Supreme Court extends block on Texas immigration law, U.S. bans last form of asbestos still in use and March Madness begins
The Yodel newsletter: The stories you need to start your day
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Good morning, all. It’s the first day of spring, and the first of two times each year when both hemispheres get the same amount of sunlight. Now, on to the news.
NEED TO KNOW
SCOTUS extends block on Texas immigration law
It was a busy Monday for the Supreme Court, as the justices heard two critical free-speech cases and also decided to keep a new Texas border law on pause.
The border: Justice Samuel Alito extended a freeze on a Texas law, known as Senate Bill 4, which enables law enforcement to arrest people suspected of entering the U.S. illegally. The court is working on a full ruling. [The Hill]
Social media: The justices seemed skeptical of arguments that the Biden administration violated free-speech rights when it encouraged social media sites to remove posts it considered misinformation. [Reuters]
The NRA: The justices appeared likely to side with the NRA in a case over whether a New York official violated free speech by pressuring companies to stop doing business with the group after the 2018 mass shooting in Parkland, Fla. [New York Times]
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
🏀 Edwards’s dunk
The Minnesota Timberwolves notched a 114-104 win over the Utah Jazz. During the game, Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards took a shot that some are hailing as the “dunk of the year.” [Yahoo Sports]
➡️ Asbestos ban
The EPA announced a ban on the last form of the carcinogen asbestos used in the U.S. A partial ban was enacted in 1989, but it was still used in some chlorine bleach, brake pads and other products. [AP]
💊 OTC birth control
Online sales for Opill, the first over-the-counter birth control approved in the U.S., began yesterday. The company said it would ship in unbranded boxes to protect patients’ privacy. [CNN]
🌍 Israel’s Rafah plan
President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke for the first time in over a month. Their teams are expected to meet in Washington to discuss U.S. concerns about an Israeli ground operation in Rafah. [NBC News]
📺 ‘Beast Games’
YouTuber MrBeast announced he’s creating a reality competition series for Amazon. It will have 1,000 contestants and a $5 million cash payout, and is being touted as the biggest single prize ever in TV and streaming. [Hollywood Reporter]
WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY
🗳️ Presidential primary contests are taking place in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kansas and Ohio. See if you’re eligible to vote and what time polls close. [AP]
🏀 In March Madness: The men’s tournament kicks off with Wagner vs. Howard at 6:40 p.m. ET and Colorado State vs. Virginia at 9:10 p.m. ET on CBS. [USA Today]
🏒 Blue Jackets and Red Wings fans, the two teams take the ice at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+. [Detroit Free Press]
☀️ And don’t forget to: Read your daily horoscope. Play the Crossword. Check the forecast in your area.
TODAY IN HISTORY
In 1962, music legend Bob Dylan released his debut album, aptly called Bob Dylan. [NBC News]
3 QUESTIONS
...about 2024 March Madness
March Madness begins today. I asked Kendall Baker from Yahoo Sports AM to tell us what to know.
Lily: How does March Madness work? How were the teams picked?
Kendall: Thirty-two teams automatically qualify by winning their conference tournaments, and the selection committee picks 36 at-large teams then seeds the entire 68-team field.
Lily: Who are the teams to beat this year, and who’s an underdog that could surprise us?
Kendall: Defending champ UConn is the men’s favorite, while undefeated South Carolina is the women’s favorite. James Madison (men) and Princeton (women) are trendy picks to make a deep run.
Lily: Is there a viral March Madness moment from a previous year that still lives in your head rent-free?
Kendall: There are two: Jalen Suggs’s overtime buzzer-beater to lift Gonzaga past UCLA in the 2021 Final Four and Kris Jenkins’s buzzer-beater to win the 2016 national title.
Keep up with March Madness: Subscribe to Yahoo Sports AM.
FEEL-GOOD MOMENT
Magnolia Jackson recently celebrated her 106th birthday at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. Surrounded by loved ones, she ate cake, met several iconic characters — including Mickey and Minnie — and even got to do some gardening at EPCOT. [USA Today]
Have a lovely day. See you tomorrow!
💡 P.S. Before you go, your daily advice: One way to get your pantry organized: Put the items you use daily at eye level. [Today]
About The Yodel: The Yodel is a morning newsletter from Yahoo News.
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