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NFL free agency: The top 26 players scheduled to be available in 2026

February 16, 2026
NFL free agency: The top 26 players scheduled to be available in 2026

On March 9, three weeks from today,NFLplayers on expiring contracts can begin negotiating with outside clubs – any are currently free to broach extensions with their current ones – and can officially start to join new organizations at 4 p.m. ET on March 11, the start of the 2026 league year.

However, a great deal is still likely to happen between now and then – and doubtless will.

Starting Feb. 17, the two-week window for clubs to apply a franchise or transition tag to one of their pending free agents, thus severely restricting that player's ability to leave, opens. Countless others will have their contracts terminated before March 11 as overbudget teams come into compliance with the 2026 salary cap prior to the start of free agency.

Elsewhere,Atlanta FalconsQBKirk Cousins, for example, renegotiated his contract in January, lowering his 2026 base salary to $2.1 million but obtaining a clause that would guarantee his new $67.9 million income in 2027 on March 13 – meaning he'll almost certainly be going free and gauging his value anew, though that wouldn't necessarily preclude a return to Atlanta. Andwhither Tua Tagovailoa? And/orKyler Murray? The quarterback market could be intriguing, if not yet fully informed and certainly unlikely to present a marquee veteran option.

<p style=Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Week 1: The New England Patriots' Robert Spillane (14) and Christian Elliss (53) tackle Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) during the second half at Gillette Stadium. The Raiders won the game, 20-13. Week 1: New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) fumbles the ball on a tackle by Washington Commanders safety Will Harris (3) during the first quarter at Northwest Stadium. It was a rough Giants debut for Wilson (17 of 37 passing for 168 yards) as the Commanders won the game, 21-6. Week 1: Fireworks go off before the NFL Kickoff Game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles opened the season with a 24-20 victory over their longtime NFC East rivals.

Best images of the 2025 NFL season

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18)makes a catch for a touchdownagainst the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

As for unforeseen trades and releases? Recent history tells us those will occur, too, and further shake up the league's landscape. TheMiami Dolphins, for example, have already started making much-needed salary cap room amid their unsurprising decisions to release WR Tyreek Hill andOLB Bradley Chubb, who become immediately eligible to sign with new teams once their contracts are officially terminated.

But, for now, I've compiled a list of the top 26 NFL free agents – one that's bound to change and will be adjusted accordingly as events warrant – heading into the 2026 offseason:

1. WR George Pickens

He's coming off a career year (93 catches for 1,429 yards and 9 TDs, all personal bests) and turns 25 next month − all good reasons for theDallas Cowboystouse the franchise tag on Pickens, whether they plan to keep him (he and CeeDee Lamb would form an awesome but expensive wideout duo) or trade him. A good fit in Dallas last season, Pickens isn't for everyone − and might still have to prove he's a clear-cut No. 1 wideout. But his 2025 effort strongly suggested his production and potential are quickly coming into alignment.

2. DE Trey Hendrickson

After registering 35 sacks between the 2023 and '24 seasons, including a league-leading 17½ in the latter campaign, the 31-year-old was limited to seven games by injuries last year − that in the wake of acontentious offseason with the Cincinnati Bengals. It's worth wondering now if Cincy simply lets Hendrickson walk or tries a tag-and-trade gambit, but a fresh start seems like the best outcome. Regardless, his services should be in high demand.

3. C Tyler Linderbaum

You'd think theBaltimore Ravenswill find a way to retain a 25-year-old three-time Pro Bowler. They may have to address QB Lamar Jackson's contract first − he currently carries a cap charge of $74.5 million in 2026and'27 − which means a franchise tag could be a strong possibility if theRavensare to keep Linderbaum off the market before granting him an extension. But if he goes free, an immediate bidding war will doubtless commence.

4. OLB Jaelan Phillips

It's hard to come by untethered edge defenders theoretically entering their prime. But Phillips, 26, could be one of the belles of the FA ball after being acquired by the Philadelphia Eagles at last year's trade deadline. He finished the season with five sacks and 63 quarterback pressures, per Next Gen Stats. More important, he appeared in 17 regular-season games for the first time since 2022 after injuries ruined his following two seasons. Strong against the pass and run, the 6-5, 266-pounder should find a very robust market ... presuming he gets there.

