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10.2.26

6 Surprising Rules Figure Skaters Must Follow at the Olympics

04:06
Alysa Liu of Team United States competes in the Women's Single Skating at the 2026 Winter Olympic games on February 06, 2026 in Milan, Italy. Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times via Getty

Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

  • When competing in the Olympic Games, figure skaters follow strict guidelines set by the International Skating Union

  • Though somersault jumps like backflips were made legal in 2024, certain elements are still prohibited in certain skating disciplines

  • Skaters must also adhere to strict guidelines regarding their costumes and could receive deductions if they go against them

Figure skating may be a creative sport, but chasingOlympicgold leaves little room for bending the rules.

All five medal events — men's singles, women's singles, pairs, ice dance and team competition — must meet strict rules set by the International Skating Union (ISU). According to the Olympic Gameswebsite, divisions have different technical requirements and restrictions, which a panel of judges uses to determine each athlete's overall score.

Not following the rules can result in deductions that cost athletes that coveted gold medal. Though some skaters have gotten away with creative interpretations, the ISU has updated its guidelines to ensure future athletes don't follow suit.

For example, Russian skater Alina Zagitova famously back-loaded her jumps in the second half of her program to receive a base-value bonus in her scoring at the 2018 Games. The next year, the ISU implemented the "Zagitova rule," limiting second-half jumps to three, per the Olympicwebsite.

From costume requirements to other prohibited moves, here are the six most surprising rules skaters must follow at the Olympic Games.

Skaters can receive deductions for clothing falling off

Amber Glenn of the United States competes in the Women Free Skating during the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final on December 6, 2025 in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. Atsushi Tomura - International Skating Union/International Skating Union via Getty

Atsushi Tomura - International Skating Union/International Skating Union via Getty

While on the ice, skaters are at risk of receiving deductions between 1.0 and 3.0 points for every move they make — including how well their costumes stay put.

According toNBC News, judges will take away points if a piece of clothing falls off the skater and onto the ice — even if it's unintentional.

Skaters must be at least 17 years old to compete

Ilia Malinin competes in the Championship Men's Free Skate during the 2026 United States Figure Skating Championships on January 10, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. Matthew Stockman/Getty

Matthew Stockman/Getty

Olympic hopefuls may not have to be old enough to vote to compete, but they do have to be old enough to drive. Though skaters as young as 15 were allowed to compete in senior figure skating competitions for years, the ISU officially began raising the minimum age in 2022,NBC Newsreported.

This decision followed a controversy at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, where 15-year-old Russian figure skaterKamila Valievatested positive for trimetazidine, a banned substance that's used to treat chest pain. Her team had to give up their gold medal after her results, which led to Team USA's win.

The ISU gradually raised the minimum age from 16 during the 2024-2025 skating season to 17 for the 2025-2026 season, which included the 2026 Winter Olympics. Specifically, skaters need to have turned 15 before July 1, 2024.

Certain elements are prohibited in certain disciplines

Madison Chock and partner Evan Bates of Team United States compete in the Ice Dance - Rhythm Dance in the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games on February 06, 2026 in Milan, Italy. Matthew Stockman/Getty

Matthew Stockman/Getty

When it comes to how many and what kind of jumps skaters can include in their programs, there are different requirements for each of the five events.

Ice dancing, for example, is the only category in the sport where no jumps are allowed outside of single or assisted jumps. So skaters cannot do twist lifts, overhead lifts, throw jumps or any other kind of acrobatic move, per the Olympic Gameswebsite. Skaters who compete in pairs, on the other hand, are known for their high-level acrobatics.

There are strict time limits for programs

Alysa Liu of United States skates during a practice session ahead of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games on January 31, 2026 in Milan, Italy. Qian Jun/MB Media/Getty

Qian Jun/MB Media/Getty

The time athletes are allowed on the ice also depends on the discipline they're skating in, per NBC.

There are two programs for men's singles, women's singles and pairs skaters. One is the short program, which is limited to two minutes and 40 seconds. The other, known as the free skate, is four minutes long. Athletes can go over or under their time limits by no more than 10 seconds.

Ice dancing also has a short and long program. While their free skate adheres to the same time limitations, they get a slightly longer allowance for the short program: two minutes and 50 seconds.

