Kentucky high court blocks efforts to suspend COVID-19 rules

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky’s highest court on Friday put a temporary stop to efforts by a top Republican to rein in the Democratic governor’s ability to control the coronavirus outbreak with restrictions on public behavior.

The state Supreme Court stepped into the dispute by halting any lower court orders blocking Gov. Andy Beshear's executive actions pending its own review. In doing so, the justices preempted a circuit judge who appeared ready to sign an order suspending all of the governor's COVID-19 orders.

The Supreme Court's action means all current virus-related restrictions remain in place.

“I’m relieved because I’ve sat up the last two nights not sleeping, worried about how many people would die if we didn’t have any types of rules in place,” Beshear said.

The state’s Republican attorney general, Daniel Cameron, contends the governor overstepped his constitutional authority with the orders.

Beshear said that without those restrictions, including a mandate that most people wear masks in public, Kentucky would suffer another proliferation of virus cases -- and “more cases means more death.” Cameron says he wears a mask and urges others to do so but has asked a judge to rule on whether the governor's mask order complies with state law.

The legal battle pitting the state's governor and attorney general comes as Kentucky struggles with a recent spike in coronavirus cases. On Friday, Beshear reported 531 more confirmed virus cases statewide and eight additional virus-related deaths.

To show how the virus can spread, Beshear said an outbreak hitting a football team had infected 18 players, three coaches and 15 other family members. He didn't identify the team.

Both sides in the legal dispute have expected the issues to ultimately go before...