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).
