash dumping to sewage spills.
Sadly, the problem does not stop with California.
Oregon and the city of Portland were once considered one of the best regions to raise a family only 20 years ago. Today, Oregon is ranked the fourth worst state in the country and Portland has become a cesspool. Widespread crime, drug use and homelessness have sunk the quaint Northwest city into despair, all stemming from the dominant rise of woke politics.
Seattle, WA is managing a significant, ongoing public health crisis involving illegal dumping, trash accumulation, and human waste on streets, particularly around homeless encampments . This has resulted in biohazard conditions for certain parts of the city.
In more recent news, New York City under socialist and third world immigrant Mayor Zohran Mamdani is already hitting a literal wall of trash. This problem is not a new one and has persisted under previous Democrat run governments, but it seems to be particularly rancid with Mamdani at the helm.
New York municipal services are struggling with winter snows and there are no contingency plans in place to manage NYC refuse. This has resulted in mountains of garbage being frozen into snow piled sidewalks. Furthermore, as the snow melts, another problem has been revealed: Tens of thousands of piles of animal (and human) feces are defrosting in the streets.
New York City is covered in poop. This is what happens when you elect a useless mayor. pic.twitter.com/BlkbJWjvWd
— Ian Miles Cheong (@ianmiles) February 18, 2026
Finally, there the national news story of Maryland’s massive sewage spill into the Potomac River, which has compelled the Trump Administration to intervene. Over 240 million gallons of raw sewage has made the river toxic and Democrat Maryland Governor Wes Moore has done little to address the danger. The environmental hazard has been ongoing since January. Water treatment infrastructure in the state has reportedly been neglected and many systems have not been replaced since the 1970s.
Is widespread filth a deliberate agenda of progressive societies? Or, does left wing ideology inevitably lead to third world potty standards no matter the intention? Conservatives are often mocked by the political left for “backward facing” social policies, but it’s hard to blame right-wing people for clinging to nostalgia. The past is clear evidence that things can be far better, economically and socially.
Why would conservatives pine for a future which is undeniably inferior and stinks of ass?
The bottom line is, there are better ways to manage US cities and their infrastructure. Conservatives states and cities show this on a daily basis. Democrats simply do not want to listen. For whatever reason, they love the smell of their own farts.
Tyler Durden
Thu, 02/19/2026 – 20:30
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/do-democrat-cities-and-states-love-rolling-their-own-filth
Column: Like it or not, Bears fans, threatening to move usually works for Chicago’s sports teams
MESA, Ariz. — Sitting in the box seats at Sloan Park on Thursday while watching Chicago Cubs pitchers throwing live batting practice, I scrolled through the latest news on the Bears stadium search.
It looked as if the Bears were heading to Indiana after the state’s politicians voted to establish a stadium authority that would do whatever it takes to build and lease a world-class stadium for the McCaskeys near Wolf Lake in Hammond.
After long and sometimes rancorous negotiations to get the state of Illinois to help build their new football palace, either in Arlington Heights or on the lakefront, the Bears seemingly gave up Thursday and went full-metal Hoosier.
Next stop Hammond? Indiana lawmakers approve Chicago Bears stadium bill, taking a big step
The team released a statement calling the bill “the most meaningful step forward in our stadium planning efforts to date” and thanked Indiana Gov. Mike Braun and the assorted Hoosier politicians who made it all possible.
“We value our partnership and look forward to continuing to build our working relationship together,” the Bears said.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker was surprised and apparently blindsided by the latest development and now must respond to the threat of losing one of our state’s most precious commodities or risk going down in history as “the jamoke who lost Da Bears.”
That’s probably worse than offering to sell a U.S. Senate seat or taking bribes for steering state contracts to “insiders,” like some of our other famous governors. And unlike Rod Blagojevich, Pritzker won’t get a pardon from President Trump for making an extreme miscalculation.
