promoearn: Amid the earthquake rubble, signs of life

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Amid the earthquake rubble, signs of life

Tuesday, February 7

The death toll rose dramatically across earthquake-battered Turkey and Syria. President Joe Biden faces a divided Congress in his second State of the Union speech. And even as frustration mounts about tipping in places where customers normally wouldn't, tips are actually growing. What's happening?

👋 Hey y'all! Laura Davis here. It's Tuesday. Ready for the news?

🥺 But first: get the tissues out! An 87-year-old Scottish granddad melts away the miles between him and his only grandson by singing to him on video. The boy has autism and sometimes struggles to communicate, but the songs have created a loving bond. Read the touching story here.

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Death toll rises as search for quake survivors continues

With some 24,000 rescue workers from around the world picking through mammoth heaps of debris, the death toll surpassed 7,200 people across Turkey and Syria on Tuesday after two powerful earthquakes and a series of violent aftershocks two days ago. "We are facing one of the biggest disasters not only of the history of the Turkish Republic but also of ... the world," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. But amid the overwhelming tragedy, small victories were being won: A baby was rescued after being born under the rubble.

•	'Heart-wrenching' drone footage shows destruction from Turkey earthquake.
•	Soccer player reported missing after Turkey earthquake found alive.
•	How you can help: These groups are taking donations.

Civilians look for survivors under the rubble of collapsed buildings in Kahramanmaras, close to the quake's epicenter, the day after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the country's southeast, on February 7, 2023.

Civilians look for survivors under the rubble of collapsed buildings in Kahramanmaras, Turkey, close to the quake's epicenter, the day after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the country's southeast, on Tuesday.

ADEM ALTAN, AFP via Getty Images

A picture shows rubble in Aleppo's old town on Feb. 7, 2023, following a deadly quake. - The Syrian Red Crescent appealed to Western countries to lift sanctions and provide aid after a powerful earthquake killed more than 1,600 people across the war-torn country. The 7.8-magnitude quake early the previous day, which has also killed thousands in neighboring Turkey, led to widespread destruction in both regime-controlled and rebel-held parts of Syria.

Rubble covers a street in the old town of Aleppo, Syria, on Tuesday after a deadly earthquake on Monday.

LOUAI BESHARA, AFP via Getty Images

Biden to deliver his second State of the Union address

President Joe Biden will try to convince a divided Congress that Democrats and Republicans must work together when he delivers his second State of the Union address tonight. Fighting the opioid epidemic, improving mental health, supporting veterans and cutting cancer death rates will top that agenda. Read more + follow our live coverage.

•	Is he running? 5 questions Biden will answer in the State of the Union.
•	What's good and bad about the economy as Biden preps for State of the Union.

President Joe Biden speaks at the Democratic National Committee Winter Meeting, Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, in Philadelphia.

President Joe Biden speaks at the Democratic National Committee Winter Meeting on Feb. 3 in Philadelphia.

Patrick Semansky, AP

What everyone's talking about

•	First time's a charm? 18-year-old buys $48 million winning lottery ticket.
•	Rihanna is contradicting Rihanna by performing in Super Bowl halftime show. \| Opinion
•	Middle school served 'inexcusably insensitive' lunch during Black History Month.
•	The housing market is shifting. Where in the U.S. will home prices drop in 2023?
•	Stage malfunction: Harry Styles' Grammys dancers say stage spun in reverse during performance.

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❄️ Winter weather: Warmer temperatures across the Northeast as Texas faces storms. Here's Tuesday's weather forecast.

Study: Heart diagnosis often comes too late for Latino infants

Infants born to Latino, low-income or limited-English-speaking parents are more likely to be diagnosed later with congenital heart disease than white infants – or lack a prenatal diagnosis at all, a new study found. Congenital heart disease is the most common type of birth defect. Experts say the findings cast more urgency on caring for babies born to parents whose preferred language is not English and Latino and low-income families. Keep reading.

Despite 'tipping fatigue,' tips are up – but that's just the tip of the iceberg

Picture it: You're buying a muffin at your neighborhood bakery. When the cashier turns the iPad to you to sign, a screen asks how much you'd like to tip. For a muffin? As more businesses adopt digital payment methods, customers are automatically prompted to leave a gratuity. And some people are over it. But despite reports of tipping fatigue – and high inflation – new data indicates that people are actually tipping more. What's behind it?

•	'It makes you feel bad': People are sick of being asked for tips everywhere they go.

A tipping option is displayed on a card reader at a restaurant in Schaumburg, Ill., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. Tipping fatigue, it seems, is swarming America as more businesses adopt digital payment methods that automatically prompts customers to leave a gratuity. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

A tipping option is displayed on a card reader at a restaurant in Schaumburg, Ill., on Jan. 10.

Nam Y. Huh, AP

A break from the news

•	🚢 Ready to get away? These cruise lines have the best new things to do on board.
•	😒 Is your ex popping up out of the blue? They may be 'paperclipping' you.
•	💝 Something for your sweetie: 8 of the best handmade Valentine's Day gifts from Etsy.

This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. Want this news roundup in your inbox every night? Subscribe to the newsletter here.

A Milwaukee Police Department squad car sits in the area of South 13th Street and West Harrison Avenue.

Milwaukee officer, 19-year-old both fatally shot after physical...

A Milwaukee police officer was fatally shot Tuesday while trying to apprehend a robbery suspect, who was also fatally shot after a struggle with the officer.