Texas storms, U.S. tanks could be headed for Ukraine, and journalist deaths spiked in 2022. Here is everything you Need2Know for Wednesday, January 25, 2023.

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Need2Know: January 25, 2023

Let's get to the stories we're keeping an eye on this morning. A massive storm system left thousands without power and spawned several tornadoes across texas and Louisiana overnight. Check out these pictures of homes and buildings ripped apart near Houston thankfully no deaths have been connected to these storms at this time. Now that system moves east with Washington D. C. Virginia, Baltimore philadelphia, new york city and boston all expected to get hit with snow and rain today and tomorrow. Of course we'll keep an eye on it. The Biden administration is finalizing plans to send American M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. That's according to officials familiar with the matter. An announcement about the tanks could be part of an attempt to break a diplomatic stalemate with Germany last week, Germany told the U. S. It would not send its leopard tanks to Ukraine unless the U. S. Also agreed to send tanks. We just learned in the last hour that Germany has approved use of those leopard tanks. Now, Russia's ambassador to the U. S. Responded to the news calling it another blatant provocation from the U. S. He went on to say any US Abrams tanks will be destroyed by Russian forces Killing of journalists has risen by 50% in 2022. That's compared to the year prior, according to a report from the committee to protect journalists at least 67 were killed worldwide. That was just last year, which is the highest number since 2018. The committee says it's been driven largely by attacks in you, Ukraine Haiti and Mexico with the report noting that 35 of the 67 killed happened in those three countries. The CPJ also confirming 41 of the 67 journalists were killed in direct connection with their work, adding that those who work in Ukraine quote face enormous risk. And the CDC is planning to test wastewater from airplanes for coronavirus variants. The U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is figuring out quote, logistical and legal aspects for running those tests as it continues to explore how to monitor for covid 19. And while they are still figuring out how to strap Strategize or how the strategy would work, partners at the agency say they are ready to help in our nation's COVID-19 surveillance report. Global partners testing wastewater in aircraft involved collecting sewage from individual commercial planes, with the organization saying it can be pulled off in under two minutes.