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  • Daily Horoscope for February 8, 2026

    Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in SCORPIO.

    Happy Birthday for Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026:

    You’re intuitive, personable and creative. Many of you have a flair for technology or musical talent. This is a slower paced year. Take time to rest and rejuvenate your energies and outlook. Focus on partnerships and hang out with people who are kind, helpful and have your back.

    ARIES

    (March 21-April 19)
    ★★★
    Something unexpected might happen with a friend today. They might say or do something that catches you off guard. Or perhaps you will meet someone different and unusual. You might have a clash of opinions with someone about shared property or shared funds. Tonight: A financial favor?

    TAURUS

    (April 20-May 20)
    ★★
    Steer clear of arguments with authority figures; it won’t go well. However, someone in authority also might help you in an unexpected way. Who knows? It’s a tricky day. Keep your head down and your powder dry. Tonight: Warm feelings.

    GEMINI

    (May 21-June 20)
    ★★★
    Travel plans might suddenly be delayed or canceled, or, alternatively, you might have to travel when you didn’t expect to do so. Avoid controversial subjects. They could quickly turn into arguments. Tread carefully. Tonight: Work satisfaction.

    CANCER

    (June 21-July 22)
    ★★
    Keep your pockets open, because unexpected gifts, goodies and favors from others might come your way. However, keep an eye on your banking and assets. Something unexpected could impact them. Avoid money quarrels with everyone. Tonight: Socialize!

    LEO

    (July 23-Aug. 22)
    ★★
    Today is unpredictable. Relations with those who are closest to you might suddenly change. You might be surprised. Try to avoid arguments and disputes with spouses or family members. Be diplomatic. Tonight: Relax and be happy.

    VIRGO

    (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
    ★★
    Your work routine might suddenly change today. Staff shortages, power outages and computer problems are some reasons things might go sideways. Avoid work-related arguments or arguments related to a pet or your health. Stay chill. Tonight: Happy conversations.

    LIBRA

    (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
    ★★★
    This is a dicey day dealing with your kids. Parents will have to be patient. Meanwhile, social occasions might suddenly change. They could be canceled or delayed, or you might receive a surprising invitation. It could be anything. Stay flexible. Tonight: A bonus?

    SCORPIO

    (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
    ★★
    Something unexpected might impact your home and family today. It could be pleasant, or it could be troublesome. Today the Moon in your sign is at odds with fiery Mars, hinting at domestic quarrels and problems. Don’t say anything you will later regret. Tonight: You feel good!

    SAGITTARIUS

    (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
    ★★
    This is an accident-prone day. A distraction could lead to an argument, hurt feelings or something unusual happening. Stay focused and you can avoid an accident. Nevertheless, new faces and new places might excite you. Tonight: Quiet relaxation.

    CAPRICORN

    (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
    ★★★
    Keep an eye on your money and possessions today to avoid loss, theft or damage. Meanwhile, a little windfall might come your way. It could be a gift, a raise or a favor that financially (or practically) helps you. Avoid arguments with a friend about money or possessions. Tonight: Friendships.

    AQUARIUS

    (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
    ★★
    People notice you today, which is why you might want to avoid a public argument. Ironically, something unexpected will help you. It might be the purchase of clothing that makes you feel more attractive. Perhaps you will create a more positive image. Be alert. Tonight: You’re admired.

    PISCES

    (Feb. 19-March 20)
    ★★★
    Today something unexpected might please you. But you might be doing a slow boil because you’re angry about something but feel you can’t speak up. You are wise to wait for another day. But it’s OK to speak your truth in a calm way when you’re ready. Tonight: Travel plans?

    Georgia Nicols

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  • Football player at southern Colorado college hired 3 men to kill dorm neighbor, police say

    A football player at a southern Colorado college is accused of hiring three men to kill his residence hall neighbor after the pair argued about hair left in their shared shower, according to the Fort Lewis College Police Department.

    Jackson Thomas Keller, 19, was arrested on Jan. 29 in Durango on suspicion of soliciting a homicide and illegally carrying a weapon on college grounds, according to an arrest affidavit.

    The student targeted by Keller told police that they played football together and had started “having issues” in recent weeks, police wrote in the affidavit. Their rooms were next to each other in Cooper Hall and shared an adjoining bathroom.

    Keller started a fight with the student over leaving hair in the shower about a week before trying to arrange his death, police said in the arrest report. The targeted student started locking his door after that fight, so Keller could no longer access his dorm room from the shared bathroom.

    On Jan. 28, the student was in his dorm room when he heard the knob on his bathroom door rattling like someone was trying to enter, according to the affidavit. The student told police this had been an ongoing issue and that he knew it was Keller trying to get in, so he went to confront Keller in his dorm room.

    The student told police he argued with Keller and kicked over Keller’s TV, knocking it into a PlayStation. Keller then challenged him to a fight and the student retreated into the hall.

    Keller never followed, but a friend of the targeted student told him that Keller was waiting in his dorm room and holding a pair of scissors behind his back, allegedly planning to stab the student if he came back in, according to the affidavit.

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  • Family of man killed by Douglas County deputy files wrongful death suit

    The Douglas County sheriff’s deputy who shot and killed a man in the parking lot of a Highlands Ranch arcade last year attacked him “unreasonably and excessively,” according to a wrongful death lawsuit filed Monday by the man’s family.

    Jalin Seabron, 23, died after Douglas County Deputy Nicholas Moore shot at him nine times while responding to reports of an active shooter at Main Event, striking him with seven bullets in the back and side. Seabron was not the shooter, but he was armed.

    Seabron had pulled the gun out to defend his friends and family, who were celebrating his birthday with him at the arcade, 64 Centennial Blvd., according to the lawsuit.

    Moore “unreasonably and recklessly charged into the scene, … without adequately evaluating the situation, utilizing a position of cover, or waiting for backup,” the lawsuit alleges. The deputy fired all nine shots within 15 seconds of arriving in the Main Event parking lot, his body camera video showed.

    “Hey!” the officer is heard shouting in the video. “Drop the gun! Drop the gun! Now! Drop it!”

    A woman can also be heard in the video, crying out for Moore not to shoot.

    The warnings to drop the weapon happened over roughly three seconds. When Seabron didn’t immediately respond and turned his head toward Moore, not appearing to raise his weapon from his side, the deputy started shooting.

    “At the time Moore opened fire, Mr. Seabron still had his back to the deputy and had just barely started to turn his head in reaction to the yelled commands,” the lawsuit stated.

    Moore “wrongly assumed” Seabron was the shooter and shot him without “verifying whether Mr. Seabron actually posed a threat, or providing Mr. Seabron a reasonable opportunity to comply with commands,” the lawsuit alleges. Seabron didn’t have time to process the orders, let alone obey them, the document claims.

    George Brauchler, the 23rd Judicial District Attorney, declined to file criminal charges against Moore in April 2025, after a month-long investigation into the police shooting by the district’s critical incident response team, according to a decision letter he sent to Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly.

    The deputy gave Seabron several commands to drop his gun, but the commands all happened within three seconds, according to the decision letter. Moore did not verbally identify himself as law enforcement, and did not use his sirens while responding to the scene, the letter confirms.