5. QB Daniel Jones

A torn Achilles last December cut short what had been his best season statistically (238.5 passing yards per game, 100.2 QB rating) to that point. The QB trend du jour that may be forming in the NFL could be finding a reclamation project who won't necessarily eat up a massive chunk of the salary cap − and Jones, 28,can thank Sam DarnoldandBaker Mayfield for their ongoingheroics. Hard to believe theIndianapolis Coltswill allow Jones to gauge his worth with the rest of the league, though ... especially when his previous team, theMinnesota Vikings, could suddenly become very interested in swooping in if he's not secured soon.

NFL power rankings after Super Bowl 60:How far down did Seahawks push Patriots?

6. OLB Odafe Oweh

He has 17½ sacks and 98 pressures as a part-time starter over the past two seasons, which were split between the Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers. Heady numbers for a 27-year-old who should be ready for a bigger role ... and certainly a larger paycheck.

7. QB Malik Willis

He could be this year's version of Justin Fields − a quarterback with intriguing skills but limited experience who can nevertheless capitalize financially given the high demand but low supply at his incomparably critical position. Willis, 26, has far fewer NFL reps than Fields but really impressed while filling in as a spot starter for theGreen Bay Packersthe past two seasons, completing nearly 80% of his passes while throwing six TDs and zero INTs. In addition to a 134.6 passer rating, Willis can also move like a tank. Keep an eye on theDolphins, who just plucked their new GM (Jon-Eric Sullivan) and coach (Jeff Hafley) from the Pack, as an interested buyer.

8. WR/KR Rashid Shaheed

The big-play ability he flashed for years with the New Orleans Saints translated beautifully − and critically − when the Seattle Seahawks obtained him last November. Shaheed, 27, seemed like the final piece for to the 'Hawks' championship puzzle and delivered huge catches and returns in pivotal games down the stretch and in the postseason. However it should be captivating to see what Shaheed can fetch given he's never been a No. 1 receiver nor has averaged 600 receiving yards during his four-year career. Still, his return ability − at a time when the kickoff is becoming an increasingly important component of the game − could really drive up his price tag.

9. TE Kyle Pitts

The No. 4 overall pick in 2021 − the highest-drafted tight end ever − Pitts, 25, never seemed to fully reach his potential with the Atlanta Falcons, which isn't completely an indictment of him. But he was a second-team All-Pro in 2025 and did just put together his best season since he was a rookie, catching a career-high 88 passes and five TDs. Pitts could really take off in an offense that truly leverages his estimable abilities ... and maybe even has the foresight to feature him in the red zone.

10. RB Breece Hall

Though the New York Jets seemingly purged much of their talent at last year's trade deadline, they hung on to their 24-year-old back. And why not? Hall has averaged 1,260 yards from scrimmage and nearly seven TDs during his four seasons − and for the lowly NYJ. Explosive and an excellent receiver, Hall is the best runner on the market ... if he actually reaches it.

11. WR Alec Pierce

Similar to Shaheed, he could be an elite No. 2 receiver in the right system. Unlike Shaheed, he doesn't bring any special teams value. However Pierce, 25, has led the league in yards per reception each of the past two seasons (21.8 ypc over the duration) and is coming off a breakout year with 47 grabs for 1,003 yards. He should get paid nicely in what's a fairly thin crop of free agents.

12. S Coby Bryant

After struggling as a corner earlier in his Seattle career, he's flourished as a safety the past two seasons − and the 26-year-old should get a nice bump given the league's other teams always look to raid the most recent Super Bowl champions.

13. CB Jaylen Watson

He's big (6-2, 197), young (27), still experienced (29 starts) and playoff tested. Watson is coming off his best season but is probably a luxury for the capped-out Kansas City Chiefs.

14. LB Devin Lloyd

A first-rounder of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022, he blossomed into a Pro Bowler last season as the team blossomed around him. If the Jags don't pony up to keep their 27-year-old defensive quarterback, someone will.

15. S Bryan Cook

He's emerged as a key component of Steve Spagnuolo's K.C. D in recent years. A steady, reliable player, Cook, 26, should be a stabilizing presence if not one who's going to make a ton of splash plays.

16. LT Rasheed Walker

He's been a solid, if unspectacular, starter for the Packers since 2023. But serviceable, 26-year-old left tackles don't grow on trees.

