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Armed Man Killed After Entering Perimeter Of Trump's Mar-a-Lago Home; Thirty-Five-Million-Plus People Under Blizzard Warnings In Parts Of Northeast: Puerto Vallarta Under Siege After Military Kills Cartel Boss; Pope Leo Calls For Immediate Ceasefire In Ukraine; Ukraine: One Killed, Dozens Injured In Double Bombing; Trump Doubles Down On New Tariffs Despite Supreme Court Ruling. Aired 2-3p ET

Aired February 22, 2026 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:00:41]

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN HOST: Welcome everyone. I'm Omar Jimenez, sitting in for Fredricka Whitfield. We have a lot of breaking news this afternoon.

We're going to start though, with an armed man shot and killed by Secret Service agents and law enforcement after entering the perimeter at President Trump's Mar-a-Lago home.

Also moments ago, chaos and violence erupting near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico after a powerful drug cartel leader is killed in a Mexican military operation. We'll bring you the latest from what's going on there.

And a historic bomb cyclone is just hours away from crippling parts of the northeast with heavy snow and damaging winds.

As I mentioned, we have got a lot going on right now, but we are going to start with the deadly shooting at President Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort.

The Secret Service says a man in his early 20s, carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can, entered a restricted area around Trump's Palm Beach Florida home early this morning before he was shot and killed by authorities.

I want to bring in CNN's Julia Benbrook. She's at the White House. So Julia, how is the president's team responding to this?

JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, the most important thing to note here is that President Donald Trump and first lady, Melania Trump, they were here at the White House at the time of this incident.

But they travel often to their Mar-a-Lago estate. In fact, the president has been there almost every weekend in recent weeks.

During a press briefing that took place earlier today, the Palm Beach county sheriff, Ric Bradshaw, standing with representatives from the FBI and Secret Service, he detailed what they know now.

He said that a man, around 1:30 in the morning, made it into the perimeter at Mar-a-Lago and that a deputy and two Secret Service agents on the detail went to investigate. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERIFF RIC BRADSHAW, PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA: They confronted a white male that was carrying a gas can and a shotgun. He was ordered to drop those two pieces of equipment that he had with him, at which time he put down the gas can, raised the shotgun to a shooting position. At that point in time, the deputy and the two Secret Service agents fired their weapons and neutralized the threat. He is deceased at the scene.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BENBROOK: Authorities have said that this man was in his early 20s and from North Carolina. He was reported missing recently by a family member.

Now, the sheriff did say that his deputies are always wearing body cameras, and so we could see some of that footage in the future there. But the FBI is the lead agency on this. They will be responsible for handling any questions going forward.

And we did hear from FBI director, Kash Patel, a little while ago. He posted on social media, he said, quote, "The FBI is dedicating all necessary resources in the investigation of this morning's incident at President Trump's Mar-a-Lago, where an armed individual was shot and killed after unlawfully entering the perimeter.

We will continue working closely with Secret Service as well as state and federal partners. And will provide updates as we are able."

They are currently processing the scene and analyzing any evidence. They've also asked people in the area that if they have any doorbell camera footage, that does seem suspicious could be related to this, that they should contact authorities.

JIMENEZ: All right. Thank you, Julia.

Still a lot of questions at this point. I want to bring in CNN chief law enforcement and intelligence analyst John Miller.

You've been talking to your sources here. What does this investigation look like at this point?

JOHN MILLER, CNN CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: Well, what they're trying to do, Omar, is to backtrack through the last 24 hours or more since this individual was reported missing.

He's a 22-year-old man from the area of Cameron, North Carolina and it appears he drove there to Mar-a-Lago. One of the things that was found in the vehicle, his Volkswagen SUV, was the box for the shotgun. So, investigators believe that he left his North Carolina home,

stopped along the way, perhaps, and purchased that shotgun and the gasoline and then drove to Mar-a-Lago.

[14:04:51]

MILLER: One of the questions is, how did he get into that perimeter? It appears that as an employee was leaving and opened the gate to walk out, he caught the gate and walked in.

He made it about 20 to 30 yards before he was confronted in that perimeter by two Secret Service agents and a deputy Palm Beach county sheriff. And as the sheriff said, according to their report -- and the deputy does have body camera -- as he was ordered to put down the shotgun and the gas can, he put down the gas can raised the shotgun into a firing position, and all three, both agents and the deputy fired, killing him.

