EXACTLY WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT COMING UP IN YOUR KOAT WEATHER. BUT FIRST, BACK TO DUGAN DARNELL JOHN POLO NOW CONTINUES OUR TEAM COVERAGE. HE JOINS US LIVE IN ALBUQUERQUE. HI, JOHN. YEAH, HI. YOU KNOW, AS BYRON HAS BEEN TELLING US, THE WINDS ARE GOING TO PICK UP TOWARDS THE MORNING HERE IN THE METRO, BUT IN RUIDOSO, THEY ARE PLANNING FOR SOME POSSIBLE POWER OUTAGES. LAST MONTH IN RIO DOSO THOUSANDS WITHOUT POWER FOR DAYS. HEAVY SNOW CAUSING TREES TO COME DOWN ON POWER LINES. THE SAME COULD HAPPEN TUESDAY. NOT WITH SNOW, BUT WITH THE HIGH WINDS THAT ARE EXPECTED TO HIT THE AREA. LAST MARCH, HIGH WINDS BLEW A ROOF OFF THIS BUILDING IN RIO RUIDOSO. RESIDENTS LIKE LEROY SMITH KNOW ALL TOO WELL THE DAMAGE HIGH WINDS CAN CAUSE. IF IT’S REALLY CRAZY, WE’LL STAY INDOORS BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME TREES THAT COULD COME DOWN AND AFFECT POWER LINES OR ROOFING. THE VILLAGE OF RUIDOSO, POSTING WARNINGS ON THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA MONDAY ABOUT THE DANGERS OF HIGH WINDS, WITH A DRAMATIC CHANGE OF THE WEATHER PATTERN ON THE WAY. PNM SAYS THEY ARE READY IF TREES COME DOWN ON POWER LINES, KNOCKING OUT POWER. IT’S NOT ANYTHING NEW, YOU KNOW, HERE IN NEW MEXICO, WE’RE USED TO IT. COME FEBRUARY, LATE FEBRUARY, EARLY MARCH, THE WINDS START UP. THE VILLAGE OF RUIDOSO ALSO POSTING FIRE WARNINGS. THE COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY CREATES EXTREME FIRE DANGERS. LEROY SMITH IS MORE WORRIED ABOUT POSSIBLE POWER OUTAGES. LAST MONTH, HE WAS WITHOUT POWER FOR THREE DAYS. I DON’T FEEL LIKE THE FIRE DANGER IS SUPER HIGH BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD SOME MOISTURE LATELY. ALL RIGHT, HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW. IF YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY OR A POWER OUTAGE. PNM IS TELLING US TO TELL YOU TO CALL THAT NUMBER THERE ON YOUR SCREEN.
Ruidoso prepares for high winds, downed trees, and possible power outages
Residents say they are prepared and the Village of Ruidoso sending out warnings to residents
Ruidoso residents are preparing for high winds expected to hit the area on Tuesday, which could lead to power outages and fire dangers similar to those experienced last month when heavy snow caused trees to fall on power lines.In March, high winds blew the roof off a building in Ruidoso, and residents like Leroy Smith are well aware of the potential damage. “If it’s really crazy, we’ll stay indoors because there are trees that could come down, in fact, power lines and roofing,” Smith said.The Village of Ruidoso posted warnings on social media Monday about the dangers of high winds, as a dramatic change in the weather pattern is expected. PNM has stated they are ready to respond if trees fall on power lines and cause outages. “It’s not nothing new here in New Mexico. We’re used to it come February, late February, early March, the winds start up,” said Eric Chavez, PNM Communications Representative.Additionally, the Village of Ruidoso has issued fire warnings, noting that the combination of strong winds and low humidity creates extreme fire dangers. However, Smith is more concerned about possible power outages, recalling last month’s three-day outage.”I don’t feel like the fire danger is super high because we’ve had some moisture lately,” Smith said.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
Ruidoso residents are preparing for high winds expected to hit the area on Tuesday, which could lead to power outages and fire dangers similar to those experienced last month when heavy snow caused trees to fall on power lines.
