'War crimes'
Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Russia of war crimes. March Madness is in full swing. And who was St. Patrick? And why do we celebrate him?
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But first, why oh why do they call this the "worm moon"? 😩🐛 The final full moon of the winter season – known as the "worm moon" – is ready to take center stage in the night sky.
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21 people killed in rocket barrage as invasion enters 4th week
Twenty-one people were killed and 25 wounded Thursday after rockets slammed into the western Ukraine town of Merefa as Russia's bloody, struggling invasion dragged into its fourth week. Merefa Mayor Veniamin Sitov said the assault destroyed a school and community center. The town of 20,000 people is about 20 miles south of Kharkiv and has been victimized by its proximity to the sprawling regional jewel that Russia's military pounding has failed to vanquish.
Similar storylines unfolded across much of the country. In the battered southern port city of Mariupol, rescue efforts were underway Thursday after Russian airstrikes ripped apart a theater. The building, serving as a makeshift shelter for hundreds of women and children, was bombed late Wednesday even though the word "CHILDREN" in Russian was laid out in giant letters in front and behind it.
Blinken joins Biden in accusing Russia of war crimes
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday that he agrees with President Joe Biden that war crimes have been committed in Ukraine. "Intentionally targeting civilians is a war crime,” he said. “I find it difficult to conclude that the Russians are doing otherwise." Wednesday, Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin a “war criminal.”
Heartbreaking images explore Ukraine's devastated residential areas.
Ukrainian men steel for battle as they say goodbye to their families.
👉 More news: WNBA star Brittney Griner to remain in Russian custody until May 19. And a British intelligence assessment reports the Russian push mostly stalled. Thursday's latest updates.
What everyone's talking about
A saber-toothed 'hypercarnivore' in Southern California existed 40 million years ago.
'We are in awe of Dolly': Rock & Roll Hall of Fame won't pull Dolly Parton from ballot.
Doesn't Ukrainian President Zelenskyy 'own a suit?' Economist asks – and gets slammed on Twitter.
Daylight saving time: A century of clock changing could soon run out. How did we get here?
March Madness is on
The madness officially begins today with a slate of 16 games in the men's NCAA Tournament first round and two more First Four games in the women's field tonight. The first game of the day delivered. No. 11 Michigan, favored in the Vegas odds, "upset" Colorado State by overcoming a 15-point deficit for its own comfortable victory, 75-63. Thursday's live updates from the NCAA Tournament and how to watch.
March Madness Bracket Game: Create a pool and invite your friends!
Fun facts about every tourney team: From elephant races to blood shooting lizards.
🦥 Clocked it straight in the face
Don't you hate it when you're minding your own business, zip lining through the rainforest in Costa Rica, and you slam directly into a sloth? That's what happened to a kid in a video tearing up the internet. In the recording, a man guiding the child down the line told him, "No brakes," as they zipped through treetops. The joyride stopped abruptly when the boy crashed into the furry (kinda?) animal. The park’s owner, Flavio Leiton Ramos, said nobody was injured (including the sloth), and park employees see the same sloth all the time, but this was the first time someone ran into one on the zip line. You probably should watch the video for yourself. The sloth's reaction is truly hilarious, and I cannot stop laughing, even though I've probably watched it 50 times.
Real quick
Coroner: Ex-NFL linebacker Parys Haralson died from a stroke.
NTSB: 13-year-old boy was driving truck in Texas crash that killed 9.
Disney workers, former judge among 108 arrested by Florida police in trafficking sting operation.
White teen seen on video throwing cotton, whipping Black student charged with hate crime.
Lake Powell's water levels dip to new low, triggering worries about power production.
St. Pat's facts
Who was St. Patrick, and why do we celebrate him? Patrick is the protecting and guiding saint of Ireland. Ironically, he was not Irish. Patrick went from being sold into slavery to being credited for bringing Christianity to Ireland, according to Elizabeth Stack, executive director for the Irish American Heritage Museum in Albany, New York. St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17, the day he is assumed to have died. The holiday originally was tied to religious ideals but is also a symbol of Irish pride. So who was St. Patrick? And what about the leprechauns? We've got answers.
St. Patrick, the man behind the holiday, wasn't even Irish.
Is corned beef and cabbage for St. Patrick's Day really Irish?
'Paddy's' or 'Patty's': What is the correct abbreviation?
Biden's St. Patrick's Day plans disrupted as Irish leader tests positive for coronavirus.
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A break from the news
🏘 Apartment hunting? Here are the 10 cheapest cities for renters.
🍟 Fast faves: Readers picked their 10 favorite regional fast-food chains.
🚶 Is your back outta whack? It may be time to think outside the medicine cabinet.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine, March Madness, zip line sloth crash, St. Patrick's Day. It's Thursday's news.
