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Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Patriots QB Drake Maye says he won't need offseason shoulder surgery: 'Time is the best healer'

February 10, 2026
Patriots QB Drake Maye says he won't need offseason shoulder surgery: 'Time is the best healer'

Drake Maye says he will not need offseason surgery on the right shoulder that drew lots of attention ahead ofSunday's Super Bowl LX loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Yahoo Sports

"Just get some time off. Time's the best healer," Maye told reporters on Tuesday. "Definitely just need time off. Nothing that needs anything to be done. Just some time away and time to get some rest and time away from football."

Maye said after the gamethat he received shoulder injectionsand that he "was good to go" and "it felt all right."

Heading into the Super Bowl, Maye waslimited in practice with a shoulder injuryhe suffered in the AFC championship game win over the Denver Broncos. On the team's initial injury report, the 23-year-old quarterback was listed as questionable with a shoulder injury and an illness thatcaused him to miss a practice.

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Despite being removed from the injury report and telling reporters he felt well heading into the game, Maye struggled against Seattle. He completed 27-of-43 passes for 295 yards, 2 touchdowns,2 interceptions and a fumble,with most of his passing yards coming in the fourth quarter. Maye's second interception was returned for a touchdown and all but closed the game.

"I think it's a case of having one hit in the AFC championship game that was just kind of unfortunate," Maye said. "Unfortunate timing, the two weeks (before the Super Bowl) was great to have off to have a chance to be out there for my guys. You can't blame things on injuries. Things happen like this all the time in the league. ... You can't (blame) it on one little thing, the shoulder. ... I was feeling like I was able to make throws in the game and was myself."

Maye had a strong second NFL season, making his second Pro Bowl and being named a second-team All-Pro while also finishing second in the MVP race. The Patriots ended their three-season playoff drought and flipped their record from the 4-13 finishes from the past two seasons to 14-3 and AFC East champions in 2025.

The 2025 season just concluded, but Maye is already eager to begin preparing for 2026.

"Ten weeks until we're back here," Maye said in a final message to Patriots fans. "That don't sound too far away. It turns around quickly on you. I'm looking forward to it."

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LIV Golf players surge in world rankings despite complaints

February 10, 2026
LIV Golf players surge in world rankings despite complaints

Several LIV Golf members enjoyed a surge in the world rankings this week following the season-opening tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) announced last week that players in the Saudi-backed circuit would start receiving rankings points for the first time, although the benefits are limited to each event's top-10 finishers.

LIV Golf rookie Elvis Smylie of Australia jumped from 133rd in the rankings to 77th after winning his LIV debut in Riyadh.

"It's a by-product of the great work I'm doing with my team and the good golf that I'm playing," said Smylie, 23. "If I continue to do that, then all that stuff will take care of itself. But it's definitely motivating for me to try to get into the Masters."

Riyadh runner-up and former World No. 1 Jon Rahm of Spain climbed from 93rd to 67th. Also seeing significant rises were Sebastian Munoz of Colombia (767th to 566th), Abraham Ancer (616th to 449th) and Thomas Pieters of Belgium (564th to 419th).

The lone exception was LIV rookie Thomas Detry, who finished seventh in Riyadh. He fell form 62nd to 63rd while not defending his maiden PGA Tour victory at the WM Phoenix Open.

OWGR points are critical for earning entries into the season's four major tournaments. The top 50 the week before the Masters (rankings released March 30) will earn entries to Augusta, as will the top 60 ahead of the U.S. Open (May 18) and the top 50 for The Open Championship (May 25). The OWGR does not have an official exemption for the PGA Championship, where the top 100 typically are invited.

LIV Golf has been seeking OWGR points since its debut season in 2022. However, Rahm and CEO Scott O'Neil were among those who were highly critical of the league only receiving points for top-10 finishers.

"Yeah, it's fantastic that we're getting points," Rahm said on LIV's broadcast after the first round in Riyadh. "It's fantastic that we're being recognized in a way. With that said, I don't like how we're not being treated the same as every other tour.

"It seems like the rules that have been in place aren't really applied to us, with only 10 of us getting points, it doesn't seem fair. There are small fields out there throughout the course of the year that get full points, or full players get points, right? So, there's work to be done."

LIV moved from a 54-hole format to 72 holes this season in an effort to obtain OWGR points, but issued a statement making the league's discontent with the depth of points available clear.