JIMENEZ: Do we know if the shotgun was loaded? I mean, obviously pointing a weapon at law enforcement prompts the reaction that they had here. But just on the back end of this, do we know if that shotgun was actually loaded.

MILLER: You know, it's a good question, Omar because as you point out, there's no way that those law enforcement officers would have known by seeing the shotgun, whether it was loaded when it was pointed at them.

But the question goes directly to what was his intent of going into that perimeter? Did he know that President Trump wasn't there and was at the White House? Was his specific intent suicide by cop, which we've seen in a number of these incidences where people called the police because of their own depression, mental health issues, whatever it is, to take their lives.

Whether or not that shotgun is loaded will give us a better indicator of that when we find that information out from the FBI. But right now, I don't know the answer to that, but it's a good question.

JIMENEZ: Yes. A lot of questions still in this early stages of the investigation.

John Miller, appreciate the time as always.

Look, we're also following breaking news right now. More than 35 million people are under blizzard warnings as we are hours away from what's expected to be a historic winter storm that is set to cripple parts of the northeast. Major cities could be paralyzed as the storm intensifies into a bomb cyclone bringing up to two feet of snow and fierce winds as forecasted.

Officials in multiple states have announced road travel bans and restrictions for tonight when conditions are expected to rapidly deteriorate. And nearly 8,000 flights have been canceled for today and tomorrow, according to FlightAware.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has declared a snow emergency and had this warning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR MICHELLE WU, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS: Boston is no stranger to Nor'easters, but this is going to be a big one. We've dealt with them before and we're ready to work in close coordination with the state, the MBTA, our city partners and our community members to clear our roads and keep everyone safe.

So please stay home, stay warm. Stay safe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JIMENEZ: Obviously, it's something we are monitoring by the minute. We have a team covering the storm right now.

CNN meteorologist Chris Warren is monitoring conditions from the CNN Weather Center, and Gloria Pazmino is in New York City, where Mayor Zohran Mamdani just declared a state of emergency.

I want to start with you though, Chris. What is the big picture of what's actually happening here along the East Coast?

CHRIS WARREN, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Looking at, as you mentioned, all of these blizzard warnings, close now to 40 million people under a blizzard warning. This includes the entire state of Delaware, the entire state of New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Blizzard warnings touching ten states.

Now, put this into perspective. If there was a blizzard warning for four counties in New Jersey, that would be a big deal, right? That would be a very big deal here on the East Coast.

But parts of ten states under a blizzard warning, a high-impact event, and it is getting underway right now.

The radar is showing right here that changeover happening. What looks like heavy rain was actually partially melted snowflakes that are now turning over to snow.

So, some areas starting out as rain and then turning into snow. Other areas starting out as snow and going to stay snow throughout the duration of this event as the snow and the wind make things an absolute mess. Treacherous, if not life threatening, to travel at times across parts of the northeast.

Here's the European forecast model. Just a couple of days ago, this was showing virtually nothing. This is trending to be on the higher side compared to where it was now -- a foot, a foot and a half, even close to two feet in pockets, this is not everywhere. Some areas it depends on how this evolves, whether it's going to be some banding.

This getting closer in line with another model, the American model showing, and it has been now for at least a few days, it's been consistent with showing several inches more than a foot of snow widespread. Also, what you'll notice here temperatures are right around the

freezing mark -- 30, 32, 33. That's important because this makes it a wet snow. The snowflakes melt just a little bit they kind of stick to each other on the way down.

[14:09:49]

WARREN: And this heavy, wet snow combined with the wind means it's more likely that could weigh down branches, trees, power lines, meaning power outages also a concern.

Still, by tomorrow evening, parts of New England will still be dealing with that very strong winds, very heavy rain. And again these winds -- heavy snow excuse me -- these winds will continue to pound up to 45, 50 mile an hour at times throughout the overnight hours -- so dangerous conditions.

One, Omar, piece of I guess little good news, would be that the worst of the weather is happening in the middle of the night, Sunday going into Monday. But of course, that's no consolation for those that are disrupted with travel.

JIMENEZ: Yes, and those monitoring to see if they wake up with no power obviously a lot to monitor as these conditions are really starting to get going now.

Chris, really appreciate it.

I want to bring in Gloria Pazmino in New York for us. So Gloria, I can see the snow is starting already but how is the city preparing for what's coming?

