Ukraine worries about U.S. midterms; workers speak out on asbestos exposure; axolotls are popular pets

Plus, descendants of Black Plague survivors have a powerfu protectivel gene — at a cost.

View this email online by Suzanne Nuyen Good morning. "Avogeddon" is hitting Philly today. If you're around, go get your free avocados. Here's what we're following today: 🥇 First up Evgeniy Maloletka/AP U.S. citizens aren't the only ones nervously waiting for the midterm elections. Ukrainians are as well. They're concerned about the possibility that Republicans will take control of the house. Last month, most House Republicans voted against a funding package that included billions earmarked for Ukraine. The good news: The drop in college enrollment is no longer as drastic as it was early on in the pandemic. The bad news: enrollment rates haven't exactly recovered, and colleges aren't making up any ground since the pandemic began. Up to half of all Europeans died during the Black Plague, and that likely altered the evolution of the European people's genome. Descendants of the survivors have a protective gene mutation that bolsters immunity — but at a cost. UCLA student Christian Secor has been sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison for his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection. He broke into the U.S. Capitol with hundreds of others, entered the Senate chamber with an antisemitic flag and sat in Mike Pence's chair. Newsletter continues after sponsor message 📷 Picture show Parker Michels-Boyce for NPR Given record-high rents and low vacancy rates, some housing providers are pairing unhoused people up as roommates to get them off the streets. But it can be a tough sell for renters and landlords alike. 🎧 Today’s listen Rich-Joseph Facun for ProPublica Despite the irrefutable dangers of asbestos, the U.S. has never banned the carcinogen outright. To this day, the U.S. allows hundreds of tons of asbestos to flow in each year from Brazil, primarily for the benefit of two major chemical companies, OxyChem and Olin Corp. 🎧 Listen to a group of men detail their repeated exposure while working at one of the plants, or read their story. 🛑 Before you go Robert Michael/AFP via Getty Images You know what they say: Axolotls are a man's best friend. More and more people are getting the smiling salamander as pets, thanks to Minecraft. Nestlé has issued a voluntary recall of its ready-to-bake refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough with fudge filling after some consumers found white plastic pieces inside. Parts of Florida hit hardest by Hurricane Ian are seeing nearly double the normal number of infections from a flesh-eating bacteria that thrives in brackish floodwaters. After being called out for flashing an honorary police badge at a debate, Herschel Walker's campaign is embracing the moment with plans to distribute 1,000 fake badges as a fundraising prop to highlight his support of the police. Michigan parents are upset over a mural painted by a high school student inside a teen health center at Grant Middle School. They say the "Stay Healthy"-themed artwork contains LGBTQ propaganda, a depiction of Satan and a message of witchcraft. 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