Skaters' costumes can't give "the effect of excessive nudity"

Ellie Kam and partner Danny O'Shea of Team United States compete in the Pair Skating - Short Program in the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games on February 06, 2026 in Milan, Italy. Matthew Stockman/Getty

Matthew Stockman/Getty

Figure skaters' costumes are almost as mesmerizing as the death-defying jumps they make on the ice. But if athletes aren't careful, judges could deduct rules from their outfits alone.

TheISUrequires that all Olympic skater outfits "not give the effect of excessive nudity inappropriate for the discipline." Other than men being required to wear "full-length trousers," there are no specifics for following this guideline, other than a requirement to be "modest."

Though women were previously required to wear skirts during ice dance programs, pants became legal in the sport in 2004 after the ISU repealed its so-called "Katerina rule" that required female skaters to cover their "hips and posterior." The regulation was implemented following German figure skater Katarina Witt's controversial costume at the 1988 Games.

​Skaters' costumes can't be too "theatrical"

Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea skate in an exhibition after the 2026 United States Figure Skating Championships on January 11, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. Matthew Stockman/Getty

Matthew Stockman/Getty

In addition to the nudity rule, athletes must also make sure their costumes aren'ttooover-the-top. The official ISU rule is that outfits "must be modest, dignified and appropriate for athletic competition — not garish or theatrical in design."

However, costumes — which tend to be colorful and covered in crystals — must also "reflect the character of the music chosen."

Read the original article onPeople

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French artist finds happiness drawing spectators at his 17th Olympics in Cortina

04:06
French artist finds happiness drawing spectators at his 17th Olympics in Cortina

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — There was only one person in the crowd at a luge event for the2026 Olympic Winter GamesMonday night who did not watch any of the runs.

French artist Marc Ahr focused on the spectators to capture their reactions as their national teams triumphed or fell short, and on the beauty of the mountains.

Calling himself the "unofficial painter of the Games," this is Ahr's 17th Olympics. He started in Milan to paint the opening ceremony, hockey and a city panorama, then traveled to Cortina to see luge, women's Alpine skiing and curling. He worked quickly Monday in Cortina, using a black pen to draw the entire scene during thewomen's singles luge event.

"I don't really care if they go fast or not fast," he said as luge athletes hurtled down the icy track. "What's important is, emotion of people."

He drew groups of people watching the screen displaying results and cheering, kids playing in the snow, fans dancing with the Olympic mascot, Tina, and Italian parents comforting their child. Ahr even danced with Tina and drew that, too.

Many people approached Ahr to see what he was up to, especially when they noticed he looked their way as he sketched. He offered to add their names next to their likeness.

For Isabel Hernandez of Mexico, Ahr drew Mexico's flag so she would be recognizable. For a German fan, he drew their face paint.

"I also draw, so it's nice to see people doing it for events like this," Hernandez said. "It's something that I will share with my friends. And people probably won't believe me, but it's fun to know that I have this memory of it."

Bette Wiley, Cheryl Ann Husby and Cynthia Brictson stood together with their arms over each other's shoulders while Ahr put them into the scene. Brictson said she loved it.

Explaining why, she said, "Have you ever been standing in the middle of the Dolomites and had a man sketch you? It doesn't get any more unique than that."

When Ahr finished for the night, he finally looked at the track in time to see a luger. He added a directional arrow to the track he had drawn in black pen.

Ahr had been paying so little attention that he thought athletes went the other way around. Later, he would draw the winner and use watercolors to complete the artwork. He sells his pieces online and at the Olympics.

Ahr does like the athletes, too. In fact, he paints many of their portraits after the Games are over. But during the Games he is happiest interacting with the spectators and soaking up their good energy.

"I use my talent to make people happy," he said. "Why not? This is why I am happy to do it."

AP Winter Olympics coverage:https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP'sstandardsfor working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas atAP.org.

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Indiana announces plans to build bronze Bob Knight statue in honor of Hall of Fame coach

04:06
Indiana announces plans to build bronze Bob Knight statue in honor of Hall of Fame coach

For multiple decades, Bob Knight led Indiana University's men's basketball team to unparalleled success. Knight won three national championships, one NIT title and 11 Big Ten Conference titles over his 29 seasons as the team's head coach.

