US increases military pressure on Iran ahead of high-stakes talks

The US military is continuing asignificant buildupof air and naval assets in the Middle East ahead of planned talks with Iran in Geneva on Tuesday. The pieces are being moved into place both to intimidate Tehran and to have options to strike inside the country should negotiations over its nuclear program fail, multiple sources familiar with the matter told CNN.

US Air Force assets based in the United Kingdom, including refueling tankers and fighter jets, are being repositioned closer to the Middle East, according to sources familiar with the movements.

The US is also continuing to flow air defense systems to the region, according to a US official, and several US military units deployed in the region that were expected to rotate out in the coming weeks have had their orders extended, said one source familiar with the matter. Dozens of US military cargo planes have transported equipment from the US to Jordan, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in recent weeks, according to flight-tracking data.

On Friday evening, multiple fighter aircraft were also given diplomatic clearance to enter Jordanian airspace, according toopen-source air traffic communications. Satellite images show 12 US F-15 attack planes have been positioned at Jordan's Muwaffaq Salti Air Base since January 25.

More broadly, open-source flight data reveals there have been over 250 US cargo flights into the region.

President Donald Trump has been threatening military action against Iran for weeks, beginning last month when he warned Iranian leaders that he was prepared to order an attack if the government did not stop killing protesters. And on Friday, he said he believes regime change "would be the best thing that could happen" in Iran.

The buildup of military assets and emphasis by Trump and senior members of the administration that regime change is preferable has the region on edge and increases the stakes for Tuesday's talks, which the president said Monday he will be "indirectly" involved in. The Switzerland talks are expected to be led by Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, on the US side, with Iran represented by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

'No one knows' who would take over

But the administration still does not appear to have a clear understanding of what would come next if it removed the Iranian regime, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed this during a congressional hearing late last month, telling lawmakers that "no one knows" who would take over if the regime fell.

The likely alternatives could be even more problematic for the US and its allies, sources said. In the short term, the hard-line Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps would likely fill any leadership void, the US intelligence community believes, according to sources.

The IRGC "is definitely prominent and functions above the standard military bureaucracy, but it is hard to predict exactly what would happen in a regime collapse scenario," said one source familiar with recent US intelligence reporting on the matter.

The US also lacks clear insight into the IRGC's hierarchy following the US assassination of Iran's most powerful military commander, Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, during Trump's first term.

Whereas US intelligence officials had a very good understanding of the power dynamics in Venezuela before the US captured then-President Nicolás Maduro last month, they lack the same insight into who, if anyone, would constitute a viable replacement for Iran's supreme leader, sources said.

Multiple sources said there were legitimate reasons to consider kinetic action several weeks ago at the height of the Iranian protests. At that point, there was a small window of time when US strikes could have potentially tipped the balance in favor of the opposition, providing momentum for Iranians to overthrow their government organically.

Those sources now wonder whether Trump "missed the moment" and question whether military strikes weeks later would accomplish what they could have last month.

At the time, however, US military assets were concentrated in the Caribbean rather than the Middle East, limiting the administration's options and worrying the Israelis, who were concerned they would be left exposed if Iran were to retaliate by attacking them with ballistic missiles.

Since then, Trump has shifted his rationale for a potential attack, framing it around Iran's reluctance to stop enriching uranium for its nuclear program.

"I think they'll be successful," Trump said Friday of the upcoming talks. "If they're not, it's going to be a very bad day for Iran."

Unlike last month, the US now has the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group in the region, the USS Gerald Ford carrier strike group on the way, and fighter jet squadrons and tankers being rapidly repositioned.

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"In case we don't make a deal, we'll need it," Trump said Friday, when asked why the Ford was headed to the region.

The buildup gives the US military extensive strike options should Trump order an attack. Guided-missile destroyers steaming with the carriers, for example, can carry dozens of Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of 1,000 miles and wielding 1,000-pound conventional warheads. US Navy carrier strike groups usually operate with an attack submarine that can also launch Tomahawks. F-35 and F-15E fighter jets can carry an array of guided bombs and air-to-surface missiles.

