Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders look toward mini-Super Tuesday 

Six states will head to the polls Tuesday as former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders continue to battle for the Democratic nomination. Biden currently holds the lead in national pledged delegates with 664, while Sanders trails slightly with 573 delegates. Up for grabs Tuesday: a combined 352 delegates from Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, and Washington. After a Super Tuesday comeback, Biden will be looking to extend his lead, while Sanders will be looking to close the small gap and re-take the delegate lead.

• Will coronavirus affect the primaries? Voters may be weary about entering a space where they will use voting equipment that has been touched by strangers.
• New national poll:Majority want Biden to win the Democratic nomination over Sanders
• ‘It’s been chaos’:New voting rules could help both Biden, Sanders as Michigan’s primary election looms

Trump floats financial relief for firms, workers as coronavirus spreads

President Donald Trump’s administration will meet Tuesday with House and Senate leaders to discuss an economic stimulus package that would provide financial relief for workers and businesses hurt by coronavirus. “The main thing here is we are taking care of the American public,” Trump said at a White House news conference Monday. Trump’s decision to push for a stimulus package marked a reversal for the White House, which has insisted that the fundamentals of the economy are solid and that the coronavirus would cause only a short-term blip in growth. U.S. stocks endured their worst drop since 2008 on Monday as a free fall in oil prices and mounting coronavirus cases frightened investors and pushed major indexes to the edge of a bear market. 

• Health or a paycheck?Workers with no paid sick leave face tough choice amid coronavirus scare
• Everything we know: What does markets’ plunge mean for my money and retirement?
• For your consideration: Set on selling stocks amid the coronavirus crisis? Consult this checklist first

Italy expands travel restrictions to entire country to contain coronavirus

Italy begins its country-wide lockdown Tuesday in an attempt to combat coronavirus. The nation has registered the largest number of cases outside of China. Two days after imposing the strict measures on a quarter of the country – in the hard-hit north – Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte urged all 60 million Italians to stay home. The only travel allowed will be for proven work reasons, health conditions or other cases of necessity. The nationwide restrictions will be in effect until April 3 and include extending the closures of schools and universities and closing pubs, eateries and cafes at dusk. 

• Maps and charts:Tracking the spread of coronavirus cases in the US and worldwide
• Opinion: Reflections from my 14-day quarantine after the coronavirus threat ended my studies in Italy
• ‘It’s an awful risk’:Former FDA head cautions against cruises amid coronavirus

Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max crash anniversary marked 

Tuesday marks the one-year anniversary of the deadly crash of the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max jet, an incident that has had far-reaching consequences for the aeronautics industry. All 157 people aboard were killed when the Nairobi, Kenya-bound aircraft came down six minutes after takeoff from the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa. The incident occurred five months after another brand-new 737 Max crashed off the coast of Indonesia, killing 189 people. The Ethiopian crash brought about the grounding of all Boeing 737 Max 8 and 9 planes, which remain out of service. Ethiopian investigators mostly blame Boeing for the crash, saying in an interim report Monday that there were design failures and inadequate training for pilots. A full analysis is expected later this year with a final report.

• Grief, controversy mark anniversaryof Ethiopian plane crash
• Ethiopian investigators blame 737 Max crashmostly on Boeing software

Sports leagues to close locker rooms to media over coronavirus concerns

Due to coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns, Major League Baseball – along with the National Basketball Association, National Hockey League and Major League Soccer – will close locker rooms and clubhouses to the news media and any non-essential personnel beginning Tuesday, according to a joint statement by the four leagues. In addition, the leagues will consider further options to protect themselves from the potential pandemic while preparing for and playing out their respective seasons. For now, neither the NBA nor MLB plan to postpone games nor play them without fans. The adjustments come as COVID-19 virus cases and fatalities continue increasing worldwide. Sports leagues are responding in kind: Italy’s Serie A – the country’s premier soccer league – announced its season has been suspended until at least early April in the wake of a countrywide lockdown.

• Column from Nancy Armour:Leagues’ ban on media won’t keep anyone safe from coronavirus
• Virus’ effect:California county’s ban on mass gatherings will impact sporting events
• Suspended:Italy to suspend all sporting events, including Serie A soccer, through April 3

Contributing: Associated Press

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