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A variety of butternut squash products are facing a recall over concerns they are contaminated with listeria, according to a recall notice posted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)  website this week. In a recall notice shared on Tuesday, Lancaster Foods, LLC., said it is recalling several of its processed butternut squash products produced in several states, including North Carolina, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. (Farber, 1/21)

Indoor restaurants can reopen Friday in the District, even as the rate of new daily coronavirus infections in the city has stayed well above the target for such activities for more than two months. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) ordered in December what she termed a “holiday pause” on indoor dining and several other activities. At the time, she promised to allow those activities to resume Jan. 15. (Zauzmer, Tan, Cox and Schneider, 1/21)

New variants of the coronavirus continue to emerge. But one in particular has caused concern in the United States because it is so contagious and spreading fast. To avoid it, you’ll need to double down on the same pandemic precautions that have kept you safe so far. (Parker-Pope, 1/21)

More than 10 months into the pandemic, mental health is a simmering crisis for many of the nation’s schoolchildren, partly hidden by isolation but increasingly evident in the distress of parents, the worries of counselors and an early body of research. Holed up at home, students dwell in the glare of computer screens, missing friends and teachers. Some are failing classes. Some are depressed. Some are part of families reeling with lost jobs, gaps in child care or bills that can’t be paid. (St. George and Strauss, 1/21)

With a perfect storm of aging residents, low birth rates, COVID-19 deaths and immigration cutbacks, 16 states saw population decreases last year as the United States experienced the slowest national population growth since the Great Depression. The nation grew only about 7% between 2010 and 2020, similar to the previous historic low between 1930 and 1940, according to new Census Bureau estimates, which do not reflect the 2020 census counts. The agency will release the final 2020 census tally in March. California, Massachusetts and Ohio had been growing throughout the past decade until last year, while Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania began slides in 2019. Longer-term losses continued for Alaska, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and West Virginia. (Henderson, 1/21)

We’ve reached peak pet. There’s really nowhere else to go. Animal shelters are out of dogs. Tech conventions are debuting cat exercise equipment and, more creepily, headless, robotic lap cats with very swishy tails. How do we know we’ve planted our flag at the pinnacle of pet obsession? One of the best-known premium ice cream companies has gone to the dogs. Ben & Jerry’s this week announced the debut of Doggie Desserts. ... Creamy, frozen treats have provided succor during these difficult times. And we want man’s best friend to be right there with us on the couch, eating our feelings. (Reiley, 1/15)