Gloves, backpack highlight Guthrie search; DHS nears midnight deadline
The FBI has released new details about the suspect seen in the doorbell video related to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, including his height and the specific backpack he was carrying.
Plus, funding for the Department of Homeland Security expires at midnight. Senators remain at an impasse over immigration enforcement, with no deal yet in place.
And Amazon has canceled its planned partnership between Ring doorbells and the police tech firm Flock Safety, backing away from the agreement amid new privacy concerns.
These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, February 13, 2026.
FBI releases Guthrie suspect details, citing height, build and backpack
Friday marks day 13 in the search for Nancy Guthrie, and the FBI is releasing new identifying details about the suspect seen outside her home in Tucson, Arizona.
After a forensic analysis of doorbell camera footage, investigators now describe the suspect as a male, between five-foot-nine and five-foot-ten, with an average build. Agents said he was carrying a black 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack, and hope the updated details are intended to generate new leads.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department also said investigators have collected several items near Guthrie’s home, including multiple gloves. One black glove was seen taken into evidence.
The suspect captured on doorbell video the night Guthrie vanished was wearing gloves, but authorities have not said whether there’s a confirmed match.
Investigators have expanded their video dragnet. Neighbors within a two-mile radius have been asked to submit any surveillance footage from Jan. 1 through Feb. 2, not just the night she disappeared. The change signals detectives may be looking for activity leading up to the suspected kidnapping.
Meanwhile, new surveillance video obtained by TMZ shows a man carrying backpacks roughly five miles from the home around 1:53 a.m., minutes after Nancy’s doorbell camera was disabled.
Authorities want to speak with that man. However, they have not confirmed any connection.
The FBI continues to handle all ransom-related communications, including an unverified bitcoin demand sent to TMZ claiming to know the kidnapper’s identity.
Rain is forecast for Tucson on Friday, raising concerns about potential damage to outdoor evidence. The FBI said the search will continue regardless of the weather.
Savannah Guthrie shared a home video tribute to her mother on Thursday, writing on Instagram, “We will never give up on her.”
US deploys USS Gerald R. Ford to Middle East
The world’s largest aircraft carrier has been ordered out of the Caribbean and sent to the Middle East, intensifying the U.S. military posture as tensions with Iran remain high.
U.S. officials said the USS Gerald R. Ford and its escort ships could depart in the coming days. It’s a move that would put two American aircraft carriers in the region alongside the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group.
President Donald Trump has increased pressure on Iran while pushing for a nuclear deal, warning of “very traumatic” consequences if talks fail and suggesting a time frame of about a month for an agreement.
The Ford has been operating in the Caribbean after being redirected there last fall as part of a broader U.S. military buildup tied to counter-drug operations and pressure on Venezuela.
Officials said the carrier and its strike group are expected to cross the Atlantic and enter the Mediterranean before heading to the Middle East.
DHS nears shutdown with Congress deadlocked on funding
Homeland Security funding is on the brink of running out this weekend after Congress failed to reach an agreement.
Senators voted Thursday on a funding bill to keep the Department of Homeland Security funded through September, but the measure fell short — 52 to 47 — well below the 60 votes needed to advance it.
Without a deal, DHS funding will lapse at midnight. Although the two agencies at the center of the deadlock will still have money.
That’s because ICE and Customs and Border Protection have separate funding through Trump’s so-called big beautiful bill.
The standoff is rooted in a broader dispute over immigration policy and enforcement.
Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, have refused to support the bill without reforms to ICE and other federal enforcement agencies. It comes after two u.S. Citizens were killed by federal agents in Minneapolis last month.
“If Republicans want to keep DHS funded, they need to get serious,” Schumer said. “They need to sit down, they need to negotiate in good faith, produce legislation that actually reins in ice and stops the violence.”
Key sticking points include whether to impose new limits on federal immigration officers and whether agents should be allowed to wear masks during enforcement operations.
Judge blocks Pentagon effort to cut Sen. Kelly’s rank, pay over video
A federal judge has blocked the Pentagon from disciplining Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., for participating in a video urging service members to refuse unlawful orders.
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled Thursday that the Defense Department violated Kelly’s First Amendment rights when it attempted to demote him and reduce his military retirement pay.