    State law allows a police officer to forgo that announcement if they believe doing so “would unduly place peace officers at risk or would create a risk of death or injury to other persons,” Brauchler said during an April news conference.

    The shooting inside the Highlands Ranch arcade started as a fight in the bathroom between Seabron’s stepsister, 23-year-old Nevaeha Crowley-Sanders, and a friend she had known since high school. Authorities said Crowley-Sanders pulled out a handgun and shot at the 22-year-old victim, her friend, eight times.

    Crowley-Sanders was assaulted by a group of women in the restroom and fired her gun in self-defense, ending the altercation, according to the lawsuit. The woman shot by Crowley-Sanders survived her injuries, and Crowley-Sanders was charged with attempted murder.

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  • Saturday’s high school roundup: Dracut/Tyngsboro draws even with Bedford

    The Dracut/Tyngsboro hockey team found itself in a dogfight with Bedford Saturday at Tsongas Center, scoring late to secure a 2-all tie.

    Charlie Wilkie potted a pair of goals for D/T, pulling the team even late in the third period. Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the extra session, with D/T’s record going to 13-1-2 with the draw.

    Bedford is now 4-9-2.

    Lowell 8, Cambridge 2: Juniors Will Buckley and Kyle Novo each had two goals as Lowell defeated league rival Cambridge on Senior Day.

    Senior Shane Peters, juniors Danny Gleason and Tyler Patenaude (two assists) and sophomore Brodie Anderson (two assists) each added single goals. Seniors Jeremy Dion and Matteo Gentile, junior Jack Hugo, sophomore Brendan McDonough and Connor Stevens and freshman Brennan Abrams each had single assists and senior Grady Lowell played well in net to earn the win for the Red Raiders.

    Girls basketball

    Hudson 49, Littleton 42: Trailing 32-21 at halftime, Littleton tried to rally but came up short in the Mid-Wach battle.

    Littleton’s Annabelle Couette led all scorers with 20 points.

    Boys basketball

    Cambridge 61, WA 57: On Senior Night, Westford Academy suffered a tough double overtime loss to a strong Cambridge team.

    For the Ghosts (7-9, 4-4 DCL), senior captain Teddy Hirbour had another monster game with 21 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and two steals. Sophomore Sam Bramanti was immense with 16 points, seven rebounds, four steals and two blocks. Senior Liam Arnold had six points and played terrific defense, taking two charges.

    NM 74, Dracut 60: During a non-league clash, North Middlesex received a memorable 36-point outing from Colin Taylor to down the Middies.

    G-D 44, Oakmont 42: Patrick Twomey drained two clutch free throws to break a tie and lift Groton-Dunstable to the exciting Mid-Wach victory in Groton.

    Vinnie Sinatra scored a game-high 18 points for the Crusaders.

    Burlington 71, Wilmington 40: The Wildcats couldn’t slow down powerful Burlington (14-2) and they had no answer for Matt Gray, who delivered a double-double with 30 points, 13 rebounds and five steals.

    Hudson 74, Littleton 54: The Tigers fell to Anthony Moura, who canned 18 points, and Hudson during a Mid-Wach clash.

    ST 60, Whittier Tech 55: Shawsheen Tech received a tremendous offensive and defensive performance from Nate Smith to capturing the CAC victory.

    Smith collected 23 points on the offensive end and ruled defensively with nine steals for the Rams (7-9).

    Wrestling

    Tigers roar: Tewksbury had a strong showing at the Division 3 state dual tournament, going 2-1 and falling to eventual champion Holliston in the semifinals.

    On the day, Tewksbury topped Southwick (53-18) and Franklin Tech (60-21) before falling to Holliston, 43-36.

    Going 3-0 on the day for Tewksbury were Nick Desisto (126 pounds), Jack Lightfoot (132), Sean Callahan (144), Evan Brothers (150) and Jack Leone (190). Winning twice were Josh Kazibwe (106), Joel Torres (120) and Ryan Callahan (138).

    Dracut/Tyngsboro forward Jake Haubner (10) pushes through Bedford defenders on a scoring chance during the first period of Saturday’s game in Lowell. (James Thomas for the Lowell Sun)

    Staff Report

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  • Colorado Buffs women’s basketball ready for challenge from No. 14 TCU

    Colorado’s Tabitha Betson, right, shoots Wednesday against West Virginia. (Matthew Jonas/Staff Photographer)

    There are no easy game days in Big 12 women’s basketball, which is how Zyanna Walker likes it.

    “I like how competitive it is,” the Colorado guard said of playing in the Big 12. “You’ve got to show up every night, no matter who you’re playing. Top or bottom of the conference, you’ve got to be up, ready to play, especially on the road.”

    On Sunday, the Buffs face perhaps their biggest challenge on the Big 12 slate when No. 14-ranked TCU visits the CU Events Center. The defending league champion Horned Frogs are tied atop the conference standings coming into Sunday.

    “Oh, I love it,” Walker said. “When you’re a competitor, you like to play with the best of the best. They’re on top of the conference, so we know that we have an opportunity to play with them on our home floor, so we’re going to take that.”

    The Buffs had a three-game win streak snapped with a 61-55 loss to No. 20 West Virginia on Wednesday and look to get back on track. It was the sixth loss by seven points or less, with each one containing correctable mistakes.

    “I think when we turn on the film, we’re going to see that there was a lot of really missed opportunities that were (on) us,” head coach JR Payne said.

    This has been a team that’s shown the ability to make quick corrections, however.

    “I think we’re a pretty coachable group,” Payne said. “When we’re coachable like that, it allows us to grow. … I think that we’ll see something, we’ll say, ‘Yeah, that was my fault,’ and be better next time.”

    Being coachable has allowed the Buffs to rebound from losses at Louisville, at Arizona State, at Oklahoma State and at UCF. After each of those losses, the Buffs were locked in and won the next game.

    “I think it’s amazing,” sophomore Tabitha Betson said. “Honestly, being a part of a group that is willing to learn and willing to listen to each other and the coaches and willing to grow is really special. It’s not super common. I think us also being young, as well, means that everyone’s ready to soak up information and ready to fix and change and move on. So I think it’s great.”

    The Buffs will put that to the test against TCU, which leads the Big 12 in scoring defense, allowing just 54.3 points per game, while ranking third in scoring offense, at 80.3. The Horned Frogs are also second in the conference in rebounding margin (plus-9.1).

    TCU is led by national player of the year candidate Olivia Miles, who is averaging 19.0 points, 7.0 assists and 6.9 rebounds per game. She’s the only player in the country averaging at least 14.0 points, 6.0 assists and 6.0 rebounds.

    Payne said the Buffs have to have better organization than they did against West Virginia. If they do, they’ve got a chance to pick up a big win.

    “It’s just important that you lock in for every game because you’ll see somebody get upset every other night, every week (in the Big 12),” Walker said. “It’s just important that you lock in and focus on the game that’s ahead.”

