The Washington Times AI News Desk

James Van Der Beek’s death draws outpouring of celebrity tributes

The entertainment world is mourning the loss of James Van Der Beek, who died Wednesday at age 48 after a battle with colorectal cancer, his wife Kimberly Van Der Beek confirmed in an Instagram announcement.

February 12, 2026

Washington Times Culture Wire: HGTV cancels show after star uses racial slur

HGTV has canceled "Rehab Addict" and pulled it from its platforms after a video surfaced showing host Nicole Curtis using a racial slur during filming.

February 12, 2026

Wednesday Sports Roundup: MLB’s ‘hamate epidemic,’ Olympics history, Seahawks parade

Today's sports news cycle is dominated by a bizarre and punishing "rule of threes" in Major League Baseball, along with historic achievements at the Winter Olympics From spring training camps in Florida and Arizona to the mountain peaks of Italy, here are some of the top sports stories for Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026.

February 11, 2026

Bitcoin falls toward $66,000 as ETF outflows pressure crypto markets

Bitcoin continued its retreat in early February 2026, trading in the mid-$60,000 range after a steep pullback from record highs late last year.

February 11, 2026

Iran marks 47th revolution anniversary as nuclear talks hang in balance amid U.S. pressure

Iran commemorated the 47th anniversary of its 1979 Islamic Revolution amid heightened tensions with the United States and public anger over a deadly government crackdown on nationwide protests that killed thousands last month.

February 11, 2026

The Dow crosses 50K: What that means and why it matters

The Dow Jones Industrial Average crossed the historic 50,000-point threshold for the first time on February 6, 2026, marking a significant milestone for a market navigating shifting economic policies and renewed sector breadth.

February 11, 2026

Three unidentified names in Epstein files raise questions about hidden connections

Three names newly unredacted from the Jeffrey Epstein files remain shrouded in mystery, with no clear public record connecting them to the convicted sex offender or explaining how they fit into his network of powerful associates.

February 11, 2026

9 killed in shootings at British Columbia high school and nearby home; suspect identified as woman

Nine people were killed Tuesday in shootings at a high school and a nearby residence in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, authorities said, in one of Canada's worst mass shootings in recent years.

February 11, 2026

British woman shot dead by father after Trump argument in Texas, coroner rules unlawful killing

A British coroner has ruled that a 23-year-old woman who was fatally shot by her father at his Texas home after an argument about President Trump died as a result of unlawful killing.

February 11, 2026

Washington Times Culture Wire: Actor James Van Der Beek dies at 48

James Van Der Beek, known for his role on "Dawson's Creek," among other performances, died on Wednesday at 48.

February 11, 2026

Trump targets ‘holy grail’ of climate regulation in trillion-dollar rollback

The Trump administration this week will repeal a 2009 scientific finding that has served as the foundation for federal greenhouse gas regulation for more than a decade, setting up a major battle over America's environmental and economic future.

February 11, 2026

5 questions about Virginia’s new gun control push

The House quickly passed a half dozen measures, including a ban on firearms they deem "assault weapons," a limit on magazine capacities to 10 rounds, requirements for how guns must be stored in households and expanded civil liability for the gun industry.

February 10, 2026

What is Trump’s plan for peace in Gaza, and what is the Board of Peace?

President Trump announced his Gaza peace plan in September 2025 as a 20-point framework to end the war between Israel and Hamas.

February 10, 2026

Entertainment Roundup: Catherine O’Hara’s cause of death revealed

The beloved Schitt's Creek and Home Alone star's passing has driven "pulmonary embolism" to over 200,000 searches today.

February 10, 2026

Free McNugget Caviar kits ‘sell out’ in minutes after McDonald’s turns viral meme into reality

That didn't last long. McDonald's limited-edition "McNugget Caviar" kits "sold out" minutes after the fast-food giant began giving away the luxurious meme-borne menu item on Tuesday.

February 10, 2026

Trump ‘got the hell out’ after seeing teens around Epstein, FBI files reveal

President Trump witnessed something troubling around Jeffrey Epstein two decades ago -- and immediately distanced himself, according to bombshell Justice Department files released this week.

February 10, 2026

‘I’m treating this as a real addiction’: Young Americans caught in food delivery debt trap

One young woman recently posted a confession on social media that thousands of others are thinking but haven't said out loud: she deleted the DoorDash app from her phone like someone cutting ties with a dangerous habit. The reason? She was spending $9,000 a year ordering food at least once a day.

February 10, 2026

Wasserman Agency faces artist revolt after CEO appears in Epstein-related DOJ files

One of the music industry's largest talent agencies is facing growing backlash after newly released Department of Justice documents revealed its founder and chief executive officer, Casey Wasserman, exchanged emails with Ghislaine Maxwell more than two decades ago.

February 10, 2026

Hong Kong fire survivors wait for resettlement two months after deadly blaze killed 168

More than two months after Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades killed 168 people and destroyed seven apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court complex, displaced residents remain in temporary housing while awaiting government resettlement plans, with many fearing they may not live to see permanent homes rebuilt.

February 10, 2026

Student shot inside Wootton High School in Rockville, suspect in custody

A student was shot inside Thomas S. Wootton High School Monday afternoon, and another student has been arrested in connection with the incident, according to Montgomery County police.

February 9, 2026