These are the headlines you Need 2 Know. * **Virginia Scandals:** Virginia’s attorney general became the second top Democrat in the state to admit to wearing blackface decades ago. Mark Herring apologized for darkening his skin while dressing up as a rapper in college. His apology follows the state’s governor admission that he wore blackface to imitate Michael Jackson after his yearbook page emerged showing a man in blackface and another in a KKK robe. Meanwhile, the woman who accused the lieutenant governor of sexually assaulting her in 2004 went public with details about the alleged encounter. Read more [here](https://www.politico.com/story/2019/02/06/virginia-scandals-governor-attorney-general-1154315). * **Hot in Here:** Last year was hot. According to data released by NASA, 2018 was the fourth-hottest year on record since record-keeping began in 1880. The last five years have been the five warmest on record. A NASA scientist says “the planet is warming” and the cause is an increase of greenhouse gases. Read more [here](https://www.npr.org/2019/02/06/692060375/2018-was-earths-fourth-hottest-year-on-record-scientists-say). * **ISIS Fight:** Sec. of State Mike Pompeo attempted to reassure allies that withdrawing U.S. troops from Syria does not signal “the end of America’s fight” against ISIS, and rather amounts to a “tactical change.” In the State of the Union address, President Trump said the terrorist group has been almost completely defeated. Read more [here](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/02/pompeo-reassures-allies-commitment-defeat-isil-190206151647837.html). * **Bird Strikes:** Birds strike planes more than 40 times a day, according to FAA data acquired by USA Today. In 2018 alone, civilian flights reported 14,661 collisions with wildlife. The most well-known bird strike happened ten years ago when Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger safely landed a plane on the Hudson River. Read more [here](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/02/06/bird-strikes-airplanes-wildlife-federal-aviation-administration-data-sully-sullenberger/2613893002/). * **JCPenney:** JCPenney is getting out of the home appliance business. The ailing department-store chain says it will stop selling major home appliances at the end of the month, and also announced that furniture will only be available for purchase online. The company hasn’t turned a profit since 2010. Read more [here](https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/06/investing/jcpenney-appliances/index.html). * **Tipping:** Instacart, the grocery delivery app, has reversed a policy that sparked uproar online when it was revealed that the company was using customer tips to subsidize the wages of its gig workers. The about-face follows successful campaigns for better pay from Uber and Lyft drivers and Postmates deliverers. Read more [here](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/carolineodonovan/after-scrutiny-instacart-will-end-its-controversial-tipping). * **Blackface Sweater:** Gucci has stopped selling a sweater that critics say resembles blackface. The black wool sweater that covers the nose and has a red cut-out for the mouth was selling for nearly $900. The company has apologized. Read more [here](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/gucci-apologizes-stops-selling-890-blackface-sweater-n968681). * **Spotted:** What appears to be Jennifer Lawrence’s engagement ring. The photo was snapped before the actress recently announced to fans that she’s engaged to art gallery director Cooke Maroney. Read more [here](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-6674969/Jennifer-Lawrence-flashes-HUGE-ring-finger-confirming-engagement.html). * **Grande & Grammys:** Ariana Grande, who was supposed to be performing at the Grammys, won’t even be attending the awards. Grande reportedly pulled out after an argument with producers over which songs she would perform. Read more [here](https://variety.com/2019/music/news/ariana-grande-not-attending-grammys-after-disagreements-with-producers-1203129734/). * **Name Taster:** A Glasgow woman has a unique talent ーwhich is actually a medical condition ー that leads her to "taste" something every time a word is spoken. After Julie McDowall went public on social media with her condition, called synaesthesia, she’s reportedly been bombarded with millions of requests. Read more [here](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-47129953). Cheddar's Jill Wagner gets into the latest. Subscribe to the Need 2 Know newsletter [here](https://theneed2know.com).

Share:
More In Politics
Albania’s prime minister appoints an AI-generated ‘minister’ to tackle corruption
Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama says his new Cabinet will include an artificial intelligence “minister” in charge of fighting corruption. The AI, named Diella, will oversee public funding projects and combat corruption in public tenders. Diella was launched earlier this year as a virtual assistant on the government's public service platform. Corruption has been a persistent issue in Albania since 1990. Rama's Socialist Party won a fourth consecutive term in May. It aims to deliver EU membership for Albania in five years, but the opposition Democratic Party remains skeptical.
Trump admin requests emergency ruling to remove Cook from Fed board
The Trump administration has asked an appeals court to remove Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve’s board of governors by Monday, before the central bank’s next vote on interest rates. Trump sought to fire Cook Aug. 25, but a federal judge ruled late Tuesday that the removal was illegal and reinstated her to the Fed’s board.
Trump administration appeals ruling blocking firing of Fed Governor
President Donald Trump's administration is appealing a ruling blocking him from immediately firing Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook as he seeks more control over the traditionally independent board. The notice of appeal was filed Wednesday, hours after U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb handed down the ruling. The White House insists the Republican president had the right to fire Cook over mortgage fraud allegations involving properties in Michigan and Georgia from before she joined the Fed. Cook's lawsuit denies the allegations and says the firing was unlawful. The case could soon reach the Supreme Court, which has allowed Trump to fire members of other independent agencies but suggested that power has limitations at the Fed.
Al Sharpton to lead pro-DEI march through Wall Street
The Rev. Al Sharpton is set to lead a protest march on Wall Street to urge corporate America to resist the Trump administration’s campaign to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The New York civil rights leader will join clergy, labor and community leaders Thursday in a demonstration through Manhattan’s Financial District that’s timed with the anniversary of the Civil Rights-era March on Washington in 1963. Sharpton called DEI the “civil rights fight of our generation." He and other Black leaders have called for boycotting American retailers that scaled backed policies and programs aimed at bolstering diversity and reducing discrimination in their ranks.
Load More