Business

The National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings for 11 states, forecasting heavy snow and strong winds that will reduce visibility and create hazardous travel. Some areas are expected to see significant snowfall totals through Monday and into midweek.

Recipients with birthdays from the 21st–31st are scheduled to receive February Social Security payments on Feb. 25, and a worker who earned the maximum taxable amount and waits to claim until age 70 would receive about $5,181 per month in 2026.

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson is due to set out plans to shift more SEND support and therapy into schools rather than through local councils; parents fear changes could narrow the legal protections tied to EHCPs.

The Chicago Park District proposed a $630 million plan to remake Soldier Field into a major concert and events venue, allocating $130 million for stadium upgrades and $500 million for surrounding infrastructure and parking.

Flights between the Bay Area and Puerto Vallarta were canceled after Mexican officials reported a military operation that killed a cartel leader, leaving dozens of Bay Area residents stranded; it is undetermined when flights will resume.

Dozens of metro Atlanta postal workers from NALC Branch 73 held a rally in Decatur as part of a nationwide effort to press contract priorities including higher pay, safer equipment and career advancement while national negotiations continue.

Brazil and India signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to cooperate on rare earths, covering reciprocal investment, exploration, mining and AI applications; Brazil holds the world’s second-largest rare earth reserves.

Learning Resources CEO Rick Woldenberg said the Supreme Court ruled against tariffs imposed under a national-emergency law, and his companies shifted production to Vietnam and India while planning modest hiring and facility consolidation for 2026.

State Rep. Mary Fitzgerald filed House Bill 1270 to extend the South Dakota Supreme Court's apprenticeship program to graduates of the University of South Dakota law school, amid a reported shortage of active in-state attorneys; the bill is scheduled for a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Monday.

A USA TODAY analysis found about 24% of U.S. counties now restrict large-scale wind or solar projects, and the article reports the Trump administration has tightened permitting and limited approvals since January 2025.

The United States is expanding economic partnerships with Central Asia as Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed investment agreements with US firms, including a $180 million Mars pet food plant and talks on Boeing 787 deliveries expected in the second half of 2026.

Tomislav Ivisic, a 7-foot-1 Illinois player, has shifted toward off-ball and perimeter play while remaining a screening and post threat; over the past six games he is 29-for-52 (55.8%) from the field.

The Boulder County Sheriff's Office launched a volunteer fraud awareness training program led by victim advocate Stephen Conley, beginning with sessions for seniors; the office cited FBI data showing Colorado residents lost more than $243 million to scammers in 2024.

A Reddit post showed a large amount of food discarded at an Aldi store and the poster said they redistributed some items and donated savings to charity. Aldi reported diverting 11.9 million pounds of food waste in 2024 and has a goal to cut food waste 50% by 2030.

The conflict that began in October 2023 led to staffing shortages as many reservists were called up, and the sector is now reporting early recovery with renewed investment and defence-focused innovation.

A care assistant pleaded guilty to multiple counts of rape and making indecent images and was sentenced to 21 years; police said their investigation remains ongoing.

Workers at three Nova Scotia museums were told the sites will close and their positions will end, and the province announced closures or reduced hours at several provincially run visitor information centres.

The Office for National Statistics reported a public sector surplus of £30.4bn in January 2026, double the surplus in January 2025 and above the OBR's November forecast; government borrowing for the financial year to January was £112.1bn, lower than a year earlier.

The article reports that Toto makes electrostatic chucks used in NAND memory production and Ajinomoto supplies insulating materials for advanced semiconductor packaging; both companies saw recent share gains as AI-related chip demand rose.

Workers at Volkswagen's Chattanooga plant ratified a UAW contract by 96%, approving terms that include a 20% wage increase and bonuses.

Las Vegas police say a woman left her 2-year-old goldendoodle tied at the JetBlue check-in counter after being denied a boarding pass; she was arrested for animal abandonment and resisting arrest. The dog, now named JetBlue, is in foster care after a mandatory hold while a rescue reviews adoption applications.

The article mentions AmeraMex International said it drew strong buyer interest at the 77th Sierra Cascade Logging Conference, where exhibitor space was sold out and attendees showed demand for Tier 4 and electric equipment.

Dunnhumby found Walmart's grocery penetration rose to 72 percent, and the firm reported 70 percent of working-age Americans struggle to cover a $400 emergency.

Giuffre's siblings thanked Thames Valley Police after the arrest of former Prince Andrew on suspicion of misconduct in public office; Giuffre died last year and had accused him of assault when she was a teenager, which he denied.

Lewis University said it will shift in-person classes at its Oak Brook site to online delivery Feb. 16–21 after learning that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is leasing office space in the same building, and the school is coordinating with property management while promising updates.

Vietnamese carriers disclosed several large Boeing-related orders and service contracts worth tens of billions of dollars, while Communist Party chief To Lam is in Washington seeking a trade deal with President Donald Trump.

OpenAI is partnering with the Tata Group and Tata Consultancy Services to develop AI technologies in India, including a TCS-built 100 megawatt data center that may be expanded to 1 gigawatt, and to provide AI training and enterprise ChatGPT access to Tata employees and Indian youth.

Lent began Wednesday and Cathedral Guadalupe in downtown Dallas held Ash Wednesday services where worshippers received ashes, marking the start of the Lenten season.

The Diocese of Camden has agreed to pay $180 million to settle clergy sexual abuse claims brought by about 300 survivors; the total includes an earlier 2022 payment and still needs bankruptcy court approval.

Airbnb will pay $750 to new 'entire home' hosts in any of the 16 World Cup host cities who welcome their first guests by July 31, and a Deloitte study commissioned by Airbnb estimates hosts could earn about $3,000 on average during the event.