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On Feb. 9, the department announced that 17 measles cases had been reported throughout California, with the state's first outbreak since 2020 occurring in Shasta County. As of Tuesday, Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency officials had reported eight cases andidentified six locations where people may have been exposed to the disease.

"All of these individuals were either unvaccinated or had an unknown history of vaccination," the California Department of Public Health said in its announcement.

This news comes a week after the department released a health alert ot all healthcare professionals on Feb. 4, recommending they consider measles as a possible diagnosis if a person presents with a fever, rash, and other symptoms consistent with measles.

"As a pediatrician and parent, I encourage families to make sure everyone gets up to date on their MMR vaccine, if they haven't already," said Dr. Erica Pan, CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer in the press release. "CDPH continues to coordinate with, and support, local health departments in their responses to stop measles from spreading further in our communities."

The health department notes that Californiareportedmore than 95% measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) coverage among kindergarteners for the2024-2025 school year– the level of immunity needed to reduce the risk of community spread.

Where have cases been reported?

As of Feb. 10, 2026, local public health departments have identified measles cases in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside and Shasta counties.

Nine cases were linked to exposure in Southern California, possibly at Disneyland in Anaheim and at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) as people were traveling on Jan. 22 and 28, California Department of Public Health officials said on Feb. 3.

In Northern California, cases have increased recently after local officials announced eight cases.

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Health agencies identified several locations asplaces the patient went while being infectious:

• Highland Neighborhood Park, 555 Mill Valley Parkway in Redding, during a "capture the flag" game from noon to 4 p.m. on Jan. 23

• Ninja Coalition, 900 Dana Drive, Redding, from 2:30 p.m. to 5:20 p.m. on Jan. 23

• Osaka Sushi, 1340 Churn Creek Road in Redding, from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Jan. 23

• The former CrossPointe Church, 2960 Hartnell Ave. in Redding during a gym basketball game from 1:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 24

• Costco in Redding from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Jan. 24

• Churn Creek HealthCare clinic from 1:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 28

As California has been able to keep its measles outbreak within double-digits, the disease is breaking out across the nation, as South Carolina is experiencing one of the largest outbreaks in over 30 years, with nearly 920 associated cases reported.

"The United States is experiencing the highest numbers of measles cases, outbreaks, hospitalizations and deaths in more than 30 years, driven by populations with low vaccination rates," Pan said in the press release. "We all need to work together to share the medical evidence, benefits, and safety of vaccines to provide families the information they need to protect children and our communities."

What are the symptoms of measles?

Measles typically begins with a fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, usually about 7 to 14 days after exposure but can occur up to 21 days after contact with an infected person, according to the California Department of Public Health. The fever can reach 105 degrees.

Tiny white spots may appear inside the mouth two to three days after symptoms begin, according to the California Department of Public Health. A rash can form on the hairline and face two to four days after symptoms first appear.

The rash then spreads down the back and torso and extends into the arms, hands, legs, and feet, according to the California Department of Public Health. After about five days, the rash fades in the same order in which it appeared.

"The MMR vaccine provides the best protection against disease and serious illness," according to the California Department of Public Health.

If an individual believes they or a family member may have been exposed to the disease, they should contact their family's health care provider or thelocal health department.

Noe Padilla is a Northern California Reporter for USA Today. Contact him atnpadilla@usatodayco.com, follow him on X @1NoePadillaor on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social.Sign up for theTODAY Californian newsletteror follow us on Facebook atTODAY Californian.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Measles cases grow in California, health department urges vaccinations

This means Valentine's Day could be a total washout for millions.

While the fine details are still uncertain, it looks as if this system will bring more rain than snow.

We will break down what we know now, then continue to tweak as the forecast becomes clearer in the coming days.

Friday

The storm system will take shape across the Southwest, as an area of low pressure tracks across the southern half of the country.

The focus on Friday will be from the Four Corners to the Southern Plains.

Winter weather will be possible for the Southern Rockies, and even a wintry mix as far south as the higher elevations of Arizona and New Mexico. Meanwhile, showers will be possible from southern Arizona to Arkansas. The heaviest rain is expected across portions of the Southwest. We could even see a few thunderstorms.

Saturday

As the system shifts eastward on Saturday, the impacts could be far-reaching. From the Deep South to portions of the Plains and mid-South there could be rain. Thunderstorms could be possible as well, mainly across the Gulf Coast.

This includes everyone trying to get out for Valentine's Day and the more than one million people expected to fill the streets of New Orleans for Mardi Gras parades this weekend.

The Weather Prediction Center has even highlighted an area fromTexas to Tennessee, with Arkansas right in the crosshairs of excessive rainfall. The heavy downpours could lead to flash flooding in these areas.

