After three years of Covid, Cambridge is hearing a contradictory picture of the situation, with officials suggesting the end to regular updates on the pandemic.

Cambridge Local First’s first-ever State of Small Business report shows it’s becoming harder to own and operate a small business in Cambridge, with the Covid pandemic staying a dominant factor in owners’ concerns.

The 42-year-old Christopher’s in Porter Square, closed for 2.8 years since a Covid lockdown, won’t reopen. Its Toad bar faces change too.

Cambridge Health Alliance wants to switch half the beds in a new unit for children and teens with neurological and developmental disorders to space for adolescents with more common psychiatric illnesses, because most of the special beds are empty.

The curious title of the Davis Square eatery refers to a Thai table condiment that is essentially chili flakes, salt and fish oil. The restaurant adds it to most everything it serves. And talk about spicy – we’re talking new levels of just what four chilis mean.

The life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is honored in various ways this week, starting with a city-organized commemoration at 11 a.m. Monday.

The city is requesting – not requiring – residents and city employees to mask up inside public buildings because of a surge in Covid-19 that could threaten hospitals.

Local folks don’t generally get fired up about hotel restaurants, for fair reasons, but the Sheraton Commander’s Nubar makes for good dining for anyone.

Residents picking up free Covid antigen tests that the city began distributing Wednesday can’t dally in using them. They expire in no more than 29 days – on Jan. 26 – a city health department spokesperson confirmed Wednesday.

The city will hand out free Covid rapid antigen tests to people who live or work here next Wednesday and Thursday at libraries, City Hall and the public health department.