March Madness has arrived in earnest. President Donald Trump signed an order that seeks to dismantle the Education Department. And spring is officially here! |
👋 Howdy! Rebecca Morin here. Let's "spring" into Thursday's news! |
Brackets are set. Now, let the games begin. The 2025 men's NCAA Tournament kicked off Thursday with 16 first-round games. Which in the 64-team field will have a Cinderella story, and which will become the team that derails your bracket? While there were no major upsets in Thursday's early matchups, there's still plenty of action to come in a tournament famous for the unpredictable and improbable. 🏀 Follow today's updates. | Amarr Knox of Alabama State takes a shot against Ja'Heim Hudson of Auburn during the first round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament at Rupp Arena on Thursday in Lexington, Kentucky. Andy Lyons, Getty Images |
Trump signs executive order targeting Education Department |
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday that seeks to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education. Although Trump at the signing ceremony said he will "eliminate" the agency, the department will still continue operating in a smaller form to administer "critical programs." The executive order comes after the workforce for the agency has been cut in half through layoffs and buyouts. 👉 What to know about Trump's executive order. | President Donald Trump, joined by school-aged children at classroom desks, shows off his signed executive order Thursday in the East Room of the White House. MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images |
Flowers and, we hope, warmer days |
Florals? For spring? Count me in. Thursday marks the first day of spring – or in science terms, the vernal equinox! It's been a long winter for many, with storm systems wreaking havoc across the country from snow to tornados to wildfires. I know I'm tired of it and am ready to see the cherry blossoms' peak bloom later this month here in D.C.! But I hate to be the bearer of bad news: Some across the country may have to hold out a little longer for nicer weather. |
Hot in the South, cold in the North: In much of the southern United States, from Florida to the west in Utah, people are going to see above-average temperatures for the season. Some places, like Phoenix, might appears as if it skipped spring altogether. But in cities like Detroit, New York and Seattle, temperatures are expected to skew a little colder than average. 🌸 What the forecast says. | The tulips were in full bloom Wednesday, the eve of the first day of spring, at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens. Joshua L. Jones, USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images |
This company is taking advantage of sextortion victims, some customers say |
A college student thought his texts and some nude photos were going to a girl. But the recipient was really a predator who was now blackmailing him, threatening to release the sensitive photos to his family and friends. He frantically Googled "sextortion help" and came across a company that purported it could help take down the photos. He signed up and agreed to pay $1,500 for the service. But he, and others we spoke to, said the company never provided proof the images had been deleted. The company pushed back, saying it has thousands of satisfied customers. Read this student's story in USA TODAY's exclusive investigation into how victims of sextortion pay high fees when free help is available. |
Rebecca Morin is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY. Got thoughts or feedback? Reach out to her at rdmorin@usatoday.com. | | | | The measles outbreak in Texas is exposing babies to the highly contagious virus. Here's how health experts plan to protect them. | | | | Blake Lively followed in the footsteps of husband Ryan Reynolds on Thursday, filing a motion to dismiss a lawsuit fro Justin Baldoni. | | | | U.S. Customs and Border Protection data shows that eggs are being seized more than fentanyl amid the ongoing bird flu outbreak. | | | | The Social Security Administration announced that anyone who can't log into their online accounts must visit a local office to prove their identity. | | | | "Pawn Stars" creator Rick Harrison is opening up about his son's death in 2024 from a drug overdose. | | | | How the odds are stacked against cash poor Americans living paycheck to paycheck. But these two women are trying to beat them anyway. | | | | Disney's original 1937 animated movie has entertained children for decades. But is the new PG-rated "Snow White" remake suitable for all youngsters? | | | | Christina Applegate is letting fans in on some of the details of her struggle against MS over the past three years. | | | | The American Kennel Club shared its most popular dog breeds of 2024, with the French bulldog coming in at the top of the pack. | | | | Major price hikes in a few food categories were offset by drops in several others. | | | | | | | Brighten your day with one of our games. | | | | | |
![Boxes of groceries wait to be handed out in a drive-thru pick up line at the East Athens Development Authority in Athens, Ga, on Thursday, March 26, 2020.[Photo/Joshua L. Jones, Athens Banner-Herald]](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/authoring/authoring-images/2025/03/20/USAT/82570047007-usatsi-25702860.jpg?crop=4481,4479,x1119,y0&width=456&disable=upscale&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
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