U2's new music honors Renee Good and draws inspiration from world events

LOS ANGELES (AP) —U2is returning with its first collection of new songs in nearly a decade, opening with a tribute toRenee Good, the Minnesota momfatally shotby a federal agent during this winter's massive immigration crackdown.

Music - U2

The Irish rock band released the six-song EP "U2 - Days of Ash" on Wednesday. Its first track, "American Obituary," is dedicated toGood, who died Jan. 7 in Minneapolis duringan encounter with a Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.The song is a call for peace and a dedication to Good's life.

"Renee didn't just believe in kindness; she lived it, fully and fiercely," said Becca Good, her partner, in a statement released with the project. "She believed every person deserved the same compassion, care and dignity regardless of who they were."

The band released the EP onAsh Wednesday, describing it as an immediate response to current events and inspired by the people "fighting on the front lines of freedom."

FrontmanBonohas frequently incorporated social themes into U2's music, and the new songs maintain that approach. Some tracks reference international tensions and humanitarian concerns, including thewar in Ukraine,developments in the Middle East and immigration debates in the United States. One song also mentions Palestinian activistAwdah Hathaleen, whose death last year in the Israeli-occupied West Bank drew international attention.

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The project marks U2's first major release of new original material since 2017's"Songs of Experience,"although the band has remained active through touring and rerecorded projects in recent years.

Antonio Romanucci, an attorney representing Good's family in a civil case connected to her death, said the tribute reflects a broader message.

"We certainly feel the urgency of the country's situation reflected in the band's powerful call for coming together," he said in a statement.

Throughout its career, U2 has used its platform to highlight issues ranging from global poverty initiatives to human rights advocacy. The EP was released alongside lyric videos for each track and is available on major streaming platforms.

Good's parents and siblings also described the song as an honor and said they hope it encourages reflection and unity.

"It's an incredible honor to have the talent and impact of U2 spreading the message of peace in Renee's name," the statement read. "We certainly feel the urgency of the country's situation reflected in the band's powerful call for change and coming together."

byCustos Caelorum

in

February 18, 2026

U2's new music honors Renee Good and draws inspiration from world events

LOS ANGELES (AP) —U2is returning with its first collection of new songs in nearly a decade, opening with a tribute toRen...

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Riviera has a long history and a long par 3 for Genesis Invitational

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Riviera has evolved over its 100 years as one of the best golf courses in America, no greater example than the fourth hole that now has a scorecard yardage of 273 yards that makes it the longest par 3 among regular PGA Tour stops.

Pebble Beach Golf

Not everyone likes the change, or has been willing to publicly say they do.

"A horrible change," Rory McIlroy said, the most blunt assessment of the hole Ben Hogan once called the greatest par 3 in America.

"Hit and hope," Collin Morikawa said. "I think it's just a very long par 3. There's not a lot of thought to it other than just kind of hitting the green and moving on, unfortunately."

The other change for the Genesis Invitational, which starts Thursday, is adding 24 yards on the 18th tee — now roughly where the fourth tee used to be — to make it 499 yards.

Someone forgot to tell Scottie Scheffler, or maybe he never looked. He didn't realize the closing hole at Riviera had been lengthened until he climbed the steep hill to the fairway and wondered why he was having to hit a 4-iron to the green.

What hasn't changed at Riviera is the history. Hogan won three times, including the U.S. Open, leading to the nickname "Hogan's Alley." Byron Nelson and Sam Snead won at Riviera, as did Tom Watson and Johnny Miller and Fred Couples.

McIlroy has Riviera on his list of places he wants to win, now that he has won at Augusta National and Pebble Beach.

Equally noteworthy is who didn't win. Tiger Woods, the tournament host of the Genesis Invitational, went 0 for 11 as a pro at Riviera, making it the PGA Tour course he played the most times without ever winning.