Among the potential targets for strikes are the headquarters of the IRGC and other military installations beyond Iranian nuclear sites, according to multiple sources. There is also some discussion about the US and Israel conducting joint operations, the sources said. Those could resemble Operation Midnight Hammer last summer, when the US struck Iranian nuclear sites toward the end of the 12-day Israel-Iran war, they added.

'It's hard to do a deal with Iran'

Trump said over the weekend that the US "doesn't want any enrichment," indicating that he will not settle for a deal that allows even low-level uranium enrichment by Iran. Given Iran's position that enrichment is its right, sources said there may not be space for negotiation.

But the sources also noted that hard-line positions going into negotiations can always change.

There are also other ways the Iranian government could try to ward off a US attack, including with economic incentives. During multiple rounds of US-Iran talks last year, there were discussions about possible business deals that could be struck in conjunction with a nuclear agreement, including granting the US privileged access to developing Iran's oil, gas and rare earths resources, one source said. That topic is expected to be raised again, this person added.

The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, met with Araghchi in Geneva on Monday for what both described as "in-depth technical discussions," as preparations intensify for the crucial nuclear negotiations Tuesday.

In public remarks, Rubio has maintained that Trump prefers a diplomatic resolution. But he has also repeatedly stressed that such a deal will be difficult.

"Iran ultimately is governed and its decisions are governed by Shia clerics — radical Shia clerics, okay? These people make policy decisions on the basis of pure theology. That's how they make their decisions. So, it's hard to do a deal with Iran," Rubio said at a press conference in Budapest, Hungary, on Monday.

Asked Sunday whether the administration would inform Congress if it decides to attack Iran or attempt to remove Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Rubio would not commit.

"We'll follow whatever the law is on it, and it depends on the circumstance it would lead to. But right now, we're talking about negotiations," he said at a press conference in Slovakia.

"If that changes, it'll be obvious to everyone. And obviously, whatever the law requires us to do, we'll do," he added.

Regional allies including the Arab states in the Persian Gulf are deeply concerned that US military action could destabilize the region. They have lobbied for holding off on military action to give diplomacy more time, according to sources familiar with the talks.

"Everybody is pushing against a strike," said a diplomat from the region. This person added that Israel is the only regional player that has been urging the US to attack.

Iran, meanwhile, held further military exercises less than 24 hours ahead of the Geneva talks. On Monday, Iran's official Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reported that the IRGC had launched a "valiant defense" of three Iranian islands by land, air and sea that are the subject of a longtime border dispute between Iran and the United Arab Emirates.

According to the report, IRGC drones are positioned at Iran's southernmost point, ready to confront any aggressors.

Iran's armed forces chief of staff, Maj. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi, warned Sunday that "Trump should know that he would be entering a confrontation that gives harsh lessons, the outcome of which would ensure that he no longer bellows threats around the world," according to state-run Press TV.

This story was updated with additional developments.

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byAndy Corry

in

February 16, 2026

US increases military pressure on Iran ahead of high-stakes talks

The US military is continuing asignificant buildupof air and naval assets in the Middle East ahead of planned talks with...

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New Mexico approves comprehensive probe of Epstein’s Zorro Ranch

By Erica Stapleton and Andrew Hay

Zorro Ranch is seen in an aerial view near Stanley, New Mexico

SANTA FE, Feb 16 (Reuters) - New Mexico lawmakers on Monday passed legislation to launch what they said was the first full investigation into what happened at Zorro Ranch, where the late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is accused of trafficking and sexually assaulting girls and women.

A bipartisan committee will seek testimony from survivors of alleged sexual abuse at the ranch, located about 30 miles south of Santa Fe, the state capital. Legislators ‌are also urging local residents to testify.

Epstein died in what was ruled a suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while facing federal sex trafficking charges.

The so-called truth commission, comprising four lawmakers, seeks to identify ranch guests and state officials ‌who may have known what was going on at the 7,600-acre property, or taken part in alleged sexual abuse in its hacienda-style mansion and guest houses.

