The U.S. could send troops to Eastern Europe; an 11-year-old's life during COVID; make your habits stick

Plus, the IRS is severely behind this tax-filing season

View this email online by Suzanne Nuyen First up Janek Skarzynski/AFP via Getty Images Here's what we're following today: The U.S. is considering sending up to 5,000 troops to Eastern Europe as fears of a Russian invasion in Ukraine grow. Although no final decision has been made, troops have been told to prepare to move.  ➡️ The State Department ordered the family members of staff at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv to leave the country "out of an abundance of caution." The IRS is in rough shape heading into the new tax filing season. It begins accepting 2021 tax returns today, but it's still working through millions of backlogged filings from last year. The House committee investigating the January attack on the Capitol is investigating a Trump administration plan to seize voting machines in battleground states. The order would have directed the secretary of defense to "seize, collect, retain and analyze all machines, equipment, electronically stored information, and material records required for retention." Jury selection begins today in Sarah Palin's defamation suit against The New York Times, and it could get "ugly," according to a First Amendment lawyer. A 2017 Times editorial wrongly connected an ad from the former Alaska governor's political action committee to the shooting that wounded Rep. Gabby Giffords. Los Angeles Unified School District's guidance requiring students to wear "well-fitting, non-cloth masks with a nose wire" goes into effect today. Masks will be provided by the district to those who need them. Health experts say cloth masks might not be enough to protect against the omicron variant. Newsletter continues after sponsor message Today's listen Michele Abercrombie/NPR Avah Lamie is like a lot of other kids. She's 11. She takes dance, likes science and has a little brother. She's also losing her childhood years to the COVID-19 pandemic. 🎧 Listen to Avah talk about the rough times, or read her story. Today’s tip Becky Harlan/NPR How are your New Year's resolutions going? If you've already given up on them less than a month into the year, NPR's Life Kit has some tips for sticking with a new habit. Whether you want a new workout routine, a better diet or more mindfulness, make sure you're having fun, and the habits are sure to stick. Before you go Bill Chappell/NPR It's been a good year to attempt a dry January. Thanks to new beer-brewing tech, a non-alcoholic pint tastes better than ever. It started with sourdough starters and Tiger King. Two years into the pandemic, here's how you've been continuing to cultivate joy. French fashion designer Manfred Thierry Mugler has died at 73. His trademark architectural style was beloved by celebrities like Madonna, Lady Gaga and Cardi B. The bark beetle larva could teach Simone Biles some lessons. Entomologists used high-speed videos to capture the tiny larva's spectacular jump. Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WBEZ (edit 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