Winter Olympics 2026: U.S. curler Rich Ruohonen speaks out against ICE presence in his home state: 'What's happening in Minnesota is wrong'

On a day when Korey Dropkin and Cory Thiesse made U.S. curling history withan Olympic silver medal in mixed doubles, U.S. curler Rich Ruohonen used the platform to turn the spotlight on his home state of Minnesota.

Ruohonen, a St. Paul native, spoke in a news conference about the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence in his home state that's resulted inthe shooting deaths of U.S. citizens Renee GoodandAlex Pretti by agents.

Those killings and ICE's aggressive enforcement tactics on the streets of Minneapolis have prompted outrage andprotest in Minnesota and beyond. Ruohonen, a lawyer, cited the U.S. Constitution to declare that "there's no shades of gray" and that "what's happening in Minnesota is wrong."

'What's happening in Minnesota is wrong'

Ruohonen opened his statement by saying he's "proud to be here to represent Team USA and to represent our country."

He then turned his attention to Minnesota.

"This stuff is happening right around where we live," Ruohonen said. "I am a lawyer, as you know, and we have a constitution, and it allows us freedom of press, freedom of speech, protects us from unreasonable searches and seizures and makes it that we have to have probable cause to be pulled over.

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"And what's happening in Minnesota is wrong. There's no shades of gray. It's clear. I really love what's been happening there now — people coming out, showing the love, the compassion, integrity and respect for others that they don't know and helping them out. And we love Minnesota for that."

Ruohonen, 54, is a two-time national champion curler who's twice competed for Team USA in the curling world championships (2008, 2018). He's never competed in the Olympics.

He's an alternate at the Milan Cortina Games for the men's curling team helmed by skip Danny Casper. He's not guaranteed to compete. But if he plays, he'll become the oldest U.S. athlete to ever compete in the Winter Olympics.

He went on to speak about what it means to have the opportunity to compete in the Olympics.

"I want to make it clear that we are out here, we love our country," Ruohonen continued. "We're playing for the U.S., we're playing for Team USA, we're playing for each other, and we're playing for our family and our friends that sacrificed so much to get here today. ...

'What the Olympics means is excellence, respect, friendship, and we all, I think, exemplify that. And we are playing for the people of Minnesota and the people around the country who share those same values."

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February 10, 2026

Winter Olympics 2026: U.S. curler Rich Ruohonen speaks out against ICE presence in his home state: 'What's happening in Minnesota is wrong'

On a day when Korey Dropkin and Cory Thiesse made U.S. curling history withan Olympic silver medal in mixed doubles, U.S...

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Justin Verlander returns to the Detroit Tigers on a $13 million, one-year contract

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Justin Verlander is going back to his first big league team, agreeing to a $13 million, one-year contract with the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday.

Verlander, who turns 43 on Feb. 20, is looking to rebound from a frustrating year with San Francisco. The deal for the three-time AL Cy Young Award winner includes $11 million in deferred payments starting in 2030.

Verlander's 266 victories are tied with Bob Feller and Eppa Rixey for 34th on baseball's career list, while his 3,553 career strikeouts are eighth and closely trailing Don Sutton with 3,574.

Verlander said he needed a "relentless pursuit of finding something, anything to make it click" in turning his struggles around last year with the Giants. His 2.60 ERA from July 23 through the remainder of the season ranked fourth in the National League with a minimum of 60 innings pitched.

Verlander returned June 18 after being sidelined for a month bya strained right pectoral muscle. The right-hander wants to keep pitching after a disappointing season in which he began 0-8 and was winless in his initial 16 outings before a win at Atlanta on July 23.

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He went on to finish 4-11 with a 3.85 ERA and 137 strikeouts over 29 starts spanning 152 innings. He has 266 wins, still far off from joining the 300-win club but something he could approach with a strong, healthy 2026.

"First half, quite difficult. Happy I was able to find some mechanical fixes to kind of get back in the right direction and pitch well in the second half," Verlander said following his final outing Sept. 27. "I think obviously you'd always rather it go well, but it's nice to be able to turn it around, especially after a few months it gets really draining and it's tiresome. You've just got to come in every day and have a positive mindset and keep working hard."

Verlander signeda $15 million, one-year contractwith San Francisco last January andhad a forgettable home debut for the Giants. The Giants often struggled to provide him with enough run support.

