🌱 Mask Mandates End In Roanoke Schools + $30K Cultural Grant

Hello again, Roanoke! Important update: You all, as readers, have made the Roanoke Daily so successful that it is my honor to announce the next stage of the newsletter. Patch is looking for a local writer and entrepreneur to take the helm of the Roanoke Daily. Although I have loved getting to know this community, we want to pass the torch to someone truly local to write about Roanoke long term. So if you’re interested in earning extra income while making this newsletter a more valuable resource for your neighbors, learn more and apply here.

First, today's weather:

Breezy and cooler. High: 53 Low: 28.

Here are the top three stories today in Roanoke:

1. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has officially ended mask mandates for Roanoke schools. The signed bill gives districts two weeks to comply with the change in policy. Opponents of the bill argue that it will "tie the hands of officials" in a future pandemic, resulting in slow reactions to possible dangers. Supporters of the bill argue that it reaffirms parents' rights to make decisions for their children. (WDBJ7)
2. The Roanoke Cultural Endowment has received $30,000 through the federal American Rescue Plan Act. The new funding will be used to invest in collective storytelling tools for cultural events and challenges. There will be six episodes of BUZZ produced with the funds, which will feature nonprofits engaging in art and humanities. (The Roanoke Star)
3. Roanoke County School District parents surprised employees with gifts recognizing their contributions during the pandemic. The gifts were for school counselors at Hidden Valley High School and were facilitated through a Facebook group. The group was originally planned as a way for parents to discuss mask mandates throughout the schools but eventually turned into a movement to thank school employees who kept their children safe during the pandemic. (WSLS 10)

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Today in Roanoke:

• Yasmin Williams At The Jefferson Center (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Virginia State Parks announce their annual Great Backyard Bird County begins today, Feb. 18. Learn more on Instagram. (Instagram)
• This weekend will be a little chilly here in Roanoke, but you can expect plenty of sunshine! Check out the full weekend weather forecast on Patch. (Roanoke Patch)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Friday! See you tomorrow morning for your next update.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.