Business
Nor’easter Batters Massachusetts, Leaving Over 210,000 Without Power
A ferocious nor’easter pounded Massachusetts on Monday, February 23, 2026, dumping heavy, wet snow and unleashing damaging winds that toppled trees, snapped power lines and plunged more than 210,000 customers into darkness across the state.

The storm, which intensified overnight and peaked during the morning hours, triggered widespread power outages, blizzard conditions in many areas and treacherous travel that officials described as nearly impossible. The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) reported escalating outages throughout the day, with figures climbing rapidly as wind gusts exceeded 70 mph in southeastern regions and snow accumulated at rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour in parts of the state.
By mid-afternoon, PowerOutage.us and utility reports showed Massachusetts leading the Northeast with around 181,000 to over 210,000 affected customers, part of a regional total exceeding 511,000 outages stretching from New Jersey to New England. Eversource Energy, the state’s largest utility, reported more than 135,000 of its customers without power at one point, while National Grid cited tens of thousands more in its service areas. Cape Cod and southeastern Massachusetts bore the brunt, with Barnstable County seeing over a quarter of customers impacted and towns like Plymouth reporting nearly 10,000 outages.
The nor’easter arrived Sunday night after days of forecasts warning of its potential historic impacts. A blizzard warning remained in effect for eastern, central and southern Massachusetts until 7 a.m. Tuesday, covering areas from Greater Boston to the Cape and Islands. The National Weather Service in Boston highlighted the dangerous combination of heavy, wet snow — up to 18 to 24 inches in many spots — and sustained winds that created whiteout conditions, reduced visibility to a quarter-mile or less and posed life-threatening risks for anyone venturing out.
Governor Maura Healey declared a state of emergency effective Sunday evening through early Tuesday, urging residents to stay home and avoid unnecessary travel. “This is a high-impact storm with blizzard conditions, and power outages will be likely,” Healey said in pre-storm briefings. Officials mobilized resources early, staging hundreds of utility crews and emergency personnel, but restoration efforts faced severe constraints: bucket trucks and line workers can only operate safely when winds drop below 35 mph, delaying repairs in the hardest-hit zones.
Utility spokespeople warned that some outages could persist for days. Eversource estimated potential restoration times of three to five days in severely affected areas, while National Grid emphasized the challenges posed by fallen trees entangling lines amid ongoing snowfall and gusts. Customers were advised to report outages directly to their providers — Eversource at 1-800-592-2000 or online, National Grid at 1-800-322-3223 — and to sign up for alerts. Both companies urged residents to charge devices, prepare emergency kits and never approach downed wires.
The storm’s ferocity stemmed from its rapid intensification, with barometric pressure dropping sharply to create bomb cyclone characteristics. Wind gusts reached 70 mph or higher along the coast, contributing to coastal flooding risks in low-lying areas. Snow fell heaviest in southeastern Massachusetts, where blizzard conditions were most pronounced, while inland areas saw accumulations closer to 12 to 18 inches.
Travel ground to a halt across the region. State police and transportation officials restricted non-essential driving, with similar measures in neighboring states like Rhode Island and New Jersey. Airports faced widespread cancellations, and public transit services suspended or limited operations. Schools and non-essential businesses remained closed, with many communities activating warming centers for those without power.
The outages compounded safety concerns, as residents relied on generators — with warnings to operate them outdoors to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning — or sought shelter elsewhere. MEMA directed those without electricity to call 211 for warming center locations.
Meteorologists noted the storm’s wet, heavy snow as a key factor in the outages. Accumulating on trees and power lines already stressed by wind, it created widespread structural failures. Forecasters predicted the worst conditions through midday Monday, with winds easing and snow tapering by evening, leading to partial clearing Tuesday with temperatures near freezing.
This nor’easter follows an active winter pattern for Massachusetts, which had already seen significant snowfall earlier in the season. The state recorded 43.3 inches seasonally before this event, and totals from the storm could push many areas well above average.
As crews worked amid hazardous conditions, officials reiterated calls for patience and safety. “Our focus is public safety and stabilizing the system as conditions allow,” said Eversource spokesperson Olessa Stepanova. Restoration priorities target critical infrastructure like hospitals and emergency services first.
The storm’s regional scope left neighboring states similarly battered: New Jersey reported over 129,000 outages, Delaware nearly 72,000 and others in the tens of thousands. The Northeast’s power grid faced one of its most severe tests of the season, underscoring vulnerabilities to extreme winter weather amplified by heavy precipitation and wind.
Residents were urged to monitor updates from MEMA, local authorities and utilities as the storm slowly moved offshore. With sunshine forecast for Tuesday, melting could begin, but lingering outages and potential refreezing posed ongoing risks.
