Monday, February 23, 2026

Americans in Mexico on alert

US issues 'shelter in place' alert for Americans in parts of Mexico. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 
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The Daily Briefing

YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP

Mon Feb 23 2026

 

Nicole Fallert
Newsletter Writer & SEO Editor

Morning! Welcome to the Daily Briefing. Here's what's breaking this morning:

TSA PreCheck won't shut down after all, DHS says.
The crackdown on stray shopping carts.
Will and Kate made a royal BAFTAs return after Andrew's arrest.

Nicole Fallert here. Check your knowledge this Monday morning with our News Quiz. Then dive in to today's headlines, from a major snowstorm to Trump's tariff pivot. Plus: We're already nostalgic for our favorite Olympic moments from Milano Cortina.

Americans shelter in place in Mexico

USA TODAY correspondent Will Carless was leaving his vacation in Mexico when a hotel manager warned him not to leave. "The narcos are coming towards Sayulita," he was told.

Carless is among Americans sheltering in place following a U.S. State Department security warning advising Americans in Mexico to keep inside after the leader "El Mencho" of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel was killed Sunday morning by the Mexican military in Tapalpa, Jalisco.

The cartel leader's killing is a major victory for Mexico's war on drug cartels that are responsible for smuggling billions of dollars in cocaine and fentanyl into the U.S. The operation set off a wave of violence Sunday, with chaos at Mexican airports , and torched cars and gunmen blocking highways in more than half a dozen states.

More news to know now

Prepped for a blizzard? A powerful nor'easter rapidly intensified as it pummeled much of the Northeast with heavy snow early Monday, grounding flights, shuttering schools and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses.
Trump's new tariff plan. President Donald Trump is determined to implement tariffs despite a  Supreme Court ruling last week striking down the president's emergency tariffs from last year. Meanwhile, 6-in-10 Americans disapprove of Trump's job performance, a new poll says.
Trump's Ukraine peace deal stalled. The war that Trump repeatedly swore he could end in a single day is now four years old, and on the eve of the Feb. 24 anniversary of Russia's invasion — and his coinciding State of the Union address — there is still no peace deal

2026 Winter Olympics

A heated rivalry

Olympics 2026 Icehockey

United States players celebrate after Jack Hughes scores their second goal in overtime to win gold.

David W Cerny, Reuters

The last day of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics was packed with action: Team USA men's hockey defeated Canada 2-1 in OT, earning first men's hockey gold since 1980. The gritty game against America's longtime rival was followed by an emotional tribute to late player Johnny Gaudreau. Sunday capped off with the Closing Ceremony, where Team USA athletes paraded with their medals ( USA ended with 33 medals total —12 Gold, 12 Silver, 9 Bronze).

Energy

It's getting hard to build renewable energy

In recent years, wind and solar farms dotted farmland across the country, providing the nation's fastest-growing source of energy. But now, more U.S. counties are making it difficult — or even impossible — to build large-scale wind or solar projects, according to a new USA TODAY investigation that found at least 24% of counties — nearly one in four — have restricted construction of these energy sources.

Before you go

How soon until Selection Sunday?!
We're thinking about Punch the monkey.
Will "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" have a Season 2? 

Have feedback on the Daily Briefing? Shoot Nicole an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.

Play Your Way to a Relaxing Break

Unwind with crosswords and challenges that recharge you. 

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Details are emerging about the armed man who allegedly breached a secure perimeter at President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago property.

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Sarah Ferguson sought Epstein's business advice, documents show

 

Epstein documents reveal Sarah Ferguson, former Duchess of York, sought business advice from the sex offender after his 2008 conviction.

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Kara Braxton, who played a decade in the WNBA and won two championships with the Detroit Shock, has died.

Kendall Coyne (26) of the United States and Hilary Knight (21) of the United States celebrate after winning the gold medal in women's ice hockey after defeating Canada during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.
 

COLUMN: Title IX is responsible for so many women's Olympic medals for Team USA

 

For the third consecutive Winter Games, U.S. women won more gold medals and more medals overall than U.S. men. Success can be traced back to Title IX.

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: Emma Stone attends the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 at The Royal Festival Hall on February 22, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Dominic Lipinski/Getty Images)
 

See Emma Stone, Leonardo DiCaprio walk the BAFTAs red carpet

 

Oscar hopefuls are stepping out on the red carpet at the 2026 BAFTA Awards, where "Sinners" and "Once Battle After Another" are vying for best film.

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Chaos erupts at Mexican airports

Airlines have temporarily suspended flights to Puerto Vallarta due to a security situation following the death of drug lord 'El Mencho....