GLORIA PAZMINO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right Omar, conditions are definitely starting to pick up here. The snow is coming down. The wind is picking up and it is very cold. Although not as cold as it was during the last storm over a month ago which made conditions so much harder to sort of battle.

But this is expected to be a big one, likely a historic snowfall, more than 1.5 feet of snow expected to fall. And there's not a whole lot that brings New York City to a halt but this is likely to do so.

To that end, New York City mayor, Zohran Mamdani has already announced that the city's public schools will close on Monday. And he has also instituted a travel ban, which will begin at 9:00 this evening. That's a pretty big deal for the city of New York, which is always in motion.

There will be some exemptions for public transportation for emergency essential workers but Mayor Mamdani asking people to stay off the roads as much as possible this evening, not just because conditions will be extremely dangerous, but of course, because there will be thousands of sanitation workers out on city streets trying to clean up that snow.

Take a listen to the mayor just a short while ago, talking about how the city is preparing. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI, NEW YORK CITY: The state of emergency closes the streets, highways and bridges of New York City for all traffic -- cars, trucks, scooters and e-bikes, with some specific exemptions for essential and emergency movement. We are asking New Yorkers to avoid all non-essential travel.

In total, the storm is projected to drop between 18 and 24 inches across New York City, coming up to 28 inches in certain areas.

New Yorkers should also expect dangerous winds.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAZMINO: So again, Omar, that travel ban really is about keeping transportation, New Yorkers, commercial vehicles off the roads as much as possible.

The city has been preparing since yesterday. Thousands of sanitation workers, thousands of snow removal equipment. They have hired emergency snow plows to come in and help clear sidewalks and intersections.

And also, very importantly, I should mention that the city is in an enhanced code blue status right now. And what that means is that the shelter requirements are relaxed so that homeless New Yorkers can go into shelter.

86 people were removed from the streets throughout the day yesterday. And I do want to mention Omar, the last storm was deadly for 19 New Yorkers who died while they were outside.

So again, we're not dealing with as much cold this time around but, of course, conditions here will be dangerous. It will be cold. There will be a lot of snow. So people should really stay inside, Omar.

JIMENEZ: Yes, a lot of dangerous conditions here. Even as you were speaking, Mayor Mamdani put out on Twitter that they declared a local state of emergency. A lot of preparations underway as you laid out and the city clearly taking it seriously.

We will see what happens. Gloria Pazmino, appreciate the reporting.

All right. We're also following breaking news out of Mexico. CNN has learned that the leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation drug cartel has been killed today during an operation led by Mexico's military.

The cartel boss, who goes by the nickname El Mencho, was widely regarded as one of the country's most violent criminal figures. He was also wanted in the U.S., with the Justice Department putting out a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest.

Now, authorities in multiple Mexican states are reporting the blocking of various roads with vehicles set on fire by alleged members of organized crime along with clashes with security forces. These are some of the images coming out of the country now.

The U.S. embassy in Mexico just issued a shelter in place to all U.S. citizens in areas where the operations are now taking place.

So I want to bring in CNN's Valeria Leon, who joins us now from Mexico City.

[14:14:48]

JIMENEZ: Valeria, what more can you tell us about the situation unfolding in Mexico right now?

VALERIA LEON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Well, you know, there's fear among residents. We're receiving reports that a store has been set on fire and people in Guadalajara, in Jalisco say they are worried about what would happen next.

We -- let's remember that he's a longtime leader of the cartel Jalisco (INAUDIBLE) one of the most powerful and fastest growing criminal groups in the country. And authorities have described as one of those transnational cartels with operations stretching from Mexico to (INAUDIBLE). But not only in the U.S., but also Europe and Asia.

So what will happen if the man at the top is gone. Well, first there's the question of succession. Cartel Jalisco is known for its vertical military structure, simply centralized around El Mencho.

And his absence could trigger an internal struggle among people competing for control in the cartel. And history tell us that cartel leaders (INAUDIBLE) violence can spike.

And this is exactly what we're seeing right now in Jalisco and this Mexican state and in the capital, this state in Guadalajara what's happening there.

JIMENEZ: Valeria Leon really appreciate the perspective. As you've been speaking, we've been showing images from the country as well, including from Puerto Vallarta, which is obviously a very popular for American tourists as well.