With the warmer than average temperatures dominating much of this region this week, the forecast for Saturday seems to be primarily liquid form, as temperatures won't be cold enough to support snow.

However, that could change overnight.

Sunday

As the system shifts further eastward on Sunday, the forecast calls for precipitation pretty much everywhere east of the Mississippi River.

We could see heavy rain anywhere from the Gulf Coast to the Southeast to the Ohio Valley, with thunderstorms possible across the Southeast.

This is where the models are having a hard time deciding on how much cold air will be available for snow. We could see a quick shot of winter weather in the higher elevations of the Appalachians and Northeast, but how much is still uncertain.

Folks along the busy I-95 corridor need to pay attention to how this forecast evolves, because there's a chance we could see another round of snow or a wintry mix Sunday into Monday.

Pinpointing exactly where the snow will fall and how much is still uncertain, but at the very least, we could see a quick shot of snow for these locations.

Monday

This system will wrap up Monday as it heads offshore, however, snow could linger for the big cities in the Northeast. This could mean messy morning commutes as what's left of the winter weather moves away.

We aren't expecting high snowfall totals at this point, and there's quite a bit of uncertainty with this, considering we are still 5 days away. But we will keep you posted on any changes.

Why There's Uncertainty

As I mentioned earlier, there's quite a bit of uncertainty with this forecast. We know there will be impactful weather, just knowing exactly who will see what is the challenge.

The reason for this is the uncertainty in exactly how far north or south the low will track.

If the low tracks further to the north, then it will be able to tap into colder air, which means we will see more ice and snow for the northern cities.

If the low takes a more southern track, then it will encounter warmer air, and therefore, the storm will be more of a rainmaker than a snowmaker.

Regardless, if you live in the eastern half of the country, make sure you have a Plan B for any outdoor weekend plans, as it might make more sense to have a cozy Valentine's Day indoors this year.

Jennifer Grayis a weather and climate writer for weather.com. She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.

A sizable majority of Americanswant significant changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement — but while they largely disapprove of ICE and say its tactics have gone too far, the country is divided over just how much to reform the agency and how to handle immigration policy broadly, according to a new survey.

The new NBC News Decision Desk Poll powered by SurveyMonkey finds nearly 3 in 4 U.S. adults support some changes to ICE, with 29% saying it should be abolished outright. Approval of President Donald Trump's sweeping deportation policies dropped steeply after federal agents killed two Americans last month in Minneapolis.

Meanwhile, Congress is debating federal funding for the agency, and a potential shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security looms at the end of the week, with congressional Democrats taking issue with agents' tactics, clashes with protesters and questions surrounding due process for the targets of immigration enforcement.

RELATED: Poll: Trump's ratings on immigration tumble as Americans lose confidence in his top issue

A plurality of Americans (43%) say ICE should be reformed, while 29% say it should be abolished, and 29% say it should continue in its current form. The survey of U.S. adults was conducted from Jan. 27 to Friday, after the shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, and it has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.4 percentage points.

Views about the future of ICE also fell along partisan lines, with most Republicans (71%) saying it should continue in its current form, while Democrats and independents say it should be reformed or abolished. A majority of independents said the agency should be reformed but not abolished, while Democrats were almost evenly split between those two options. The issue has become alitmus test in a growing number of Democratic primariesahead of the midterm elections.

A push among Democrats to abolish ICE emerged around the 2018 midterms in response to Trump's first-term immigration policies, gaining purchase particularly among progressive candidates and activists. Enthusiasm for the push died down during the Biden administration, when Democratic border policies turned into a political advantage for Republicans.

But Democrats have grownnewly emboldened by the public sentiment to demand, at minimum, an overhaul of ICE.

A quarter of Republicans said ICE should be reformed, with 5% saying it should be abolished altogether. That group was largely made up of Republicans who view themselves more as supporters of the Republican Party as opposed to viewing themselves as supporters of Trump's Make America Great Again movement.

The public and legislative push for changes to ICE comes as federal immigration agents have faced criticism for their tactics in detaining and deporting undocumented immigrants. A spate of polling in recent months has reinforced howpublic sentiment has turned against the Trump administrationon immigration enforcement.In a recent interview, "NBC Nightly News" anchor Tom Llamas asked Trump what he had learned from Minneapolis. "Maybe we could use a little bit of a softer touch," Trump said.

"But you still have to be tough," he continued.

Two-thirds of Americans (67%) say ICE and Customs and Border Patrol personnel's tactics have gone "too far," while 23% say they have been about right, and 10% say they have not gone far enough.

And 66% of Americans disapprove of how ICE is handling its job, while 34% approve.

Again, views of ICE and its tactics are politically polarized, though with some notable divisions among Republicans.