Jack Nicklaus has Woods beat again. He played Riviera 14 times — twice in majors, including a runner-up to Hal Sutton in the 1983 PGA Championship — without winning.

"There's places I haven't won that I would love to, St. Andrews being one of them. Riviera would be another," McIlroy said.

This is the 100-year anniversary of the club and the tournament, though what began as the Los Angeles Open was not held at Riviera until 1929. Even more special is just being back at the fabled course off Sunset Boulevard following the devastating Pacific Palisades wildfires last year that led the tournament to moving south to Torrey Pines.

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Ludvig Aberg won the Genesis Invitational a year ago at Torrey Pines. This is only his second time competing at Riviera, but he liked what he saw from 2024.

"I think it's one of the best golf courses we play all year," Aberg said. "Obviously it's a small property. It's not crazy long. You'll have some strong holes and some longer par 4s. But what I like about it is a hole like No. 10 kind of puts the stamp on this golf course in terms of working the angles, fast greens, and everything going down towards the ocean is really quick and you have to place your second shots into the greens.

"That's the part about this golf course that I really like, and that's why you'll see a lot of different good players winning here."

The par-4 10th is the most famous hole, reachable off the tee and yet no one ever complains about making a 4 and moving on to the next hole. It's all about angles off the tee with an iron, and even where to miss when trying to drive the green.

As for the fourth hole, that was long and hard, and now it appears to be longer and harder.

The idea for his Redan-styled hole is to carry the bunker fronting the green, or using the shoulder on the right that feeds down to the green — except this is February, cold and usually damp, and the kikuyu grass can be sticky and not allow balls to roll.

This would explain McIlroy's definition of "horrible change."

"Well, like 15% of the field hit the green last time when it was played at its original yardage at 230," he said. "If you want it to be a 275-yard par 3, you have to change the apron leading up onto the green. It can't be kikuyu, it has to be another type of grass that can help you run it onto the green because again, in the right conditions, you try to fly that ball on the green with a 3 iron, it's going to finish up on the fifth tee box.

"That's sort of what I mean by why it's not a great change."

U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun might borrow a page from his college coach at San Diego State.

"If this was a par 4, you'd make 3 every time," Spaun said. "You know what I mean? It's kind of a mindset. If this was a drivable 290-yard hole but really a par 4 and you didn't walk away with a birdie, you'd be kicking yourself."

AP golf:https://apnews.com/hub/golf

byCustos Caelorum

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February 18, 2026

Riviera has a long history and a long par 3 for Genesis Invitational

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Riviera has evolved over its 100 years as one of the best golf courses in America, no greater example...

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Is “America’s Next Top Model” Coming Back? Everything Tyra Banks Has Said

Barbara Nitke/Cw Network/Kobal/Shutterstock

NEED TO KNOW

• America's Next Top Model ran for 24 cycles from 2003 to 2018

• The show was cancelled twice, the first time in 2015 and the second in 2018, after declining ratings

• Creator and host Tyra Banks teased that she wants to revive the show for cycle 25
  

WhenAmerica's Next Top Modelpremiered in 2003, it quickly became a groundbreaking competition series.

The reality television show, which was created and hosted byTyra Banks, followed a group of hopeful models each "cycle" as they competed in various challenges and photoshoots. The judges — which primarily includedJ. Alexander "Miss J,"Nigel BarkerandJay Manuel— eliminated contestants each round before selecting a final winner who typicallyreceived a modeling contract and other campaigns.

Over the course of 15 years, the show went through a total of 24 cycles andcrowned a winner eachtime. However,America's Next Top Modelcame to an end in 2018 after it went through a series of revamps that resulted in declining ratings and lower viewership.

AlthoughAmerica's Next Top Modelhas been off the air for nearly a decade, Banks teased that she has plans to reintroduce the show while appearing on the three-part Netflix docuseriesReality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model.

Here's everything to know about ifAmerica's Next Top Modelis coming back.

When didAmerica's Next Top Modelend?

