Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin was inaugurated Saturday, and immediately banned Critical Race Theory (which isn’t taught in most K-12 schools) and ended the commonwealth’s mask mandate in public schools.

• The Republican governor also ended the vaccine requirement for state workers.

Why it matters: The varied reactions to Youngkin’s first moves as governor highlight the deepening divide among Virginians who think differently about COVID safety and teaching about race.

Driving the news: Some of Youngkin’s actualized campaign promises are likely to face legal challenges, Axios' Erin Doherty writes.

• A number of northern Virginia school districts have already responded, saying they will continue to require masks despite the governor’s order.
• The governor then said he’d use “every resource within the governor’s authority” to make sure “parents' rights are protected.”

What he’s saying: "We are not going to teach the children to view everything through a lens of race. Yes, we will teach all history, the good and the bad. Because we can't know where we're going unless we know where we have come from.

"But to actually teach our children that one group is advantaged and the other disadvantaged because of the color of skin, cuts everything we know to be true."

The District is prepared to enforce its new indoor vaccine mandate, officials said this weekend, but educating small businesses about the guidelines is the city’s first priority.

Why it matters: The proof-of-vaccination requirement to dine indoors, enter gyms, and go inside many other businesses was introduced to boost vaccination rates and prevent the spread of COVID-19 when going out.

• The city will send crews to restaurants and businesses to “lead with education, compliance, and enforcement,” said deputy mayor for planning and economic development John Falcicchio.
• After verbal and written warnings for the first two violations of the mandate, the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration can levy fines of $1,000 and $2,000.
• With previous mandates, “we’ve dealt with this before, where a business has said, ‘We’re not going to do it,’ and ultimately they do comply,” Falcicchio said.

What they’re saying: But the added step of asking patrons to show vaccine cards is another rule for restaurants to enforce with their patrons, said Kathy Hollinger, head of the ​​Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington.

• “I would be dishonest if I said it is not burdensome,” she said last Friday at a press conference with Falcicchio a day before the mandate went into effect.

What’s next: Montgomery County lawmakers are considering legislation to match the District’s vaccine mandate, but its prospects for approval are uncertain. D.C.’s mandate was put in place by Mayor Muriel Bowser.

• Hollinger said the restaurant association did not take a position on vaccine mandates. She said a survey of restaurants across the region found a “mixed bag” of views on the topic.

Virginia does not have a similar state mandate for masks and vaccinations in public and local officials cannot implement their own mandate.

Read the full story.

🚗 D.C. Council candidate Nate Fleming said he was carjacked on Saturday after leaving a gas station in Northeast. (WTOP)

😠 Someone stole a “Please don’t do coke in the bathroom” embroidered sign at Jane Jane this month. The bar is now giving a $200 bar tab for whoever suggests the best replacement. (Washington City Paper)

📘 The graphic novel “Gender Queer: A Memoir” was pulled from Loudoun County schools after a controversy over its illustrations. (Washington Post)

⚽️ Get the ball rolling. Check out these openings from our Job Board.

1. Communications Consultant (Account Manager) - Government Advisory at Portland Communications.
2. Product Marketing Director at Cerberus, LLC.
3. Senior Public Relations Manager, Real Estate at The Brand Guild.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a job.

The snow has come and gone after Sunday’s winter storm dropped between 1-3 inches in our region, according to the National Weather Service.

• The highest snowfall counts were east of Dulles Airport, with the area around Ashburn reporting 3.5 inches. Reagan National Airport reported 2.6 inches, as of Sunday night.
• Hopes of sledding and snowball fights may have been dashed when overnight rain washed away much of the snow, but no major road closures or delays were reported. Some Metrobuses operated on a snow detour.

Snow lovers, don’t despair. The Capital Weather Gang reports that D.C. has seen twice its January snowfall this year — at more than a foot — and more snow could be on this way this coming weekend.

Find us cozying up with a warm bowl of gyoza ramen from Zento Sushi.

What are your go-to winter meals?