Lone Star State's Deep Freeze; Limbaugh’s Legacy; All Eyes On Mars

Plus, how to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine in your state. by Korva Coleman and Jill Hudson First Up [The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality reported on Wednesday that 332 local water systems across the state, 276 issued boil-water notices to make tap water safe to drink.]( LM Otero/AP Here's what we're following today. There is growing outrage across the state of Texas as nearly three million people are still without power days after a brutal winter storm that swept through much of the country. Now, with treatment plants going offline, many Texans are being told their [water might not be safe to drink]( as well. Facebook is blocking news content for people and publishers in Australia because of a debate over whether tech giants should pay news organizations for articles that are shared on their networks. [Read the story](. Two brothers [featured in an NPR story]( this month had expected to spend the rest of their lives in prison. Instead they’ve been released after Pennsylvania's governor signed their clemency papers. [Hear the update](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Listens [Radio host Rush Limbaugh.]( Julie Smith/AP Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh died Wednesday at age 70 of complications from lung cancer. His continuing racism against people of color, offensive comments about women and diatribes against LGBTQ people earned him anger — a fact that he relished. [Listen here](. Nearly 3 million Texas electricity customers are enduring extreme cold, which has Texans seeking other means of getting warm, including barbecues and generators. That’s led to a surge in carbon monoxide poisonings, including a hundred cases at Memorial Hermann's emergency rooms in the Houston area. [Listen to the story](. [How do you get a COVID-19 vaccine appointment? The answer varies state by state.]( Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Image The COVID-19 vaccines are here, but if it's your turn to get vaccinated, how are you supposed to sign up? [Click here to use NPR's lookup tool]( to see how things work in your state and connect you with local resources. [You can also listen to the story](. NPR's Ari Shapiro spoke with Patricia Lockwood about her new novel, No One Is Talking About This. The book follows its protagonist down an Internet wormhole until a real-life event snaps her out of it. [Listen to their conversation.]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Before You Go [NASA's Perseverance rover shown with its experimental aerial drone, the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, in an artist's concept.]( NASA/JPL-Caltech - NASA's Mars rover Perseverance is set to land on the Red Planet [today](. Success depends on a nail-biting "seven minutes of terror" entry, descent and landing. [Tune in here]( to watch the landing live at 11:15 a.m. PST/2:15 p.m. EST. - Krispy Kreme is commemorating Perseverance's landing with a special doughnut. The Mars Doughnut looks like the red planet and will only be available Thursday, while supplies last. ([USA Today]( - Three novels and two story collections — selected from a long list of 15 — remain in contention for this year's Aspen Words Literary Prize. [The winner will be announced]( at a virtual ceremony on April 21 that will also feature a conversation among the finalists, moderated by NPR's Mary Louise Kelly. - For many families, paying for college is one of the biggest financial decisions they'll make. Here are [five things every family should know]( about navigating it. --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. --------------------------------------------------------------- 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]( [NPR logo]