AP Spotlight Meet the Americans who still take COVID-19 precautions seriously DEVNA BOSE and CARLA K. JOHNSON Associated Press Jan 17, 2025 Jan 17, 2025 Updated Nov 29, 2025 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Susan Scarbro stares down a bowling lane at the distant pins.kAm$96 962CD 2 D@F?5 E92E 3C62<D 96C 7@4FD] (2D E92E 2 4@F89n (:== 96C >2D< AC@E64E 96Cnk^AmkAmr~'xs\`h C6>2:?D 2 G6CJ AC6D6?E E9C62E 7@C E96 dd\J62C\@=5] $42C3C@ 92D >F=E:A=6 :>>F?6 5:D@C56CD[ >2<:?8 96C GF=?6C23=6 E@ :?764E:@?]k^AmkAm“p?J >:?FE6 2?J3@5J 4@F=5 4@F89[ ;FDE :?4:56?E2==J[” D2:5 $42C3C@[ H9@ =:G6D :? $F?D6E q6249[ }@CE9 r2C@=:?2] “p?5 E92E 4@F89 4@F=5 36 E96 @?6 E9:?8 E92E 4@F=5 >2<6 >6 D:4<]”k^Am People are also reading… Smyth School Board celebrates student achievements Smyth's Democratic Party finds new life 100+ Smyth residents develop action plan to address opioid addiction crisis A year of transformation for the Saltville PD Adding river float trips in Chilhowie is one tourism goal Smyth schools prepare to welcome Pre-K, kindergarten students at registration U.S. Sen. Warner visits Marion, holding discussion about Blue Ridge Job Corps Meet Smyth’s Pet of the Week: Diamond 'Worship over worry': Virginia church group evacuates Israel at war Federal appeals court examines Liberty University firing over gender transition Virginia General Assembly going to special session to resolve budget standoff Smyth County's Val Mutter: An Unsung Legal Hero Spanberger sends message with appointments to higher ed panel Marion OKs adding fee to delinquent taxes to help collect them Spanberger appoints 65 Virginians to state boards and commissions kAm%9:D >@?E9 >2C<D E96 7:7E9 2??:G6CD2CJ @7 E96 7:CDE 4@?7:C>65 42D6 @7 r~'xs\`h :? E96 &]$] %96 G:CFD H@F=5 8@ @? E@ <:== `]a >:==:@? p>6C:42?D 2?5 5:DCFAE 4@F?E=6DD =:G6D]k^AmkAm(9:=6 E96 A2?56>:4VD 6>6C86?4J A92D6 6?565 :? |2J a_ab[ E96 E9C62E @7 :?764E:@? C6>2:?D 2 8@G6C?:?8 7@C46 :? E96 =:G6D @7 A6@A=6 =:<6 $42C3C@] %96J AC@E64E E96>D6=G6D 7C@> E96 G:CFD H:E9 >2D<D 2?5 :D@=2E6 E96>D6=G6D :? 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Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Flu deaths rise as anti-vaccine disinformation takes root Flu-related deaths hit a seven-year high in January and February, the two months that usually account for the height of flu season. 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Flu deaths rise as anti-vaccine disinformation takes root Flu-related deaths hit a seven-year high in January and February, the two months that usually account for the height of flu season.