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Broncos QB undergoes surgery, season ends

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The Denver Broncos defeated the Buffalo Bills 33-30 in the divisional round of the 2025 NFL Playoffs, earning their first playoff victory since Super Bowl 50.

But the victory came at a cost. Bo Nix injured his ankle during the game and will miss the rest of the season.

Here’s what you need to know about the Knicks’ injuries and how the Broncos will move forward with their top quarterback missing.

Broncos manager Sean Payton announced in the postgame press conference that Knicks suffered a season-ending fractured ankle.

“On the penultimate play of overtime, Bo broke his right ankle,” Payton told reporters. “He is scheduled to undergo surgery this Tuesday to miss the remainder of the season.”

Payton later clarified that the play was not the penultimate play of overtime, but was right before Nix’s pass to Marvin Mims Jr. NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero posted video of the play, in which Nix takes a low hit from Buffalo Bills safety Cole Bishop, to social media.

The Knicks were able to finish overtime despite the injury. He completed 26 of 46 passes for 279 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception, and led the team with 12 carries and 29 rushing yards.

According to Payton, Nix is ​​scheduled to undergo season-ending ankle surgery in Alabama on Tuesday, which will end his season.

Jarrett Stidham is the Broncos’ backup quarterback and will replace the Knicks. Payton expressed confidence in the veteran, who will make his first start of the season in the AFC Championship Game.

“Steedy’s ready,” Payton said, referring to the backup quarterback by his nickname.

Stidham, 29, is a seven-year veteran who was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He has been with the Broncos since 2023, starting two games for the team that season and going 1-1, completing 60.6% of his passes for 496 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.

Stidham hasn’t attempted a regular-season or postseason pass since the 2023 NFL season.

With Nix out for the season, the Broncos only have two healthy quarterbacks left in the organization. They are:

  1. Jarrett Stidham
  2. Sam Ehlinger

Ehlinger is in his first season with the Broncos after spending his first four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. The 27-year-old Texas native has not played for the Broncos this season, but was Denver’s emergency third quarterback for Sunday’s game.

Like Stidham, Ehlinger has not played a regular season or postseason NFL snap since the 2023 season. He last attempted a pass in 2022 with the Colts, starting three games and going 0-3, completing 63.4 percent of his passes for 573 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions.

Before the 2025 season began, the Broncos didn’t have the best backup situation in the league. In fact, USA TODAY’s Nate Davis ranked them 25th in passer-in-waiting out of the league’s 32 teams.

“Coaches tend to rave about Jarrett Stidham despite limited regular-season appearances in six NFL seasons. Third-stringer Sam Ehlinger is similarly unproven,” Davis wrote.

The Broncos will likely miss the Knicks and use Stidham as the starter while Ehlinger will step into a backup role.

That being said, Denver could consider adding a third-string quarterback to the organization to ensure depth. Here are some of the potential candidates for the Broncos’ role.

  • Buchele’s poem.
  • Taylor Heinicke
  • Adrian Martinez
  • clayton tune
  • dorian thompson robinson

Fans weren’t the only ones dazzled by the Knicks’ injuries. Bleacher Report’s James Palmer reported that “the players were unaware” of the second-year quarterback’s injury until Payton announced it on stage during a news conference.

Payton said after the game that Knicks had a bright and positive outlook on the injury because of his Christian faith.

“He’s a tough player,” Payton said.

Despite what Payton recalled in his words, there are several quarterbacks who have led their teams to the conference championship game in their second season. Among active players, that list includes Mahomes, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.

(This story will be updated as more information becomes available. )

Bills miss big opportunity

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Will it be the best weekend on the NFL calendar? Depending on who you ask, of course, the league’s playoff-style divisional round is pretty awesome. It will feature the top seeds from both conferences, as well as six other teams who earned wild-card wins and advanced to the de facto quarterfinal round.

this year?

Now, the first game of the 2025 postseason quartet most certainly hints at another frenetic weekend on the heels of a very interesting wild-card round. The Denver Broncos (sort of) survived the Buffalo Bills 33-30 in overtime in the Mile High City. That game, which included the shocking postgame revelation that Broncos QB Bo Nix suffered a season-ending ankle injury, apparently swallowed all of Saturday’s drama — the Seattle Seahawks defeated the San Francisco 49ers 41-6 in a night game.

There were a lot of winners and losers in this divisional weekend on Saturday, and here are the results.

winner

NFL

This postseason has a chance for epic success early on. Five of the first seven playoff games were decided by four points or less.

denver defense

As advertised…for the most part. Sure, the Broncos gave up 449 yards to Buffalo, but they also caught Bills QB Josh Allen three times. Far more important were the five points, most notably Allen’s interception in overtime by Jaquan McMillian that sparked Denver’s victory.

Kenneth Walker

In his playoff debut at Lumen Field in Seattle, he scored three touchdowns and 116 rushing yards. With backfield buddy Zach Charbonnet leaving the game early with a knee injury, Walker could very well have to shoulder another big load with Super Bowl 60 next weekend on the cards.

Marvin Mims

The Broncos’ receivers, who averaged just 2.5 catches per game during the regular season, had a game-high eight receptions for 93 yards. Despite appearing to hurt his back, he made a 26-yard TD catch in the final moments of the fourth quarter, briefly giving Denver the lead. Mims then drew a pass interference penalty on Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White in overtime, setting up Will Lutz’s 23-yard chip shot field goal to set up the victory.

sean payton

Now in his third season as the Broncos’ manager, his goal of becoming the first coach to win a Super Bowl with a different franchise remains alive for at least another week. Denver also broke a 10-year drought without winning the playoffs.

Sam Darnold

Seattle’s Pro Bowl pass suffered an oblique injury in practice that made him questionable on the injury report ahead of Saturday’s game, but Darnold was active and capable. He passed for 124 yards and a TD in the Seahawks’ victory over the Niners, but thanks to the heroics of his teammates, Darnold didn’t have to do much, throwing just 17 passes. The eight days between games should give Darnold a significant advantage heading into the NFC title game, where he will be seeking his second playoff win in his eight-year career.

No.1 seed

Four of the past six teams with home-field advantage and first-round byes have gone to the Super Bowl. The Seahawks and Broncos have each made good use of their off weeks and are moving closer to winning the big game.

Hailee Steinfeld

She couldn’t lose! Either the Bills, led by her husband (Josh Allen), would take another step toward their first Super Bowl championship, or the Broncos, whom she cheered to victory the last time they won the Lombardi Trophy 10 years ago, would advance to their first AFC title game since the 2015 team was led by Peyton Manning’s quarterback and “no-fly zone” defense.

Houston Texans? New England Patriots?

Whichever team wins Sunday’s second-round divisional game will likely be the heavy favorite for the AFC Championship Game, whether or not it will be played in Denver due to Nix’s passing.

Rashid Shahid

He may have been the most important acquisition at the trade deadline this season. The Seahawks’ versatile playmaker took the first kickoff 95 yards to pay dirt. The 49ers never recovered.

james cook

In some respects, the NFL’s 2025 rushing champion was the best player on the field with 141 yards from scrimmage.

bo nicks

The second-year quarterback from the University of Denver had a strong game, outscoring Allen with 279 total yards and three TDs. The Knicks’ interception in the third quarter was nullified when Allen later served up on two plays of his own. The Knicks had a chance to become one of those rare second-year passers — think Ben Roethlisberger or Russell Wilson — and win a Super Bowl, except…

loser

bo nicks

…He broke his ankle, ending his dream of playing on Super Sunday this year. And probably his team too.

james cook

In other respects, Cook’s second-quarter fumble was one of Buffalo’s costliest, and the only fumble that directly led to a Denver TD. This season, the Bills fell to 11-2 in games in which Cook gained at least 100 total yards.

