(upbeat music) - Coming up next on NewsDepth: The US had a frosty Christmas, due to a massive winter storm.

Mars also got some snow, cubed-shaped snow.

The House of Representatives has a new speaker.

And Mary has some facts about the ferocious felines, native to our state.

NewsDepth is now.

(upbeat music) Happy New Year!

And welcome back friends!

Hey everybody!

I'm Rick Jackson, thank you for joining us.

We're heading into the third week of the year now, and so much has already happened.

We have a new house speaker, China has changed the terminology they use for COVID-19.

But before we get into the new news, let's review some of the news we talked about last year.

You know, reviewing can be a very helpful tool to retain information.

That's why a lot of you review your notes before a big test.

Ideastream's Conor Morris has the year in review for 2022.

- [Conor] Let's take a look back at 2022!

We hit a global population record of 8 billion people.

Even the youngest made news.

Military aircraft flew in tons of baby formula from around the world to help a US shortage.

The first day of 2022 shattered the US COVID case record with more than 355,000 daily infections.

Russia invaded Ukraine, destroying, displacing, and disrupting, but not demoralizing.

- They do not know our people, do not understand our philosophy.

- [Conor] President Joe Biden nominated the first Black woman to the nation's highest court.

- I hope that it will bring confidence, it will help inspire people.

- [Conor] Gas prices went up; the average price hit $5 for the first time before dropping off again.

Mortgage rates more than doubled, millions weathered record-breaking storms.

The category 4 storm hit the state of Florida, and drought so extreme, it uncovered dinosaur tracks in Texas.

The world's most famous hippo, Fiona the hippo, became a big sister.

A bouncing bulbous boy named "Fritz" moved in with her at the Cincinnati Zoo.

Queen Elizabeth II passed away leaving a 70-year reign, longer than any monarch in British history.

The James Webb telescope sent back a treasure trove of interstellar images, including nebulas, and galaxies light years away like this Phantom Galaxy.

And President Biden signed the first major gun control legislation in decades as an effort to keep school safe.

- Thank you, Conor.

Last year, we asked you to tell us who you would pick as person of the year for 2022.

Let's check out your picks by opening up our inbox.

(upbeat music) Taylor from Berea-Midpark Middle School in Middleburg Heights wrote about their favorite teacher: Dear NewsDepth, my person of the year is my fellow friend and teacher Mr. Pearl.

He is so funny and one of my favorite teachers.

He once made the best pancakes ever, and he sits at my lunch table every day.

Ki'ana from Gordon Dewitt Elementary in Cuyahoga Falls says: Dear NewsDepth, the person of the year for 2022 is NewsDepth.

You guys inspire me so much I even watch you guys with my brother and my sister!

We watch you guys every Friday in class!

You guys make us know a bunch of stuff we don't know!

That's why I did NewsDepth.

You guys inspire everyone.

I love NewsCat and NewsHound.

Keep inspiring people, and make people learn like you do already.

Never give up what you're doing and keep on going!

Ki'ana, thank you so much for your letter!

And also everyone of you who told us how much NewsDepth means to you.

I read every single one of your messages.

Nathan from Orrville Middle School in Orrville wrote: The person of the year for me is Trae Young.

He plays for the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA.

He has played through injuries during his games.

He has done great, and his team has been working together really well.

Caroline from Frank Elementary in Perrysburg really appreciates her friends: My person of the year of 2022 would be all of my friends.

Probably because whenever I share stuff that's private with them or something I don't like that is happening in my life, they care about it even though it's not their problem and support me.

I care about my friends so much.

They are amazing people, and it is crazy that I have them in my life, I am so proud.

And finally, Parker from Midview West Elementary in Lorain County wanted to give a shout-out to his uncle: Dear NewsDepth, this is who my person of the year is: my uncle Chris because he was in the Marines and now he is a police officer.

That is my person of the year.

Thank you all for your letters.

Let's keep them coming!

Now, let's get back to the news.

I need to give you a little bit of a background for the next couple of stories.

So this is what happened while we were out.

(door bangs) First, some somber news.

The world said good-bye to public figures the last week of the year.

Brazilian soccer player Pele passed away December 29th from cancer.

He was a global celebrity who changed the world of soccer.

A day later, on December 30th, American broadcaster Barbara Walters, known for her interviewing skills, passed away.

Then on December 31st, retired Pope Benedict XVI died at the age of 95.

A major winter storm hit the US on December 23rd.

Almost every state was affected by low temperatures, high winds, ice and snow.

The storm was described as a bomb cyclone.

A bomb cyclone is a storm that quickly intensifies.

This winter storm brought a 40-degree temperature drop reaching sub-freezing degrees in less than 24 hours.

Florida experienced its coldest Christmas in 30 years.

Places like Montana and Wyoming reached negative 11 degrees Fahrenheit.

And areas around the Great Lakes, where we are, got snow piling up to 24 inches in some cities.

Holiday travel was all but canceled.

People were advised not to drive, and flights were canceled.

But some high-temperatures did thaw us out by New Year's Eve.

Now, one of the worst hit cities was Buffalo.

Hard hit by this storm.

Sydni Eure has the scoop.

- [Sydni] "To whom it may concern.

I'm terribly sorry about breaking the school window and breaking in the kitchen."

These words start off a message left behind by 27-year-old Jay Withey, his note sums up a story of community and a strong will to survive during the worst storm that hit western New York in a generation.

- [Jay] I said I have to do something.

There's other people stuck around here.

I know there is.

We can't be the only ones stuck.

So I told her I'm gonna break into the school.

- [Sydni] Cheektowaga police posted these surveillance images on social media trying to track Withey down.

It was Friday night and dozens of people were left stranded in their cars on Delavan Avenue overnight when Robert Holzman says they all got a knock on their window and a way out.

- Somebody approached the car and said they got into the school.

That was Jay.

- [Jay] It was really God's will.

I broke the window and got inside.

I opened the doors and alarms going off.

- [Sydni] In an interview with WBEN radio, Withey says he took several trips, up and down Delavan, looking in cars and bringing people to safety one by one inside Edge Academy.

- [Jay] Yeah, like I said, I walked till I cried.

I walked till I couldn't walk anymore.

- [Sydni] Withey's letter goes on to say: "Got stuck at 8:00 p.m., Friday, and slept in my truck with two strangers just trying not to die."

And Sabrina Andino who found refuge inside of the school say it's because of Jay that none of them did.

- I thought we were gonna die.

- [Sydni] The group roamed the halls gathering essentials like apples and cereal, just to survive.

Holzman pictured here carting blankets and water back to the others.

They even set up a TV to watch the Bills game.

- And without Jay breaking into that school, as much bad as it sound, but he saved us.

- [Sydni] Because of Withey, 24 people are still alive.

- [Sabrina] This is a bond.

We're all survivors.

- [Sydni] And after a day of waiting there inside... - I'm overwhelmed.

My son's overwhelmed.

I mean, that's all he wanted for Christmas was for me to come home.

- [Sydni] Everything was put back in its place, and the only thing left was this note, and these final words: "I had to do it to save everyone and get them shelter and food and a bathroom."

- Wow!

Hey, question for you, do you think you would like to spend the night at school?

Head online to answer this week's poll.

You can pick between: "Yes, I'm packing my sleeping-bag!"

or "No, thank you, I like my own bed."

For our last poll of the year last year, we asked you which stress coping tip you were gonna try out.

44% of you said you would like talking to someone you trust.

35% said you wanted to give deep breathing a try.

And 21% said that taking care of your health would be good for coping with stress.

Now, way back in episode three of this year, we told you all about hurricane Ian and the Cajun Navy.

If you remember, hurricane Ian made landfall on Florida's gulf coast and caused serious damage to homes, businesses, beaches, and infrastructure.

Infrastructure, of course, is the physical and organizational structures that we need for the operation of society.

Things like roads and bridges, and, well, power stations.

That story inspired the Builders Club at Independence Middle School to take action, and that action earned them this week's A+ Award.

Sixth grade teacher, Mrs. Koussa, explained to us that the Builders Club is the middle school version of the Kiwanis Club, which may be in many of your own communities.

The Builders Club decided to do what they could to help Floridians.

"So many people were suffering and we wanted to show them we cared," Kaitlyn, a sixth grader, told us.

Hailey, another sixth grader, added that "we have a lot of connections between our community and some of the communities that were affected."

When we visited with the Builders Club, they told us that they came up with a pretty complex plan to help raise money for the victims.

Della explained that they sold ocean-themed snacks at lunch.

