U.S. Department Of Education Threatens Investigation

The U.S. Department of Education is warning Utah about a possible civil rights investigation related to a statewide mask mandate ban in public schools.  The agency sent a letter to the governor and the head of the Utah Board of Education Wednesday.  The letter said the anti-mask mandate policy adopted by state lawmakers earlier this year could infringe on school district authority to protect students and staff members from COVID-19 and other health threats.  The letter also threatened sanctions such as pulling millions of dollars in coronavirus relief funding allocated to the state.  A statement from the governor's office called the letter unhelpful and criticized threats from "out-of-touch" Washington bureaucrats.