49ers injuries

The dam finally burst. No George Kittle. No Nick Bosa. There is no Fred Warner. No Brandon Aiyuk. Christian McCaffrey was hurt in this match. And the defense was put in bad positions so many times with turnovers and missed fourth downs that it could no longer keep up.

buffalo’s mistake

Maybe it’s not as simple as the Bills’ five turnovers right before Denver’s 16 points. But with an OT crusher? It’s pretty close.

Second half Broncos

Payton came out of halftime saying he expected the second half to be an advantage for teams that rested at higher altitudes. However, the Broncos were lucky to escape with a win, winning 20-10 in the third and fourth quarters.

brandin cooks

The Bills are the sixth different franchise he has played for, and the sixth franchise he has not won a ring with. Cooks previously overcame Super Bowl losses with both the Patriots and Rams. But this playoff heartbreak will be tougher than ever for the 12-year veteran, whose failure to convert Bills QB Josh Allen’s overtime rocket led to a decisive comeback.

Sean McDermott

The Bills have made the playoffs in all but one of his nine seasons as head coach. But while they are currently 8-8 in the postseason with a .500 average, Buffalo was unable to rack up enough wins in January to reach the Super Sunday stage for the first time in 30 years. McDermott seems very likely to overcome the postseason failure that plagued his College of William & Mary teammate Mike Tomlin, but for how long?

Josh Allen

The narrative heading into the 2025 playoffs was that this was supposed to be the year for the reigning league MVP and his long-suffering franchise, which famously and infamously lost four straight Super Bowls in the 1990s. (The Bills’ only championship came in the AFL just days before the first Super Bowl.) After all, Allen and co didn’t have to contend with Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs, Joe Burrow’s Cincinnati Bengals (a team that has been a bigger postseason pain for the Bills mafia in recent years), or even Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens in their recent effort to bring Western New York its first Lombardi.

Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Allen went 0-7 in overtime during his eight-year career and is now 0-3 in overtime in the playoffs. And while his numbers on Saturday were mostly good (283 yards, 3 passes, 66 yards rushing), his four turnovers were the collective killer. His fumbles on either side of halftime led to two field goals for the Broncos, and an interception in overtime powered Denver to the victory. Allen could have ended the game in regulation, but his takedown of tight end Dawson Knox with five seconds left in the fourth quarter likely cost Buffalo the winning TD and forced the Bills to settle for a field goal and overtime.

Another long, cold winter is coming to Buffalo.

All your NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th Monday Newsletter.

US kills al-Qaeda leader involved in Syria attack, Centcom announces

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U.S. Central Command announced in a statement Saturday, Jan. 17, that U.S. forces on Jan. 16 killed an al-Qaida-affiliated leader involved in an Islamic State attack on Americans in Syria last month.

Central Command said Bilal Hassan al-Jassim had “direct links” to the ISIS gunman who killed and wounded an American and Syrian soldier in Palmyra, Syria, on December 13.

“The deaths of terrorist operatives associated with the deaths of three Americans demonstrate our nation’s determination to pursue terrorists who attack our military,” Gen. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, said in a statement.

Since the Dec. 13 attack, the U.S. military has carried out strikes in Syria, with the U.S. military saying it has struck more than 100 ISIS targets.

“We will never forget and we will never forgive,” Secretary of the Army Pete Hegseth said in an X post that included CentCom’s statement.

(Reporting by Susan Heavey and Deepa Seetharaman; Editing by Franklin Paul, Sergio Nonn and Rod Nickel)

New movies streaming on Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Peacock

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Need to see a new movie? Stream these 10 movies for free in your home with Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Peacock, and Paramount+.

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  • One of these movies is the one you should watch tonight.
  • This weekend’s selections include streaming theatrical releases such as “The Running Man” and “Black Phone 2.”
  • There are also original streaming movies, such as Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s Netflix crime thriller “The Rip.”

Do you like movies? Live for TV? USA TODAY’s Watch Party newsletter has all of our best recommendations, delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now and be one of the cool kids.

For those who love streaming action movies, from Ben Affleck/Matt Damon cop thrillers to cult classic remakes, it’s Christmas in January.

Netflix, Peacock, Hulu, Disney+, and Paramount+ have a good selection of new movies. There’s a fresh take on 1980s movies like “The Running Man” and “The Toxic Avenger,” a sequel to the horror hit “The Black Phone,” and even some sexy scary movies for your couch entertainment.

Here are 10 hottest new movies you can stream right now.

“Black Phone 2”

Young Finn (Mason Thames) is kidnapped by the villainous Glover (Ethan Hawke) and manages to kill the masked menace in his first “phone”. Years later, Finn and his psychic sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) find themselves face-to-face once again from beyond the grave at the winter camp their mother once attended in this hilarious horror sequel.

Where to watch: peacock

“Bone Lake”

Perhaps best described as a slow-burn, fucked-up dark horror comedy, a couple (Maddie Hasson and Marco Pigossi) show up to a rented mansion for a romantic weekend. So are The Strange Lovers (Alex Roe and Andra Nechita). The situation goes from awkwardly cheerful to hilariously gloomy in a cold-blooded mind game.

Where to watch: Netflix

“Good Night and Good Luck: Live from Broadway.”

George Clooney directed the 2005 film “Good Luck,” and he literally took to the stage. – This work was filmed from last year’s Broadway show. Clooney was nominated for a Tony Award for his role in the historical drama in which he plays Edward R. Murrow, a 1950s CBS journalist who takes on Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s blacklist strategy.

Where to watch: Netflix

“People I meet on vacation”

The romantic comedy, adapted from Emily Henry’s novel, is a breezy ride, at least until it takes a serious turn downwind. Poppy (Emily Bader) and Alex (Tom Bryce) are unlikely best friends from college and go on vacation together every summer, usually with a lot of fuss until their significant others and their feelings for each other complicate matters.

Where to watch: Netflix

“The Rip”

In Joe Carnahan’s twisty action movie, best friends Matt Damon and Ben Affleck lead a Miami police crew to seize cash at a cartel stash. Instead of the expected thousands of dollars, they instead find a whopping $20 million, and a night full of shady shenanigans begins as the team members decide whether to do the right thing or keep the money.

Where to watch: Netflix

“running man”

Director Edgar Wright’s rework is more faithful to Stephen King’s novel, with Glen Powell reprising his old Arnold Schwarzenegger role as a man who must survive the world’s most dangerous game show. It’s a vivid satire of modern reality television, terrifying Big Brother technology, cultural discord, and pervasive income inequality.

Where to watch: paramount+

“Strange Harvest”

This horror film, which is equal parts slasher movie and fake documentary, follows a detective who investigates the return of Mr. Shiny, a serial killer who has left a tragic trail for his past victims and is once again tormenting police officers with his murders. Perfect for anyone who loves Netflix’s true crime shows and weird space horror.

Where to watch: Hulu

“The Toxic Avenger”

In this splatter reinterpretation of 1980s cult classic star Peter Dinklage, a hapless janitor is thrown into a toxic waste bin and emerges as a mutant superhero wielding a radioactive mop. Filled with ultra-violent gonzo footage and lots of laughs, this movie is a must-see for Gen Xers who lived for the movies their parents didn’t want them to watch back in the day.