17. RB Kenneth Walker III

The 25-year-old Super Bowl MVP will get a hefty raise in Seattle or elsewhere. But Walker is not the second coming of Saquon Barkley, isn't as good an every-down player as Hall and has spent most of his career in a platoon. The guess here is that Walker won't come close to resetting the compensation scale at a position that generally doesn't command top dollar.

<p style=New England Patriots' safety #31 Craig Woodson rushes Seattle Seahawks' running back #09 Kenneth Walker III during Super Bowl LX between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California on Feb. 8, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Kenneth Walker III #9 of the Seattle Seahawks breaks a tackle against Milton Williams #97 of the New England Patriots during the second quarter in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium on Feb. 8, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif. Kenneth Walker III #9 of the Seattle Seahawks runs against Craig Woodson #31 of the New England Patriots during the second quarter in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium on Feb. 8, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif. Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs against New England Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones (25) during the second quarter in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium. Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs against New England Patriots safety Dell Pettus (24) during the second quarter in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium. Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs the ball during the second quarter against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium. Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs against New England Patriots linebacker Anfernee Jennings (33) during the fourth quarter in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium. Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs the ball against the New England Patriots in the first half in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium. Kenneth Walker III #9 of the Seattle Seahawks runs for a touchdown that was called back during the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium on Feb. 8, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif. Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald and Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III, left, celebrate the win against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium.

Kenneth Walker III and the Seahawks defeat the Patriots in Super Bowl

New England Patriots' safety #31 Craig Woodson rushes Seattle Seahawks' running back #09 Kenneth Walker III duringSuper Bowl LXbetween the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California on Feb. 8, 2026.

18. WR Jauan Jennings

A 6-3, 212-pounder, the 28-year-old caught 132 balls (15 for TDs) over the past two seasons for the San Francisco 49ers. Jennings' roots as a quarterback also make him quite a threat on trick plays. He's also the proverbial dog that some locker rooms covet ... and others won't.

19. WR Mike Evans

He'll be 33 by Week 1 and is coming off the worst of his 12 NFL seasons. But 6-5 and 231 pounds don't fade like speed does, and a healthy Evans should be a dangerous offensive weapon and top-tier leader again in 2026 − whether it's for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or someone else.

20. OLB Khalil Mack

He'll be 35 by next week and is coming off (perhaps) the worst of his 12 NFL seasons. But 6-3 and 269 pounds worth of power don't fade like an agile pass rusher might, and a healthy Mack should be a dangerous defensive weapon and top-tier leader again in 2026 − whether it's for the Chargers or someone else.

21. CB Nahshon Wright

Though he's already 27, he's hardly a finished product. He's also a 6-4, 199-pound corner who led the NFL with eight takeaways (5 INTs, 3 fumble recoveries) after becoming a surprise starter (and surprise first-time Pro Bowler) for the Chicago Bears. The upside and production spike are going to make Wright rich.

22. WR Romeo Doubs

He's 25 with good size (6-2, 204) and has averaged roughly 50 receptions and 600 yards during four years with the Pack, who have widely dispersed their target share in the post-Davante Adams era. Doubs could be far more impactful as a 1A or second option elsewhere.

23. QB Aaron Rodgers

Last season was his best since 2021, his most recent MVP effort. Hard to imagine the 42-year-old legend playing anywhere besides the Pittsburgh Steelers, who just hired Mike McCarthy,formerly Rodgers' coach in Green Bay. But, again, monitor the Vikings as a possible dark horse.

24. S Kamren Curl

The kind of versatile DB any defense wants, able to play deep, in the box or in the slot. Only 26, Curl already has 86 starts split between Washington and the Los Angeles Rams.

25. DE Joey Bosa

He'll be 31 this season and has a checkered injury history. But Bosa's 2025 campaign with the Buffalo Bills was his best since 2021. He had five sacks and 43 pressures in 15 games and led the league with five forced fumbles. He'd be wise to find a home where his snaps can be maximized but limited.

26. WR Wan'dale Robinson

He may be 5-8 and 185 pounds, but the 25-year-old was targeted 140 times each of the past two years with the New York Giants − and posted his first 1,000-yard season in 2025. Robinson isn't a No. 1 receiver, either − doesn't mean he won't heavily impact his next offense.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NFL free agency in 2026 highlighted by these 26 players − for now

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Olympic mystery solved: Why don't figure skaters get dizzy?

