NPR News: 02-18-2026 2AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: February 18, 2026, 2AM EST

Host: Giles Snyder, NPR
Date: February 18, 2026
Duration: ~5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This concise news update covers major stories from across the United States: a perilous avalanche rescue operation in California, controversy over the FBI's seizure of Georgia’s 2020 election ballots, deadly vehicle pileups in Colorado, developments in a missing persons case in Arizona, a community vigil after a tragic shooting in Rhode Island, groundbreaking research linking air pollution to Alzheimer's disease, and a brief preview of American skier Mikaela Shiffrin’s upcoming Olympic appearance.

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Key Stories & Discussion Points

1. California Avalanche Rescue

[00:15 – 01:15]

• Incident: Six skiers rescued after being caught in an avalanche near Castle Peak, northwest of Lake Tahoe; nine people still missing.
• Context: The group had stayed at a backcountry hut since Sunday, heading back when the avalanche occurred.
• Warnings: Sierra Avalanche Center had issued warnings only hours before.
• Ongoing Risks:

  "The storm is ongoing. You know, it's still snowing anywhere from 2 to 4 inches an hour right now, and that avalanche path is reloading with new snow very rapidly."
  — Brian Schwartz, Lead Forecaster, Sierra Avalanche Center [00:54]

• Response: Truckee-based Blackbird Mountain Guides involved in the response, in contact with affected clients.
• Reporter: Greg Mechek, CAP Radio

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2. Georgia Ballot Seizure Controversy

[01:15 – 02:01]

• Story: Fulton County officials allege the FBI misled a magistrate judge to seize 2020 election ballots.
• Concerns:
  • Legal filings say agents did not allege a crime and omitted evidence from state inquiries confirming no fraud and Biden's win.
  • Quoting from county’s filing:

    "...the Fourth Amendment demands probable cause, not possible cause."
    — Legal filings, Fulton County [01:26]

• Investigation: NPR review found significant omissions in the FBI's affidavit.
• Reporter: Stephen Fowler, NPR News Atlanta

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3. Colorado Storm and Fatal Highway Crash

[02:01 – 02:28]

• Incident: More than 30 vehicles, including six semi-trailers, crashed on I-25 due to “brownout” conditions from blowing dirt.
• Casualties: Four dead, nearly 30 hospitalized with varying injuries.
• Conditions:

  "The lack of moisture and stuff that we've had in the area recently. The dirt and everything just transversed all the way across i25 and created just what I'll call is a dirt or a brownout."
  — Maj. Brian Lyons, State Patrol [02:17]

• Additional Impact: Strong winds also caused wildfires and flight delays at Denver Airport.

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4. New Development in Missing Arizona Woman Case

[02:28 – 03:14]

• Case: Nancy Guthrie disappeared Feb 1; glove found near her home did not match known individuals.
• Details:
  • Glove matched those worn by an armed intruder seen in video disabling Guthrie's doorbell camera.
  • The incident remains under investigation by Pima County Sheriff’s Department and FBI.

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5. Rhode Island Community Reacts to Hockey Game Shooting

[03:14 – 03:49]

• Incident: Shooting at a youth hockey game; shooter killed ex-wife and one son, injured three others, then died by suicide.
• Community Response: Vigil held in Pawtucket.
• Casualties: Three additional people injured, including the ex-wife’s parents and a family friend.

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6. Air Pollution Link to Alzheimer’s Disease

[03:49 – 04:35]

• Study: New research published in PLOS Medicine connects dirty air to increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, especially in people with a history of stroke.
• Scope: Study analyzed Medicare data for millions of US patients.
• Context: Air quality improved in recent decades, but policy shifts in 2025 by the Trump administration signaled possible regulatory changes.
• Quote:

  “It found that older Americans had a higher chance of getting diagnosed with Alzheimer’s if they had lived in a place with dirty air within the previous five years, especially if the person had also had a stroke.”
  — Alejandra Barunda, NPR [03:49]

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7. Olympics Preview: Mikaela Shiffrin Returns

[04:35 – 04:54]

• Story: American skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin aims to end her Olympic medal drought in Italy.
• Note: Shiffrin has 108 World Cup victories; last Olympic medal was in 2018.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The storm is ongoing. You know, it's still snowing anywhere from 2 to 4 inches an hour right now, and that avalanche path is reloading with new snow very rapidly.”
  — Brian Schwartz, Sierra Avalanche Center [00:54]

• “The Fourth Amendment demands probable cause, not possible cause.”
  — Fulton County legal filing, reported by Stephen Fowler [01:26]

• “The dirt and everything just transversed all the way across I-25 and created just what I'll call is a dirt or a brownout.”
  — Maj. Brian Lyons, Colorado State Patrol [02:17]

• “It found that older Americans had a higher chance of getting diagnosed with Alzheimer's if they had lived in a place with dirty air within the previous five years, especially if the person had also had a stroke.”
  — Alejandra Barunda, NPR [03:49]

