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Oklahoma declares state of emergency due to wildfires: ‘Conditions remain dangerous’

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(BEAVER COUNTY, Okla.) — The Oklahoma governor declared a state of emergency on Wednesday due to multiple wildfires in the state’s panhandle region, as critical fire weather conditions persist in the region.

A “series of destructive wildfires” is burning across northwest Oklahoma, the governor’s office said.

The largest, the Ranger Road Fire, has burned 145,000 acres since igniting in Oklahoma’s Beaver County on Tuesday and crossing into Kansas, according to fire officials. It was 0% contained as of Wednesday morning, according to the Oklahoma Forestry Services.

Additional local task forces are being deployed to Beaver County, the governor’s office said Wednesday.

Three other “significant” wildfires in Oklahoma’s Texas and Woodward counties were 20% to 25% contained as of Wednesday morning, according to fire officials.

Four firefighters were injured and several homes destroyed in the wildfire in Woodward County, according to Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt.

The town of Tyrone in Texas County was also evacuated earlier Wednesday “as a precaution,” Stitt said.

The governor’s executive order stated that the state’s emergency operations plan has been activated and resources of all state departments and agencies are available “to meet this emergency.”

“As we head into today and tomorrow, conditions remain dangerous,” Stitt said in a statement Wednesday. “We need every Oklahoman to stay alert and continue taking fire warnings seriously.”

A red flag warning is in effect Wednesday across western and central Oklahoma and west of the I-35 corridor, according to the Oklahoma Forestry Services. The critical threat of fire danger is expected to continue into Thursday.

“Fire weather conditions will expand eastward across a larger part of Oklahoma as high winds combine with low humidity across most of the state,” the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management said Wednesday.

Red flag warnings, fire weather watches and high wind warnings are also in effect across Kansas.

“There should be NO outdoor burning of any kind until this event is over, as the slightest ember could become tomorrow’s inferno,” the Kansas Division of Emergency Management said on social media.

Get down in the ‘Arkansas Mud’ with Ashley McBryde

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

A new piece of Ashley McBryde’s upcoming fifth album will arrive on Friday.

“We’ve all filed an edge down here or there at someone else’s request,” she wrote on Instagram. “‘Arkansas Mud’ is about rediscovering and re-honing those edges. Bite back.”

Of course, the title of the new track references Ashley’s home state. “Arkansas Mud” follows her radio single “What If We Don’t,” which came out in January.

Ashley continues her Redemption Residency at Chief’s on Broadway in Nashville with two Postcards from Lindeville shows that kick off Thursday.

Yungblud releasing ‘Idols II’ album on Friday

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Yungblud will be releasing a new album called Idols II on Friday.

As its title suggests, the upcoming record is a sequel to the English artist’s latest effort, 2025’s Idols.

The Idols II track list includes six new songs, plus the updated version of the original Idols single “Zombie” featuring The Smashing Pumpkins.

Yungblud first announced Idols as a double album project in May. The first part dropped in June.

“We turn to others for an identity before turning to ourselves,” Yungblud said at the time. “Self-belief, self-reclamation, self-evolution and change. As we grow up, we lose our belief in magic and mystery. We begin to rationalize everything; our cage walls build up. We compare ourselves to 15 different people before we’ve even had our breakfast.”

Yungblud will launch a U.S. tour in May.

Taylor Swift named biggest-selling artist in the world for fourth consecutive year

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Taylor Swift was the top-selling artist in the world in 2025, marking her fourth consecutive year with the title.

That’s according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, which represents the recorded music industry business around the world. The IFPI also notes that this marks the sixth time Taylor’s won the title: as many times as all other artists combined over the past 10 years.

In 2025, Taylor dominated the streaming, physical and digital music formats thanks to her album The Life of a Showgirl and her Disney+ documentary The End of an Era.

“Taylor Swift’s sixth IFPI Global Artist of the Year award is a truly historic achievement,” IFPI CEO Victoria Oakley said in a statement.

Other artists among IFPI’s top-10 biggest global artists of 2025 include Bad Bunny, Morgan Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Eilish and Lady Gaga, who was in the top 10 for the first time since 2020.

Further down the list were Ariana Grande, Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber. Ed’s back on the list for the first time since 2023, while Justin made it for the first time since 2021.

DJ Khaled to headline Big 12 conference afterparty

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

DJ Khaled has been tapped to headline the official afterparty for the Big 12 Conference, a premier NCAA Division I athletic conference. He’ll perform at the KC Live! stage in Kansas City, Missouri. Fans must follow the Big 12‘s social media for more information on how to get access to tickets for the free show.

