Stop the daylight saving hangover; February’s job’s report; our Oscars predictions

Plus, Russia’s hypersonic missiles throw a wrench in Ukraine’s defenses. [View this email online]( [NPR]( by Suzanne Nuyen Good morning. RIP Johns Hopkins’ COVID tracker. The Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center [ceases operations today]( one day before the third anniversary of WHO's pandemic announcement. Daylight saving time begins Monday morning, and the Oscars air Sunday night. Here's what else we're following: 🥇 First up [A "help wanted" sign is displayed in a window of a store in Manhattan, New York City, on Dec. 2, 2022. ]( Spencer Platt/Getty Images February’s jobs report will be released by the Labor Department this morning, and the numbers could help indicate whether January’s rise in jobs and fall in unemployment was a fluke. [NPR’s Scott Horsley told Up First]( what to expect: 💼 Forecasters think hiring slowed — but they thought that last month too, and it wasn’t the case. January saw the strongest job growth in six months. 💼 The strength of this month’s report will be a huge factor in whether the Federal Reserve raises interest rates again. 💼 Despite continued news of layoffs at large companies, unemployment remains low by historical standards. 💼 A hiring slowdown is likely to affect the housing market the most. Realtors, mortgage brokers and construction workers will feel the squeeze, but the services sector — where Americans are spending their money — is strong. Here’s one thing Americans aren’t spending money on: Nearly 40% of Americans say they’ve [put off medical treatment in the past year]( because of costs. That’s the highest amount since Gallup began tracking the issue in 2001. People are most likely to delay dental care, followed by vision and doctor’s visits. But 27% of respondents said they were even delaying treatments for “very or somewhat serious conditions.” Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station has suffered six emergency shutdowns since Russian forces captured it a year ago. It’s still run by a Ukrainian team and is connected to emergency generators, but the [threat of nuclear meltdown]( looms over negotiations to demilitarize the plant. ➡️ Russia’s attacks on the country have evolved. Russia used several hypersonic missiles, known as Kinzhals, in recent attacks across Ukraine. The missiles can travel [four times the speed of sound]( and are believed to be nuclear-capable, making it hard for Ukraine’s defense capabilities to keep up. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- 🌱 Life advice [Three tall clocks are light up at dusk near some trees. ]( Maja Hitij/Getty Images Are you ready for clocks to spring forward on Sunday? The hour of sleep lost when daylight saving time begins may not seem like much, but studies show sleep deprivation can increase your [risk of heart attack, stroke and high blood pressure](. Luckily, you can take a few steps to deal with the damage of sleep loss. 💤 Shift your sleep schedule tonight and tomorrow to go to bed and get up a little earlier. 💤 Reset your clock by exposing yourself to some bright light as soon as you wake up, and minimize lights — especially blue lights from screens — before bedtime. 💤 Watch your diet. Try to load up on protein at breakfast, limit caffeine after noon and cut back on alcohol at night. Read even more [tips for good sleep hygiene]( here. --------------------------------------------------------------- 🎥 Weekend picks [A close up, profile view of an Academy Award statue. ]( Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images Check out what [our critics]( are watching, reading and listening to this weekend: Film: Need to do some last-minute Oscars viewing but can’t decide which films are worth it? 🎧 Pop Culture Happy Hour tells us [who will win — and who should win](. Television: Chris Rock has a new comedy special out on Netflix, and he spends nearly eight minutes at the end of [Selective Outrage]( unloading on Will and Jada Pinkett Smith. Books: Margaret Atwood, known for The Handmaid’s Tale, has a new collection of short stories. In [Old Babes in the Wood]( Atwood writes about the pleasures of human connection and the trials of aging and dementia. Music: What if instead of seeing the universe, you could hear it? NASA’s Sonification Project releases its album, 🎧 [Universal Harmonies]( today. It turns data from the universe into sounds with a beauty all their own. --------------------------------------------------------------- 🛑 Before you go [Amiry the serval is treated after a narcotics test confirmed his exposure to cocaine.]( Ray Anderson/Cincinnati Animal Care - Cocaine Cat: A Cocaine Bear Story. No, it’s not a movie. A wildcat was captured in Cincinnati with [cocaine in its system]( earlier this year. - The “sushi terrorists” have been brought to justice. Three people have been arrested in relation to a viral video showing someone [licking utensils and soy sauce bottles]( at a sushi restaurant in Japan. - Betsy Cox needed a space heater for her son’s drafty nursery, and when she saw they were sold out, it was the last straw for the stressed new mom. [Kind words from an unsung hero]( didn’t help her find a heater, but it did brighten her day and give her a new perspective. --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Find a Station]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Music, Politics, Health and more! 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