Pennsylvania court throws out governor's school mask mandate

By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A state court has thrown out an order by Pennsylvania’s acting health secretary that requires masks inside K-12 schools, but the Wolf administration plans an appeal.
Commonwealth Court ruled that said the mask mandate didn't comply with rules for setting regulations and was adopted without an existing disaster emergency declared by the governor.
Commonwealth Court sided 4-1 with the ranking Republican in the state Senate and others who sued to challenge the masking order that took effect in early September.
Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf on Monday announced he'll return authority over masking decisions to local school districts in January. Wolf's spokesperson said the ruling would be appealed later Wednesday.
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