In March, high winds blew the roof off a building in Ruidoso, and residents like Leroy Smith are well aware of the potential damage.
“If it’s really crazy, we’ll stay indoors because there are trees that could come down, in fact, power lines and roofing,” Smith said.
The Village of Ruidoso posted warnings on social media Monday about the dangers of high winds, as a dramatic change in the weather pattern is expected. PNM has stated they are ready to respond if trees fall on power lines and cause outages.
“It’s not nothing new here in New Mexico. We’re used to it come February, late February, early March, the winds start up,” said Eric Chavez, PNM Communications Representative.
Additionally, the Village of Ruidoso has issued fire warnings, noting that the combination of strong winds and low humidity creates extreme fire dangers. However, Smith is more concerned about possible power outages, recalling last month’s three-day outage.
“I don’t feel like the fire danger is super high because we’ve had some moisture lately,” Smith said.
Dwight Yoakam started a show 90 minutes behind schedule last Thursday (Feb. 12), but things could have been much worse.
In a social media post on Monday (Feb. 16), the singer explained that the delay was due to a terrifying mishap that took place on the plane he was flying on to get to the show. He said that the pilot and crew’s quick thinking kept him and the rest of the passengers safe.
Yoakam shared the story after learning that the delay in his show’s start time hadn’t been clearly communicated to the audience.
He said he wanted to “personally apologize” for the fans who were confused and didn’t get clear info about why he was late and when he’d take the stage.
What Happened to Dwight Yoakam’s Plane While He Was Flying to a Lubbock, Texas Show?
Yoakam says that while his plane was lifting off the runway, they had an “emergency takeoff abort” as a result of a “mechanical failure warning in the cockpit.”
He emphasized how essential the flight crew’s skillful judgment was in that moment.
“Fortunately the pilots handled the abortive takeoff with exceptional professional skill and they were able to avoid anything more dangerous or catastrophic occurring,” he continued.
Still, the emergency took time to resolve. Yoakam’s plane taxied back to its hangar so that crews could investigate.
Eventually, they determined that the aircraft could not fly. Yoakam was able to move to a different plane and continue his trip to Texas as scheduled, albeit an hour and a half behind schedule to kick off the show.
How Did Fans React to Dwight Yoakam’s Delayed Show?
According to the comments section of a Facebook post from Buddy Holly Hall — the venue that Yoakam was playing that night — fans were initially frustrated by the concert delay.
One post applauded the opening band for playing for “2+ hour[s]” but added “more communication would have been appreciated.”
Several fans expressed more frustration with Yoakam and said that they left early, before he ever made it to the venue.
After Yoakam shared the full story, responses were overwhelmingly sympathetic to his terrifying ordeal.
“You are worth the wait! And it [was] certainly better than the alternative,” one commenter replied.
“I’m glad y’all are safe. That’s the number one priority,” another said.
11 Country Singers Who Died in Plane Crashes
This list proves that small risks an artist takes each time they travel to a show adds up.
The 2025 season offered the ultimate proof that elite portal recruiting can put a program in national championship contention. Miami, Ole Miss and Oregon reached the College Football Playoff semifinals thanks in part to all their success recruiting top transfer talent. But they couldn’t stop an undefeated Indiana squad, one powered by a Heisman Trophy winner and 16 more starters brought in via the portal.
Now that the offseason transfer window has officially closed with more than 3,200 FBS scholarship players making moves in January, here’s a look at the key portal pickups to know for each Way-Too-Early Top 25 team.
Hoover gives the Hoosiers an extremely qualified successor to Heisman winner and projected No. 1 NFL draft pick Fernando Mendoza. He’s a 31-game starter whose 9,629 career passing yards and 71 passing touchdowns rank first among all FBS passers who are officially returning in 2026. Hoover was previously committed to the Hoosiers as a high school recruit in 2021. Now he’s finally making the move to Bloomington to team up with receivers Charlie Becker and Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh for another high-scoring passing attack. Hoover will have an opportunity to continue an incredible run of quarterback production under coach Curt Cignetti and his staff, with five of their QBs earning conference Offensive Player of the Year honors since 2019.
