YOU GOTTA VOTE FOR JOE.
YOU GOTTA VOTE FOR JOE. JOSHUA LOTT/GETTY IMAGES

Despite zero ground game, Joe Biden leaps forward in Washington state: Biden is currently leading by a small margin across the state. Check results here. In King County, Biden is leading by over 1%.

Sanders will be staying in the race: Some people aren't too happy about that, but he appears to be preparing to concede:

In one striking sequence that highlighted his ideological resolve, Mr. Sanders ticked off a list of policy issues and challenged Mr. Biden to explain to the American people how he would address them—a series of questions that could be seen as an opening gambit for a list of concessions he would seek from Mr. Biden if he were to drop out of the race.

“He’s pivoting to ensure that the issues that he has built his political career around continue to be front and center in the political dialogue,” said Nick Carter, who served as political outreach director for the 2016 Sanders campaign. “I also think he has top of mind ensuring his supporters and those unenthusiastic about a Biden candidacy — ‘don’t call it a day.’”

This is happening soon: Oh boy.

Watch here:

A big day in Washington for coronavirus news: The big announcements this morning from Jay Inslee and Co. have left a lot of people and organizations scrambling. Let's recap today's big coronavirus news in our region:

• The statewide death toll is up to 29 people, with 366 confirmed COVID-19 cases. King County accounts for 26 of those deaths and 234 of the confirmed cases.

• Governor Jay Inslee banned all gatherings of more than 250 people, and gatherings of fewer than 250 people are also banned in King County unless there are six feet between each person.

• Seattle music venues respond to the new social-distancing measures.

• Other arts organizations face devastating losses as well. The 5th Avenue Theatre is projecting a revenue loss of about $1 million for Sister Act, which was supposed to open next week.

• The Mariners, the Sounders, and other sports teams have canceled or postponed upcoming games.

• 75 workers at the convention center have been temporarily laid off.

• A Broadway usher in NYC has tested positive for the coronavirus.

• All Seattle public schools will be closed for at least the next two weeks.

• "This outbreak may be one of the most transformative and consequential events that we’ve had in this country and this region," warned Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said at this morning's press conference with Inslee.

• "But we are not helpless," Gov. Inslee said. "We have the ability to seize our own destiny."

• King County Executive Dow Constantine, speaking of the stricter measures he's implementing, said: "Ordering the cancelation of community events is an extraordinary measure, one made in a fluid situation in which new information comes to light hourly. We must do everything we can to protect our community. Temporarily banning social and recreational gatherings that bring people together will help ensure that a health crisis does not become a humanitarian disaster."

• Constantine also said: "Business can and must continue. Restaurants, retail, music, arts, and movie theaters can and should continue if they are able to meet these critieria—the critiera that can be shown to dramatically reduce the transmission of disease and keep people safe."

• Mayor Durkan has a plan to help small businesses whose revenue is taking a hit because of the outbreak.

• The Center for Disease Control now has Seattle-specific mitigation rules and guidelines.

• The World Health Organization has now declared the coronavirus outbreak to be a pandemic.

Find more coronavirus updates here.

And, as you may have seen, we need help: I love this job and I'd like to continue doing it.



Amazon Go Grocery's cashier-less technology is spreading: Today, Amazon and airport vendor OTG announced that the technology will be implemented in multiple airport stores. Amazon has told Reuters that it has sold this technology to several retailers.

Whoopi Goldberg screamed at a whole bunch of empty chairs on The View and it was pretty creepy. This might become the new norm over the next month as Comedy Central, CBS, Bravo, and NBC have announced that both their daytime and late night live audience shows will remain live audience-less indefinitely during the novel coronavirus pandemic. But who will Whoopi welcome to The View!?

I lost power for 24 hours: So did a lot of other people.

Chelsea Manning attempted suicide while in jail: She is alive and recovering in a hospital, her lawyers stated. This is a developing story.

The NCAA March Madness basketball tournament will be played without fans as well due to the looming threat of the novel coronavirus, reports CNBC. The tournament is set to begin on March 26th in Dayton, OH.

Vladmir Putin is making moves to stay in power past his term limit: The Russian president is due out of office in 2024, but lawmakers recently approved a bill that would allow him to run for two more six-year terms, potentially making him the longest-ruling leader in the country's modern history. The law must be approved by Russia's Constitutional Court and a nationwide vote next month, but Putin critics are letting it be known that they are unhappy with this development. Let's hope someone doesn't get any ideas.

Disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 23 years in prison: He was given 20 years for a criminal sexual act and three years for rape. Before the sentence was handed down, he apparently gave an unexpected, rambling 20-minute speech. "I'm not going to say these aren't great people, I had wonderful times with these people, you know," Weinstein said, addressing his accusers. "It is just I'm totally confused and I think men are confused about all of these issues." At 67 years of age, Weinstein is likely to spend the rest of his life inside of prison.

The cherry blossom trees on UW's campus are predicted to reach peak bloom on March 27: Despite the fact that they are holding all their classes online due to novel coronavirus fears, the university says that there are no plans to handle the crowds of tourists that flood the quad to ogle at the pretty trees. "The blossom viewing isn't an organized university event and campus is open to the public, so it's really up to visitors if they want to come see the blossoms this year,” UW spokesperson Michelle Ma said to The Daily recently. The pink sweetness of the flowers isn't worth a potential cough, IMHO!

A good reminder: Don't be a narc.