Yahoo Sports FILE - Former Indiana basketball coach Bob Knight speaks during campaign stop for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in Indianapolis on April 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)

As acknowledgement of Knight's excellence, Indiana University announced Monday that it would build a bronze statue of Knight as a way to immortalize his accomplishments.

The statue of Knight will be displayed at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, where Indiana's men's and women's basketball teams play their home games. Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall opened in 1971, Knight's first year coaching Indiana, and already houses statues honoring the 1976 national championship team. Knight's statue will "be displayed prominently alongside" those statues, per a school release.

That 1976 national championship team was special, as Knight led it to a perfect 32-0 record during the 1975-76 season. That team remains the last Division I men's college basketball team to turn in an undefeated season.

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During his 29-year run at Indiana, Knight put up a 662–239 record. That, combined with his national championships, led to Knight being inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.

Knight's time as Indiana's head coach ended in controversy, as he was fired shortly after being accused of choking one of his former players. After that story emerged, then-Indiana University president Myles Brand put Knight on a "zero-tolerance" policy. After multiple complaints about Knight's conduct, Brand fired Knight in 2000. Indiana students were outraged, marching in protest following the firing. Knight took a year off from coaching before heading to Texas Tech, where he spent his final seven seasons as a head coach. Knight put up a 138-82 record with Texas Tech before retiring in 2008.

For many years following his firing, Knight held a grudge against Indiana. That fence was finally mended in 2020, when Knight attended his first game at the school since his firing in 2000. His presence was met with a rousing ovation.

Three years later,Knight died after a lengthy illness. He was 83.

Indiana University did not reveal a timetable for Knight's statue, but promised to release more information on the project — which is being designed by Hanlon Studios — in the coming months. The project is being fully-funded thanks to an anonymous men's basketball supporter, the school said.

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ICE is cracking down on people who follow them in their cars

03:34
ICE is cracking down on people who follow them in their cars

By Ted Hesson, Kristina Cooke and Brad Heath

Reuters

WASHINGTON, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Becky Ringstrom was heading home after following federal immigration officers in her gray Kia SUV in suburban Minneapolis when she was suddenly boxed in by unmarked vehicles. At least a half-dozen masked agents jumped out to arrest her, one knocking on her windshield with a metal object as if threatening to use it to break her window.

After the arrest, captured on bystander video verified by Reuters, the 42-year-old mother of seven later said she was transported to Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in downtown Minneapolis where an officer gave her a citation charging her under a federal law ​that criminalizes impeding law enforcement. The official said her name and photo would be added to a government database.

The arrest of Ringstrom became the latest detention of one of thousands of local activists for violating Title 18, Section 111 of the U.S. Code, a catch-all charge for anyone who "forcibly assaults, resists, opposes, impedes, intimidates, or interferes" with ‌a federal officer conducting official duties. The statute can be charged as a felony or misdemeanor. As a felony, it carries up to 20 years in prison, but penalties beyond eight years are reserved for people who use "a deadly or dangerous weapon" or cause an injury.

A Reuters review of federal court records found that the Trump administration has prosecuted at least 655 people under that charge across the U.S. since a series of city-focused immigration crackdowns began last summer. That's more ‌than double the prosecutions during the same period in 2024-2025, according to a review of publicly available criminal filings in Westlaw, a legal research database owned by Thomson Reuters.

Reuters usedartificial intelligencein some instances to classify the charges, with a spot-check showing 98% accuracy. The numbers are nationwide and Reuters was not able to determine how many were connected to immigration enforcement, how many were charged as felonies, or resulted in convictions.

The charges are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to clamp down on ICE opponents, who they portray as rioters who pose threats to officers and undermine their efforts to arrest immigrants with criminal records.

"Assaulting and obstructing law enforcement is a felony," said U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin. She said federal immigration officers "used the minimum amount of force necessary to protect themselves, the public, and federal property."

ICE has been tracking the names of protesters in an internal database for several months, according to two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss operations.

The government database contains names, photos, actions that provoked suspicion, locations and license plates, the officials said, adding that the effort was intended to spot patterns that could lead to charges.

