Morning Headlines - Monday, Feb. 16, 2026 | Recent News

Start your day informed with today’s must-read headlines from around Wisconsin and the world. And don’t forget to check out our Meme of the Day at the end for a little humor to go with your news!

U.S. and World Headlines

Olympics Turn Political As US Athletes Speak Out Against Trump

A growing number of Olympic athletes competing for the U.S. in this month’s Winter Games are expressing discomfort with representing the U.S. under President Trump’s administration, sparking intense pushback from the president’s supporters and Trump himself.

Trump attacked U.S. athlete Hunter Hess directly after Hess said he was conflicted about competing for Team USA given the country’s political climate.

Epstein Files Fallout: The High-profile People Burned By Past Dealings With A Predator

The recent release by the Department of Justice of millions of pages of documents related to the notorious sex predator Jeffrey Epstein has led to a wave of resignations and other uncomfortable fallout for high-profile people around the world.

Those affected include the top lawyer at the major investment bank Goldman Sachs, the CEO of Dubai’s largest port, a former president of Harvard University, a former U.S. president and ex-secretary of State, and the chairman of a leading American corporate law firm.

Being mentioned in the Epstein files does not mean that an individual is implicated in crimes.

Israel Will Begin Contentious West Bank Land Registration

Israel will begin a contentious land regulation process in a large part of the occupied West Bank, which could result in Israel gaining control over wide swaths of the area for future development, according to a government decision on Sunday.

It paves the way for the resumption of "settlement of land title" processes, which had been frozen in the West Bank since the Mideast War in 1967. It means that when Israel begins the land registration process for a certain area, anyone with a claim to the land must submit documents proving ownership.

Republicans Worry Party Won’t Do Enough To Address Costs Before Midterms

Some Senate Republicans are warning that the party is not doing enough to address affordability heading into the midterm elections, with hopes of passing more big-ticket items this year quickly fading away.

Legislating has been difficult in this Congress, with fractious Republicans holding only a narrow majority, and is only expected to slow further in an election year. And President Trump last week poured cold water on the possibility of a second massive, GOP-only bill, saying in an interview that “we’ve gotten everything passed that we need.”

Colorectal Cancer Is Rising In Young People. Here's How To Lower Your Risk

An increasing number of people are dying of colorectal cancer at a young age, including those as young as 20. Actor James Van Der Beek, who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023, died at age 48 on Feb. 11, 2026, bringing the disease back into the limelight.

The Conversation U.S. asked gastrointestinal oncologist Christopher Lieu and cancer researcher Andrea Dwyer to explain what's known about early-onset colon cancer and what young people can do to protect themselves.

Lawmakers At Odds About Funding WisconsinEye, Putting Its Future In Question

Time is running out for efforts to keep WisconsinEye — Wisconsin’s version of C-SPAN — on the air.

The nonprofit has been broadcasting legislative hearings, floor sessions, press conferences and state Supreme Court proceedings since 2007. In mid-December, it went offline because it ran out of money, and its archive of more than 10,000 hours of recordings was unavailable.

State lawmakers approved $50,000 to keep WisconsinEye’s stream flowing this month. And last month, lawmakers from both parties celebrated a tentative deal to keep the network going over the long haul.

The trick is, leaders in the Assembly and Senate are backing different plans. If they can’t resolve those differences before they adjourn, nothing will become law.

LeMahieu Says He’s Been Cut Out Of Negotiations On Possible Property Tax Deal

Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu says he’s been cut out of negotiations between Gov. Tony Evers and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos on a possible property tax deal.

LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, at a WisPolitics-State Affairs luncheon in Madison yesterday said Vos and Evers’ effort to reach a compromise “seems like purely a political stunt.”

LeMahieu said he met Evers and Vos, R-Rochester, on Zoom about a week ago to discuss plans for a potential deal to address property taxes following Evers’ partial veto raising per pupil revenue limits by $325 for the next 400 years.

Wisconsin Assembly Okays Ankle Monitors For Homeless Sex Offenders

The plan to keep an eye on sex offenders who don’t have homes in Wisconsin is moving forward at the State Capitol.

The State Assembly on Thursday approved legislation that would use ankle bracelets to track homeless sex offenders.

“Monitoring the whereabouts of released sex offenders is important for the safety of our community, particularly our children,” Rep Scott Allen, R-Waukesha, said in a statement. “This is true even for those who have no permanent address.”

For The First Time In More Than A Decade, Apostle Islands Ice Caves May Open Monday

For the first time in over a decade, visitors may be able to access the ice caves within the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore on Lake Superior.

The National Park Service said ice conditions were on track to open access to the popular winter attraction near Meyers Beach on Monday, Feb. 16. Visitors haven’t been able to safely hike across the frozen lake to view the icy cliffs since 2015.

Extreme cold snaps in January caused more than half of Lake Superior to freeze, allowing access to the caves as long as ice remains stable.