ANDREW CUOMO, governor of New York (MTA photo).

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, beset by allegations of sexual harassment and abandoned by his former Democratic allies, announced his resignation on Tuesday.

Cuomo, 63, continued to deny the charges but said a battle to defend his conduct would lead to distraction and chaos.

“The best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to governing,” he said, reported the Associated Press. His resignation will go into effect in three weeks, and – at that time – he will be succeeded in office by Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat. She will become the first female chief executive in the Empire State’s history.

An investigation into allegations of misconduct concluded he had sexually harassed nearly one dozen women. After that report was released, President Joe Biden urged Cuomo – now in his third term – to resign.

It’s still possible that Cuomo will be impeached by the state legislature. Impeachment and conviction would bar Cuomo from ever holding public office in the state again.

$1 trillion infrastructure bill passes Senate

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN speaking about infrastructure bill (White House).

By a vote of 69-30, a $1 trillion bill devoted to building and repairing American roads and bridges as well as fighting climate change was approved by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday.

The bill, which was a rare triumph of bipartisanship, has been approved by the House of Representatives and goes to President Joe Biden for signature into law.

“This historic investment in infrastructure is what I believe you, the American people want, what you’ve been asking for for a long, long time,” said Biden, according to The New York Times.

Nineteen Republicans, along with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) voted for the bill, along with all 50 members of the Democratic caucus.

School districts struggle over masks

FACE COVERINGS in schools are controversial (Shutterstock).

Bans by governors of Florida and Texas on local school systems making school children and teachers wear masks are getting pushback.

According to Reuters, school boards in Broward County in Florida and in Dallas have announced they would require masks despite the order from the state capital.

Republicans Rick DeSantis of Florida has threatened to withhold funds from the salaries of rebelling school district officials. Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration has indicated it might help those districts financially if the governor takes that action.

New coronavirus cases have increased sharply over the last month in Florida, Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas, states that have among the lowest vaccination rates in the U.S.