"We acknowledge this long-overdue moment of recognition, which affirms the fundamental principle that performance on the course should matter, regardless of where the competition takes place," LIV Golf said in a statement last week.

"However, this outcome is unprecedented. Under these rules, a player finishing 11th in a LIV Golf event is treated the same as a player finishing 57th. Limiting points to only the top 10 finishers disproportionately harms players who consistently perform at a high level but finish just outside that threshold, as well as emerging talent working to establish themselves on the world stage-precisely the players a fair and meritocratic ranking system is designed to recognize.

"No other competitive tour or league in OWGR history has been subjected to such a restriction. We expect this is merely a first step toward a structure that fully and fairly serves the players, the fans, and the future of the sport.

"We entered this process in good faith and will continue to advocate for a ranking system that reflects performance over affiliation. The game deserves transparency. The fans deserve credibility. And the players deserve a system that treats them equally."

--Field Level Media

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Making transition from SEC to MLB, new Giants manager Tony Vitello enters 1st season ready to learn

February 10, 2026
Making transition from SEC to MLB, new Giants manager Tony Vitello enters 1st season ready to learn

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Tony Vitello walked up the dugout stairs to meet with reporters about 15 minutes later than he was expecting because of a team meeting that went longer than planned.

The new San Francisco Giants manager had a lot to say on the first day of spring training.

He also knows he's got a lot to learn.

"I rambled today," Vitello said, grinning. "The guys might ban me from any more meetings before this thing is over, but you want to set a vibe for what you want your team to be. We can throw out a T-shirt or put something on the locker room door, but it's also going to require some daily interactions."

The 47-year-old Vitello is one of the more fascinating stories in baseball this spring, with the manager making therare jump straight from a college dugout to Major League Baseball. Before coming to the Bay Area, he built the Tennessee Volunteers into a national powerhouse in the vaunted Southeastern Conference.

Vitello's college credentials are nearly impeccable: He went 341-131 over eight seasons, reaching the College World Series three times and leading the Vols to the program's first national championship in 2024.

Now it's time to find out if that translates to MLB success. Vitello said he has no excuses.

"There are so many people who are willing to help," Vitello said. "The biggest thing is our guys need to use these resources. You have everything you need. That reflects on my situation, too."

Vitello's coaching staff has a few people that should help with the transition, including former Padres manager Jayce Tingler and former Rangers and Angels skipper Ron Washington.

Tingler will be the bench coach while the 73-year-old Washington is the infield coach.

The two coaching veterans are helping Vitello adjust during his crash course on adjusting to MLB life. San Francisco has multiple position competitions to sort out over the next six weeks while preparing for the regular season, including a potential role for star first base prospect Bryce Eldridge.

"I think, at the root of it, there's definitely some boxes that need to be checked," Vitello said. "You'd like to see guys do well. If you're keeping score, you want to win. But I'll rely on Coach Tingler and Wash about what boxes we need to check before this thing is over with."

The Giants fired manager Bob Melvinin September after they went 81-81 in his second season and missed the playoffs for a fourth straight year. San Francisco hasn't reached the postseason since winning the NL West with a franchise-record 107 victories to edge the rival Dodgers by one game in 2021 under Gabe Kapler.

Buster Posey — the Giants' president of baseball operations — made the surprise move to target a college coach to become the franchise's next leader. While very successful, Vitello had a colorful and combustible reputation.

The NCAA suspended Vitello twice during his Tennessee tenure, first for spending too much time arguing a call in 2018. During that two-game suspension, he raised money for charity with apizza and lemonade standwhile the Vols played.

Chest-bumping an umpirein 2022 led to a four-game suspension, and Vitello spent that time working with aTennessee fraternityoffering achest bumpto anyone donating $2 to the Wounded Warriors Project.

It remains to be seen how Vitello's style will translate to the long professional baseball schedule. The college regular season is 56 games while MLB's slate is a marathon with 162 contests stretching from late March to late September.

Five-time Gold Glove third baseman Matt Chapman — who played in college at Cal State Fullerton from 2012 to 2014 — said he was looking forward to Vitello's energy.

"He was handling NIL money and things like that, so the college game is probably a lot closer to professional baseball than when I was playing," Chapman said. "Winning baseball looks the same. It's pitching and defense, knowing how to run the bases, managing personalities and managing guys.

"He has a lot of experience doing that. There's going to be a learning curve in some areas. You can't fully know how to run a major league clubhouse unless you've been in one, but I don't think it'll be foreign to him. He's a baseball guy, he's done things at a high level, so I think the transition will be smooth."

