The number of global maternal deaths is 'unacceptable'; what derailed the train in Ohio; one year of war in Ukraine

Plus, how to maintain friendships at work and boost your happiness. [View this email online]( [NPR]( by Suzanne Nuyen Good morning. A massive winter storm continues to batter much of the U.S, with [nearly 950,000 households nationwide]( losing power as of last night. Stay safe out there. Here's what else we're following today: 🥇 First up [This week, workers continued to clean up the derailed tank cars in East Palestine following the Feb. 3 crash.]( Matt Freed/AP A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board offers the most detailed explanation yet of why a train in East Palestine, Ohio, carrying toxic chemicals derailed. Train operators tried to stop the vehicle after a [wheel bearing overheated]( but by the time the alarm rang, it was too late. 🎧 Listen to a [breakdown of the report](. There were an estimated 287,000 maternal deaths globally in 2020. That's equivalent to a woman dying every two minutes — or [nearly 800 deaths a day](. Progress hasn't been made to reduce these numbers in years, and health officials worldwide are calling the numbers "unacceptable." The Fairness Project has won campaigns to raise the minimum wage and expand Medicaid in nine states dominated by Republicans, and they're tackling abortion next. [Ballot initiatives]( are the secret to their success, but there's growing pushback from state lawmakers. A federal judge in Texas could rule as soon as today on whether to cut off access to a key medication abortion protocol. The current two-drug protocol involves taking mifepristone, then misoprostol. While misoprostol alone is approved as an ulcer medication and not a standalone abortion drug, it could soon [become a last option]( for patients. 🎧 Listen to the uncertain [state of the legal landscape](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- 📸 Picture show [In January 2022, a woman walks toward what was the only crossing between the rest of Ukraine and the northernmost occupied territory, manned by guards on both sides who check documents in Stanytsia Luhanska, in eastern Ukraine.]( Claire Harbage/NPR Last January, NPR photographer Claire Harbage visited Ukraine for the first time — before the Russian invasion — and ended up spending over half of the year there. She shares her experiences of [documenting life in Ukraine]( amid the ongoing Russian invasion. --------------------------------------------------------------- 🌱 Life advice Kaitlin Brito for NPR Work might feel pretty draining, but research shows friendships at the office can boost happiness. Here's [how to stay connected]( to your colleagues. --------------------------------------------------------------- 🎥 Weekend picks Universal Pictures Check out what [our critics]( are watching, reading and listening to this weekend: Movies: Action comedy [Cocaine Bear]( is exactly what you'd expect: It's abundant in both cocaine and bear antics. Television: I'm not crying you're crying. AppleTV+'s [Dear Edward]( follows a 12-year-old boy named Edward who loses his whole family in a plane crash. Books: Jack Bittle's [The Great Displacement]( takes a look at several communities that have been affected by climate change, and how the lives of their residents — those who have survived — have been altered by extreme weather. Music: [Soca]( the up-tempo, propulsive descendant of calypso created in Trinidad and embraced across the Caribbean diaspora, celebrates 50 years of history this year. Listen to a playlist of the genre's greatest hits. --------------------------------------------------------------- 🛑 Before you go [A U.S. Air Force pilot looked down at the suspected Chinese surveillance balloon as it hovered over the Central Continental United States February 3, 2023. The pair was flying over Bellflower, Missouri.]( Department of Defense - A photo from a pilot aboard the Air Force's legendary U-2 spy plane looking down at China's alleged spy balloon is an incredible selfie. Using some sleuthing skills, we can pinpoint exactly [where it was taken](. - Since the first days of the space program, astronauts have worn a special patch specific to each mission. A small North Carolina company has [designed them all]( since the Apollo lunar launch. - Artist and collector Stephen Gamson wants to pick up the pieces and buy a broken art piece after a woman [shattered a $42,000 Jeff Koons "balloon dog" sculpture](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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