Judge bars St. Louis County from enforcing mask mandate

CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) — A judge has barred St. Louis County from enforcing a mask mandate while a lawsuit against it is litigated. St. Louis County Executive Sam Page issued the mandate last month, prompting the County Council to vote to rescind it. Page maintained the mask mandate remained in effect. Attorney General Eric Schmitt then sued to stop the mandate. Circuit Judge Ellen Ribaudo found on Thursday that the state was likely to prevail in its argument that current law gives the council the authority to terminate the mask requirement. Also Thursday, the Kansas City Council voted to extend the city’s mask mandate to Sept. 23.