UR MAG

PHOENIX (AP) — Chris Nanos has had a long career in law enforcement, but he admits he isn't used to the amount of scrutiny that has come withleading the investigationinto the disappearance of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie's mother.

Savannah Guthrie Mom Missing

At news conferences since 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie's apparent abduction from her Tucson-area home, the soft-spoken sheriff of Pima County, Arizona, has tried to walk the line between keeping the public informed while withholdinginvestigation detailsthat only the person who took her would know. He's acknowledged the approach sometimes falls short.

"I'm not used to everyone hanging onto my every word and then holding me accountable for what I say," Nanos told reporters on the investigation's third day.

Nowin its second week, Nanos has also acknowledged missteps, including that he probably should have waited longer to relinquish Nancy Guthrie's home to her family after his detectives finished combing through it for evidence. Before authorities resecured the scene, journalists had walked up to the front door to photograph blood droplets that the sheriff said were Guthrie's.

And critics, including a fellow Democrat, called him out for going to a University of Arizona basketball game last weekend while the victim was still missing.

"That does not look good," said Dr. Matt Heinz, a Democrat who serves on the county's government board. "I mean, dude, watch the game at home. Read the room."

The sheriff's office didn't respond to a request for comment on the criticism over Nanos' appearance at the game.

Nancy Guthrie was last seen at home Jan. 31 and was reported missing the next day. On Tuesday, authorities released surveillance videos of someone approaching her door wearing a gun holster, ski mask and a backpack, marking the first significant break in the case. The videos — less than a combined minute in length — gave investigators and the public their first glimpse of who was outside Guthrie's home, but they don't showwhat happened to heror help determine whether she is still alive.

Soon after the images were released, authoritiesdetained a manduring a traffic stop south of Tucson. He was questioned and later released.

Nanos, a native of El Paso, Texas, started with the sheriff's office as a detention officer in 1984 and steadily rose through the ranks to become second-in-command before being appointed sheriff in 2015 when his boss retired.

Before becoming sheriff, he took part in the investigation into one of Tucson's biggest tragedies: the 2011 mass shooting outside of a grocery store thatkilled six people and wounded 13 others, including then-U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords. At the time, Nanos was leading the agency's criminal investigations division and, in the days after the attack, was quoted in news accounts as authorities were piecing together a timeline of the attacker's movements.

As sheriff, Nanos has said his department won't enforce federal immigration law amidPresident Donald Trump's crackdownand that he will use his limited resources to focus on local crime and other public safety issues.

Advertisement

Even so, days before Guthrie's disappearance, Nanos' office helped investigate an exchange of gunfire between federal agents near the U.S.-Mexico border and a man accused of being involved in a smuggling operation. Authorities say the man, who was shot, had fired at a federal helicopter.

After his appointment as sheriff, Nanos lost the 2016 race to Republican Mark Napier but defeated Napier in 2020. He squeaked by in his 2024 reelection campaign, defeating Republican Heather Lappin by 481 votes in a race that wasn't without controversy.

Just weeks before Election Day, Lappin, who worked for the sheriff's department, was placed on administrative leave. In a lawsuit, she alleges Nanos did this to undermine her campaign by falsely accusing her of using her position for personal gain, which Lappin denies.

Heinz, the county board member, said he thinks the late-in-the-campaign administrative action against Lappin likely affected the race's outcome, given the narrow margin of victory.

As for the Guthrie investigation, Heinz said he understands how law enforcement leaders want to be transparent with the public about investigations. But he also said it's "equally important not to get out there in front of a bunch of cameras and talk when there's not really anything actionable or helpful or of interest."

Others haven't been so quick to knock Nanos' handling of the investigation.

Tom Morrissey, a retired chief U.S. marshal and former chairman of the Arizona Republican Party, said he wouldn't criticize Nanos, saying it can get complicated when trying to inform the public and still trying not to provide information that might help suspects.

"The perpetrator or perpetrators are watching what law enforcement is doing up close and personal, and it does impact their ability to avoid being discovered or arrested," Morrissey said.