The Democratic-led investigation adds to political pressure to uncover Epstein's crimes that has become a major challenge for President Donald Trump, weeks after the Justice Department released millions of Epstein-related files that ​shed new light on activities at the ranch.

The files reveal ties between Epstein and two former Democratic governors and an attorney general of New Mexico.

The legislation, which passed New Mexico's House of Representatives by a unanimous vote, could pose risks to any additional politicians linked to Epstein in the Democratic-run state, as well as scientists, investors and other high-profile individuals who visited the ranch.

The $2.5 million investigation, which has subpoena power, aims to close gaps in New Mexico law that may have allowed Epstein to operate in the state. The committee starts work on Tuesday, and will deliver interim findings in July and a final report by year-end.

"He was basically doing anything he wanted in this state without any accountability whatsoever," said New Mexico state Representative Andrea Romero, a Democrat, who co-sponsored the initiative.

Testimony to the committee could be used for future prosecutions, she said.

Victim advocates applauded the move, saying Zorro ‌Ranch had been overlooked by federal investigations that focused on Epstein's Caribbean island and New York ⁠townhouse.

"Many of the survivors had experiences in New Mexico, and as we've learned, you know, there were local politicians and other people that were aware of what was happening in New Mexico," said attorney Sigrid McCawley, whose law firm has represented hundreds of Epstein survivors.

They include the late Virginia Giuffre, who was abused many times at the ranch, she said.

The U.S. Department of Justice passed a request for comment to the FBI. ⁠The FBI declined comment.

EPSTEIN OPERATED AT THE RANCH FOR DECADES

Several civil suits accuse Epstein of sexually assaulting girls at Zorro Ranch. He was never charged for the alleged offenses.

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Romero said there was no record of federal law enforcement searching what was known locally as "the playboy ranch" where Epstein is accused of sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl as early as 1996.

Former New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas launched a probe in 2019 that was put on hold at the request of federal prosecutors to avoid "parallel investigation," he said in a statement.

New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez has assigned a special agent to probe allegations that ​may ​come through the truth commission, spokesperson Lauren Rodriguez said.

A state house committee rejected accompanying legislation to extend New Mexico's statute of limitations for childhood sexual assault to ​allow civil actions by Epstein survivors, said state Representative Marianna Anaya, who co-sponsored the legislation to create ‌the truth commission. The legislation raised concerns about increased insurance costs for public institutions facing abuse lawsuits, Anaya said.

Epstein bought the ranch in 1993 from Bruce King, a three-time New Mexico Democratic governor who died in 2009. Epstein's estate sold the property in 2023 to Texas businessman and politician Don Huffines, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican. Huffines is prepared to cooperate with any law enforcement investigation of the ranch, the newspaper reported on Monday, citing his spokesperson.

Epstein flew in guests and "masseuses" to the ranch, and hired local massage therapists to work there, ranch manager Brice Gordon told the FBI in 2007, according to a report in the Epstein files.

In an unsealed 2016 court deposition, Giuffre testified Epstein's partner Ghislaine Maxwell told her to give the late former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson a "massage" at the ranch. In Giuffre's memoir, she said an instruction from Maxwell to provide a "massage" meant a victim should provide a sexual encounter to an abuser.

Richardson's representative Madeleine Mahoney in a 2019 statement said Giuffre's allegations were "completely false."

Gordon told the FBI that most of the masseuses Epstein used at the ranch were hired locally through the ‌spa Ten Thousand Waves, a Santa Fe institution, or by referrals.

Spa spokesperson Sara Bean said in a phone interview last Tuesday that Ten Thousand Waves neither ​provided nor referred masseuses to Zorro Ranch.

In the documentary "Surviving Jeffrey Epstein," former Santa Fe massage therapist Rachel Benavidez accused Epstein of sexual abuse when she was hired ​to work at the ranch.