    Colorado Buffaloes' Logyn Greer, left, puts up a shot past West Virginia Mountaineers' Riley Makalusky, right, at the CU Events Center in Boulder on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (Matthew Jonas/Staff Photographer)
    Colorado Buffaloes’ Logyn Greer, left, puts up a shot past West Virginia Mountaineers’ Riley Makalusky, right, at the CU Events Center in Boulder on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (Matthew Jonas/Staff Photographer)

    CU Buffs women’s basketball vs. No. 14 TCU

    TIPOFF: Sunday, 1 p.m. MT, CU Events Center in Boulder

    TV/RADIO: ESPN+/KHOW 630 AM

    RECORDS: Colorado 15-8, 6-5 Big 12; TCU 21-3, 9-2 Big 12

    COACHES: Colorado — JR Payne, 10th season (179-124; 280-237 career). TCU — Mark Campbell, 3rd season (76-19; 115-43 career).

    KEY PLAYERS: Colorado — F Tabitha Betson, 6-2, So. (4.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, .364 3pt%); F Anaelle Dutat, 6-0, Sr. (8.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.8 spg, .517 fg%); F Logyn Greer, 6-4, Fr. (9.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg); F Jade Masogayo, 6-3, Sr. (11.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.1 apg, .492 fg%); G Zyanna Walker, 5-11, Jr. (11.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.3 spg); G Desiree Wooten, 5-8, Jr. (12.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.6 spg). TCU — G Taylor Bigby, 6-1, Sr. (7.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg, .380 3pt%); G Donovyn Hunter, 6-0, Jr. (12.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.5 apg, .371 3pt%); G Olivia Miles, 5-10, Sr. (19.2 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 7.0 apg, .508 fg%); G Maddie Scherr, 5-10, Sr. (5.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.1 apg, .389 3pt%); C Clara Silva, 6-7, So. (10.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg, .615 fg%); F Marta Suarez, 6-3, Sr. (15.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.4 apg).

    NOTES: CU is 1-3 against Associated Press Top 25 opponents this year, with the win coming against then-No. 19 Iowa State, 68-62, on Jan. 14. … The Buffs are 11-2 at home this year and 26-5 in the last two years. TCU is 4-2 on the road, with losses at Utah and Texas Tech. … CU leads the series 4-2, including victories in the WNIT in 2008 and 2014. TCU won both of last year’s matchups, 63-50 in Fort Worth and 69-62 in the Big 12 Tournament. … This will be TCU’s first visit to Boulder since March 19, 2014, in the WNIT. … Through the first six Big 12 games, Dutat was averaging 10.3 points and 10.2 rebounds. In the last five games, however, she’s averaged just 2.6 points and 5.8 rebounds. … Miles has posted four triple-doubles this season. CU has four in its 52-season history. … TCU ranks second in the Big 12 with 9.1 made 3-pointers per game and second in 3-point percentage (.360). CU is 15th in the league with 4.0 made 3s per game and last with a .259 3-point percentage.

    Brian Howell

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  • ‘Divine Nine’ members unite to fight food insecurity during repacking competition

    According to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, one in five households in Chicago is experiencing food insecurity.

    Recent federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are expected to intensify that crisis. Advocates warn the changes could result in hundreds of thousands of Illinois residents losing access to food assistance as early as May, increasing reliance on already-strained emergency food systems.

    In response, the food depository hosted around 100 volunteers from “Divine Nine” fraternities and sororities Saturday morning for their fourth annual Black History Month repack event.

“We broke records last year on the amount of food that we packed, and I’m quite sure this is going to challenge those records,” said Reginald Summerrise, president of the National Panhellenic Council of Chicago.

As a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Summerrise said service has always been central to the Divine Nine’s mission. The repack event is one of many ways the organizations push to support their communities.

Members from all nine historically African-American fraternities and sororities that make up the Divine Nine attended the event. Volunteers of multiple generations filled the warehouse, sporting their Greek letters and colors as they worked side by side. Some met for the first time, while others reunited with longtime friends.

Each fraternity and sorority competed to pack loaves of bread into cardboard boxes, with teams racing to repack the most by weight. Within a week, all of the bread packed during the event will be distributed to food pantries throughout Cook County.

Opening remarks from Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority via video and State Rep. Camille Y. Lilly (D-Oak Park) of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority set the tone for the morning.

“As the Divine Nine, we have been denied some things in our journey here in America, and that’s why we came together,” Rep. Lilly said. “We came together to continue to bring equity and justice into our communities.”

The Greater Chicago Food Depository worked with Lilly and State Sen. Elgie Sims to introduce two bills in the Illinois General Assembly. House Bill 5062 and Senate Bill 3276 would create a SNAP Response Working Group to analyze the impact and cost of the changes, while Senate Bill 3277 would establish the FRESH Program, a temporary state-funded benefit for households losing or seeing reductions in SNAP.

Danielle Perry, vice president of policy and advocacy at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, followed with a presentation discussing how President Donald Trump’s ‘beautiful’ law would impact people throughout the country.

“For every meal we can provide in the emergency food system, SNAP provides nine,” Perry said. “We cannot end hunger by just putting food at a pantry. We end hunger by focusing on policies that help people afford food.”

Perry urged attendees to educate their communities on the recent SNAP work requirements, which she said could cause 200,000 people in Illinois to lose their benefits.

The competition kicked off at 10 a.m. with Beyoncé’s “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing (Homecoming Live)” booming throughout the warehouse. The teams were divided into two rooms, split by a wall painted with a map of every neighborhood the Food Depository serves in Chicago.

Volunteers scrambled to check expiration dates, build and label boxes and pack bread.  Everyone stayed focused and moved swiftly, taking occasional breaks to dance to the music.

Johnsy Edwards, 67, representing the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, works as a registered nurse and case manager at Mount Sinai Hospital.

“I see the food deserts, and I see all the people that are deprived,” Edwards said. “I wanted to assist.”

After an hour and a half of packing, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority claimed first place, repacking 2,676 pounds of bread and earning the women of pink and green a first-place trophy. Across all Divine Nine groups, volunteers packed 16,104 pounds of bread for the Food Depository’s network of more than 850 food pantries, soup kitchens and meal programs.

“History will remember how we showed up when they decided to try to eliminate the safety net as we know it,” Perry said.

Eva Remijan-Toba

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  • Going to the Super Bowl? Here’s the special menu

    Every NFL season, the Levi’s Stadium chefs try to take their menu to a new level of creativity. But when the Super Bowl comes to town, and fans are paying thousands of dollars to attend, the expectations soar.

    So to impress the crowd on Sunday, the culinary team headed by Jon Severson, Levy regional chef, and Alvin Kabiling, executive chef for Levy at Levi’s Stadium, has created a “best of the bay” menu.

    They’re showcasing signature ingredients from Marin County (oysters) to San Francisco/Half Moon Bay (crab) to the South Bay (garlic) along with locally sourced meat, cheese and produce.

    According to the Levy company, which is the stadium food partner, 90 percent of the purveyors are based in California.

    Pulling together a fan feast like this requires a sizeable staff. On game day, 2,000 Levy culinary, bar and serving team members will be working with 40 executive chefs behind the scenes. (Keep that in mind when you grouse about the prices.)