The Longhorns were not messing around in January when it came to pursuing the top playmakers in the transfer portal. They won a fierce recruiting battle against Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Alabama for Coleman, the No. 2 player in ESPN’s transfer rankings. The 6-foot-3, 201-pound junior caught 93 passes for 1,306 yards and 13 TDs over his two seasons at Auburn. Coleman has obvious first-round pick potential and is hoping to put together a big year in chasing a national title with coach Steve Sarkisian and Arch Manning. The arrival of Coleman plus two of the best running backs in the portal in Hollywood Smothers (NC State) and Raleek Brown (Arizona State) raises already high expectations for Texas ahead of Manning’s second year as the starter.
Gray was one of the top young defensive linemen available in the portal after starting three games for the Ducks during his redshirt freshman season. The 6-6, 336-pound interior lineman recorded 18 tackles, two tackles for loss and a blocked field goal while primarily playing a rotational role (around 15-20 snaps per game) behind A’Mauri Washington and Bear Alexander. The Irish are hoping he’s ready to take the next big step in his career and play a major role for a defensive front that has added some big-time transfer talent with Gray, Francis Brewu (Pitt) and Keon Keeley (Alabama).
Williams could end up being one of the breakout stars of this portal cycle if he can put it all together in Athens. The No. 88 overall recruit in the 2024 ESPN 300 played just 310 snaps over his two seasons in a rotational role at Auburn and hasn’t been as productive as the other edge players available in the portal with 20 career tackles, 12 pressures, 7.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks. But Williams has flashed the potential to become an explosive pass rusher while playing behind projected first-round pick Keldric Faulk. Now it’s time to prove he can become a reliable full-time starter and a difference-maker for the Bulldogs.
A big year at Oregon helped Purdue transfer Dillon Thieneman solidify his status as a top-three safety in the upcoming draft. Perich is hoping for similar results as he joins the Ducks. He’s one of the more dynamic young defensive playmakers in the sport between his six interceptions over two seasons at Minnesota and his 1,119 career yards as a kickoff and punt returner. Perich was a first-team All-Big Ten performer as a true freshman in 2024 and should compete for All-America recognition as a junior.
Smith, the No. 3 defensive tackle in ESPN’s transfer rankings, joined the Crimson Tide as a top-25 recruit and moved into a starting role in 2025. The 6-3, 297-pound junior put together a good year with 28 tackles, 6.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks on 398 snaps. Now he’s taking over for Kayden McDonald, the Big Ten’s Defensive Lineman of the Year, in a Buckeyes defense that has recruited four top-100 transfers in ESPN’s rankings with the duo of Smith and Alabama edge Qua Russaw plus safeties Earl Little Jr. (Florida State) and Terry Moore (Duke).
The Red Raiders were determined to add the best available quarterback when the portal opened in January and succeeded in beating out Lane Kiffin and LSU for Sorsby, ESPN’s No. 1-ranked transfer QB. The second-team All-Big 12 performer finished with a top-10 QBR (81.4) last season while throwing for 2,800 yards, rushing for 580 and scoring 36 total TDs in his second year as the Bearcats’ starter. Sorsby considered going pro before opting to join the defending Big 12 champs to try to lead them on another run to the College Football Playoff.
The Hurricanes pulled off a stunner at the portal deadline by making Mensah an offer he couldn’t refuse to leave the defending ACC champs and lead a squad that just played for the CFP national title. Mensah lived up to the hype in his lone year with the Blue Devils, putting up an ACC-leading 3,973 passing yards and 34 passing TDs and earning second-team all-conference honors after transferring in from Tulane. Mensah is bringing Duke transfer wide receiver Cooper Barkate with him to Miami join a star-studded offense that returns receiver Malachi Toney and running back Mark Fletcher Jr.