“The Big 12 Tournament is one of the biggest and best. I’m looking forward to bringing that energy to the Tournament After Party with a performance and connecting with the fans,” Khaled said in a statement. “Young world, the world is yours—you are now and you are the future! Keep going! WE THE BEST!”

“We are continually investing in ways to elevate the Big 12 Basketball Tournaments and deliver an unforgettable experience for our fans,” added Big 12 chief brand and business officer Tyrel Kirkham. “DJ Khaled is an incredible performer and we know he will put on a high-energy show.”

The Big 12 basketball tournament afterparty takes place on March 14.

Darius Rucker’s one-night-only big band performance

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Darius Rucker’s stepping out with a symphony in his hometown.

The country star and Hootie & the Blowfish frontman will play the Darius Rucker Big Band Gala April 7 at the Gaillard Center in Charleston. He’ll be joined by the Robert Lewis Orchestra.

“These big band shows are some of my favorite nights as it’s the only time I get to perform so many of the standards we all grew up listening to with the backing of such an incredible orchestra,” Darius says. “It’s all to benefit incredible non-profit work locally.”

Proceeds go to fund music education in Charleston County Schools through the CMA Foundation, and to the Carolyn G. Rucker Nursing Scholarship at MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital, which honors Darius’ mother.

Tickets go on sale Friday.

U2 releases surprise EP, ‘U2 – Days of Ash’

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

U2 has surprised fans with some new music.

The Irish rockers just released a new six-track EP, U2 – Days of Ash. It features five new songs and a poem, with a guest appearance by Ed Sheeran and Ukrainian musician-turned-soldier Taras Topolia.

The EP is described in a press release as “an immediate response to current events and inspired by the many extraordinary and courageous people fighting on the frontlines of freedom.” It comes ahead of a new U2 record, expected in late 2026.

“It’s been a thrill having the four of us back together in the studio over the last year … the songs on Days of Ash are very different in mood and theme to the ones we’re going to put on our album later in the year,” Bono said in a statement. “These EP tracks couldn’t wait; these songs were impatient to be out in the world. They are songs of defiance and dismay, of lamentation.”

“I believe these new songs stand up to our best work,” Larry Mullen Jr. added, with Adam Clayton offering, “I’m excited about these new songs, it feels like they’re arriving at the right time.”

Songs on the EP include “American Obituary,” written in response to the death of Minneapolis resident Renee Good at the hands of federal agents, and “Yours Eternally,” which features Sheeran and Topolia. The latter song will be accompanied by a documentary, directed by Ukrainian cinematographer and filmmaker Ilya Mikhaylus. It will be released Feb. 24 to coincide with the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

U2 – Days of Ash is available now via digital outlets, with lyric videos for all the songs on YouTube. Here is the track list:
“American Obituary”
“The Tears of Things”
“Song of the Future”
“Wildpeace” – by Yehuda Amichai, read by Adeola, with music by U2 and Jacknife Lee
“One Life At a Time”
“Yours Eternally” (ft. Ed Sheeran & Taras Topolia)

‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ gets season 4 official trailer, Demi Engemann absent from key art

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

The official trailer for season 4 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives has arrived.

In addition to the brand-new trailer, Hulu has released the key art for the upcoming season — and it’s missing a Mormon wife. Despite being listed as part of the main cast, Demi Engemann is absent from the newly released season 4 key art photos.

This new season of the show finds the women of #MomTok more famous than ever. It follows Taylor Frankie Paul as she is announced to star as the lead in a new season of The Bachelorette. It also takes place during the same time that Jen Affleck and Whitney Leavitt were competing against each other on Dancing with the Stars.

That competition “creates chaos, temptations arise, and tradition turns upside down,” according to the official season 4 synopsis. “Up against unraveling marriages, personal demons and family secrets — they must choose to lean on each other or face their fates untethered and alone on the world’s stage. Will the women remain loyal to their sisterhood to save it? Or will #MomTok shatter forever?”

The two-minute trailer sets up exactly what the Mormon wives have been up to since the season 3 reunion. Paul says it has been a year since she broke up with her ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen, and that she’s ready to get back out there.

“I’m not good at dating,” the soon-to-be Bachelorette Paul says, which prompts Maci Neeley to say in return, “You’re about to date 30 people at one time!”

