Afternoon update: U.S. and Russia agree on Syria probe; Spicer calls Hitler comment 'reprehensible'; Pasco gives initial okay to sports tourism project; comedian Charlie Murphy dies

Here's what you may have missed, and what you need to know as you start winding down:

SEEKING TO SALVAGE TIES, U.S. AND RUSSIA AGREE ON SYRIA PROBE

Striving to salvage ties amid a fierce dispute over Syria, the United States and Russia today agreed to work together on an international investigation of a Syrian chemical weapons attack last week that prompted retaliatory American missile strikes. Washington blames Russia's ally, Syrian President Bashar Assad, while Moscow says Syrian rebels are responsible.

CEO: UNITED WILL NO LONGER USE POLICE TO REMOVE PASSENGERS

The chief executive of United Airlines said the carrier will no longer ask police to remove passengers from full flights after the uproar over a man who was dragged off a plane by airport officers in Chicago. In an interview with ABC's Good Morning America aired Wednesday, Oscar Munoz said he felt "ashamed" watching video of the man being forced off the jet. He has promised to review the airline's passenger-removal policy.

PULSE SHOOTER'S WIFE PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO FEDERAL CHARGES

Noor Salman, the widow of Pulse nightclub shooter Omar Mateen, appeared briefly today in federal court in Orlando. Salman kept quiet during the hearing, which lasted less than five minutes. Her attorney waived the reading of an indictment and entered a not guilty plea on her behalf. Salman last week agreed to be transferred to Florida from California, where she has been held since her arrest in January. She faces charges of aiding and abetting her husband and obstruction of justice.

SPICER SAYS HITLER COMMENT 'INEXCUSABLE AND REPREHENSIBLE'

White House press secretary Sean Spicer said today that his attempt to compare the Holocaust and Syrian President Bashar Assad's use of chemical weapons was "inexcusable and reprehensible" and was made all the worse by this being a holy week for millions of Christians and Jews. He said his comment, made Tuesday at the White House briefing, was personally and professionally disappointing, and he asked for "folks' forgiveness."

YOUR AFTERNOON TRAFFIC AND WEATHER REPORT

As you head out for your drive home, check out our live blog for the latest traffic updates and road conditions across Tampa Bay.

JUDGE DENIES MARKEITH LOYD'S REQUEST FOR MIAMI-BASED ATTORNEY

Accused killer Markeith Loyd appeared in court this morning with the Miami-based attorney he requested to represent him, Terence "Terry" Lenamon. But Judge Frederick Lauten denied the request today and instead appointed attorney Roger Weeden as official counsel. Lauten said Loyd could not "pick and choose" his attorney when the state was paying for his defense. Loyd, 41, is accused of killing his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon, Dec. 13. He is also charged with murder in the Jan. 9 killing of Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton, who was trying to arrest him.

PASCO GIVES INITIAL OKAY TO SPORTS TOURISM PROJECT, HIGHER BED TAX

Pasco County's $44 million plan for a sports tourism and hotel complex at Wiregrass Ranch earned its first victory today when a unanimous County Commission blessed the project and a plan to double the hotel bed tax to help finance it. After a nearly two-hour discussion, the board agreed with the concept of increasing the tourist tax to 4 percent to offset the public's $25 million commitment to the multipurpose gymnasium, public park and amphitheater.

AIRBNB BOOKINGS SPIKE IN FLORIDA FOR SPRING TRAINING

Airbnb hosts in Tampa Bay and across Florida saw a significant bump in bookings during the spring training baseball season this year. Florida's Grapefruit League — which brings 15 Major League Baseball teams to 12 Florida cities, including Dunedin, Clearwater and Tampa — saw significant spikes in bookings over a five-week stretch, according a press release today.

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CHANGING WHEN SCHOOL STARTS AND ENDS WILL SAVE MONEY AND RILE PARENTS

When you pull at the threads involved in changing when Hillsborough's 207,000 public school students start and end their days, you have the genesis for a mess. But understand this for what it is, columnist Joe Henderson writes. It's an effort consultants say could save the district $2.5 million a year. When you're talking about that amount of dough in a district looking to squeeze pennies, folks, things are gonna change.

VIDEO SHOWS HILLSBOROUGH DEPUTIES BREAKING WINDOW TO RESCUE WOMAN FROM SMOKING APARTMENT

Three sheriff's deputies broke through an apartment window with a fire extinguisher to rescue a woman inside as smoke filled the apartment complex, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said. Deputies Robert Klocksieben and Jeremy Pollack, both 27, and Alton Smith, 33, carried 58-year-old Bonnie Adhemy to safety Monday night after fire broke out near her apartment at 7017 San Ramon Place, near East Sligh Avenue and North 56th Street.

'CHARGING BULL' SCULPTOR SAYS FEARLESS GIRL DISTORTS HIS ART

With hopes of dispensing the "perfect antidote" to the stock market crash of 1987, Italian-born sculptor Arturo Di Modica spent two years welding a 7,000 pound bronze bull statue designed to capture the resilience of the American people. In the 18 years since, it has become an institution. Then last month, on International Women's Day, a new statue of a symbolically brave "Fearless Girl" stole its spotlight — and, Di Modica says, fundamentally corrupted the artistic integrity of his "Charging Bull." He forcefully advocated against a global campaign to make "Fearless Girl" a permanent fixture, but fans persevered, persuading New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to extend the statue's permit through April 2018. On behalf of his bull, Di Modica won't back down.

MARINE FAMILIES HELP WITH REVIVED YELLOW RIBBON CAMPAIGN

In the early days of U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq, the yellow ribbon was an ubiquitous symbol of home-front support for troops overseas. But for those still fighting the wars, and the families left behind to wait and worry, the yellow ribbons are as popular as ever.

HOW IS CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY EVALUATED BY BUCS?

Christian McCaffrey is one of the top three running backs in the draft. But his pass catching and route running skills make him one of the best offensive weapons available. Because McCaffey is 5-11 and weighs just over 200 pounds, teams may not perceive him as an every down back. Bucs coach Dirk Koetter clearly has a real interest in McCaffrey. Regardless of what you call him, he considers him a play-maker.

COCO VANDEWEGHE, BETHANIE MATTEK SANDS HIGHLIGHT FED CUP TEAM COMING TO SADDLEBROOK

Kathy Rinaldi, U.S. Fed Cup captain and once the world's seventh-ranked women's singles player 31 years ago, announced the four who will play against recent Fed Cup juggernaut Czech Republic in a World Group semifinal April 22-23 at Saddlebrook Resort. Three of the players — CoCo Vandeweghe, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Shelby Rogers — helped the United States trounce Germany 4-0 in a February first-rounder. They'll be joined this time by Lauren Davis.

COMEDIAN CHARLIE MURPHY DEAD AT 57

Comedian Charlie Murphy, whose epic tales of Prince and Rick James became pop culture phenomena, has died at age 57, according to reports. TMZ was first to report Murphy's death, writing that the comic's manager said he'd died at a New York City hospital after a battle with leukemia.

REVIEW: 'FATE OF THE FURIOUS TRIES TOO HARD'

The Fate of the Furious doesn't merely suspend disbelief, it expels it like a delinquent student told to never come back. Most of the time that's a plus, when cars flip and tumble like Olympic gymnasts, at one point piling up like sands of time in an urban hourglass. But sitting through F. Gary Gray's movie can get a little exhausting, overloading our senses. How much furious can our eyes and ears take? Times movie critic Steve Persall writes.

Afternoon update is a weekday feature from tampabay.com. Check in Monday through Friday for updates and information on the biggest stories of the day.