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Wednesday, February 11, 2026

NASCAR set to open season with sold-out crowd for Daytona 500

February 11, 2026
NASCAR set to open season with sold-out crowd for Daytona 500

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — William Byron will try to win his third straightDaytona 500on Sunday in front of a sellout crowd.

Daytona International Speedway announced Wednesday that all reserved grandstand seats have been purchased for the 68th running of "The Great American Race."

Though grandstand tickets and camping are sold out for Sunday's marquee event, limited upgrades and premium packages are still available. More than 100,000 fans are expected to pack Daytona.

Byron won last year's event in overtime after race leader Denny Hamlin got spun on the final lap, igniting a multicar crash. Byron ended up passing eight cars on the last lap to return to victory lane.

Comedian Nate Bargatze will serve as the grand marshal and give the command for drivers to start their engines. Actor Kurt Russell is the honorary pace car driver, and country singer Miranda Lambert will perform a prerace concert. Miss America Cassie Donegan will sing the national anthem.

The purse of $31,045,575 is the largest in Daytona 500 history.

AP auto racing:https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

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2026 NBA All-Star Game schedule: Time, how to watch, rosters and format

February 11, 2026
2026 NBA All-Star Game schedule: Time, how to watch, rosters and format

The 2026 NBA All-Star Game is nearly here.

The rosters have been set, and the game's biggest stars will congregate in Los Angeles for the 75thedition of the NBA All-Star Game.

The league opted to use a "U.S. vs. World" format in a round-robin tournament that will feature three teams, one of which will be composed of international players.

The game, however, will be missing some key players because of injury, most notably last season's Most Valuable Player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of theOklahoma City Thunderand Giannis Antetokounmpo of theMilwaukee Bucks.

Here's everything you need to know about the 2026 NBA All-Star Game:

Oct. 26: The Dallas Mavericks' Cooper Flagg dunks the ball past the Toronto Raptors' Sandro Mamukelashvili at the American Airlines Center. Oct. 26: The Washington Wizards' Cam Whitmore dunks the ball against the Charlotte Hornets at Capital One Arena. <p style=Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets' Michael Porter Jr. dunks in front of the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Oct. 25: The Denver Nuggets' Christian Braun dunks the ball against the Phoenix Suns' Grayson Allen at Ball Arena. Oct. 24: The Memphis Grizzlies' Jaren Jackson Jr. dunks against the Miami Heat at FedExForum. Oct. 24: The Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo dunks over the Memphis Grizzlies' Jaren Jackson Jr. at FedExForum. Oct. 22: The New York Knicks' OG Anunoby goes up for a reverse dunk against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden. Oct. 22: The Utah Jazz's Lauri Markkanen dunks against the Los Angeles Clippers at Delta Center.

Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

When is the 2026 NBA All-Star Game?

The game will take place Sunday, Feb. 15 at 5 p.m. ET.

Where is the 2026 NBA All-Star Game?

Los Angeles will serve as host of All-Star weekend and all of its events, including the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, the Slam Dunk Contest and the 3-Point Contest. Events will take place at the Intuit Dome, the home venue of theLos Angeles Clippers.

How to watch 2026 NBA All-Star Game

The game will be broadcast on NBC and will be available for streaming on Peacock. The first game in the round-robin tournament will tip off at 5 p.m. ET. This is the first time in 24 years that the event is broadcast on a network other than TNT.

Who is participating in the 2026 NBA All-Star Game?

Team Stars

  • Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors)

  • Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)

  • Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons)

  • Jalen Duren (Detroit Pistons)

  • Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)

  • Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder)

  • Jalen Johnson (Atlanta Hawks)

  • Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers)

Team Stripes

  • Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)

  • Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks)

  • Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)*

  • Kevin Durant (Houston Rockets)

  • Brandon Ingram (Toronto Raptors)

  • LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)

  • Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers)

  • Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers)

  • Norman Powell (Miami Heat)

Team World

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)*

  • Deni Avdija (Portland Trail Blazers)

  • Luka Dončić (Los Angeles Lakers)

  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)*

  • Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets)

  • Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets)

  • Alperen Şengün (Houston Rockets)

  • Pascal Siakam (Indiana Pacers)

  • Karl-Anthony Towns (New York Knicks)

  • Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs)

*injured, will not play

2026 NBA All-Star Game format

The NBA is introducing an entirely new format in the All-Star Game: U.S. vs. The World.

Two teams of U.S. players and a team of international players will compete in a round-robin tournament in four 12-minute games, all to be held on the final day of All-Star Weekend — Sunday, Feb. 15 —the NBA announced Tuesday, Nov. 11.

All round-robin games will be played on Sunday, Feb. 15, and here's how the tournament works:

Team A will play Team B in Game 1.

The winning team from Game 1 will play Team C in Game 2.

The losing team from Game 1 will play Team C in Game 3.

