Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Grounded in El Paso

A ground stop halted all air traffic in El Paso. Initially set for 10 days, it was lifted shortly after. But questions remain. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 
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The Short List

Wed Feb 11 2026

 

Phaedra Trethan National Correspondent

@wordsbyphaedra

👋🏼 Hello, Wednesday! I'm Phaedra Trethan, wishing a happy Pitchers and Catchers Day to all who celebrate! ⚾️ 🩷

In Wednesday's news:

A total ground stop at El Paso International Airport was lifted after several hours. The questions are just beginning. 🛬
Authorities detained, then released, a person in connection with the apparent abduction of Savannah Guthrie's mother. What we know.
Attorney General Pam Bondi faced a Congressional committee over the Justice Department's handling of the Epstein files.

But first: As Valentine's Day approaches, we asked, " What's the state of romance in America?" 💞

Grounded in El Paso 🛬

The Federal Aviation Administration effectively closed El Paso International Airport late Tuesday night, saying there would be no air traffic in or out until Feb. 20. Then, early Wednesday morning, the agency reversed itself. So what happened?

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the closure was ordered because of a drone incursion into U.S. airspace near the Southwest Texas airport. The FAA had initially cited "special security reasons" for the closure.

Conflicting stories emerged after the ground stop.

Syndication El Paso Times

Planes sit on the tarmac at El Paso International Airport on Feb. 11, 2026, after all flights were grounded when the FAA implemented a temporary flight restriction.

Omar Ornelas/El Paso Times, Omar Ornelas/El Paso Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Guthrie's ordeal enters 11th day

A person who was taken in for questioning in connection with the disappearance of "Today" host Savannah Guthrie's mother was released hours later, law enforcement officials said. Nancy Guthrie has been missing since Feb. 1 after apparently being abducted from her Tucson, Arizona, home − and leads in the case have been frustratingly few. The latest.

While the Guthrie disappearance is a rare but horrifying instance of the perils of an elderly person living alone, many families struggle with worry and concern over older relatives who live by themselves.
Watch: A person who says he was detained in connection with the Guthrie case speaks to reporters.

Usa Crime Guthrie

A sign and other objects showing support from neighbors is posted at the home of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 9, 2026.

Rebecca Noble, REUTERS

Real quick

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says federal immigration agents may leave his state within days.
Actor James Van Der Beek died after battling colorectal cancer. He was 48. 💔
A report by the think tank behind Project 2025 has sparked outrage for its ideas on how to raise America's birthrate.
Federal judges, many of them Republican appointees, have choice words for ICE. ⚖️

Bondi before congressional committee

Attorney General Pam Bondi faced off against a congressional committee, clashing with Democrats over the Justice Department's handling of the Epstein files. When New York Democrat Jerry Nadler asked how many of Epstein's accomplices Bondi's department had indicted (answer: none), she talked about the stock market's record highs and told lawmakers they should apologize for attacking President Trump.

Chloe Kim: Better at snowboarding than walking? 🏂

Chloe Kim doesn't feel rusty, despite a banged up shoulder and a lot less time to prepare for the Olympics than usual. The two-time gold medalist shook off any suggestions she might not be ready to go for gold again. "I've been doing this for 22 years, OK," she said with a laugh. "Muscle memory is a thing. I might be better at snowboarding then I am at walking."

Have you noticed all the drones at Milan and Cortina? We did. 👀
Vice President JD Vance has a message for Olympic athletes. What he said. 🗣️ 🚫
Speed skater Jordan Stolz won gold, set a record. All in a day's work, right? 👏🏼 🏅
The NHL is on a break. Who are the league stars suiting up for their countries in Milan? 🏒

Olympics Womens Snowboard Halfpipe Qualifications

Chloe Kim of the United States takes a qualification run in the women's snowboard halfpipe during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Livigno Snow Park on Feb. 11.

Jack Gruber, Jack Gruber-USA TODAY

A break from the news

I guess a tortoise can move pretty fast when it needs to. This one sure did. 🐢
Relive an unforgettable Olympic moment. But have some tissues handy, too. 🥹
Why do we celebrate Valentine's Day? The holiday's origins might surprise you. 🩷

Phaedra Trethan is a national correspondent at USA TODAY. She'd love to hear from readers about The Short List, story ideas from across the nation and how you mark Valentine's Day. Email her at ptrethan@usatoday.com.

President Donald Trump hosts a business session with U.S. governors who are in town for the National Governors Association's (NGA) annual winter meeting, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 21, 2025.

All governors will meet with President Trump at the White House this month after he previously sought to limit the gathering to Republicans.

Wednesday morning, Feb. 11, 2026, Sarasota County Sheriff's Office crime scene technicians were documenting the home where multiple shooting victims were found yesterday in the Amberlea neighborhood in Sarasota.
 

7 deaths in separate parts of Florida could be connected

The suspect in the Sarasota slayings was found dead inside a home with three victims.

Ronald Heath is pictured.
 

Death row inmate who became killer at 16 is executed in Florida

Florida has executed Ronald Heath, who became a murderer when he was 16 and killed two other men when he was released from prison nearly 20 years early.

The Camp East Montana ICE immigration detention center is set to be one of the largest in the country.
 

He's an Irish businessman with an American wife. ICE took him anyway.

The Trump administration's deportation campaign is also targeting foreigners who overstay their visa.

President Donald Trump arrives at the White House, in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 9, 2026.
 

Approval of Trump's immigration policies tumbles in new poll

In an NBC News survey taken the week after Alex Pretti's death in Minneapolis, Americans appear to sour on Trump and immigration enforcement tactics.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks to the media before he boards Air Force Two to depart for Washington, in Baku, Azerbaijan, February 11, 2026.
 

Vance says video of Obamas as apes 'not a real controversy'

The vice president said he doesn't think Trump needs to apologize for posting a video including a racist depiction of the Obamas.

President Donald Trump arrives at the White House, in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 9, 2026.
 

Gallup to stop presidential approval polls

Gallup, the analytics firm that has tracked presidential approval for nearly 90 years, will stop measuring job performance ratings starting in 2026.

Aug 17, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) celebrates after first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) hits a three run home run in the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
 

MLB win totals: Predicting every team's record for 2026 season

Dodgers enter 2026 as the favorites to three-peat. Can anyone dethrone LA?

Gigi Hadid walks the runway for the Ralph Lauren fashion show during New York Fashion Week on Feb. 10, 2026, in New York City.
 

New York Fashion Week is back! Here's everything to know.

New York Fashion Week is descending on a still-frozen city this February. Here's what to know from schedule to celebrity sightings.

ANTHOLZ-ANTERSELVA, ITALY - FEBRUARY 10: Bronze medalist Sturla Holm Laegreid of Team Norway is embraced by Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold of Team Norway after the medal ceremony for the Men's 20km Individual on day four of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Anterselva Biathlon Arena on February 10, 2026 in Antholz-Anterselva, Italy. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
 

Olympian wins, then confesses to infidelity. When can you forgive a cheater?

Olympic medalist Sturla Holm Lægreid confessed to cheating on his girlfriend. Experts weigh in on grand gestures and forgiveness.

Play Your Way to a Relaxing Break

Unwind with crosswords and challenges that recharge you. 

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