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DC Health updates school masking guidelines, but DCPS to keep requirement for now 03/08/2022 09:23pm • DC Health released updated COVID-19 guidelines for schools Tuesday, recommending masks only when D.C. is experiencing high community transmission. The latest recommendations from D.C.'s health agency put it in alignment with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which at the end of Febr Montgomery Co. schools detail plans to help students recover from learning loss during pandemic 03/08/2022 08:12pm • Montgomery County Public Schools are working to help students recover from learning loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the strategies outlined during Tuesday's Board of Education meeting — a focus on literacy and math; professional development for teachers; team teaching for students lear Doctor encouraged, but says vigilance is key to containing COVID 03/08/2022 06:48pm • Society seems ready to begin treating COVID-19 as an endemic ailment that no longer requires the most dire pandemic-prompted precautions. And while one D.C.-area infectious disease specialist is encouraged by all that's been learned and accomplished, he believes maintaining vigilance is key. Masks now optional in Montgomery Co. schools 03/08/2022 04:52pm • As expected, Montgomery County, Maryland's Board of Education has voted to shift to a "mask-optional" policy in schools. With Tuesday afternoon's unanimous vote, Maryland's largest school system joined Virginia in making them optional. Around the D.C. area, masks are required now only inside D.C. DC sued over its mask mandate for private schools 03/08/2022 01:01pm • A religious, conservative group is suing D.C. on behalf of two parents who send their kids to a Catholic school in Northwest over the city's mask mandate. The Alliance for Defending Freedom argues that the city is violating the First Amendment by applying a mask mandate to religious schools while Loudoun Co. schools open distance learning portal for next school year 03/08/2022 05:11am • As other Virginia-based schools scale back on their COVID-19-related health restrictions, Loudoun County Public Schools is reminding students and parents of its virtual learning program for middle and high school students for its upcoming school year. Students interested in distance learning nee Virginia parents argue in court for masking accommodations for at-risk students 03/07/2022 10:18pm • Attorneys pleaded their cases before a U.S. District Court judge Monday in a case that could temporarily block SB 739 and allow for the return of mask mandates in select situations inside Virginia public schools. Last month, the parents of 11 students with disabilities – including one Manassas Montgomery Co. school board expected to lift mask mandate 03/07/2022 07:53pm • Montgomery County's Board of Education is expected to lift the Maryland school system's mask mandate during its meeting Tuesday. The school system telegraphed the likelihood of ending the requirement when it posted a statement on Feb. 26 saying the move was "anticipated." That statement was poste Smithsonian to end mask mandate, expand days of operation 03/07/2022 01:20pm • Starting Friday, visitors to the Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo in D.C. will no longer be required to wear a mask, according to a news release from the Smithsonian. Aerial view of the National Mall in Washington, DC. Shows the Freer, the original Smithsonian building, known as "the Cas Peak-a-boo! Cherry blossoms reach 2nd stage in march toward peak bloom 03/07/2022 10:46am • Good news, blossom-watchers! The National Mall's iconic Yoshino cherry blossom have reached the second stage, of six, toward reaching peak bloom. The appearance of visible florets, which came March 7, marks the second of six stages toward peak bloom for the cherry blossoms. (Courtesy National Pa Fairfax Co. says Va. mask law unconstitutional, wants to be heard in federal court 03/07/2022 07:30am • The Fairfax County School Board, representing Virginia's largest school system, says the Commonwealth's new law prohibiting mask mandates is unconstitutional, and wants to be heard in support of a federal lawsuit filed by the ACLU on behalf of immunocompromised students. Gov. Glenn Youngkin signe Maryland National Guard members help revive Prince George's Co. hospital patient 03/06/2022 07:25pm • Gov. Larry Hogan's declaration of a state of emergency allowed Maryland National Guard members to help medical staff combat COVID-19. One month after the declaration took effect, two soldiers helped save a patient's life. Soldiers Patrick Sheil and Paul Hofe were working in the Luminis Health Doc Poison control calls increase during pandemic from use of cleaning supplies 03/06/2022 06:19pm • Parents may want to keep their homes as clean as possible to fight the spread of coronavirus, but that's led to poison control centers seeing an increase in exposure cases in kids. According to the nonprofit organization Safe Kids Worldwide, poison control centers have handled more than 23,000 ex Trucker convoy's trip around DC Beltway winds down 03/06/2022 04:03pm • The People's Convoy that came across the country to protest COVID-19 restrictions is wrapping up its second circuit of D.C.'s Beltway Sunday afternoon. The convoy is currently heading west on the outer loop of Interstate 495 and approaching Interstate 270, where it will return to Hagerstown Speed Silver Spring explosion: Investigators find cut gas line; search of rubble continues 03/04/2022 10:00pm • Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (left) and Fire Chief Scott Goldstein address reporters the day after an explosion and fire at the Friendly Garden Apartments. (WTOP/Valerie Bonk) Officials in Montgomery County, Maryland, said all residents of the Friendly Garden Apartments have been acco