Of course, it’s not over until the full-figured lady sings. There’s still a chance Pritzker and Illinois legislators can save the day by caving in to the Bears like their Indiana buddies, ending this saga once and for all and keeping the “pride and joy” in a state that rhymes with the song’s lyrics.
Threatening to leave town if the city or state doesn’t provide any financial incentive to stay is a time-honored tradition followed by Chicago’s sports owners.
The stadium I’m now writing this from, Sloan Park, was built only after the Ricketts family threatened to move the Cubs spring training site to Naples, Fla. Worried over losing its cash cow, the city of Mesa approved a ballot measure in 2010 to build the Cubs their new spring facility, which eventually cost the city $116.5 million, according to a 2015 audit obtained by the Mesa Tribune. Just this year they built an add-on — a women’s locker room and a hitting and pitching lab — for another $16.8 million.
What to know about the Chicago Bears’ possible move from Soldier Field
Would they have done that without a threat to leave?
We’ll never know, but the Cubs continue to reign as kings of the Cactus League, which begins here Friday when the Cubs host the White Sox in the spring opener.
The Sox know a little bit about making threats too. In 1988, controlling partners Jerry Reinsdorf and Eddie Einhorn got the state of Florida to approve $30 million in funding to get their domed stadium, which was already under construction, ready for the Sox to play in by 1989.
“Florida’s political leaders have made a progressive statement to bring major-league baseball to their state by passing this legislation,” the Sox said in a statement. ”Their commitment is most impressive.”
That threat forced former then-Gov. “Big Jim” Thompson and House Speaker Mike Madigan to get the Illinois legislature to act, creating a stadium authority in the summer of 1988 to finance and build a tax-subsidized $167 million ballpark named New Comiskey Park.
”Now we stay,” Reinsdorf said. “This thing was dead and one man (Thompson) did it.”
The late Thompson has his own plaque on the wall of what’s now Rate Field. Madigan is currently in prison, serving a 7½-year term on corruption charges. Their legacies are secured.
A look at the new scoreboard at Comiskey Park on Feb. 20, 1991. (Charles Cherney/Chicago Tribune)
The ballpark, which opened in 1991, was widely panned until a renovation lopped off much of the upper deck. But the Sox continue to have attendance problems unless they’re winning, which has been infrequent in the ballpark’s 35-year history. Not surprisingly, Reinsdorf now wants the state to help build him a new one before he hands the team off to Justin Ishbia. Maybe he can get Indiana on the old “2-fer-1” deal with a Bears-Sox combo platter.
It’s hard to remember now, but the Cubs in 2013 also threatened for a second to move out of Wrigley Field if Mayor Rahm Emanuel didn’t allow them to relax rooftop ordinances and landmark restrictions to add advertising and video boards in the ballpark.
“The fact is if we don’t have the ability to generate revenue in our own outfield, then we’ll have to take a look at moving,” Ricketts said. “No question.”
Rosemont, of all places, was leaked as a possible alternative. Rosemont!
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The rooftop owners, led by the late Beth Murphy of Murphy’s Bleachers, came up with their own plan to allow the Cubs to install LED and static advertising signage — 20 feet by 7 feet — on the facades of the rooftop buildings. The Cubs would sell the ads and keep most of the money, and the rooftop owners would keep their unobstructed views of the ballpark for their businesses.
“I think it gives a creative solution, a win-win solution, a big palate to sell,” Murphy said.
Emanuel eventually caved and gave the Cubs almost everything they wanted, and the Rickettses eventually bought most of the rooftops. In the latest twist, according to insideonline.com, a North Side community paper, the Cubs currently have proposed to install 23-by-4.4 backlit signs on two of their buildings on Waveland and Sheffield avenues, with white LED faux-neon lighting.
Unfortunately, Murphy died in 2023 before the Cubs took her idea and ran with it.
The moral of the story is that sometimes to get what you want, you’ve got to twist a few arms. Politics ain’t beanbag, as the saying goes.
Bear down, Pritzker.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/19/chicago-bears-stadium-move-indiana/
