For: February 19, 2026
>>Ahead Of The Bell
(New York, NY) -- The opening bell rings this morning after stocks closed higher on Wall Street Wednesday. It comes as traders digested the latest minutes from the Federal Reserve's most recent policy meeting, which showed that the central bank's decision to hold its benchmark rate steady was largely approved. Elsewhere, Nvidia's shares saw a boost after Meta announced on Tuesday it would be using the company's chips in its data center buildout. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 129 points to 49-662. The S&P 500 jumped 38 points to 68-81. The Nasdaq soared 175 points to 22-753.
>>Zuckerberg Testifies In Social Media Trial
(Los Angeles, CA) -- Mark Zuckerberg took the stand Wednesday in a landmark trial that continues today in Los Angeles involving social media addiction and kids. The Meta CEO has appeared before Congress about his platforms, but this marks the first time he's had to testify in a jury trial. The plaintiff in the case - a young woman - sued TikTok, YouTube and Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, claiming she became addicted to the social media sites as a kid and has experienced anxiety and depression as a result. Snapchat and TikTok previously settled out of court. The verdict could impact outcome of 16-hundred other pending social media addiction cases across the U.S.
>>California's Richest Residents Work To Stop Billionaire's Tax
(Sacramento, CA) -- Some of California's richest residents are working to stop a proposed tax that would take five percent of their wealth in a one-time payment. They are backing ballot measures to block the tax, and one campaign has already raised more than 30-million dollars. Some organizers are also paying people up to 12 dollars for each signature collected for the effort. Some wealthy Californians are reportedly moving out of state to avoid possible new taxes.
>>Two Tax Credits May Delay Your Refund
(Undated) -- A couple of tax credits could delay your refunds this year. Early filers may have to wait a little longer than they planned if they claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit. According to H&R Block, the IRS did not release refunds until after February 15th as it gave the agency time to stop payment release of any false filings. The delayed distribution is part of the 2015 Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act, and the IRS advises checking the Where's My Refund tool in mid- to late-February for a personalized refund date.
>>Boeing To Relocate Defense Headquarters To St. Louis
(Berkeley, MO) -- Boeing's defense headquarters is heading back to St. Louis area. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth made the announcement Wednesday during a visit to the aerospace giant's campus in the St. Louis suburb of Berkeley. Boeing's Defense, Space, and Security headquarters was located in Berkeley for two decades before being moved to Arlington, Virginia in 2017. Hegseth said he's pleased the headquarters is returning to what he called "the heartland of America."
>>Paul Allen Estate Puts Seahawks Up For Sale
(Seattle, WA) -- The Seattle Seahawks are officially for sale. There was reporting before the Super Bowl that the team would be sold, but it was denied by Paul Allen's estate. ESPN reported the team could sell for a record seven or eight billion dollars. Winning the Super Bowl could add value. The process of the sale will continue during the off-season. NFL owners need to ratify the sale. Paul Allen's estate requires that the team be sold.