New coach Pete Golding and his staff had a ton of needs to address in the January portal window and capitalized on their CFP momentum to assemble another high-impact portal haul. Curne doesn’t have the résumé of some of Ole Miss’ top portal pickups but could end up being one of the top offensive linemen of the cycle if he can develop to his potential. The 6-5, 320-pound sophomore was the No. 133 overall recruit in the 2025 ESPN 300 and made four starts at left tackle and one start at right tackle during his true freshman season at LSU. It will be interesting see whether the Rebels prefer to play him at tackle or guard in his second year, but he should be a big man they’re depending on this fall. Golding also did an impressive job of reloading on defense with numerous potential new starters joining the Rebels this winter, led by linebackers Keaton Thomas and Luke Ferrelli and defensive backs Jay Crawford, Edwin Joseph and Joenel Aguero.
The Aggies needed to replace star receiver KC Concepcion during this portal cycle and landed a big-time weapon in Horton to pair with Mario Craver. The 6-4, 208-pound wideout has caught 112 passes for 1,301 yards and 14 touchdowns over his time at Miami and Alabama and was ESPN’s No. 5-ranked transfer receiver. Horton will have an opportunity in College Station to prove he’s a true No. 1 option after ranking third on the Crimson Tide in targets in his lone season with Alabama.
Uluave was one of the most productive linebackers in the country over his three seasons at Cal, earning Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors and first-team All-ACC recognition after compiling 237 tackles, 21.5 TFLs, six sacks, 10 pass breakups and three interceptions with the Bears. The Utah native entered the portal after Cal’s coaching change and is coming home for his senior season to boost a BYU program looking to take the next step and make a CFP run after a 12-win season.
The Sooners were looking to upgrade their weapons in the passing game around John Mateer during the portal window and got a lot accomplished with the addition of wideouts Harris, Parker Livingstone (Texas), Mackenzie Alleyne (Washington State) and tight ends Rocky Beers (Colorado State), Hayden Hansen (Florida) and Jack Van Dorselaer (Tennessee). Harris comes in with 113 career catches for 1,604 yards and nine TDs over his time at Virginia and Kent State and was the No. 1 receiver for an 11-win Cavaliers squad last season, earning third-team All-ACC honors after putting up a career-high 847 receiving yards.
The 5-11, 200-pound cover man broke out as one of the Big 12’s top defensive playmakers in 2024 with interceptions in four consecutive games for the Cyclones and earned second-team All-Big 12 honors as a redshirt sophomore. Williams’ junior year was cut short by a torn ACL five games into the season. When he’s back to 100%, he’ll be an impact defender for new defensive coordinator Gary Patterson and a Trojans secondary that must replace senior starter DeCarlos Nicholson.
Richardson made the move up from Division II Washburn to the SEC in 2025 and impressed right away as Diego Pavia’s leading receiver with 806 yards and seven TDs on 46 catches while also contributing 427 yards as a kickoff returner. He was the No. 4 wide receiver in ESPN’s transfer rankings and will have every opportunity to be new Cardinals QB Lincoln Kienholz‘s go-to receiver in a passing attack that must replace the production of top wideouts Chris Bell and Caullin Lacy.
2025 record: 7-6, 3-5 SEC
Top portal addition:Sam Leavitt, QB, Arizona State
The quest for Leavitt was an absolute must-win recruiting battle against Miami and Tennessee for Lane Kiffin and an LSU squad hunting for an elite QB1 for 2026. Leavitt, the No. 3 overall player in ESPN’s transfer rankings, was a top-10 passer in QBR in 2024, putting up 3,328 total yards and 29 TDs while leading Arizona State to a Big 12 title and a CFP berth as a redshirt freshman. The Big 12’s preseason Offensive Player of the Year was limited to seven games in 2025 because of a foot injury and is ready for a big comeback year with the reloaded Tigers in the SEC. LSU signed eight of the top 100 players in ESPN’s transfer rankings with No. 1 tackle Jordan Seaton (Colorado) and No. 1 edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen (Ole Miss) also joining Leavitt in Baton Rouge.