After Game 3, the top two teams by record will play each other in the championship game. But, if all three teams have a 1-1 record after Game 3, the point differential in each team's two round-robin games will serve as the tiebreaker.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NBA All-Star 2026 schedule: Dates, time and TV channel

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WNBA star Angel Reese will return to Unrivaled to defend championship

February 11, 2026
WNBA star Angel Reese will return to Unrivaled to defend championship

WNBA star Angel Reeseis returning to Unrivaled.

On Wednesday, the Miami-based 3-on-3 league announced Reese would be coming back for her second season, afterinitially opting not to play. She is rejoining Rose BC, the team she helpedwin Unrivaled's inaugural title.

Reese was namedDefensive Player of the Yearand made Unrivaled history with theleague's first 20-20 gamelast season. Reese scored 20 points and grabbed 20 rebounds during a matchup against the Lunar Owls.

Rose guard Kahleah Copper may be the most excited about Reese rejoining the Unrivaled. Under a recentTikTok video of Reeseunboxing items she bought while traveling in Australia,Copper said,"You unboxing [expletive], like bring your ass to Miami." She later added, "Inbox this Rose jersey."

"AYOOOOO, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU??!!!?!?," Reese responded.

Reese joining Rose is made possible by arecent three-way trade, the second in league history. The trade sent Vinyl BC guard Courtney Williams to Breeze BC, Hive BC guard Saniya Rivers to Vinyl and Rose forward Azurá Stevens to Hive. The trade details did not indicate that Rose got a player in return, nor did they show what Breeze gave up for Williams.

Reese's debut is planned for Friday, Feb. 20, following the completion of the league's1-on-1 tournament. Rose plays Hive at 8:45 p.m. ET on TNT and truTV. The game can also be streamed on HBO Max.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:WNBA star Angel Reese will return to Unrivaled to defend championship

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California Health Department warns of growing measles cases

February 11, 2026
California Health Department warns of growing measles cases

Measles cases are on the rise across California, according to thestate's Department of Public Health, which is urging residents to check their immunization status and get vaccinated against the disease.

USA TODAY

On Feb. 9, the department announced that 17 measles cases had been reported throughout California, with the state's first outbreak since 2020 occurring in Shasta County. As of Tuesday, Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency officials had reported eight cases andidentified six locations where people may have been exposed to the disease.

"All of these individuals were either unvaccinated or had an unknown history of vaccination," the California Department of Public Health said in its announcement.

As of Jan. 22, 2026, 416 confirmed measles cases have been reported in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This news comes a week after the department released a health alert ot all healthcare professionals on Feb. 4, recommending they consider measles as a possible diagnosis if a person presents with a fever, rash, and other symptoms consistent with measles.

"As a pediatrician and parent, I encourage families to make sure everyone gets up to date on their MMR vaccine, if they haven't already," said Dr. Erica Pan, CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer in the press release. "CDPH continues to coordinate with, and support, local health departments in their responses to stop measles from spreading further in our communities."

The health department notes that Californiareportedmore than 95% measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) coverage among kindergarteners for the2024-2025 school year– the level of immunity needed to reduce the risk of community spread.

Where have cases been reported?

As of Feb. 10, 2026, local public health departments have identified measles cases in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside and Shasta counties.

Nine cases were linked to exposure in Southern California, possibly at Disneyland in Anaheim and at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) as people were traveling on Jan. 22 and 28, California Department of Public Health officials said on Feb. 3.

In Northern California, cases have increased recently after local officials announced eight cases.

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Health agencies identified several locations asplaces the patient went while being infectious:

A measles alert sign hangs outside the entrance to the Cohen Children's Medical Center, where the state health department confirmed that a baby tested positive and that there is a possibility of exposure to others at the facility, in New Hyde Park, New York, U.S., March 14, 2025.
  • Highland Neighborhood Park, 555 Mill Valley Parkway in Redding, during a "capture the flag" game from noon to 4 p.m. on Jan. 23

  • Ninja Coalition, 900 Dana Drive, Redding, from 2:30 p.m. to 5:20 p.m. on Jan. 23

  • Osaka Sushi, 1340 Churn Creek Road in Redding, from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Jan. 23

  • The former CrossPointe Church, 2960 Hartnell Ave. in Redding during a gym basketball game from 1:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 24

  • Costco in Redding from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Jan. 24

  • Churn Creek HealthCare clinic from 1:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 28

As California has been able to keep its measles outbreak within double-digits, the disease is breaking out across the nation, as South Carolina is experiencing one of the largest outbreaks in over 30 years, with nearly 920 associated cases reported.

"The United States is experiencing the highest numbers of measles cases, outbreaks, hospitalizations and deaths in more than 30 years, driven by populations with low vaccination rates," Pan said in the press release. "We all need to work together to share the medical evidence, benefits, and safety of vaccines to provide families the information they need to protect children and our communities."