Investment consultant Joshua Ramo said on Sunday he visited the ranch once for a 2014 lunch on ​behalf of professors from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, who were present. Ramo, at the time CEO of consulting firm Kissinger Associates, said he and Epstein met with business figures and scientists around 14 times ‌in New York between 2013 and 2016.

"I deferred to the due diligence of the institutions involved, assuming ​that his presence signaled he had been appropriately vetted," Ramo, in a ​statement, said of his ranch visit and other meetings with Epstein. "I feel a deep sense of grief for the survivors of his crimes."

Emails show Epstein contacted Ramo in 2015 to tell him he was going to Ten Thousand Waves, suggesting they meet for lunch in Santa Fe. Ramo responded, "I assumed we were meeting at the pink bottom ranch." Ramo, who is currently CEO of consulting firm Sornay LLC, said he had no recollection of that comment, or whether the two met that day.

Over the years, ​Epstein contributed to the political campaigns of New Mexico Democrats such as Richardson and King's son Gary ‌King, a former New Mexico attorney general. When contributions were reported in the press, the men pledged to either return the money, or give it to charity.

Gary King flew on a plane chartered by Epstein when he was running ​for New Mexico governor in 2014, according to emails in the Epstein files. Epstein said he would cover around half the cost of the $22,000 charter and King would pay the rest. King did not respond to a request for ​comment.

(Reporting by Erica Stapleton in New Mexico and Florida, reporting by Andrew Hay in New Mexico; editing by Donna Bryson and Diane Craft)

byAndy Corry

in

February 16, 2026

New Mexico approves comprehensive probe of Epstein’s Zorro Ranch

By Erica Stapleton and Andrew Hay Zorro Ranch is seen in an aerial view near Stanley, New Mexico SANTA FE,...

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Pippa Middleton Played a Secret but Major Role in Kate Middleton’s Cancer Journey

Kate Middleton has long been close with her younger sister, Pippa Middleton.

The Gist

• During the Princess of Wales's cancer journey in 2024, Pippa made a notable appearance alongside her sister at Wimbledon in July of that year—only Kate's second public appearance of the year up to that point.

• In a new royal biography, it is revealed by Russell Myers that Pippa also played a role in writing the script for Kate's video where she announced her cancer diagnosis in March 2024.

Pippa Middletonand her older sisterKate Middletonare famously close—and Pippa was there for Kate during one of the most difficult times in her life, playing a pivotal role in helping the Princess of Wales during her cancer journey.

After being diagnosed with cancer in early 2024, the future queen announced her health news to the world on March 22 of that year. According to the new biographyWilliam and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story—out March 10 in the U.S.—Pippa helped Kate craft the speech she gave as she sat on a bench in the gardens of Windsor Castle, yellow daffodils blooming in the background. This detail—that Pippa helped Kate write her remarks—was previously unknown to the public before biographer Russell Myers shared it in his new book.

According to an excerpt of the book, when it came time to writing the speech, "Catherine's family rallied 'round, with her sister Pippa helping to write the script for the short video statement." The excerpt also said that Kate's speech that Friday was of utmost significance, with Myers writing, "Much like the announcement of the death of [Queen] Elizabeth II, it felt like an earthquake whose reverberations were felt around the world."

Beyond the speech, Pippa showed support to her older sister several other times throughout 2024, including joining her andPrincess Charlotteat Wimbledon in July—only Kate's second public appearance of the year up to that point—and, in December, attending Kate's "Together at Christmas" carol concert at Westminster Abbey.

Pippa previously toldTodayin 2014—in what was her first-ever television interview—that she and Kate "spend a lot of time together. We still do a lot together as a family. And I think that's really the heart for all of us is having a really close family that we can sort of be normal with each other, treat each other normally. And that's sort of kept us all, you know, affixed to the ground."

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Pippa added that she and Kate "have a very normal, sisterly relationship," adding, "We're very close. And, you know, we support each other and get each other's opinions and things."

