News

Dancers perform lion and dragon dances during Lunar New Year celebrations in Washington, D.C.'s Chinatown in 2019.

Lawmakers urge making Lunar New Year a federal holiday

4:02pm February 02, 2022

by Emma Bowman

Rep. Grace Meng says she introduced the measure to send the message to Asian Americans that they are a valued part of American society. If the bill passes, it would become the 12th federal holiday.

Groundhog Club handler A.J. Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, Wednesday during the 136th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa.

National

These 2 groundhogs have conflicting weather predictions — so take your pick

3:01pm February 02, 2022

by Rachel Treisman

On the day when America puts its faith in the paws of furry forecasters, prominent groundhogs Punxsutawney Phil and Staten Island Chuck do not agree on how many more weeks of winter there will be.

The first COVID-19 mass vaccination on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii is held on Feb. 9, 2021. The Army says it will "immediately begin separating Soldiers from the service" who refuse to be vaccinated.

U.S. Army begins to discharge soldiers who refuse COVID-19 vaccination

12:48pm February 02, 2022

by Avie Schneider

"Unvaccinated Soldiers present risk to the force and jeopardize readiness," Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth says. The Army says 96% of active troops have been vaccinated.

National Guard Specialist Austin Alt stands as he fills in as a substitute teacher due to staffing shortages caused by the coronavirus disease pandemic and other non-illness related absences at Pojoaque Valley Middle School in Pojoaque, N.M.

New Mexico asks National Guard to work as substitute teachers to keep classrooms open

12:22pm February 02, 2022

by Alice Fordham

New Mexico is short 1,000 teachers. National Guard volunteers now serve as substitute teachers.

U.S. sending troops to Eastern Europe as Russia masses forces near Ukraine

11:22am February 02, 2022

by Tom Bowman

The Pentagon announced Wednesday that thousands of U.S. troops will soon be dispatched to Eastern Europe amid a major military buildup of Russian forces around Ukraine.

Queue Listen Now

India's skier Arif Khan poses on the sidelines of a training session in Austria last month.

At the Beijing Olympics, a Kashmiri skier will carry India's flag — all by himself

10:27am February 02, 2022

by Lauren Frayer

When you think of India, you might think of heat and humidity before snow. But India is home to parts of the Himalayan mountains. That's where Olympian Arif Khan first put on skis.

Queue Listen Now

Dan, left, and Tanya Snyder, co-owner and co-CEOs of the Washington Commanders, pose for photos after unveiling their NFL football team's new identity, on Wednesday. The new name comes 18 months after the once-storied franchise dropped its old moniker fol

The Washington Football Team's new name is the Washington Commanders

10:18am February 02, 2022

by Jonathan Franklin

The big announcement ends 18 months of research, focus groups and fan submissions for the organization's new identity and brand.

Paxlovid tablets are packaged at a Pfizer factory in Italy.

Health & Safety

Feds' contract with Pfizer for Paxlovid has some surprises

9:25am February 02, 2022

by Sydney Lupkin

NPR has obtained the government's $5.3 billion contract for the first 10 million courses of Paxlovid, an antiviral pill for COVID-19. Here's what's in it.

Queue Listen Now

Kids under 5 may soon be able to get the Pfizer vaccine if regulators decide the shots are safe and effective for this age group.

Health & Safety

When can babies and kids under age 5 get their shots? Here's the timeline

9:08am February 02, 2022

The first big hurdle was crossed when Pfizer shared its clinical trial data with the FDA. Now there are five more steps to get through before this vulnerable population can be vaccinated.

People walk on Boston Common in Boston after a snowstorm on Sunday. A powerful nor'easter last weekend brought blinding blizzard conditions with high winds causing widespread power outages to much of the Mid-Atlantic and New England coast. The storm dropp

National

Another winter storm now threatens a large swath of the Central and Eastern U.S.

8:55am February 02, 2022

by Peter Granitz

The National Weather Service predicts a prolonged, major winter storm that could travel across parts of the Midwest into the Northeast later this week.