Where to watch: Hulu

“Tron: Ares”

The third film in the visually stylish 1980s series is for die-hard fans. Ares (Jared Leto), a computer program warrior from the Grid, teams up with a programmer (Greta Lee) when a shady technology company and its CEO (Evan Peters) bring an army from the digital environment into the real world.

Where to watch: disney plus

“Twinless”

After the death of his identical twin, a grieving Roman (Dylan O’Brien) attends a support group where he forms a codependent bromance with fellow loner Dennis (James Sweeney), who harbors a secret that threatens both of their unstable mental states. O’Brien navigates smart humor and big heart better than ever in a film about moving on.

Where to watch: Hulu

What time is the Powerball drawing tonight? What you need to know.

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The Powerball jackpot for Saturday, January 17th is $179 million, with a cash value of $81.5 million.

It’s been more than three weeks since one lucky ticket in Arkansas won the $1.8 billion Christmas Eve jackpot, the second-largest jackpot in the game’s history.

Tickets were sold in Cabot, about 30 miles from Little Rock, but as of today, the big prize has yet to be claimed. According to the Arkansas Lottery, winners have 180 days from the drawing date to claim their prizes.

With Saturday’s Powerball drawing just hours away, here’s what you need to know.

What are the winning Powerball numbers for January 17th?

USA TODAY will publish the winning numbers at 10:59 p.m. ET after the lottery drawing.

How to play Powerball

Powerball tickets cost $2 per play and are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This can be done at a variety of locations, including local convenience stores, gas stations, and grocery stores. In some states, you can purchase Powerball tickets online depending on your local jurisdiction.

Once you have your ticket, you have to choose six numbers. Five of them are white balls numbered from 1 to 69. The red Powerball range is 1-26. You can also add a “Power Play” for $1, which increases your winnings on all non-jackpot prizes. “Power Play” multipliers allow you to increase your winnings by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or 10x.

A “Quick Pick” option is also available if you want the computer to select the numbers for you. To win the jackpot, players must match all five white balls with the red Powerball in any order.

Powerball drawings are held on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday nights. The winnings continue to increase even if no one wins the jackpot.

Winning Lottery Numbers is sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery delivery company of the USA TODAY Network.

Do I have to be a US citizen or resident to play Powerball?

The short answer is no. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen or resident to play Powerball. Anyone visiting any of the 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands may purchase lottery tickets from authorized and licensed retailers, regardless of nationality, as long as they meet the legal age requirements (usually 18 years old) at the time of purchase.

Top 10 Powerball Jackpots

  • $2.04 billion in California on November 7, 2022
  • December 24, 2025, $1.817 billion in Arkansas.
  • $1.787 billion in Missouri and Texas on September 6, 2025
  • $1.765 billion in California on October 11, 2023
  • January 13, 2016, $1.586 billion in California, Florida, and Tennessee
  • April 6, 2024, $1.326 billion in Oregon.
  • $1.08 billion in California on July 19, 2023
  • $842.4 million in Michigan on January 1, 2024
  • March 27, 2019, $768.4 million in Wisconsin
  • August 23, 2017, $758.7 million in Massachusetts

Can I get Powerball tickets online?

You can also order tickets online Jackpocket, USA TODAY Network’s official digital lottery delivery companythese states and territories of the United States: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington DC, and West Virginia.

The Jackpocket app allows you to choose your lottery games and numbers, place your order, check your tickets, and claim your winnings, all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery carrier of USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue from viewer referrals to the Jackpocket Service. Must be 18 years or older, 21 years or older in Arizona, 19 years or older in Nebraska. Not affiliated with any state lottery. Gambling problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (ALL OTHERS). visit jackpocket.com/tos Over the entire period.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact us at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow us at X @fern_cerv_.

Expanding ICE was President Trump’s biggest mistake so far

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In Trump’s mind, success means gaining complete control of every branch of government, ignoring laws that affect him in no way, to the detriment of the United States, and putting as much money into his own pocket as possible.

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When Donald Trump was re-elected president, I was worried because he told us what he was going to do to the people who tried to hold him accountable – and he had Elon Musk by his side spouting about his plans.

But you’re also always thinking. “Oh, that really can’t be that bad.” But as it turns out, it is possible.

With Project 2025 his playbook and Stephen Miller whispering in his ear, things turned out worse than any of us could have imagined. Musk and his geek squad destroyed important government institutions. Trump immediately installed a vengeful administration, choosing “yes” people for his cabinet, the majority of whom were not qualified.

I am praying that the midterm elections will give us at least one chamber to rein in this administration. If not, “1984” is definitely here!

In Trump’s mind, success means gaining complete control of every branch of government, ignoring laws that don’t affect him, to the detriment of the United States, and lining his and his family’s pockets with as much money as possible – essentially playing king. In other words, it is subverting democratic policies and disobeying the Constitution.

His biggest mistake was how he used Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They took money from other needed programs and used it to expand the size of ICE and send these people with masks and little training to terrorize cities and states.

He said he would deport criminals. That’s not what he’s doing. As far as we know, America’s Gestapo agents, ICE, are acting like thugs and killing innocent people. Because there is no court case to prove it one way or another. This is a tragedy for our country and for the entire world.

Of course, there are many other mistakes and failures by this president, including mocking our democratic neighbors and friends like Canada. It’s going to take a long time to clean up the mess he made…if he can.

My community, like others, has been hurt by his policies. Democratic states that didn’t support him took revenge by cutting funding to help people in need. He forced our universities to halt all diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts or risk losing funding. ICE is located in Columbus, Ohio, not far from my town. We are waiting for the backlash.

There are thousands of people on Medicaid who will no longer have access to health care. School programs will no longer receive support from the Ministry of Education. Everything his agency touched harmed our nation. They don’t care about middle class or poor Americans, that’s obvious.

Why not announce that he is the president of the entire United States, not just the MAGA states? Why not get out of the gold-plated tower and actually help ordinary people and bring back a lot of the programs that former President Joe Biden started that will help the whole country, because a lot of states need it the most, yes, even Republican states.

Why not put that money back into pediatric cancer research and other medical research? How about we stop bombing foreign countries and get back to helping Americans? Why not remove his name from monuments to presidents who died in the service of our country and wait for a memorial worthy of the president to be erected?

— Claire Kessler, Ohio

More thoughts from readers on the first year of the Trump administration

I think President Trump is doing a great job. To rid this country of fraud, waste, and abuse. America is a superpower and I am not ashamed of that title. Basically, he’s saving this country, which was really on the brink of collapse because of the previous administration’s failed policies. We are a proud people and we have the right to shout it from the rooftops if we want to.

— Donna Alderman, Virginia

I was waiting for a president like thisAnd I’ve never been more proud to be an American. President Trump has finally raised the bar. We need smart people to run this country, and that’s finally happening. I wish he would have lasted four more years. We don’t deserve him.

— Kelly Lawrence, Michigan

I think we are much better off. More so than during the Biden and Democratic administrations. I don’t like everything he does, but I think President Trump’s global policies will make us safer. As far as affordability is concerned, how will we overcome inflation under the Biden administration?I think he is trying, but it will be difficult to bring prices down.

— Sharon Van Lew, Montana

This article was posted as part of USA TODAY’s Forums, a new conversation space. See what we’re talking about at usatoday.com/forum and share your perspective at forum@usatoday.com..

Melissa Gilbert pleads for Timothy Busfield’s safety amid sexual abuse charges

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Melissa Gilbert is asking a judge to keep her husband, Timothy Busfield, safe as the “Cleaning Lady” director remains in New Mexico on child molestation charges.