Of not just Pippa but also their brotherJames Middleton, a source toldThe Timesthat the Middleton siblings "are incredibly tight,"adding, "Pippa not only as a sister, but as a best friend she can confide in. They are extremely loyal to one another."

Of deciding to make her video announcement, Myers wrote that the Princess of Wales did so because "She had seen the positivity and warmth that had greeted the King [Charles] when he had been so open about his own diagnosis. More than that, though, the princess believed that her experience could benefit others in similar distressing circumstances."

"The days beforehand were filled with shock, but at that moment, it was genuinely as if the world stood still," a senior palace sourcetold Myers.

Pippa, along with James and their parents Carole and Michael Middleton, were regular fixtures at the Prince and Princess of Wales' home, Adelaide Cottage, during those difficult months, rallying around them with "quiet evening dinners" and "playdates to keep the children entertained" as Kate went through chemotherapy treatment. The future queen announced her chemotherapy had ended in September 2024, and in January 2025 shared that she is in remission.

Read the original article onInStyle

byAndy Corry

in

February 16, 2026

Pippa Middleton Played a Secret but Major Role in Kate Middleton’s Cancer Journey

Kate Middleton has long been close with her younger sister, Pippa Middleton. The Gist During the Princess of...

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Apple Martin Says Rumors That She's Been Expelled from School for Bullying Are 'Completely Untrue': 'Not That Type of Person'

Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Apple Martin is hitting back against rumors that she was expelled from a school for bullying

• The 21-year-old shared a statement on her Instagram Stories, saying that she's "not that type of person"

• Martin is the daughter of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin

Apple Martinis hitting back against rumors that she was expelled from a school for bullying.

In an Instagram comment reshared to herInstagram Stories, the 21-year-old daughter ofGwyneth PaltrowandChris Martinpushed back against rumors that she was expelled for bullying, saying that it was "just a quick little message from myself."

"Hi! I didn't wanna respond but this narrative is completely false and has gotten so out of hand," Apple wrote to an unnamed account. "I have never been expelled from any school, especially not for bullying anyone."

"I completely understand ppl not liking me and that is okay! The internet is a place where ppl can share their opinions," she continued. "But this rumor is completely untrue, I am not that type of person and anyone who is close to me knows that ❤️."

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Apple Martin/Instagram

Martin previously faced bullying rumorsin December 2024 when a video circulated of her appearing to crash a fellow debutante's photo shoot. However, the debutante in question, Aliénor Loppin de Montmort, told PEOPLE at the time, "[Apple's] genuinely the nicest girl ever! She really doesn't deserve an ounce of what she's getting."

She added, "She was the nicest girl ever towards not only me but all the debs!"

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In a February interview withVogue, Martin shared that she'd changed her mind about her post-college plans and no longer wants to attend law school. Instead, she told the outlet she'dlike to follow in her famous mom's footsteps and act.

"I was in that rebellious 'I don't wanna be like my parents' type of phase," Martin, who majored in law, history and society, said of wanting to attend law school.

"I don't wanna be a singer," explained Martin, who noted she also likes to sing. "I like musical theater, but getting onstage by yourself to sing is so terrifying."

"I love dancing and I love acting," she continued. "My dream is to act."

gwynethpaltrow/Instagram

In October 2025, Martin spoke withThe Telegraphand opened up aboutbeing raised by two famous parents. A month after sharing the spotlight with Paltrow in aGapStudio campaign for the Fall/Winter 2025 collectionby Zac Posen, Martin said she "constantly remind myself how grateful I am to have these opportunities."

"I know this is not a normal way to grow up by any means," Martin said in an interview.

"But my parents did a really good job of instilling in me that I shouldn't be entitled to anything," continued Martin. "I have to work."

Read the original article onPeople

byAndy Corry

in

February 16, 2026

Apple Martin Says Rumors That She's Been Expelled from School for Bullying Are 'Completely Untrue': 'Not That Type of Person'

Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty NEED TO KNOW Apple Martin is hitting back against rumors that ...