What are the symptoms of measles?

Measles typically begins with a fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, usually about 7 to 14 days after exposure but can occur up to 21 days after contact with an infected person, according to the California Department of Public Health. The fever can reach 105 degrees.

Tiny white spots may appear inside the mouth two to three days after symptoms begin, according to the California Department of Public Health. A rash can form on the hairline and face two to four days after symptoms first appear.

The rash then spreads down the back and torso and extends into the arms, hands, legs, and feet, according to the California Department of Public Health. After about five days, the rash fades in the same order in which it appeared.

A one-dose bottle for measles, rubella virus, M-M-R II, from The South Carolina Department of Public Health Mobile Health Unit, with two administrators and two nurses help people get different vaccinations, including for measles.

"The MMR vaccine provides the best protection against disease and serious illness," according to the California Department of Public Health.

If an individual believes they or a family member may have been exposed to the disease, they should contact their family's health care provider or thelocal health department.

Noe Padilla is a Northern California Reporter for USA Today. Contact him atnpadilla@usatodayco.com, follow him on X @1NoePadillaor on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social.Sign up for theTODAY Californian newsletteror follow us on Facebook atTODAY Californian.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Measles cases grow in California, health department urges vaccinations

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Multiday Storm Set To Cross The Country, Bringing Rain And Snow For Valentine's Weekend

February 11, 2026
Multiday Storm Set To Cross The Country, Bringing Rain And Snow For Valentine's Weekend

If you are hoping to make Valentine's Day dinner plans on an outdoor patio somewhere, you might want to hold off. The forecast looks less than ideal for a huge chunk of the country late this week into the weekend.

This means Valentine's Day could be a total washout for millions.

While the fine details are still uncertain, it looks as if this system will bring more rain than snow.

We will break down what we know now, then continue to tweak as the forecast becomes clearer in the coming days.

Friday

The storm system will take shape across the Southwest, as an area of low pressure tracks across the southern half of the country.

The focus on Friday will be from the Four Corners to the Southern Plains.

Winter weather will be possible for the Southern Rockies, and even a wintry mix as far south as the higher elevations of Arizona and New Mexico. Meanwhile, showers will be possible from southern Arizona to Arkansas. The heaviest rain is expected across portions of the Southwest. We could even see a few thunderstorms.

Saturday

As the system shifts eastward on Saturday, the impacts could be far-reaching. From the Deep South to portions of the Plains and mid-South there could be rain. Thunderstorms could be possible as well, mainly across the Gulf Coast.

This includes everyone trying to get out for Valentine's Day and the more than one million people expected to fill the streets of New Orleans for Mardi Gras parades this weekend.

The Weather Prediction Center has even highlighted an area fromTexas to Tennessee, with Arkansas right in the crosshairs of excessive rainfall. The heavy downpours could lead to flash flooding in these areas.

With the warmer than average temperatures dominating much of this region this week, the forecast for Saturday seems to be primarily liquid form, as temperatures won't be cold enough to support snow.

However, that could change overnight.

Sunday

As the system shifts further eastward on Sunday, the forecast calls for precipitation pretty much everywhere east of the Mississippi River.

We could see heavy rain anywhere from the Gulf Coast to the Southeast to the Ohio Valley, with thunderstorms possible across the Southeast.

This is where the models are having a hard time deciding on how much cold air will be available for snow. We could see a quick shot of winter weather in the higher elevations of the Appalachians and Northeast, but how much is still uncertain.

Folks along the busy I-95 corridor need to pay attention to how this forecast evolves, because there's a chance we could see another round of snow or a wintry mix Sunday into Monday.

Pinpointing exactly where the snow will fall and how much is still uncertain, but at the very least, we could see a quick shot of snow for these locations.

Monday

This system will wrap up Monday as it heads offshore, however, snow could linger for the big cities in the Northeast. This could mean messy morning commutes as what's left of the winter weather moves away.

We aren't expecting high snowfall totals at this point, and there's quite a bit of uncertainty with this, considering we are still 5 days away. But we will keep you posted on any changes.

Why There's Uncertainty

As I mentioned earlier, there's quite a bit of uncertainty with this forecast. We know there will be impactful weather, just knowing exactly who will see what is the challenge.

The reason for this is the uncertainty in exactly how far north or south the low will track.

If the low tracks further to the north, then it will be able to tap into colder air, which means we will see more ice and snow for the northern cities.

If the low takes a more southern track, then it will encounter warmer air, and therefore, the storm will be more of a rainmaker than a snowmaker.

Regardless, if you live in the eastern half of the country, make sure you have a Plan B for any outdoor weekend plans, as it might make more sense to have a cozy Valentine's Day indoors this year.

Jennifer Grayis a weather and climate writer for weather.com. She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.

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