We'll continue to monitor this story and bring you any developments.

Still to come for us though, the $134 billion question now that the Supreme Court has struck down President Trump's tariffs. What's going to happen with all the revenue that was brought in? We'll talk about it, coming up.

[14:16:40]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JIMENEZ: New today, Pope Leo, in his weekly address at the Vatican marking four years this week since the start of Russia's war in Ukraine. The Pope calling for an immediate end to the fighting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) POPE LEO XIV, ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH (through translator): Peace cannot be postponed. It is an urgent necessity that must find space in hearts and be translated into responsible decisions.

For this reason, I firmly renew my appeal. May the weapons fall silent. May the bombings cease. May an immediate ceasefire be reached.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JIMENEZ: Now, despite the Pope making that plea this morning there were more Russian attacks today and a deadly double bombing in western Ukraine that officials are calling a terror attack.

CNN's Nada Bashir has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, authorities have confirmed that they have detained and arrested one individual believed to be the key suspect in this double bombing attack, which took place in Lviv this morning according to officials. Though those investigations are still ongoing and the question remains whether there are other suspects, that is something that investigators and police officials are still looking into.

Now, at this stage, officials have confirmed that at least one person was killed in that attack, a 23-year-old police officer. Some 25 others at least, are reported to have been injured, and among them, six law enforcement officers who are said to be in serious condition.

Now, we have been learning a bit more about how this attack unfolded. According to officials, police were notified of an emergency alert of a potential intrusion in the city center in a shop. And following their response, that first blast went off. And then as a second crew of law enforcement officials arrived, a second blast also went off impacting those in the vicinity.

And according to the preliminary investigation, they believe homemade explosives were detonated in the area. And they are describing this as a terrorist attack.

Take a listen to these remarks from Lviv's mayor.

MAYOR ANDRIY SADOVYI, LVIV, UKRAINE (through translator): Police are working on site. As for damages, many windows were blown out.

An investigation is underway. Once it is over, we will clear everything up. We will help people. It was a very difficult night.

BASHIR: Now of course, while one individual has been detained, as I've mentioned, they are still looking into other potential suspects. At this stage, while this is being characterized as a terrorist attack there has been no clear announcement of a specific motive behind this attack.

And at this stage, no official linking to Russia or potential Russian attack, although, as we know, overnight as well, in the country's capital in Kyiv we did see a continued barrage of missile attacks targeting the capital.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JIMENEZ: Nada Bashir, thank you for that reporting.

As I mentioned, we've been following some breaking news. Snow starting to come down across the northeast as a powerful bomb cyclone takes aim.

Stay with us. This is all just getting started.

[14:24:15]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JIMENEZ: We're following breaking news as a major winter storm begins to drop snow on the northeast, at the beginning of this process right now. But the entire states of Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey and Rhode Island are under blizzard warnings ahead of the storm, which is expected to bring up to two feet of snow to some areas and fierce winds that could create whiteout conditions tonight into tomorrow.

Also, nearly 8,000 flights have already been canceled for today and tomorrow according to FlightAware. And officials in multiple states have announced road travel bans and restrictions for later today.

So we will continue to monitor there.

Meanwhile though, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tells CNN today lower courts will have to weigh in on potential tariff refunds. That's after the Supreme Court ruled President Trump's emergency trade duties are illegal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT BESSENT, U.S. TREASURY SECRETARY: The Supreme Court remanded it down to a lower court. And, you know, we will follow what they say but that could be weeks or months when we hear them. So the Supreme Court did not address refunds.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JIMENEZ: Now, despite that, major court setback, the president says he's pressing ahead with his signature economic policy.

But he announced this weekend he's raising his new global tariffs to 15 percent under an authority he's using that only lasts for 150 days before he will need congressional approval. Trump's tariff policy now creating new uncertainty, though across the globe.

[14:30:02]

I want to bring in Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. She's a Democrat from Michigan. Congresswoman, thanks for being here. I want to start just with your

reaction to the Supreme Court ruling.

Was this what you expected to happen?

REP. DEBBIE DINGELL (D-MI): I don't expect anything from this Supreme Court. Happy to see that this ruling really is the law, as I believe that it is. And the president does not have the authority.

