On the same day it hosted Super Bowl LV, Florida on Sunday became the first state to report 200 variant COVID-19 cases. Latest virus news.
Author: Elinor Aspegren, USA TODAY
Utah school allows families to opt out of Black History Month instruction, then reverses course after backlash
The North Ogden charter school sent a letter that allowed families “to exercise their civil rights to not participate in Black History Month.”
1,000+ troops to help vaccine distribution; at-home test surge coming; Johnson & Johnson applies for authorization. Latest COVID-19 updates.
More than 1,000 active duty troops will begin supporting vaccination sites. FDA preps for “all eventualities” of virus variants. Latest COVID-19 news.
Coronavirus updates: Rate of new infections falls sharply; Michael Strahan reportedly tests positive
In piece of good news, new U.S cases of the coronavirus have fallen 35% from their Jan. 11 peak, a USA TODAY analysis shows. Latest COVID-19 news.
Abraham Lincoln, out. George Washington, gone. San Francisco votes to rename 44 schools for namesakes’ ties to racism, slavery.
School board members have argued that the renaming is timely and important, given the country’s reckoning with a racist past.
Dana Point, California, where marine mammals ‘live in harmony with people,’ earns distinction as first Whale Heritage Site in US
Known as the Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World, Dana Point, California, has been named as the first Whale Heritage Site in the U.S.
Coronavirus updates: CDC researchers say schools can reopen safely; Dr. Anthony Fauci offers hope on variants; 100M global infections
Dr. Anthony Fauci believes vaccines have “enough cushion” to be effective against variants. Global deaths set record. Latest COVID-19 news.
‘A lot of chaos’: 1 dead, at least 5 injured after driver strikes pedestrians across 15 blocks in Portland, police say
There were multiple reports that the car drove up onto sidewalks to run over pedestrians during what police called a “major traffic incident.”
Coronavirus updates: Biden outlines COVID plan, requires masks on flights; Fauci feels liberated on Biden team
A COVID vaccine being developed by New Jersey-based Johnson & Johnson could dramatically speed up the fight against the pandemic. Latest COVID news.
We have a winner! Powerball reports winning ticket, sold in Maryland, for $730M jackpot – the fifth largest in US lottery history
The Powerball drawing on Wednesday night was worth a projected $730 million, the fifth-largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history.