In addition to Paul, Affleck, Leavitt, Enegmann and Neeley, season 4 stars Jessi Draper, Layla Taylor, Mikayla Matthews and Miranda Hope.

Unruly passenger detained after incident on Delta flight, police say

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(HOUSTON) — A man has been detained by police after allegedly exhibiting “unruly and unlawful behavior towards other customers” that caused a flight to return to Houston shortly after taking off, according to Delta Airlines and law enforcement.

The flight, departing from William P. Hobby Airport, was headed to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

“The safety of our customers and crew is paramount, and Delta has zero tolerance for unruly behavior. We apologize to our customers for this experience and delay in their travels,” Delta said in a statement on Wednesday.

After taking off, it landed at the William P. Hobby Airport in Houston around 5:40 a.m. local time, according to the FAA. The flight was only in the air for about 15 minutes.

Earlier reports and air traffic controller audio alleged the man was attempting to breach the cockpit of a Delta Airlines flight but Delta said he “did not make contact with or attempt to access the flight deck,” in a statement to ABC News.

A call reporting that “apparently an individual tried to gain entry into a cockpit” was made at around 5:35 a.m., according to the Houston Police Department. Police officers were dispatched to Gate 32 at the airport, where multiple police cars surrounded the aircraft, according to KTRK.

On air traffic controller audio, one of the pilots can be heard telling controllers, “we had a passenger get up and try to access the cockpit,” and that “he assaulted another passenger,” who the pilot said they wanted to get checked out.

Video reviewed and verified by ABC News shows a passenger whose hands are bound being escorted off a Delta flight 2557 on Wednesday morning in Houston.

The FAA said the flight “returned safely” to Hobby “after the crew reported a passenger disturbance.” The FAA said it will investigate the incident.

There were 85 passengers and five crew on board the plane. The flight re-departed and arrived in Atlanta, about 90 minutes behind schedule, Delta said.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Mark Zuckerberg takes the stand in landmark trial over social media addiction claims

February 18, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — Mark Zuckerberg took the stand on Wednesday in a landmark Los Angeles trial alleging that major social media platforms were intentionally designed to be addictive for children and teens.

The case, which began last Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, centers on claims against Meta — the parent company of Facebook and Instagram — and YouTube, which is owned by Google. Plaintiffs argue the companies knowingly built features that encouraged compulsive use among young users, contributing to long-term mental health harm.

The lawsuit was brought by a now-20-year-old woman identified as “Kaley” and her mother, who allege she was exposed to addictive design features as a child. Her lawyers claim she got hooked on social media apps starting as young as age 6. She says features like auto-scrolling got her addicted to the platforms — ultimately leading to anxiety, depression and body image issues.

In opening statements, the plaintiffs’ attorney Mark Lanier told the jury the case was “as easy as ABC,” which he said stood for “addicting the brains of children.”

The case is the first of more than 1,500 similar lawsuits nationwide to go before a jury, potentially setting a precedent for how tech companies are held liable for product design.

Zuckerberg has appeared before Congress multiple times to address concerns over youth safety and online harms, but Wednesday marks the first time he will testify before a jury on these claims.

Several parents of children who died by suicide or accidental harm linked to online trends are expected to attend the proceedings. Some previously watched Zuckerberg apologize during a 2024 Capitol Hill hearing, where he acknowledged families who said social media contributed to their children’s deaths.

The companies deny the allegations, arguing that mental health outcomes are shaped by a range of factors beyond social media use. They say they have implemented safeguards aimed at protecting young users, including parental controls and accounts designed specifically for teens.

In a statement to ABC News at the start of the trial, a Meta spokesperson said, “We strongly disagree with these allegations and are confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people.”

Meta said that the company has made “meaningful changes” to its services, such as introducing accounts specifically for teenage users.

Zuckerberg’s appearance follows testimony last week from Instagram head Adam Mosseri, who disputed characterizing Instagram use as an “addiction,” while acknowledging what he described as “problematic use.”

Mosseri testified that there’s always a tradeoff between “safety and speech,” saying users don’t like it when they remove options from Instagram.

The Los Angeles trial is part of a broader wave of litigation targeting social media companies. Meta is also facing a separate child safety lawsuit in New Mexico, while lawsuits brought by school districts — modeled after tobacco litigation in the 1990s — are expected to head to trial later this year.

Social platforms Snapchat and TikTok were previously named in the lawsuit but reached settlements with the plaintiffs last month.

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