Things like gummy fish and tropical-themed drinks.

They also hosted a rebuild-the-beach-craft party after school that's where classmates could pay an admission fee and make all sorts of crafts.

Kaitlyn told us that they even had to-go boxes for students who couldn't stay after school!

What a cool idea and way to include everyone!

Well, the Builders Club raised nearly $2000 to donate!

They even made sure to research the organization that ended up receiving their donation to make sure all of the money went to those in need.

They told us that about 80% of the students at Independence Middle School did participate and that is impressive.

Elle told us that the biggest thing she learned, and what she's most proud of, is that she was able to help people in need.

What a powerful lesson.

We're keeping our eye out for their next service project and we'll let you know what they do.

This week's A+ Award goes to the very deserving members of the Builders Club at Independence Middle School.

Now, you know, Earth is not the only planet that experiences winters.

NASA is sharing what winter is like on Mars.

It includes cube-shaped snow and sub-zero temperatures.

Jeff St. Clair has all the details in this week's Spot on Science.

(upbeat music) - Brr, you think it gets cold here in the winter?

That's nothing compared to the minus 190 degrees Fahrenheit on the red planet.

Earth is not the only planet in our solar system that experiences winter.

Mars also gets snow, ice, and freezing temperatures.

But because of its elliptical orbit, it can take almost two Earth years for winter to come back around on Mars.

Thanks to NASA's robotic Mars Rovers, scientists can now tell that Mars can get ice and snow from two different elements, H2O or water, like we do here on Earth, and dry ice from CO2, or carbon dioxide.

Snow occurs only at the coldest extremes of Mars: at the poles, under clouds, and at night.

Cameras orbiting can't see through those clouds, and surface missions can't survive in the extreme cold.

So that means there's no pictures of the falling snow on Mars.

The closest we've ever gotten was in 2008, when NASA sent the Phoenix Lander within 1,000 miles of Mars' north pole.

They used a laser instrument to detect water-ice snow falling.

The air there is so thin that water-ice snow never actually reaches the ground.

It sublimates, or becomes a gas as it falls.

But dry-ice snow on the other hand actually does reach the ground.

The molecules that form carbon dioxide follow a four-sided symmetry, and many scientists think dry ice snow would be cube-shaped but smaller than the width of your hair.

Water and carbon dioxide both form frost on Mars, and both types of frost appear far more widely across the planet than snow does.

The CO2 ice that covers the landscape does not melt.

But instead changes between solid and gas in the atmosphere, sublimation again.

Once winter is over, and Mars begins to thaw, some pretty unique surface features start forming, like spider-shaped formations, dalmatian dots, and fried eggs.

Within an entire winter season, Mars can collect up to seven feet of snow.

Hey, I wonder if I can ski on a Martian crater?

- Thanks Jeff!

That was so cool.

Well, for our write-in question this week, we want to know: What do you think winter looks like on your favorite planet?

For this question, you have to consider the planet's atmosphere, the average temperature, and if it has water.

Now, head online to give us your wintery descriptions.

Okay, let's jump back down to Earth, shall we?

Protests in China erupted last month against the country's zero COVID policies.

Protesters gathered in at least 11 cities despite the threat of government crackdowns.

The protests began in Xinjiang province after a deadly fire, a tragedy that has struck a chord across China.

Selina Wang reports.

(protesters chanting in foreign language) - [Selina] They chant, "Xi Jinping, step down!"

An extraordinary show of defiance in China.

In Shanghai, they chant for freedom, democracy, an end to COVID lockdowns.

Even targeting the communist party and the supreme leader himself.

Unprecedented protests are erupting across China.

From major metropolises to elite college campuses, even far flung cities.

(protesters chanting in foreign language) - Most of Xinjiang has been locked down for more than 100 days.

The protests, even spilling into the capital.

They're chanting that they don't want COVID tests, they want freedom.

(protesters speaking in foreign language) - And many people are also holding white papers in their hands, which is a sign of solidarity against censorship.

They sing and cheer, shout to be "unsealed", and some even break down into tears.

(protester speaking in foreign language) - A man with a loudspeaker shouts, "We always support the communist party but we want democracy and freedom."

(Selina speaking in foreign language) I asked a protester how he was feeling.

"Overwhelmed," he said.

(protester speaking in foreign language) - All conscientious Chinese people should come here and stand together.

