Illinois appellate court rejects Democratic governor's effort to maintain school mask mandate
CNN
An Illinois appellate court on Thursday dismissed an effort by Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker to keep an emergency school mask mandate in effect for the entire state.
The court, however, said the ruling does not apply to local mandates, and the Chicago Public Schools district -- which was engaged in a bitter dispute with its teachers' union earlier this year over Covid-19 safety protocols -- swiftly said it would continue to require masks.
Earlier this month, the Circuit Court of Sangamon County issued a temporary restraining order against emergency rules issued by the state's public health department and board of education, which, among other things, required masking in schools. The state health department attempted to renew the emergency rules this week, but was overruled by a state legislative oversight committee.
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