    Here are some highlights:

    Gilroy Garlic Steak Frites: A seared, sliced California hanger steak will be served au poivre atop hand-cut fries with crispy Gilroy garlic and pink peppercorns. Where: Sections 109 and 315, and in the East Field Club.

    Dungeness Crab “Potachos”: Hand-cut Kennebec potato chips are layered with local crab — thankfully, the Bay Area’s beloved  Dungeness season started in time — and then covered in a Petaluma white cheddar fondue sauce. Where: Sections 104, 124 and 306, and in the East Field Club.

    “Super Shucker” Hog Island Oyster Sampler: This platter will feature a half-dozen oysters sourced from Hog Island’s Marin County farm in Marshall, and served with Hogwash mignonette, lemon and hot sauce. Where: Bud Light Club.

    A dozen more special menu items will be available, along with the favorites — many from local restaurants — that the 49er faithful have been served all season.

    Linda Zavoral

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  • Colorado Rockies 2026 spring training guide

    With a rebuilt front office and manager Warren Schaeffer entering his first full season at the helm, the Rockies enter spring training intent on rebounding from a 119-loss season that was the worst in franchise history and the third-most losses in the majors in a single season since 1901.

    Patrick Saunders

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  • Super Bowl LX excitement at Tewksbury’s Building Blocks Preschool

    What a touchdown of a day! Building Blocks Preschool in Tewksbury turned into the ultimate Patriots fan zone Friday, with kiddos decked out in red, white, and blue wearing their favorite Patriots attire. From football tosses to goalpost challenges, every classroom was buzzing with team energy.

    The school even sent some serious Boston love westward with an epic balloon-o-gram — talk about spreading team spirit across the country! Building Blocks’ A-MAYE-ZING families brought in their favorite game-day snacks that made the celebration extra special.

    Submitted article

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  • Valkyries star’s dad having ‘a blast’ covering New England Patriots at Super Bowl LX

    SANTA CLARA – Steve Burton’s day job is sportscasting.

    You might know that his off-the-clock commitment is serving as a father of four standout athletes, including Valkyries star guard Veronica Burton.

    What you probably do not know about the Burton family is that Steve’s father, Ron, was the then-Boston Patriots’ first-ever draft pick in 1960.

    Sixty-six years later, Steve, a longtime sports director in the Boston area for local CBS station WBZ, is covering the now-New England Patriots at Super Bowl 60 in the same region where Veronica led the expansion Valkyries to a surprising playoff run.

    For Steve, a positive person by nature, that serendipity is more than enough to make him crack his signature smile.

    “It’s a blast to be out here again,” Steve said. “My first day here, I was walking to go pick up my media credential, and one of my crew members said, ‘Hey, look, that’s Veronica.’ I said, ‘Veronica’s in Miami, playing right now for Unrivaled.’ She goes, ‘No, up on the billboard.’ and I’m like, ‘Oh my goodness, that is Veronica.’”

    Even some of the players he covers spotted her when they were out and about.

    “It’s fun to see how the whole nation has come together to support the Valkyries down here,” Steve said. “Patriots players coming up to me, ‘Hey, I saw your daughter up on the billboard,’ which is pretty neat. Because it’s really about them. And for them to come up, and Brenden Schooler was one of them that just came up and said, ‘Hey, man, seeing this is pretty cool.’”

    Veronica thinks it’s pretty cool, too. But not just because she’s up on a billboard.

    Three generations of family history have converged in this moment, and all the Burtons are grateful. They’re paying attention, too.

    When Steve was approached in San Jose by a Valkyries fan asking if he was Veronica’s dad, he smiled and responded in the affirmative. This got back to Veronica, who grew up being asked if she was Steve’s daughter.

    Steve Burton is an institution in Boston. So are the Patriots.

    Veronica Burton is possibly on a path to becoming one in the Bay Area, and she’s building her legend on the strength of the New England family members who came before her.

    “It was always really cool,” Veronica said. “I didn’t even fully understand the magnitude of it growing up. I always had a lot of people saying they watched my dad or would see my dad on TV. So it became normal for me, especially in the Boston area. People love him out there, so it was really cool to see.

    “My grandfather passed when I was three, so I didn’t really know or hear too much from him personally. But even hearing stories and everything, experiences that my grandfather had and being a professional football player, he paved the way.”

    Ron Burton starred as a football player at Northwestern, then was drafted ninth overall by the Patriots. He kicked off a legendary run of athletic Burtons who attended the school in suburban Chicago.

    Steve came along in the 1980s and played quarterback for the Wildcats. His wife Ginni swam for NU, where she was an NCAA Division I All-American and competed at the 1984 United States Olympic trials.

    Then came Veronica, who joined the Wildcats’ basketball team in 2018 and concluded her career with an All-American nod in 2022. She was selected with the No. 7 overall pick by the Dallas Wings that spring.

    Veronica jokes that she is the “favorite” child because she followed in her family’s footsteps. Her sisters Kendall (Villanova) and Kayla (Lehigh) also played basketball in college, and her brother Austin played football at Purdue and UCLA.

    Even during his busy reporting schedule, Steve found time to come see Veronica play multiple games as she won the WNBA’s Most Improved Player award in 2025.

    Christian Babcock

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  • Austin Elliott makes 21 saves, UMass Lowell defeats No. 19 UMass, 3-1

    Freshman goaltender Austin Elliott made 21 saves to backbone the UMass Lowell hockey team to a 3-1 win over UMass during a Hockey East clash Friday night at the Tsongas Center.

    The win snapped a four-game losing streak by UML (10-17-0, 5-11-0). The River Hawks received goals from senior forward Dillan Bentley (No. 12), sophomore forward Lee Parks (No. 4) and junior forward Jak Vaarwerk (No. 6) to defeat 19th-ranked UMass.

    Vaarwerk’s empty-net goal with 2:07 left in regulation sealed the victory for the River Hawks. Libor Nemec and Connor Eddy picked up assists.

    Bentley opened the scoring in the second period, wristing a shot from the left faceoff circle into the top right corner behind UMass goalie Michael Hrabal. Assists on the play were earned by Luke Shipley and Mirko Buttazzoni.

    UMass tied it on a goal by Justin Kerr. But late in the second period, Parks tallied the game-winning goal. Nate Misskey passed behind UML’s net to TJ Schweighardt.

    Situated next to the rear boards, Schweighardt feathered a pass more than 100 feet to Parks, who broke in alone on Hrabal. Parks’ low shot found the net.

    UML held a 33-22 shots advantage.

    UML will play at UMass (16-11-0, 9-8-0) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. It will be the third meeting in seven days.

    Staff Report

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  • Letters: Betty Yee is our best choice to run the state

    Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.

    Yee is best choice to run the state

    Re: “Sparks fly at initial debate” (Page A1, Feb. 5).

    California doesn’t need a governor who “wins” a two-hour TV show. We need a leader who can fix the budget, steady our economy and make government actually work.

    Letters To The Editor

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  • Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show: Here’s some things to expect and what they mean

    NEW YORK — There are stages, and then there is the Super Bowl halftime show.

    On Sunday, fresh off his historic win at the Grammys for his love letter to Puerto Rico, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” Bad Bunny will once again surprise audiences with a performance that is gearing up to be a landmark moment for Latino culture.