Kelly, a retired Navy captain, drew sharp criticism from the Trump administration after he and five other Democrats posted a video telling troops: “You can refuse illegal orders.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth launched a review, issued a formal censure and initiated proceedings that could have reduced Kelly’s retired rank and pension.
But the court stepped in.
In a blunt 29-page ruling, Leon wrote:
“This court has all it needs to conclude that defendants have trampled on Senator Kelly’s First Amendment freedoms and threatened the constitutional liberties of millions of military retirees.”
The judge barred the Pentagon from taking any adverse action against Kelly while the case moves forward.
Hegseth responded on social media, saying the ruling will be “immediately appealed” and adding, “Sedition is sedition, captain.”
Amazon cancels Ring-Flock deal amid privacy backlash
Amazon said it has scrapped plans to link its Ring doorbell cameras to the police tech company Flock Safety. The decision comes amid mounting criticism over privacy concerns, just days after Amazon aired a Ring ad during the Super Bowl, which renewed scrutiny.
The proposed partnership, announced in October, would have introduced a feature called “community requests” that would allow Ring users to opt in and share doorbell footage with law enforcement. The Super Bowl ad highlighted a separate consumer feature called “Search Party,” which lets Ring users share videos to help locate lost pets.
Critics argued that pairing neighborhood doorbell cameras with police systems, and potentially with facial recognition tools, could enable authorities to track people.
Amazon and Flock said the decision to end the agreement was mutual. Neither company directly linked the move to backlash over the ad.
Team USA defeats Latvia in Olympic men’s hockey opener
The U.S. Men’s hockey team is off to a strong start in its quest for Olympic gold in Italy. Team USA opened with a 5-1 win over Latvia in preliminary play.
Brock Nelson scored twice, while Brady Tkachuk, Tage Thompson and Auston Matthews each added a goal.
The Americans haven’t won Olympic gold in men’s hockey since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” more than four decades ago. But this roster, stacked with NHL talent, is widely considered among the program’s strongest in years.
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United States’ Brock Nelson celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during a preliminary round match of men’s ice hockey between Latvia and the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) -
United States’ Brock Nelson scores his sides second goal past Latvia’s goalkeeper Elvis Merzlikins during a preliminary round match of men’s ice hockey between Latvia and the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) -
United States’ Auston Matthews celebrates with teammates after scoring his sides fifth goal during a preliminary round match of men’s ice hockey between Latvia and the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) -
United States’ Brady Tkachuk, right, collides with Latvia’s Janis Jaks during a preliminary round match of men’s ice hockey between Latvia and the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) -
United States’ Brock Nelson, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring his sides fourth goal during a preliminary round match of men’s ice hockey between Latvia and the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) -
United States’ Brady Tkachuk, left, scores his sides first goal past Latvia’s goalkeeper Elvis Merzlikins during a preliminary round match of men’s ice hockey between Latvia and the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo via AP)
Nelson also has an Olympic pedigree. His uncle, Dave Christian, played on the 1980 gold-medal team coached by Herb Brooks. His grandfather, Bill Christia, played for the United States team that won gold in 1960.
The U.S. faces Denmark next on Saturday.
Also worth noting, Canada opened with a statement win — shutting out the Czech Republic 5-0 — and enters the tournament with high expectations.
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From TV trope to economic force: The rise of Galentine’s Day
Theora Jaz pulled rose petals, handcrafted rose-and-baby’s-breath bouquets and hung red silk fabric over her walls and tables to set the scene for a very special night. She poured her thoughts, time and effort into a Galentine’s Day party to celebrate the women in her life.
“Galentine’s Day is about admiring and celebrating our female friends. It’s about supporting each other and congratulating one another for all we have accomplished,” Jaz, 37, told Straight Arrow News.
She prepared for her party with great intention, taking inspiration from “Alice in Wonderland’s” Queen of Hearts.
“I wanted it to be grown and sexy vibes and told my girls to dress up with heels and all,” Jaz said. “Because what girl doesn’t love getting dolled up?”
Jaz is just one of a rapidly growing number of women who celebrate the quasi-holiday. Galentine’s Day — the day before Valentine’s Day, when women celebrate women, thanks to a 16-year-old episode of Parks and Recreation — has seen a huge leap in popularity in recent years. The restaurant-reservation app, OpenTable, reported a 34% increase in Galentine’s Day reservations between 2024 and 2025.
That’s no surprise to Jaz. Read the full story now>
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
