DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A federal judge on Monday extended a restraining order for 14 days that prohibits Iowa officials from enforcing a law that bans school districts from enacting mask mandates. The order issued by Judge Robert Pratt extends his initial order from Sept. 13 until Oct. 11 which means school districts may impose mask mandates and the state cannot stop them. Documents filed in the case Monday claim that nearly a quarter of Iowa public school students are in districts that have experienced significant COVID-19 outbreaks this year. The 27 school districts represent 24.5% of all Iowa public school students. At least 24 school districts have reinstated a mask mandate since Pratt issued a temporary restraining order on Sept. 13 preventing the state from enforcing the ban on school districts mandating masks, lawyers for the plaintiffs said in court documents.

Source: thestar September 27, 2021 22:30 UTC