    But what can you expect from his set?

    What can viewers expect from Bad Bunny’s highly anticipated Super Bowl halftime performance?

    What we know

    Apple Music’s Zane Lowe mentioned that Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance is 13 minutes long during an interview with the superstar on Thursday. Historically, they run 12 to 15 minutes.

    In the same conversation, Bad Bunny offered few specifics about what viewers will see Sunday.

    “It’s going to be a huge party,” he said, playfully dodging questions about surprise guests and other details. “What people can expect from me … I want to bring to the stage, of course, a lot of my culture. But I really don’t, I don’t want to give any spoilers. It’s going to be fun.”

    Beyond that: A minute-and-a-half long trailer for the halftime show posted last month set a jovial tone for his performance. In it, Bad Bunny approaches a Flamboyan tree — more on that below — and presses play on his single “Baile Inolvidable” (“Unforgettable Dance”).

    The song is modern salsa, performed with students from the Escuela Libre de Música San Juan. It is a featured single from “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” an album that marries folkloric tradition in local Borinquen genres like bomba, plena, salsa and música jíbara with contemporary styles like reggaeton, trap and pop.

    In the clip, Bad Bunny sways as he’s joined by different dancers across genders, races and ages: Those include a traditional salsa dancer in a red dress, a firefighter, a cowboy and a viejito wearing a pava (“viejito” is an affectionate term for an older man and a “pava” is a kind of straw hat). It’s representative of the superstar’s international appeal; he is currently the most-streamed artist globally on Spotify.

    Will Bad Bunny perform entirely in Spanish?

    All of Bad Bunny’s music is recorded in Spanish, so it seems like a safe bet. Were he to include English into his set, it would likely appear in a spoken interjection — or it would be featured in text.

    In October, Bad Bunny hosted “Saturday Night Live” and said a few sentences in Spanish during his opening monologue. When he concluded, he joked in English, “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn,” a reference to the Super Bowl and his critics.

    On Thursday, he joked that fans didn’t actually need to learn Spanish to enjoy his set — but they should be prepared to dance.

    What symbols can we expect?

    There’s no way to know for sure, but here are a few educated guesses.

    Puerto Rican flags: In his song “La Mudanza,” Bad Bunny sings, “Aquí mataron gente por sacar la bandera / Por eso es que ahora yo la llevo donde quiera.” In English: “Here they killed people for showing the flag / That’s why I bring it everywhere I want now.” It appears to be a reference to Law 53 of 1948, better known as the Gag Law, a ruling by the Puerto Rican Legislative Assembly which attempted to suppress the independence movement on the island and criminalized displaying the Puerto Rican flag. It was repealed in 1952. It is also one of many reasons Puerto Ricans are known for waving their flag with pride for their island.

    It is almost certain the flag of Puerto Rico will appear in some form on the Super Bowl stage. But its colors are worth noting. If it is shown in red, white and blue, that is the current flag of Puerto Rico and has been since 1952. If there are flags that feature light blue, that is reflective of the Puerto Rican independence movement. A black and white version of the flag has become synonymous with Puerto Rican struggle and resiliency. And if there is a flag that more closely resembles the Dominican Republic’s flag, that is the flag of the Puerto Rican mountain town Lares. It was used in the Grito de Lares, the first short revolt against Spanish rule in Puerto Rico in the 19th century.

    Puerto Rican expressions: There may be a few Puerto Rican expressions uttered on stage, beyond just those found in Bad Bunny’s music. That could be anything from “Wepa!” which is used in moments of excitement, not unlike exclaiming “Wow!.” It grew in popularity after the release of Alfonso Vélez’s 1974 salsa song “El Jolgorio (Wepa Wepa Wepa).” Or “Acho, PR es otra cosa,” a phrase that became a fan chant during Bad Bunny’s performance of “Voy a llevarte pa’ PR” during his residency. It translates to “Damn, PR is something else.”

    Casita: At Bad Bunny’s residency in Puerto Rico last summer, he performed across two stages. One was built to resemble a casita (“little house”), for the pari de marquesina, a house party. These structures are synonymous with Puerto Rico and the Caribbean at large.

    Pavas: A symbol that is likely familiar to Bad Bunny fans everywhere, a pava is a straw hat traditionally worn by jíbaros, or Puerto Rican rural farmers. It has become a symbol of pride for the island. The singer even wore a leather version of the hat on the red carpet at the 2025 Met Gala.

    Flamboyan tree: The second of the two stages at Bad Bunny’s residency focused on showcasing the island’s natural beauty with its flamboyan and plantain trees. The former are a common feature in Puerto Rican art for its flowers, most commonly seen in brilliant red, orange and yellow hues. The image of the tree evokes Puerto Rico almost as immediately as the sound of its national nocturnal residents, el coquí (a frog with a distinctive sing-song-y call heard only at night.)

    El Sapo Concho: Not to be mistaken with el coquí, el sapo concho is the endangered Puerto Rican crested toad that Bad Bunny has used an animated version of in his visuals for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos.”

    Traditional Puerto Rican instruments: Because much of Bad Bunny’s music pulls from bomba and plena, it is likely that a few of those traditional instruments will be on stage. Look out for a cuatro (a small, four-stringed guitar), güiro/güira (a percussive instrument made of a hollow gourd), palitos (also a percussive instrument resembling two long, wood sticks), cencerro (cow bell) and maracas. For the bomba songs, specifically, there may be a barriel (a barrel) and for plena, a pandereta (tambourine.)

    Will there be special guests during the halftime show?

    It is impossible to predict, but it would be surprising if Bad Bunny wasn’t joined by other performers — particularly other giants of Latin music, and probably, other Puerto Rican performers. The band Chuwi joined Benito for every night of his San Juan residency; it wouldn’t be out of the question to see them on stage for their collaboration, “Weltita.”

    Other potential guests, if the residency is a framework to follow, could include Marc Anthony, Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, Young Miko, Wisin y Yandel, Gilberto Santa Rosa and Alfonso Vélez. But the list goes on and on.

    Will it be a political performance?

    That is in the eye of the beholder. But there is historical precedent for it at the Super Bowl. In 2020, the NFL asked Jennifer Lopez to cut a segment featuring children in cages during her halftime performance, a critique of U.S. immigration policies. She refused. (Bad Bunny was actually a guest performer during that halftime show, which was headlined by Lopez and Shakira.)

    Last year, Kendrick Lamar’s set was an artful confrontation of American history and racial dynamics through metaphor, as the actor Samuel L. Jackson, dressed as Uncle Sam, complained of a performance that was “too loud, too reckless, too ghetto” and reminded Lamar to “play the game.”

    Bad Bunny has never steered clear of political messaging. He has criticized President Donald Trump on everything from his hurricane response in his native Puerto Rico to his treatment of immigrants. At the Grammys Sunday, he said “ICE out” while accepting his first televised award of the night. His latest tour skipped the continental U.S.; in an interview he said it was at least partially inspired by concerns that his fans could be targeted by immigration agents.

    Trump, a Republican, has said he doesn’t plan to attend this year’s game, unlike last year, and he has derided Bad Bunny as a “terrible choice.”

