Was the boat stuck... or was it us
 THE BIG STORY
US cases of COVID-19 are rising again, sparking fear of a fourth major surge
The last few weeks may have given the impression that COVID-19 is in the rearview mirror. But the numbers suggest otherwise. After almost three months of steady decline, the number of daily new cases of COVID-19 across the US is rising. In several states, the number of people in hospitals is also climbing.
Here's what is making experts worry: the reopening of businesses, including bars and restaurants in many states, increased travel, a widespread sense of COVID fatigue, and the spread of more transmissible and deadly variants — all these factors mean that the US could be at the start of a fourth coronavirus surge.
Rochelle Walensky, the director of the CDC, looked visibly shaken at a White House COVID-19 briefing. "I am going to pause here, I'm going to lose the script, and I'm going to reflect on the recurring feeling I have of impending doom," she told reporters. "We have so much to look forward to...but right now I'm scared."
Walensky said she would be meeting with governors on Tuesday to urge them to "refrain from opening up too fast."  People gather at a bar in Athens, Ohio, on March 22. Reuters. STAYING ON TOP OF THIS
9 minutes and 29 seconds: Derek Chauvin's murder trial began with a recap of how long his knee was on George Floyd's neck
On Monday, as the trial began, the prosecution's opening statement reminded the jury that in the 9 minutes and 29 seconds that Derek Chauvin crushed his knee into George Floyd's neck, Floyd cried out "I can't breathe" 27 times.
It was a reminder of the gruesome bystander video of Floyd's death, a moment that sparked a national reckoning over racial justice and police brutality. It was also just the beginning of a trial expected to last at least four weeks.
Outside the courtroom, the case is being viewed as a watershed moment for police prosecutions in a country where cops are rarely convicted of killing civilians.
SNAPSHOTS
Prosecutors dropped a high-profile fight to keep two alleged Capitol rioters in jail. A judge ruled that prosecutors had failed to justify the detention order when the two weren't charged with assaulting anyone or destroying property. This marks one of the highest-profile setbacks for the government in the Capitol riots cases so far.
Nike is suing the maker of Lil Nas X's Satan shoes. MSCHF, a company behind a variety of viral stunts, announced it was dropping exactly 666 pairs of the Satan Shoes — altered versions of the Nike Air Max 97s that feature a bronze pentagram, and red ink with exactly one drop of human blood in the sneaker's midsole. Nike is...not into it.
Beverly Cleary gave pests everywhere a little bit of hope. Last week, the iconic author died at 104. Her books were beloved by kids everywhere. Scaachi Koul pays tribute to Cleary, and what Ramona the Pest gave her. THE RISKS OF "NORMAL"
The world is going back to "normal." For many people, that isn't a good thing.
The future is looking promising and bright. As more and more Americans get vaccinated, long-separated loved ones are planning joyous reunions, and long-delayed plans are chugging forward at last.
But as we inch closer towards a return to "normalcy," the prospect is giving many people pause. Shannon Keating talked to those who aren't quite ready to return to life before the pandemic.
Take for example Hannah, a 36-year-old who once spent 3 hours a day commuting. She's among millions of workers who've spent the last year telecommuting. She says, "since we started working from home, I can sleep two hours later each day."
Nicole, meanwhile, told us "I don't trust people as much as I did before." She says, "I've had friends and family lie to my face about not being in contact with someone who has had COVID, just to see my child."
The post-pandemic life will require a lot of negotiation. Read Keating's piece talking to people who are anxious about that negotiation.  THE BOAT IS A METAPHOR
The boat is now unstuck but the memes are still good
On Monday morning, officials said the Ever Given — the big ol' boat that was stuck in the Suez Canal for much of last week — was freed.
The boat being free is good! The thicc boi interrupted a crucial trade route after it got lodged sideways in the canal, delaying billions of dollars in goods from reaching their destinations.
But that doesn't mean we don't already miss the Big Boat news cycle. The internet was happy for the boat, but bereft to be robbed of something to root for. For a whole week, we were all in support of the big boat, but now that the boat is unstuck, we have come to realize: we were the ones stuck all along.  Gently ease yourself into the day, Elamin 📝 This letter was edited and brought to you by Elamin Abdelmahmoud and BuzzFeed News. You can always reach us here.
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