The Hawkeyes landed an FCS All-American to power their run game in 2026. Phillips put together a monster year at South Dakota with 1,920 rushing yards on 6.5 yards per carry, 195 receiving yards on 28 catches and 20 total touchdowns. The 5-9, 225-pound back rushed for 301 yards in his first start of the season and had eight more 100-yard performances on the year. He’s joining Iowa with two more years of eligibility and will team up with Kamari Moulton, Xavier Williams and Nathan McNeil to give the Hawkeyes an excellent run game to build their offense around.
The Mustangs needed to replace their top two running backs entering 2026 and found a quality veteran back. Raphael is coming off a career-best year at Cal with 943 rushing yards and 14 total touchdowns, which earned him honorable mention All-ACC recognition, and previously rushed for 734 yards over two seasons at NC State. Rhett Lashlee and his staff have done a nice job of stocking up on new playmakers for third-year starting QB Kevin Jennings with Raphael, receivers Yannick Smith (ECU) and Jalen Hale (Alabama) and tight ends Randy Pittman Jr. (Florida State) and Theo Melin Öhrström (Texas A&M) all coming in this offseason.
New coach Kyle Whittingham and his coaches brought some quality players with them from Salt Lake City for Year 1 in the Big Ten. Daley emerged as one of the Big 12’s top pass rushers and earned All-America honors in 2025 after racking up 17.5 TFLs and 11.5 sacks in just 11 games as a redshirt sophomore. Daley is working his way back from a season-ending injury but should make a big splash when healthy. He’s one of five Utah transfers, along with CB Smith Snowden, TE JJ Buchanan and DL Jonah Lea’ea and WR signee Salesi Moa, who will have a chance to make an immediate impact for the Wolverines.
Limar is coming home to Washington with a shot to become the Huskies’ featured back after playing in talented but crowded backfields at Oregon. He ranked fourth on the team in rushing with 46 carries for 262 yards last season and put up 649 total yards and five TDs over his three seasons with the Ducks. After Jonah Coleman graduated and Adam Mohammed transferred to Cal, Limar became a much-needed addition for the Huskies’ offense, bringing experience to the room to complement rising redshirt sophomore Jordan Washington.
The Horned Frogs moved quickly after losing Josh Hoover to Indiana and secured the top FCS passer in the portal in Craig, a two-time finalist for the Walter Payton Award as the best offensive player in the subdivision. The All-Ivy performer threw for 6,074 yards with 63 total touchdowns and just 12 interceptions as a two-year starter with the Crimson and was a projected Day 3 pick if he had entered the NFL draft. TCU coach Sonny Dykes wants to go in a more pro-style direction on offense with new OC Gordon Sammis, and they found an ideal fit for that plan with a proven fifth-year senior.
Thompkins developed into an 18-game starter up front for the Trojans after coming in as a 230-pound edge and eventually bulking up to 290 pounds to play inside. He generated 30 pressures as well as 9 TFLs, 4.5 sacks and 5 pass breakups over his four years in the program. Now he’s hoping to put together a big senior season in the SEC with a Crimson Tide front that replenished its depth with portal additions of Thompkins, Terrance Green (Oregon), Desmond Umeozulu (South Carolina), Caleb Smith (Washington) and Kedrick Bingley-Jones (Mississippi State).
Becht joined the mass exodus of Iowa State-to-Penn State transfers in January after coach Matt Campbell left the Cyclones and took over the Nittany Lions. Becht is one of the most experienced returning QBs in college football entering 2026 as a 39-game starter with 26 career wins who had the Cyclones one win away from a Big 12 title and CFP appearance in 2024. Becht has thrown for 9,274 yards, rushed for 499 yards and scored 83 total TDs in his career and will try to lead a fast turnaround in his senior season with the help of 23 former Iowa State teammates who will join him in State College.