Overwhelming shares of independents (81%) and Democrats (97%) say federal agents' immigration tactics have gone too far, while a majority of Republicans (57%) say they have been about right.

But 21% of Republicans say they have gone too far, while a similar share of Republicans also disapproves of how ICE is handling its job. They are likelier to be more aligned with the traditional party than the MAGA movement.

The White House is negotiating with congressional Democrats over future funding for the Department of Homeland Security ahead of a deadline of Friday.

Democratic leaders have saidthey will not support new funding without certain reformsto the department. Measures they have floated include requiring judicial warrants for any actions on private property, banning officers from wearing face masks while requiring them to wear identification, and guaranteeing rights and treatment of those detained.

Sixty-three percent of adults disapprove of federal immigration officers' and agents' wearing masks during recent enforcement activities, including 49% who say they "strongly disapprove," compared with 37% who approve. More than 90% of Democrats and 75% of independents disapprove of their wearing masks, compared with 18% of Republicans.

An overwhelming majority of adults, 87%, believe federal officers should not be "granted immunity from prosecution for any unlawful activity during immigration enforcement actions." Vast majorities of basically every demographic say the same, including more than 9 in 10 independents and Democrats, as well as 73% of Republicans.

While there is some agreement over those dynamics, Americans remain deeply divided over immigration policy.

Asked more broadly whether undocumented citizens should be offered a chance to apply for citizenship or deported to the countries they came from, Americans broke two-thirds for a pathway to citizenship and one-third for deportations.

Majorities of Democrats and independents backed a pathway to citizenship, but the question also revealed a notable divide among Republicans.

While just 18% of MAGA supporters preferred a pathway to citizenship, 41% of those who identify more as supporters of the Republican Party wanted to see one.

The NBC News Decision Desk Poll powered by SurveyMonkey surveyed 21,995 adults online from Jan. 27 to Feb. 6 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.4 percentage points. Percentages may not add up to 100 due to rounding.

"I've been doing this for 22 years, OK," she said with a laugh. "Muscle memory is a thing. I might be better at snowboarding then I am at walking."

So, nah, "Didn't feel rusty."

Few could argue after watching Kim sail into the Olympic finals on Thursday, Feb. 12, by winning the morning halfpipe qualifying, on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Her showstopping, high-flying first run earned a 90.25 score, best among an Olympic field of 24 riders in the women's halfpipe – who each got two runs.

It was a statement from Kim, an unmistakable indication that this is still her stage and her medal to lose. And thatdislocating her shoulder last monthwon't be an insurmountable obstacle in the 25-year-old American's quest to become snowboarding's first back-to-back-to-back Olympic gold medalist.

"My shoulder has been really good. She's been very well-behaved, so I'm grateful for that," Kim said afterward. "We haven't had any hiccups. I've been working relentlessly on getting it as strong as possible, and obviously, the shoulder brace is really helpful."

Team USA advanced three of its four women's halfpipe entrants to the finals. Maddie Mastro (86.00) was third, looking every bit a legit medal contender, while Bea Kim (76.75) made it into the 12 finalists with a 10th-place finish.

Much of the attention, though, in this qualifying round was going to Chloe Kim, given her superstar status in the sports world and the recency of her shoulder injury. It reportedly wasn't as bad as it could have been, but it was enough to sideline her from training during a time when Olympic snowboarders certainly don't want to be idle.

"A little disappointing," she said, "because, obviously, going to the Olympics, I want to be very, very ready and very prepared."

So it wasn't clear if shewouldbe ready. Questions about just what to expect from Chloe Kim in this first Olympic run were fair given the circumstances.

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Then she went out and crushed it.

She looked like, well, Chloe Kim. Such a rare talent on display. Few other competitors in this field would be able to match the height and amplitude Kim brings in the halfpipe.

It's a breathtaking sight. It was again this time, expected or not.

"Anyone who has been tuned into snowboarding for as long as Chloe Kim has been around knows that she's going to go all out, give everyone a show," USA teammate Bea Kim said. "That's what she did."

What's scary for the rest of this halfpipe finals field is Chloe Kim said she didn't even throw her best stuff in this introductory Olympics performance. Maybe a couple of aspects were in there that'll be in her planned finals run, she said, but much of what's to come hasn't been seen yet.

She also insisted that she isn't feeling as much pressure this time around, "because I'm just happy to be here – truly" after the shoulder injury put her 2026 Olympics in question.

"I'm just so happy that I made it," she said, "especially this time around. I honestly feel like I wasn't as nervous as the previous ones."

As for the possibility of producing snowboarding's first Olympic three-peat?

"I guess it's a cool title," Chloe Kim said in understated fashion. "But I think even after Beijing (in 2022), I'm so satisfied with my career. If you asked me before (the) shoulder injury, I'd maybe have a different answer for you. But just because I'm coming back from an injury, (and) obviously didn't get nearly the amount of reps I normally would get going into the Olympics, I'm just really proud of myself and proud that I've been able to push it as far I have.

