Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Monday, March 15, 2021:

COVID-19: LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Even though the rate of vaccinations continues to improve -- a record 3 million shots were given on Saturday -- the decline of new cases in the U.S. appears to have leveled off, raising concerns that the country is plateauing at a level that’s still too high. There are ominous signs abroad, too. Much of Italy is going into another lockdown effective today as it deals with an exponential rise in cases brought on by at least one of the new variants. The entire country will lockdown for Easter weekend. At least six European countries have suspended use of the AstraZeneca vaccine over concerns about blood clots, even though the EU’s drug regulator says the benefits still outweigh the risks. CNN

VACCINE ELIGIBILITY 

A bunch of states are expanding their vaccine eligibility requirements today. California is opening it up to anyone with a serious underlying condition. Georgia goes 55 and up plus anyone with high-risk conditions. Texas expands to 50 and up. New Jersey adds transit workers and other public-facing personnel. New York opens its next phase on Wednesday, and is now authorizing four hours paid time off for every public and private state employee. BI

CUOMO LATEST

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s “vaccine czar” has reportedly been calling county officials across the state to gauge their loyalty to the governor amid his widening scandals. The calls led at least one local official to believe the implication was that vaccine supply could suffer if their loyalty was deemed insufficient. Cuomo reiterated on Friday that he had no plans to resign, after the New York Senate delegation called on him to step down. NY TIMES

WINTER STORM

There are 27 inches of snow on the ground at Denver International Airport, making the weekend’s winter blast the fourth-largest on record for the Mile High City. Some mountain locations recorded 60 inches. The system is moving across the Midwest today, creating a travel nightmare for the Dakotas, Minnesota and Wisconsin. TRACK

AMERICAN OPTIMISM

Americans are growing increasingly optimistic about the next few months. The latest CBS News poll shows 64 percent of respondents think the vaccine rollout is going well; 55 percent will get or already have gotten vaccinated; 75 percent are in favor of the new stimulus package and 71 percent think the law is going to help the working class. Last week, a Politico poll found 50 percent of Americans think the country is on the right track (that number has rarely been above water in the last 20 years). CBS NEWS

STREAMING WARS

Disney’s streaming platform is such a smashing success that it’s now on pace to overtake Netflix in the next three years. Disney announced earlier this month that Disney+ has more than 100 million subscribers after 16 months. It took Netflix a decade to reach that milestone. Between Disney+, Hulu and  ESPN+, Disney is expected to steal Netflix’s crown as the world’s top streamer by 2024. GUARDIAN

LET'S DANCE

The field of 68 is set for March Madness. Gonzaga, Illinois, Baylor and Michigan are the top seeds. Four teams that didn’t make the cut -- Louisville, Colorado State, St. Louis and Mississippi -- are on standby for the first round in case any team has to drop out by tomorrow due to COVID protocols. SEE THE BRACKET

GRAMMY HISTORY

Women ruled the night at the Grammys: Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Megan Thee Stallion and Billie Eilish were the big winners from the socially-distanced show at the Staples Center. Beyoncé broke the record for most Grammy wins by a female -- and any singer, male or female -- with 28. Before the show, she and daughter Blue Ivy Carter won the award for best music video for Brown Skin Girl, making 9-year-old Blue Ivy one of the youngest Grammy winners ever. BILLBOARD

SPOTTED...

...Alex Rodriguez, telling a TMZ photog he’s “not single” amid reports that he and fiance Jennifer Lopez had called it quits: SEE PIC

...Yo-Yo Ma, giving an impromptu concert to Mass. residents waiting in line to get vaccinated: WATCH

LEFTOVERS: CHEER MOM

A Pennsylvania woman has been arrested on charges that she created deepfake videos of her daughter’s cheerleading rivals in compromising situations and sent them to the coaches in order to get the girls kicked off the squad. Raffaela Spone is charged with cyber harassment of a child. The case is bringing new attention to the ethical concerns with deepfake technology, now that it is becoming much more advanced. PENNLIVE

Listen to the N2K Podcast! Looking for more context and analysis on the big stories of the day? Check out our podcast! Hosts Jill and Carlo break down the headlines, every weekday morning Listen on Apple or Spotify, or watch on YouTube, and send us your feedback!

Share:
More In Culture
Tips for Finding the Job You Love
Misty Gaither, Senior Director, Global Head of Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging at Indeed, joins Cheddar Wellness to discuss some of the top motivating factors for job switchers, and advice for finding a fulfilling, long-lasting job.
Flight Attendants Call For More Safety and Trainings Amid Disruptive Passengers
According to the FAA, airlines have reported over 5,000 incidents involving unruly passengers this year, with more than 3,600 of those involving people who refused to wear face masks. As a result of all this, airline crews are calling on the federal government to step in to implement protocols to help ensure safety on the ground and while in flight. President of the Association of Flight Attendants- CWA Sara Nelson, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
School Closures Surge Amid Omicron Surge
Schools are shutting down in droves as the highly contagious omicron variant surges across the country. Denisha Merriweather, director of public relations and content marketing at the American Federation for Children, an advocacy organization for vouchers and tax credits for school choice, joined Cheddar's "Opening Bell" to discuss the impact of remote learning on children. She argued that school districts have to be more proactive about the steps they are taking to engage students, and if they are unable to form better teaching methods, parents should be able to find alternative schools.
'Succession' Stock Check: Logan Wins Again
J.D. Durkin breaks down the season three finale of HBO's 'Succession', and reveals whose stock is up, whose is down, and who is the final 'Boar on the Floor' of the year.
Metaverse an Opportunity for Brands to 'Stay Refreshed' in Evolving Landscape
Howard Yu, LEGO professor of management and innovation at IMD Business School and author of "Leap: How to Thrive in a World Where Everything Can Be Copied," joined Cheddar to discuss the mania surrounding the concept of the metaverse. He particularly noted how companies in the retailing sector like Nike are leveraging it. "I think metaverse really opens up a window for brands to think about how can they, ongoing-wise, engage with the consumer, engage with the target audience, so their brand continues to stay refreshed in the changing environment," Yu said.
Actress Sophia Bush on 'Good Sam,' Conservation & Possibility of 'One Tree Hill' Reboot
Sophia Bush has a lot going on these days. She plays the title role in a new CBS medical drama, "Good Sam," which premieres onJanuary 5. She and former "One Tree Hill" co-stars Hilarie Burton-Morgan and Bethany Joy Lenz do a weekly podcast called "Drama Queens." Plus, she is working with Lenovo on a conservation initiative called Work for Humankind on Robinson Crusoe Island, off the coast of Chile. "I feel like I've been trying to convince big brands to do work like this forever, and Lenovo said, 'We're in!' And now this incredible conservation group and a local community will be supported by people who believe in purposeful travel, purposeful work," she told Cheddar.
Load More