DHS said it ⁠does not maintain a database of U.S. "domestic terrorists," but does track threats. "We do of course monitor and investigate and refer all threats, ‌assaults and obstruction of our officers to the appropriate law enforcement," McLaughlin said.

One of the officials said ICE was referring several people per day in Minnesota alone to federal prosecutors for potential charges under the same law for interfering with police operations.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said the Trump administration was committed to protecting First Amendment freedoms, but that people impeding law enforcement "will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law."

OBSERVING ICE

Ringstrom had watched federal immigration officers for about 45 minutes as they sat in a parked car in her neighborhood on Thursday, January 29. When they started to move, ‍she decided to follow along in her SUV, keeping a distance of multiple car lengths behind, she said.

At a roundabout, a Border Patrol agent approached her car and said, "Last time I'm going to warn you," according to video Ringstrom recorded on her phone.

The officers went right at a stop sign and she went left, she said. Several minutes later as she started to head back toward her house, multiple vehicles with federal officers stopped and arrested her, she said.

"I know what I'm doing is not wrong," Ringstrom said later in an interview with Reuters.

Still, she said she was terrified when federal officers approached her car. "There was a moment where I thought I could be Renee Good," she said, referring to one of the two U.S. citizen protesters fatally shot by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis in January.

After her arrest, she was issued a citation, reviewed by Reuters, which ​said the court date was "TBD" - to be determined.

McLaughlin said Ringstrom "stalked law enforcement and attempted to obstruct law enforcement from performing their sworn duties."

Seth Stoughton, a professor focused on policing at University of South Carolina School of Law, said the law in the past mostly has been used to charge assaults on officers and specifically states that the alleged crime must be committed "forcibly."

"Without any ‌physical contact, just following an agent in a car, it's not clear to me that that's resistance or impeding in the first place, and it certainly seems like a stretch to establish that as forcible," Stoughton said.

A federal judge in Minneapolis said in a mid-January order that a vehicle following ICE at "an appropriate distance" did not justify a traffic stop or arrest, but that order was paused by an appeals court 10 days later.

The judge's now-paused order did not say what exact distance would be deemed safe.

Deborah Fleischaker, a top ICE official under former President Joe Biden, said it was "inappropriate and unconstitutional" to intimidate and arrest people peacefully following immigration officers in their cars.

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"Observing ICE activities is not a crime and should not be treated as such," she said.

McLaughlin said U.S. Border Patrol agents at the scene gave Ringstrom "lawful commands and warnings" but that she continued to obstruct operations, leading to her arrest.

"When agitators willingly involve themselves and inject themselves in law enforcement operations, they are risking arrest as well as jeopardizing the safety of themselves and those around them," McLaughlin said.

VIDEOS SHOW ICE OFFICERS DRAWING WEAPONS

While new internal ICE guidance, reported by Reuters in late January, instructed officers not to engage with protesters, the encounters have not stopped.

Two videos in recent weeks verified by Reuters showed ICE officers drawing their weapons as they approached vehicles that allegedly had been following them.

South of Minneapolis on January 29, the same day Ringstrom was arrested, federal immigration officers abruptly swerved, stopped their vehicle and approached a woman driving behind them with guns drawn, according to dashcam footage from ⁠her vehicle first reported by Minnesota Public Radio and verified by Reuters.

McLaughlin said ICE officers were attempting to arrest a criminal offender when the woman began "stalking and obstructing" them, leading the officers to try to arrest her.

"Law ​enforcement officers attempted to pull her over using their emergency lights to issue her a warning," McLaughlin said. "Ignoring law enforcement commands, the agitator refused to pull over and began driving recklessly including running stop signs, nearly colliding with multiple ​vehicles, and driving directly at law enforcement in an attempt to ram their vehicle."

Reuters was not able to independently verify whether the woman ignored commands or drove recklessly.

In a separate incident on February 3, two ICE officers approached a car that had been following them, again, with guns drawn, according to video verified by Reuters and a DHS statement.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said the vehicle had been "stalking" and "obstructing" ICE officers.

"The agitators then followed the officers as they departed and made hand motions suggestive of possessing a firearm," DHS said.

Reuters could not independently verify the agency's account. The video reviewed by Reuters showed the vehicles ‍once they had stopped.

Under Trump, numerous DHS statements after violent encounters with immigration agents have been inaccurate or ⁠incomplete.