    Maria Sherman

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  • Daily Horoscope for February 6, 2026

    Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in LIBRA.

    Happy Birthday for Friday, Feb. 6, 2026:

    Your freedom is important to you. You’re attracted to scientific knowledge because you are constantly curious. This is the last year of a nine-year cycle. It’s time for internal and external housecleaning. Get rid of whatever has held you back. Commune with nature. Get ready for new beginnings next year!

    ARIES

    (March 21-April 19)
    ★★★
    Because the Moon is opposite your sign today, decide to be cooperative and go more than halfway when dealing with others, especially those who are closest to you. Nevertheless, this is a pleasant day. Enjoy interacting with groups and organizations today. You will also enjoy good times with friends. Tonight: Cooperate.

    TAURUS

    (April 20-May 20)
    ★★★★
    You make an excellent impression on important people today – parents, bosses and VIPs. In particular, something might happen that could benefit your work or your health in some way. It’s a positive day for you, and you feel optimistic and hopeful about your future. Work-related travel might occur. Tonight: Work.

    GEMINI

    (May 21-June 20)
    ★★★★
    It’s a playful day! This is just what the doctor ordered. Give yourself a chance to do something different. Break free from your routine. Travel, explore, learn new things and meet new people. Social outings, sports events and fun activities with kids will please you. Enjoy your day! Tonight: Seek fun and pleasure.

    CANCER

    (June 21-July 22)
    ★★★★
    This is a quieter day for you, but it’s also a pleasant, easygoing day. You might be pleased at the financial and practical support that comes to you from other sources – friends, partners, organizations or even the government. Keep your pockets open, because every little bit helps. Tonight: Relax at home.

    LEO

    (July 23-Aug. 22)
    ★★★★
    Relations with others, especially partners, spouses and close friends, are excellent today. Enjoy chatting to people. Grab a short trip if you can. You’ll be pleased to schmooze with others. Conversations will be lively, plus people will listen to you. Hey, you love an attentive audience. Don’t we all? Tonight: Interesting conversations.

    VIRGO

    (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
    ★★★★
    This is a favorable day for financial dealings, as well as anything related to your job or your health. Your involvement in a meeting or with an organization or group might benefit you today. Don’t close off opportunities that could be financially favorable to you now and in the future. Tonight: Check your money.

    LIBRA

    (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
    ★★★★★
    Today the Moon is in your sign dancing beautifully with the Sun and Jupiter, which boosts your happiness and confidence. Relations with others, especially in groups, will be pleasant. Make an effort to socialize and have fun. Sports and kids’ activities will appeal to you. Romance is blessed! Tonight: You’re in charge.

    SCORPIO

    (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
    ★★★
    Family relations and issues related to your private world will flow smoothly today. You might choose to be low-key or take a backseat; nevertheless, things will unfold in a way that favors you. Look for opportunities to travel, publish and explore further education. Tonight: Privacy.

    SAGITTARIUS

    (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
    ★★★★
    Keep up your busy pace. Travel appeals. Discussions with others will be successful. In particular, your dealings with one individual (perhaps a female) might help you attain a future goal. Meanwhile, benefits from other sources can come to you today. Ka-ching! Tonight: Be friendly.

    CAPRICORN

    (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
    ★★★★
    People will notice you today. They will respect you in terms of financial discussions or financial forecasts, because you are keen to share your ideas with siblings, relatives and neighbors about many topics. (You are financially blessed.) Tonight: Be modest.

    AQUARIUS

    (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
    ★★★★★
    This is a wonderful day to travel, learn something new or do anything to expand your horizons. Work-related travel might occur. You also might be inspired by new philosophies, ideologies and metaphysical concepts that lift your spirits. Get some exercise. Shop for wardrobe goodies. Tonight: Explore!

    PISCES

    (Feb. 19-March 20)
    ★★★★
    Today chatty Mercury moves into your sign to stay until mid-April. This is unusual. Normally, Mercury is in your sign for about two weeks; however, Mercury will be retrograde from Feb. 26 to Mar. 21, which changes everything. You’ll be eager and confident about sharing your views with everyone. Tonight: Check your finances.

    Georgia Nicols

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  • The Gaza ceasefire began months ago. Here’s why the fighting persists.

    JERUSALEM — As the bodies of two dozen Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes arrived at hospitals in Gaza on Wednesday, the director of one asked a question that has echoed across the war-ravaged territory for months.

    “Where is the ceasefire? Where are the mediators?” Shifa Hospital’s Mohamed Abu Selmiya wrote on Facebook.

    At least 556 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since a U.S.-brokered truce came into effect in October, including 24 on Wednesday and 30 on Saturday, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Four Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza in the same period, with more injured, including a soldier whom the military said was severely wounded when fighters opened fire near the ceasefire line in northern Gaza overnight.

    Other aspects of the agreement have stalled, including the deployment of an international security force, Hamas’ disarmament and the start of Gaza’s reconstruction. The opening of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt raised hope of further progress, but fewer than 50 people were allowed to cross on Monday.

    Israel violates ceasefire, striking Gaza tent camp and killing 30 Palestinians, including children

    Hostages freed as other issues languish

    In October, after months of stalled negotiations, Israel and Hamas accepted a 20-point plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump aimed at ending the war unleashed by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack into Israel.

    At the time, Trump said it would lead to a “Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace.”

    Hamas freed all the living hostages it still held at the outset of the deal in exchange for thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and the remains of others.

    But the larger issues the agreement sought to address, including the future governance of the strip, were met with reservations, and the U.S. offered no firm timeline.

    The return of the remains of hostages meanwhile stretched far beyond the 72-hour timeline outlined in the agreement. Israel recovered the body of the last hostage only last week, after accusing Hamas and other groups of violating the ceasefire by failing to return all of the bodies. The fighters said they were unable to immediately locate all the remains because of the massive destruction caused by the war — a claim Israel rejected.

    The ceasefire also called for an immediate influx of humanitarian aid, including equipment to clear rubble and rehabilitate infrastructure. The United Nations and humanitarian groups say aid deliveries to Gaza’s 2 million Palestinians have fallen short due to customs clearance problems and other delays. COGAT, the Israeli military body overseeing aid to Gaza, has called the U.N.’s claims “simply a lie.”

    Ceasefire holds despite accusations

    Violence has sharply declined since the ceasefire paused a war in which more than 71,800 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry is part of the Hamas-led government and maintains detailed records seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts.

    Hamas-led fighters killed some 1,200 people in the initial October 2023 attack and took around 250 hostage.

    Both sides say the agreement is still in effect and use the word “ceasefire” in their communications. But Israel accuses Hamas fighters of operating beyond the truce line splitting Gaza in half, threatening its troops and occasionally opening fire, while Hamas accuses Israeli forces of gunfire and strikes on residential areas far from the line.

    Palestinians have called on U.S. and Arab mediators to get Israel to stop carrying out deadly strikes, which often kill civilians. Among those killed on Wednesday were five children, including two babies. Hamas, which accuses Israel of hundreds of violations, called it a “grave circumvention of the ceasefire agreement.”