February 16, 2026
Olympic mystery solved: Why don't figure skaters get dizzy?

MILAN — When Amber Glenn takes the ice this week for her short program, she's expected to skate a graceful routine that will end with a series of spins. If she performs as expected, the spins — more than two dozen in all — will be a dramatic crescendo, the culmination of a meticulously prepared routine.

Yahoo Sports

And many of the millions watching at home will wonder,How does she do that?Very quickly followed by,Hey, why isn't she just throwing up on the ice right now from dizziness?

The answer to both questions — the ability to spin, and the ability to stave off dizziness — is the same: practice. Lots and lots of practice.

Amber Glenn of the United States competes during the figure skating women's team event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Let's start with a basic but neurologically complex question: What exactly is dizziness? You know it when you feel it, but what exactly is it?

"There are many causes of dizziness, but neurologically speaking, which I think is most relevant here, dizziness is caused by dysfunction of the vestibular system," Dr. Lindsay J. Agostinelli, an assistant professor of neurology at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine, told Yahoo Sports in an email. "The vestibular system is an apparatus in our inner ears that detects head motion and rotation, sending signals to our brain to then turn our eyes in order to maintain balance and prevent dizziness as we move through space."

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Skaters, like dancers, begin to prepare for spinning by focusing on a single spot in the distance as they spin, then turning their head quickly and relocating that point, Dr. Agostinelli notes. That allows them to quickly stabilize themselves and stave off dizziness.

But that method won't exactly work on ice, when skaters are whipping around five or six times a second. The only way to solve that problem, Dr. Agostinelli suggests, is by repetition, breaking down your traditional dizzy reaction to spinning.

"Research studies have shown that figure skaters actually have a less reactive vestibular system, and when exposed to a 'nauseogenic simulation' that rotated/ spun them, they felt less motion sick compared to non-skaters," Dr. Agostinelli says. "This is likely a result of their training which habituates their vestibular systems."

Fighting off dizziness is a mental battle that becomes a physical one. "I think initial training requires mental toughness to fight through the requisite dizziness," Dr. Agostinelli says, "but the ability to perform at high speeds without dizziness is clearly a result of the physical training and desensitization process."

So there you go. If you want to stay as level-headed as a skater, start spinning now.Carefully.

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Dolphins releasing star receiver Tyreek Hill in major roster cuts, AP source says

February 16, 2026
Dolphins releasing star receiver Tyreek Hill in major roster cuts, AP source says

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Dolphins are releasing star receiver Tyreek Hill, ending the All-Pro's four-year tenure in Miami, a person familiar with the move told The Associated Press on Monday.

Associated Press

Hill, who turns 32 on March 1, is recovering from aseason-ending injurysuffered in a game against the New York Jets on Sept. 29 that required surgery to repair significant damage to his left knee, including a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

It is one of several major roster cuts the Dolphins made on Monday morning, the person said, speaking to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team had not made any announcements. Miami also will release two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Bradley Chubb and cut offensive lineman James Daniels and receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, the person said.

The Dolphins acquired Hill in a trade with Kansas City ahead of the 2022 season and gave him a $120 million, four-year contract extension that made him the highest-paid player at his position at the time.

His contract, which runs through 2026, would have represented around $51 million against Miami's cap.

Hill had consecutive 1,700-yard receiving seasons in his first two years with Miami, including a league-leading 1,799 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2023. The five-time All-Pro entered the 2025 season aiming to regain that elite form after a relatively down year in 2024, when he had 81 catches for 959 yards — his lowest totals in both categories since 2019.

He had 21 receptions for 265 yards before he was hurt while making a catch in Miami's Week 4 win against the Jets. Hill was running toward the sideline and planted his left foot, and his knee twisted as he was getting pulled down. He was carted off the field and placed on season-ending injured reserve on Oct. 1.

In an October podcast interview, Hill, who has played 10 NFL seasons, said he was undecided on whether he plans to retire.

"At the end of the day, I feel like that decision is based upon how I feel and where my mindset is at the moment," he said on the podcast of Terron Armstead, Hill's former Dolphins teammate. "I'm happy with the career that I've had. I love playing football. I love it, but it takes a lot. It takes a lot on you mentally, it takes a lot on you physically.

"I'm at the point now where I need to have a conversation with mom, family, everybody. Wherever my mind is at the time, the decision will be made, but I know right now, I haven't had time to live in the moment."

