Remembering Jesse Jackson; sewage raises a stink in DC: Week in review

Robert Abitbol, USA TODAYSat, February 21, 2026 at 10:02 AM UTC

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Remembering Jesse Jackson; sewage raises a stink in DC: Week in reviewSewage spill raises a stink in DC

A ruptured pipeline in suburban Washington, DC, has spilled at least 200 million gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River, leading to neighborhood wariness, health warnings, a political squabble and complaints from President Donald Trump that the stink could linger into the summer and the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations. Pumps have been installed to divert the flow, but authorities say a full repair could take weeks. Trump has blamed Democrats in Maryland for the collapse; Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s office pointed the finger at the Trump administration and said the river “isn’t a talking point.”

Friends, colleagues remember Jesse Jackson

Americans were honoring the life and legacy of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who died Feb. 17. President Donald Trump described the civil rights icon as a “force of nature.” Kamala Harris described how Jackson became a mentor to her; Joe Biden said his longtime friend was “a man of God and of the people.” Barack and Michelle Obama celebrated their families’ close friendship, and Bill and Hillary Clinton gave thanks “for his long, good life.” Jackson was 84. “I think people who learned to survive apart must now learn to live together,” he once said. “I want to be remembered as a soldier in that struggle.”

Jesse Jackson’s life in images: Memorable moments in the civil rights icon's career

Kids catch the sports betting bug

Kids will always find ways to skirt age restrictions, and gambling is no exception. Children and teens were “scaling the walls” to bet on Super Bowl 60 on sites like DraftKings, Fanatics and FanDuel, according to the age verification vendor Socure, by manipulating birthdates and other information in an effort to create new accounts. In a single hour on Feb. 8, said Socure’s Rivka Gewirtz Little, more than 50,000 minors were blocked. “The Super Bowl was a pressure test,” Little said. “It shows that minors are relentlessly going to attempt to challenge the systems, and they’re a formidable force.”

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1 / 0Passages 2026 – Eric Dane, Robert Duvall, more stars we lost

"Grey's Anatomy" and "Euphoria" star Eric Dane died 10 months after he revealed his ALS diagnosis. He was 53.Dane's representative, Melissa Bank, confirmed the news in a statement to USA TODAY on Thursday, Feb. 19. "He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world," the statement read. "Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight."Dane was best known for playing the charismatic and flirtatious Dr. Mark Sloan – aka "McSteamy" – on "Grey's Anatomy" from 2006 to 2012. He continued working in Hollywood after he went public with his diagnosis, playing a firefighter with ALS on NBC's "Brilliant Minds," and reprised his role of Cal Jacobs on HBO's "Euphoria" in the upcoming third season, due April 12, 2026.

Robert Duvall, an American treasure, dies at 95

Hollywood lost one of its giants when Robert Duvall, known for unforgettable characters like Mob consigliere Tom Hagen in 1972’s “The Godfather” and Lt. Col. Bill “I love the smell of napalm in the morning” Kilgore in 1979’s “Apocalypse Now,” died Feb. 15. He was 95. His career spanned seven decades and included an Oscar for best actor in 1983’s “Tender Mercies”; he also memorably portrayed retired Texas Ranger Augustus “Gus” McCrae in the acclaimed TV miniseries “Lonesome Dove.” He was always searching for the next, perfect role, he once told Esquire: “You always wish there was one more.”

He turned down the lead in “Jaws”: Robert Duvall’s final USA TODAY interview

New Olympic event: Restocking condoms

Safe sex joined triple Salchows as the talk of the Olympic Villages in Italy after reports that the complex was running out of condoms less than a week into the Milan Cortina Games. Organizers confirmed to USA TODAY that the supply indeed was depleted “due to higher-than-anticipated demand” but has now been replenished. Olympic Villages have long distributed free condoms to athletes. “I already know a lot of people are using some condoms, or maybe taking them to give to their friends,” said Madagascar skier Mialitiana Clerc. “Maybe they are using them as gifts.” − Compiled and written by Robert Abitbol

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Remembering Jesse Jackson; sewage raises a stink in DC: Week in review

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