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Maya Hawke gets married with Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke at her side

Maya HawkeandChristian Lee Hutsonhave tied the knot!

The singers were married in New York City on Saturday, Feb. 14. Hawke's parents,Uma ThurmanandEthan Hawke, as well as her "Stranger Things" costars at her side, according to photos published byPeoplemagazine.

The outlet was the first to share photos of the couple in their wedding best as they strolled the city streets.

USA TODAY has reached out to reps for Maya and Ethan Hawke, as well as Thuman, for comment.

Maya Hawke donned a classic white boatneck gown with plenty of tulle underneath her voluminous skirt, while Hutson wore a dark-colored suit and black bowtie over a white dress shirt and ivory waistcoat. Mother of the bride Thurman was photographed in a gauzy light blue dress, and Ethan Hawke was in a navy blue suit paired with a black button-down.

See photos of "Stranger Things" star Maya Hawke and singer Christian Lee Hutson as a couple and musical partnership, starting with their performance onstage during the 37th annual Tibet House U.S. benefit concert at Carnegie Hall on Feb. 26, 2024, in New York City.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Christian Lee Hutson, left, and Maya Hawke are seen backstage during the 37th annual Tibet House U.S. benefit concert at Carnegie Hall on Feb. 26, 2024, in New York City.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Lee Hutson and Hawke backstage at Carnegie Hall.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Christian Lee Hutson, left, and Maya Hawke, center, attend the 37th annual Tibet House U.S. benefit concert after party at Ziegfeld Ballroom on Feb. 26, 2024, in New York City.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Maya Hawke and Christian Lee Hutson perform onstage at Carnegie Hall.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> From left, Maya Hawke, Christian Lee Hutson and Bowen Yang are seen backstage during the 37th annual Tibet House U.S. benefit concert.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> From left, Bob Thurman, Maya Hawke, Joan Baez, and Christian Lee Hutson perform onstage during the 37th annual Tibet House U.S. benefit concert at Carnegie Hall on Feb. 26, 2024, in New York City.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> From left, Christian Lee Hutson, Maya Hawke and Tenzin Choegyal attend the 37th annual Tibet House U.S. benefit concert after party at Ziegfeld Ballroom on Feb. 26, 2024, in New York City.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

'Stranger Things' star Maya Hawke and Christian Lee Hutson in photos

See photos of "Stranger Things" star Maya Hawke and singer Christian Lee Hutson as a couple and musical partnership, starting with their performance onstage during the 37th annual Tibet House U.S. benefit concert at Carnegie Hall on Feb. 26, 2024, in New York City.

Finn Wolfhard,Sadie Sink, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin,Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton and Joe Keery were among the guests who were photographed walking to the couple's wedding reception, according to the photos published by People.

Maya Hawke, 27, is Ethan Hawke and Thurman's eldest child; they also have a 24-year-old son, Levon Hawke, from their marriage, which lasted from 1998 to 2005.

'If anyone could handle it, I could':Maya Hawke on famous parents, dealing with trolls at 14

In April 2025, nearly a year after the two released songs they'd cowritten on Maya Hawke's 2024 album "Chaos Angel," she and Hutson reportedly made their relationshipred-carpet officialduring a Broadway date night in April 2025.

Hawke, who made her major film debut in "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" and starred in 2024's "Inside Out 2," cowrote tracks on her last two albums – which includes 2022's "Moss" – with her now-husband. Hutson, 35, is a frequent collaborator of Phoebe Bridgers' and has accompanied her and her now-defunct supergroup boygenius on tour.

Cue the wedding bells: Romance is taking center stage in 2026 as these celebrities marked the next chapter in their love stories with engagements and marriages.


After stars like Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement last year, eyes are on what other celebrities will tie the knot.

Actress-turned-singer Dove Cameron and Måneskin frontman Damiano David kicked off 2026 by announcing their engagement on a Jan. 3 Instagram post.