ICE AT YOUR FRONT DOOR

Some Minnesota residents say they believe they are becoming the subject of an intimidation campaign.

In a suburb north of St. Paul on January 22, an ICE officer led a woman who was following his vehicle back to her house, making it clear that he knew her identity and address, Reuters-verified video filmed by the husband showed.

The woman's husband spoke to the ICE officer outside of the couple's house. When the husband questioned the tactic, the officer said, "You raise your voice, I erase your voice," the video showed.

One ICE officer told Reuters they have led people following them back to their houses after running their license plates "to freak them out."

McLaughlin said ICE would review body camera ⁠footage and investigate the incident in St. Paul, but did not comment on ICE using the tactic to frighten opponents.

Earlier in January, two friends - Brandon Siguenza and Patty O'Keefe - who were following an ICE vehicle in Minneapolis said officers fired pepper spray into their car, smashed their car window and detained them for eight hours.

McLaughlin said officers gave them multiple warnings "to stop impeding" operations, but that they "chose to continue to stalk law enforcement and were arrested."

"The passenger refused to roll ‌down the window and exit the vehicle," McLaughlin said. "ICE law enforcement followed their training and used the minimum amount of force necessary to make the arrest."

McLaughlin did not explicitly confirm that officers broke the car window or deployed pepper spray.

Siguenza and O'Keefe have not been charged.

(Reporting by Ted Hesson and Brad Heath in Washington, ‌and Kristina Cooke in San Francisco. Additional reporting by Maria Tsvetkova, Monica Naime, Vinaya K, Marine Delrue, Tiffany Le, Fernando Robles and Gerardo Gomez. Editing by Craig Timberg, Diane Craft and Michael Learmonth)

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Novo Nordisk opens new front with patent suit over Hims’ Wegovy copies

03:34
Novo Nordisk opens new front with patent suit over Hims' Wegovy copies

By Blake Brittain

Reuters FILE PHOTO: Boxes of Wegovy lie beside a packaging line at Novo Nordisk's facility in Hillerod, Denmark, March 8, 2024. REUTERS/Tom Little/File Photo The logo of pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk is displayed on a flag in front of its offices in Bagsvaerd, Copenhagen, Denmark, February 4, 2026. REUTERS/Tom Little

FILE PHOTO: Novo Nordisk opens new front with patent suit over Hims' Wegovy copies

Feb 10 (Reuters) - Novo Nordisk's U.S. patent lawsuit against Hims & Hers, filed on Monday, marks a new front in the Danish pharmaceutical drugmaker's campaign against companies selling compounded versions of its blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy.

The case, Novo's first U.S. patent infringement lawsuit against a ​compounder over Wegovy, comes as large telehealth companies have expanded rapidly into the weight-loss drug market, and after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ‌determined that the drug's active ingredient semaglutide is no longer in short supply.

That shift, experts say, has reduced concerns that enforcing patents could trigger a public backlash by attempting to limit access to ‌a scarce drug.

Novo's lawsuit follows Hims' launch on Thursday of a $49 compounded version of Wegovy, and then a quick retreat, after the FDA announced it would take action against the company on Friday.

In a statement, Hims said the lawsuit "attacks more than just one medication or company – it directly assaults a well-established, vital component of US pharmacy practice that has improved patient care for everything from obesity to infertility to cancer."

Novo's complaint did not specify how much the company was seeking in damages, but Novo's general counsel John ⁠Kuckelman told Reuters it was a "very significant amount."

RAPID SCALE-UP

The ‌San Francisco-based telehealth company has grown quickly. It said in November that it expected its total 2025 revenue to be more than $2.3 billion, and has targeted $6.5 billion in revenue by 2030.

"The previous status quo was that pharmaceutical companies were not suing compounding pharmacies for ‍these individualized doses because they were considered to be minor, but the companies have clearly scaled up," said Sarah Rajec, a professor at William & Mary Law School.

U.S. regulations allow compounding pharmacies to make and sell some brand-name medicines if they are in short supply. Without a shortage, however, compounding is generally permitted only when a drug is customized for a particular ​patient.

