AP Exclusive: DEA agent accused of conspiring with cartel
By JOSHUA GOODMAN and JIM MUSTIAN Associated Press Writers
MIAMI (AP) — A once-standout U.S. federal narcotics agent known for spending lavishly on luxury cars and Tiffany jewelry has been arrested on charges he conspired to launder money with the same Colombian drug cartel he was tasked with fighting. Authorities say Jose Irizarry and his wife were taken into custody Friday in Puerto Rico. An indictment handed up in Tampa, Florida accuses Irizarry of secretly using his position as a federal agent to divert millions of dollars in drug proceeds from DEA control. Messages sent to Irizarry’s attorney seeking comment were not immediately returned.

Self-styled daredevil dies in crash after rocket launch
Associated Press undefined
BARSTOW, Calif. (AP) — A colleague and a witness say a self-styled daredevil died Saturday after a rocket in which he launched himself crashed into the ground. The Daily Press of Victorville reports that “Mad” Mike Hughes died after the homemade rocket crashed on private property in Barstow about 1:52 p.m. near Highway 247.  Waldo Stakes, a colleague who was at the rocket launch, said Hughes, 64, was killed.  Justin Chapman, a freelance journalist, told The Associated Press that he and his wife witnessed the crash. Chapman said the rocket appeared to rub against the launch apparatus, which might have torn the parachutes attached to it.  He said the rocket went straight into the ground.

2nd person in days killed by Mardi Gras float in New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Authorities say a man has been struck by a float and killed by a Mardi Gras float during a parade in New Orleans. It was the second death in days involving a parade float and cast a pall over the Carnival festivities. Police said in a statement that the death occurred Saturday night on a downtown parade route of the Krewe of Endymion. The rest of the parade was canceled. The New Orleans mayor said the city is grieving anew after a woman was killed on a parade route Wednesday. The man’s name wasn’t immediately released.

Sanders wins Nevada caucuses, takes national Democratic lead
By STEVE PEOPLES, MICHELLE L. PRICE, JONATHAN J. COOPER and BRIAN SLODYSKO Associated Press
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Bernie Sanders has scored a resounding victory in Nevada’s presidential caucuses. His win on Saturday cements his status as the Democrats’ national front-runner, though it’s also escalating tensions over whether he’s too liberal to defeat President Donald Trump. The 78-year-old Vermont senator successfully rallied his loyal base and tapped into support from Nevada’s large Latino community as the Democratic contest moved for the first time into a state with a significant minority population. The party’s more-establishment-minded members have been unable so far to unite behind Pete Buttigieg, Joe Biden or Amy Klobuchar, helping Sanders pull away.

AND NOW IT’S TIME FOR THE ‘BUSINESS MINUTE’ REPORT…BROUGHT TO YOU BY MINUTEMAN PRESS:

Midland borough’s financial situation was addressed at a meeting earlier this week. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano was there…

New businesses, restaurants and housing developments are slated for one local community. More than three dozen businesses are coming soon to Cranberry Township, including Bartram House Bakery and Cranberry Sub & Deli. Officials said this plan has been in the works for years. Township officials say it was initially dubbed the “Disneyland Plan” because no one thought it could be done.

…and U.S. stocks fell in early trading Friday as cases of the new virus swelled in South Korea and more companies warned investors about a hit to their finances. Anxiety over the outbreak has knocked stocks back from record highs and indexes are on track for their first weekly loss after two weeks of gains. Technology companies led the losses. Companies that rely on consumer spending, particularly those related to travel and tourism, also fell broadly. Investors headed for safer territory. Real estate companies and utilities held up better than most of the market. Bond prices rose and pushed yields lower. Gold prices rose.

….AND THAT’S THE ‘BUSINESS MINUTE’ REPORT…BROUGHT YOU BY MINUTEMAN PRESS.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California is the largest prize in the calculations of any Democratic presidential candidate, and Bernie Sanders has been working the state for months. That worries his rivals, who fear that if he performs well enough in the state, which has 412 delegates, he could build a delegate lead that would be difficult to catch. Sanders has been organizing intensively among Latinos and young voters, producing campaign materials in seven languages. Mike Bloomberg has tried to counter with TV ads in Arizona, Nevada and Oregon that also reach California. Pete Buttigieg, Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren all remain competitive.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Elizabeth Warren has added campaign stops in Nevada and her team saw its fundraising surge following a debate where she went aggressively after her top Democratic presidential rivals, finally demonstrating an urgency her presidential bid may well depend on. The Massachusetts senator needed a strong performance and got one on in Las Vegas. But it remains to be seen whether that will translate into lasting momentum. Warren isn’t favored to win Nevada’s caucus on Saturday nor South Carolina’s primary the following week. And the pressure is on since stumbles there may limit Warren’s ability to make up ground in the 14 states voting on “Super Tuesday” on March 3.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg says he needs to raise $13 million to stay competitive through the 14-state Super Tuesday contests on March 3. That’s a tricky financial picture despite the former South Bend mayor’s strong finish in Iowa and New Hampshire. Buttigieg reported spending more than twice in January what he raised in January, hoping surprising finishes in the leadoff caucus and primary states would open the fundraising floodgates. But delayed and muddled results from Iowa dampened what some donors say the campaign expected, though the campaign says it has raised $11 million to date in February.