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July 24, 2020Topeka, Kan. |  By: AP

Kansas AG: Local officials can opt out of school mask order

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt says he believes both counties and local school districts can exempt themselves from Gov. Laura Kelly's coronavirus-inspired order requiring schools to have staff and students wear masks.

Kelly responded Thursday with a scathing statement saying Schmidt is wrong and that he and fellow Republicans have "only created more hurdles and uncertainty" during the pandemic.

Schmidt said in an Associated Press interview that a law enacted last month allows counties to do so, and the state constitution gives local school districts the same authority. Kelly's order also requires schools to do daily checks for fever in all staff and students.