Hill's Dolphins tenure was characterized by tremendous production on the field coupled with numerous rocky moments off the field,including an altercationwith police outside of Hard Rock Stadium ahead of the 2024 season opener, and pulling himself from that season's finale andlater indicatinghe wanted to play elsewhere.

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Bradley Chubb is another star Dolphins player on the move

Chubb spent the past three seasons with the Dolphins after being traded to Miami from Denver in 2022.

He suffered a gruesome knee injury late in the 2023 season that required surgery to fix a torn anterior cruciate ligament, meniscus and patellar tendon in his right knee and sidelined him all of 2024. Chubb had 11 sacks — the most he had in a season since getting 12 as a rookie in 2018 — in 2023 before the injury.

Last season, Chubb's 8 1/2 sacks led the team. He represented a $31 million cap hit for 2026.

New general manager Jon Eric Sullivan, who was hired by the Dolphins last month along with head coach Jeff Hafley, was expected to begin making moves to overhaul Miami's roster.

"We will move with responsible aggression here," Sullivan said when the Dolphins introduced him on Jan 22. "We will utilize every avenue of player acquisition to bolster this roster."

Dolphins still appear undecided on QB Tua Tagovailoa

Sullivan still faces the question on whether to move on from 2020 first-round pick Tua Tagovailoa, who was benched by former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel toward the end of last season because of poor play.

Tagovailoa signed a four-year, $212.4 million extension in July 2024, but has since shown a decline in accuracy and mobility. Tagovailoa finished 2025 with 15 interceptions, second most in the NFL and a career high.

He is guaranteed $54 million for 2026, and the Dolphins would incur significant hits to the salary cap by releasing him. Cutting him would result in a $99 million dead cap charge. If the move is designated as a post-June 1 release, those charges are split over two years, with $67.4 million allocated to the 2026 cap and $31.8 million in 2027.

Sullivan said last week at a fan event that he doesn't know "what the future holds right now."

"And I told Tua that," Sullivansaid. "We're working through some things. What I can tell you is that we're going to infuse competition into that room — whether Tua is part of the room, whether he's not part of the room."

AP NFL:https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

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11 million under flood watch as storms bring heavy rain and snow to California

February 16, 2026
11 million under flood watch as storms bring heavy rain and snow to California

At least 11 million people in California were under flood watch Monday as a series of storms bring rain, snow and potential flash flooding across the state this week.

NBC Universal People wear rain ponchos; (Brontë Wittpenn / San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

Up to 4 inches of rain are forecast for California's coast and valley areas, with as much as 7 inches in the foothills and mountains.

In addition to flash flood risks, residents in burn scar areas in Los Angeles County face a threat of mudslides as the rainfall accumulates.

An evacuation order when into effect on Sunday night for the Palisades, Sunset and Hurst burn scar areas. It remains in effect into Tuesday evening. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass urged residents to follow the guidance.

"Ahead of heavy rain forecasted this week, first responders, Public Works crews, and City personnel are taking action to keep Angelenos safe and will be ready to respond to any potential impacts," Bass wrote in a post on X. "This is likely to be another significant rain event."

Burn scars areas are those where wildfires have killed off vegetation and changed the soil, making the land less able to absorb rainwater. These areas can "be as water-repellant as pavement,"according to the National Weather Service, causing runoff that can create conditions for flash flooding, mudslides and debris flow.

San Francisco's Department of Emergency Management, meanwhile, warned residents of potential flooding in low-lying areas. Parts of the Bay Area are under a coastal flooding advisory through Tuesday.

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"Help your community prepare for the upcoming storm by clearing out storm drains and checking in with friends and family who may need assistance during extreme weather," thedepartment said in a post on X.

As the storm system moves east across California, torrential downpours are expected, with wind gusts as high as 70 mph on Tuesday.

Meteorologists said the system is likely to bring heavy snow to the Sierra Nevada: 5 to 8 feet is forecast to fall from Tuesday through Wednesday.

Though the snow can create dangerous conditions on roadways, its arrival is somewhat of a relief given the extremelylow snowpack that has plagued the West this winter.If the season ends with insufficient snow, that creates problems for water supplies and increases the risk of wildfires when the weather warms.