Business
Earnings call transcript: Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure Q4 2025 earnings show resilience

Earnings call transcript: Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure Q4 2025 earnings show resilience
Business
CarMax to pay $420,000 over alleged military vehicle repossessions
Former Republican presidential candidate Larry Elder predicts that the Trump administration’s tariffs aren’t going away anytime soon on ‘The Evening Edit.’
The nation’s largest retailer of used cars, CarMax, will pay at least $420,000 to resolve allegations that it repossessed vehicles from U.S. service members without court orders, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday.
In addition to compensating affected service members, the company will pay a $79,380 civil penalty to the U.S., according to the DOJ.
Federal officials accused CarMax of violating the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by seizing vehicles owned by members of the armed forces without first obtaining court approval.
“Federal law prohibits businesses from repossessing service members’ vehicles without a court order,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said. “The Department of Justice is proud to defend the rights of those who serve in our military and will continue to vigorously enforce the laws that protect them.”
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Ford Mustangs and other used vehicles for sale are parked in a lot at a CarMax dealership on April 24, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images / Getty Images)
The violations allegedly occurred between March 1, 2018, and at least Oct. 24, 2023, affecting at least 28 service members. Each is entitled to a minimum payment of $15,000, plus lost equity in the vehicle and interest on that amount.
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CarMax will pay at least $420,000 and a civil penalty after the DOJ accused the retailer of illegally repossessing vehicles from U.S. servicemembers. (John Moore/Getty Images / Getty Images)
As part of the settlement, CarMax – which did not admit or deny the allegations – agreed to revise its policies and procedures to better protect the rights of U.S. service members. FOX Business has reached out to CarMax for comment.
The SCRA is a federal statute designed to safeguard the legal and financial interests of U.S. service members and their families while they are on active duty.
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It bars auto lenders and leasing companies from repossessing a service member’s vehicle without a court order if the borrower made at least one payment before entering military service.
For reservists, those protections begin when they receive official orders to report for active duty.
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Service members or their dependents who believe their rights were violated are encouraged to contact their nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program office.
Business
US Stocks | Wall Street ends sharply lower amid AI displacement fears and revived tariff angst
A broad selloff sent all three major U.S. stock indexes more than 1% lower by the closing bell, as risk appetite was dampened by a combination of persistent fears over potential disruption due to emergent artificial intelligence technology and Trump’s erratic statements on trade policy, which fueled much of the market volatility during the first year of the president’s second term.
Financial stocks were off 3.3%, while software-related firms slid 4.3% amid ongoing AI disruption fears.
“The question about AI is twofold: How much is it going to cost, and who all is going to be disrupted?” said Tom Hainlin, national investment strategist at U.S. Bank Wealth Management in Minneapolis. “You’ve seen the market react to headlines, it’s ‘sell first, assess later.’”
He added: “It’s a perspective of what may happen as opposed to what has happened.”
On Friday, the top court in the nation issued a 6-3 ruling that Trump overstepped his presidential authority by enacting reciprocal tariffs under an economic emergency law, a ruling that provoked condemnation from the president, who threatened a 15% temporary tariff on all imports, despite having reached trade agreements with many U.S. trading partners.
Gold prices, benefiting from a flight to safety, surged 2.6%. “The Supreme Court decision wasn’t unexpected,” Hainlin said. “But you put these uncertainties on top of each other, the heightened geopolitical situation in the Middle East, tariff uncertainty, and potential AI displacement and that’s leading investors to a broad risk reassessment.”
A powerful winter storm buried much of the U.S. under more than 15 inches of snow and paralyzed travel in the Northeast. At airports in the New York City area, 89% to 98% of flights were canceled, according to Flightaware.com. Airlines and travel/leisure-related stocks tumbled 3.8% and 3.7%, respectively. Dow Transports dropped 2.9%.
With only 77 of the companies in the S&P 500 yet to post results, fourth-quarter earnings season has neared the finish line, a smattering of high-profile companies are expected to report this week, most notably vanguard artificial intelligence chipmaker Nvidia due on Wednesday. Home improvement rivals Home Depot and Lowe’s are also on the docket, which is rounded out by Salesforce and Universal Health Services.
Of the companies that have reported, 73% have beaten expectations, and analysts now expect aggregate year-on-year S&P 500 earnings growth of 13.9%, significantly higher than the 8.9% forecast as of January 1, according to LSEG data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 821.91 points, or 1.66%, to 48,804.06, the S&P 500 lost 71.76 points, or 1.04%, to 6,837.75 and the Nasdaq Composite lost 258.80 points, or 1.13%, to 22,627.27.
