Puerto Rico reels from another hurricane 5 years after Maria; Biden's pandemic comments turn heads

Plus, exercise your breathing muscles to lower your blood pressure. [View this email online]( [NPR]( by Suzanne Nuyen First up [A woman clears debris on her property flooded by Hurricane Fiona in Salinas, Puerto Rico, Monday, Sept. 19, 2022.]( Alejandro Granadillo/AP Here's what we're following today: Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico five years ago. The U.S. response back then was seen as wholly inadequate, and at least 3,000 died. Five years later, Hurricane Fiona is [putting the nation to the test]( once again. ➡️ The island's power grid was wiped out when Fiona made landfall. Lack of power has created another life-threatening challenge: [finding clean water](. ➡️ Several organizations have begun to take donations to help residents recover from the hurricane. [Here's how you can help](. Some epidemiologists aren't happy with Joe Biden's comment that "the pandemic is over." Public health experts say the president's statements will [complicate the administration's efforts against COVID]( — especially as officials are trying to roll out a new booster campaign. ➡️ Is the pandemic over? Here's [what the data tells us](. The Senate will soon ratify a climate treaty that would formally mark the U.S.' commitment to reducing hydrofluorocarbons — industrial chemicals commonly found in air conditioners and refrigerators that trap [1,000 times more heat than carbon dioxide](. Authorities in Texas have opened a criminal investigation into Florida [Gov. Ron DeSantis' flight last week]( that took roughly 50 Venezuelan migrants to Martha's Vineyard, Mass. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- Picture show [Larisa, 76, lives alone in her apartment in Sloviansk, Ukraine. She hasn't been outside since before the war.]( Claire Harbage/NPR Many people living along the front lines of the war in Ukraine are older. They either don't want to leave or can't because of their advanced age. It's a lonely existence, made [easier by the city social workers]( who stayed behind to take care of them. --------------------------------------------------------------- Today’s listen [Volunteers from McQuaid Jesuit High School play basketball with the children of Cameron Community Ministries' after-school program.]( Max Schulte/WXXI News Children who are regularly exposed to gun violence can struggle with feelings of hopelessness and anxiety. 🎧 [Listen to how communities can help foster healing]( or [read the story](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Before you go [Simply improving our breathing can significantly lower high blood pressure at any age. Recent research finds that just five to 10 minutes daily of exercises that strengthen the diaphragm and certain other muscles does the trick.]( SciePro/Getty Images/Max Posner/NP - Exercising your breathing muscles can be just as important as weight lifting. New research shows that training the diaphragm helps [promote heart health]( and reduce blood pressure. - NPR UX designer Daniel Wood loves to forage. He says [picking "neglected fruit"]( gives him the opportunity to recall the simplicity of survival in an ever-modernizing world. - Adnan Syed, whose story was made famous by the Serial podcast, has been released from prison after a judge vacated his conviction. At 18, was [sentenced to life in prison]( for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee. - Hard Rock casinos, hotels and cafes announced $100 million worth of wage hikes that would impact 95 different job titles. [Housekeepers, cooks and security guards]( will see the biggest increases, the company said Monday. - For the first time in history, the House of Representatives includes a Native American, a Native Alaskan and a Native Hawaiian — fully representing the U.S.' Indigenous population. [Mary Peltola's]( election in Alaska sealed the deal. --------------------------------------------------------------- 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]