To gather or not to gather amid omicron

<p><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/12/21/covid-holiday-safety-need-to-know/8968198002/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Christmas</a> is three days away. Should you cancel your plans? Plus, education reporter Erin Richards fills us in on the latest school shifts back to <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2021/12/21/omicron-variant-school-closures-covid-surges/8969707002/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">virtual</a> learning, the NHL and NBA take different approaches on handling new COVID cases, editor Jay Cannon gives us a history lesson on <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/12/20/why-do-we-kiss-under-mistletoe/8632116002/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">mistletoe</a> and SpaceX blasts off a rocket full of Christmas dinner and gifts.</p><p>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.</p>