Weekend bomb cyclone forecast calls for snow. How much will fall?

Whether you call it abomb cyclone,nor'easteror a blizzard, it's going to be a memorable weekend weather event for some along the East Coast as January turns to February.

"This storm could unleash heavy snow and howling winds across the Southeast this weekend," said Scott Homan, AccuWeather senior meteorologist, in a Jan. 29 email to USA TODAY.

A few snow flurries are even possible in Florida as bitterly cold air sweeps south all the way through the Sunshine State.

"People need to prepare for the possibility of dangerous blizzard conditions in some coastal areas from North Carolina to the southern Jersey shore," Homan said. "Blizzard conditions may reach parts of Long Island and southern New England."

This will lead to "sharply reduced visibilities due to the snow and blowing snow that will make travel extremely treacherous," theNational Weather Service said in an online forecast.

Eileen William of Tarrytown, NY gets the brunt of the snow being blown by her son William, as they clear the snow from their driveway at the height of the winter storm Jan. 25, 2026. The storm was predicted to drop up to a foot of snow on the lower Hudson Valley. A huge winter storm dumped heavy amounts of snow and ice across wide swaths of the U.S. See photos that capture the scale from around the country.

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How deep is the snow from the winter storm? Photos tell the story

Eileen William of Tarrytown, NY gets the brunt of the snow being blown by her son William, as they clear the snow from their driveway at the height of the winter storm Jan. 25, 2026. The storm was predicted to drop up to a foot of snow on the lower Hudson Valley. Ahuge winter stormdumped heavy amounts of snow and ice across wide swaths of the U.S. See photos that capture the scale from around the country.

Snow forecast for Carolinas, Virginia

Forecast guidance has come into better agreement that this will be a major snowstorm for North Carolina and the Virginia Tidewater region, where over 6 inches of snowfall is increasingly likely, according toWeather.com.

"For cities such as Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro, North Carolina, this could be the biggest snowstorm in decades," said AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski in anonline forecast."In Norfolk, Virginia, it could top last February's whopping 11.1 inches."

The official forecast from theNational Weather Serviceshows 8.4 inches in Raleigh, 7 inches in Greensboro and 6 inches in Charlotte.

Snow is also likely in portions of eastern Georgia, eastern Tennessee and southern West Virginia, the weather service said.

The weather servicewarned that the strong winds and weight of snow on tree limbs may down power lines and could cause sporadic power outages. "Travel may become dangerous or even impossible with widespread closures and disruptions to infrastructure possible."

Snow forecast for Florida

Any snow that falls in the Florida Peninsula should be of the conversational variety – with the far bigger story being the frigid temperatures across the state.The weather service in Tampasaid light mixed snow/rain showers or snow showers/flurries are possible in the region Saturday Jan. 31.

More:Winter storm may intensify and hit East Coast as bomb cyclone

Snow forecast for Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland

Coastal areas of Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland could see some snow, but the more significant event will be the strong winds. For example, Ocean City, Maryland, should pick up 2 inches of snow while Dover, Delaware, and Atlantic City, New Jersey, see 1 inch of snow,according to the weather service.

There is increasing potential for strong north to northeast winds, and potential for significant coastal flooding on Sunday Feb. 1.

The weather service said, "this rapidly deepening storm system will produce powerful onshore winds along the Mid-Atlantic coast from the North Carolina Outer Banks northward. Wind gusts near hurricane-force will coincide with astronomical high tides to produce moderate to locally significant coastal flooding."

Snow forecast for New England

The bulk of the snow in New England should fall in southeastern Massachusetts, including Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.

AccuWeather meteorologistsbelieve the most likely zone in the Northeast for 6-12 inches of snow will be in southeastern Massachusetts.

One lingering question is regarding Boston's snowfall, according toWeather.com. "It's still not clear whether the offshore low — or combination of lows — will pinwheel far enough offshore to keep any heavy snow potential pinned to Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, or may pivot heavy snowbands farther northwest into Boston," wrote Weather.com meteorologists Rob Shackelford and Jonathan Erdman in a Jan. 29online forecast.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Bomb cyclone forecast; snow possible from Florida to New England

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January 29, 2026

Weekend bomb cyclone forecast calls for snow. How much will fall?

Whether you call it abomb cyclone,nor'easteror a blizzard, it's going to be a memorable weekend weather event for...

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American Airlines plans to resume US flights to Venezuela after Trump moves to open airspace

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, Jan 29 (Reuters) - American Airlines said on Thursday it plans to resume daily service to Venezuela pending government approval and subject to security assessments, ​just weeks after the U.S. military seized the country's leader.

