News Wrap: U.S. death toll from COVID-19 reaches 950,000

Judy Woodruff:

In the day's other news: President Biden is readying his first State of the Union address tonight, with Russia's invasion of Ukraine becoming a main topic. The speech also comes as Mr. Biden confronts the worst inflation in the U.S. in 40 years and sagging public approval ratings.

We will focus on all this after the news summary.

The 2022 midterm election season kicked off today with primaries in Texas. Among Republicans, Ken Paxton, who is the Trump-endorsed state attorney general, was challenged by Land Commissioner George P. Bush, among others — and others. Among Democrats, veteran Congressman Henry Cuellar was pitted against progressive Jessica Cisneros in a rematch from 2020.

Across Texas, voters who turned out today faced new election rules and a switch back to paper ballots in some places.

Diana Padilla, Texas Voter:

It was different. It was new. We used scanners. And it takes a little time, but it's all worth it, because it's all on paper, and we can see it as we're voting.

Judy Woodruff:

New, stricter I.D. requirements meant that thousands of mail-in ballots and ballot applications were rejected.

A Republican-hired investigator in Wisconsin recommended today that the state decertify its 2020 presidential election results. But his report drew bipartisan criticism. The Republican state Assembly leader said any talk of decertification was — quote — "a fool's errand." President Biden won Wisconsin by about 21,000 votes.

On the pandemic, the U.S. COVID death toll reached 950,000. That is the highest reported number of any country. Worldwide, nearly six million people have died of the virus.

And, in Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has tested positive. He says that he will continue his official duties while isolating.

Some 40,000 people in Southeastern Australia are under evacuation orders in the worst flooding in more than a decade. The floodwaters moved today from Queensland into New South Wales, leaving at least 10 dead. Thousands waited for help as rescuers use boats and helicopters to reach them. Some made it to shelters, but left everything behind.

Andrew Neave, Evacuated Resident:

The only things I salvaged was our clothes, just my dog and my cat, and her ashes. That's all I have got. That's all I could save. We lost the cars, the whole lot.

Judy Woodruff:

The water is receding in Brisbane, and cleanup is under way there. but more storms are forecast later this week.

Back in this country, Major League Baseball canceled Opening Day after the players rejected what owners call their final offer. The season had been set to begin March 31. Instead, a lockout continues with no new negotiations planned. The two sides are still divided over minimum salaries, bonuses and other issues.

On Wall Street, worries about Ukraine pushed oil prices past $103 dollars a barrel. That's their highest since 2014. Major stock indexes fell 1.5 percent or more. The Dow Jones industrial average lost nearly 600 points to close below 33295. The Nasdaq shed 219 points. The S&P 500 slipped 67.

And revelers in New Orleans celebrated Mardi Gras today. The party was back on, after being canceled by COVID last year. A series of back-to-back parades full of colorful floats and intricate costumes filled the streets. As one man put it, it's the biggest party in the world.

We're glad they're able to celebrate.