Your weekend must reads 📰

Explaining California's wild weather. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

The Short List   Saturday, January 14 Devastating storms in California. The NFL's coaching carousel. The power of social media influencers.  Good morning, friends! I'm John Riley, and these were some of the most-read stories this week in USA TODAY. And there are plenty more were those came from, so let's get started! 💰But first: Are you from Maine? Maybe you won last night's staggering estimated $1.35 billion Mega Millions jackpot? If so, congratulations!✨ (Can I be your best friend?) But before you buy a yacht or two, remember: Taxes will take a big bite of your prize.🧾 On to the news: ⛈️California in crisis: A wave of ferocious storms have rolled across California in the last two weeks, fueled in part by climate change, experts say. USA TODAY produced a sleek series of graphics explaining the wild weather and the extreme damage it has caused. • Before and after: Dramatic images capture the storms' devastation • 'Rivers in the sky': What exactly is an atmospheric river? • Back-to-back storms batter California: How the coastal state has been drenched • Anatomy of a landslide: Storms bring misery, destruction across the state 🏈Often interviewed, never hired: This year's NFL coaching carousel is now in full swing. But when it comes to minority candidates, interview opportunities were often given to familiar faces who interviewed over and over and, in a majority of cases, were not hired, a USA TODAY analysis found. • 'Didn't look the part': Reasons why Black coaches don't get top NFL coaching jobs • Eric Bieniemy: When will the Chiefs' offensive coordinator get his chance? • In-depth reporting: Read more of USA TODAY's NFL Coaches Project 🤳Influencer industry is at a crossroads: The concept of "influencer" has evolved past the stereotype of a vapid 20-something making a duck kissing face. It has become a global industry with the power to dictate what followers pay attention to and value . But while more people than ever are trying to get in on the influence boom, viewers are craving authenticity and expecting more from the creators they follow. • Power of pets: Why we love these furry influencers • Beauty takes brains: Relatability, transparency drive beauty influencers' success • The midsize wave: Fashion influencers are changing how we see size and style • One more: The winners of USA TODAY's American Influencer Awards include Koya Webb, Brad Mondo, Leslie Quezada There are more great reads below.👇 Thank you for reading. See you next week! The immigration trend not on Biden's radar: Americans moving to Mexico President Joe Biden focused his visit to Mexico on immigration. But a trend of US natives moving to Mexico is rising. Garland faced pressure in Biden case to tap special counsel – and... Federal pandemic aid end leaves schools in the red on school meal debt Homeless tent cities are being banned across the US Massive home developments in Arizona face lack of water, new report... Food, work has changed for Paul Whelan in Russian prison Life on Sanibel Island months after Ian: Looting, looky-loos, lack of... Unused 529 college savings will soon get a lifeline: a Roth IRA Athletic trainers save lives. But many high schools don't employ them. Who keeps calling me? Look up phone numbers flagged as potential spam   Problem viewing email? View in browser Unsubscribe • Manage Newsletters • Terms of Service • Privacy Policy/Your California Privacy Rights • Privacy Notice • Do Not Sell My Info/Cookie Policy • Feedback © 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. 7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, VA 22102