Romney Breaks Ranks; Big Jump In Coronavirus Numbers; 'Sesame Street' Reaches Refugee Kids

Plus, the five funniest Tiny Desk concerts of all time. by Korva Coleman and Suzette Lohmeyer First Up [President Trump image]( Mark Wilson/Getty Images Here's what we're following today. President Trump is scheduled to make public [remarks Thursday at noon ET]( a day after being acquitted by the Senate on two articles of impeachment. The Senate voted mostly on party lines, with one exception: Utah Sen. Mitt [Romney broke ranks]( and voted to convict Trump on one of the charges. As the number of coronavirus cases in China jumped dramatically, to more than 28,000, Hong Kong is requiring a [14-day self-quarantine]( for those arriving from the mainland. Health officials are trying to learn if people who don’t show any signs of illness [can transmit the virus]( to other people. More than 200 people were abused in El Salvador after they were denied asylum in the U.S. and forcibly returned, says a new report by Human Rights Watch. The organization says the U.S. is ignoring the “deadly [results of its callous]( policies.” After a string of inmate deaths in Mississippi that began late last year, the Justice Department announced Wednesday that it is [opening a civil rights probe]( into the state's penitentiary system. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Listens [Who owns Wisteria image]( Greg Allen/NPR Wisteria Island in Florida is a beach squatter's community that goes back at least to the 1960s. But this 20-acre piece of real estate is valuable, and is now at the center of a court battle over who owns the land and what they can do with it. ([Listening time, 4:08]( or [read the story]( The Muppets are reaching out to millions of refugee children — and the special issues they face — in a new Sesame Street program. ([Listening time, 4:39]( A Texas high school student may not be allowed to walk in his high school graduation because his shoulder-length dreadlocks violated his school’s dress code. But when his story made national news, he got a few celebrities on his side, and will get to walk the red carpet at the Oscars this Sunday. ([Listening time, 2:04]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Throwback Thursday [5 funniest TDCs]( Liam James Doyle/NPR To join the ranks of the funniest Tiny Desk concerts, you have to be really, really funny. We had to think back to Fragile Rock’s 2017 set that included a singing and crowd-surfing puppet. And way back in 2012, Reggie Watts improvised three delightfully funny songs, filling one with playful digs at NPR (even radio host/newsletter writer Korva Coleman didn’t escape the teasing). Here are the [five funniest Tiny Desk Concerts]( of all time. --------------------------------------------------------------- Before You Go [animals in the lab image]( Doris Dahl/Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - NPR’s Shortwave podcast follows one woman’s quest to [help more service animals]( and their handlers work in laboratory settings together. - Women essentially run Finland's government, and they're making some changes. Now both parents in a family get [equal paid leave](. - He was Spartacus: Actor Kirk Douglas, the self-described "ragman's son" who became [a global superstar]( in the 1950s and '60s, died at 103. L. Carol Ritchie contributed to this report. --------------------------------------------------------------- Listen to your favorite NPR Member station live on your Alexa or Google Home device. Just tell your smart speaker to, [“Play NPR.”]( We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [dailynewsletter@npr.org](mailto:dailynewsletter@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) 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](