NEWS - SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2026 - NEWS
The effects of DOGE cuts to U.S. aid programs are being keenly felt in Yemen, where hospitals are struggling to obtain basic supplies for provide care. LA Times
A federal judge granted California and other states a temporary restraining order halting the administration's health funding cuts for 14 days while the litigation continues. LA Times
VOA VIEW: The judge did not have the authority.
The proposed class action lawsuit cited a December study by an animal rights nonprofit that criticized safety conditions at a Nebraska poultry plant. New York Post
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The cuts could begin as early as March, and as late as May. New York Post
VOA VIEW: They were worthless.
Despite a deadlock over funding for the agency, lawmakers left town and left Democratic and White House negotiators to try to work out a deal in their absence. New York Times
The Consumer Price Index fell in January to 2.4 percent from 2.7 percent a month New York Times
The South American country has natural gas that could be extracted and exported quickly, but U.S. sanctions, which are now being eased, have stymied development. New York Times
VOA VIEW: It will still make the US money.
President Trump threatened to strike Iran, but the military has needed time to build up its forces in the region. New York Times
VOA VIEW: Iran is making another blunder.
It is unclear what the Trump administration is prepared to do if it does not get the concessions it wants from Kyiv on issues like territory and elections. New York Times
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Public schools are expected to reopen on Wednesday for 50,000 students in the city. Teachers demanded higher wages and health care benefits. New York Times
Puerto Rican Governor Jenniffer González-Colón has signed a significant pro-life measure into law that recognizes an unborn child as a "natural person" from the absolute moment of conception. OANN
For the third time, First Lady Melania Trump has helped reunite Russian and Ukrainian children with their families after being separated in the ongoing war. OANN
Almost a year after Disney’s 2025 live-action remake of "Snow White" was released, final accounting has revealed that the progressive film “went over its initial production budget,” with costs for filming reaching $336.5 million. OANN
VOA VIEW: Liberal stupidity.
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North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, widely recognized as a ruthless dictator, is reportedly grooming his teenage daughter, Kim Ju Ae, to succeed him and take the helm of the isolated nation. OANN
Slade Gorton & Co., Inc. is recalling one lot of farm-raised Atlantic salmon sold at BJ's Wholesale Club stores across seven states after FDA sampling detected potential listeria contamination, according to a company announcement posted by the Food and Drug Administration. Washington Times
A 21-year-old Marine who died after falling overboard from the USS Iwo Jima last week is believed to be the first U.S. casualty from ongoing military operations in the Caribbean Sea. Washington Times
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The Justice Department accused Harvard University of hiding its data about racial admissions and filed a lawsuit Friday demanding the school release the information to federal investigators. Washington Times
VOA VIEW: Harvard is going to lose.
Bouquets of flowers, expensive dinner, pricey jewelry and grand gestures are the stuff of romantic stories and films, but many couples find that smaller moments of affection and attention mean all the more in love's long run. Washington Times
The Senate failed to advance a measure to fund the Department of Homeland Security on Thursday, paving the way for another partial government shutdown without a last-minute breakthrough. CBS
VOA VIEW: Dems has screwed up, again.
Two people are dead and another is wounded after a shooting in a South Carolina State University residential complex, the school says. CBS
VOA VIEW: Senseless stupidity.
The Justice Department alleges that CBP officer and supervisor Andres Wilkinson had been living in Laredo, Texas, with a woman who had overstayed her visa and is now in the U.S. illegally. CBS
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More than 1 million Americans over 65 lived with roommates they aren't related to in 2024 — a 16% increase from 2019. CBS
The EPA said it will end credits for the start/stop feature, which shuts off gas engines when cars are idle to save fuel. CBS
Bessent told Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee to proceed with a Fed chair nomination hearing for Warsh. CNBC
VOA VIEW: As they should.
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The average tax refund is 22% higher this season, Treasury Secretary and acting IRS Commissioner Scott Bessent said Friday. CNBC
Taiwan has also committed to purchase over $84 billion of U.S. goods, including energy and aviation products CNBC
Two people were killed and at least one other was injured in a shooting at South Carolina State University, prompting a campus lockdown and cancellation of Friday classes. FOX News
Federal, state and local law enforcement in Louisiana have made more than 700 arrests during a monthslong operation against violent crimes and drugs. FOX News
VOA VIEW: A good operation.
DOT has closed a safety loophole after fatal crashes involving unqualified commercial truck drivers, ending licenses for those with unverified histories. FOX News
A tragic migrant smuggling crash in Texas killed a grandmother and granddaughter. A Louisiana man now faces federal charges that could mean life in prison. FOX News
FBI sources say Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is blocking federal agents from obtaining key evidence in Nancy Guthrie's disappearance case. FOX News
VOA VIEW: The sheriff is an idiot.
President Donald Trump has pardoned five former professional football players convicted on a range of crimes from perjury, drug trafficking and counterfeiting U.S. currency. UPI
Both Democrats and Republicans have called out the Department of Justice for tracking their searches in the Epstein files database. UPI
The city of St. Paul, Minn., which has been occupied by thousands of ICE agents from Operation Metro Surge, is seeking to enact a ban on masks worn by law enforcement officers. UPI
VOA VIEW: They have no jurisdiction over federal agents.
The FBI raised its reward for information regarding Nancy Guthrie's abduction from $50,000 to $100,000 and released more info on the suspect. UPI
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At a time of tightening immigration restrictions, the Department of Homeland Security is attempting to make it easier for visa-holding religious workers to serve their U.S. congregations with less disruption. It was Obama Stupidity
DHS announced on Wednesday a regulatory change aimed at reducing visa wait times abroad for the foreign nationals many U.S. religious communities depend on to serve as pastors, priests, nuns, imams and rabbis. These religious workers face a yearslong backlog to obtain legal permanent U.S. residency, but congregations can bring them into the country on temporary visas called R-1.
DHS introduced a fix to one issue affecting clergy that advocates had requested - removing the requirement for R-1 religious workers to leave the U.S. for one year after reaching their five-year visa maximum. That visa time used to be plenty to get a green card, but in 2023 the government made a change in processing that lengthened it so much most had to leave the country. Now, they will still need to depart the U.S. but can apply to re-enter right away.
“We are taking the necessary steps to ensure religious organizations can continue delivering the services that Americans depend on,” the DHS statement said. “Pastors, priests, nuns, and rabbis are essential to the social and moral fabric of this country. We remain committed to finding ways to support and empower these organizations in their critical work.”
The DHS rule loosens an immigration restriction at a time when the Trump administration has tightened many other immigration pathways. The DHS statement emphasized a commitment to protecting religious freedom and minimizing disruptions to faith-based communities.
“It’s a huge deal,” said Lance Conklin, a Maryland immigration attorney who represents evangelical churches with R1 visa holders. “It would potentially allow people not to disrupt the organization by having someone have to leave for a year, because that’s a major imposition now.” The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops called it a “truly significant step to support essential religious services in the United States.”