    In a joint statement on Sunday, eight Arab and Muslim countries condemned Israel’s actions since the agreement took effect and urged restraint from all sides “to preserve and sustain the ceasefire.”

    Israel says it is responding to daily violations committed by Hamas and acting to protect its troops. “While Hamas’ actions undermine the ceasefire, Israel remains fully committed to upholding it,” the military said in a statement on Wednesday.

    “One of the scenarios the (military) has to be ready for is Hamas is using a deception tactic like they did before October 7 and rearming and preparing for an attack when it’s comfortable for them,” said Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, a military spokesperson.

    Some signs of progress

    The return of the remains of the last hostage, the limited opening of the Rafah crossing, and the naming of a Palestinian committee to govern Gaza and oversee its reconstruction showed a willingness to advance the agreement despite the violence.

    Last month, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who played a key role in brokering the truce, said it was time for “transitioning from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction.”

    That will require Israel and Hamas to grapple with major issues on which they have been sharply divided, including whether Israel will fully withdraw from Gaza and Hamas will lay down its arms.

    Though political leaders are holding onto the term “ceasefire” and have yet to withdraw from the process, there is growing despair in Gaza.

    On Saturday, Atallah Abu Hadaiyed heard explosions in Gaza City during his morning prayers and ran outside to find his cousins lying on the ground as flames curled around them.

    “We don’t know if we’re at war or at peace,” he said from a displacement camp, as tarpaulin strips blew off the tent behind him.

    Associated Press reporter Wafaa Shurafa in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, contributed to this report.

    Sam Metz

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  • 8 indicted in metro Denver drug trafficking, weapons scheme

    Eight people from metro Denver were indicted on federal charges related to drug trafficking, weapons and money laundering, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado said Thursday.

    The suspects — all current or former residents of Denver, Aurora, Commerce City and Wheat Ridge — are facing charges of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute meth, fentanyl and cocaine, federal officials said in a news release.

    Katie Langford

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  • Alphabet drags Wall Street lower as bitcoin, silver and gold drop

    NEW YORK — Dropping technology stocks are dragging the U.S. market lower again on Thursday, while prices for bitcoin, silver and gold fall sharply. Yields are also sinking in the bond market following discouraging news on the U.S. job market.

    The S&P 500 fell 0.8% and is heading toward its sixth loss in the seven days since it set an all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 326 points, or 0.7%, as of 9:35 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.8% lower.

    Alphabet helped drag the market lower by sinking 5.4%, even though the parent company of Google reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Investors focused instead on how much Alphabet is spending on artificial-intelligence technology and questioned whether it will all prove worth it.

    Alphabet said its spending on equipment and other investments could double this year to roughly $180 billion. That blew past analysts’ expectations of less than $119 billion, according to FactSet.

    In the bond market, Treasury yields sank after a report said the number of U.S. workers applying for unemployment benefits jumped last week by more than economists expected. That could be a signal that the pace of layoffs is accelerating.

    Some economists suggested last week’s rise could be statistical noise, and the total number remains relatively low compared with history. But a separate report released in the morning said that layoffs announced by U.S.-based employers surged last month. The 108,435 was the highest number for a month since October, according to global outplacement and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. For a January, it’s the worst since 2009.

    Weakness in the job market could push the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates to support the economy, even if it also risks worsening inflation. Treasury yields fell across the board in response.

    The yield on the 10-year Treasury sank to 4.23% from 4.29% late Wednesday.

    The moves were even sharper in commodities markets.

    Silver’s price tumbled 12.1% in its latest wild swing since its record-breaking momentum suddenly halted last week.

    Gold’s price fell 1.9% to $4,855.00 per ounce. It’s been careening back and forth since it roughly doubled in price over 12 months. It neared $5,600 last week and then fell below $4,500 on Monday.

    Both gold and silver had been screaming higher as investors piled into places they thought would be safer amid worries about political turmoil, a U.S. stock market that critics called expensive and huge debt loads for governments worldwide. But nothing can keep rising at such extreme rates forever, and critics had been calling for a pullback.

    Bitcoin, which is pitched as the “digital gold,” also sank. It briefly dropped below $70,000, down from its record above $124,000 set in October.

    On Wall Street, Qualcomm fell 9.1% even though the chip company topped analysts’ expectations for profit and revenue in the latest quarter. Its forecast for profit in the current quarter fell short of analysts’ expectations as an industrywide shortage of memory pushes some handset makers to cut back on orders.

    Outside of tech, Estee Lauder also topped Wall Street targets but said it expects tariff-related headwinds to wipe out about $100 million worth of profits in its fiscal year. The New York cosmetic company’s shares sank 16.9%.

    In stock markets abroad, indexes fell across much of Europe and Asia.

    London’s FTSE 100 fell 0.9% after the Bank of England held interest rates there steady. France’s CAC 40 fell 0.6%, and Germany’s DAX lost 1.1% after the European Central Bank likewise stood pat on interest rates.

    South Korea’s Kospi tumbled 3.9% for one of the world’s biggest moves and dropped from its all-time high. Samsung Electronics dropped 6%, just two days after it had surged 11.4%.

    Stan Choe

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  • Brave new era: How a small East Bay school became a basketball juggernaut overnight

    DUBLIN — The name on the jersey is new, but the ambition running through Brave Christian Academy’s gym feels anything but. 

    On any given night in the west Dublin hills, the noise is sharper, the roster longer and the expectations louder than anyone remembers when the school was called Valley Christian-Dublin. 

    What was once a small-school schedule filler has turned into one of the Bay Area’s most interesting stories – a team winning now, gathering talent boldly and thinking far bigger than its enrollment suggests. 

    Rebranded as Brave Christian, the boys basketball program has surged into relevance behind a roster reshaped by improved talent and elevated by two international players from the Ivory Coast – freshman star JP Oka and sophomore Adama Kone – who have quickly become among the area’s most intriguing talents. 

    Driving the vision is coach Joe Fuca, a former executive at DocuSign and basketball architect intent on building more than a winning season. 

    His goal is long-term and ambitious: Turn a small Christian school into a regional powerhouse.

    “We want to be a classic Christian school that you see on the I-680 corridor,” Fuca said. “You’re either going to go to Berean Christian or De La Salle, two great Christian schools. I feel like we can build our own little thing there in Dublin and have a really good success.”

    Brave Christian Academy’s Adama Kone (22) battles Vanden’s James Carraway (5) for a rebound in the third quarter of their Crush in the Valley tournament game held at Napa Valley College in Napa, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 

    Perfect timing

    Brave Christian has an enrollment of just under 200 students and offers 11 sports. The Lions have never been a basketball power even at the small-school level, having two winning seasons since 2004. 

    Fuca got involved with the boys basketball team in January of last year after a pastor from the school’s church asked him if he could try to revive the athletics department. 

    Fuca took on the challenge. 

    The tech executive already had a deep background in basketball as his sons were decorated players at nearby San Ramon Valley. Christian Fuca won a Division I state championship with SRV in 2015, helping the Wolves beat a Lonzo Ball-led Chino Hills team. Fuca’s other son, Joey, was the head coach of national prep school powerhouse Prolific Prep and runs a local Adidas Circuit AAU team called Lakeshow Basketball. 

