Nixa mayor to stay in office after recall effort over masks

NIXA, Mo. (AP) — A southwestern Missouri mayor who became the subject of a recall effort for imposing a mask mandate to try and slow the spread of COVID-19 will remain in office. KYTV-TV reports that only about a quarter of voters in Nixa on Tuesday supported the recall of Mayor Brian Steele. He can serve the remainder of his term, which expires in April 2023. The recall effort in the town of about 21,000 residents came after Steele issued an executive order in 2020 to require masks. Supporters of the recall argued the city council should make that decision, not the mayor.