Immigration player sidelined, larger tax refunds, cold-weather safety: Catch up on the day’s stories

CNN’s 5 Things PM brings you the stories you might have missed during your busy day.

January 23, 2026 — Winter storm begins, bringing ice, heavy snow to much of the US

• Widespread threat: Two-thirds of the US population is facing down a monster winter storm and extreme cold. The storm’s snow and ice will stretch over 2,000 miles from Texas to New England as it ...
CNN

Winter storm dropping heavy snow on the Northeast

• A fast-moving winter storm dumped several inches of snow across parts of the Midwest where it killed one driver, caused hundreds of crashes and slowed travel to a crawl. It delivered the first ...

What are ‘exploding trees’? The winter phenomenon may not be what you think

As more than half of the United States braces for a powerful winter storm, some meteorologists are warning on social media that “exploding trees” are possible.
CNN

Winter storm barrels into the Northeast, threatening havoc for morning commute

•  A fast-moving winter storm dumped several inches of snow across parts of the Midwest where it caused hundreds of crashes and slowed travel to a crawl. It’s now delivering the first widespread snow ...
CNN

Powerful storm disrupts travel with blizzard conditions and tornadoes as winter returns to the US with a vengeance

A powerful winter storm swept across the central and eastern United States, knocking out power and snarling travel during one of the busiest stretches of the holiday season. The wide-ranging storm ...
CNN

Winter storm to morph into bomb cyclone as it hits the Northeast

• The third winter storm in a week has dumped snow and ice on parts of the central US and is poised to deliver the first widespread snow of the season to the Northeast and New England. • The storm ...