U.S. President Donald Trump ‌earlier on Thursday asked the Transportation Department to lift restrictions that currently bar U.S. flights after a discussion with the ‌country's acting President Delcy Rodríguez.

"American citizens will be very shortly able to go to Venezuela, and they'll be safe there," Trump said.

American suspended service in 2019 after the U.S. barred flights. The United States earlier this month attacked Venezuela and seized the country's president, Nicolas Maduro, in a military operation.

American, which started ⁠operating in Venezuela in 1987, ‌said the flights will provide the opportunity for business, leisure and humanitarian travel to the region. It was the largest U.S. airline in the country ‍before the suspension of flights.

The Federal Aviation Administration will need to conduct assessments before resumption of flights, which are not likely to begin for a few months.

On January 16, the FAA warned airlines to exercise ​caution when flying over Mexico, Central America and parts of South America, citing the risks ‌of potential military activities and GPS interference.

The FAA said it had issued Notices to Airmen covering Mexico and Central American countries, as well as Ecuador, Colombia and portions of airspace within the eastern Pacific Ocean.

Tensions between the U.S. and regional leaders have ramped up since the Trump administration mounted a large-scale military buildup in the southern Caribbean.

Trump said earlier this month that drug ⁠cartels were running Mexico and suggested the U.S. could ​strike land targets to combat them, in one of ​a series of threats to deploy U.S. military force against cartels.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has repeatedly warned that any unilateral military action by the U.S. in ‍Mexico would constitute a ⁠grave violation of the nation's sovereignty. At the same time, she has agreed on bilateral security cooperation with the U.S. to avoid Mexico being in Trump's crosshairs.

Last month, a ⁠JetBlue passenger jet bound for New York took evasive action to avoid a mid-air collision with a U.S. Air ‌Force tanker plane near Venezuela that did not have its transponder activated.

(Reporting by ‌David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

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January 29, 2026

American Airlines plans to resume US flights to Venezuela after Trump moves to open airspace

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Jan 29 (Reuters) - American Airlines said on Thursday it plans to resume daily s...

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Man who squirted apple cider vinegar on Omar is charged with assaulting and intimidating her

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Justice Department has charged a man who squirted apple cider vinegar on Democratic U.S. Rep.Ilhan Omarat an event in Minneapolis, according to court papers made public Thursday.

Immigration Enforcement Minnesota

The manarrested for Tuesday's attack, Anthony Kazmierczak, faces a charge of forcibly assaulting, opposing, impeding and intimidating Omar, according to a complaint filed in federal court.

Authorities determined that the substance was water and apple cider vinegar, according to an affidavit. After Kazmierczak sprayed Omar with the liquid, he appeared to say, "She's not resigning. You're splitting Minnesotans apart," the affidavit says. Authorities also say that Kazmierczak told a close associate several years ago that "somebody should kill" Omar, court documents say.

Kazmierczak appeared briefly in federal court Thursday afternoon. His attorney, Jean Brandl, told the judge her client was unmedicated at the time of the incident and has not had access to the medications he needs to treat Parkinson's disease and other serious conditions he suffers from.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Dulce Foster ordered that Kazmierczak remain in custody and told officials he needs to see a nurse when he is transferred to the Sherburne County Jail.

Kazmierczak also faces state charges in Hennepin County for terroristic threats and fifth-degree assault, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced Thursday.

"This was a disturbing assault on Rep. Omar, who is frequently the target of vilifying language by fellow elected officials and members of the public," Moriarty said. "The trust of our community in the federal government keeping politics out of public safety has been eroded by their actions. A state-level conviction is not subject to a presidential pardon now or in the future."

The attack came during a perilous political moment in Minneapolis, wheretwo people have been fatally shotby federal agents during the White House's aggressive immigration crackdown.

Kazmierczak has a criminal history and has made online posts supportive of President Donald Trump, a Republican.

Omar,a refugee from Somalia, has long been a fixture of Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric. After she was elected seven years ago, Trump said she should"go back" to her country. He recentlydescribed her as "garbage"and said she should be investigated. During a speech in Iowa earlier this week, shortly before Omar was attacked, he said immigrants need to be proud of the United States — "not like Ilhan Omar."

Omar blamed Trump on Wednesday for threats to her safety.

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"Every time the president of the United States has chosen to use hateful rhetoric to talk about me and the community that I represent, my death threats skyrocket," Omar told reporters.

Trump accused Omar of staging the attack, telling ABC News, "She probably had herself sprayed, knowing her."