In an interview Friday, Nanos acknowledged his annoyance with an Associated Press reporter's questions about the case, saying he was being asked about an element of the investigation that was the FBI's responsibility and questioned whether the journalist was trying to pit him against his federal partners.

He said he's doing his best to solve the case and demurred when asked to assess how he has handled it.

"I'm going to have people who think I'm doing a good job, and I'm going to have people think I am doing a bad job," Nanos said. "But that's what we have elections for."

Associated Press reporter Sejal Govindarao in Tucson contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The sudden and surprising airspace closure over El Paso, Texas, stemmed from the Pentagon's plans to test a laser for use in shooting down drones used by Mexican drug cartels, according to three people familiar with the situation who were granted anonymity to share sensitive details.

APTOPIX Mexico US Border

That caused friction with the Federal Aviation Administration, which wanted to ensure commercial air safety and the two agencies sought to coordinate, according to two of the people.

Despite a meeting scheduled later this month to discuss the issue, the Pentagon wanted to go ahead and test it, prompting the FAA to shutter the airspace. It was not clear whether the laser was ultimately deployed.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said earlier that a response to an incursion by Mexican cartel drones had led to the airspace closure and that the threat had been neutralized. Drone incursions are not uncommon along the southern border.

Officials at the White House, FAA and Department of Transportation did not respond immediately Wednesday to request for comment about the dispute. The Pentagon said it had nothing to add to its statement that largely mirrored Duffy's comment.

The FAA had originally announced a 10-day closure of the airspace, confusing travelers at the airport in theborder citywith a population of nearly 700,000 people. The order was lifted a few hours later. No Mexican airspace was closed.

Duffy said in a post on X that the FAA and the Defense Department "acted swiftly to address a cartel drone incursion. The threat has been neutralized and there is no danger to commercial travel in the region." Duffy said normal flights were resuming Wednesday morning. He did not say how many drones were involved or what specifically was done to disable them.

Rep. Veronica Escobar, a Democrat whose district includes El Paso, said neither her office, the city of El Paso nor airport operations received advance notice. She said she believed the shutdown was not based on Mexican cartel drones in U.S. airspace, saying that "is not what we in Congress have been told."

Pentagon officials declined to comment on Escobar's remarks and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's office referred questions to the FAA.

"I believe the FAA owes the community and the country an explanation as to why this happened so suddenly and abruptly and was lifted so suddenly and abruptly," Escobar said during a news conference. The shutdown had been expected to create significant disruptions given the duration and the size of the metropolitan area around El Paso.

"The information coming from the federal government does not add up," Escobar said.

Cross-border drone activity is not new

Rep. Tony Gonzales, whose district covers an area that stretches for about 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) along Texas' border with Mexico, said cartel drone sightings are common.

"For any of us who live and work along the border, daily drone incursions by criminal organizations is every-day life for us. It's a Wednesday for us," Gonzales said.

Asked about the drone explanation provided by U.S. officials, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she had "no information about the use of drones on the border." She noted that if U.S. authorities have more information they should contact Mexico's government.

Steven Willoughby, the deputy director of the counter-drone program at the Department of Homeland Security, told lawmakers in July that cartels are using drones nearly every day to transport drugs across the border and surveil Border Patrol agents.

Advertisement

More than 27,000 drones were detected within 500 meters (1,600 feet) of the southern border in the last six months of 2024, he testified, mostly at night. Homeland Security has said agents have seized thousands of pounds of methamphetamine, fentanyl and other drugs in recent years that cartels were trying to fly across the border using drones.

Mexican officials head to Washington

El Paso is hub of cross-border commerce alongside Ciudad Juárez. The Mexican city is home to about 1.5 million people, and some of its residents are accustomed to taking advantage of facilities including airports on both sides of the border. That easy access to the U.S. has also made Juarez, like other border cities, attractive to Mexico's drug cartels seeking to safeguard their smuggling routes for drugs and migrants headed north and cash and guns moving to the south.

El Paso International Airport said in an Instagram post after the closure was announced that all flights to and from the airport would be grounded through Feb. 20, including commercial, cargo and general aviation flights. Local newscasts showed stranded travelers with luggage lining up at airline ticket counters and car rental desks at the El Paso airport hours after flights were grounded.

