All CMS grade levels are back in person this week on rotating schedules, but roughly 60,000 students — about 43% of the county’s total enrollment — are still at home in the full remote academy, Axios' Paige Hopkins reports. And most of those are students of color.

By the numbers: Of fully remote students, 45% are Black, 25% are Hispanic, 15% are white, and 10.5% are Asian.

Why it matters: The return to classrooms is a landmark moment in the pandemic, but the reopening isn’t going to cure the universe of systemic inequalities that the shutdowns have exacerbated.

Among them: Black and Latino families are more likely to have first-hand experience with death or hospitalization from COVID-19 than white families, making them less eager to send their kids back.

• Meanwhile, chronic absenteeism and failing grades are at an all-time high among CMS students, especially students of color.

State of play: During many heated school board meetings, advocates for a return to in-person learning often brought up marginalized communities as a reason to go back. But the significant racial gap in whether parents are ready to send their kids back was often overlooked, Axios’ Bryan Walsh wrote recently.

For these more affected communities, the risk of death and/or financial loss due to COVID are more immediate concerns than academic setbacks.

• In Mecklenburg County, Black residents account for 42% of COVID community deaths. Hispanic residents account for 20%.
• Black and Hispanic workers also make up a significant portion of the frontline essential workforce. And in most of those jobs, they can't work from home if a child comes home with the virus.

Of note: The CDC says teacher vaccinations are not a prerequisite for schools to reopen. A recent Duke/Carolina study shows that coronavirus spread in schools is lower than in other places throughout the community.

What’s next: A bill making its way through the General Assembly now would require school districts to offer six weeks of learning recovery and enrichment after the school year ends.

A center city condo owned by a modern artist and designed by one of the city's most creative architects? Yeah, you gotta peek inside what Axios' Brianna Crane calls one of the coolest condos on the market.

Details: 400 N. Church St., Unit 213. At 2,982 square feet, it has three beds and three baths. It's listed for $949,000.

• 11.5-foot ceilings, two custom California Closets, six-foot kitchen island with blue granite, marble terrazzo floors, modern fireplace, expansive layout, courtyard views, elevated dining room.

Zoom out: It's designed by David Furman, objectively one of the city's most interesting people.

Check out Bri's full story with more photos.

Why is the number "77" appearing all over Charlotte? It looks like a guerrilla marketing campaign of sorts, but for what? Nobody knows.

What's happening: An Instagram user called The 77 in Charlotte started sharing photos of "77" billboards, murals and statues last week.

• According to the IG user's website, they have a big reveal scheduled for March 5 at 4pm (prime Friday news dump time).

Axios' Emma Way looked up the website registration and searched for any permit requests and found nothing. Folks online are making funny guesses:

• "77 more beige apartment buildings coming."
• "The name of our new lazy river," which is of course a reference to the movement to make I-277 a river.
• "It's definitely *not* a major ad/marketing agency hoping for free publicity, that's for sure," The Charlotte Ledger chimed in via Twitter.

What do you think the 77s are all about?

👀 Check out which Charlotte-area companies are hiring on our Job Board. 

1. Senior Software Engineer – Salesforce CRM at Lowe's.
2. Junior Graphic Designer at Northwood Office.
3. Custom Closet Installer at California Closets.
4. Experienced Family Law Paralegal at James, McElroy & Diehl, P.A.
5. Auxiliary Maintenance at the Center for Emotional Health.
6. Warehouse Associate at Zentra LLC.
7. Client Service Associate at Merit Financial.

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County officials are heaping praise upon manager Dena Diorio for her leadership in shutting down "Tent City."

Why it matters: A WBTV investigation released Monday quoted various anonymous officials who said they were frustrated with Diorio's communication and handling of the abatement order last week. But at their regular weekly meeting yesterday, staff and commissioners rallied around Diorio.

• "I want to take a moment to recognize the county manager's leadership and support," assistant manager Anthony Trotman said.

By the numbers: The county also gave final totals from the cleanup.

• 214 people were moved into shelters in 26 hours.
• Six people have been told to leave the shelters for not following rules.
• 112 tons of trash were cleared from the sites.

"To me that shows nimbleness, which is often in short supply in government. And leadership, which is often in short supply," commissioner Leigh Altman told me in a phone call yesterday. "I credit the manager for her work."

Meanwhile, in good affordable housing news, the Home Again Foundation and Axhoj Enterprises will cut a ribbon on eight "true" affordable housing cottages on Cochrane Avenue in north Charlotte today at 2pm, Queen City Nerve reports.

• Rents range from $480 to $1,045 a month, utilities included. All units are already leased, but HAF is looking for a 30-acre piece of land to build 300 homes for 560 residents, using the same model.

ICYMI, read our special report: "The last days of 'Tent City."

Mecklenburg ABC stores will resume normal operating hours (Monday-Saturday, 10am-9pm) beginning Saturday, but they'll still limit the number of customers in the store to 25, Axios's Katie Peralta Soloff reports.

Why it matters: Bit by bit, pandemic restrictions keep loosening all around us.

• The North Carolina Bar and Tavern Association sent a letter to Gov. Cooper yesterday asking him to allow customers back inside bars.
• Cooper is expected to provide an update on restrictions today at 2pm.

How many times can we order the Bojangler® this week? The limit does not exist. Yep, the fish sandwich is back at Bojangles for a limited time and it's topped with a premium, wild-caught Alaskan Pollock filet blasted with Bo's Famous Seasoning and fried to perfection. *chef's kiss*

The giveaway: To celebrate the Bojangler's return, Bojangles is giving away a trip to Alaska (yes, seriously). Enter for a chance to win two roundtrip tickets, four nights of lodging and an AMEX gift card.

My coworkers would like you to know that the semi-annual EDIT sale starts today. Expect a warehouse filled with deeply discounted designer dresses, skirts, tops, accessories, and resort wear.

• Some brands include Veronica Beard, Zimmerman, Ulla Johnson, La DoubleJ, Dries Van Noten, and others I'm not particularly familiar with, but my sources say they're good.

Prices are mostly under $400. Jeans are $20. Lululemon leggings are $30-$40. Skirts and tops are under $250.

Details: 2325 Crescent Ave. 4-8pm today; 10am-3pm & 5-8pm Thursday; 10am-3pm Friday; and 10am-2pm Saturday.

Local folk rock band Time Sawyer is back for Season II of its livestream shows, "Sam on Sunday." They'll be performing from the Neighborhood Theatre this Sunday at 7:30pm.

Why it matters: We're not sure when we'll see live music again, so local music and venues are still supporting themselves through livestreams.

Fun fact: Time Sawyer was our wedding band. The nicest guys. And to put up with my extended family they had to be.

• Here's a good Time Sawyer starter song if you want one.

🌀 News you can use from our super cool, very important Axios Charlotte partners.

• Add Northwood Ravin's Village at Commonwealth to your apartment touring list this spring. The luxury community, located in Plaza Midwood, has an on-site spa, beer garden, coffee bar with a barista, and doggie daycare services. Schedule a tour and check out their current leasing specials.
• Now hiring: If you're an accounting or tax professional looking for your next career move, Fisher, P.A. is looking for a Senior Accountant & Business Advisor to join their team. Learn more about the Dilworth firm.