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Kennewick schools in Benton County were set to open their doors to middle and high schoolers today, just as the county was headed toward its third peak in coronavirus cases. Still, local health officials said the southeast Washington district could phase in hybrid learning. And many of its youngest students had already returned to elementary schools. 

Then 13 days ago, the plan came crashing down. School officials voted Oct. 21 to reverse course for older students until next February amid rising case counts and safety concerns.