"the 2 best years of my life. i am brought to tears at least once a week because life has become so beautiful with you in it. i love you in a way no words could ever express, but i will never stop trying," Cameron wrote sharing a gallery of the pair shamelessly showing affection toward one another.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Vanna White married her longtime partner, John Donaldson, in a private ceremony after more than 14 years together.

The "Wheel of Fortune" co-host revealed her newlywed status on social media on Jan. 21 with a photo of her husband carrying her bridal-style as she's wearing a beaded white gown.

"Surprise! We got married!" she wrote.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Rick Harrison kicked off 2026 by adding a wedding band to his ring finger. The 60-year-old "Pawn Stars" patriarch married fiancée Angie Polushkin, a 42-year-old nurse, on Jan. 3, Harrison's representative confirmed to USA TODAY.

The couple told People and TMZ that they'd exchanged their "I dos" in front of an Elvis impersonator at Las Vegas' Little White Chapel. A bigger wedding celebration will take place later in January, the couple told People, with Harrison revealing to TMZ that the event will take place in Cancún, Mexico. The couple, who'd met at the beginning of 2024, previously revealed their engagement in March.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Video game producer John-Michael Sudsina and comedian Joel Kim Booster got married after meeting in 2021, the New York Times reported on Jan. 13.

The pair held their wedding at the Exploratorium, an interactive science museum in San Francisco, on Dec. 30, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Vanna White, Dove Cameron and more celeb engagements, marriages in 2026

Cue the wedding bells: Romance is taking center stage in 2026 as these celebrities marked the next chapter in their love stories with engagements and marriages.After stars likeTaylor SwiftandTravis Kelceannounced their engagement last year, eyes are on what other celebrities will tie the knot.Actress-turned-singerDove Cameronand Måneskin frontmanDamiano Davidkicked off 2026 by announcing their engagement on a Jan. 3Instagram post."the 2 best years of my life. i am brought to tears at least once a week because life has become so beautiful with you in it. i love you in a way no words could ever express, but i will never stop trying," Cameron wrote sharing a gallery of the pair shamelessly showing affection toward one another.

Speaking with USA TODAYabout her debut album in 2020, Maya Hawke opened up about following in her famous parents' footsteps as an actor.

"I did drop the Thurman in my name, because Thurman-Hawke was my name in high school. There was something about, in my professional life, having a marginally different name that felt good," she said.

She later added, "I definitely thought I was prepared [for fame]. I thought if anyone could handle it, I could, because I thought I'd been handling it my whole life. ... It's complicated that in order to be an artist or an actor or a singer, you have to also deal with a certain amount of being a celebrity.

"Social media has [made it so] you can't just be a famous actor, you also are a famous person."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Maya Hawke and Christian Lee Hutson marry in NYC

byAndy Corry

in

February 16, 2026

Maya Hawke gets married with Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke at her side

Maya HawkeandChristian Lee Hutsonhave tied the knot! The singers were married in New York City on Saturday, Fe...

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Thousands of LAUSD workers could get layoff notices. What to know

One of the largest school districts in the nation is eyeing job cuts as it navigates falling enrollment, rising operational costs, expired COVID-19-era assistance and other challenges.

The Board of Education for the Los Angeles Unified School District could authorize district officials to issue potential layoff notices and move to eliminate certain positions as part of wider efforts to shore up savings in the coming fiscal years amid "dangerously high deficit levels" that total over $1 billion.

The board is expected to discuss the extreme measures Tuesday, Feb. 17.

LAUSD employs more than 83,000 people, including teachers, administrators, certificated support personnel and substitutes, according to June 2025 data. The prospect of layoffs isn't the only moving part in the overall picture: Labor unions have been in negotiations with the district related to wage increases to class sizes, and members of the United Teachers Los Angeles authorized the union to strike in late January.

The board had previously rescheduled Tuesday's meeting, a move that came off the heels of several unions, including UTLA, calling for the board not to vote on such a key matter in a meeting bloated by other agenda items. The unions instead suggested the board hold a meeting in early March so that officials would have a "more complete picture of Prop 98 funding" and so that people could have more time to understand the proposed cuts — cuts that labor unions said they hadn't been consulted about. Prop 98 guarantees a minimum level of funding for K-12 in the state.

