7AM ET 02/18/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update

Episode: 7AM ET 02/18/2026 Newscast
Date: February 18, 2026
Host: Dave Anthony
Reporter/Contributors: Ainslie Earhart, Brian Yenis, Jared Halpern, Tanya J. Powers

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Overview

This Fox News Hourly Update delivers the latest breaking news from across the country and internationally. In this episode, listeners get quick updates on major developing stories including a deadly avalanche near Lake Tahoe, ongoing peace negotiations in Geneva, a missing-person probe in Arizona, a high-profile court order involving immigration, Ash Wednesday and Lent observances, stock market movements, and a Winter Olympics milestone.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Avalanche Search and Rescue Effort

Location: Castle Peak, near Lake Tahoe, California
Timestamps: 00:03–00:31

• An avalanche has buried 9–10 people, with ongoing rescue efforts.

• Rescue audio and on-the-ground updates highlight the dangerous conditions and difficulty in accessing the area.

• Quote – Nevada County Sheriff Russell Reen (via Fox 2 TV):

  “We’re doing so with snowcats, with people on skis. We have some snowmobilers on standby. So we’re doing the best we can to get there. But the conditions are making it very challenging.” [00:24]

• Current status: 6 skiers rescued, 9 still missing.

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2. International Negotiations: Russia-Ukraine and Iran

Timestamps: 00:31–01:20

• US-brokered talks in Geneva between Russia and Ukraine described as “difficult.”
• Disagreement centers on land concessions and the terms of any peace deal.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insists Ukraine will not give up land Russia hasn’t conquered.
• Quote – Zelenskyy (via Axios):

  “His country will not accept a push from the American side for Ukraine to withdraw from territory that Russia has not yet conquered and said it’s not fair.” [00:54]

• President Trump urges Ukraine—not Russia—to make concessions.
• Indirect talks involving Iran continue, with some reported progress toward a nuclear deal amid threats from President Trump.
• Vice President Vance promises a “much more willing to act aggressively” approach to US national security.

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3. Missing Person Investigation in Arizona

Case: Search for Nancy Guthrie
Timestamps: 01:21–01:56

• Day 18 in the case of missing woman Nancy Guthrie.
• DNA evidence complicates the investigation: DNA from a glove found two miles from Guthrie’s home doesn’t match the sample found inside the home, nor anyone in the FBI’s national database.
• Quote – Brian Yenis (Fox, reporting from Tucson):

  “The DNA found on that glove some two miles away from Nancy Guthrie’s home of an unknown male and the DNA sample of an unknown person found inside of Guthrie’s home did not match one another and did not deliver a match in the FBI’s national database.” [01:36]

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4. Immigration and Court Rulings

Case: Kilmar Abrego Garcia
Timestamps: 02:32–03:18

• A federal judge rules that Garcia, a high-profile Salvadoran deportee, cannot be held indefinitely in ICE custody.
• Judge calls out the government’s “empty threats” to deport Garcia to African nations, seeing no realistic prospect of removal.
• Garcia was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, ordered back, and is now facing human smuggling charges (pleads not guilty).
• Quote – Jared Halpern:

  “The Trump administration has done nothing to show Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s continued detention in ICE custody is consistent with due process.” [02:37]

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5. Faith and Society: Ash Wednesday & Lent

Timestamps: 03:19–04:06

• Mardi Gras festivities have concluded; it’s now Ash Wednesday, beginning the Christian observance of Lent.
• Many Catholic and Protestant (Episcopal, Lutheran) churches offer innovative ‘ashes to go’ for congregants on the move.
• Quote – Tanya J. Powers:

  “…there’s been an uptick in churches that offer ashes to go in parking lots, airport chapels and commuter rail stations, with clergy offering ashes to busy workers and others who might want to participate in the ritual but don’t have time to get to a church.” [03:41]

• Lent runs 40 days (excluding Sundays) and leads up to Easter.

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6. Markets and Sports

Timestamps: 04:07–04:28

• Stock futures are on the rise following modest gains; Dow and Nasdaq both up by more than 100 points.
• In the Winter Olympics, Norway dominates:
  • Johannes Høsflot Klæbo wins his 10th career gold—a Winter Olympic record.
  • Norway leads with 32 medals.
  • US secures silver in cross-country, and bronze in snowboarding.

