promoearn: Brutal weather from coast to coast

Wednesday, February 22

Nasty winter weather threatens millions of Americans. And Nipsey Hussle's killer was sentenced.

👋 Howdy! Laura Davis here. It's time for Wednesday's news.

🐧 But first: A penguin the size of Shaq? Paleontologists discovered the fossilized bones of a gigantic 340-pound penguin that lived in New Zealand about 57 million years ago. Meet Kumimanu fordycei.

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Monster winter storm batters the nation

A brutal major winter storm that has stretched 2,600 miles from coast to coast battered the nation on Wednesday, moving into parts of Pennsylvania, New York and New England.

•	A rare blizzard warning was issued near Los Angeles, and the storm knocked out power to more than 100,000 California households, closed highways and prompted over 1,000 flight cancellations.
•	Residents in western states and the Plains have faced severe weather for several days and may see blizzard conditions.
•	Dangerous conditions are landing further east as an ice storm slices across the Midwestern states and snow and sleet hit the Northeast.

🌨 Here's everything you need to know about Wednesday's winter weather.

•	Check your flight status: 1,000+ flights canceled amid massive storm.

Rush hour traffic travels southbound on Interstate 35W in Minneapolis as a winter storm hit the Twin Cities Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023.

Jeff Wheeler, AP

White House: Trump and GOP 'owe East Palestine an apology'

The White House is firing back at Republicans on the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment, blaming the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress for undoing safety measures. Republicans have attacked the Biden administration, especially Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, for its response to the Feb. 3 derailment that unleashed toxic chemicals. White House spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement: "Congressional Republicans and former Trump Administration officials owe East Palestine an apology for selling them out to rail industry lobbyists when they dismantled Obama-Biden rail safety protections as well as EPA powers to rapidly contain spills." Keep reading.

•	Just how dangerous is the Ohio derailment disaster? Why it's confusing.

A man takes photos as a black plume rises over East Palestine, Ohio, as a result of a controlled detonation of a portion of the derailed Norfolk and Southern train.

Gene J. Puskar, AP

What everyone's talking about

•	In a historic first, Jennifer McClellan was just elected to Congress. Black women say it's not enough.
•	'Jesus made a difference in my life': Kelsey Grammer won't apologize for his faith.
•	'A chilling effect': What happens to our culture when books are banned.
•	CNN's Don Lemon still gets it wrong. His non-apology for sexist comments is what not to do. \| Opinion
•	Why your favorite local restaurant might throw away its menu this year.

The Short List is free, but several stories we link to are subscriber-only. Consider supporting our journalism and become a USA TODAY digital subscriber today.

On the ground in Ukraine, the war depends on US weapons

A year into Russia's invasion, Ukrainian military officials say U.S. weapons are making a major difference. To highlight the value of the weapons, a senior Ukrainian military intelligence officer and severa soldiers guided a USA TODAY reporter to a secret location outside the front-line town of Bakhmut. There, a lieutenant colonel stood near what he regards as one of his military's most prized possessions: an American-made M777 howitzer. "This weapon changed the trajectory of the war for us," he said. Take an up-close look at the front line in Ukraine.

•	'We will never be the same': Displaced Ukrainian kids risk erosion in school, mental health.

👉 Russian economy shrugs off sanctions; militia owner blames Kremlin for soldiers' deaths: Ukraine live updates.

Ukrainian soldiers fire artillery at Russian positions near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.

Libkos, AP

Nipsey Hussle's convicted killer sentenced to prison

Ending an emotional yearslong saga, the man convicted of shooting rapper Nipsey Hussle to death in 2019 has been sentenced to 60 years to life in prison. Superior Court Judge H. Clay Jacke handed down the sentence Wednesday after hearing from one of Hussle's friends and listening to a letter from the killer's father that was read in court. Jurors convicted Eric R. Holder Jr. last year of the first-degree murder of the 33-year-old Grammy nominee outside the clothing store Hussle founded, the Marathon, in the South Los Angeles neighborhood where both men grew up. More from the courtroom.

Rapper Nipsey Hussle attends an NBA basketball game between the Golden State Warriors and the Milwaukee Bucks in Oakland, Calif., on March 29, 2018.

Rapper Nipsey Hussle at an NBA basketball game in Oakland, Calif., on March 29, 2018. Hussle was shot and killed in 2019.

Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP

A break from the news

•	🐟 It's Ash Wednesday: How McDonald's Filet-O-Fish, a Lent staple, was created.
•	👌 Everything you need to make the perfect margarita at home on National Margarita Day.
•	💞 'Life-changing': This barber cuts hair for kids with special needs.

Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Send her an email at laura@usatoday.com or follow along with her adventures – and misadventures – on Twitter. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here.

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