JUDY WOODRUFF: In the day's other news: February's better-than-expected jobs
report fueled a rally on Wall Street. The Dow Jones industrial average soared 572 points,
to close at 31496. The Nasdaq rose 196 points, and the S&P 500 added 73.
A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is shedding light on
how mask mandates and other rules have slowed the number of COVID infections and deaths.
That comes as some states are lifting restrictions and reopening.
CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky sounded this warning:
DR. ROCHELLE WALENSKY, CDC Director: You have decreases in cases and deaths when you wear masks,
and you have increases in cases and deaths when you have in person restaurant dining. And so
we would advocate policies, certainly while we are at this plateau of a high number of cases,
that would listen to that public health science.
JUDY WOODRUFF: That comes as California announced that it will allow people to attend
Major League Baseball games, and theme parks like Disneyland at reduced capacity beginning April 1.
Also today, a Supreme Court public information officer confirmed
that all of the nine justices have now been fully vaccinated.
There is word that top aides to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo
altered a state report to help him hide the high number of COVID nursing home deaths. The
New York Times and The Wall Street Journal said the July document was edited to remove
those who became sick in nursing homes and later died in hospitals.
The special counsel to the governor later issued a statement, playing down any cover-up,
and insisted that the data was publicly disclosed during Cuomo's daily briefings. It is the latest
in a series of scandals plaguing Cuomo, including accusations that he sexually harassed three women.
One of the House impeachment managers, California Democratic Congressman
Eric Swalwell, filed a lawsuit today against former President Trump
and several of his allies for inciting the Capitol insurrection.
Meanwhile, Federico Klein, a former State Department aide in the Trump administration,
has been charged with obstructing Congress and assaulting officers during the January
siege. He is believed to be the first Trump appointee to face such charges.
In Myanmar, demonstrations against the military coup pressed on across several
cities, despite a violent crackdown by security forces. Protesters in Mandalay
shouted slogans and carried signs while marching in the streets.
Meanwhile, in Yangon, a father mourning his son's death
during the unrest voiced support for the rallies.
KHIN MAUNG MYINT, Father of Deceased Son (through translator):
I want to encourage the youth to take part in this revolution until we succeed.
We will support our younger generation and back them up, as we are already old.
JUDY WOODRUFF: About 50 peaceful protesters have been killed there this week alone.
Meanwhile, at a United Nations Security Council meeting,
the U.N. special envoy for Myanmar urged member nations to do more to stop the violence.
Pope Francis arrived in Baghdad today for the first ever papal visit to Iraq. He traveled,
despite the pandemic, under tight security for meetings with dignitaries and members of
the country's Christian minority. We will take a look at his historic trip later in the program.
John McAfee, the developer of the antivirus software,
has been indicted on fraud and money laundering charges. McAfee and an adviser are accused of
using social media to tout cryptocurrencies and mislead investors out of over $13 million.
McAfee is currently detained in Spain on a separate tax-related charge.
And for the first time in NFL history, a Black woman will be officiating games come September.
Maia Chaka, a college referee and physical education teacher from Virginia,
is just the second female official in the major league. The other, Sarah Thomas,
became the first woman to officiate a Super Bowl last month. Some progress.
Still to come on the "NewsHour": we discuss
employment and the economic outlook with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen;
Pope Francis makes a historic pilgrimage to Iraq to reach the region's Christians; Minneapolis is
on edge, as the trial in the police killing of George Floyd is set to begin; and much more.