Busfield, 68, was charged on Jan. 9 with two counts of sexual contact with a minor and one count of child abuse, according to a criminal complaint reviewed by USA TODAY. The charges came after New Mexico authorities issued an arrest warrant and both state police and federal marshals searched Bassfield.

between More than 70 letters of support to Busfield came from “Little House on the Prairie” actors, Busfield explained. How important is her husband to her?

“The reality is that Tim Busfield is my love, my rock, and my partner in business and life. He is my comfort and my confidant. His joy, humor, and quick wit brighten my life. Tim is, simply put, the beating heart of our wild and wonderful extended family,” Gilbert said in a letter to a Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court judge.

Gilbert said she met her husband in the 1980s and had a decades-long misunderstanding before falling in love in 2012. He said it was “the strangest letter I’ve ever had to write” as he “tried to draw a line between logic and all the emotions swirling inside me.”

“I started writing this letter logically, but now my emotions have taken over. There is nothing I can do. All I can do is wish this extraordinary man well. So I will end by asking my kind husband for his kindness. I belong to him, but I can’t protect him right now, and I think that’s what really breaks my heart more than anything. I’m counting on you to protect him for me,” she added.

Mr. Gilbert is listed as a potential witness at Mr. Busfield’s pretrial detention hearing on January 20, when a judge will decide whether to release Mr. Busfield on bail or to keep him in jail for the duration of the case.

What does Melissa Gilbert say about the allegations against her husband?

A statement provided to People magazine and Us Weekly on January 13 said: “Melissa stands by and supports her husband and will address the nation at the appropriate time.”

The actress’ statement said, “The ‘statements’ purportedly circulating online should not be treated as coming from her, including the AI-generated deepfakes that ‘broke her silence’.”

The statement said Gilbert was “respecting the request” of Busfield’s lawyers to refrain from discussing her husband’s case “while the legal process progresses.”

When did Timothy Busfield and Melissa Gilbert get married?

According to People magazine, Busfield and Gilbert married in a private ceremony on April 24, 2013 at the San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, California. After their wedding, the couple moved to Busfield’s home state of Michigan.

The couple are parents, but they have no biological children.

Gilbert has two sons from her previous marriages, “Gettysburg” actor Beau Brinkman and “How the West Was Won” actor and science fiction writer Bruce Boxleitner.

Meanwhile, Busfield has three children, one with actress and director Radha Delamater and two with fashion designer Jennifer Merwin.

What is Timothy Busfield accused of?

Busfield is charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and one count of child abuse.

According to a criminal complaint filed by investigators with the Albuquerque Police Department, the charges involve two minors who appeared on the series “Cleaning Women,” directed by Busfield.

Busfield’s abuse of minors is said to have occurred between late 2022 and early 2024. One of the children claimed Mr. Busfield touched his genitals several times. Both claim that Busfield touched them inappropriately and told them to call them “Uncle Tim.”

The children’s mother reported the incident to Child Protective Services, according to the complaint. One of the children has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety and is afraid to go public with the allegations of abuse because of retaliation from Bassfield, according to the complaint. In 2024, staff at the University of New Mexico Hospital requested an investigation because the boys appeared to have been groomed.

According to the affidavit, Busfield told police during a telephone interview over speakerphone with Gilbert present that the shooting scene was a “playful environment” and that he “likely” tickled the boys. He suggested that the allegations were a form of revenge as the boys were fired from the show. Production assistants told Albuquerque police that Busfield sometimes seemed nervous and unprofessional.

Contributor: Taijuan Moorman, Laura Trujillo, Pamela Avila, Anna Kaufman, Edward Segarra, Claire Mulroy, USA TODAY

Preview tour of must-see exhibits at the 2026 Detroit Auto Show

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Detroit Free Press auto critic Mark Phelan returns to the Detroit Auto Show floor at Huntington Place as part of the USA TODAY Network to give readers an up-close look at some of the show’s notable exhibits.

Phelan’s tour of the 2026 Detroit Auto Show provides inside knowledge and tips on the vehicles and experiences you’ll want to check out when you attend the show’s public days, January 17-25.

That’s why he doesn’t want visitors to miss out on the Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC, Ram 1500 SRT TRX, Cadillac Celestique, and more.

Murder-suicide in California kills three family members, daughter survives

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According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the daughter woke up to gunshots inside her parents’ home.

California authorities say a 19-year-old woman has survived an apparent murder-suicide that left three family members dead in a Los Angeles suburb.

According to a January 16 Sheriff’s Office update, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon at a residence in Lakewood, California, at approximately 8 a.m. on January 15.

The caller, the eldest daughter of the family, told authorities that her father had shot her. She said he was now lying unconscious on the floor.

Officials said the daughter said she woke up to the sound of gunshots inside her parents’ home. Officials said she then saw her father, Hector Lionel Alfaro, 52, appear near her with a handgun.

He fired several times at her, but missed. Officials said the man then committed suicide while standing near her.

When police searched the home, they found Alfaro in his study with gunshot wounds to his upper body.

Investigators found Alfaro’s wife, a 48-year-old woman, in the bedroom with a gunshot wound to the torso. Investigators later found Alfaro’s youngest daughter, 17, shot in the upper body in a second bedroom.

The father, wife, and youngest daughter were pronounced dead at the scene. Officers found two firearms in the home.

A sheriff’s spokesperson said there were no obvious signs of a suspect. The Sheriff’s Office declined to answer additional questions about the incident. The investigation is still ongoing.

Lakewood is located approximately 25 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles and has a population of approximately 79,000.

If you or someone you know is in trouble or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

The 2026 Detroit Auto Show will draw thousands of car fans from day one

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Eight-year-old Aaron Wonowski Jr. came to the 2026 Detroit Auto Show to drive a car.

He has loved cars since he was 3 years old and was on a top 10 list before he even went to the Huntington Place showroom for the first time. Test driving the car was top of the list, he told the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, on Saturday, Jan. 17. Although he can’t drive a car at age 8, he was excited to ride a Ford Bronco while waiting in line at the test track.

“I’ve never seen so many cars in my life,” Wolnowski said.

His father, Aaron Wonowski Sr., 35, of Lincoln Park, who works at a factory that makes Broncos, said he was looking forward to bringing his son, who became interested in cars after watching the movie “Cars,” to attend the event. Wolnowski Jr. can name many cars he sees on the street, his father said.

The Wonowskis were among the thousands of people who lined up for the show on its first day open to the public.

Car enthusiasts, friends and generations of family members came to check out, sit back and get a feel for the latest model cars, including the GMC Sierra EV Elevation and Chrysler Voyager LX. More than 40 brands exhibited hundreds of cars.

Nick Hernandez, 31, of Sterling Heights, came with friends who are members of Autopians, readers of the auto culture website theautopian.com.

“I came here just to have fun and look at the cars,” he said.

He has been attending regularly since 2015. He said Saturday that the show is not as big as it used to be and would like to see more brands and “signs that the show is not declining.”

Jim Johnson, 73, of Madison Heights, and Steve Brune, 65, of West Bloomfield, come every year with their brother-in-law and one nephew.

“We’re here early to see the new cars and we love it. It’s definitely worth going,” Johnson said. “What else can you do when it’s 30 degrees and knee-deep in snow?”

“It’s a little disappointing because it seems to be getting smaller every year, but it’s still worth coming to see what’s new,” Brun said.

Fabi Enriquez, 30, came from Grand Rapids with her family to see the Detroit Auto Show for the first time. She and her father, Jorge Enriquez, 57, said their favorite thing about the show was General Motors cars.

“It’s very exciting to see the latest model with all the details,” said Fabi Enriquez.

The 2026 Detroit Auto Show is open to the public through January 25th. Click here for information on how to purchase tickets.

Contact Natalie Davis: ndavies@freepress.com.

Minnesota National Guard ‘deployed’ at Walz’s direction amid protests

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As protests continue in Minnesota amid ongoing tensions between local demonstrators and federal agents, Gov. Tim Walz and local safety officials announced on Saturday, Jan. 17, that the Minnesota National Guard is “mobilized” and on standby if needed.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety said in a Jan. 17 Facebook post that the Minnesota National Guard had been activated “at the direction of Governor Walz” and was “operating in support of local law enforcement and emergency management agencies.”

The ministry further clarified in a post that no troops were deployed.

“While the Minnesota National Guard is not deployed to city streets at this time, we stand ready to assist in public safety, including protecting life, protecting property, and supporting the right of all people to peacefully assemble,” officials said in a post.

Walz’s order comes after President Donald Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act on January 15, effectively giving him the authority to deploy US troops into the country. Minnesota has been in turmoil since the January 7 murder of 37-year-old mother Renee Nicole Good, who was shot and killed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jonathan Ross.

At a press conference following Good’s killing, Minnesota Mayor Jacob Frey told ICE to “get the (expletive) out of Minneapolis.” The Justice Department has since opened an investigation into Frey and Walz, and federal authorities say they are suspected of conspiring to obstruct federal immigration law enforcement in the state.

Clashes between federal agents and Minnesotans occurred across the state. On January 14, a second ICE-involved shooting occurred in Minneapolis, where a man was shot in the leg after three men reportedly hit officers with broomsticks and shovels.

Here’s what you need to know as the Minnesota National Guard remains on standby to assist as protests and clashes with federal agents intensify.

Minnesota National Guard to wear reflective vests when deployed

“Minnesota National Guard members are on standby and ready to assist local law enforcement and public safety agencies. If activated, members will wear reflective vests…to distinguish them from other agencies wearing similar uniforms,” ​​the Minnesota National Guard said in a Jan. 17 X post.

“These Minnesota National Guard members live, work, and serve our state, and their focus is to save lives, protect property, and ensure Minnesotans can safely exercise their First Amendment rights,” the post continues.

According to the Minnesota National Guard’s 2024 annual report, the organization includes approximately 13,000 citizen-soldiers and airmen.

USA TODAY contacted the Minnesota National Guard on Saturday, Jan. 17, but did not receive a response.

Protesters gather at the Minnesota March Against Fraud

Jake Lang, a conservative influencer with about 74,000 followers on Facebook who organized the Minnesota March Against Fraud in front of Minneapolis City Hall on January 17, encountered counter-protesters in Minneapolis, some of whom sprayed him with silly string and water.

Lang stood in front of Minneapolis City Hall around 1 p.m. and gave a fist pump in the air. A counter-protester was next to him and tried to block Lang with a trash can lid with a fist painted on it. At one point, Lang grabbed the lid of the trash can and bent it. Opponents bent it back into its original shape. The exchange led Anderson to accuse counter-protesters of being aggressive.

The protest, organized by the People’s Action Coalition Against Trump, drew about 150 people to the federal courthouse across the street in downtown Minneapolis. The courthouse is different from the federal immigration courthouse in Fort Snelling, which has been the site of consistent anti-ICE protests this month.

The protests came after former Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson said at least half of the $9 billion paid through Minnesota’s Medicaid Waiver Program since 2018 may be fraudulent.

Protesters expressed dissatisfaction with the large number of U.S. immigration and customs agents being hired in the Arctic state. More than 2,000 ICE agents were sent to the state on January 4, days before Good was shot and killed in south Minneapolis. The Department of Homeland Security later announced plans to send hundreds more.

Contributed by Corey Schmidt, St. Cloud Times, part of the USA TODAY Network

‘It’s the honor of my life’ Spanberger becomes Virginia’s first female governor

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“I have not forgotten the history and the gravity of this moment,” Spanberger said in a speech that at times criticized partisan politics in Washington.

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Abigail Davis Spanberger, a former House Democrat and CIA employee, took the oath of office on January 17th, holding her grandmother’s Bible in hand, becoming the first female governor in Virginia’s history.

“It is the honor of my life to stand before you today and take the oath of office. I have not forgotten the history and the significance of this moment,” Spanberger said in a speech on the south portico of the Virginia State Capitol, at times indirectly criticizing President Donald Trump and partisan politics in Washington.

“I remain forever grateful to the generations of people who have worked hard to ensure that women participate in the voting public, but who could have only dreamed that a day like today would come?” said Spanberger.

The outdoor ceremony, held on the south portico of the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond, was full of pomp and atmosphere.

Male lawmakers wore tuxedo-like “morning jackets,” formal wear with long tails, while female participants wore dark colors, in keeping with Virginia political tradition.

Hymns were sung, prayers were said, and the Hampton University Concert Choir performed the Star-Spangled Banner. Members of 11 Virginia Indian tribes participated in a “celebratory dance” to celebrate the site and Mr. Spanberger’s inauguration.

Spanberger was wearing brightly colored clothing, including a long white winter coat and white gloves. Amid cheers, she waved to a crowd of dignitaries, including outgoing Gov. Glenn Youngkin and the state’s Democratic senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.

Mr. Spanberger capped a rapid political rise and succeeded him as the 75th Congressman.th Old Dominion leaders spoke in the state capital around 12:30 p.m. on a cold, damp day. She was accompanied by her parents and sisters, husband Adam and three daughters, whom she described as “my everything”.

A day filled with history in many ways

In a state steeped in political history and tradition, Saturday’s inauguration was unprecedented in other ways as well.

It’s not just that Spanberger is the first woman elected to federal leadership since the Union became a state in 1788.

Ghazala Hashmi is also the first Indian-born woman to be elected lieutenant governor and reportedly the first Muslim woman to be elected to a statewide office in the United States.

Jay Jones then became the state’s attorney general, becoming the first black man to hold the position.

Mr. Spanberger was elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 and served three terms before choosing to leave Congress. Last November, she defeated her opponent, Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earl Sears, who was also in attendance.

Spanberger’s 15-point victory was seen as a boost for Democrats heading into the 2026 midterm elections.

During the campaign, Spanberger touted his background as a CIA case officer, known in layman’s terms as a spy. Her official bio doesn’t mention the sensitive details of her mission, but it does say that she “worked undercover to understand the threats facing the United States, prevent terrorist attacks, counter the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and track transnational criminal organizations.”

In his speech, Spanberger focused on the challenges facing Virginia and the nation and the importance of maintaining America’s strong presence on the world stage in areas such as security, health, and human rights.

She did not specifically criticize Mr. Trump. But Spanberger took aim at political tensions in the capital, with an administration she suggested was more interested in “gilded buildings” than making government work for the people.

“I know many of you are concerned about the recklessness coming out of Washington. You are concerned about policies that are hurting your communities, cutting access to health care, putting local hospitals at risk and driving up costs,” Spanberger said. “You are concerned about policies in Washington that shut down markets, harm innovation and private industry, and attack people who have dedicated their lives to public service.”

“You’re worried about a government that’s putting gold leaf on buildings, tearing down our social safety net, instilling fear in entire communities, and betraying our values ​​as Americans and the very values ​​we’re celebrating here with this action, while our schools are falling apart,” Spanberger said.

The inaugural parade was held immediately after the swearing-in ceremony.

