Appeals court stays vaccine mandate on larger businesses

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal appeals court has temporarily halted the Biden administration’s vaccine requirement for businesses with 100 or more workers. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Saturday granted an emergency stay of the requirement by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration that those workers be vaccinated by Jan. 4, or face mask requirements and weekly tests. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry says the court action halts President Joe Biden’s administration from moving forward with what he calls “unlawful overreach.” The Labor Department’s top legal adviser, Seema Nanda, says the administration is fully prepared to defend the safety rules.