How U.S. Olympians are faring; the future of the pandemic; how Beijing makes fake snow

Plus, a Russian invasion in Ukraine could be devastating [View this email online]( [NPR]( by Suzanne Nuyen First up Tobias Schwarz/AFP via Getty Images Here's what we're following today: The first weekend of the Winter Olympics has passed and [the first medals]( have been handed out. ➡️ The U.S. figure skating team earned silver medals in the team event. Vincent Zhou later [tested positive for COVID](. ➡️ Defending U.S. ski champ Mikaela Shiffrin is out of the giant slalom event [after falling](. She's still competing in four more events. ➡️ Snowboarder Julia Marino won the U.S.'s first medal when she earned a silver in [women's snowboard slopestyle](. U.S. officials say a Russian invasion of Ukraine could happen any day. An attack could result in the [deaths of tens of thousands of soldiers]( and civilians and force millions of Ukrainians to flee. Jury selection starts today in the federal hate crimes trial for the three men convicted of murdering Ahmaud Arbery. The men have already been [sentenced to life in prison]( in a separate murder trial in Georgia state court. Disorderly passengers have become more and more common on airplanes, and Delta wants the federal government's help to [create a national no-fly list](. But such a list would be difficult to put in place and raises civil liberties concerns --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- Picture show Giles Bruce for KHN From hand-built wooden sheds to Conestoga huts to prefab shelters, tiny homes are cropping up to get people off the streets, especially during the cold of winter and amid the pandemic. Take a look at some of the homes being built in a Wisconsin community called [Occupy Madison](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Today’s listen Science Source The COVID-19 pandemic is heading into its third year. Scientists estimate that most Americans have been infected at some point. Between infections, reinfections and vaccinations, scientists have gained a lot of insight into the future of the pandemic. 🎧 [Listen to their findings]( or [read the story](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Before you go Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP via Getty Images - Despite frigid temperatures in Beijing, Olympic athletes can't rely on having real snow. Here's how organizers [made the fake show]( athletes have been raving about. - The temperatures here in the U.S. have been plummeting as well. Don't let the weather ruin your home. Here's how to [protect it properly]( from the freeze. - 15-year-old Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva broke a record by becoming the first woman to [land a quadruple jump at the Olympics](. She helped the Russian Olympic team earn its gold medal in the team event. - Taxpayers looking to access past returns and other information might soon be required to submit a selfie for identity verification. Eighteen federal agencies already use some sort of facial recognition technology, but [lawmakers are still concerned](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 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]