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First Line News Articles for Wednesday, February 18 2026
Top Stories
Partial government shutdown drags on as DHS funding talks stall
The partial government shutdown stretched into another week after negotiators failed to reach a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) over the weekend.
California leader signs foreign agreements as Trump questions his authority
President Donald Trump derided California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s international outreach as “inappropriate” Monday.
GOP Eyes Rare Talking Filibuster on Voter ID Bill
Senate Republicans say they have enough support within their conference to advance their legislation that would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote and a photo ID to cast a ballot, but the bill faces unified Democrat opposition and the Senate’s 60-vote threshold.
Homan: ‘Small’ Security Force Will Remain in Minn. After Drawdown
White House border czar Tom Homan on Sunday said more than 1,000 immigration agents have left Minnesota’s Twin Cities area and hundreds more will depart in the days ahead as part of the Trump administration’s drawdown of its immigration enforcement surge.
US Airlifts New Nuclear Reactor Breakthrough
The U.S. Departments of Energy and Defense on Sunday for the first time transported a small nuclear reactor on a cargo plane from California to Utah to demonstrate the potential to quickly deploy nuclear power for military and civilian use.
Latter-Day Saint News
What Elder Gilbert told young adults in his first social media message as an apostle
Elder Clark G. Gilbert of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles specifically directed his first social media message as an apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the faith’s young adults.
One couple’s sweet story of falling in love through the gospel of Jesus Christ
In the following article, married couple Vijai and Deborah each tell their side of the story of Vijai’s conversion to the gospel and how his baptism brought them together.
From sprinting to sliding: Latter-day Saint bobsledder’s journey from track to Winter Olympics
When Caleb Furnell graduated from Utah Valley University in 2024, the sprinter figured his athletic career was finished. He had graduated with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and was figuring out whether to go on to a graduate degree or start a career.
When the Tabernacle Choir has performed for U.S. presidents
“The Battle Hymn of the Republic” was one of the songs the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square sang when President John F. Kennedy visited Salt Lake City on Sept. 26, 1963, and spoke in the Salt Lake Tabernacle.
‘People of Faith’ Part 2: Wayfinding in Hawaii
On a sunny day in Hilo on the east side of the island of Hawaii, Celeste Ha‘o and her eight children sit around a large circular mat depicting the hōkū pānānā — the Hawaiian star compass.
National
GOP states move to make church service disruptions a felony after Minnesota storming
A growing number of U.S. states have introduced legislation that would make it a felony for protesters to disrupt church services or other places of worship, in an apparent effort to head off anti-ICE demonstrations like those that unfolded weeks earlier in Minnesota.
Trump directs federal authorities to protect Potomac
President Trump on Monday blamed local and state officials in Washington, D.C., and Maryland for the wastewater spill into the Potomac River and directed federal authorities to assist in recovery efforts.
California walloped by winter storm with high winds and heavy rain and snow
California was walloped Monday by a powerful winter storm carrying treacherous thunderstorms, high winds and heavy snow in mountain areas.
RFK Jr. regulators to weigh processed ingredients’ safety
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in an interview aired Sunday that he will be looking into the safety of ultra-processed foods, claiming the current industry-led standards are not enough.
FTC tells Tim Cook to look into reports Apple News is censoring conservatives
FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson has called on Tim Cook to review possible political bias in Apple News’ practices after allegations that the platform is censoring conservative news outlets.
No more Epstein files will be released, DOJ tells Congress
The Department of Justice said in a letter to Congress that it has released all the files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Utah GOP Secures Signatures for Redistricting Ballot Proposal
Utah Republicans have secured enough signatures to place a ballot initiative before voters in November that would repeal the state’s independent redistricting commission, party officials have confirmed in a video.
NAACP Asks Judge to Protect Against ‘Misuse’ of Voter Data Seized by FBI in Georgia’s Fulton County
The NAACP and other organizations are asking a judge to protect personal voter information that was seized by the FBI from an elections warehouse just outside Atlanta.
Trump: $1T Spent on Military This Year
President Donald Trump on Friday told troops at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, that $1 trillion is being spent on the military this year and that amount will increase next year.
World
Ukraine’s ex-energy minister detained while trying to leave the country
A Ukrainian anti-corruption law enforcement initiative on Monday announced it has detained former Energy Minister German Galushchenko as he was attempting to leave the country, authorities said.
Iran meets UN nuclear watchdog in Geneva ahead of a second round of US talks
Iran’s top diplomat met with the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency on Monday, ahead of a second round of negotiations with the United States over Tehran’s nuclear program.
Iranian navy launches military exercises ahead of nuclear talks
Iranian naval forces began military exercises Monday in the strategic waterway of the Strait of Hormuz, the day before a second round of talks with the United States for a nuclear deal amid heightened tensions.
Business
Wendy’s to close hundreds of restaurants as company looks to focus on value to boost sales
Fast-food giant Wendy’s will close hundreds of its U.S. restaurants as it looks to focus on value and boost lagging sales in the domestic market.
SpaceX to compete in Pentagon contest for autonomous drone tech, Bloomberg News reports
Elon Musk’s SpaceX and its wholly-owned subsidiary xAI are competing in a secret new Pentagon contest to produce voice-controlled, autonomous drone swarming technology, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.
ByteDance to rein in its videomaking AI tool after Disney complains
ByteDance, the developer of TikTok, said it will rein in the latest version of its AI video tool, Seedance, after Disney threatened legal action, accusing it of making the studio’s copyrighted characters available to users, including from the Marvel and Star Wars franchises.
Health
Swapping TV for Activity Wards Off Depression
Want an easy way to head off the blues? Stash the TV remote. Dutch researchers who followed more than 65,000 adults for four years found that replacing 60 minutes of TV with something more active cut depression risk by 11% — and nearly 19% in middle-aged adults.
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