BOSTON, MA: "Boston city workers now have another week to get vaccinated against the coronavirus in order to be in compliance with Mayor Michelle Wu’s mandate. Employees have until Sunday to submit proof of vaccination or else they face discipline that can include being placed on unpaid leave. Wu announced during a press conference Monday that 18,270 Boston city workers, which breaks down to more than 94 percent, are in compliance with the new policy. Almost every city department has a more than 90 percent vaccination rate, according to Wu. On Friday, members of the Boston firefighters union, Local 718, rallied against the vaccine requirement in Dorchester, saying that Wu’s policy violates a prior collective bargaining agreement. The union added that they’ll be appealing a judge’s decision not to block the city’s vaccine mandate. The union is calling on Wu to keep a weekly testing option in fear that hundreds of firefighters could be terminated when the policy is officially implemented."

https://whdh.com/news/wu-extends-deadline-for-boston-city-workers-to-show-proof-of-vaccination-against-covid-19/

HAMPTON, VA: "Hampton’s school division joined six others in a lawsuit against Gov. Glenn Youngkin, seeking to overturn his controversial executive order against school mask mandates. The lawsuit maintains that Youngkin’s order violates school boards’ authority as outlined in the Virginia Constitution, according to a news release from Hampton schools. Those in opposition of Youngkin’s order have repeatedly cited current state law requiring schools to remain open five days a week should they follow mitigations strategies “to the maximum extent practicable.” The policy is set to expire in August. Alexandria City Public Schools, Arlington County Public School, Richmond Public Schools, Fairfax County Public Schools, Falls Church City Public Schools and Prince William County Public Schools are the initial school boards to take legal action. The seven districts filed the lawsuit Monday in Arlington Circuit Court, according to a report from the Washington Post. The suit is the second one against Youngkin’s order; a group of Chesapeake parents filed a petition last week."

https://www.dailypress.com/news/education/vp-nw-hampton-schools-mask-lawsuit-20220124-3onbvxuenjd43mdu32ujobyigi-story.html