Record-Breaking Storms; Cuomo Under Fire; ‘Yardi Gras’ 2021

Plus, the story of the new blue pickup truck emoji.

by Korva Coleman and Jill Hudson First Up David J. Phillip/AP Here's what we're following today. A winter storm that brought bitter cold, snow and ice and left millions without power in Texas and northern Mexico will extend its grip through Tuesday. The National Weather Service is warning that a new winter storm will arrive in the mid-South by tomorrow.  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called for an independent 9/11-style commission to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. Such a move will require legislation and will likely tee up partisan difficulties. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo offered a defense to claims that the state underreported the number of coronavirus deaths in nursing homes. In prioritizing a Department of Justice request over one from state lawmakers, Cuomo says a "void" of information was created. But all the numbers reported were accurate, he said. Newsletter continues after sponsor message Today's Listens Rich Fury/Getty Images For Halima Aden, the decision to walk away from a career as the world's first hijab-wearing supermodel was fairly clear-cut. She has felt used for so long, she says — by the modeling industry and by UNICEF, the organization she was photographed by as a child in a refugee camp in Kenya and later served as an ambassador for. Read the story or listen here.  Wall Street "short sellers" have historically been cast as villains. In recent weeks they were painted as the enemy again when hedge funds made bets that prices would fall for several so-called "meme stocks" like GameStop and AMC. Here's an audio rundown of the story.  In the past year, calls to defund police departments have increased after a series of high-profile killings by police. NPR looked at one city that implemented big police funding cuts — Austin, Texas. Hear the discussion.    Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images Johnny Pacheco, co-founder of the record label that helped popularize salsa music around the world, died Monday at age 85. Fania Records revolutionized the sound of Cuban dance music in the 1970s, when Pacheco was a prolific songwriter and musical arranger whose work helped fuel the careers of Celia Cruz and Rubén Blades. NPR’s Felix Contreras has the story of salsa’s biggest cheerleader. Listen to his appreciation here or read the story.  You may not have noticed this on your computer or your cellphone yet, but among the latest batch of new emojis is an unassuming little blue pickup truck. The story of how that truck got onto our devices is a window into the big and sometimes dark money that companies spend to influence how we communicate. Have a listen. The Picture Show Phoebe Jones/WWNO In a year without parades, Mardi Gras in New Orleans has become "Yardi Gras." The house floats movement was born on Nov. 17, 2020, the same day the city announced there would be no parades during the upcoming Carnival season due to the coronavirus. Many residents have decorated their houses for drive-through parades.  Before You Go Chris Jackson/Getty Images A day after Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex announced that they are expecting their second child, the couple said they will share their story with Oprah Winfrey. The interview will air next month on CBS. (BBC News) Far-right-friendly social media site Parler limped back to life on Monday with a new Web host, retooled community guidelines and a promise that content inciting violence will be removed. A new theory out of Harvard University says the dinosaurs were killed by a comet fragment that originally came from the edge of the solar system. Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from Vermont Public Radio (edit station). Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Music, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Daily News emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy