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Here's why mask mandates are falling across the US 02/10/2022 02:50pm • As the omicron wave of the coronavirus subsides, several U.S. states and cities have lifted mask mandates for schools and indoor businesses. The White House says talks are underway about how and when to move the country out of the pandemic's emergency phase. The CDC still recommends masks in i DC launches digital COVID-19 vaccination record portal 02/10/2022 12:56pm • D.C. has launched a new web-based Digital Vaccine Record portal, which is aimed at giving District residents better access to their official COVID-19 vaccination records. The Digital Vaccine Record portal shows the same information as your paper vaccine card issued by the Centers for Disease Cont Hogan asks Md. board of education to end mask policy 02/10/2022 11:05am • Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on Thursday asked the state board of education to dump its mask policy, citing improved health metrics and vaccine availability for kids. In a statement, Hogan claimed there was "growing consensus among medical professionals, parents and bipartisan state officials" for d Virginia House to quickly take up school mask issue 02/10/2022 06:20am • Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert promised Wednesday that the state's House of Delegates would vote as soon as possible on a bill that gives families the ability to opt-out of COVID-19 mask mandates issued by school systems. "Kids can't wait any longer," said Gilbert, R-Shenandoah. Gilbert's Prince George's Co. school board member resigns, announces run for Md. Senate 02/09/2022 09:42pm • One of the elected members of the Prince George's County Board of Education says she's resigning. Raaheela Ahmed, 28, served on the district's school board for the past five years. She's stepping down, effective Feb. 19, to run for the Maryland Senate seat, currently held by incumbent Ron Watson. DC Public Schools has filled few COVID coordinator, full-time substitute teacher positions 02/09/2022 09:33pm • D.C. Public Schools on Wednesday provided the council with hiring updates for its COVID coordinator and full-time substitute teacher roles in city schools. City officials said the school system has hired COVID coordinators in 24 schools and full-time substitute teachers in 27 schools, leaving 181 Va. Senate votes to overturn local school mask mandates 02/09/2022 04:46pm • The Virginia Senate on Wednesday passed a bill allowing parents to ignore local school boards' mandates on children wearing masks in school. By a vote of 21-17, with several Democrats joining all Republicans, the Senate passed SB739, which lets parents “elect for to not wear a mask on school p Deep dive needed on DC racial health disparities, researchers say 02/09/2022 01:10pm • This report is part of WTOP's coverage of Black History Month. Read more stories on WTOP.com here. Researchers say structural racism has left D.C. with stark differences in health outcomes, and a new study takes a deeper look into the issue. “We are constantly talking about these racial disp Customers say goodbye as Smitty McGee's in Fenwick closes its doors for good 02/09/2022 10:34am • Smitty McGee's Restaurant and Raw Bar — an Irish-themed sports bar in West Fenwick Island that opened its doors more than 30 years ago — closed for good Saturday, and customers have taken to social media to say farewell. "By far the best wings ever. Too many memories. Sad day," Joshua Tho Disruptions and 'affidavits' halt another Loudoun Co. school board meeting 02/09/2022 05:42am • The battle over masks in schools is being waged in courtrooms, legislative chambers and school board meetings — and Tuesday night, parents upset with the current rules in Loudoun County, Virginia, used words like "corrupt" and "schoolyard bullies" to describe the actions of the district's leaders. Judge blocks Youngkin's mask mandate ban in 7 Virginia school districts 02/08/2022 10:52pm • An Arlington judge issued an order temporarily blocking Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin's executive order regarding mask mandates from being enforced in seven school districts. Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Falls Church City, Hampton City, Prince William County and Richmond schools can keep Virginia Senate advances bill to ban school mask mandates 02/08/2022 05:25pm • Parents in Virginia are a step closer to being able to disregard local school board requirements that their children wear masks in school. The Virginia state Senate on Tuesday voted to advance a law that would prevent local school boards from implementing a mask requirement in schools. The legisl Doctors weigh in on the issue of lifting mask mandates 02/08/2022 04:43pm • Federal guidance recommending masking in schools remains in place, but whether and when to lift COVID-19 masking requirements are issues individual states are exploring on their own terms. One medical expert believes the availability of hospital beds to accommodate COVID-19 patients should help c Fairfax Co. considers COVID-19 memorial 02/08/2022 03:48pm • Leaders in Fairfax County, Virginia, want to create a memorial marking the county's losses from COVID-19. On Tuesday, the county’s Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a motion introduced by Chairman Jeff McKay that directs staff to begin work estimating the cost, timeline and potential desi Hogan announces Md. lottery for boosters 02/08/2022 02:39pm • Last year, Maryland held a lottery to encourage people to get vaccinated. On Tuesday, Gov. Larry Hogan announced the state will do the same for boosters. The VaxCash 2.0 lottery will follow in the footsteps of the VaxCash and VaxU contests, which awarded money to adults and scholarship help to st