Black History Month, another winter storm, Lunar New Year: 5 things to know Tuesday – USA TODAY

Midweek winter storm to wreak havoc from the Rockies to the Northeast

Another week, another big winter storm for the U.S. This week's storm will target a 2,000-mile swath of the nation from the Rockies to the Northeast with a nasty mix of snow, ice and rain from later Tuesday through Friday. Cities such as Denver, Oklahoma City, St. Louis, Kansas City, Chicago, Indianapolis and Detroit are in the path of the system.Winter storm watches have already been posted for 35 million people from Texas to Michigan, the National Weather Service said. Many areas could pick up snow totals of 6 inches or more along the path of the storm, and some locations could see up to a foot or more. Meanwhile, to the south and east of the corridor of ice, soaking rain and severe thunderstorms are possible.

Tuesday marks the start of Black History Month, a federally recognized celebration of the contributions African Americans have made to the U.S. and a time to reflect on the continued struggle for racial justice. The commemorative month aims to recognize and understand major moments and figures in African American history, as well as those continuing to pioneer the way. Throughout Black History Month, USA TODAY reporters will tell the stories of those who pushed for and brought about lasting change in Black communities.

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More than 1 billion people across the world will celebrate the start of the Lunar New Year on Tuesday. Known also as Chinese New Year, Vietnam's Tt Nguyn n or South Korea's Seollal, Lunar New Year is celebrated over several days in many Asian countries and also in parts of the United States. It's a time for families to gather for big feasts; it's also a chance for people to put the past behind and look forward to a fresh start. "We want to send away all the bad things, evil spirits," said Xiaohua Yang, director of the China Business Studies Initiative at the University of San Francisco. In the holiday's cycle of 12 zodiac animals, this year is the Year of the Tiger a strong, hopeful beast that seems auspicious amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Chen said.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are set to speak over the phone Tuesday, according to a senior State Department official.The threat of aRussian invasion has loomed over Ukraine for weeks as theformer has more than 100,000 troops alongtheborder with its southern neighbor.Russia denies it plans to attack.On Monday,Russia accused the Westof "whipping up tensions" over Ukraineas the United Nations Security Council held a meeting on Moscow's troop buildup.U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Russia was "attempting, without any factual basis, to paint Ukraine and Western countries as the aggressors to fabricate a pretext for attack."

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Major League Baseball labor negotiations are scheduled to continueTuesday, about twoweeks before spring training is set to begin.Baseball'sninth work stoppage began Dec. 2 after the expiration of a five-year labor contract, and the sides did not meet again on the central economic issues until Jan. 24, when players withdrew their proposal formore liberalized free agency.Management responded the following day by withdrawing aproposal formore limited salary arbitration.Tuesday's negotiations will be the first on the central issues since then. The twosides don't agree on many economic proposals, leaving very little time to end the lockout without disrupting thescheduled start of spring training workouts on Feb. 16.

Hall of shame: Selfish baseball writers have ruined Cooperstown

Andy Nesbitt explains how baseball writers' grudges of the past have tarnished the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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Contributing: The Associated Press

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Black History Month, another winter storm, Lunar New Year: 5 things to know Tuesday - USA TODAY