<br><div><aside class="gnt_em gnt_em__fp gnt_em_vp__tp gnt_em__el" aria-label="Video - WH rethinking next phase of COVID rules"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Team USA snagged their first gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. And the Biden administration denounced Florida's proposed "Don't Say Gay" bill for schools.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">👋 It's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.twitter.com/lauradavis" style="background-color:#fff" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">Laura</a> here! I'd never heard of snowboardcross until today. It's Wednesday! Here's the news.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong>But first, lions, kangaroos and bears, oh my! 🐻</strong> You gotta check these pictures out. The <a target="_blank" href="/story/news/world/2022/02/09/best-wildlife-photos-year-winners/6720089001/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">best wildlife photos of the year by folks from all around the world</a>.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><small><em>The Short List is a snappy USA TODAY news roundup. <a target="_blank" href="https://profile.usatoday.com/newsletters/The-Short-List/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">Subscribe to the newsletter here</a> or <a target="_blank" href="https://joinsubtext.com/theshortlist" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">text messages here</a>.</em></small></p><h2 class="gnt_ar_b_h2"><strong>Mask mandates coming down</strong></h2><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">New York state will end a mandate requiring face coverings in most indoor public settings <a target="_blank" href="/story/news/education/2022/02/08/school-mask-mandates-ending-states-lift-rules-omicron-decline/6695169001/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">but will keep school masking rules in place,</a> Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday. New York is the latest in a long line of states to roll back mask mandates amid a decline in daily infection and hospitalization numbers. Later in the day, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said his state will follow a similar path, joining the ranks of fellow Democratic governors in rescinding some mandates as COVID-19 cases drop rapidly across the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday it continues to recommend masking in areas of substantial transmission – most of the nation.</p><figure class="gnt_em gnt_em_img"><img class="gnt_em_img_i" style="height:441px" data-g-r="lazy" src="https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2022/02/09/USAT/6db7dff3-4438-4abd-8b3c-4dbcd6fae3f4-AP_Virus_Outbreak_Schools.jpg?width=660&height=441&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp" decoding="async" alt="Signs illustrating COVID-19 safety measures are posted inside a classroom at Raices Dual Language Academy, a public school in Central Falls, R.I., Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022."/></figure><h2 class="gnt_ar_b_h2"><strong>Team USA snags its first gold of the Games</strong></h2><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Team USA finally earned its first gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Lindsey Jacobellis, competing in her fifth Winter Games, <a target="_blank" href="/story/sports/olympics/beijing/2022/02/09/winter-olympics-american-lindsey-jacobellis-wins-gold-snowboardcross/6718014001/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">won gold in the snowboardcross competition Wednesday.</a> Her previous...</p></div> <style> .wrapper { text-align: center; } </style> <div class="wrapper"> <a class="button" href ="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2022/02/09/mask-mandates-winter-olympics-floridas-dont-say-gay-bill-its-wednesdays-news/6687019001/">Read more <span>➤</span></a> </div>