The Sun Devils are facing a major reset on offense entering 2026 with Sam Leavitt, Raleek Brown and projected first-round pick Jordyn Tyson moving on. Kenny Dillingham and his coaches responded with big moves in the portal, landing Kentucky transfer QB Cutter Boley and two of the top wideouts available in Miller and Boston College’s Reed Harris. Miller, the No. 14 overall player in ESPN’s transfer rankings, is coming off a big junior season at Colorado with a team-high 45 catches for 808 yards and eight TDs to earn second-team All-Big 12 honors and is a proven big-play threat who is averaging 19.1 yards per catch in his career.
2025 record: 8-5, 4-4 SEC
Top portal addition:Chaz Coleman, Edge, Penn State
Coleman, the No. 4 edge in ESPN’s transfer rankings, played only 144 snaps in his true freshman season at Penn State but flashed big-time potential with 12 pressures, three TFLs and a strip sack against Florida International that he returned 39 yards. He had to put on 25 pounds during his first offseason with the Nittany Lions to get up to 250. Now it’s time to take a step in his development and prove he can become a three-down player in the SEC. The Vols brought in his DC Jim Knowles and three more Penn State defenders in Xavier Gilliam, Amare Campbell and Dejuan Lane this offseason, which should make the transition to SEC ball even smoother for a talented young pass rusher whose best football should be ahead of him.
The 6-3, 210-pound wideout got a fresh start at Utah State in 2025 after catching just one pass in three years at UCLA, and he certainly made the most of it. Pegan was the Mountain West’s third-leading receiver with 60 catches for 926 yards and scored six TDs to earn first-team all-conference honors. He’s joining his OC Kevin McGiven in making the move to Utah to join an offense that has also added Kyri Shoels (San José State) and Ricky Johnson (Mississippi State) to its receiver room to boost its Devon Dampier-led passing attack.
U.S. and Iranian negotiators sat down for high-stakes talks Tuesday in Geneva, with President Trump’s threat to launch a new attack on the Islamic Republic if a deal on its nuclear program can’t be hashed out looming large over the discussions.
The negotiations, mediated by Oman, were expected to focus on Tehran’s nuclear program, but Israel’s leader has pressed Mr. Trump to include limitations on Iran‘s conventional ballistic missiles in any new agreement. Mr. Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in December that if no deal could be reached with Iran, the U.S. would support Israeli strikes on Iran’s ballistic missile program, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
That threat of potential military action is backed up by a significant U.S. military presence in the waters around Iran — with one aircraft carrier strike group already in the area and another on its way.
In a speech delivered in Tehran on Tuesday as the talks got underway, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was characteristically dismissive of the U.S. military threat, saying: “A warship is certainly a dangerous weapon, but even more dangerous is the weapon capable of sinking it.”
Speaking Monday night to reporters on Air Force One, President Trump said he would be involved in the negotiations “indirectly.” He said Iran was “typically a very tough negotiator,” but said he believes the regime wants to make a deal.
“I don’t think they want the consequences of not making a deal,” the president said.
The U.S. delegation in Geneva is led by Mr. Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner. The Iranian team is headed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. There was no confirmed timetable for this round of talks, but Tuesday’s discussions ended after several hours.
People carry placards at a protest near the United Nations office, as the second round of nuclear talks between U.S. and Iran takes place, in Geneva, Switzerland, Feb. 17, 2026.
Pierre Albouy/REUTERS
What does Iran want?
Tehran is desperate to get damaging U.S. economic sanctions eased. Iran was already constrained by a long list of international sanctions when President Trump, during his first term in office, pulled the U.S. unilaterally out of the 2015 international nuclear deal negotiated by his predecessor Barack Obama.
After doing so, Mr. Trump hit Iran with even more draconian economic punishment, and the sanctions have left the country’s finances in tatters, with sky-high inflation and a devaluation of the local currency making basic necessities hard to afford even for the relatively well-off.