(Selina speaking in foreign language) (protester speaking in foreign language) - [Selina] I said, "You realize there's a risk being here."

"Of course, there is," he responded.

And if we just turn the camera around, you'll see there is a row of police.

Hours later, masses of police filed in, pushing the protesters back.

Demonstrators shout towards the authorities, "We are not your enemy.

We are in this together."

(protesters chanting in foreign language) - [Selina] These demonstrators know what they are risking, but they are determined to make their voices heard.

- China says it will now rename COVID as an infection instead of pneumonia.

An infection, in medical terms, is the invasion and growth of germs in the body.

And pneumonia is a lung inflammation caused by bacterial or viral infection.

The change in terminology recognizes that pneumonia is just one of the possible symptoms of the COVID infection.

That has allowed China residents with light symptoms to quarantine at home.

The country's top health authority will seize all remaining parts of its zero COVID policy that sparked the country-wide protests.

Last weekend was also the official end of quarantine policy for all international arrivals to China.

Selina Wang, can you explain for us China's new strategy?

- China's leader, Xi Jinping, is calling for a more targeted health strategy to protect people's lives as China faces an unprecedented COVID outbreak.

The country's National Health Commission announced it will no longer publish daily case numbers.

Health authorities haven't said why, but the decision was made after widespread criticism over how unreliable the data was.

The medical system is under a huge amount of pressure.

Even the capital Beijing which has some of the best medical resources in the country, doctors say they're overwhelmed with elderly patients with COVID symptoms.

A doctor at Beijing United Family Hospital said there was no preparation for this wave of COVID cases, no stockpiling of medicine, fever and cold medicine are nearly impossible to get at drugstores.

Beijing has just announced it's going to start distributing paxlovid to community health centers in the coming days.

- Thanks Selina.

The biggest news this week in the United States comes from Congress, where California republican Kevin McCarthy has been elected speaker of the House of Representatives.

Congressman McCarthy secured enough republican support to become house speaker after four days, and 15 rounds of voting.

The role of the speaker of the house is to maintain order during proceedings.

He also acts as the administrative head.

With a new speaker chosen, the house can now swear in new members, kick off the new Congress, and proceed with the rest of its business.

- The members elect will rise.

The chair will now administer the oath of the office.

All members elect will raise their right hand.

Do you solemnly swear, affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic?

That you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same?

That you take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion?

And that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter?

So help you God.

- [Lawmakers] I do.

- [Kevin] Congratulations.

You are now members of the 118th Congress.

- As you all remember, Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the US senate.

82 new congressional members are taking the oath of office as the 118th Congress begins.

This freshman class includes a record number of women, and much more diversity.

Jessica Dean reports.

- I'm definitely nervous, you know.

It's a big weight, you know.

I do not take lightly, I don't take lightly, right, that I am going to Congress.

- I think, wow, it's happening.

This is real and we're about to enter a new phase of life.

- This freshman group of lawmakers will be historically diverse, with record setting numbers of women, Latino members and members who identify as LGBTQ.

According to The Washington Post, this will be the youngest group of incoming house members in the last seven freshman classes with an average age of 46.

Do you think you'll come back every weekend?

- I think that I'm gonna come back as often as is practical.

- [Jessica] At 35 years old, democrat Summer Lee is the first Black woman to ever represent Pennsylvania.

- I'm honored to serve as people who come from a working class background, from a Black community, from public school systems, with my accent.

You know, I want that to come through.

I want to be able to be me so that people who are now thinking about whether they should ever run know that they don't have to change who they are to be in this place.

- [Jessica] A record breaking 149 women will serve in the house or senate, and that includes 42 republicans, another first.

Monica De la Cruz is the first republican and first woman to represent the 15th district of Texas.

- It's really a humbling thought for me.

And I just feel like I represent the American dream.

- [Jessica] Since the moment they won, both women say it's been a flurry of logistics, hiring and planning as they prepare for their new lives.

There's the question of where they'll live; Lee found a roommate in fellow incoming Illinois congresswoman Delia Ramirez.

- We, kind of, both just were like, "Can you afford to live alone?"

It was like an immediate connection on that one.

- [Jessica] De la Cruz, a single mom to two teenagers, has yet to find a place in Washington D.C. - I'll probably be sleeping in my office the first couple of months until I get better oriented with the city.

