Daily Digest: Newly appointed Bishop O’Connell leads Ash Wednesday service

Also: Albany Civic Theatre’s ‘The Roommate’ is a fresh take on a familiar story • Barrington Stage Company brings warmth to winter with ’10×10 New Play Festival’

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Thursday, February 19, 2026

Happy Thursday! Hope everyone is having a great week. Before you head out or enjoy that morning cup of coffee or tea, check out some of the top stories on our website. Be safe and enjoy the day. — Ron Rosner, Senior Editor e-edition                            obituaries Newly appointed Bishop O’Connell leads Ash Wednesday service ALBANY, N.Y. — Newly appointed Bishop Mark O’Connell led Ash Wednesday mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, preaching going into Lent that while eventually everyone will return to du… Read more → Albany Civic Theatre's 'The Roommate' is a fresh take on a familiar story ALBANY, N.Y. — Attending "The Roommate" at Albany Civic Theatre is like spending time with an old, familiar friend. Only the friend seems somehow different and more interesting. The play, which con… Read more → Barrington Stage Company brings warmth to winter with '10×10 New Play Festival' PITTSFIELD, MASS. — If you need a cure for the winter blues, Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield has the cure. Its "10 x10 New Play Festival" is guaranteed to lift your spirits. It consists of 1… Read more → Man who lived rent-free in New Yorker Hotel, then claimed to own it, pleads guilty to fraud charge Mickey Barreto lived for years in the hotel rent-free after invoking an obscure tenant protection. Read more → Guide company leading group caught in deadly avalanche warned of snow conditions days before incident In a video posted to social media, the company urged people to "use extra caution" due to the avalanche danger. Read more → Air Force One will be repainted as Trump has hinted, US military says A "red, white, gold and dark blue paint scheme" will be used for the jet. Read more → Online seller eBay to buy secondhand fashion marketplace Depop from Etsy for $1.2B in cash The deal comes five years after Etsy bought Depop for $1.6 billion. Read more → Trump, weeks after backlash over racist post, hosts Black History Month reception At the White House reception, Trump name-checked prominent Black Americans among his supporters. Read more → Study finds warming world increases days when weather is prone to fires around the globe Scientists say climate change drives more than half the increase. Read more → WH adviser Hassett urges 'discipline' for Fed economists over tariff study Several other studies have reached similar conclusions as the New York Fed. Read more → FDA will drop two-study requirement for new drug approvals, aiming to speed access The FDA has generally required new drugs be shown safe and effective in two trials. Read more → NIH's Bhattacharya will also run the CDC while Trump administration looks for a permanent director Bhattacharya will be the third leader of the embattled CDC during Trump's second term. Read more → World Cup funding red flag at Gillette Stadium: Foxboro fights for clarity from FIFA Foxboro is not backing down in its fight for clarity from FIFA on who is responsible for World Cup security costs at Gillette Stadium, as the license for the event remains up in the air. Read more →

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