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Useful Timestamps

• [00:15] – California Avalanche Rescue
• [01:15] – Georgia Election Ballot Seizure
• [02:01] – Colorado Brownout Highway Crash
• [02:28] – Arizona Missing Person Case
• [03:14] – Pawtucket Shooting & Vigil
• [03:49] – Air Pollution & Alzheimer’s Study
• [04:35] – Mikaela Shiffrin Olympic Preview

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This segment provides a brisk but thorough update on urgent events across the country, combining breaking news, developing investigations, community impacts, and scientific insight.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. In Northern California, the Nevada County Sheriff's Department says six backcountry skiers have been rescued from following an avalanche. The six were rescued late Tuesday night, but crews are still searching for nine others. The sheriff's office says the group was caught in the side near Castle Peak, northwest of Lake Tahoe, Tuesday morning. CAP Radio's Greg Meczek has more.

[C]

The skiers have been staying at Backcountry Hut since Sunday and were heading back when the avalanche struck. The Sierra Avalanche center had issued a warning for the area just hours earlier. Lead forecaster Brian Schwartz says dangerous conditions are complicating rescue efforts.

[D]

The storm is ongoing. You know, it's still snowing anywhere from 2 to 4 inches an hour right now, and that avalanche path is reloading with new snow very rapidly.

[C]

Truckee based Blackbird Mountain Guides did not confirm it was one of their tour groups, but it said it was responding to the incident and is in contact with affected clients. For NPR News, I'm Greg Mechek.

[B]

Now to Georgia, where officials in Fulton county say the FBI misled a judge in order to seize 2020 election ballots last month. NPR Stephen Fowler has more.

[E]

The FBI got a magistrate judge to sign off on the seizure, but lawyers for Fulton county want those ballots back. County officials say federal agents did not tell the truth about what they were looking for and, among other things, didn't actually allege a crime was committed, writing that, quote, the Fourth Amendment demands probable cause, not possible cause. An NPR review of the affidavit found the FBI also omitted key findings from state investigations that found no evidence of fraud and confirmed that Joe Biden won the overwhelmingly Democratic county in 2020. Stephen Fowler, NPR News, Atlanta.

[B]

Authorities in Colorado say four people have died in a series of interstate crashes involving more than 30 vehicles, including six semi trailers. State Patrol Major Brian Lyons says blowing dirt kicked up by strong winds made it nearly impossible to see due to.

[D]

The lack of moisture and stuff that we've had in the area recently. The dirt and everything just transversed all the way across i25 and created just what I'll call is a dirt or a brownout.

[B]

In addition to the four people killed, lyon says nearly 30 were taken to the hospital with injuries ranging from minor to severe strong winds on Tuesday, along with warm weather and dry conditions also blamed for fanning wildfires and causing flight delays at Denver's airport. Investigators in the Nancy Guthrie disappearance have encountered a setback. The Pima County Sheriff's Department and the FBI say DNA on a glove found near Guthrie's Arizona home did not match anyone already known to police. The glove was found discarded about two miles from Guthrie's home. It resembled a pair worn by an armed man in a ski mask seen on video footage apparently trying to disable her doorbell camera. The 84 year old was reported missing on February 1st. This is NPR. Members of the Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Community gathered for a vigil Tuesday night following Monday's shooting at a youth hockey game. Authorities say the person who opened fire killed former wife and one son. And Pawtucket police say the three others injured were the man's ex, wife's parents and a family friend. The gunman died from an apparent self inflicted gunshot wound. Breathing in dirty air is linked with the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease as the key outcome of a new study that looked at millions of Medicare patients across the U.S. nPR's Alejandra Barunda reports.

[F]

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia in the country. For years, scientists have investigated its causes, from genetics to lifestyle to environmental exposures. One growing line of evidence shows that air pollution can be a factor. The new study was published in the journal PLOS Medicine. It found that older Americans had a higher chance of getting diagnosed with Alzheimer's if they had lived in a place with dirty air within the previous five years, especially if the person had also had a stroke. Air in the US has gotten much cleaner in recent decades because of tightening regulations on pollution. And in 2025, the Trump administration announced that it would consider loosening some of the key rules in order to benefit businesses and manufacturing. Alejandra Varunda, NPR News.

[B]

At the Winter Olympics, American skier Mikayla Shifrin hoping to end a medal drought. Shiffrin has won a record 108 World cup victories but has not medaled at the Olympics since earning two at the 2018 Games. She'll be on the slopes in Italy in a couple of hours. I'm Giles Snyder, NPR News.

[G]

This message comes from Greenlight. Don't wait to protect your legacy. Greenlight, trusted by millions of families, helps you protect what's yours with Family Shield's account monitoring alerts and 911 dispatched crash detection. Learn [e-mail] protect.