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Notable Quotes

• Sheriff Russell Reen on Rescue Operations:
  "We’re doing so with snowcats, with people on skis. We have some snowmobilers on standby. So we’re doing the best we can to get there. But the conditions are making it very challenging." [00:24]

• Ukraine’s Zelenskyy Firm on No Land Concessions:
  "His country will not accept a push from the American side for Ukraine to withdraw from territory that Russia has not yet conquered and said it’s not fair." [00:54]

• Court Ruling on ICE Detention – Jared Halpern:
  "The Trump administration has done nothing to show Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s continued detention in ICE custody is consistent with due process." [02:37]

• Modernizing Ash Wednesday Rituals – Tanya J. Powers:
  "There’s been an uptick in churches that offer ashes to go in parking lots, airport chapels and commuter rail stations, with clergy offering ashes to busy workers and others who might want to participate in the ritual but don’t have time to get to a church." [03:41]

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Memorable Moments and Segments (with Timestamps)

• Castle Peak Avalanche Search: [00:03–00:31]
• Geneva Peace Negotiations and Iran Talks: [00:31–01:20]
• Arizona Missing Person and DNA Findings: [01:35–01:56]
• Federal Judge Halts Indefinite Detention: [02:32–03:18]
• Ashes to Go for Ash Wednesday: [03:31–04:06]
• Klæbo’s Winter Olympics Record: [04:07–04:28]

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This news update delivers succinct but comprehensive coverage of several significant stories, pairing on-the-ground reporting with deeper context on breaking developments, while maintaining a brisk and straightforward tone typical of hourly news casts.

Transcript

[Dave Anthony]

Digging through snow, searching for survivors. I'm Dave Anthony, Fox News in the.

[Ainslie Earhart]

Area of Castle Peak.

[Dave Anthony]

That's rescue Dispatch audio from Broadcastify after an avalanche near Lake Tahoe in California.

[Ainslie Earhart]

Nine to 10 people buried, three others.

[Dave Anthony]

Attempting to dig them out. And nine backcountry soft trail skiers remain missing. Six have been rescued. Nevada County Sheriff Russell Reen tells Fox 2 TV it's hard to access. We're doing so with snowcats, with people on skis. We have some snowmobilers on standby. So we're doing the best we can to get there. But the conditions are making it very challenging. Russia and Ukraine talked again today in Geneva brokered by the US and both sides came away saying the negotiations were difficult with a big issue who gets what land and any peace deal to stop the war.

[Brian Yenis]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Axios his country will not accept a push from the American side for Ukraine to withdra from territory that Russia has not yet conquered and said it's not fair. President Trump has called on Ukraine to make concessions and not Russia.

[Dave Anthony]

Fox's Lucas Tomlinson Geneva is where those negotiations took place and also where indirect talks with Iran were happening yesterday. And there are reports of progress trying to get Iran to agree to a nuclear deal amid President Trump's threats. And Vice President Vance tells FOX he takes a much different approach to America's national security and he's much more willing to act aggressively to on day 18 of the search for Nancy Guthrie, Fox's Brian Yenis reports from Tucson, Arizona.

[Brian Yenis]

The DNA found on that glove some two miles away from Nancy Guthrie's home of an unknown male and the DNA sample of an unknown person found inside of Guthrie's home did not match one another and did not deliver a match in the FBI's national database. They are now further analyzing that DNA including mixed DNA found at the home.

[Dave Anthony]

America's listening to Fox News. Com.

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[Dave Anthony]

Now an update on the most infamous deportee in President Trump's illegal immigration crackdown.

[Jared Halpern]

The Trump administration has done nothing to show Kilmar Abrego Garcia's continued detention in ICE custody is consistent with due process of federal judge rules ordering the Salvadoran national to stay out of custody. District Court Judge Paula Zenas says since Abrego Garcia secured release from criminal custody last year, the government has made empty threats to deport him to countries in Africa with no real chance. Signs of success. Concluding there's no good reason to believe his removal is likely in the foreseeable future, Abrego Garcia was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in ordered back to the U. S. He has since been charged with human smuggling and has pleaded not guilty at the White House.

[Dave Anthony]

Jared Halpern, FOX News Mardi Gras has come and gone. And after the final parades and festivities like there in New Orleans. It's Ash Wednesday now, the day of.

[Ainslie Earhart]

Fasting and reflection that begins the start of Lent. Many Catholics will attend a church service and receive ashes in the shape of a cross on their forehead. Some Protestants, like those in Episcopal, Lutheran or other congregations, also mark the day. In recent years, there's been an uptick in churches that offer ashes to go in parking lots, airport chapels and commuter rail stations, with clergy offering ashes to busy workers and others who might want to participate in the ritual but don't have time to get to a church. Lent lasts for 40 days minus the sun Sundays and leads up to Easter observances. Tanya J. Powers, FOX News on Wall Street.

[Dave Anthony]

Stocks may rise again the morning after modest gains. Dow and Nasdaq futures both up more than 100 points at the Winter Olympics. Another gold for Norway in team cross country. That means Johannes Husflot Klebo has a 10th career gold medal, more than any Winter Olympian ever. Norway also has 32 medals in the lead. The US took silver in that race and just also won bronze and snowboarding. I'm Dave Anthony.

[Ainslie Earhart]

This is Ainslie Earhart. Thank you for joining me for the 52 episode podcast series Life of Jesus.

[Dave Anthony]

A listening experience that will provide hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever told. Listen and follow [e-mail] or wherever you listen to podcasts.