Dollywood will pay 100% of the tuition costs, fees and books for employees who pursue higher education. All 11,000 seasonal, part-time and full-time employees at the parent company's 25 U.S. attractions can register for the GROW U pilot program.

Massachusetts will end its mask mandate for all students and faculty in K-12 schools, following the route taken by several other states as COVID-19 cases drop after this winter's omicron-fueled surge.

Six Washington, D.C., schools were evacuated on Wednesday while authorities responded to multiple bomb threats but ultimately found no explosives.

Closures will still last days to weeks as district leaders cope with staffing shortages and try to stem COVID transmissions.