Here's what to know about the job cuts for a district that serves hundreds of thousands of students in Southern California.

How many people could LAUSD lay off?

A board of education report reveals that "approximately 2,600 contract management employees and certificated administrators" could get a notice in mid-March. California requires that school districts alert such workers by March 15 that they may be laid off in the following school year, according to theCalifornia School Boards Association.

Also, 657 "central office and centrally-funded" positions have been identified for elimination, according to the report. That includes positions like 25 assistant area bus supervisors, 23 gardeners, over 200 IT-related positions, nearly 100 office technicians and more. In addition, several dozen positions are poised to see reduced hours.

However, just because an employee receives a notice doesn't mean they'll be laid off, and the report said these numbers aren't "representative of the final number of employees who will be laid off" in part due to changes in finances and staffing, including because of retirements, resignations and more.

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The district must issue notices to a greater number of employees than the 657 positions identified to comply with education code requirements, the report said.

"In total this represents less than 1% of the total Los Angeles Unified workforce," according to the report.

LAUSD says job cuts need to be done at some point

LAUSD is up against a projected deficit of $877 million for fiscal year 2026-27 and $443 million for 2027-28, according to a December 2025 report. The board of education report said that, for a public education institution, it faces "dangerously high deficit levels" which suggest a "significant structural imbalance" as opposed to a "temporary dip."

A fiscal stabilization plan for LAUSD revealed in 2025 had included "central operations, non-school-based reductions" as part of multiple efforts intended to address its sizable deficit. Among the district's challenges: How it has previously offset deficit spending and revenue challenges in part due to declining enrollment and the loss of COVID-19 area funding, according to the report. Also in play is Gov. Gavin Newsom's proposed budget, which won't be finalized until later this year, that shapes school districts' funding and in which several billions in funds could be unlocked, according to officials at a January board meeting.

Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said at the January meeting that a reduction in force is often about cutting positions, "not necessarily people." But he acknowledged that it wasn't certain that could be avoided entirely in this instance.

The district spends 90% of its revenue on staff, according to officials in January.

Saman Bravo-Karimi, chief financial officer, said in January that delaying the reduction in force in the present means it'll only increase the number of reductions later.

"The reduction in force — given the size of our financial outlook, given what most districts are facing in the state and given the vast majority of our resources are, as they should be, spend on staff — it will need to be done at some point," Bravo-Karimi said.

Paris Barraza is a reporter covering Los Angeles and Southern California for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her atpbarraza@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Is LAUSD laying off staff? Breaking down proposed cuts

byAndy Corry

in

February 16, 2026

Thousands of LAUSD workers could get layoff notices. What to know

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Doll hanging from beads on Mardi Gras float sparks outcry, investigation

A Mardi Gras social group says it is investigating an incident on a float during its Feb. 14 parade in which a Black doll appeared to hang by the neck from a necklace of beads.

Photos and videos of the doll being held over the side of the float using beads, necklaces commonly tossed to parade revelers at Mardi Gras, began circulating after it was spotted during aKrewe of Tucksorganizationparade in New Orleans, Louisiana.

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Videos appear to show the doll hanging by its neck from a strand of beads as it's held alongside other necklaces waiting to be tossed into the crowd of paradegoers. A young girl caught the doll attached to the beads at the parade,according to a postby the City of New Orleans.

The Krewe of Tucks organization condemned the action following the parade, writing in astatement posted on social mediathat the "behavior is intolerable and completely contrary to the beliefs and values that the Krewe of Tucks holds."

"We intend to fully investigate this incident and the responsible riders will no longer be permitted to have any association with the parade," the statement read. "The leadership wishes this had been brought to our attention during the parade because it would have been addressed immediately. This was brought to our attention through social media and we are immediately investigating."

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A Mardi Gras social group says it is investigating an incident on a float during its Feb. 14 parade in which a Black...

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