Climate scientists have been calling attention to the snowpack shortages in nearly every region of the West this year. Although it's not unusual for some areas to lack snow, it's rare for the problem to be this widespread. Philip Mote, a professor at Oregon State University's College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, told NBC News last month that he had observed dramatic deficits.

"Washington, Oregon, California and many Western states had their warmest December ever on record, and so the torrential rains that we had with the atmospheric river and the flooding and damage from too much water — none of that stayed in the mountains," he said.

On Wednesday, the storm is expected to head east, moving out of California and bringing beneficial snow to the Rockies, as well.

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FBI won't share evidence related to Alex Pretti shooting, state says

February 16, 2026
FBI won't share evidence related to Alex Pretti shooting, state says

The FBI notified Minnesota state investigators that it will not share information or evidence related to the fatalshooting of Alex Pretti by federal agentsin Minneapolis, the state's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said in a Feb. 16 statement.

USA TODAY

The revelation comes after Minnesota Gov.Tim Walzand other officialsexpressed hope that federal authorities would cooperatewith the state in an investigation into the killing of Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse whose death triggered nationwide protests andbipartisan calls for an independent investigation.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which specializes in investigating police shootings and has often worked with federal authorities, vowed to move ahead with its own probe but acknowledged the challenges posed by the FBI's decision to withhold evidence.

"While this lack of cooperation is concerning and unprecedented, the BCA is committed to thorough, independent and transparent investigations of these incidents, even if hampered by a lack of access to key information and evidence," the agency said.

The FBI, which is leading its own probe into the Pretti shooting, declined to comment.

The scene of a shooting involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 24, 2026.

The move is the latest development in a series of battles between state and federal authorities over investigations into shootings by federal officers during amonthslong immigration enforcement surgein Minnesota.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says it has also been stonewalled from evidence and case materials related to the fatal shooting ofRenee Nicole Good, a mother of three, and a shooting thatleft a Venezuelan maninjured.

Minnesota state and local authorities promised to independently investigate each of the shootings, but it remains unclear whether state prosecutors will be able to bring charges against the federal agents,who are largely protected from prosecution.

Independent investigations have been among the top demands from Minnesota state and local officials, as well as federal lawmakers from both parties, as outrage mounted over the shootings. Pretti's death prompted particularly intense pushback as footage of the incidentundermined assertions made by top Trump administration officialswho said Pretti had "brandished" a firearm and acted as an "assassin."

Videos show Pretti filming federal agents with his phone before he was taken to the ground, disarmed and shot in the back. The Department of Homeland Security said two agents opened fire, both of whom have beenplaced on leave.

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People gather to mourn for Renee Nicole Good, who was fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent on Jan. 7 during an immigration raid, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. Feb. 7, 2026.

Within hours of Pretti's death, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and a local prosecutor's office went to court to gain access to the scene and even obtained a search warrant, a move officials in court records said was incredibly unusual.

"In my 20-plus years at the BCA, prior to 2026, I had never encountered a situation in which federal authorities blocked BCA access to an incident where there is concurrent federal and state jurisdiction," Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said.

U.S. District Judge Eric C. Tostrud issued a restraining order barring federal authorities from destroying or altering evidence related to Pretti's death. In early February, Tostrud dissolved his initial order.

TheU.S. Justice Department openeda civil rights investigation into the Pretti shooting, which could potentially lead to criminal charges against the officers involved, though there is a high legal bar to bring such a case. Customs and Border Protection has opened an internal investigation into the shooting.

(L/R) Rodney Scott, Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Joseph Edlow, Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and Todd Lyons, acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), testify during a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing on Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Feb. 10, 2026. A staffer holds up a display of Renee Good and Alex Pretti who were both killed by ICE agents, during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on Feb. 10, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Department of Homeland Security has faced criticism over law enforcement tactics targeting undocumented immigrants and the killing of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis. Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Todd Lyons testifies during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on Feb. 10, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Department of Homeland Security has faced criticism over law enforcement tactics targeting undocumented immigrants and the killing of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis. Chairman U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) speaks during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on Feb. 10, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Department of Homeland Security has faced criticism over law enforcement tactics targeting undocumented immigrants and the killing of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis. Committee ranking member Representative Bennie Thompson, D-MS), speaks with a picture of Liam Ramos displayed behind him, a 5 year-old boy who was detained by ICE on January 20, during a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing on Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Feb. 10, 2026. Rodney Scott, Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), testifies during a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing on Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Feb. 10, 2026. (L/R) Rodney Scott, Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Joseph Edlow, Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and Todd Lyons, acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), are sworn in during a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing on Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Feb, 10, 2026. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney Scott and Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow arrive for a House Homeland Security Committee hearing entitled

ICE, Border Patrol leaders face Congress over deadly Minnesota raids

The Justice Department declined to investigate the Good shooting, saying there's"no basis" for such an inquiry. That decision, and a push from top DOJ officials to instead investigate Good's wife, led to a wave of resignations at the U.S. attorney's office in Minnesota, according to multiple news outlets, includingThe New York TimesandNBC News.