I think it's going to create even more confusion, as you saw from the secretary today as it goes back to the lower courts. And you also saw the president immediately impose 15 percent tariff and he needs to understand Congress has the ultimate authority on that as well. I think we're continuing to create chaos for all of our allies that we are buying product from and quite frankly, chaos for the consumers who are wondering because some are saying they should get a refund, are they going to get a refund? And what you have is total chaos and confusion on all fronts.

JIMENEZ: You know, you talked about, obviously, the authority that the president has put in these new global tariffs under is for 150 days, and then it does go to congressional authority. It could happen before that.

But you previously said on social media this ruling should be a moment for congress and the administration to work together on clear, targeted authorities grounded in law to advance U.S. industries globally. Do you believe there's actually an appetite for that in Congress right now?

DINGELL: I will work with anybody I have said from the beginning, I've had intense discussions with members of my own party. The tariffs are a tool in the toolbox. When you're trying to level playing field like we are with the auto industry in China, which is competing against a country that subsidizes its progress -- product manipulates its currency and use slave labor. You need to have a level playing field. But what we have is chaos right now.

I think it has become so bad that our allies do not know how to depend on us or treat us. They are cutting deals with China, as you saw Canada do, which I found very distressing. And I think we have to work together.

But that means the president needs to respect what the law is and Republicans in the Congress need to say to the White House, this is the law. Let's all work together on this

JIMENEZ: So, you think there are opportunities for tariffs to work effectively. But just at this point you would rather work them out on the congressional side to try and figure out what that might be. So, you're not against tariffs basically is what I'm hearing here

DINGELL: They're tools in the toolbox when they're appropriate. You don't do blanket tariffs against good neighbors. I mean, you know, let's look at Canada, which is my neighbor which we -- has been one of our closest allies. And what has happened to our relationship with Canada on all fronts. I'm not sure Canada even wants to negotiate a USMCA with us right now, which I find disturbing.

Tariffs are a tool in a toolbox. We need a broad, comprehensive policy where we're all working together to protect American manufacturers and also protect our consumers. So I'm not against all tariffs, but I am against chaos, which is what we see. Total chaos.

JIMENEZ: Do you believe -- do you believe the U.S. -- do you believe the U.S. government should refund the roughly $130 billion in revenue taken in by these tariffs? I mean, if so, who gets that money?

DINGELL: What you have is case. You tell me you answered that question. It's going to be tied up in litigation forever.

Every company handled the cost of tariffs differently. Some put it on the consumers. Many ate it. I've talked to many of the suppliers, which have truly been hurt. They were supplying, say, an OEM that wasn't eating it, making the suppliers -- just how tariffs were being handled in this country was total chaos. And who was paying the cost.

So, it's going to take a long time to unwind this total chaos that we have, a spider web of different people paying costs. We need to have a strategic policy that supports our American manufacturing, protects our economic security, our national security, and lowers the cost for consumers, which these tariffs have increased costs and made many things unaffordable for a lot of Americans.

JIMENEZ: Well, and maybe that direction forward comes from you and your colleagues over these next 150 days. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, we will see you. But thank you for being here today.

DINGELL: Thank you.

JIMENEZ: All right. Meanwhile breaking news. Chaos and violence erupting near Puerto Vallarta. These are images coming in today. This is after a powerful drug cartel leader in Mexico is killed in a Mexican military operation. We'll bring you the latest on that story.

Plus, California's Department of Justice is investigating whether discrimination played a factor in the emergency response to last year's deadly fire in a historically black community.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:39:34]

JIMENEZ: A year after the deadly fire, California authorities are now launching a civil rights investigation into the response to the massive blaze. Flames tore through the communities, killing 19 people and wiping out thousands of homes. Eighteen of those victims were from West Altadena, a historically Black neighborhood. That area is now the focus of the probe, looking into whether residents were discriminated against during the emergency response.

CNN's Julia Vargas Jones has the story [14:40:05]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REV. AL SHARPTON, CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER: You got a whole community burned down that needs to be investigated. What happened? What started it, and why did it expand? And why did some folk get noticed seven hours before other folks got noticed?

JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): February 2025, families were just beginning to mourn those who died in the Eaton Fire. But questions about delayed emergency alerts and evacuations in historically Black West Altadena were already swirling

ZAIRE CALVIN, ALTADENA RESIDENT; This is my lot that I bought after college, yeah. This is where my house, and my mother, this is a childhood home.

JONES (voice-over): Zaire Calvin lost his sister, Evelyn.