- [Jessica] The list of to-dos continues to be long, from hiring staff... - Trying to find the right people that had the same vision as I had, that hopefully were from the district, that might be bilingual on top of that.

- [Jessica] To learning how to get in the building.

- The reality is that we actually have to learn.

There's so much that we have to learn.

- [Jessica] They're also both women in public office and they know what they wear and how they present themselves will be scrutinized.

- It is a different level of consideration not even just between men and women but for Black women.

- Mm.

- Right?

As Black women, you know, we have different considerations for our hair.

What is acceptable for our hair?

How are we presenting ourselves?

- [Jessica] All of the considerations, the excitement, and even freshman nerves part of the experience as they begin their new jobs.

- Thank you, Jessica.

What was that?

Sounded like a bobcat.

But they haven't been seen in Cuyahoga County for more than 150 years.

Well, not until last year.

The Cleveland Metroparks folks spotted the big cat on camera in July, and then again in October, making it the first confirmed sighting since 1850.

Metroparks chief of conservation Mike Johnson says the return of this species is a sign of the improving health of our forests.

The Metroparks says that bobcats are harmless and will not attack or harm people.

They usually actually hide from people, so there's very little chance of you spotting one on your next hike.

But did you know Ohio used to be home to some of the most feared cats?

Mary paws up some facts about these ferocious felines, including cougars and bobcats.

(bright music) - Okay, I'll admit it.

I'm a cat person.

Anyone else?

(cat meows) I figured it wasn't just me, and it makes sense because here in Ohio, we used to be cat country, and I'm talking big cats.

Check this guy out, cougars, also called mountain lions, used to roam most of the United States, including Ohio.

They grow to be about five feet long with tails that are two to three feet long too.

Native Americans believe that a cougar's tail could whip up waves and storms.

So yeah, they were a pretty scary predator, for the native people and for new settlers.

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in 1770 when President George Washington had Ohio land surveyed, they found cougars, along with wolves and bears.

Eek!

Cougars are pretty savvy hunters though.

They only need to hunt about once a week.

They'll feast on deer until they're full and then cover their meal with leaves, so they can return to eat more when they're hungry later.

Pretty smart.

Even though deer is their biggest food source, they will eat just about anything they can get their paws on.

Unfortunately, hunting and changes in land use resulted in the extirpation of cougars from Ohio.

Extirpation means local extinction.

So while these big cats have been pushed out of our state, they continue to live on the western side of the country and in Canada.

But we still do have some cats around that are quite fierce.

Well, he might not look it, but the bobcat is a fast pouncer.

They're only a little bigger than your average house cat, growing about three feet long.

They've got short tails that are black on top and white on the bottom.

For a while, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources thought bobcats were gone from the state, but since 1990, there have been more and more sightings of them in southeast Ohio.

Here's a clip of one traveling through Ohio, caught on a trail camera.

See the different shades on his tail?

Bobcats love to roam huge areas, nearly 90 square miles by themselves.

When they find the purr-fect spot, they'll lay and wait for prey to pass by before they leap in for the kill.

(cat meows) Okay, okay.

NewsCat, I hear you.

Don't get too jealous.

You're still my favorite.

- Thanks, Mary.

Speaking of cats, looks like NewsCat is ready for us.

Let's see what she's up to for this week's Petting Zoo.

(upbeat music) (cat meows) Happy New Year, NewsCat.

What's you been up to?

Oh, work.

Really?

For you?

That's impressive.

Napping less must be her new resolution.

Okay, let's see what she's found.

Aha, a story about how pets can help people to keep their New Year's resolutions.

To find out how your cat or pup can help you stay on track, click the Petting Zoo button on our website.

And thank you, NewsCat.

Well, that's gonna do it for us, but as always, we want to hear from you and there are several ways to stay in touch with us.

You can write to us, we're at 1375 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio.

Our ZIP code here, 44115.

You can email us at newsdepth@ideastream.org, or you can tweet us, our handle is @newsdepthohio.

Plus, you can catch all of our special segments on YouTube.

And go ahead and hit subscribe if you're old enough, so you don't miss out on any of our new videos.

Thanks for joining us, I'm Rick Jackson, we'll see you right back here next week.

And again, Happy New Year.

(upbeat music) - [Announcer] NewsDepth is made possible by grant from the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation.