Morning news brief

NPR | By Leila Fadel,

Steve Inskeep

Published February 17, 2026 at 4:42 AM EST

U.S. and Iran to meet in Geneva for second round of nuclear talks, nine people charged in Texas ICE detention center shooting go on trial, a look at the AI race between the U.S. and China.

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Arts & Culture

Venturino Comedy Series comes to Marco Island's Art Center Theatre Feb. 27

Tom Hall

Arts Center Theatre presents Venturino’s Comedy Series on Friday, February 27. The evening gives Marco Island audiences the chance to experience nationally touring standup comics in an intimate theater setting.
Arts & Culture

'CATS' and 'Dogwood Winter' highlight the 24 shows onstage this week at area theaters

Tom Hall

This week, 7 shows open, 3 close and 14 continue their runs and there is one limited engagement at Southwest Florida equity, community and high school theaters.
Environment

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Introduction

Dr. Jerry Jackson

The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker nests well to the north of us, but winters in Florida, other Gulf states, and the Caribbean. Older males tend to winter farther north, while females and first-year birds winter farther south. Males must return early to establish nesting territories and by staying farther north in winter, they are better able to deal with late cold weather sometimes encountered. Females return to breeding areas about a week later than males.Male Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers can be identified by their red throat. Females and fledgling males have a white throat; young males begin to show red throat feathers early in their second year. Young sapsuckers have dark streaks on the side of the breast and belly; adults show a “cleaner” yellowish belly and distinct black bib on the breast.

Morning news brief

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