    Despite making the North Coast Section Division VI playoffs, Brave Christian struggled last season, going 8-16. 

    For senior point guard Logan Reth, who transferred from nearby California, last season challenged him in ways he did not expect. 

    “I came here last year, the skill gap was a lot different. I was surrounded with a lot of great people, but just kind of beginners to basketball,” Reth said. 

    But Fuca credits Reth and other returners for getting into the postseason, which he believes built a foundation for this year’s team. 

    “There were seven basketball players in the school when I came in,” Fuca said. “I think some people who came to watch us at the end of last year were attracted to come here. So then we had a lot of kids transfer in the summer because they wanted to go to school at Brave.”

    Arrival of the stars

    The team started to take shape in the offseason as transfers were becoming eligible and the team started to mesh behind Oka and Kone – two players who were playing basketball together on the Ivory Coast just a couple of years ago. 

    Both were highly decorated international players. Kone came to Brave Christian in January of last season while Oka has been playing in the states for the last few years. 

    The duo presents nightmare matchups for opponents. Oka, a 6-foot-8 freshman, is a natural scorer who has a shifty handle and defensive tools to shut down any top player. At 6-4, Kone is a bouncy wing who overpowers defenders with brute strength and agile footwork. 

    Kone said he and Oka had a learning curve to try to get adjusted to the American game. 

    “Back home, we never play basketball inside, always outside,” Kone said. “The rules are kind of different. It’s a lot more physical back home where it’s more technical here.” 

    While their highlights make social media on a regular basis, it’s their chemistry on the court that really separates Oka and Kone from the rest.

    “JP is my homeboy from my home country,” Kone said. “He’s like a brother to me. So he knows me. I know him off the court, on the court. We just like playing together, sharing the ball with each other. If I score 20, he usually scores 20.” 

    Added Oka, “I’ve known him for two years, so it’s good to have him by my side.” 

    Brave Christian Academy's Adama Kone (22) goes up for a layup against Vanden in the fourth quarter of their Crush in the Valley tournament game held at Napa Valley College in Napa, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
    Brave Christian Academy’s Adama Kone (22) goes up for a layup against Vanden in the fourth quarter of their Crush in the Valley tournament game held at Napa Valley College in Napa, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 

    Turning heads

    While most people didn’t know who the Lions were before the season started, they knew exactly what they were capable of. 

    Once the team was finally together in the offseason, Brave Christian impressed at local summer league games and built up some hype at the start of the season after starting 7-1. The Lions participated at the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic in San Diego where they played the likes of St. Ignatius, Cathedral Catholic and Priory. 

    Though they didn’t come away with wins, their willingness to play high-level competition got attention from the basketball community. 

    “I have a lot of friends who play basketball and they watch us and they’re like, “Woah, where did you get those guys,’” Reth said. “I’ve heard so many people tell us that we look good and I know in a few years we’ll be a lot better.” 

    Games against higher competition have paid dividends when Brave Christian returned to the B Division of the Bay Counties League East. 

    Through 10 league games, Brave Christian has blown out every opponent with a point differential of plus-520. 

    The Lions have beaten teams by video-game like numbers. They defeated Fremont-Christian 78-8 and routed Making Waves Academy 101-31. 

    “We really just came to Brave Christian trying to change the culture,” Kone said. “We want to change everything about this school – academically and athletically.” 

    Nathan Canilao

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  • False bomb threat prompts evacuations at Adams County courthouse, grocery store

    A person of interest has been identified in a bomb threat against a courthouse in Adams County, according to police.

    The bomb threat in Brighton prompted evacuations at the Adams County Justice Center and a King Soopers grocery store on Wednesday, according to officials.

    The bomb threat against the justice center, 1100 Judicial Center Drive, was received at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday, according to a news release from the Brighton Police Department. Investigators determined the initial call came from the area of the King Soopers at 500 Bromley Lane in Brighton.

    The sheriff’s office evacuated the building. Brighton police responded to the grocery store. Although the store did not receive a threat, as initially reported, officers evacuated it as well out of caution.

    Police dogs responded to the courthouse and the King Soopers and did not find any threats, Brighton police spokesperson Kerrigan Blandin said.

    The identity of a person of interest is being withheld, pending the filing of charges.

    The courthouse was reopened to the public at noon, Blandin said, and the King Soopers reopened at 10:45 a.m.

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  • Evergreen High School shooter used family heirloom gun; parents won’t be charged

    The gun used by the 16-year-old boy who shot two students and then himself at Evergreen High School in September was a family heirloom, investigators with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday.

    The Smith and Wesson .38 Special revolver that Desmond Holly used in the Sept. 10 attack originally belonged to one of Desmond’s grandparents, the sheriff’s office found, and was kept in a safe in the family’s home.

    Desmond’s parents will not be criminally charged in connection with the storage of the gun or their son’s access to it, the sheriff’s office concluded.

    Through an attorney, the boy’s parents told investigators on Jan. 23 that the revolver was “rarely seen or used and stored out of sight near the back of a large, locked gun safe,” and that their son “did not have access to the safe, except for brief moments when it was opened by his father,” according to a news release announcing the completion of the investigation.

    Douglas Richards, the attorney representing the Evergreen High shooter’s parents, told The Denver Post on Wednesday that he believes Desmond slipped the revolver out of the safe while he was with his father.

    “I believe what happened is Desmond and his father were cleaning some of the family firearms, and in a moment when his father was not looking, Desmond took a firearm from the back of the safe that was an heirloom and had not been used by the family, ever,” Richards said. “Because the firearm was never used and was not stored with other firearms in the safe, its disappearance was not noticed until after the tragedy.”

    The parents’ DNA was not found on the weapon, which was originally purchased in Florida in 1966.

    Richards called the decision not to charge the parents “correct.”

    The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office acknowledged, in its announcement, “that this was not the outcome many in our community hoped for.”

    An email sent to Evergreen High families Wednesday, alerting them to the sheriff’s completed investigation, said victim advocates would be on campus Thursday alongside the school’s mental health and counseling teams.

    Sheriff’s officials noted in their news release that investigators were “unable to speak with” Desmond’s parents and implied the family was uncooperative during the probe into the revolver’s origins.

    But Richards said Desmond’s parents spoke with investigators at the hospital as their son was dying and answered written questions and follow-up questions from investigators. Richards said he also offered to sit down with investigators to explain how the gun was stored.

    “I have… explained from the outset that the firearm in this case was stolen without the knowledge of Desmond’s parents,” Richards said. “…We have cooperated at every single turn, and it was only earlier this (year) that on my own I decided to just send the DA’s office a letter explaining what occurred, which obviously satisfied them that what we had been saying all along was true — that this was a terrible tragedy that was not foreseeable by anyone in Desmond’s family.”

    Desmond died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the end of his attack on the high school.

    He roamed the halls for about nine minutes and shot in several areas before leaving the building. Desmond wounded a 14-year-old boy who was not publicly identified and 18-year-old Matthew Silverstone; both were seriously injured but survived. Video of the attack shows that Desmond physically grappled with Silverstone before shooting him.

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