"We'll see how it goes down tomorrow night, but I feel confident."

Reach sports columnist Gentry Estes at gestes@gannett.com and hang out with him on Bluesky @gentryestes.bsky.social

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Chloe Kim is different, and her 2026 Olympic debut reminded everyone

Drone cameras have been used at the Olympics before, but new technology is allowing first-person view drones to bring viewers closer to the action than ever before, particularly in winter events like the luge, skiing and snowboarding. This new level of detail has also come with some concerns, though it appears the dynamic views produced thus far are worth the potential problems.

"We look at this as an evolution of the sport. The expectation today is to have this kind of experience when you consume a sports event, even more so for the Olympic Games," IOC sports directorPierre Ducrey told Reuters earlier this week. "We strive to offer the best viewing experience whether in the stadium or outside."

Here's more on the drone cameras that are all the rage at the 2026 Winter Olympics:

Athletes have flocked to Italy to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics. See the most stunning images from the Milano Cortina games.

Sofiia Dovhal of Poland and Wiktor Kulesza of Poland in action during the Milano Cortina 2026 figure skating team event Feb. 6, 2026.

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Incredible photos from 2026 Winter Olympics

Athletes have flocked to Italy to compete in the2026 Winter Olympics. See the most stunning images from the Milano Cortina games.Sofiia Dovhal of Poland and Wiktor Kulesza of Poland in action during the Milano Cortina 2026 figure skating team event Feb. 6, 2026.

IN DEPTH:Curler Danny Casper living with Guillain-Barré syndrome at the Olympics

2026 Winter Olympics drone cameras, explained

Drone cameras have been used at the Olympics dating back at least a decade, but the development of first-person view drones has been deemed "a game changer" for the viewing experience byNBC officials, especially in speed sports.

These FPV drones can cover great distances and safely travel up to 75 mph while maintaining broadcast quality. They've also been used to provide aerial coverage as athletes move at high speeds. They weigh just 250 grams (or less than one pound), according to one Olympics drone operator featured inan NBC social media video.

The drone footage at the#WinterOlympicsyou've all been waiting for! 👏pic.twitter.com/GGGiX50b23

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics)February 10, 2026

Each drone is operated by a three-person team – a pilot, a director and a technician – that manage the camera's flight path,according to The Washington Post. The drone can go close to an athlete, but not over them. Each drone has a broadcast camera and broadcast transmitter attached to it.

Wired reportedthe FPV cameras are typically controlled by goggle-style camera views with intuitive controllers, like a virtual reality headset rig. As a result, these are the first Olympic Games to offer 360-degree real-time replay.

"When a camera is chasing the athlete down the hill – right in front of them or right behind them – you truly get the sense of how fast they're going," Michael Sheehan, the coordinating director for NBC's Olympic coverage, told The Washington Post. "That's virtually impossible to capture with a wide shot shooting from the side. The drone coverage takes us to a place we've traditionally never been."

The drone shots in NBC's alpine ski coverage have been such a game-changer. I've never watched an Olympics with such a clear view of how fast and how steep these downhill runs are. The drones help you feel that on a different level.

— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling)February 10, 2026

Why 2026 Winter Olympics drone cameras can be controversial

Though the dynamic camera angles created by FPV drones is giving fans a view of the Winter Olympics they've never seen before, it does comes with some potential drawbacks.

Most notably, the high-pitched whirring noise created by drones has been audible during broadcasts and it's ever-present for spectators attending outdoor events in which a drone camera is being utilized. It has led to social media complaints akin to the vuvuzela controversy at the 2010 World Cup.

Trying to watch the men's downhill ski in the@Olympicsand this drone they are using to follow the skiers is extremely annoying with the high pitch whine sound it outputs. I hate it

— KapG (@TheKapG)February 7, 2026

That constant drone noise at the Olympics is the new vuvuzela.pic.twitter.com/zT8rl5wMO3

— Lauri Hänninen (@Lahannin)February 8, 2026

Some athletes have also expressed concerns about how close these drones get to them while competing. So far, however, this hasn't created major problems.The BBC reportedone of the drones crash-landed in the first downhill skiing training session and left debris on the course.

"We tested drones before competitions, we have listened to the athletes' community ... so that the impact would not affect their performances, would not bother them in any way," Milano Cortina Olympics Sports Director Anna Riccardi told Reuters.

"Each athlete has a different level of sensitivity, awareness and capability for tackling innovation," she added. "So far we have not received any complaints that might lead to the non-use of drones in the future."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:2026 Winter Olympics drone cameras: What to know, how they work