The airport posted later Wednesday morning that its operations had resumed and encouraged travelers to contact their airlines for the most up-to-date flight information.

Mexican defense and navy secretaries will meet with Northern Command officials in Washington on Wednesday in a meeting attended by representatives of several other countries, Sheinbaum said during a news conference. Sheinbaum said the Mexican officials would "listen" in the meeting and that her government would look into "the exact causes" of the closure.

'This was a major and unnecessary disruption'

El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson said at a news conference that he didn't hear about the closure until after the alert was issued and he called the failure to communicate that to the city unacceptable.

"Decisions made without notice and coordination puts lives at risk and creates unnecessary danger and confusion," Johnson said. "This was a major and unnecessary disruption, one that has not occurred since 9/11."

The airport describes itself as the gateway to west Texas, southern New Mexico and northern Mexico. Southwest, United, American and Delta all operate flights there, among others.

A similar 10-day temporary flight restriction for special security reasons remained in place Wednesday morning around Santa Teresa, New Mexico, which is about 15 miles (24 kilometers) northwest of the El Paso airport. FAA officials did not immediately explain why that restriction remained in place.

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, a Democrat, said in a statement: "Keeping our communities informed and safe is critical. I'm demanding answers from the FAA and the administration about why the airspace was closed in the first place without notifying appropriate officials, leaving travelers to deal with unnecessary chaos."

Shutdown and restart creates confusion for travelers

The airspace closure upset travel plans on both sides of the border.

María Aracelia was pushing two roller suitcases across the pedestrian bridge from Ciudad Juarez to El Paso Wednesday morning. She had a round-trip flight to Illinois scheduled for the afternoon.

After receiving a text at 4 a.m. telling her about the 10-day closure, she scrambled to try to find other options, even how to get to another airport. Then came a notification that the El Paso airport had reopened.

"This is stressful and there isn't time to make so many changes, especially if you need to get back for work," Aracelia said.

Lee reported from El Paso, Texas. Associated Press writers Jim Vertuno in Austin, Texas; Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska; Darlene Superville, Mike Balsamo and Konstantin Toropin in Washington; Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire; María Verza in Mexico City, and Christian Torres Chávez in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, contributed.

Montana's Republican attorney general said Wednesday he's investigating the city of Helena for potential violations of the state's sanctuary city ban, after city officials passed a resolution discouraging cooperation with federalimmigration authorities.

The investigation comes amid heightened tensions nationally over President Donald Trump's aggressive enforcement of immigration laws, which has sparked protests in many cities. Trump has said he intends tocut off federal fundingfor states home to "sanctuary cities" that resist his immigration policies.

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said Helena faces a fine of up to $10,000 for every five days it's found to be in violation of a2021 state lawthat compels local authorities to cooperate with federal immigration agents.

The resolution in Helena states city officials shall not disclose to outside agencies "any sensitive information," such as a person's immigration status or national origin.

"This is clearly the City Council of Helena thumbing its nose at the Montana Legislature," Knudsen said during a press conference announcing the investigation.

Helena officials said they had not received official notice of the investigation but were aware of Knudsen's announcement. The resolution in dispute was approved last month following "careful consideration of applicable local, state and federal law," the city said in a statement.

"The City believes the resolution is consistent with those legal requirements," the statement said. "The City remains committed to upholding all applicable federal and state laws."

Nearly half of states have prohibitions against sanctuary cities, according to the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a group based in Washington, D.C., that advocates for reduced immigration.

Knudsen was flanked at Wednesday's announcement by Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte, who said federal agents had been put in "difficult situations" that resulted in people being killed, an apparent reference to the shooting deaths of protestersAlex PrettiandRenee Goodby federal immigration officers in Minnesota

Gianforte called the deaths tragedies but said that does not give local governments the right to ignore state law.

Measles cases are on the rise across California, according to thestate's Department of Public Health, which is urging residents to check their immunization status and get vaccinated against the disease.

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.

Advertisement

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

If you are hoping to make Valentine's Day dinner plans on an outdoor patio somewhere, you might want to hold off. The forecast looks less than ideal for a huge chunk of the country late this week into the weekend.

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.