ICE said it opened an internal investigation and is reviewing the conduct ofJonathan Ross, the agent who shot Good.

Separately, the Justice Department and ICE are investigating whether the two officers involved in a shooting that injured Venezuelan immigrantJulio Cesar Sosa-Celison Jan. 14 in Minneapolis lied under oath. Federal authorities launched the probe after video evidence appeared to contradict the officers' initial statements about the shooting.

Contributing: Reuters

Christopher Cann is a national breaking news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact him via email at ccann@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:FBI won't share evidence related to Alex Pretti shooting, state says

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Prosecutors plan to charge an Israeli settler with killing a Palestinian activist in the West Bank

February 16, 2026
Prosecutors plan to charge an Israeli settler with killing a Palestinian activist in the West Bank

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — Israeli prosecutors said Monday that they plan to charge a settler in the killing of a Palestinian activist during a confrontation that was caught on video, opening a rare prosecution ofviolence by Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank.

Attacks from settlers and home demolitions by authorities have spiked dramatically over the past two years, but the death in July of Awdah Hathaleen has drawn particular attention due to his involvement in the 2025 Oscar-winning film "No Other Land," which chronicled Palestinian villagers' fight to stay on their land. The case also stands out because the confrontation between Palestinians and Yinon Levi, an internationally sanctioned settler, was captured on video from multiple vantage points.

In a video that family members say wastaken by Hathaleen himself, Levi could be seen firing toward the person holding the camera. Anothershowed Levi firing two shotswithout showing where the bullets struck.

An Israeli judge released Levi from custody six months ago,citing a lack of evidencethat he fired the shots that killed Hathaleen.

Israel's State Attorney General's office confirmed in a statement Monday that it had initiated proceedings to indict Levi. It did not specify the charges.

Eitan Peleg, an attorney for Hathaleen's family, said the office had informed them it planned to indict Levi for reckless homicide, triggering a process that allows Levi to contest charges before they're formally filed.

"Enforcement of the law in cases like this involving Palestinians in the West Bank is very rare, so this is unique," Peleg told The Associated Press on Monday.

Israel's military referred questions on the indictment to police, who have not yet responded. Both bodies enforce laws in the area.

More than 3.4 million Palestinians and 700,000 Israelis live in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, territories captured by Israel in 1967 and sought by Palestinians for a future state. The international community overwhelmingly considers Israeli settlement construction in these areas to be illegal and an obstacle to peace.

Palestinians and rights groups say authorities routinely fail to prosecute settlers or hold them accountable for violence. Under National Security MinisterItamar Ben-Gvir,investigations into settler attacks have plummeted, according to the Israeli rights group Yesh Din.

Khalil Hathaleen, Awdah's brother, said the family was glad some measure of justice was being pursued but felt the charge of "reckless homicide" was insufficient.

"It was an intentional killing in broad daylight, with prior intent and premeditation," he said.

Levi's attorney, Avichai Hajbi, declined Monday to comment on the coming indictment, which he said he hadn't received. After the shooting, he told The Associated Press that Levi acted in self-defense, without elaborating. Levi did not answer phone calls Monday.

Parts of the confrontation were filmed

Video released last year by B'Tselem, an Israeli human rights group showed Levi firing a gun toward the person filming. At the moment that B'Tselem says Hathaleen collapsed, the visuals are jostled but moans of pain can be heard. The group said it obtained the video from the family of Hathaleen, who said he filmed it.

Additional footage obtained by the AP last year showed Levi waving a pistol during the standoff in Umm al-Khair that was with a group of Palestinians over an excavator that had rolled down from a nearby settlement and damaged Palestinian property earlier in the day.

Alaa Hathaleen, a cousin who filmed the encounter, told AP at the time that he had approached Levi to tell him the group was unarmed and to stop the bulldozing.

