Good morning. It's Monday, March 22, and we're covering more allegations against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), new guidelines for schools, and upsets galore in March Madness. Have feedback? Let us know at [email protected].

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NEED TO KNOW

Cuomo Allegations

New allegations of sexual harassment were lodged against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) over the weekend, the latest in a wave of claims against the three-term lawmaker. Thirty-three-year-old Alyssa McGrath, who serves as an assistant in Cuomo's office—though not directly for the governor—becomes the ninth woman over the past month to make such accusations (see overview). McGrath accuses Cuomo of making inappropriate comments and staring down her blouse, among other behaviors.

McGrath is the first to come public with such allegations while still working in the Cuomo administration. One of the most serious claims to date—accusations of physical groping—were made anonymously by a current staff member. The original accuser, former aide Lindsey Boylan, claimed in an interview ($$, New Yorker) that Cuomo staff sought to retaliate against her. 

Separately, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) appears likely to face a recall election, with organizers submitting 2.1 million signatures by the March 17 deadline, surpassing the 1.5 million signature threshold. Officials have until April 29 to confirm the validity of those who signed the recall petition.  

Social Undistancing

Health officials revised regulations over the weekend, reducing the recommended distancing between students during in-person learning from 6 to 3 feet. While the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are not mandatory—most school decisions are made at the local level—the revisions are expected to give cover to school districts struggling to accommodate students indoors while observing 6-foot distancing.

The decision was bolstered by a Massachusetts study involving about 577,000 students and 100,000 staff showing no difference in case rates in schools with policies of 3- versus 6-foot distancing.  

New York recorded its first case involving virus variant P.1, first seen in Brazil. The mutation is believed to spread more quickly than other strains, but does not have a higher mortality rate. Current vaccines have been shown to be effective against known variants. See a breakdown of the different strains here. 

Separately, cofounder and CEO of the Texas Roadhouse restaurant chain, Kent Taylor, died by suicide over the weekend after a battle with persistent COVID-19 symptoms. Read more about COVID-19 "long-haulers" here.  

More than 81 million people in the US have received at least one vaccination dose. As of this morning, the country's death toll stands at 542,359. Average daily deaths in the US continue their downward trend, with the seven-day average just over 1,200 per day (see data).

Upset City

After a pandemic-induced one-year hiatus, the NCAA men's basketball tournament got underway this weekend, with a number of marquee programs making an early exit. Two teams—No. 2 Ohio State and No. 7 Florida—fell to No. 15 Oral Roberts, which became just the second 15-seeded team in history to reach the Sweet Sixteen. 

Also in the first round, No. 13 North Texas beat No. 4 Purdue, No. 12 Oregon State beat No. 5 Tennessee, No. 14 Abilene Christian beat No. 3 Texas, and No. 13 Ohio bounced reigning national champions and No. 4 seed Virginia. 

On the first day of the second round, No. 1 Illinois fell to No. 8 Loyola Chicago. It's the second time in four years Loyola—cheered on by 101-year-old Sister Jean—has advanced to the Sweet 16. Later in the day, No. 11 Syracuse beat No. 3 West Virginia while No. 12 Oregon State followed their Friday win by upsetting No. 4 Oklahoma. The second round concludes today (see schedule). 

The women's tournament kicked off yesterday, with all 16 higher-seeded teams notching a victory. It was the first time since 2010 no lower-seeded teams pulled an upset during a single day of the first round. 

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IN THE KNOW

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

> “The Fallout” and “Lily Topples The World” among top winners at 2021 South by Southwest film festival awards (More) | See SXSW winners in gaming, community service, and startup pitch competitions (More)

> Queen Elizabeth to appoint diversity czar as part of larger effort to modernize the monarchy in wake of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry interview (More)

> Nawal El Saadawi, pioneering Egyptian feminist writer and activist, dies at 89 (More) | Famed Tiffany and Co. jewelry designer Elsa Peretti dies at 80 (More)

Science & Technology

> Study finds the coronavirus was likely circulating undetected in China for up to two months before the first reported case in December 2019 (More)

> Mount Fagradalsfjall fissure erupts in southwestern Iceland, the system's first volcanic activity in 900 years; lava flow follows more than 50,000 small-scale earthquakes over the past month (More) | See video (More)

> Scientists make first observation of ultracold groups of atoms colliding in microgravity; study may have an application in space navigation (More)

Business & Markets

> Saudi Arabian majority state-owned oil business Saudi Aramco sees 44% reduction in yearly earnings amid pandemic; will pay $75B dividend (More)

> Shares of Visa drop 6% after the Department of Justice announces probe into potentially anticompetitive debit card practices (More)

> Canadian Pacific Railway agrees to acquire Kansas City Southern in $25B deal; will create first rail network connecting Canada, Mexico, and the US (More)

Politics & World Affairs

Brought to you by Ground News

> Julia Letlow (R) wins special election to the US House in Lousiana's 5th District; Letlow's husband, Luke Letlow, died from COVID-19 after winning election in November but before being seated (More)

> Samia Suluhu Hassan sworn in as Tanzania's president following the death of former president John Magufuli; Hassan becomes the country's first female leader and the third female leader in the history of East Africa (More)

> Biden administration awards $86M contract to hold migrant family members arriving at the US-Mexico border in hotels (More) | Critics say border policy causing confusion (More) | Border encounters have risen steadily since April 2020; see data (More)

From our partners: Want to break free from your echo chamber? There's an app for that. Ground News is the world's first news source comparison platform that empowers you to compare how outlets from the left, center, and right are covering any story. Adopt a balanced news diet and download the Ground News App for free today.

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ETCETERA

The 2021 World Happiness Report reveals the world's resilience. 

It's officially spring!

The new Utahraptor State Park features bike paths and dinosaur bones. 

Instagram for preteens—what could go wrong?

Yes, there's an R-rated version of "Mrs. Doubtfire." 

Why you have to airlift rhinos upside down.

The world's oldest known sharpshooter is a Pakistani grandmother. ($$, NYT)

Physicists are here to help your life run smoother.

Clickbait: These chimps are Zooming each other.

Historybook: HBD William Shatner (1931); HBD legendary musical theater composer Andrew Lloyd Webber (1948); HBD sports broadcaster Bob Costas (1952); HBD Reese Witherspoon (1976); Terrorist drives car into crowd in London, killing five and injuring 50 (2017).

"There is a very fine line between success and failure. Just one ingredient can make the difference."

- Andrew Lloyd Webber

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