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The FDA first listed semaglutide as in short supply in 2022, which allowed compounding to proliferate. The agency declared the shortage was over in February 2025, but Hims ‌continued to sell what it calls "personalized" doses of semaglutide, arguing that such sales are lawful when patients require doses Novo does not offer.

LEGAL FIGHT ESCALATES

Novo had previously sued several smaller compounding pharmacies for allegedly selling dangerous or falsely advertised Wegovy "knockoffs" that violate its trademark rights. Those cases focused on the safety of the compounded products and alleged misconduct during a period when the semaglutide shortage heightened sensitivity around access to the drug.

Experts said Novo may have held off on filing patent lawsuits during the shortage in order to avoid negative publicity.

And, patent lawsuits are generally more expensive to litigate and defend than trademark and false-advertising lawsuits and often take years to ⁠resolve, but can result in larger damages awards.

"Patents are the big guns," said Robin Feldman, ​a professor at the University of California Law San Francisco. "After firing a number of shots across ​the bow, Novo Nordisk has settled in for the major battle."

Hims will likely argue in the case that Novo's patent is invalid. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rejected a separate validity challenge to the patent from generic drugmaker Viatris in 2023.

Novo may also seek a ‍preliminary court order blocking Hims from selling ⁠compounded Wegovy, though such injunctions are relatively rare in patent cases. The FDA opened a separate potential avenue to block Hims' copies Friday when it said it would restrict GLP-1 ingredients used in compounded drugs, which are not FDA approved.

Novo's general counsel Kuckelman said the Hims case should be "a real wake-up ⁠call" to Hims and other companies that are allegedly infringing patents.

"There is now a growing chorus of parties that have said, enough is enough," Kuckelman said. "It was one thing when there was ‌compounding because of a shortage, but what we've entered into now is the wild west of compounding."

(Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington; additional ‌reporting by Michael Erman in New York; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Sonali Paul)

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Analysis-USDA's reputation suffers after massive revisions in US corn acres

03:34
Analysis-USDA's reputation suffers after massive revisions in US corn acres

By Tom Polansek

Reuters

CHICAGO, Feb 10 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture, long the world's gold standard for crop estimates, faces mounting doubts about the reliability of its data from farmers, grain traders and economists following deep staff losses and a sharp upward revision in how many acres of corn were harvested.

Farmers, traders and food manufacturers everywhere closely follow monthly USDA reports on production, supplies and demand ​so they can anticipate prices and inventories.

Thousands of employees left USDA last year as part of President Donald Trump's drive to shrink the federal government, and experts worry the shrinking staff hobbled the agency's ability ‌to produce accurate and timely data.

USDA's final estimates in January for how many corn acres farmers planted and harvested in 2025 represented unprecedented increases from initial estimates in June. Already-low grain prices sank more than 5%, at a time when growers were struggling to make money.

USDA data last month "appeared ‌to reflect an agency in disarray," said Arlan Suderman, chief commodities economist for consultancy StoneX, citing changes to acres and other estimates.

The revisions prompted USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, which releases acreage estimates, to launch an internal review, said Lance Honig, a top NASS official.

At the Farm Service Agency, another USDA branch, staffing reductions hampered employees from processing data on plantings last summer and feeding it to the statistics service, said Spiro Stefanou, a former acting USDA deputy undersecretary who resigned last fall. This delayed the statistics service from receiving a complete picture of acreage, he said.

"NASS had less information to go on," Stefanou said. "That was going to make their estimates less reliable."

Last summer, Trump fired a top Labor Department official following a weak scorecard of the U.S. ⁠job market, stoking concerns about the quality of federal government data.

MASSIVE CROP ADJUSTMENTS

Corn, America's ‌largest crop, is used to feed millions of farm animals, produce ethanol and sweeten foods including ketchup and ice cream.

Last month, farmers and analysts largely expected USDA would hardly adjust its estimate for harvested acres, already the largest since the 1930s. Instead, USDA hiked it to 91.3 million acres, up 1.3% from the previous estimate and 5.2% higher than in June.

"All of ‍a sudden we had acres popping up all over the place," said longtime analyst Sid Love.

Smaller revisions are common, often in the form of decreases, as poor weather can reduce acres that farmers harvest. Over the last 15 years, harvested acreage estimates on average slipped about 0.7% from June to January, according to a Reuters analysis.