The second-half turnaround mattered to Verlander, who limited foes to a .228 average over his final 13 appearances. He allowed two or fewer earned runs in 10 of his last 13 starts.

AP MLB:https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

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February 10, 2026

Justin Verlander returns to the Detroit Tigers on a $13 million, one-year contract

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Justin Verlander is going back to his first big league team, agreeing to a $13 million, one-year c...

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Klint Kubiak wants Maxx Crosby to be part of Raiders' success: 'That's a no-brainer'

Maxx Crosby wasn't happy with how this past season ended. Not only did his Las Vegas Raiders finish 3-14, butthey also shut him down for their final two games.

To Crosby's dismay, the Raiders placed the five-time Pro Bowl defensive end on injured reserve because of a knee injury that ultimately required surgery. Hewent on to post a video of him playing basketball and photos of him on a trampoline, as the Raiders' spiral toward the No. 1 pick,which he notably didn't care for, continued.

That whole situation strained the relationship between Crosby and the Raiders,according to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, who reported on Jan. 3 that Las Vegas was expected to be open to trading Crosby this offseason. It was reported last week that Crosby told minority owner Tom Brady he won't be playing for the Raiders again. The star edge rusher isexpected to attract a massive amount of interest in the trade marketif that's the case.

But perhaps Crosby and the Raiders have ironed some things out.

After the Las Vegas Raidersfired Pete Carroll last month, Crosbyshared plenty of kind words about the head coach. And now he's already met his new one, Klint Kubiak.

Coming off a dominant win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, the former Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator was introduced as the Raiders' frontman on Tuesday.

Kubiaktold reportersthat he got a cup of coffee with Crosby that morning.

"Love talking ball with him and look forward to continuing those conversations," Kubiak said. "I think he was the first one in here this morning working out, so that fired me up."

Kubiak was then asked about how important it's going to be for Crosby to quickly buy into Kubiak's head-coaching vision, given how much credibility the defensive stalwart has in the Vegas locker room.

"We want him to be a part of our success going forward," Kubiak said. "There's no doubt about that. He's one of the best players in the NFL. So that's a no-brainer to get to work with Maxx and to see him continue to have success with this organization."

Last year,the Raiders signed Crosby to three-year extension reportedly worth $106.5 million, a deal that, at the time, made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

That title has since been passed multiple times.

Crosby has been with the organization for seven seasons. The Raiders selected him out of Eastern Michigan in the fourth round of the 2019 draft. They were still in Oakland back then.

He's finished with at least 10 sacks four times, including during the 2025 campaign, despite its premature end.

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February 10, 2026

Klint Kubiak wants Maxx Crosby to be part of Raiders' success: 'That's a no-brainer'

Maxx Crosby wasn't happy with how this past season ended. Not only did his Las Vegas Raiders finish 3-14, butthe...

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J Balvin Reveals He Watches Horror Movies to Help Him Fall Asleep

Michael Tullberg/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• J Balvin revealed that watching horror movies helps him fall asleep

• The reggaeton artist also opened up about his shift in perspective to Haute Living for their latest cover story

• "It just feels like something changed in me, and I love it," Balvin said

J Balvinis sharing the trick that helps him sleep.

Whilespeaking toHaute Livingfor their latest cover story, the reggaeton artist revealed the unconventional method he uses to fall asleep.

"People don't know that I watch horror movies to sleep," J Balvin, whose real name is José Balvín, told the outlet.

"I don't let that energy come to me — I just let it pass. I'm having fun," Balvin added.

Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty

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The Colombian singer, who has been open about his mental health issues in the past, shared that watching horror films is one of many things that have helped relieve the pressure of being a global superstar. "We always struggle with our mental health. The fact that I'm medicated helps me more," he said.

Balvin noted that he's experienced a change in perspective since turning 40. "I'm watching life in a different way," he explained. "Things that used to matter and make a lot of noise in my mind don't bother me the same way."

Amy Sussman/Getty

In a 2025 interview with PEOPLE,Balvin opened up about his struggles with mental healthand how being a celebrity made it difficult to be honest about what he was going through.

"For a long time, especially as an artist, there was pressure to always look strong, like life was perfect. But that's not real," he said. "We're all human, we all go through it. My advice, don't keep it in. When you're dealing with anxiety or depression, it can feel like you're alone or like you're a burden, but you're not. The people who love you want to help, so give them a chance. Just being honest about how you feel can change everything."