Ms. Spanberger and her husband, Virginia’s new First Gentleman, were also scheduled to host an inaugural ball Saturday night at Main Street Station. A first-come, first-served open house will be held on Sunday at the executive residence where the governor lives.

President Trump selects gold medal hockey players and skaters for Winter Olympics opener

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Hockey twins Jocelyn Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morande are also among the representatives. The same goes for skaters Apolo Ohno and Evan Lysacek.

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WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump announced that a U.S. delegation, including several gold medal winning athletes and several diplomats, will attend the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Olympic Games.

Vice President J.D. Vance and second daughter Usha Vance will lead the delegation.

Players on the squad included twins Jocelyn Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morando, who played on the 2018 U.S. women’s hockey team, which won gold in South Korea and defeated Canada, which had held the top spot for the Olympic berth for 20 years.

Jocelyn Lamoureux-Davidson scored the winning goal in a shootout with Canadian goaltender Shannon Zabodos, clinching the fifth game. Monique Lamoureux-Morando scored the equalizer in regulation. Both played on teams that won silver medals in 2010 and 2014.

The delegation’s gold medalists include Apolo Ohno, who won short track speed skating in 2002 and 2006, and Evan Lysacek, who won figure skating in 2010. Ohno added a silver medal and several bronze medals to his trophy case in 2010, making him America’s most decorated Winter Olympian.

Diplomats on the delegation include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the U.S. ambassador to Italy, and billionaire businessman Tilman Fertitta, who owns Landry’s Restaurants, the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino, and the Houston Rockets basketball team. Fertitta wrote a best-selling book titled “Shut Up and Listen!”

The opening ceremony is scheduled for February 6th in Milan, Italy.

What is the MLB salary cap? Dodgers will spend huge amounts of money as lockout approaches in 2026

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Major League Baseball is expected to face an explosive labor dispute after the 2026 season, and the possibility of a December 1st work stoppage is increasing with each passing week.

In recent days, the two-time World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers have faced renewed criticism for “ruining baseball” after signing top free agent Kyle Tucker to a contract that pays him $60 million per season and brings the team’s competitive tax salary CBT to more than $400 million.

With tensions already high heading into 2026, the furor and jealousy surrounding the Dodgers’ recent big-money acquisition may embolden MLB owners, many of whom have refused to invest in on-field products, to push for a salary cap even further.

Unlike the NFL and NBA, MLB did not have a hard cap. That’s what the league and owners have always wanted, but historically the idea has fallen by the time the players union arrives. MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark said last year that the salary cap would lead to further “institutionalized collusion” to suppress player salaries.

Here’s what baseball’s biggest players have said about the possibility of a salary cap in recent years.

The two-time MVP reportedly “faced” Manfred during a visit to the Phillies clubhouse in July 2025 and told the MLB commissioner to “stop the (expletive)” if he was going to talk about the salary cap.

Harper did not dispute the report, later telling reporters: “Everyone saw those words and everything that happened, but I don’t want to say anything more.”

“I’ve been talking about labor, and I’ve been talking about it so that I don’t have to talk to the media about it,” Harper said. “It doesn’t have to be public. It has nothing to do with the media or anyone else. … I’ve always been very vocal, just not in a way that people can see.”

Harper’s agent, Scott Boras, sided with his client, pointing to the MLB draft cap, which was set two years after Harper was selected No. 1 overall in 2010.

“Young players need to talk to veterans like Harp, who has battled the effects of the cap all his life,” Boras told The Athletic. “…Harp knows what the caps can do to the rights of players, especially young players.”

Tony Clark, MLBPA Executive Director

“Institutionalized collusion, that’s what the salary cap is…” Clark told the Baseball Writers Association of America at the 2025 All-Star Game. “The cap is not about partnerships. The cap is not about the growth of the game. The cap is about franchise value and profit…

“Salary caps, historically, with the limited contract guarantees that come with them, literally pit players against other players and are often shared with players as a definitively non-competitive system. It doesn’t reward excellence. It undermines it from an organizational standpoint. So this is not about competitive balance. It’s not about fair or unfair.”

Clark said based on the financial information he has received, many teams have the money but are choosing not to be competitive.

“We believe there are ways to motivate and support people in a different market than Los Angeles or New York,” Clark said. “We have the opportunity to do that and we don’t have to limit player salaries to do that and we can do it in the interest of the group.”

Rob Manfred, MLB Commissioner

“When I talk to players, I’m not trying to convince them that the salary cap is a good thing. I identify a problem in the media business and explain that we need to change ownership to address that problem,” Manfred said in 2025. “And I identify a second problem that we need to work together on, which is that there are fans in many of our markets who feel there is a problem with competitive balance.”

Scott Boras, baseball agent

The most prominent agent in American sports has always spoken out against the salary cap.

“We’ve been hearing this story for 20 years. It’s like a childhood fable,” he said in 2025. “This very traditional, same-same approach is not going to lead young players into gingerbread houses.”

Dave Roberts, Dodgers manager

“(The salary cap) will be fine” in late 2025, Roberts said. “I think the NBA has done a good job of splitting revenue with players and owners, but if they’re going to rein in spending at the top, I think they need to raise the bar to get the bottom players to spend money as well.”

The MLBPA wasn’t too pleased with the three-time World Series champion’s public support for earning the cap, but Roberts later supported his idea.

“Here’s the problem,” Roberts said. “Like all of us, I have a right to an opinion. So I think it’s one person’s opinion. And fortunately, unfortunately, I don’t have the right to vote.”

The Detroit Auto Show 2026 is open to the public. How to get tickets

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Vehicle and car enthusiasts will flock to Huntington Place as early as this weekend for the 2026 Detroit Auto Show.

If you haven’t purchased your tickets yet, it’s not too late. The show opens to the public on Saturday, January 17th and will run through Sunday, January 25th at Huntington Place in Detroit.

““The 2026 Detroit Auto Show will be a hub for all kinds of experiences. From on-track vehicle comparisons to first-hand previews of emerging technologies, important industry conversations and fascinating student career explorations, the show will feature two weeks of fully immersive experiences and programming,” Detroit Auto Show Chairman Todd Szot said in a statement.

Here’s what you need to know if you’re planning on attending the 2026 Detroit Auto Show.

The 2026 Detroit Auto Show will be open to the public from January 17th to 25th.

Huntington Place in downtown Detroit.

The show will run from Saturday, January 17th to Saturday, January 24th from 10am to 8pm. It will be held on Sunday, January 25th from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ticket prices for public performances are as follows:

  • adult: $25
  • Seniors aged 65 and over: $15
  • Children aged 3-12: $10
  • Children under 2 years old: free
  • Family Pass (2 adults, 3 children): $60
  • Advance group sales of 30+ public show tickets: $18. Advance group tickets must be purchased by 9am on January 17th.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at detroitautoshow.com. If purchased online, there will be an additional charge of $1-3 per ticket.

Tickets can be purchased with cash or credit on the day of the show at the ticket booth located at Huntington Place. The ticket office is located in Hall B of Huntington Place. The office can be reached at 888-838-7500.

Tickets purchased before December 1st were sold at a lower price as an early bird special.

According to the Detroit Auto Show website, each ticket is valid for one day of admission to the show. Once a ticket is scanned, it becomes invalid.

You can leave the show and come back the same day, but your hand must be stamped before you leave.

The show will run from Saturday, January 17th to Saturday, January 24th from 10am to 8pm. It will be held on Sunday, January 25th from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Jackie Charniga covers General Motors for the Detroit Free Press. Contact us at jcharina@freepress.com.

