Mourning in America: “Deaths from COVID have been unexpected, untimely, particularly painful, and, in many cases, preventable.” Those are factors that tend to make the grieving process more powerful and prolonged. Ed Yong in The Atlantic: The Pandemic Has Trapped Millions in Unending Grief. And from AP: A million empty spaces: Chronicling COVID’s cruel US toll. So let’s try to be decent to one another upon learning that the CDC has extended the travel mask requirement to May 3 as COVID rises.

+ Tex and Balances: “Mexican truck drivers blockaded bridges at the U.S. border for a second day on Tuesday to protest an order by the Texas governor meant to increase safety inspections that has snarled traffic and led business groups to warn of supply chain disruptions.” Inflation is up, supply chains are sucking wind, so it seems like a great time for Texas Gov Greg Abbott to play politics with inspections at the border.

+ Plus Signs: “CNN sought to make a huge splash with CNN Plus, luring big-name talent from rival news networks, such as Kasie Hunt from NBC News and Chris Wallace from Fox News. But there is broad skepticism whether there’s enough demand to sustain a stand-alone news streaming service, with entertainment-first options dominating the landscape. Disney Plus, for instance, posted more than 10 million subscribers on its first day.” CNN Plus is currently drawing fewer than 10,000 daily viewers.

+ Who’s on First? When she took her spot near first base, San Francisco Giants’ Alyssa Nakken, 31, made major league history as the first woman to coach on field in regular-season game.