Last month's increase unexpectedly raised USDA's corn production estimate and sank futures prices by 5.4%.

INTERNAL REVIEW

USDA based June acreage estimates on surveys of nearly 68,000 farmers, who have grown increasingly reluctant to participate. It ​used the results to estimate harvested acres until surveying farmers again in December and then published the updated results in January, Honig said.

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As part of its review, USDA will confirm its procedures worked as they should, Honig said. ‌The agency is also exploring options for improving harvested acreage estimates, most likely without more farmer surveys, he said.

In January, it made sense to increase the number of acres harvested for grain because poor weather had not hindered farmers, Honig said. Also, plantings were larger than previous years, and the number of acres harvested for silage, a form of livestock feed made from the whole corn plant, stays relatively unchanged annually, he said.

The USDA in June estimated that farmers planted 95.2 million acres, up 5% from the previous year. At the time, plantings were nearly complete, raising confidence in the estimate among traders and farmers. Many farmers delayed crop sales due to low grain prices and did not know that plantings were even larger than they thought.

USDA raised its estimate by more than 2% in August, lowering corn prices 3%, and again in September. By January, USDA estimated plantings were 98.8 million acres, up 3.8% from its initial estimate.

Some farmers said they did ⁠not understand why USDA could not produce a better assessment in June.

"Given the turmoil and turnover at the USDA at the time, ​there were already concerns about data quality, with the miss from June to final doing everything to reinforce those fears," said Angie Setzer, partner ​at advisory firm Consus Ag Consulting.

"A swing of this size from June to final plantings has never happened before, making many feel it is more difficult to adequately manage risk."

STAFFING CUTS HAMPER AGENCY

Honig said it was not clear why USDA's initial plantings estimate fell short.

In August and September, when USDA mostly increased the plantings estimate, the statistics service incorporated Farm Service Agency data as ‍part of its typical procedures.

Farmers are required to report plantings ⁠to the Farm Service Agency to be eligible for loan and revenue programs that cover a vast majority of acres.

In the first half of last year, Farm Service Agency lost about 24% of its employees while the statistics service lost 34% as USDA employees resigned, retired and were terminated, according to government data.

With fewer workers, Farm Service Agency focused on providing money to farmers, its primary function, not on processing and reporting plantings ⁠data to be incorporated into acreage estimates, said Stefanou, former administrator of USDA's Economic Research Service.

"It's the cascading effect of the deferred resignation program," he said.

Honig said FSA reported and processed plantings data a little slower but that he could not speak to the reason or about staffing ‌in general.

Analysts said farmers' reluctance to respond to surveys and last year's increased plantings may have also made it difficult to estimate acres.

For Bill Lapp, president of consultancy Advanced Economic Solutions, USDA needs ‌to do better.

"They blew the coverage here on this one."

(Reporting by Tom Polansek. Editing by Emily Schmall and David Gregorio)

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Here's Lindsey Vonn's injury history after complex tibia fracture at Olympics

02:06
Here's Lindsey Vonn's injury history after complex tibia fracture at Olympics

MILANO —Lindsey Vonn's long list of injuries got even longer.

USA TODAY Sports

Vonn wasairlifted off the mountainand taken to a hospital after crashing 13 seconds into her Olympic downhill run on Sunday, Feb. 8. Vonn revealed on Feb. 9 that she hasa complex fracture in her tibiathat will require multiple surgeries. She shared the updated in anInstagram post, saying that she knew the risks involved.

This nine days after another crash left Vonn witha torn ACL, bone bruising and meniscus damage in her left knee. Which is not to be confused with the partial replacement she had of her right knee in April 2024.

"While yesterday did not end the way I had hoped, and despite the intense physical pain it caused,I have no regrets," Vonn said. "Standing in the starting gate yesterday was an incredible feeling that I will never forget. Knowing I stood there having a chance to win was a victory in and of itself.

"I also knew that racing was a risk. It always was and always will be an incredibly dangerous sport."

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Lindsey Vonn injury history

  • February 2026: A complex fracture in her tibia that will require multiple surgeries.

  • January 2026: Torn ACL, bone bruising and meniscus damage in her left knee after crash during World Cup downhill in Crans-Montana, Switzerland.