AP Baseball Writer Janie McCauley in San Francisco contributed to this report.

AP MLB:https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

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Federal probe of 2020 Georgia ballots began with White House referral

February 10, 2026
Federal probe of 2020 Georgia ballots began with White House referral

The Justice Department's explanation for seeking toraid a major election office in Georgiaand seize ballots tied to the 2020 election was made much clearer Feb. 10, after it was forced to release a document showing the arguments it used to get a search warrant.

USA TODAY

The FBI, which is part of the DOJ, seized ballots and other records tied to the 2020 election from a Fulton County election center near Atlanta on Jan. 28. The move marked a major escalation of efforts underPresident Donald Trump's current administration to call into doubt the results of the2020 presidential election, whichTrump lostto then-former Vice PresidentJoe Biden.

The new document is the affidavit signed by FBI Special Agent Hugh Raymond Evans in the government's request for a search warrant.

"Following the November 3, 2020, presidential election, there were many allegations of electoral impropriety relating to the voting process and ballot counting in Fulton County, Georgia," Evanswrote in the affidavit.

"Some of those allegations have been disproven, while some of those allegations have been substantiated, including through admissions by Fulton County," Evans added.

Evans wrote that the FBI investigation was jump-started by a referral from an official in Trump's White House, Kurt Olsen. He was appointed by Trump as "Director of Election Security and Integrity," according to the affidavit.

"This warrant application is part of an FBI criminal investigation into whether any of the improprieties were intentional acts that violated federal criminal laws," Evans wrote.

Attorney Kurt Olsen during his opening statement in Kari Lake's election challenge trial on May 17, 2023, in Maricopa County Superior Court in Mesa.

The Justice Department filed the affidavit to a Georgia federal court for release to the public onthe order of a federal judge, who instructed government lawyers to make redactions to shield the names of non-governmental witnesses. Fulton County officials hadasked the court to release the affidavit to the public.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, defended Georgia's election processes in a statement to USA TODAY.

"As Secretary of State, I've made Georgia the safest and most secure place to vote," Raffensperger said. "Instead of wasting time and tax dollars trying to change the past with baseless and repackaged claims, let's focus our efforts on building a safer, more affordable future for all hardworking Georgians."

What potential crimes is the FBI investigating?

A federal judge in Georgia signedthe search warrant, allowing FBI agents to seize election records as part of an investigation tied to two separate criminal statutes.One of those statutesrequires election officials to keep voter registration records for 22 months after an election.The otherprohibits using threats, coercion or fraud in certain voting processes.

Around 656 boxes of original 2020 election records – as opposed to copies – were seized, according to Fulton County Commissioner Marvin Arrington.

Fulton County has filed a court motionto get the records back.

Evans alleged in his affidavit that there are several "deficiencies or defects" with the November election and vote count that the FBI is looking into in Georgia. Those include missing scanned images of ballots, duplicated ballot scans, inaccurate hand-count tallies of votes and purported absentee ballots that weren't properly creased or folded, he said.

Boxes and bags sit inside a vehicle of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) outside the Fulton County Election Hub and Operation Center after the FBI executed a search warrant there in relation to the 2020 election, according to a law enforcement official familiar with the matter, in Union City, Georgia, U.S. January 28, 2026.

Evans wrote that, if the alleged problems were intentional, then they would be evidence of a crime. By seizing election records, law enforcement would be able to corroborate an analysis suggesting election records were destroyed or that false votes were counted, he said.

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White House official behind investigation helped Trump fight 2020 results

Olsen has a long history of fighting the 2020 election results. He joined the Texas attorney general's attempt to get the Supreme Court to stop four swing states from certifying Biden's 2020 victory over Trump,according to the New York Times.

Olsen was sanctioned by a federal judge in Arizona for acting in bad faith by filing a lawsuit on behalf of Trump ally Kari Lake that made baseless allegations about the reliability of voting machines in that state,according to the California-based Daily Journal.Arizona was one of several swing statesBiden won in 2020.

An appeals court decision upheld those sanctions. Appellate Judge Ronald Gould wrote that the lawsuit "made false, misleading and unsupported factual assertions" and the lawyers behind it didn't conduct a reasonable inquiry before filing it, the Daily Journal reported.