The sanctions-induced economic suffering led to an eruption of anger in early January, sparking a wave of protests that was unprecedented — and which drew an unprecedented and violent crackdown in response.
Iranian authorities arrested thousands of people during the protests, and they have continued threatening anyone seen as having supported the unrest. But to head off another mass uprising, the Islamic Republic’s leadership knows the best option would be to get sanctions lifted so Iranians can afford food and fuel again.
What it’s not willing to do to make that happen, however, is crucial. Iranian officials have insisted on preserving the country’s right to enrich uranium for a civilian nuclear program.
In a post on social media, Araghchi said he was in Geneva “with real ideas to achieve a fair and equitable deal. What is not on the table: submission before threats.”
Iran has signaled a willingness to negotiate on its nuclear enrichment program, and Araghchi met ahead of the talks in Geneva with Rafael Grossi, the head of the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
A handout photo released by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs shows Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (left) shaking hands with International Atomic Energy Agency head Rafael Grossi during a meeting in Geneva, Feb. 16, 2026.
Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs/AFP/Getty
The IAEA was tasked with monitoring Iran’s adherence to the last nuclear deal, which disintegrated slowly after Mr. Trump pulled the U.S. out of the agreement in 2018.
What does the U.S. want?
The U.S. delegation is likely to push demands designed to constrain Tehran’s nuclear capabilities, including the possible reduction or removal of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile and a new IAEA monitoring plan.
But the Trump administration has consulted with Israel regularly on the matter, and Netanyahu has been adamant that any new deal with Iran must include restrictions on ballistic missiles and Iran’s funding of proxy forces in the region. Israel also says Iran should have no domestic nuclear enrichment capabilities whatsoever.
It is not clear how much those demands will factor into the discussions in Geneva this week.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that there was hope for a diplomatic breakthrough, adding that President Trump “always prefers peaceful outcomes and negotiated outcomes to things.”
What preceded the talks?
This round of negotiations come after years of false diplomatic starts — and one dramatic flare-up in June of 2025, when the U.S. joined a 12-day Israeli war on Iran by conducting strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Mr. Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth claimed those strikes obliterated Iran’s nuclear program, but the extent of the damage has been disputed.
Before the June war, Iran had cited the U.S. withdrawal from the previous nuclear deal as it ramped up its enrichment program. It had started enriching uranium up to 60% purity, a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels, according to the IAEA, which said Iran was the only country in the world to enrich to that level that wasn’t armed with the bomb.
The IAEA has called on Iran for months to improve transparency and cooperation with its inspectors, who continue trying to monitor its enrichment program.
A first round of indirect talks held in Oman earlier this month, which saw the Arab nation’s foreign minister speak separately with Iranian and U.S. negotiators, was described by Mr. Trump as “very good,” while Araghchi called the meeting a “good start.”
MORA COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – Nearly four years after New Mexico’s most destructive, government-sparked wildfire, many families are still waiting to be made whole from the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon wildfire. This week on the New Mexico News Insiders Podcast, Chris and Gabby sit down with two lead attorneys representing victims to break down the ongoing […]
“I had never had any money before, never been around any of that stuff before,” he explained. “Then all of a sudden, it became a tool that was useful — until it wasn’t.”
By the time he met the “Breathe” singer, McGraw says he was “burning it wide open.”
It wasn’t about control. It was about love. Over time, McGraw credits Hill with helping him slow down, refocus and ultimately build something that would last — not just a career, but a life.
More Than a Power Couple
McGraw and Hill married on Oct. 6, 1996, after falling in love on the Spontaneous Combustion tour.
But for McGraw, Hill’s impact goes far beyond music.
“She’s magic,” he said. “Not just her singing and her looks. Of course, that’s all a bonus. But as a person, she’s just magic. She just lights up a room, and she lit me up. And still does.”
“I certainly wouldn’t have the career that I’ve had, had I not met her. I would have burned out really quickly, I think.”
