These are the headlines you Need 2 Know. * **Shutdown Deal:** Democrat and Republican lawmakers reached a deal “in principle” that would avoid a second government shutdown. The agreement reportedly includes about $1.4 billion for physical barriers at the border and 55 miles of new fencing, far less than the $5 billion and 200 miles that the White House has requested. At a rally in El Paso last night, President Trump told supporters “we’re building the wall anyway.” Read more [here](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/top-lawmakers-meet-to-revive-stalled-border-talks-with-shutdown-days-away/2019/02/11/3cd0fc1a-2dff-11e9-813a-0ab2f17e305b_story.html?utm_campaign=0218d56603-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2_12_2019_7_11&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Need%202%20Know&utm_term=.df89fc7b36f3). * **Fight Against ISIS:** Coalition-backed forces are battling ISIS militants in their last foothold in eastern Syria. No one knows exactly how many ISIS fighters are left in the area, but it’s estimated to be in the hundreds. Read more [here](http://time.com/5526974/islamic-state-syria-land/?utm_source=Need+2+Know&utm_campaign=0218d56603-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2_12_2019_7_11&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_97f672225d-0218d56603-316045885). * **Dem Backlash:** Top Democrats condemned one of their own, freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar, for tweets she made about Israel which many perceived to be anti-Semitic. Omar has apologized “unequivocally” after tweeting “it’s all about the benjamins baby,” suggested that money is the motivator for U.S. politicians to defend Israel. Read more [here](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/429461-omar-apologizes-after-dem-leaders-blast-tweets-as-anti-semitic?utm_source=Need+2+Know&utm_campaign=0218d56603-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2_12_2019_7_11&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_97f672225d-0218d56603-316045885). * **Insect Extinction:** A third of all insect species on Earth are in the process of going extinct, a new peer-reviewed study warns. The authors found that deforestation and pesticide use were the biggest factors contributing to a huge die-off of insects globally, and said if humans didn’t make changes, it would lead to the largest extinction event since the dinosaurs. Read more [here](https://www.yahoo.com/news/world-seeing-catastrophic-collapse-insects-study-165556415.html?utm_source=Need+2+Know&utm_campaign=0218d56603-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2_12_2019_7_11&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_97f672225d-0218d56603-316045885). * **Tax Refunds:** The average tax refund check is down 8 percent ー about $170 ー from last year, according to the IRS. Angry taxpayers have flooded social media with the hashtag #GOPTaxScam after finding out their refunds would be lower, despite their incomes remaining the same. In some cases, people are losing deductions they counted on, while in others they’re just getting more in their paychecks. Read more [here](https://www.nbcnews.com/business/taxes/under-new-trump-tax-code-average-refund-8-4-percent-n970066?utm_source=Need+2+Know&utm_campaign=0218d56603-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2_12_2019_7_11&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_97f672225d-0218d56603-316045885). * **Toy Story:** Toys R Us could be making a comeback. Former executives are looking to bring back the retailer under a new name, Tru Kids, which includes Toys R Us and Babies R Us, and have the brand back in business in time for the holidays. Those stores shut down after the 2017 holiday season. Read more [here](https://www.marketwatch.com/story/rebooted-toys-r-us-intends-to-have-stores-open-by-holiday-season-2019-02-11?utm_source=Need+2+Know&utm_campaign=0218d56603-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2_12_2019_7_11&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_97f672225d-0218d56603-316045885). * **Draft King:** Heisman winner Kyler Murray is giving back more than $1 million in signing bonus money to the Oakland Athletics and committing himself to the NFL draft, after being previously drafted as a baseball player. If Murray is drafted in the first round, he will be the first person in history to be a first-round pick in both the NFL and MLB drafts. Read more [here](http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2019/story/_/id/25973188/kyler-murray-says-fully-committed-being-nfl-quarterback?utm_source=Need+2+Know&utm_campaign=0218d56603-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2_12_2019_7_11&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_97f672225d-0218d56603-316045885). * **Spotted:** Former Subway spokesperson Jared Fogle receiving a culinary arts award in prison. Fogle is serving a 15-year sentence on child pornography charges. See the pic [here](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6683253/Subway-pedophile-Jared-Fogle-living-high-life-prison-ex-reveals.html?utm_source=Need+2+Know&utm_campaign=0218d56603-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2_12_2019_7_11&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_97f672225d-0218d56603-316045885). * **Come Clean:** A Fox News host created a stir after remarking on air that he hasn’t washed his hands in 10 years. Pete Hegseth, co-host of Fox & Friends, said that “germs are not a real thing.” Though Hegseth later said it was a joke, the reaction to the comments was swift. Read more [here](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47201923?utm_source=Need+2+Know&utm_campaign=0218d56603-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2_12_2019_7_11&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_97f672225d-0218d56603-316045885). * **Barbie World:** Mattel’s latest addition to the Barbie line includes Barbie dolls with disabilities, different kinds of hair, and new body types. One new Barbie has a wheelchair and another comes with a prosthetic leg. Studies have shown that how dolls look can influence the children who play with them. Read more [here](https://www.teenvogue.com/story/barbie-wheelchair-prosthetic-leg?utm_source=Need+2+Know&utm_campaign=0218d56603-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2_12_2019_7_11&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_97f672225d-0218d56603-316045885). Cheddar's Jill Wagner gets into the latest. Subscribe to the Need 2 Know newsletter [here](https://theneed2know.com).

Share:
More In Culture
How to Deal With a Friendship Breakup
Friend breakups aren’t new, but people are starting to talk about them more.  Experts say they can be even more painful than romantic breakups, and now there are more resources to help those affected. Cheddar News reporter Ashley Mastronardi reports on efforts to shed more light on this all-too-common issue.
Samsung TV Plus Releases New Channel With Conan O'Brien
Aileen Del Cid, head of marketing at Samsung TV Plus, sat down with Cheddar News reporter Michelle Castillo to discuss the platform's plans to stand out from the streaming competition with a new channel featuring Conan O'Brien.
On a Positive Note: Therapy Dog In Training Named After Fallen Firefighter
A new, furry, and four-legged member has just joined the Suffolk County Police Department on Long Island. Meet "Luna." Luna is a therapy dog in training with the department and was named in honor of Fallen FDNY Firefighter William "Billy" Moon who lost his life last year. "Luna" means "moon" in Latin. We caught up with that hero's family to chat about what Luna means to them.
Load More