John P. Filo/CBS Photo Archive/Getty

America's Next Top Modelpremiered in May 2003 on UPN (now the CW). It ran for a total of 24 cycles and 15 years before it came to an end on April 10, 2018.

The show was originally canceled by the CW following cycle 22 in 2015, but it was revived for the last two cycles on VH1. A total of 24 winners, including both men and women, were chosen, with the last winner beingKyla Coleman.

Banks hosted every cycle of the show, except for cycle 23 whenRita Oratemporarily took over. Meanwhile,Miss J, Barker and Manuel all departedthe show simultaneously in 2012, which Banks claimed was a higher-up decision and not hers.

Why didAmerica's Next Top Modelend?

Bill Inoshita/CBS Photo Archive via Getty

Ahead ofAmerica's Next Top Modelcycle 22 in 2015, the CW announced that it had cancelled the series. At the time, the show had reported declining ratings that steadily lowered week-to-week, perDeadline.

Ratings had been slowly decreasing ever since Miss J, Manuel and Barker left in 2012. Banks addressed the cancellation at the time and wrote onInstagramthat it was "time" for the end of the show.

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"Our diehard fans know we've expanded the definition of beauty, presented what Flawsome is, tooched and booched and boom boom boomed, shown the world how to show their neck, rocked couture/catalogue/commercial poses, have found our (and your) light, strutted countless runways, gone on tons of go-sees, added guys to the girls mix, and have traveled around the globe and back again. Yeah, it's time. It really is," she captioned an October 2015 post.

However, the show was revived in 2016 when VH1 picked it up for cycles 23 and 24. The newer cycles continued with declining ratings and received mixed feedback from fans and critics.

In addition to the lower viewership, the series also began to draw backlash for its pastcontroversial challenges— which included "race swapping" and homelessness-inspired photo shoots — as well as the harsh body image commentary from judges.

More recent contestants also noted that the show wasn't skyrocketing them to modeling success like it had done for past winners because of the reality television aspect.

"I remember my first show season, I didn't book any shows,"Danielle "Dani" Evanssaid onReality Check. "What I was told was that no one wanted to book me for their shows because I was viewed as, like, this reality show star and designers didn't want me walking in the show to take attention, if you will, off of their collection and onto myself."

IsAmerica's Next Top Modelcoming back?

Robert Voets/CBS Photo Archive via Getty

As of February 2026,America's Next Top Modelhas not officially been renewed or revived for cycle 25.

What has Tyra Banks said aboutAmerica's Next Top Modelpotentially returning?

Harmony Gerber/Getty

AlthoughAmerica's Next Top Modelhasn't been officially greenlit for a revival, Banks has teased that she's preparing for its return.

"After the show I had so many big ideas for my life. I'm obsessed with pivoting and I live in Australia now," she said onReality Check. "I feel like my work is not done. You have no idea what we have planned for cycle 25."

Banks has previously expressed interest in bringing the show back and toldE!in 2024 that she and others have "tried" to talk about a reboot.

"We have tried, so it's not us," she said. "It's the powers that be. I'm not the biggest boss in the room, so it's not my doing. Maybe one day."

Read the original article onPeople

byCustos Caelorum

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February 18, 2026

Is “America’s Next Top Model” Coming Back? Everything Tyra Banks Has Said

Barbara Nitke/Cw Network/Kobal/Shutterstock NEED TO KNOW America's Next Top Model ran for 24 cycles fr...

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Video shows terrifying moment man tries to snatch child at supermarket

It's every parent's biggest fear. A shocking video shows a man attempting to snatch a child away from her mother at a northern Italian supermarket.

The incident occurred at Esselunga mall in Bergamo on Saturday, Feb. 14, Storyful reported.

Surveillance footageshared by the Italian State Policecaptured the alleged attacker grabbing the girl before trying to flee, resulting in a violent physical confrontation between the man, the child's parents and other witnesses on the scene.