Nearly 30 years into their marriage, McGraw still gives his wife credit for helping him find balance — and for making sure the success he worked for didn’t come at the cost of everything else.
The Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs look to snap a five-game skid when they face the Charleston Southern Buccaneers in a Big South Conference matchup on Tuesday. Gardner-Webb is coming off a 112-87 loss to High Point on Saturday, while Charleston Southern dropped a 90-80 decision at Radford that same day. The Runnin’ Bulldogs (3-24, 1-11 Big South), who are ninth in the conference, are 0-13 on the road this year. The Buccaneers (12-15, 3-9 Big South), who are tied for seventh in the league, are 8-3 on their home court.
Tipoff from Buccaneer Field House in North Charleston, S.C., is set for 6 p.m. ET. Gardner-Webb is a 17.5-point favorite in the latest Gardner-Webb vs. Charleston Southern odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 158.5. Before making any Gardner-Webb vs. Charleston Southern picks, check out the men’s college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every college basketball game 10,000 times and it entered Week 16 on a sizzling 11-1 run on its top-rated over/under college basketball picks dating back to last season, and is on a 13-7 run on top-rated CBB side picks. Anyone following its college basketball betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen strong returns.
How to make Gardner-Webb vs. Charleston Southern picks
SportsLine’s model is going Under on the total (158.5 points). The Under has hit in four of the last seven Gardner-Webb games, and in two of the last five Charleston Southern games.
The model projects the Bulldogs to have two players score 10.1 points or more, including Jacob Hogarth’s projected 10.2 points. The Buccaneers are projected to have four players score 12.8 or more points, led by Brycen Blaine, who is projected to score 25.8 points. The Under hits in 71% of simulations.
PARIS — Gisèle Pelicot’s memoir was released Tuesday in 22 languages worldwide, sharing details of the horror she went through and sending a powerful message of hope and support to victims of sexual abuse.
“I wanted my story to help others,” Pelicot told French national channel France 5 last week ahead of the release of her book, “A Hymn to Life, Shame has to Change Sides.”
Pelicot recounted her story of survival in the book and in her first series of interviews since the landmark 2024 trial that turned her into a global icon against sexual violence and imprisoned her husband who knocked her out with drugs so other men could assault her inert body.
“Today I’m doing better, and this book allowed me to engage in self-reflection, to take stock of my life,” she said. “I had to try to rebuild myself on this field of ruins. Today I am a woman standing strong.”
Pelicot said her book is meant to deliver “a message of hope to all the women who are going through a very complicated period in their lives.”
The shocking case — and Pelicot’s decision to waive her anonymity and speak publicly — prompted a reckoning over rape culture in France and beyond, as her dignity and strength impressed many across the world.
Gymnastic superstar and Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles, herself a survivor of sexual abuse, paid tribute to Pelicot in a message broadcast by the BBC.
“Gisèle has demonstrated to the world that it’s not for victims of sexual abuse to feel shame — it’s the perpetrators,” Biles said. “By waiving her anonymity and refusing to feel shame, Gisèle paves the way for other victims to come forward.”
In December 2024, Pelicot’s ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, and 50 other men were convicted of sexually assaulting her between 2011 and 2020 while she was under chemical submission. Dominique Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years in prison, while the other defendants received sentences ranging from three to 15 years. An appeals court later increased to 10 years the sentence of the only defendant who challenged his conviction.
Dominique Pelicot, whom Gisèle Pelicot had been married to for nearly 50 years, acknowledged that for years he mixed sedatives into her food and drink so he could rape her and invite other men to do the same.
The unprecedented trial exposed how online pornography, chat rooms and distorted notions of consent can fuel sexual violence.
In October, France passed a law defining rape and other sexual assault as any non-consensual sexual act in the wake of the Pelicot case, joining many other European nations that have similar consent-based laws, including neighboring Germany, Belgium and Spain. Until then, rape under French law was defined as penetration or oral sex using “violence, coercion, threat or surprise.”