Among the 11 major sectors of the S&P 500, financials suffered the biggest percentage, while consumer staples led the gainers. The healthcare index advanced 1.2%, boosted by a 4.9% gain in Eli Lilly after rival Novo Nordisk’s obesity drug CagriSema underperformed Eli Lilly’s drug Zepbound in a head-to-head trial. Among other movers, Domino’s Pizza climbed 4.1% after the fast-food chain’s fourth-quarter same-store sales beat Wall Street estimates. PayPal jumped 5.8% after Bloomberg News reported that the payments firm is attracting takeover interest. Declining issues outnumbered advancers by a 2.2-to-1 ratio on the NYSE. There were 390 new highs and 204 new lows on the NYSE. On the Nasdaq, 1,432 stocks rose and 3,277 fell as declining issues outnumbered advancers by a 2.29-to-1 ratio. The S&P 500 posted 41 new 52-week highs and 18 new lows while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 67 new highs and 264 new lows. Volume on U.S. exchanges was 18.39 billion shares, compared with the 20.62 billion average for the full session over the last 20 trading days.
Business
US stocks drop after Trump ramps up his tariffs and investors dump potential AI losers
US stocks slumped Monday after President Donald Trump ramped up his newest tariffs, while investors continued to punish companies that could be losers in the artificial-intelligence revolution.
Business
AUB Group H1 2026 slides: profit surges 14% despite stock decline

AUB Group H1 2026 slides: profit surges 14% despite stock decline
Business
Chocolate kept in anti-theft boxes as retailers warn it’s being stolen to order
The Heart of England Co-Op group, which runs 38 stores in the West Midlands, Warwickshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire, told the BBC chocolate theft cost it £250,000 last year. It was the group’s most stolen product in 2024 and topped only by alcohol in 2025, it said.
Business
D-Street up on bank, auto boost amid caution ahead of F&O expiry
The US Supreme Court ruled Trump’s tariffs illegal. In response, Trump imposed fresh duties – starting at 10% and then lifting them to 15% – on all countries. This is lower than the rates negotiated between New Delhi and Washington agreed upon earlier this month, but analysts fear the lower tariffs may not last for long.
“The 15% tariffs are limited to 150 days, and Trump will attempt to revert to earlier rates,” said Pankaj Pandey, head of Retail Research at ICICI Securities. “For now, China appears to be the biggest beneficiary, as it had faced the steepest rates earlier, which slightly dims prospects for other economies, including India.”
FPIs bought ₹3,483.7 crore worth of shares on Monday, while domestic institutions sold ₹1,292.24 crore. FPIs have purchased ₹17,426.3 crore so far in February. Across Asia, Hong Kong jumped 2.5%, while South Korea and Taiwan gained 0.7% and 0.5%. China and Japan were closed for holidays. In commodities, gold inched 0.9% higher, and silver rose 2.8% to $86.9. At home, the Nifty PSU Bank and Nifty Auto indices advanced 1.4% and 0.8%, while the Nifty IT index slipped 1.4%.
Technical analysts expect the downside to be limited to 25,500, but say broader participation is essential to sustain upside.
Business
Orbital space race heats up in Arctic north
We are visiting the Esrange Space Centre near the city of Kiruna, run by the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC Space), where more than 600 rockets have launched since the 1960s, mostly sub-orbital rockets used for scientific research, or to test-run space flights.
Business
Engineering Leadership in Modern Energy
Kwashie Senam Zilevu did not set out to work in oil and gas. He set out to solve problems.
Today, he is the Chief Technology Officer at Mizan Energy, where he leads digital transformation efforts across a global energy operation. His path from software engineer to technology executive reflects a steady focus on systems, discipline, and long-term thinking.
This spotlight looks at how Kwashie built his career, how he approaches leadership, and why his work sits at the intersection of technology and modern energy.
Early Life and Interest in Technology
Kwashie grew up in Alexandria, Virginia. From an early age, he showed a natural interest in how things work.
“I was always curious,” he says. “I liked taking systems apart, understanding the logic, and figuring out how to make them better.”
That curiosity extended beyond computers. He played soccer and learned the value of teamwork early. He also grew up in a family that valued education and technical excellence. His sibling, Setor Zilevu, would later become a recognized expert in artificial intelligence.
Seeing that path up close shaped Kwashie’s mindset.
“It made technology feel real,” he explains. “It wasn’t abstract. It was something you could build a life around.”
Education at Virginia Tech
Kwashie attended Virginia Tech, graduating in 2008. The experience sharpened both his technical skills and his work ethic.
“Virginia Tech taught me how to think under pressure,” he says. “You learn fast that clean code and clear logic matter.”
During this time, he focused on building a strong foundation rather than chasing trends. He spent hours refining fundamentals and learning how large systems interact.
That focus would later become central to his leadership style.
From Software Engineer to Technology Leader
After college, Kwashie began his career as a software engineer. He worked close to the code and close to real operational problems.
“I wanted to understand the ground level,” he says. “You can’t lead engineers if you’ve never sat where they sit.”
As his responsibilities grew, so did his scope. He moved from writing code to designing systems. From solving isolated problems to thinking about scale, risk, and reliability.