Congressional investigators found that Olsen had multiple phone calls with Trump on Jan. 6, 2021, the day a mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol to try to prevent Biden's 2020 election victory from going into effect,Politico reported.

Trump's national intelligence chief was present at raid

Director of National IntelligenceTulsi Gabbardwas near the raid when it happened, andreportedly put Trump on the phonewith some of the FBI agents involved in the raid the next day.

That raised the eyebrows of the top Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees, who questioned in aJan. 29 letterwhy someone tasked with overseeing national intelligence would attend a search of an election hub in Georgia.

"The job of the director of national intelligence is to be outward-facing about foreigners, not about Americans," Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee,said on CBS News' "Face the Nation." "My fear is now (Trump) sees the political winds turning against him and he's going to try to interfere in the 2026 elections."

United States Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard speaks on the phone while standing at the edge of a truck loading bay after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) executed a search warrant for the Fulton County Election Hub and Operation Center in relation to the 2020 election, according to a law enforcement official familiar with the matter, in Union City, Georgia, U.S. January 28, 2026.

Gabbard said in aFeb. 2 letterthat Trump asked her to be present for the raid, and that election security is a national security issue.

Gabbard is investigating the 2020 election results, according to theWall Street Journaland theNew York Times, which each cited anonymous sources familiar with the matter. The two outlets reported that her work on the investigation has helped her be in Trump's good graces.

Speaking on "The Dan Bongino Show" on Feb. 2, Trump alluded to the raid whilesaying he won the 2020 election.

"Now you're going to see something in Georgia where they were able to get, with a court order, the ballots," Trump said. "You're going to see some interesting things come out."

Fulton County, which includes much of Atlanta, is the largest county in Georgia by population. Biden's win in that county in 2020 helped propel his win in Georgia as a whole, which had 16 presidential electoral votes. Biden won the 2020 election with 306 electoral votes, compared toTrump's 232tally.

Before Biden was inaugurated into office in January 2021, Trumptried to reverse his 2020 losses in several states, including Georgia. He and his allies filed more than 60 lawsuits. None was successful in proving there was widespread voter fraud.

In a phone call with Raffensperger on Jan. 2, 2021, Trump said,"I just need 11,780 votes"in Georgia. Raffensperger defended the accuracy of his state's election results.

This story has been updated to add new information.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:DOJ shares why it raided Georgia election hub and seized 2020 ballots

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Buddhist monks conclude peace walk in Washington, DC. See photos.

February 10, 2026
Buddhist monks conclude peace walk in Washington, DC. See photos.

A group ofBuddhist monkswho have been walking across the country for peace since October arrived in Washington, DC on Tuesday, Feb. 10, one of their last stops in a 2,300-mile journey.

USA TODAY

The men have traveled across eight U.S. states — Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia — to reach the nation's capital.

The trek has been far from easy. In recent weeks, the approximately two dozen traveling Buddhist monks have beenconfronted with brutal freezing temperatures. In November, the monks' security vehicle was involved in a car accident that left one of the monks with injuries so severe that his leg was amputated.

Additionally,Aloka, the group's beloved dog, a former stray adopted from Kolkata, India, underwent surgery for a leg injury. The pup has since rejoined the group.

<p style=Buddhist monks continue their March for Peace as they cross Chain Bridge over the Potomac River February 10, 2026 between Arlington, Virginia and Washington, DC. Nearly two dozen monks from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, led by Bhikkhu Pannakara, walked 2,300 miles to promote national healing, unity and compassion. The journey began on Oct. 26 in Texas and is expected to end on Feb. 12.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> With the Washington Monument in the background, Buddhist monks continue their March for Peace on February 9, 2026 in Arlington, Virginia. Buddhist monks continue their March for Peace as they cross Chain Bridge over the Potomac River February 10, 2026 between Arlington, Virginia and Washington, DC. A group of 18 monks began their march to raise awareness of Buddhist monks continue their March for Peace as they cross Chain Bridge over the Potomac River February 10, 2026 between Arlington, Virginia and Washington, DC. A group of 18 monks began their march to raise awareness of Buddhist monks continue their March for Peace as they cross Chain Bridge over the Potomac River February 10, 2026 between Arlington, Virginia and Washington, DC. A group of 18 monks began their march to raise awareness of Buddhist monks continue their March for Peace as they pass the intersection of Langston Boulevard and Glebe Road February 9, 2026 in Arlington, Virginia. A group of 18 monks began a 2,300-mile march on October 26 in Fort Worth, Texas, to raise awareness of

Buddhist monks continue their 'Walk for Peace' in nation's capital

Buddhist monkscontinue their March for Peace as they cross Chain Bridge over the Potomac River February 10, 2026 between Arlington, Virginia and Washington, DC.Nearly two dozen monksfrom the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, led by Bhikkhu Pannakara, walked 2,300 miles to promote national healing, unity and compassion. The journey began on Oct. 26 in Texas and is expected to end on Feb. 12.

