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Lead: On March 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida, Olivier Rioux entered the closing minutes of Florida’s 114-55 first-round NCAA Tournament victory over Prairie View A&M, becoming the tallest player ever to appear in an NCAA Tournament game. The 7-foot-9 reserve closed out the game with a put-back dunk and received sustained cheers from a announced … Read more

Lead Arthur Brand, a 56-year-old Dutch investigator, has spent roughly 20 years acting as an informal intermediary between police and people who know where stolen artworks are kept. Working largely at his own expense and outside formal law-enforcement roles, Brand says he has helped recover more than 150 paintings and artifacts, including high-profile recoveries in … Read more

Lead Who: VCU Rams vs. North Carolina. When: Thursday night in the NCAA Tournament opening round. Where: Greenville, S.C. What happened: VCU erased a 19-point deficit to force overtime and then beat UNC, producing one of the most dramatic victories in the program’s recent history. Result: The win is being hailed as a signature triumph … Read more

Lead On Saturday, March 21, 2026, the NCAA tournament’s second round resumes with 16 teams battling for eight Sweet 16 berths across national network windows. From noon ET through late evening, matchups feature top seeds (No. 1 Michigan, Duke, Gonzaga, Illinois, Houston) and hungry lower seeds (VCU, TCU, Texas) with tip times on CBS, TNT … Read more

The United States this week moved to temporarily relax long-standing sanctions on Iranian oil to help blunt a sharp rise in global energy prices, permitting the sale of crude that U.S. officials say has been stranded at sea. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the action is narrowly tailored and temporary and is intended to return … Read more

Lead: A federal jury in San Francisco on 21 March 2026 found that Elon Musk made false statements in two May 2022 tweets that contributed to a sharp drop in Twitter’s share price while he was attempting to buy the company in a $44bn deal. The verdict resolves a class-action suit brought by investor Giuseppe … Read more

Drug treatments known as GLP-1 agonists have rapidly altered eating patterns across the United States in 2026, prompting food makers and restaurant chains to change menus, portioning and product formulas. A KFF Health Tracking Poll conducted Oct. 27–Nov. 2 found roughly one in eight U.S. adults is currently taking a GLP-1 medication, and companies from … Read more

Japanese officials and the public reacted with surprise, embarrassment and unease after President Donald Trump referenced the World War II attack on Pearl Harbor to justify keeping allies uninformed before his strike on Iran. The remark, delivered during a Washington summit where Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sat beside him, revived sensitive wartime memories and … Read more

Mar. 20, 2026 — Saturday’s second-round slate in the men’s NCAA tournament features high-stakes matchups that hinge on defense, rebounding and shooting regression. I’m recommending two single-game wagers and one Eliminator selection based on team defense rankings, recent performance quirks and published odds from DraftKings Sportsbook at the time of Friday’s publication. The plays: back … Read more

Three weeks into the Iran war, headline crude futures are telling only part of the story: while Brent futures have risen more than 50% to about $112 a barrel, the prices consumers pay for physical fuels — gasoline, diesel and jet fuel — have surged even higher in many markets as disruptions tighten actual supply. … Read more

Lead: In the fourth week of the Middle East war, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested he is considering “winding down” military operations even as Washington moved additional forces into the region. The announcement followed a string of strikes and threats: an unsuccessful Iranian attempt on the Diego Garcia air base roughly 2,500 miles (4,000 km) … Read more

Lead: Since a partial government shutdown began in mid-February, thousands of Transportation Security Administration officers have been working without pay at major U.S. airports, producing long security lines and growing staff absences. Travelers at hubs including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, Orlando and JFK have faced waits from more than two hours to under an hour, and officials … Read more

Lead: The Israel–U.S. military campaign against Iran entered its fourth week on March 21, 2026, with no immediate resolution. U.S. and Israeli officials say their forces now largely control the skies above Iran while the Pentagon reports Iranian missile and drone strikes are down about 90% from the conflict’s opening days. The Trump administration announced … Read more

The hidden cost of erasing Cesar Chavez’s legacy in California California is confronting a growing, tangible price for removing references to Cesar Chavez from public life. Over recent months cities, colleges and local agencies have moved to remove statues, cover murals and reverse street and holiday namings tied to the United Farm Workers founder. Officials … Read more

In March 2026, an early-season heat wave slammed the U.S. Southwest, shattering temperature records and producing readings as high as 112°F (44.4°C) in two Arizona communities and two Southern California locations. Scientists and attribution researchers said the scale and timing of the event — months ahead of typical summer peaks — reflect the growing influence … Read more