In the video, one Palestinian insults Levi and another challenges him to shoot. Levi shoves someone just out of the frame, demands to know who threw stones, and later fires a shot, seemingly away from the crowd. He then fires again and yells toward the crowd to get away from the excavator.

The footage did not show where bullets struck, though other relatives said they saw Awdah Hathaleen fall immediately after shots were fired.

Levi was detained before being released to house arrest. That condition was eventually lifted, too.

Levi was among the Israeli settlerssanctioned by the United States and other Western countriesover allegations of violence toward Palestinians in 2024. U.S. President Donald Trump lifted the U.S. sanctions after taking office the following year.

Attacks spike as spotlight grows

Activists and crew members on the film "No Other Land" have said settler attacks have intensified on the village portrayed since the movie won the Oscar.

Hamdan Ballal, one of the film's directors, said his family home in Umm al-Khair was subject to another attack on Sunday. Four relatives were arrested during the confrontation, he said.

Ballal said a soldier, who came to their home accompanied by another soldier and a settler-herder, grabbed his brother by the neck and tried to choke him. Neither the army nor the police responded to requests for comment on the incident.

"The year after I won the Oscar, the assaults increased significantly. On a daily basis, settlers come and destroy the fields, destroy the trees, destroy the crops around the house," he said.

Israeli proof-of-ownership rules spark anger

As prosecutors move to indict Levi and violence persists across the West Bank, Israel is moving ahead with measures to deepen its control over land in the occupied territory.

On Sunday, it announcedit would resume a land registration processacross the West Bank to require anyone with a claim to land to submit documents proving ownership. Rights groups say the process could strip Palestinians of land they've lived on and farmed for generations and transfer vast swaths of land to Israeli state control.

Israel's Foreign Ministry said the steps countered Palestinian Authority land registration efforts in areas where Israel maintains civil and military control.

The measures follow years of accusations by Palestinians that actions by settlers and the military — campaigns of violence, harassment and demolitions — have pushed them from their land.

The decisions have drawn widespread condemnation as violations of international law, including from countries involved in the ceasefire process in the Gaza Strip and Trump's Board of Peace.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry in a statement on Monday said the measures were part of Israel's effort to impose a "new legal and administrative reality" that undermines prospects for peace and stability. Egypt's Foreign Ministry called the move a "flagrant violation" of international law, warning it would escalate tensions in the Palestinian territories and across the region.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres condemned Israel's decision, calling it not only destabilizing but unlawful according to the International Court of Justice, the U.N.'s highest tribunal, his spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said.

___ Associated Press writer Melanie Lidman contributed reporting from Tel Aviv.

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Olympic skier, skater show amazing agility crossing finish line backwards

February 16, 2026
Olympic skier, skater show amazing agility crossing finish line backwards

Balance and control are important in any sport, but they're especially crucial at the highest levels, such as at the2026 Milano Cortina Olympics.

In the Winter Games, athletes often must be able to display the same skills while going forward and backward. In figure skating, ice hockey and snowboarding, for example.

But there have been times during these Olympics when athletes have gone out of control and turned completely around when theyweren'tsupposed to. And the moments have been magical.

In men's dual moguls on Sunday, Feb. 15, Japanese freestyle skier Ikuma Horishima nearly lost it on the final jump, but somehow remained upright to cross the finish line ... backwards.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE MY EYES." 😳Dual moguls madness as Nick Page skis out of the course for a DNF while his opponent, Ikuma Horishima, barely stays in control and skis over the line BACKWARDS for the win.pic.twitter.com/hFqqi5gnQE

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics)February 15, 2026

Horishima went on to claim the silver medal in dual moguls.

And in short track speed skating, Italy's Pietro Sighel − who had a big enough lead in an earlier heat that he turned around and crossed the finish line backward − had to do it again out of necessity in his 500 meter heat Monday when he was bumped as two skaters collided.

Sighel nearly won the race, but made it across the finish line to advance.

Pietro sighel diventa temporaneamente pattinatore di figurapic.twitter.com/XwVy5GzWYu

— Emily🦇👽🖖 (@tardisemily)February 16, 2026

Unexpected surprises like these definitely have us looking forward to more as the Winter Games conclude.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Ikuma Horishima, Pietro Sighel cross Olympic finish line backwards

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