CALVIN: It's where my cousin came and that's where he found her.

JONES (voice-over): He says the pain of her loss is made worse by the feeling that during one of the deadliest fires in California history, his community was left to fend for itself.

CALVIN: We were left alone to fight for ourselves. Our community was left to, you know, get itself saved, rescued ourselves.

JONES (voice-over): Residents reported the late emergency alerts, a lack of firefighters and engines, and no one going door to door warning them to evacuate. The Los Angeles county fire department says it made every effort to quickly bring in fire resources from across the state, but was overwhelmed and outpaced by the speed and unpredictability of the fire.

More than a year later, the state is investigating whether there was potential discrimination in the emergency response in West Altadena.

ROB BONTA, CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL: There was indisputably a delayed emergency notification and evacuation of West Altadena. We're here to ask why.

JONES (voice-over): L.A. County officials said agencies have fully cooperated in all independent review so far, and that none have found any discriminatory or structural bias in the county's response, adding that they will fully cooperate with the investigation and that they believe the attorney general will find that emergency responders did the best they could under unprecedented and extreme conditions as they fought to save lives, homes and businesses.

CALVIN: How do you not see a certain level of discrimination? Because there was a lack of help. So, if you didn't have anything in place or you weren't worried about making sure that there was something in place to make sure the community is okay, how is that not discrimination? JONES (voice-over): Calvin says West Altadena has long operated with

fewer resources than other parts of town. He says that's why he coaches to give back to the community that raised him, and to be a source of normalcy for these kids who are navigating loss and displacement, while much of their town is still leveled foundations on otherwise empty lots.

JONES: How many of these are Black families?

CALVIN: There's Steve, and then Black, then Black, and then white next door, and then Black, Black. Then there's Fair Oaks Burger.

JONES (voice-over): Fair Oaks is a longtime neighborhood staple. Here, Calvin and his neighbor Randy say you can still feel what this community was built on. Black families fight for home ownership, like in the 1960s when the construction of a highway displaced thousands of residents. They remember.

CALVIN: It's always -- it's always a fight, especially with us.

RANDY VANCE, ALTADENA RESIDENT: It's been a fight for land since they made everybody move from Pasadena to Altadena to like build a freeway, and we're always the ones that have to suffer from it.

CALVIN: And you know, as Black people, we always get marginalized. And we work so hard to be here. And our families worked hard and generationally every single day. Hard work in being there and being part of the neighborhood and the community and being involved.

JONES (voice-over): Calvin calls the investigation historic, but says that what matters most is whether it leads to restoration.

CALVIN: When you go into this, are you really going to make sure that there's an outcome that helps the community?

JONES: What would that look like?

CALVIN: Money, finances, building back, making history period just to build back.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JIMENEZ: And Julia Vargas Jones joins us now live in Altadena. Look, Julia, obviously it's been more than a year at this point, but how are the rebuilding efforts going?

JONES: Well, it's actually striking, Omar. We're seeing those drone images there. A lot of these lots are still empty. Only one fifth of the burned out homes has actually received a permit to start the rebuilding but most of them have yet to begin.

A lot of these residents say that there was an initial rush to buy some of these lots, but that's gone now. So even those who want to sell are kind of facing a difficult situation in the community, more than anything. They're saying they don't want to sell. They want to keep this community as it was before. They want to rebuild as they were before and that's really difficult.

A lot of these homes, a lot of these families, they are fighting insurance. They're still trying to get the funds to start the rebuilding effort. And that could still take months.

JIMENEZ: Julia Vargas Jones, appreciate the reporting. We'll continue to monitor that probe as it goes forward.

All right. Still to come for us, we're tracking a lot of news. Hockey fans, golden goal alert. And overtime yet again this time for the men. Team USA tops archrival Canada in a thrilling overtime to win the first men's hockey gold since the 1980 miracle on ice. We'll break it down, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:50:53]

JIMENEZ: Hey, instant gold medal classic today. If you missed it -- in overtime, Team USA brought home the gold in rival men's hockey match against Canada today. American Jack Hughes scored the winning goal, making the final score 2-1 and this is the first gold for U.S. men's hockey since the 1980 Miracle on Ice game, bringing an exciting end to the 2026 Winter Olympics, at least for the Americans.

Now, as the Winter Games come to a close, it was a great ride, excitement is building ahead of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, and the debut of women's flag football, the sport growing in popularity from youth leagues to the professional level.

And I want to bring in one of those professionals.

Joining me is quarterback and captain of the Mexican national flag football team, Diana Flores.

Diana, good to see you. But how did it feel learning that flag football was approved officially to be included in the 2028 Summer Olympic Games?

DIANA FLORES, QUARTERBACK & CAPTAIN OF THE MEXICAN NATIONAL FLAG FOOTBALL TEAM: Well, it was a dream come true. Amazing news. Not only for myself as a, you know, athlete -- a young athlete who grew up watching the Olympics every four years.

But for the entire flag football community worldwide, I think flag football being included in the Olympic games for L.A. '28 will be a game-changer for the sport. It will continue to create opportunities for the present and future generations of girls. It will put front and center to female athletes and also grow awareness of the sport and hopefully attract so many new fans and players to this game that is reshaping what it means to be a woman in sports.

JIMENEZ: And just for the folks that might be seeing you for the first time, Diana Flores is a superstar. I mean one of the most recognizable, if not the most recognizable name in women's flag football. Patrick Mahomes knows who she is by name recognition. You can confirm

if that's right or wrong, but I'm pretty sure that's right. You've also been part of a Super Bowl commercial as well which was awesome to watch. I was watching an old interview of yours, and you actually said flag football was the sport of the present and the future.

What did you mean by that?

FLORES: Yes, I think an amazing thing that flag football is doing is not only, as I said, just opening new opportunities and platforms for boys and girls to get introduced to the sport. But also I think it's breaking down a lot of barriers, like cultural barriers around the world, stereotypes and it's just giving girls another opportunity to pursue their dreams of the field as well with the scholarships and countless opportunities right now, with the rise of the support and investment in the game. So I truly believe that is the sport of the present and the future because of how inclusive it is.

It doesn't matter who you are. How old are you? Where you live, you will find your place on the field. And that's one of the most amazing -- amazing things about the sport. So that's why I say flag football is the sport of the future. It will continue to just raise up the platforms and the excitement and the community around the world.

JIMENEZ: You know, you -- for people that are unfamiliar with flag football, I mean, look, I grew up playing with it, you know, just in the backyard but this is a whole different level, especially the organization around it, which I think is really cool for people to see all across the world. I mean, you've been playing since -- since you were a little kid.

But for people unfamiliar with flag football, what can spectators actually look forward to in the 2028 Games? Why is this different from maybe, you know, the typical contact --

FLORES: Yes.

JIMENEZ: -- American football that people might be used to?

FLORES: I'm glad you brought that to the table, because I always say that tackle football and flag football, they come from the same roots, but they're like, you know, like brother and sister. They are different sports at the same time.

Flag football is inclusive. It's a non-contact sport. It's all about agility, creativity and agility on the field. Speed, it's just like community. So, I think that's one of the strengths of the game itself.

And it's just like in a moment so important because it's turning from a recreational sport. It used to be played, you know, on weekends, at the backyard field to now being a more professional structure that is giving scholarships, that is creating a path for boys and especially girls to follow and pursue their dreams to have like a college scholarship and all of that.

So, I think that's one of the most exciting parts of the game, that it's easy to watch. It's fun to play, and anybody can just pick up a football and be part of the field.

JIMENEZ: Well, Diana Flores, thank you for being here. Mexico top ranked in the world. Got a lot -- got a lot, a lot to watch out for come 2028. Thanks for taking the time.

FLORES: Thank you so much. Don't forget to just jump in the movement. Watch Olympics. We have a new documentary on Amazon Prime that you can look into and just learn about the movement of football. It's called "The Future is Flag".

So I --

JIMENEZ: Yeah.

FLORES: -- hopefully you join up.

And also, there's a new book that I launched is called "Flag Football for Dummies". I am so proud to partner this with this prestigious how to editorial.

JIMENEZ: Yeah.

FLORES: And I just wanted to share the passion of the game, the rules, and hopefully it continues to push forward the movement of flag worldwide.

JIMENEZ: Love the passion. Diana, good to see.

FLORES: Thank you.

JIMENEZ: Still to come for us, more on our breaking news. Connecticut has now joined Delaware, New Jersey and Rhode Island as states that are entirely covered by blizzard warnings. The complete forecast, just ahead.

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