Happy Groundhog Day! Punxsutawney Phil will emerge from his burrow at present to predict whether or not we’re in for an early spring or six extra weeks of winter. But take it calmly — the famed rodent is just proper about 40% of the time.
Here’s what else you want to know to rise up to pace and on together with your day.
A partial authorities shutdown is underway, and lawmakers are racing to restrict its influence. The shutdown started Saturday and is expected to last until at least Tuesday, when the House is ready to maintain essential votes on a bunch of payments to fund the federal authorities. The proposed bundle would fund most departments by way of September however present solely a two-week extension for Homeland Security as lawmakers talk about potential reforms to federal immigration enforcement. Even a short shutdown is already taking a toll: greater than 10,000 FAA employees will be furloughed, and air visitors controllers might be required to work with out pay till the federal government reopens.
The music trade’s largest stars gathered Sunday in Los Angeles for the 68th Grammy Awards. Puerto Rican musician Bad Bunny took dwelling the highest prize, album of the yr, for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos (I Should Have Taken More Photos).” He opened his acceptance speech with a declaration of “ICE out,” which drew a prolonged spherical of applause earlier than criticizing the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Rapper Kendrick Lamar was one other main winner, taking dwelling essentially the most awards of the evening, together with file of the yr for “Luther” that includes SZA. The winner of finest new artist was Olivia Dean, whose summertime hit “Man I Need” went viral on-line.
Artists name out ICE at Grammy Awards
President Donald Trump responded to a jab Sunday by Grammys host Trevor Noah concerning his friendship with the late intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein. “Noah said, INCORRECTLY about me, that Donald Trump and Bill Clinton spent time on Epstein Island. WRONG!!! I can’t speak for Bill, but I have never been to Epstein Island, nor anywhere close,” Trump posted on social media at present. On Friday, the Justice Department launched greater than 3 million Epstein-related paperwork, which reference Trump more than 1,000 times, together with different distinguished figures. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche signaled on NCS Sunday that the DOJ won’t pursue new fees associated to the Epstein case.
Massive protests happened throughout the US over the weekend, with demonstrators calling for ICE brokers to go away their cities. The rallies and marches got here after a nationwide strike on Friday prompted a shutdown of colleges, workplaces and companies from coast to coast. Many individuals proceed to voice their solidarity with Minneapolis, the place the lethal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good have reworked the nationwide dialog on immigration enforcement and seem to have pushed a tone shift from the White House in latest days. Some high Republicans are additionally encouraging the administration to shift its strategy, warning that the optics of ongoing protests and violence in Minneapolis and different cities might backfire on the get together.
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Massive crowds end up for anti-ICE protests throughout the U.S.
Severe chilly is gripping a lot of the southeastern US as a powerful bomb cyclone moves out to sea. Brutally low temperatures are anticipated to persist by way of a lot of the week, making journey on unplowed roads harmful. Several Florida cities set record-low temperatures on Sunday, which triggered some iguanas to temporarily lose muscle control and fall from trees. In South Carolina, a number of seashores acquired extra snow from the storm than many Western cities have seen all winter. Meanwhile, authorities in North Carolina are urging residents to keep dwelling, because the storm has been blamed for greater than 1,000 visitors accidents, together with two fatalities within the state.
Israel has approved the partial reopening of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt after nearly two years of closure, in accordance to an Israeli safety official, permitting a small variety of Palestinians to enter and go away the war-torn enclave.
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The Kennedy Center will shut in July for roughly two years for renovations because the nation’s high arts establishment faces widespread cancellations.
Amazon is touting “Melania” as a field workplace success, although the movie nonetheless has a long way to go to break even.
This engineer developed a method to make regenerative tissue, bringing hope to breast most cancers survivors around the globe.
That feeling of being identified by somebody, with out saying a phrase? That’s intimacy, and a brand new e-book from Dr. Justin Garcia says it’s oxygen for your relationships.
NCS requested retired astronauts about their favorite space movies — and the lineup is nothing wanting stellar.
Sign up for The Countdown publication: NASA’s Artemis program is on monitor to ship people into deep area for the primary time in 5 a long time. Sign up here to get updates directly in your inbox from NCS Science (it’s free.)
🌤️ Check your local forecast to see what you possibly can count on.
And lastly…
Teen units new file for quickest mile by a junior athlete
A 16-year-old from New Zealand has set a brand new world file for the quickest mile run by an underneath–18 athlete.
A 16-year-old from New Zealand has set a new world record for the quickest mile run by an athlete underneath 18. Prepare to be impressed.