NASA’s James Webb Telescope reveals the secrets of black holes

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The James Webb Space Telescope has provided new evidence that sheds light on what scientists know about black holes.

Launched more than four years ago, the infrared observatory is the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope and was used to target a “supermassive black hole” in our neighboring galaxy, the Circinus Galaxy, about 13 million light-years away.

Data from the Webb Telescope, built through an international collaboration between Canadian, European and American space agencies, has helped researchers make new discoveries about what happens in and around black holes, researchers reveal in the January 13 issue of Nature Communications.

Previous telescopes were able to detect the excess infrared radiation emitted by black holes. But they lacked the determination to pinpoint its specific origins. According to NASA, scientists theorized that “superheated material” flowing out of a black hole produces the most infrared light.

The interior of a supermassive black hole is hotter than expected

The new Webb telescope observations, captured in July 2024 and March 2025, also include the clearest telescope images yet of the black hole’s surroundings, disproving previous theories.

What did the Webb telescope discover? In its description of the study, NASA said that almost all (87%) of the infrared radiation of the circus black hole’s hot dust comes from “the region closest to the black hole,” while less than 1% of the radiation comes from the hot dust outflow.

Analysis of the data shows that “our observations and models suggest that the preferred component[of the infrared light]is heated dust in the funnel that forms the inner surface of the donut-shaped ring around the black hole,” lead author Enrique López-Rodriguez, an associate professor of physics and astronomy at the University of South Carolina, told USA TODAY.

López-Rodriguez said the rest of the measured infrared radiation “comes from warm dust in the host galaxy outside the influence of the central black hole.”

Scientists had suspected that the largest source of infrared radiation was the heated outflow emanating from the black hole, but “most of the infrared radiation comes from compact, dusty structures that feed the black hole, rather than from the outflow material,” the European Space Agency said in a study commentary.

These discoveries about the Circus Galaxy’s black hole could be a test for researchers studying other black holes, of which there are an estimated 100 million in the Milky Way alone, according to NASA.

Other black holes may reveal different findings. “Circinus is a typical active galaxy, but the family of active galaxies is very broad. To make general claims, we need to study all the different stages of active galaxies,” López-Rodriguez said.

The Webb telescope’s enhanced infrared capabilities will allow scientists to “obtain larger samples,” he added.

What is a circus galaxy black hole?

According to NASA, when a supermassive black hole like the one in the Circus Galaxy consumes gas and dust, a donut-shaped ring (called a torus) forms around the black hole. As material accumulates, it forms a vortex-like structure called an “accretion disk.” When matter swirls, it creates friction, increases heat, and emits infrared radiation.

Another recent discovery, published in the January 5 issue of Nature Astronomy, suggests that matter isn’t just sucked into black holes. (Note: Black holes don’t actually suck in matter; their gravity is so strong that they swallow anything that gets too close.)

A news release describing a three-year study of black holes in the Milky Way galaxy using NASA’s NICER X-ray telescope aboard the International Space Station and the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa says black holes can either sling material “into space in concentrated jets or in giant winds.”

“What we are seeing can be described as an energetic tug-of-war…(event). When the black hole fires out a fast plasma jet, the X-ray wind weakens, and when the wind starts blowing again, the jet disappears,” Jiachen Jiang, lead author of the study and a physicist at the University of Warwick in the UK, said in a statement.

Throughout the past decade of black hole research, scientists have used infrared measurements to model the structure of black holes. In the case of the Circus Galaxy black hole, the infrared illumination from the black hole was so intense that astronomers were unable to identify the source of the excess radiation.

However, one of the Webb telescope’s four main instruments, the Near Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrometer (NIRISS), is equipped with an aperture masking interferometer that can capture higher contrast, higher resolution infrared data. “This allows us to see images twice as clearly,” study co-author Joel Sánchez Bermudez, an astrophysicist at the National University of Mexico, said in a NASA report.

Julien Girard, co-author of the paper and principal investigator at the Space Telescope Science Institute, said in the NASA report that the circus black hole is “the first time that the web’s high-contrast mode has been used to observe an extragalactic source.”

“We hope our work will encourage other astronomers to use aperture masking interferometry modes to study faint but relatively small and dusty structures near bright objects,” Girard said.

Mike Snyder is a national trends news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, and X, and email him at: mike snyder & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com.

President Trump pledges tariffs on European countries in latest Greenland bid

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President Trump said Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland will impose 10% tariffs on all products.

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President Donald Trump announced tariffs on eight European countries on January 17, the latest pressure tactic for the US to buy Greenland.

Trump said in a post on Truth Social that Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland will impose a 10% tariff on all goods sent to the United States starting February 1st, with the tariffs scheduled to increase to 25% on June 1st.

“These countries, playing this very dangerous game, are imposing a level of risk that is neither intolerable nor sustainable,” Trump said.

President Trump has repeatedly said that Greenland is essential to U.S. security because of its strategic location and large mineral deposits. He has not ruled out the possibility of using force to occupy the Arctic island, which is an autonomous territory of Denmark.

European countries recently sent military personnel to Greenland at the request of Danish authorities. European officials backed Denmark and warned that the Trump administration’s attempt to seize Greenland could be a game-changer. NATO is a 76-year-old alliance of member states founded for the joint defense of one another.

“The United States stands ready to enter into negotiations immediately with Denmark and with these countries that have so much at stake, despite all the steps we have taken over the decades, including the greatest protections,” Trump said.

On the same day as President Trump’s announcement, Danish citizens protested his threat to seize control of Greenland and the right of self-determination for its largely indigenous population.

According to Reuters, demonstrators held banners and signs that read “Keep Off Greenland” next to Greenland’s red-and-white flag and led chants such as “Greenland is not for sale.” The crowd gathered in Copenhagen’s City Hall Square and then marched toward the American Embassy.

The day before, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers traveled to Copenhagen to meet with the leaders of Denmark and Greenland. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Delaware, said in an X post that the meeting reaffirmed “Congress’s commitment to one of our oldest and strongest NATO allies.”

“In an increasingly volatile world where adversaries collaborate, our alliances are more important than ever,” Coons said.

This is a developing story.

Contributed by: Reuters

Massive protests in Denmark call for US to ‘stay off Greenland’

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Protesters chanted “Greenland is not for sale” and marched to the US embassy in Copenhagen in solidarity with the Arctic island’s residents.

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Thousands of protesters rallied across Denmark on January 17 to oppose President Donald Trump’s threat to take control of Greenland and support the right to self-determination for the Arctic island’s residents.

President Trump has argued that the United States needs Greenland because of its strategic location and vast mineral wealth, and did not rule out an armed occupation. This prompted some European countries, including France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Norway and Sweden, to deploy troops to the frozen island in a show of support for Denmark.

Some demonstrators chanted “Greenland is not for sale” and held banners and placards next to Greenland’s red and white flag that read “Keep your hands off Greenland,” Reuters reported. The crowd gathered in Copenhagen’s City Hall Square before marching toward the U.S. Embassy.

President Trump’s obsession with acquiring Greenland, which has recently included threats to “do something” about the island “whether you like it or not,” threatens to unsettle the international community and upend the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), one of America’s most important alliances.

“We are very grateful for the tremendous support that we Greenlanders are receiving… We are also sending a message to the world that you all have to wake up,” said Julie Rademacher, president of Uagut, the Danish organization for Greenlanders.

“We are very grateful for the tremendous support that we Greenlanders are receiving… We are also sending a message to the world that you all have to wake up,” said Julie Rademacher, president of Uagut, the Danish organization for Greenlanders.