Balvin shared that getting diagnosed with depression and anxiety was a relief " because it gave me a name for what I was fighting."

"My mom, [girlfriend] Valentina, my son Rio — they give me the reason and the strength to keep going, to be disciplined, to fight for my health and come back stronger," he said.

Along with spending time with loved ones, Balvin said staying active and making music helps him mentally.

"It's a way to say what I can't always put into words," he said. "I try to make music that reflects me, not just the artist, but the human behind it. And if someone connects with that, feels seen or less alone, then that's the most powerful part."

Read the original article onPeople

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February 10, 2026

J Balvin Reveals He Watches Horror Movies to Help Him Fall Asleep

Michael Tullberg/Getty NEED TO KNOW J Balvin revealed that watching horror movies helps him fall asleep The reggaeton artist also opened...

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50 Cent Weighs in on Cardi B and Stefon Diggs' Rumored Relationship Issues: 'Lost This and the Super Bowl'

Jason Koerner/Getty; Taylor Hill/FilmMagic; Anna Webber/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• 50 Cent offered his thoughts on the breakup chatter surrounding Cardi B and Stefon Diggs split in an Instagram post

• "Can you imagine waking up this morning and you done lost this b!tch and the Super Bowl?" he captioned an edited photo of the rapper and the NFL star

• Split speculation began circulating Monday when fans of the couple noticed that they no longer follow each other on Instagram

50 Centis giving his two cents!

The 50-year-old rapper, born Curtis James Jackson III, offered his thoughts onthe split speculation surroundingCardi BandStefon Diggsin anInstagram poston Monday, Feb. 9.

"Can you imagine waking up this morning and you done lost this b!tch and the Super Bowl?" 50 Cent captioned his post that featured an edited photo of the rapper and the NFL star.

"I would tell everybody get away from me, have a drink and go back to sleep," he added, tagging his spirits brand, Branson Cognac.

Alexander Tamargo/Getty

Rumors of a breakupbegan circulating on Mondaywhen fans noticed thatthe couple no longer follow each other on Instagram. Their mutual unfollowing comes shortly after theNew England Patriots, for which Diggs, 32, is a wide receiver, lost the2026 Super Bowlto the Seattle Seahawks.

Cardi B, born Belcalis Almánzar, attended the major sporting event on Sunday, Feb. 8to make a cameo appearanceinBad Bunny's halftime show. She appeared to leave the stadium after the halftime show, as she posted an Instagram Stories video of herself singing from inside a car as the game was still going on.

The "Bodak Yellow" rapper, 33, was spotted at a Raising Cane's party held at the Proper Hotel later that night.

The day prior, Cardi B wasasked by ESPNat the Fanatics Super Bowl Party if she had a message for Diggs ahead of the big game, to which she deadpanned, "Good luck," in reply before walking away.

Earlier that week, on Feb. 3, Diggs was askedif he plans on proposing to the Grammy-winning artistwhile at a media event. "It's on the agenda, maybe, right? Right?" he said. "I gotta get mine first."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE'sfree daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Cardi B and Diggs made theirfirst official public appearancein May 2025 when they attended a New York Knicks playoff game. The rapperconfirmed their relationshipwhen she shared a photo on Instagram of them on the yacht the following month.

The twowelcomed a baby boylast November.

Speculation of their split comes nearly two months after Diggs wasaccused of slapping and choking a womanat his Massachusetts home. He has denied the allegations.

50 Cent, who released his last studio album in 2014, recently spoke withRolling Stoneabout hisfuture plans to make music. He said he's "excited" that fans want to hear more from him, but the timing needs to be right.

"Look, I'm going to make music. I'm excited that this is the feeling. The general consensus is they want to hear something new from me, right? You can have the best verse, but I don't think you should have the best verse at 50 years old," he shared. "Hip-hop is connected to youth culture and I think simplicity is a part of why it's the best music."

Read the original article onPeople

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February 10, 2026

50 Cent Weighs in on Cardi B and Stefon Diggs' Rumored Relationship Issues: 'Lost This and the Super Bowl'

Jason Koerner/Getty; Taylor Hill/FilmMagic; Anna Webber/Getty NEED TO KNOW 50 Cent offered his thoughts on the breakup chatter surroundi...

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