Why are the monks walking?

The monks embarked on the journey to remind Americans that peace is not a destination, according to the pilgrimage's announcement.

"As the nation faces challenges of division, mental health crises, and conflict both at home and abroad, this pilgrimage offers a simple yet profound message: Peace begins within the heart of each person and extends outward to families, communities, and the nation as a whole," a "Walk for Peace"news releasestated.

Buddhist monks often undertake long walking pilgrimages that last months. During their walk, the monks observed a strict ascetic code inspired by ancient traditions. Those traditions include eating just one meal per day and sleeping beneath trees, which is considered a practice of humility, endurance and spiritual focus.

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The monks announced they had arrived in Washington, DC, around 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10.

Upon crossing into the District from Virginia, Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara thanked those who had been following their journey via avideo posted to social media. He encouraged their supporters to continue advocating for peace to "change this world together."

When will the monks go home?

The group is hosting events in the nation's capital across two days. On Wednesday, Feb. 11, they'll walk to the Peace Monument, which stands in front of the U.S. Capitol. In the afternoon, they plan to walk to the Lincoln Memorial, where a concluding ceremony will commemorate the end of their journey.

The group, which is from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, is scheduled to head home on Thursday, Feb. 12.

Watch the monks as they arrive in Washington, DC.

Take a look back at their journey: See photos

A group of Buddhist Monks and several hundred local community members take part in the Walk for Peace in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday Dec. 23, 2025. The Monks are walking from Texas to Washington, D.C. to promote peace and compassion. A group of Buddhist Monks pose for photos with several hundred local community members on the state Capitol Building in Montgomery, Ala., as they take part in the Walk for Peace on Tuesday Dec. 23, 2025. The Monks are walking from Texas to Washington, D.C. to promote peace and compassion. A group of Buddhist Monks walk through the National Memorial for Peace and Justice during their Walk for Peace in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday Dec. 23, 2025. The Monks are walking from Texas to Washington, D.C. to promote peace and compassion. A group of Buddhist Monks walk through the National Memorial for Peace and Justice during their Walk for Peace in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday Dec. 23, 2025. The Monks are walking from Texas to Washington, D.C. to promote peace and compassion. Aloka scratches his backside during a Walk and Peace Gathering at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson, Miss., on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. The 2,300-mile journey consisted of 19 Buddhist monks walking from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C. The expedition started on Oct. 26, and is expected to end on Feb. 13, 2026. While in Jackson, the group started at the Quan Am Tinh Vien and finished at the Mississippi State Capitol taking University Boulevard, Pascagoula Street and West Street. The shadows of Buddhist monks is cast on West Street during a Walk and Peace Gathering in Jackson, Miss., on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. The 2,300-mile journey consisted of 19 Buddhist monks walking from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C. The expedition started on Oct. 26, and is expected to end on Feb. 13, 2026. While in Jackson, the group started at the Quan Am Tinh Vien and finished at the Mississippi State Capitol taking University Boulevard, Pascagoula Street and West Street. A group of Buddhist monks walk around the Mississippi State Capitol during a Walk and Peace Gathering in Jackson, Miss., on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. The 2,300-mile journey consisted of 19 Buddhist monks walking from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C. The expedition started on Oct. 26, and is expected to end on Feb. 13, 2026. While in Jackson, the group started at the Quan Am Tinh Vien and finished at the Mississippi State Capitol taking University Boulevard, Pascagoula Street and West Street. A community member poses for a picture with Venerable Pongsawat Laohasakulwong during a Walk and Peace Gathering in Jackson, Miss., on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. The 2,300-mile journey consisted of 19 Buddhist monks walking from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C. The expedition started on Oct. 26, and is expected to end on Feb. 13, 2026. While in Jackson, the group started at the Quan Am Tinh Vien and finished at