"The woman's resistance prevented the worst from happening until her father, the security guards, and the bystanders stopped the attacker until the police arrived," police said in the press release translated to English.

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Watch video of the attempted kidnapping

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Man arrested, charged following attempted kidnapping

According to the Italian State Police, the victim was transported to the hospital and was determined to have a fractured femur.

More news:Gisèle Pelicot's rape trial captivated world. Her memoir tells the story.

The unidentified man was arrested. Following an investigation, he was charged "with attempted aggravated kidnapping, as it was committed against a minor, and aggravated bodily harm," the news release from Italian police stated.

Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Man tries to snatch child in attempted kidnapping at supermarket

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February 18, 2026

Video shows terrifying moment man tries to snatch child at supermarket

It's every parent's biggest fear. A shocking video shows a man attempting to snatch a child away from her mother...

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Authorities are using deep-sea tech to try find the sunken fishing boat off Massachusetts

GLOUCESTER, Mass. (AP) — A coalition of authorities is deploying technology to try to locate the wreck of a fishing boat that sank last month off Massachusetts, killing all seven aboard. But winter weather and sea conditions have thus far slowed their efforts.

Missing Fishing Boat

The 72-foot (22-meter) vessel Lily Jeanwas returning to portearly Jan. 30 to repair fishing gear when it sank in frigid Atlantic waters off the historic fishing port of Gloucester. Multiple agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Massachusetts Environmental Police, are cooperating to try to find the wreck of the ship and potentially recover the bodies of the deceased, officials said Wednesday.

The Lily Jean sank in waters that were more than 300 feet deep and very inhospitable in winter. Environmental police have deployed side-scan sonar to try to gather data and detect anomalies on the ocean floor, officials said. They said they also hope to be able to send a remotely operated vehicle to the site to gather photos and video, but seas have thus far made that challenging.

Officials will provide updates to the community that is still grieving the loss of the victims, said Massachusetts Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, a Republican of Gloucester.

"One of the most haunting things about grief or loss at sea is the not knowing," Tarr said during a news conference on Wednesday. "Answering those questions requires a tremendous amount of effort."

The Coast Guard initially launched a search and rescue mission after receiving an alert from the vessel about 25 miles (40 kilometers) off Cape Ann. Searchers found a debris field near where the alert was sent along with a body in the water and an empty life raft, the Coast Guard said. The search wassuspendedthe following day, and the community has rallied around the families of the victims since.

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Gloucester is America's oldest seaport and is well known for its close-knit fishing community. The book and movie "The Perfect Storm" were inspired by the FV Andrea Gail, which went missing at sea in 1991.

Coast Guard officials identified the victims of the sinking of the Lily Jean as captain Accursio "Gus" Sanfilippo and crew members Paul Beal Sr., Paul Beal Jr., John Rousanidis, Freeman Short and Sean Therrien. Also aboard was Jada Samitt, a fisheries observer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Ricky Beal, brother of Paul Beal Sr., said during Wednesday's news conference that he is hopeful the investigation will help families in the community better understand what happened. He also encouraged anyone following the investigation not to spread false information about it.

"As of now, hopefully in the future, the investigation will give us some light on what happened. But as of now, only God knows what happened that fateful morning," Beal said.

The Lily Jean, Sanfilippo, and his crew were featured in a 2012 episode of the History Channel show "Nor'Easter Men." The captain is described as a fifth-generation commercial fisherman, out of Gloucester, in the Georges Bank. The crew is shown working in dangerous weather conditions for hours on end, spending as many as 10 days offshore catching haddock, lobster and flounder.

Whittle reported from Portland, Maine.

byCustos Caelorum

in

February 18, 2026

Authorities are using deep-sea tech to try find the sunken fishing boat off Massachusetts

GLOUCESTER, Mass. (AP) — A coalition of authorities is deploying technology to try to locate the wreck of a fishing boat...

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