Major economic growth last year; a judge cancels gas lease sales; a Tennessee district bans a holocaust book

Plus, a second version of the omicron variant has scientists on alert.. [View this email online]( [NPR]( by Suzanne Nuyen First up Brandon Bell/Getty Images Here's what we're following today: Between the pandemic, skyrocketing inflation and ongoing supply chain issues, it might come as a surprise that last year the U.S. economy saw its fastest growth since 1984. The process was a rollercoaster though, with [growth happening in fits and starts]( as COVID waned and surged. Connecticut police have opened an investigation into the death of Lauren Smith-Fields, a 23-year-old Black woman who was found dead in her apartment in mid-December shortly after meeting a man from a dating app. Police have been [criticized for their handling of the case]( and Smith-Fields parents called them dismissive. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and other states in the Northeast are preparing for another major winter storm this weekend. The nor'easter could [potentially bring blizzard conditions]( with most of the snowfall happening tonight. A second version of omicron has scientists on alert for a potential lengthening of the current COVID-19 surge. Omicron BA.2 is the current version's [stronger, possibly more contagious sibling](. Luckily, preliminary evidence shows it doesn't carry a larger risk of severe disease. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- Picture show U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Silvia Espinosa-Schrock rediscovered a box of photos she packed away in storage more than 30 years ago. Inside, she found [pictures of an internment camp]( and many who died at Auschwitz. The photos were recently reunited with the Jewish family they belong to and are now archived at the Holocaust Museum. --------------------------------------------------------------- Today’s listen Eric Gay/AP A federal judge has invalidated an oil and gas lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico, saying the Biden administration didn't adequately consider the costs to the world's climate. It's part of the largest oil and gas lease sale in U.S. history, which Biden signed off on days after pledging to cut fossil fuels. 🎧 [Listen to this story]( or [read more about it](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Before you go Bertrand Langlois/AFP via Getty Images - A Tennessee school district is facing blowback after banning Maus, the Pulitzer-Prize-winning graphic novel about the Holocaust. The district said people objected to the book's "[words and graphics]( but critics say the Maus is essential for teaching kids about genocide. - Fifty-eight prospective students have been given full-tuition scholarships to Central Michigan University after the university [mistakenly told them they had all won full-ride scholarships]( with room and board. - Talk about a jack of all trades! David Rush [broke a Guinness world record]( every week for a year in 2021. His achievements include stacking wet bars of soap, juggling quickly, juggling slowly and bouncing ping pong balls. - About one in 20 people in the U.S. have seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. During this winter, use some of these tips to [cope with your symptoms](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Find a 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]( [NPR logo]