That progression eventually led him to Mizan Energy.
Driving Digital Transformation at Mizan Energy
As CTO of Mizan Energy, Kwashie now focuses on using technology to support complex energy operations. His work centers on efficiency, data integrity, and long-term system resilience.
“Energy is physical,” he says. “But the decisions behind it are digital.”
He views technology as an operational backbone, not a side project. Systems must be stable. Data must be trusted. Tools must support people, not slow them down.
“My job is to make technology invisible when it’s working,” he explains. “If teams can focus on operations, then the systems are doing their job.”
Leadership Philosophy in High-Stakes Industries
Kwashie’s leadership style is calm and methodical. He values clarity over speed and structure over noise.
“Good leadership is about consistency,” he says. “People need to know what to expect from you.”
He believes credibility is earned through decisions, not titles. That belief comes from his early engineering years.
“Engineers respect leaders who understand the work,” he adds. “You don’t need to know everything. But you need to know enough.”
In a high-stakes industry like energy, that mindset matters.
Life Outside the Office
Outside of work, Kwashie enjoys flying private planes, traveling, and reading. Aviation, in particular, reflects his personality.
“Flying teaches discipline,” he says. “You plan carefully. You respect systems. You stay humble.”
He still plays soccer and values the balance it brings.
“Sports remind you that progress is incremental,” he explains. “You train. You improve. You stay patient.”
Values and Philanthropy
Kwashie also remains committed to giving back through regular church-based donations. For him, success comes with responsibility.
“It’s important to stay grounded,” he says. “Giving keeps your perspective clear.”
That grounding influences how he leads and how he measures success.
Looking Ahead in Energy and Technology
Kwashie does not frame his work around hype. He focuses on durability.
“Trends come and go,” he says. “Strong systems last.”
As energy companies continue to rely on data, automation, and digital infrastructure, leaders like Kwashie play a critical role. His career shows how technical depth, steady leadership, and long-term thinking can shape complex industries.
“I’m still learning,” he says. “That’s the job.”
And for Kwashie Senam Zilevu, that mindset has made all the difference.
Business
Sebi chief Tuhin Kanta Pandey flags big PMS overhaul, to examine new RBI funding rules
On the PMS norms, Pandey said, “We propose to carry out a comprehensive review… so that the framework remains effective, adaptable, and aligned with evolving market dynamics.” The draft regulations will be released for public consultation before Sebi’s June board meeting, he added.
The PMS industry, which has about 2.15 lakh clients, managed Rs 10.5 lakh crore in assets (excluding EPFO and PF) as of January 31, 2026, growing at a 17% CAGR, according to Sebi data.
“But regulation alone cannot build a strong industry. The real strength of PMS will come from what firms do every day — in governance, suitability, technology and conduct,” Pandey said.
He stressed that investor suitability must remain central to the business model. “Risk profiling, suitability assessment, and client communication must be clear, consistent, and evidence‑based. Going ahead, PMS distributors conduct matters the industry must guard against mis‑selling,” he said.
New RBI funding norms
Separately, Pandey said Sebi would examine representations from stock brokers on the Reserve Bank of India’s new capital market funding norms. The RBI has proposed raising bank‑guarantee collateral requirements for proprietary traders to 100% from 50%.
“We have received a representation. I saw it on Friday. We will see what we can and need to do on it because RBI had initially opened draft guidelines and sought their opinion,” Pandey said. “It is in relation to issues around bank guarantees and how much collateral has to be given for proprietary trading. There are three to four issues. Since the representation has come to us, we will have a look at it.”
Speaking to the media after RBI’s board meeting in New Delhi, Governor Sanjay Malhotra said the central bank is not considering a review of the recently announced rules on bank financing of stock‑market intermediaries. The framework was finalised after due consultation, he said. “There is no change that we are contemplating.”
Under the new regulations, banks’ lending to brokers will face more scrutiny in terms of collateral requirements as well as purpose of the loan, while proprietary trading is seen taking the biggest hit
Oversight on grey‑market trading
Pandey said Sebi is working on a mechanism to introduce oversight on ‘to‑be‑listed’ stocks — a move aimed at grey‑market activity linked to upcoming IPOs.
“I think we have fairly deliberated this issue internally, and there is a possibility of such through the exchange mechanism for to‑be‑listed stocks — not the entire unlisted space, but the to‑be‑listed space where Sebi’s jurisdiction comes from the statute,” he said.
He added that Sebi would work out the operational details and issue a consultation paper in due course.
Senior Sebi employee suspended
Pandey also addressed the suspension of a general manager on Friday in connection with a “sensitive vigilance matter.” The regulator is contemplating disciplinary proceedings.
“The evidence was egregious enough for us to act,” Pandey said. “It is important that if there is any such case, we will get to the bottom of it.”
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