Breakfast links: It may be cold outside, but home sales are hot
19th Street by Erin licensed under Creative Commons.
Home sales in the region remain strong through the winter
The region’s housing market typically peaks in the spring and fall while slowing down in the winter and summer. This year has been a notable exception, as the pandemic and lack of supply have kept the market busy through the winter. (Nena Perry-Brown / UrbanTurf)
Many students will return to in-person learning at DC Public Schools
Students at DC Public Schools have the green light to return to at least partial in-person learning after an arbitrator ruled that the teachers union’s claims that the District violated safety measures lacked evidence. However, some facilities will remain closed pending a community walk-through, and the plans are being delayed because of the snow. (Debbie Truong / DCist, Perry Stein / Post)
New details emerge about last month’s Red Line shooting
On December 15, an FBI agent shot a man on a Red Line train after the man boarded the train and repeatedly accosted the agent, who ultimately fired several shots at the man after warning him to “back off.” (Dan Schere / Bethesda Beat. Tip: Chester B.)
Man in critical condition after being assaulted on Metro train
An 85-year-old man was hospitalized in critical condition after being assaulted on an Orange Line train Friday night in Virginia. Police say the suspect struck the man in the face after the man refused to give the suspect money. (Dana Hedgpeth / Post)
Metro employee vaccinations will be a major step in the system’s recovery
Front-line Metro employees could become eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccinations this month, marking a major step in the transit system’s recovery that could allow pre-March 2020 service to be restored one day. (Justin George / Post)
New COVID-19 case numbers are down, but don’t get complacent
New COVID-19 case numbers are down across the region, but they are still higher than they were during the surge last summer, and now new more transmissible variants may be taking hold. (Amanda Michelle Gomez / City Paper)
New federal order requires masks to be worn on public transportation
A new order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requires masks to be worn on all forms of public transportation, as well as planes and airports. Enforcement of the order will be handled by the Transportation Security Administration, in cooperation with state and local authorities. (Michael Laris / Post)
The COVID-19 variants are here
The discovery of the South African COVID-19 variant in Baltimore, and the United Kingdom variant in Northern Virginia, means community transmission is likely possible with these more contagious strains in the Greater Washington region. (Daniella Cheslow, Jordan Pascale / DCist)
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