Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Tuesday.
Justices appeared likely to allow opt-outs from L.G.B.T.Q. storiesThe Supreme Court heard arguments today in a battle between parents and a public school system in Maryland. The parents had sued because the schools had stopped allowing them to withdraw their children from classes in which books with L.G.B.T.Q. themes were discussed. It was a long, lively and sometimes heated argument, our Supreme Court reporter Adam Liptak said. The court's six-justice conservative majority indicated that it was likely to side with the parents, who argued that their religious objections were constitutionally protected. "The plaintiffs here are not asking the school to change its curriculum," Justice Samuel Alito said. "They're just saying, 'Look, we want out.' Why isn't that feasible?"
Rubio announced major cuts at the State DepartmentSecretary of State Marco Rubio unveiled a plan today to significantly overhaul the State Department, which he called "bloated," "bureaucratic" and "beholden to radical political ideology." The most dramatic change would be the elimination of an office that is charged with defending democracy and human rights around the world. The nation's diplomatic agency is planning to cut its number of offices and bureaus by 18 percent, in addition to eliminating 15 percent of its U.S.-based workers. Officials said that closures of diplomatic missions and overseas layoffs are expected later. In related news, the Trump administration told its diplomats in Vietnam to avoid events marking the 50th anniversary of the end of the war.
Harvard's big donors are calling for a deal with TrumpTo many of Trump's critics, Harvard is heroic for rejecting White House demands — the country's richest university pushing back when other institutions cannot afford to. But Harvard didn't intend to make such a potentially expensive stand. The school had frantically tried to cut a deal with Trump. Even now, some of Harvard's most influential donors are pushing it to renew talks with the White House. But for now, the university's leadership is wagering that White House strategy could be used against it. In related news, more than 220 higher education leaders released a joint statement condemning the Trump administration's efforts to control universities.
A carefully choreographed farewell beganPope Francis' open coffin was in a chapel today at his residence, which had always been an unusually humble home for a pope. Tomorrow, the coffin will be taken in a procession to St. Peter's Basilica to lie in state, with mourners allowed to visit. Then, on Saturday at 10 a.m. local time, the pope's funeral will begin, featuring simpler rituals in keeping with the informal style that became a trademark of Francis' papacy. Presidents, prime ministers and royalty are planning to attend. It will most likely take weeks for the 135 eligible cardinals to choose a successor. For more: Our former Rome bureau chief described what it was like to see Francis focus on what he called "the peripheries." More top news
A mother of superstars tells her own storyTina Knowles is famous, first and foremost, in relation to her world-conquering daughters, Beyoncé and Solange. But today, Knowles is out with a memoir that brings her own life to center stage. The book, "Matriarch," includes the drama of her upbringing in the segregated South and her personal improvement journey as a working mom. She also reveals for the first time that she was diagnosed with breast cancer last year.
The next big thing from JapanJapanese culture has changed the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the music we listen to, the things we cherish, our impression of cuteness and even our morning caffeine rituals. So what's next? Is it washi fabric? Spring water? Japanese tastemakers gave us some ideas. This week's issue of T Magazine attempts, topic by topic, to capture the immense influence that Japan's innovations have had on the rest of the world. Explore the series.
Dinner table topics
Cook: These Italian doughnuts are filled with a tasty citrus-infused cream. Watch: "Cleaner" is one of the best action movies to stream right now. Read: These six books can help you deal with difficult people. Consider: Chewing gum all day has health benefits, as well as potential drawbacks. Wear: Take inspiration from our fashion photographer's look of the week. Entertain: My colleagues tested out more than 150 board games. These are their favorites. Compete: Take our quiz to see how well you know disaster books. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all our games here.
Listen to three very special pianosThe Frick Collection, New York City's newly renovated Gilded Age museum, was recently in the market for a grand piano for its auditorium. So, it brought in a handful of pianists to test out a trio of Steinways — one built in 1882, another from 1965 and a modern version from 2017. We sat in on one of those tests, and it became clear that each piano had a distinct sound. Listen in, and vote on which instrument you think the museum should have purchased. Have a resonant evening. Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. — Matthew Sean Kawasaki-Culligan was our photo editor. We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com.
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