  • January 2019: Impact injury to peroneal nerve.

  • November 2018: Torn lateral collateral ligament and meniscus in left knee, three tibial plateau fractures from crash during training at Copper Mountain, Colorado.

  • November 2016: Fractured humerus in right arm from crash during training at Copper Mountain, Colorado.

  • August 2015: Broken ankle from crash during training in New Zealand.

  • February 2016: Multiple fractures in left knee from crash during World Cup super-G in Andorra.

  • December 2013: MCL sprain in right knee.

  • November 2013: Torn right ACL from crash in training at Copper Mountain, Colorado.

  • February 2013: Torn ACL and MCL in right knee and tibial plateau fracture in right leg following crash in super-G at world championships.

  • February 2010: Broken right pinkie from crash in giant slalom at Vancouver Olympics. (Where she'd previously won the downhill gold.)

  • December 2009: Microfractures in left forearm after crash during giant slalom in Lienz, Austria.

  • February 2009: Severed tendon in right thumb cutting open champagne bottle at world championships in Val d'Isère, France.

  • February 2007: Sprained right ACL after crash during training at the world championships in Åre, Sweden.

What is a complex tibia fracture?

A tibia fracture is a break in the shin bone that is an emergency needing immediate treatment.

"Your tibias are some of the strongest bones in your body. It usually takes a lot of force to break one," according to the Cleveland Clinic. "You probably won't be able to stand, walk or put weight on your leg if you have a broken shin bone."

A complex fracture involves multiple breaks in a bone and damaged soft tissue,according Yale Medicine.Symptoms include extreme pain, numbness and, sometimes, a bone that protrudes through the skin.Treatment involves stabilization and surgery.

Lindsey Vonn of Team United States crashes during the Women's Downhill on day two of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic. Lindsey Vonn of Team United States crashes during the Women's Downhill on day two of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic. Lindsey Vonn of Team United States crashes during the Women's Downhill on day two of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic. Lindsey Vonn of Team United States crashes during the Women's Downhill on day two of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic. Lindsey Vonn of Team United States crashes during the Women's Downhill on day two of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic. Lindsey Vonn of Team United States crashes during the Women's Downhill on day two of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic. A jumbotron shows U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn crashing in the women's downhill event at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d'Ampezzo on Feb. 8, 2026. Snoop Dogg reacts to the crash by American skier Lindsey Vonn during the women's downhill at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d'Ampezzo on Feb. 8, 2026. A Team USA supporter reacts after Lindsey Vonn crashed and was evacuated by helicopter in the women's downhill event at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d'Ampezzo on Feb. 8, 2026. A helicopter arrives on the ski course to airlift Lindsey Vonn following her crash in the women's downhill event at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d'Ampezzo on Feb. 8, 2026. Fans of Team USA react after watching Lindsey Vonn crash in the women's downhill event at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d'Ampezzo on Feb. 8, 2026. Concerned fans watch and wait after Lindsey Vonn's crash in the women's downhill at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d'Ampezzo on Feb. 8, 2026. Fans react after watching Lindsey Vonn crash in the women's downhill event at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d'Ampezzo on Feb. 8, 2026. Spectators react after Lindsey Vonn crashed in the women's downhill at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d'Ampezzo on Feb. 8, 2026. A helicopter airlifts Lindsey Vonn from the course after her crash in the women's downhill event at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d'Ampezzo on Feb. 8, 2026. <p style=Lindsey Vonn supporters react after Vonn's crash during the women's downhill race at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d'Ampezzo on Feb. 8, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Snoop Dogg reacts after United States skier Lindsey Vonn crashed in the women's downhill event at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d'Ampezzo on Feb. 8, 2026. Fans applaud as a mountain rescue helicopter takes Lindsey Vonn after her crash during the women's downhill at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d'Ampezzo on Feb. 8, 2026. A helicopter airlifts Lindsey Vonn from the course after her crash in the women's downhill event at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d'Ampezzo on Feb. 8, 2026. A helicopter carries U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn after her crash in the women's downhill event at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d'Ampezzo on Feb. 8, 2026.

See terrible second crash for Lindsey Vonn

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Lindsey Vonn injury history after complex tibia fracture at Olympics

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