“Greenland and Greenlanders are inadvertently at the forefront of the fight for democracy and human rights,” she added.

Meanwhile, as European troops gather in Greenland, a bipartisan delegation of American lawmakers visited Copenhagen on January 16 to reassure Danish leaders amid concerns that the United States would annex the resource-rich island. The group met with the prime ministers and members of parliament from both Denmark and Greenland, which is part of a European nation.

Sens. Chris Coons (D-Delaware) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) emerged from the conversation to say the delegation had a “good dialogue” and that their hope was to tone down the political rhetoric on the situation.

On January 16, President Trump dubbed himself the “tariff king” and threatened to use tariffs to force other countries to follow his plans.

Contributed by: Reuters

Jennette McCurdy’s new book ‘Half His Age’ will make you anxious

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Before Half His Age hits stores next week, there are some things that need to be resolved. It’s not a love story.

Also, this is not a victim’s story, Jennette McCurdy told USA TODAY. Half His Age (released January 20 by Ballantine Books) follows Waldo, a resourceful 17-year-old who finds himself in a compulsive and tangled sexual relationship with his teacher. She has a troubled relationship with her mother. She has a severe shopping addiction.

This is a book that makes you feel itchy when you read it. The book is full of outdoor sex scenes that are essentially grimacing considering the age of the participants. I want to provoke, but I’m not interested in glorifying my appearance. It’s more like “My Dark Vanessa” than “Lolita.”

Social media is buzzing with anticipation, for better or worse. Some readers have speculated that “Half His Age” glorifies abuse. Some persuade opponents that if anyone is qualified to talk about abuse, it’s Mr. McCurdy. McCurdy, once known as the wisecracking Sam Puckett on Nickelodeon’s “iCarly,” is now best known as the best-selling author of “I’m Glad My Mother Was Dead,” a memoir about an abusive mother. She recently opened up about her “creepy” experience with age-gap relationships.

Online discussions don’t discourage her.

“I know what’s written on the page, and I trust what’s written on the page, and I trust what I’ve done. I know my intentions. I don’t write anything for shock value. I write for the truth, and the truth is loud, too,” McCurdy says. “I’m interested in exploring abuse that doesn’t look, sound, or feel like traditional abuse. I’m interested in writing it in a way that captures what I think is reality, where abuse can sometimes look like romance.”

‘Half My Age’ is ‘not a victim story’, says McCurdy

They say you should never judge a book by its cover, but there are certainly some books that get bagged because of provocative names like “I’m glad my mom died” and images of people wearing urns. McCurdy does it again in Half His Age.

“I love straightforward, loud titles,” says McCurdy.

Waldo himself can be described as a brash and boisterous character. From the first line, she is moaning in boredom while a man gives her oral sex. As a creative writing teacher talks about her failures, she talks about her “vaginal pulsation.” And while it’s easy to read her relationship with Mr. Corgi as some kind of patronizing “oh honey,” McCurdy certainly doesn’t want us to feel sorry for her protagonist.

In fact, she doesn’t want to write either “good” or “bad” characters. As both a writer and a reader, McCurdy craves that gray area.

“This is not a victim story. What I really wanted was a front-line character who had agency and self-awareness. She’s not just a victim,” McCurdy says. She later added, “[People]can exist in their own complexities and nuances, and that’s what I wanted to do with Waldo. She’s deeply flawed. She’s doing her best, but she makes big mistakes. … She’s not that quirky, she’s not the kind of person who stumbles and goes, ‘Oh, I get it!'” I think she’s a kind of feisty character that you see a lot in the media. ”

Hidden between the atypical moments, like playing house with a high school teacher, are the hallmarks of normal teenage life. Waldo works at Victoria’s Secret in the mall. She is having a fight with her friend. She is trying to figure out who she is and often falls into a spiral of online shopping, drowning in the consequences of overconsumption.

McCurdy’s teenage life could not have been more different. She has been acting since she was a child and became famous by the age of 15.

“To be honest, there are some years where I think I missed out. I had a lot of work to do at that age,” McCurdy says of writing the 17-year-old character. “I think that’s what inspired me to want to write from that point of view. I think it’s a point of view. It’s a time that deserves complex storytelling and rich characters. And I think it’s a time that, frankly, doesn’t get enough consideration. Movies, I often think that when you see a 17, 18-year-old on TV, in a book, it’s a certain way. And I wanted to really buck the trend there and show what I think a 17-year-old is in all of her complexity and all of her. ”

Jennette McCurdy: “I don’t think anger is something you can run away from.”

Writing “Half His Age” also helped McCurdy process anger he didn’t realize he had. She often thought about how women are taught to be polite and appease others.

“There’s another character I was writing for the project who has a lot of anger within her, which is really integral to her arc, her arc. … And there was a guy involved in the project, and this guy had a lot of power. And at one point I was told, ‘Hey, the word anger triggers this guy. Can we use that to describe this character?'” McCurdy says. “I’m sitting here talking about this right now with goosebumps because you’re portraying a character that is fundamentally rooted in her anger and inability to access it. How do you describe this character without using that word?”

“Half His Age” is similarly a story of Waldo’s journey to express his anger. McCurdy emphasizes that while those emotions may be red-hot, they are more of a guiding light.

“Each time I tapped into my anger, it helped me make better decisions and set me on a path that was effective and healthy for me,” McCurdy says. “I don’t think anger is something to run away from or stomp on or squash. I think it’s something that should really be listened to and appreciated.”

Claire Mulroy is USA TODAY’s books reporter, covering hot releases, chatting with authors, and diving into reading culture. please find her on instagramsubscribe to our weekly magazine book newsletter Or tell her what you’re reading cmulroy@usatoday.com.

Krispy Kreme launches Championship Dozen, increasing price by a dozen. See “Transactions.”

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Krispy Kreme is gearing up for a big fight.

Ahead of the college football national championship game between the Indiana Hoosiers and Miami Hurricanes, the donut company and coffeehouse chain announced its new Championship Dozen, an assortment of deep red and orange football-shaped donuts and six “Original Glazed” donuts.

“Whether they’re cheering from home or gathering with family and friends for the game, Krispy Kreme’s Championship Dozen allows fans to show off their game day spirit,” Krispy Kreme said in a Jan. 16 news release.

In addition to the Christmas spread, Krispy Kreme is also extending its BOGO offer (buy a dozen, get a free dozen of Original Glazed) through Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Unlike the BOGO offer, the Championship Dozen will only be available on Monday, January 19th.

Here’s how to claim Krispy Kreme’s BOGO offer, including details on the “Championship Dozen.”

Championship Dozen Details

All of Championship Dozen’s donuts are football-shaped, except for the six original glazed ones. Three are crimson (the color of #1 Indiana) and the other three are orange (the color of Miami #10).

Krispy Kreme says customers can order up to six orange or deep red football donuts if they want to customize the 12 if they support a particular team.

Orange Football Donuts and Crimson Football Donuts are both “unglazed shell donuts filled with white cream,” topped with icing in the shape of football laces. Crimson donuts have chocolate icing and orange donuts have vanilla icing.

How to claim Krispy Kreme’s BOGO offer

To claim Krispy Kreme’s BOGO offer, simply “Buy Any Dozen” including the Championship Dozen and get the Original Glazed Dozen for just $1. There is a limit of 2 items per guest.

Both the $1 BOGO offer and Championship Dozen are available for in-store pickup or delivery via the Krispy Kreme app and website.