Kazmierczak was convicted of felony auto theft in 1989, has been arrested multiple times for driving under the influence and has had numerous traffic citations, Minnesota court records show. There are also indications he has had significant financial problems, including two bankruptcy filings.

In social media posts, Kazmierczak criticized former President Joe Biden and referred to Democrats as "angry and liars." Trump "wants the US is stronger and more prosperous," he wrote. "Stop other countries from stealing from us."

In another post, Kazmierczak asked, "When will descendants of slaves pay restitution to Union soldiers' families for freeing them/dying for them, and not sending them back to Africa?"

Threats against members of Congress have increased in recent years, peaking in 2021 following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol bya mob of Trump supportersbefore dipping slightly, only to climb again, according to the most recent figures from the U.S. Capitol Police.

Officials said they investigated nearly 15,000 "concerning statements, behaviors, and communications directed against Members of Congress, their families, staff, and the Capitol Complex" in 2025.

Richer reported from Washington. Associated Press reporter R.J. Rico in Atlanta contributed.

Follow the AP's coverage of U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar athttps://apnews.com/hub/ilhan-omar.

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January 29, 2026

Man who squirted apple cider vinegar on Omar is charged with assaulting and intimidating her

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Justice Department has charged a man who squirted apple cider vinegar on Democratic U.S. Rep.Ilhan...

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Zayn Malik Jokes About Ticket Prices for His Vegas Residency amid Drama Surrounding Harry Styles' Upcoming Shows

Noam Galai/Getty;Michael Buckner/Variety/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Zayn Malik made a joke seemingly referencing the drama surrounding ticket prices for Harry Styles' Together Together shows

• The "Pillowtalk" singer spoke about his own ticket prices at one of his recent residency performances at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas

• Fans have been reacting to Styles' ticket prices on social media

IsZayn Malikthrowing shade atHarry Styles?

The "Pillowtalk" singer joked on stage at one of his recent residency performances at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas about the price fans paid to be there — as Styles is sparking drama over the cost of tickets for his upcoming Together, Together concerts.

"I just want to say a big, big thank you to each and every one of you for being here tonight," said Malik,according to a fan video posted to TikTok. "You could've been anywhere but you've decided to spend your night with me."

Denise Truscello/Getty

"Hopefully the ticket prices weren't too high," he added with a playful shrug. "Just saying."

Malik is in the midst of his seven residency shows at Dolby Live at Park MGM, which continues through Jan. 31.

His comments on ticket prices come after his fellow former One Direction member Styles announced his upcoming global Together, Together run of shows — including 30 dates at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

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Presales for the shows kicked off this week, and Ticketmaster informed fans of prices for the MSG shows as they waited in the queue to purchase with a statement: "Tickets for this event have been priced in advance by the tour from $50 – $1,182.40, including service fees. Ticket prices will not change during the presale or onsale. Price ranges do not apply to VIP packages. Tickets are subject to availability."

Fans quickly shared their reactions to the MSG prices on social media. "harry better be doing a three hour eras tour style show and bringing out louis, niall, and zay — n for an encore for these prices,"wrote one X user.

Another fan saidon the social media platform, "and stop f---ing buying these crazy ass priced tickets all you're doing is giving them the okay that these prices are acceptable in this economy and it's f---ing NOT. no one should EVERRRR have to pay a f---ing months rent just for one show IN THE PIT. FIX THIS S--- HARRY."

In a different post on X,one Styles fan wrote, "and i know artists make majority of their money touring now but harry isn't some indie artist he's one of the most established acts and has been for well over a decade now there's no need for these prices beyond corporate greed."

Styles' Together, Together shows at MSG run from August through October. He'll also perform in Amsterdam, London, São Paulo, Mexico City, Melbourne and Sydney as part of the Together, Together run. According toThe Hollywood Reporter, non-VIP tickets for Styles' U.K. range from around $60 to $1000.

The performances will support his upcoming album,Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally., which comes out March 6.

Read the original article onPeople

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January 29, 2026

Zayn Malik Jokes About Ticket Prices for His Vegas Residency amid Drama Surrounding Harry Styles' Upcoming Shows

Noam Galai/Getty;Michael Buckner/Variety/Getty NEED TO KNOW Zayn Malik made a joke seemingly referencing the ...

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Sydney Sweeney and the Naked Truth of Modern Celebrity

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Sydney Sweeney is a marketing machine. Since she became a household name, the actor has partnered with a seemingly endless list of brands that include Miu Miu, Guess, Samsung, Ford, Baskin & Robbins, Kérastase, and Armani Beauty. Some of her endorsements have been, shall we say,unexpected. In 2024 she was announced as the global spokeswoman, or "director of Dude," for HeyDude, a brand best known for its boat shoes.

