The DOJ’s Uvalde shooting report, a government shutdown averted and an Australian Open record
The Yodel newsletter: The stories you need to start your day
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Good morning, folks. Severe winter weather has led to flight cancellations all week. Make sure you know what steps to take if your trip is axed. Now, on to the news.
NEED TO KNOW
A Justice Department report found “significant failure” in the handling of the 2022 shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 students and two staff members were killed.
The failures: The report says police acted with “no urgency” to confront the gunman and gave families inaccurate information, including telling people that their loved ones had survived when they hadn’t. [Yahoo News]
Calls for charges: Some victims’ families are calling for some of the law enforcement officials involved to face criminal prosecution. “We have nothing left but to fight for [our kids]. We are their voices now,” one parent said. [Texas Tribune]
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
🎾 Australian Open tiebreaker
World No. 57 Anna Blinkova beat No. 3 Elena Rybakina after a lengthy third-set tiebreaker that lasted 30 minutes and featured 42 points, the most in women’s Grand Slam history. [Washington Post]
🏛️ Government funding
Congress approved temporary legislation to avert a partial government shutdown and fund federal agencies through early March. President Biden is expected to sign the bill today before the midnight deadline. [New York Times]
➡️ Texas rejects Biden’s request
Texas is refusing to comply with a cease-and-desist letter from the White House that ordered state officials to stop blocking federal immigration agents from accessing part of the U.S.-Mexico border. [NBC News]
⌚ Apple Watch banned again
A federal appeals court denied Apple’s motion to temporarily pause a ban on its new Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 models due to patent violations. The ban was reinstated yesterday. [CNN]
📺 ‘Vanderpump Rules’ spin-off
Bravo announced a new Vanderpump Rules spin-off called The Valley, which will premiere this spring. It will star former Vanderpump mainstays Jax Taylor, Brittany Cartwright and Kristen Doute. [People]
WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY
🎵 Nostalgia alert: Green Day released its new album, Saviors, which critics are calling a welcome “return to form.” [Rolling Stone]
📺 The adult animated musical series Hazbin Hotel premieres its first four episodes on Prime Video. [Hollywood Reporter]
🌙 Watch Japan’s space agency attempt to put a lunar lander on the moon for the first time at 10 a.m. ET on YouTube. [CNN]
🏒 NHL fans: The Red Wings and the Hurricanes play at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+. [Detroit Free Press]
🍿 It’s National Popcorn Day. See if a movie theater near you is offering free or discounted popcorn to celebrate. [USA Today]
☀️ And don’t forget to: Read your daily horoscope. Play the Daily Crossword. Check the forecast in your area.
TODAY IN HISTORY
In 1953, CBS aired the popular episode of I Love Lucy in which Lucille Ball's character gave birth to Little Ricky. Ball actually gave birth in real life on the same day to her son, Desi Arnaz Jr. [AP]
3 QUESTIONS
Yahoo News reporter Kate Murphy breaks down what to know about the Houthis, the Iran-backed militia in Yemen that the U.S. just redesignated as global terrorists.
Lily: Catch me up. What did the Houthis do?
Kate: They’ve been attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea, disrupting global trade. The U.S. told them to knock it off. They didn’t, and the U.S. retaliated.
Lily: How does it connect to Israel and Gaza?
Kate: The Houthis say they support the Palestinian people, and that their attacks on ships in the Red Sea will end when Israel ends the bombardment in Gaza.
Lily: Do I need to be worried?
Kate: The U.S. says it’s not looking for a war with the Houthis. There are fears the Israel-Hamas conflict will spread into the region. Some argue that it already has.
Get more from Kate: Read her news reporting.
FEEL-GOOD MOMENT
Peter Ssemwanga recently moved from Uganda to Canada. His wife, Marie Fogarty, filmed his reaction to seeing snow for the first time. “It looks beautiful. … Nice to meet you!” he said to the fresh layer of snow. [USA Today]
Have a stellar day. See you next week!
💡 P.S. Before you go, your daily advice: Want to drastically improve your sleep? Consider buying an eye mask. [Washington Post]
About The Yodel: The Yodel is a morning newsletter from Yahoo News. Lily Herman curates trusted news and daily delights from the top news publishers.
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