the Mississippi State Capitol taking University Boulevard, Pascagoula Street and West Street. Venerable Pongsawat Laohasakulwong, left, stands in the sunlight during a Walk and Peace Gathering at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson, Miss., on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. The 2,300-mile journey consisted of 19 Buddhist monks walking from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C. The expedition started on Oct. 26, and is expected to end on Feb. 13, 2026. While in Jackson, the group started at the Quan Am Tinh Vien and finished at the Mississippi State Capitol taking University Boulevard, Pascagoula Street and West Street. Buddhist monks walk over flower petals placed on the road on day 71 of the Walk for Peace on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 at Oglethorpe County Elementary in Lexington, Ga. Buddhist monks along with rescue dog Aloka make their way along Buddy Faust Road during day 71 of the Walk for Peace on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 in Lexington, Ga. Buddhist monks arrive for their lunch stop at Oglethorpe County Elementary School during day 71 of the Walk for Peace on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 in Lexington, Ga. Aloka the Peace Dog leads the way alongside the Buddhist monks as they make their way along Buddy Faust Road on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 in Lexington, Ga. Buddhist monks begin to walk again following a lunch stop on day 71 of the Walk for Peace on Sunday, January 4, 2026 at Oglethorpe County Elementary in Lexington, Ga. Bystanders kneel on the shoulder of the road as Buddhist monks pass during day 71 of the Walk for Peace on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 in Lexington, Ga. Buddhist monks along with Aloka the Peace Dog travel along Buddy Faust Road during day 71 of the Walk for Peace on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 in Lexington, Ga. Buddhist monks pass out strings during the Walk for Peace at Bethany Independent Methodist Church in Lincolnton, Ga., on Jan. 6, 2026. The Buddhist monks will be walking 2,300 miles from Fort Worth to Washington D.C. People pray as the Buddhist monks as they approach during the Walk for Peace at Bethany Independent Methodist Church in Lincolnton, Ga., on Jan. 6, 2026. The Buddhist monks will be walking 2,300 miles from Fort Worth to Washington D.C. A person passes out flowers during the Walk for Peace at Bethany Independent Methodist Church in Lincolnton, Ga., on Jan. 6, 2026. The Buddhist monks will be walking 2,300 miles from Fort Worth to Washington D.C. Buddhist monks continue their Walk for Peace on Jan. 15, 2026 in Charlotte, NC. The monks are walking from Houston, Texas to Washington, D.C. spreading a message of mindfulness, unity and kindness while requesting that Vesak, Buddha's birthday, be recognized as a U.S. federal holiday. The venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara offer flowers to school children as he leads Buddhist monks on their Walk for Peace on Jan. 15, 2026 in Charlotte, NC. The monks are walking from Houston, Texas to Washington, D.C. spreading a message of mindfulness, unity and kindness while requesting that Vesak, Buddha's birthday, be recognized as a U.S. federal holiday. A Buddhist monk receives a flower as he participates in the Walk for Peace on Jan. 15, 2026 in Charlotte, NC. The monks are walking from Houston, Texas to Washington, D.C. spreading a message of mindfulness, unity and kindness while requesting that Vesak, Buddha's birthday, be recognized as a U.S. federal holiday. The venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara leads Buddhist monks as they continue their Walk for Peace on Jan. 15, 2026 in Charlotte, NC. The monks are walking from Houston, Texas to Washington, D.C. spreading a message of mindfulness, unity and kindness while requesting that Vesak, Buddha's birthday, be recognized as a U.S. federal holiday. Honorary badges from first responders are worn by the venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara as he leads Buddhist monks on their Walk for Peace on Jan.15, 2026 in Charlotte, NC. The monks are walking from Houston, Texas to Washington, D.C. spreading a message of mindfulness, unity and kindness while requesting that Vesak, Buddha's birthday, be recognized as a U.S. federal holiday. The venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara leads Buddhist monks as they continue their Walk for Peace on Jan. 15, 2026 in Charlotte, NC. The monks are walking from Houston, Texas to Washington, D.C. spreading a message of mindfulness, unity and kindness while requesting that Vesak, Buddha's birthday, be recognized as a U.S. federal holiday.

Buddhist Monks Walk for Peace across Southeast to Washington, DC

Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at mdelrey@usatoday.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Buddhist monks finish peace walk in DC. See photos.

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Grieving mother demands answers nearly 2 years after Florida deputy fatally shot airman

February 10, 2026
Grieving mother demands answers nearly 2 years after Florida deputy fatally shot airman

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The mother of a U.S. Air Force airman shot and killed by a Florida sheriff's deputy nearly two years ago says she doesn't want people to forget about her son and is still seeking accountability so it doesn't happen to someone else.

Senior Airman Roger Fortson, 23, wasshot to deathby a deputy responding to a disturbance call at Fortson's apartment in Fort Walton Beach, where he lived while based at nearby Hurlburt Field. The May 2024 encounter wascaptured on body camera video.

At a Tuesday news conference in Florida, prominent civil rights attorneyBen Crump, who is representing Fortson's family in anongoing federal lawsuit, said it was his mother's decision to hold the media briefing.

"She is deeply hurt and concerned that time has allowed her son's name and his life to fade from public consciousness," Crump said.

"We are not here to litigate facts or comment on ongoing legal proceedings," he added. "We are here because silence, delay and distance have a human cost for families who are left to grieve while waiting for answers."

Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden fired Deputy Eddie Duran, 38, who fatally shot Fortson after being directed to Fortson's apartment while responding to a domestic violence call. Duran was charged withmanslaughter with a firearm, a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison. It's ararely seen criminal casefiled against a Florida law officer.

Two Florida attorneys representing Duran did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

Fortson's mother, Chantimekki Fortson, said she still has many unanswered questions about the case.

"I need to know what happened to my baby," she said.

"I have to try to learn how to live life without Roger," she added. "I don't think I'm going to ever learn that."

Crump added that Fortson's mother wants to know: "How could it have been prevented and how can we make sure that it doesn't happen to anyone else's family?" he said.

Fortson's family is from Georgia. Hundreds of Air Force members in dress blues mourned Fortson athis funeral outside Atlanta.

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Winter Olympics 2026: U.S. curler Rich Ruohonen speaks out against ICE presence in his home state: 'What's happening in Minnesota is wrong'

February 10, 2026
Winter Olympics 2026: U.S. curler Rich Ruohonen speaks out against ICE presence in his home state: 'What's happening in Minnesota is wrong'

On a day when Korey Dropkin and Cory Thiesse made U.S. curling history withan Olympic silver medal in mixed doubles, U.S. curler Rich Ruohonen used the platform to turn the spotlight on his home state of Minnesota.

Ruohonen, a St. Paul native, spoke in a news conference about the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence in his home state that's resulted inthe shooting deaths of U.S. citizens Renee GoodandAlex Pretti by agents.

Those killings and ICE's aggressive enforcement tactics on the streets of Minneapolis have prompted outrage andprotest in Minnesota and beyond. Ruohonen, a lawyer, cited the U.S. Constitution to declare that "there's no shades of gray" and that "what's happening in Minnesota is wrong."

'What's happening in Minnesota is wrong'

Ruohonen opened his statement by saying he's "proud to be here to represent Team USA and to represent our country."

He then turned his attention to Minnesota.

"This stuff is happening right around where we live," Ruohonen said. "I am a lawyer, as you know, and we have a constitution, and it allows us freedom of press, freedom of speech, protects us from unreasonable searches and seizures and makes it that we have to have probable cause to be pulled over.

"And what's happening in Minnesota is wrong. There's no shades of gray. It's clear. I really love what's been happening there now — people coming out, showing the love, the compassion, integrity and respect for others that they don't know and helping them out. And we love Minnesota for that."

MAGAs are now mad and USA curler Rich Ruohonen for speaking out against ICE…not a single thing he's saying here is wrong:"What's happening in Minnesota is wrong. There's no shades of grey. It's clear"pic.twitter.com/hLF1EdjXFc

— Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids)February 10, 2026

Ruohonen, 54, is a two-time national champion curler who's twice competed for Team USA in the curling world championships (2008, 2018). He's never competed in the Olympics.

He's an alternate at the Milan Cortina Games for the men's curling team helmed by skip Danny Casper. He's not guaranteed to compete. But if he plays, he'll become the oldest U.S. athlete to ever compete in the Winter Olympics.

He went on to speak about what it means to have the opportunity to compete in the Olympics.

"I want to make it clear that we are out here, we love our country," Ruohonen continued. "We're playing for the U.S., we're playing for Team USA, we're playing for each other, and we're playing for our family and our friends that sacrificed so much to get here today. ...

'What the Olympics means is excellence, respect, friendship, and we all, I think, exemplify that. And we are playing for the people of Minnesota and the people around the country who share those same values."

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