Grieving in Atlanta, beginning of spring, NCAA tournaments: 5 things to know this weekend
'Grieve, heal, and support': Atlanta rally to bring people together
Hundreds of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders turned to social media to air their anger, sadness, fear and hopelessness after Tuesday's events in Georgia when a white gunman was charged with killing eight people, most of them Asian women, at three massage businesses. Since then, Asian American organizations have put together events across the U.S. aimed at showing unity and that will continue Saturday in Atlanta, where two of the shootings took place, with a #StopAsianHate March & Rally. Participants are being encouraged to wear masks and social distance in the event being shared on social media as an opportunity to "grieve, heal, and support." The event comes a day after President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, the first Asian American vice president, met with Georgia state legislators and Asian American and Pacific Islander advocates to listen to their perspectives on the rise in hate incidents targeting Asian Americans.
- Remembering the victims: Hyun Jung Grant, killed in Atlanta shootings, was a 'loving' single mom who lived for her sons
- We now know the names of all 8 people killed in the Georgia spa shootings: Here's who they are.
- Who gets to decide what is racism, hate? Atlanta shootings renew debate over white violence, privilege
- Trevor Noah on the shootings: 'If that's not racism then the word has no meaning'
Spring starts Saturday, and the next three months will be warmer
After what seemed like a long, cold and lonely winter, spring (finally) officially will arrive Saturday morning with what's called the vernal (spring) equinox. Of course, spring-like weather can take a while to really make its presence felt across the nation. But for fans of warm weather, we've got some good news: Federal forecasters said that overall, almost the entire nation should see warmer-than-average temperatures for the next three months, with the exceptions being a small portion of the Pacific Northwest and in southern Alaska.
- The 2021 tornado season may be more destructive because of La Niña. Here's the forecast.
- Record cold, intense storms and tornadoes amid global warming: Could there be a connection?
Trump's Mar-a-Lago partially closed due to COVID-19 outbreak
Members and guests who thought about visiting former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, this weekend may want to make other plans. According to several people, including one familiar with club operations, the club was partially closed Friday after staff members tested positive for the coronavirus. Also, some of its workers have been quarantined "out of an abundance of caution." An email sent to members said that service had been temporarily suspended in the club's dining room and at its beach club because some staff members had recently tested positive. Trump moved to Mar-a-Lago after leaving Washington in January, and has been laying low, golfing, dining with friends, meeting with Republican party leaders and plotting his political future. The club has been a flurry of activity recently, hosting events and fundraisers, including one to benefit rescue dogs. Trump unexpectedly dropped by the event last week.
- Lucrative destination: Amid Republican civil war, Trump holds court – and his grip on GOP – at Mar-a-Lago
- The first president to skip inauguration in more than 150 years: Trump spent his final minutes in charge in his office at Mar-a-Lago
- Helipad at Mar-a-Lago demolished: Trump agreed to remove the helipad once he was out of office
March Madness: Men keep playing, women get started
The men's NCAA Tournament returned in earnest Friday in Indianapolis with an action-packed day of 16 first-round games. The return of the tournament brought the upsets fans love, with Friday's biggest being No. 15 seed Oral Roberts shocking No. 2 seed Ohio State. Other big winners of the day included Illinois, Baylor and Villanova. The first round concludes Saturday with 16 more games, including top-ranked and unbeaten Gonzaga and fellow No. 1 seed Michigan taking the floor. The women's NCAA Tournament gets underway Sunday in the San Antonio area after an inauspicious start. The NCAA was widely criticized for the disparities in amenities between the women's and men's tournaments after photos circulated on social media. The NCAA apologized, but that didn't stop several prominent names in women's basketball from blasting the organization, including South Carolina coach Dawn Staley.
- Looking back: Winners and losers from the men's NCAA tournament first round
- Dan Wolken column: Just two days in, the Big Ten is showing its true colors
- On the road to the Final Four: 2021 NCAA Tournament schedule and results
Tokyo Olympics likely to ban fans from abroad after weekend meeting
Tokyo organizers and the International Olympic Committee are poised to make it official that most fans from abroad will be prohibited from attending the postponed Olympics because of the coronavirus. The announcement is expected to come after "five-party" talks this weekend with the IOC, local organizers, the Japanese government, the Tokyo metropolitan government and the International Paralympic Committee. "People are waiting eagerly for an early decision so they can move to the next step," Seiko Hashimoto, the president of the organizing committee, said Friday in a news briefing. Despite some calls to delay it, Hashimoto has promised a decision before the torch relay opens on Thursday. Sponsors with tickets who wish to attend are expected to get some type of exemption. About 4.5 million tickets have been sold to Japan residents. About 1 million have been sold abroad.
- Olympic torch relay expectations: Masks, quiet cheering and caution
- Athlete vaccines: USOPC leaders 'more optimistic than ever' athletes will be vaccinated before Tokyo Olympics
- Tokyo Olympics setback: Yet another scandal over sexist comments
Contributing: The Associated Press