Now, Sweeney is launching her own brand. Syrn (pronounced "siren") is a lingerie brand for bodies who are traditionally underserved. The initial launch includes a collection of lace-trimmed underwear and comfortable bras in a range of 44 sizes (30B to 42DDD), most of which are under $100. This new venture reveals the naked truth about modern celebrity, where creating art is a stepping stone to releasing a product—and, hopefully, making bank.

Sweeney's penchant for endorsements has not gone unnoticed. "It seems like she's not ashamed or embarrassed by promoting all of these different projects," Priya Rao, the executive editor ofThe Business of Fashion,toldtheNew York Timeslast year. "Historically, celebrities were taught it was tacky to do too much, to be everywhere all at once." Rao is correct that the previous approach to endorsements was "less is more"—fewer deals with bigger brands. But then reality TV and social media came along, creating the "attention economy," where even negative attention can be converted to engagement and profit.

Last summer, we saw this cycle in action when Sweeney'scampaignfor American Eagle sparked weeks of fraught online discourse. The ads were accused of nodding to white supremacist language, which made the podcast-pilled MAGA right (briefly) rally around her. Suddenly,shewas the one being endorsed—byPresident Trump, no less. In the midst of the debacle, American Eagle's stock surged by24 percent.

Kim Kardashian and her siblings created the blueprint for this new era, where stardom is all about being seen as much as possible. Like Sweeney, Kardashian endorsed many brands and products before fronting her own: First, a bizarrelylucrativemobile game, then her own beauty and fragrance brands, and finally the moment she hit the jackpot: Skims, the shapewear brand currently valued at$5billion. It is no coincidence that Kardashian's billion-dollar breakthrough was with a brand that centered her body, which has been constantly fixated upon, vilified, idolized, and objectified. With Syrn, Sweeney seems to be taking control of the internet's absurdobsessionwith her breasts by monetizing it herself, while also—but also attempting to become a serious entrepreneur by filling a need in the market.

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The main difference between these women is that Kardashian used business as a way of demanding legitimacy in an industry where she was originally derided for not having a "talent." But even Sweeney's detractors would be foolish to argue that she's not talented. Why is a gifted actor emulating a reality star?

Two words:money, honey. Back in 2022, as Sweeney's star was rising, she got her first taste of controversy when she spoke about her finances inaHollywood Reporterinterview. She said she worked so much—on HBO dramasEuphoriaandThe White Lotus, and themade-for-airplanerom-comAnyone But You— because she couldn't afford not to. Unlike the nepo babies surrounding her, she didn't come from generational wealth. This prompted online backlash, but it's factually true that Hollywood stardomdoesn't pay like it didin the 2000s and 1990s. (Unless you're willing to do back-to-back Marvel movies—or whatever it is Dwayne Johnson actually does.)

The unspoken truth of celebrity today is that you no longer getrichrich—never have to work again wealthy—by making art. That's probably why Rihanna has spent the last decade working on beauty and fashion brands instead of releasing new music, and why Ryan Reynolds is investing in soccer clubs, F1 teams, tech companies, and gin brands, rather than filming a sequel toThe Proposal. (One day, our prayers will be answered.) Kardashian became a billionaire years before her one-time nemesisTaylor Swift, who is quite possibly the most commercialized musician in the world, and evenBeyoncé, who is approaching 30 years of pop stardom. The new dream is to use your celebrity to found a billion-dollar brand then ride off into the sunset.

Might Syrn become the next celebrity mega-brand? I'm not the intended market, of course, but I can't escape the feeling that it feels a little rushed. The logo, in particular, looks like a detox smoothie brand—a pyramid scheme that would trick your auntie into investing her life savings after spending too much time on Facebook. Still, the brand reportedly has the backing of Jeff Bezos, one of the world's richest people. And at this point, it's obvious that one of Sweeney's core talents is generating attention—that's a very valuable skill.

I'm not calling her out here, by the way. Hollywood is notorious for putting talented women out to pasture, and there seems to be a wider acceptance of celebrities selling out these days. (Perhaps it's a "recession indicator"?). Besides, after a period where Sweeney has hurtled between beingaccusedof endorsing eugenics, a brutalbox office flop, and most recentlyThe Housemaidbecoming an unexpectedcommercial smash, she's learning that Hollywood stardom is unpredictable. But mogul-dom? That might be a smoother ride.

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January 29, 2026

Sydney Sweeney and the Naked Truth of Modern Celebrity

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Sydne...

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“Summer House”'s Kyle Cooke Opens Up About Split from Wife Amanda Batula: 'Weight Has Been Lifted'

Jocelyn Prescod/Bravo

NEED TO KNOW

• Kyle Cooke said that he and Amanda Batula have been able to "embrace this next chapter" after announcing their split on Jan. 19 after four years of marriage

• The exes appeared together at a 92NY event ahead of the season 10 premiere of Summer House on Wednesday, Jan. 28

• Batula also revealed that she and Cooke are still friends who "laugh and joke around with each other"

Afterannouncing their divorce,Kyle CookeandAmanda Batulaare feeling relieved.

The former couple, along with theirSummer Housecastmates, took to the stage at 92NY on Wednesday, Jan. 28, for a conversation about the Bravo show's upcoming season 10 premiere. It was one of their first public appearances since revealing their decision to split after more than four years of marriage.

"I don't think anything can kind of prepare you for a big public breakup," Cooke, 43, toldAccess Hollywood's Emily Orozco, who was moderating the event. "But I think that more important than anything is just making sure that Amanda is good, and it's just been amazing having her support, because it is not easy."

"We put it all out there — the good, the bad and the ugly," he continued. "So we just appreciate everyone acknowledging what we're going through, and it ain't easy."

Jamie McCarthy/Getty (2)

Orozco later commended the pair for remaining respectful of one another despite no longer being romantically involved, which Batula, 34, attributed to the "foundation" of their relationship.

"I think it is, we started off with a good friendship there and a foundation where we're able to just laugh and joke around with each other," she explained.

"In a weird way, these last couple months, we have been able to laugh a little bit more and embrace this next chapter," Cooke added. "It's felt like a weight has been lifted up."

The exes also offered an update on "co-parenting" their two dogs,Reese and Ryder.

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"They're very happy. They actually love being separated and then having some time together," Batula laughed. "They get tired of each other and then they're like, eh, we're done. And then they wanna go their separate ways."

She went on to joke that the pups "like their alone time, like their mom."

Rich Polk/Bravo via Getty

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Cooke and Batula announced that they were parting ways on Jan. 19 in a joint statement shared to theirInstagram Stories.

"After much reflection, we have mutually and amicably decided to part ways as a couple," they wrote. "We share this with a heavy heart and kindly ask for your grace and support while we focus on our personal growth and healing."

"It feels ironic to ask for privacy during this time since we've always tried to be open and honest about our relationship, but your kindness and respect will go a long way as we try to navigate our next chapter," the statement concluded, signed "Amanda & Kyle."

They first met in the summer of 2015, shortly before theSummer Houseseason 1 premiere, and made their relationship official the next summer in a conversation documented on the show. They gotengagedin September 2018 andtied the knotin September 2021 in an outdoor ceremony at Batula's parents' home in New Jersey.

Summer Houseseason 10 premieres Feb. 3 on Bravo.

Read the original article onPeople

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January 29, 2026

“Summer House”'s Kyle Cooke Opens Up About Split from Wife Amanda Batula: 'Weight Has Been Lifted'

Jocelyn Prescod/Bravo NEED TO KNOW Kyle Cooke said that he and Amanda Batula have been able to "embrace ...

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Pope tells Vatican office that processes sex abuse cases to uphold truth, justice and charity

VATICAN CITY (AP) —Pope Leo XIVtold the Vatican's doctrine office on Thursday to uphold truth, justice and charity when deciding clergy sex abuse cases, confirming a calibrated approach to dealing with a scandal that hastarnished the Catholic Church's credibility worldwide.

Vatican Pope

History's first American pope dedicated only a small part of his speech to abuse in an address to members of the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican office that polices Catholic doctrine but also processes abuse cases worldwide.

What Leo didn't say was almost more significant than what he did: Leo made no mention of victims in his speech, suggesting he believes the dicastery should function almost exclusively as a church tribunal, not a pastoral office.

Another Vatican department, thePontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, has become a main point of reference for abuse survivors. Pope Francis had made the commission part of the doctrine office, but Leo appears keen to keep the two functionally separate. No one from the survivor commission participated in Thursday's audience.

Leo told the bishops and cardinal members of the doctrine office that they should welcome and accompany the religious superiors who, according to the church's canon law, are responsible for investigating and sanctioning priests who molest or abuse young people.

"It is a very delicate area of ministry, in which it is essential to ensure that the requirements of justice, truth and charity are always honored and respected," Leo said.

It was a similar point that Leo, a canon lawyer, made earlier this week when he met with another Vatican tribunal, known as the Roman Rota, and spoke of the need to balance justice and charity in the search for truth.

Two decades after the abuse scandal exploded in his native U.S., Leo has indicated a generally cautiousapproachto handling abuse cases. He has insisted that church leaders must better listen to victims but also expressed concern that the rights of priests be better protected.

During a recent closed-door meeting with cardinals from around the world, Leo said the abuse crisis was by no means over and that church leaders needed to do better to truly, actively listen to victims and accompany them.

"We cannot close our eyes or hearts," Leo told cardinals Jan. 8. "The pain of the victims has often been greater because they did not feel welcomed or heard."

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A meeting with the lay group of the Legion of Christ

Perhaps coincidentally, Leo went from the doctrine office audience Thursday into a separate meeting with consecrated members of Regnum Christi, the lay branch of theLegion of Christ religious order.

The Mexico-based Legion remains the Catholic Church's most egregious case of 20th century clergy sexual abuse and cover up: The Vatican in 2006 sanctioned its founder, the Rev. Marcial Maciel, to a lifetime of penance and prayer, but only after it ignoredfive decades of credible reportsthat Maciel was a pedophile, con artist, drug addict and religious fraud.

Leo met with members of Regnum Christi who are having a general assembly in Rome. The Legion too is having its once-every-six-year assembly to elect a new leadership, but there's no word if Leo will meet with Legion priests.

Leo didn't mention the Legion in his remarks to Regnum Christi. Nor did he refer to the founder of both movements, Maciel, who died in 2008. But he suggested that the Vatican-imposedreform launched in 2010after Maciel's crimes came to light was still a work in progress. He noted that Regnum Christi still needed to better define its unique spiritual inspiration, known in church terms as a charism, that justifies its existence and to find new styles of governance.

The Vatican investigation into the Legion and Regnum Christi identified profound problems in the cultlike organization, including abuses of authority and the way authority was exercised by superiors, that it said required a process of "purification."

"A truly evangelical government, moreover, is always oriented toward service: it supports, accompanies, and helps each member to become more like the savior every day," Leo said.

"You should not be afraid to experiment with new models of governance; on the contrary, it is good to keep in mind that the collective search for your own style of exercising authority opens up paths that not only enrich the societies and their individual members, and strengthen the sense of belonging and participation in the common mission."

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP'scollaborationwith The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

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January 29, 2026

Pope tells Vatican office that processes sex abuse cases to uphold truth, justice and charity

VATICAN CITY (AP) —Pope Leo XIVtold the Vatican's doctrine office on Thursday to uphold truth, justice and charity wh...

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Hunter, 23, Dies After Trying to Save Dog That Fell Through Ice. First Responders Spent Hours Looking for His Body

A 23-year-old hunter fell into an icy Illinois pond while trying to save his dog on Jan. 26

NEED TO KNOW

• Following an extensive search operation, his body was found the next day

• The dog was safely pulled from the water and into a canoe

A 23-year-old hunter died while trying to save his dog from an icy pond in southern Illinois, authorities said.

On Monday, Jan. 26, the man fell through the ice at a pond in Clinton County, but his body wasn't located until the next day, following an extensive search operation, NBC affiliateKSDK, theBelleville-News Democratand Fox affiliateKTVIreported. The victim has since been identified as 23-year-old Luke Kitterman, St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye confirms to PEOPLE.

That Monday afternoon, Kitterman was goose hunting in the area with five friends, KSDK reported. After a successful shot, tragedy struck.

"The dog that retrieves the geese had gone out onto the ice and had fallen through," Peyton Matthews, who works with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police, told the outlet.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

Kitterman, the owner of the dog, immediately went to help save his beloved pet.

The young man belly-crawled on the ice to reach the panicked dog and pulled the animal out of the water, according to the outlet. Unfortunately, the dog went in again.

"He was able to pull the dog back onto the ice, but the dog went in again after his owner," Matthews told KSDK. "And then after that, that is when the owner of the dog went underwater."

At that point, Kitterman's friends tried to retrieve them both.

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"His friends did try to get out there to help him out," the official told the outlet. "They were able to pull the dog out of the water and into a canoe, just unfortunately lost sight of their friend."

On Monday, around 3:15 p.m. local time, first responders rushed to the area near Clinton County Line Road and Renth Road in New Baden following a report of a man who fell through ice on a pond and didn't resurface, the New Baden Fire Department said in astatement.

KSDK News/YouTube

"After several hours of search operations, due to extreme cold temperatures, the incident was transitioned from a rescue to a recovery," officials said.

On the first day of the search, 75 first responders were at the pond to help search for the 23-year-old man, but the situation became treacherous because of the cold temperatures, KSDK reported. There was a danger that the hole the divers went through would start to freeze over.

By around 8:40 p.m., the search was suspended and began again on Tuesday, Jan. 27, officials said. That day, 30 search and rescue crew members searched for Kitterman with the help of sonar equipment, while his friends remained at the scene, according to KSDK.

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First responders and loved ones were determined to find Kitterman — and were eventually successful after hours of search efforts.

"We're all out here to make sure that he is returned home," Matthews told the outlet.

Read the original article onPeople

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January 29, 2026

Hunter, 23, Dies After Trying to Save Dog That Fell Through Ice. First Responders Spent Hours Looking for His Body

A 23-year-old hunter fell into an icy Illinois pond while trying to save his dog on Jan. 26 NEED TO KNOW Follow...

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Trump official says ICE in Minneapolis will be targeted, vows changes on ground

By Brad Brooks and Ted Hesson

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan 29 (Reuters) - U.S. border czar Tom Homan, newly installed as commander of President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis, said on Thursday that federal agents would focus on targeted operations, shifting away from the broad street sweeps that have drawn widespread outrage.

Homan also said he would reduce the 3,000-strong force of agents deployed to the city if ​he received "cooperation" from state and local leaders, noting he has had productive meetings with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, both vocal critics of the surge.

"We can do better," he said at ‌a press conference, in a rare acknowledgment from a Trump official that the operation has not been perfect. "We made some significant gains, significant coordination and cooperation, and you're going to see some massive changes occurring here in this city."

Homan's public remarks - his first since Trump dispatched him to ‌the city on Monday in response to the national outcry - suggested a continued effort to de-escalate from the administration, which has been under intensifying political pressure after two U.S. citizens were shot dead by federal agents.

FEDERAL OFFICERS TOLD NOT TO ENGAGE 'AGITATORS'

Newly issued internal guidance from a high-ranking Immigration and Customs Enforcement official directs federal officers to refrain from unnecessary communication and engagement with "agitators" to avoid "inflaming the situation."

The directive, reviewed by Reuters late on Wednesday, also orders ICE officers to only target immigrants who have records of criminal charges or convictions, a departure from earlier tactics that included randomly stopping people on the street to demand documented proof of legal U.S. residence or citizenship.

Echoing that directive, Homan said agents would prioritize those who pose a threat to ⁠public safety or national security, though he was careful to emphasize that the Trump ‌administration remains committed to deporting all immigrants living in the country illegally.

"We're not surrendering our mission at all, we're just doing it smarter," he said.

He also pushed for more access to Minnesota jails for ICE agents so they can pick up targeted immigrants when they are released from local custody, which he said would lessen the need for more disruptive and ‍dangerous street sweeps.

Separately, the Justice Department charged a man who squirted a liquid on Democratic U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar during a Tuesday evening town hall in Minneapolis, which is in her district, with assaulting or intimidating a U.S. official. The incident underscored the charged politics at play in Minneapolis.

The liquid, which Anthony Kazmierczak is accused of spraying on Omar using a syringe, was apple cider vinegar, according to a criminal complaint.

Omar, a frequent target of Trump's, blamed the president's "hateful rhetoric" for the attack. Kazmierczak, who has expressed support for ​Trump on social media, has two prior convictions for drunk driving, records show. It was unclear whether he had an attorney.

Trump, who has called Omar "garbage," dismissed the attack and suggested without evidence that the congresswoman had staged it.

'SEASONED ‌AGENT' INVOLVED IN PRETTI SHOOTING

Minneapolis has been gripped by widespread protests since Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot dead behind the wheel of her car by an ICE agent on January 7.

Public outrage deepened after federal agents shot dead Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, on Saturday morning.

In both cases, Trump administration officials immediately defended the federal agents involved in the shootings and denounced both Good and Pretti as "domestic terrorists" who they claimed were threatening law enforcement.

Multiple video recordings of the two incidents contradict the notion that either Good or Pretti intended to harm anyone.

Little is known about the two agents who fired 10 times at Pretti: a Border Patrol agent and an officer with U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Office of Field Operations, which handles customs screenings.

The government has not named the agents, who were masked, or offered details about their backgrounds. During Trump's nationwide crackdown, federal immigration agents often have worn masks to conceal ⁠their identities or clothing with no clear name identification or agency.

Paul Perez, president of the National Border Patrol Council, a union representing ​Border Patrol agents, said the border agent involved in Pretti's shooting had about eight years of experience, extensive use-of-force and firearms training and ​crowd-control training in a border context.

"This wasn't a rookie agent that was out there, this was a seasoned agent," said Perez, who declined to name the agent for his safety.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

PRETTI, AGENTS HAD EARLIER CONFRONTATION

Newly unearthed videos verified by Reuters show Pretti had a physical confrontation with federal agents 11 days ‍before he was shot. In the videos, Pretti, wearing some ⁠of the same outerwear he had on when he was killed, can be seen cursing, shouting and spitting at a vehicle before kicking and shattering a taillight as it begins to leave the scene.

Several agents stop the SUV, get out and push Pretti to the ground, as others fire gas into a crowd of protesters. Eventually, the agents let Pretti walk away, and what appears to be a gun can be seen ⁠tucked into his waistband.

Videos of the killing on Saturday show an agent pulling a gun from Pretti's waistband after he has been restrained on the ground, seconds before another officer fires the first shot into the back of Pretti, now unarmed.

Pretti had a legal license to carry ‌a concealed weapon.

(Reporting by Brad Brooks in Minneapolis and Ted Hesson in Washington; Writing by Joseph Ax and Steve Gorman; Additional reporting by Kristina Cooke, Susan Heavey, Doina Chiacu, Jonathan Allen, Jarrett Renshaw, ‌Andrew Hay, Marine Delrue, Maria Paula Laguna, Fernando Robles and Gerardo Gomez; Editing by Paul Thomasch, Nick Zieminski, Rod Nickel)

byNeo

in

January 29, 2026

Trump official says ICE in Minneapolis will be targeted, vows changes on ground

By Brad Brooks and Ted Hesson MINNEAPOLIS, Jan 29 (Reuters) - U.S. border czar Tom Homan, newly installed as com...

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Jordin Sparks Asks Halle Berry to Read Her Screenplay About Menopause: 'You'd Be the Right Person'

Rodin Eckenroth/Getty; Stefanie Keenan/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Jordin Sparks made a post on X asking Halle Berry to read a movie script she wrote about menopause

• "You'd be the right person to talk to about it," the singer wrote

• Berry has become an outspoken advocate for women's wellness and menopause awareness in recent years
  

Jordin Sparksis shooting her shot to potentially collaborate withHalle Berryon a movie.

The singer, 36,wrotea public message to the Oscar winner, 59, on Wednesday, Jan. 28, on X: "Hiiii @halleberry! I sent you a dm because I wrote a screenplay about hormones and menopause and know you'd be the right person to talk to about it! Hope you're having a great day!"

It appears Berry, who next stars in the action filmCrime 101, has not yet responded.

Sparks, who wonAmerican Idolin 2007, has starred in movies like 2012'sSparkleand the recent Christmas movieMerry Little Mystery.

On Jan. 9, Sparkspostedon Instagram about completing a script with co-writer Stephanie Novel titledQuiet Storm. In the post's caption, she tagged a number of Hollywood stars and producers to get their eyes on the project, including Reese Witherspoon, Drew Barrymore, Kerry Washington, Jennifer Garner and more.

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"Calling all female executives, studios and heads of development," she wrote at the time, "'QUIET STORM' is a screenplay written by my fantastically talented writing partner @sjnovel and myself. It's been a labor of love over the past 5 years!"

"We have received some lovely feedback, coverage and are yearning for as much as we can get! I'm coming to you guys so we can leave no stone unturned and pursue every avenue, lane, opportunity afforded to us!!" added Sparks. "The dream is to get this read by every female run studio out there." She also wrote, "This is such an important story and we can't wait to share more."

Berry has become an advocate for menopause awareness in recent years, even founding the wellness company,Respin Health, which creates a community for women navigating menopause.

Gary Gershoff/Getty

"Sadly, people said to me, 'Are you sure you want to talk about that?Do you want to align yourself with menopause?Do you worry how that will affect your career?' And I said, 'No,' " Berry shared on theTodayshow in February 2025 about launching Respin.

"That's exactly why I should be talking about it, because there's nothing wrong with me being in my mid-life," the star continued.

"There's nothing wrong with being 58, and you have to stop telling me there's something wrong with me. And I'm going to prove to you that it's not. And so women, we have to work together to de-stigmatize this time of life and change culture."

Read the original article onPeople

byNeo

in

January 29, 2026

Jordin Sparks Asks Halle Berry to Read Her Screenplay About Menopause: 'You'd Be the Right Person'

Rodin Eckenroth/Getty; Stefanie Keenan/Getty NEED TO KNOW Jordin Sparks made a post on X asking Halle Berry t...

Read More