JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 918

Washington. House Republicans blocked a Senate-backed plan this week and instead passed an eight-week DHS funding extension on Friday, deepening a partial shutdown that has left thousands of Transportation Security Administration staff working without pay and caused long airport security lines while lawmakers head into recess.

The move prompted the White House to issue a memorandum ordering payroll actions to restore TSA paychecks, which DHS said on X could arrive as early as March 30; Senators expressed that the House bill lacks Senate support, signaling continued negotiations when Congress returns from the two-week recess.

SACRAMENTO — Ashlon Jackson hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer Friday night to lift No. 3 seed Duke to an 87-85 victory over No. 2 seed LSU in the Sweet 16 of the women's NCAA Tournament, securing Duke's spot in the Elite Eight in Sacramento.

The final sequence began after Mikaylah Williams hit two free throws with 9.2 seconds left and a missed corner 3; Duke secured the offensive rebound with 2.6 seconds remaining and Jackson's final shot ended LSU's season, sending Duke to face top-seeded UCLA on Sunday.

St. Paul, Minn. organizers designated the state Capitol rally Saturday as the national flagship of the 'No Kings' protests against President Donald Trump, reporting more than 3,100 events registered across all 50 states and projecting over nine million participants nationwide.

The designation followed winter protests after federal agents fatally shot two people monitoring immigration enforcement; Bruce Springsteen will headline in St. Paul, performing 'Streets of Minneapolis,' and his Land of Hope & Dreams tour with a 'No Kings' theme begins Tuesday, drawing national media attention and logistical planning.

Memphis, Tenn. — After the Houston Rockets beat the Memphis Grizzlies 119-109 on Friday night, Grizzlies guard GG Jackson criticized officials, saying referees favor veterans like Kevin Durant; Durant scored 25 points and went to the line seven times while adding 10 assists.

Jackson's comments highlighted a 26-to-18 free-throw disparity and drew reactions from teammates; the next night, Memphis rebounded, beating the Chicago Bulls 125-124 as Cedric Coward hit two crucial free throws with 6.5 seconds remaining to secure the win.

WASHINGTON — Duke's Caleb Foster returned less than three weeks after foot surgery and scored 11 second-half points as the No. 1 seed rallied to beat St. John's 80-75 in Friday night's Sweet 16 game at Capital One Arena, advancing the Blue Devils to the East Region final.

The victory, fueled also by Isaiah Evans' 25 points and Cameron Boozer's 22 and 10 rebounds, extended Duke's winning streak to 14 and set up a Sunday East Region final against either second-seeded UConn or third-seeded Michigan State; coaches cited Foster's grit and rotation adjustments.

HOUSTON — No. 3 Illinois will face No. 9 Iowa in the NCAA Elite Eight on Saturday at 5:09 p.m. CT at the Toyota Center, with Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler and Iowa senior Bennett Stirtz highlighted as central matchups for a berth in the Final Four.

The game follows Illinois' stretch of tournament wins over Penn, VCU and Houston this week and Iowa's upset victories over Florida and Nebraska; coaches Brad Underwood and Ben McCollum outlined game plans, and the winner will advance to the Final Four as broadcast on TBS and truTV.

Miami — Sandy Alcantara allowed four hits and one run over seven innings, leading the Marlins to a 2-1 Opening Day victory against the Colorado Rockies on Friday, March 27, 2026, at loanDepot park; rookie Owen Caissie supplied an early RBI double after being added to the lineup.

Atlanta — On the same day Chris Sale delivered six shutout innings as the Braves homered three times in a 6-0 win over the Kansas City Royals; managers and players cited stronger rotations and early momentum, and teams will evaluate pitching availability and lineup options in the coming days.

Carroll County, Tennessee. A Clarksville-Montgomery County School System bus carrying Kenwood Middle School students crashed near Highway 70 and Cedar Grove around noon on March 27, 2026, killing two students and injuring others as it traveled to Jackson for the Toyota Hub City Grand Prix GreenpowerUSA event.

Clarksville officials and the Tennessee Highway Patrol said Friday that 25 students and five adults were on board, several victims were airlifted to trauma centers in Nashville and Memphis, Major Travis Plotzer announced an active investigation into the crash, and school leaders mobilized support for affected families.

Jupiter Island, Fla. — Tiger Woods was involved in a rollover crash Friday just after 2 p.m., the Martin County Sheriff's Office said, occurring near his residence; initial media reports indicated no serious injuries and authorities opened an investigation into the circumstances.

The sheriff's office scheduled a 5 p.m. briefing and investigators processed the scene; Woods's manager had not responded to inquiries, and outlets noted the crash follows his recent return to competition and past 2021 injuries, prompting questions about his immediate tournament plans.

CHICAGO — Michigan defeated Alabama 90-77 in the Sweet 16 on Friday, March 27, with Yaxel Lendeborg leading the Wolverines with 23 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists; four Michigan players reached double figures as the team turned the game with a second-half surge.

Michigan advances to the Elite Eight and will face the winner of Iowa State and Tennessee in the regional final at 2:15 p.m. Sunday; the victory gave Michigan a program-record 34th win while Alabama's season concluded, with regional reports noting LaBaron Philon scored 35 in the loss.