Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Sues City of Austin Over Mask Mandate

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing Travis County and Austin officials to force them to rescind their local mask orders, he announced Thursday. “I told Travis County & The City of Austin to comply with state mask law,” Paxton tweeted. “They blew me off. So, once again, I’m dragging them to court.” Texas on Wednesday lifted nearly all coronavirus restrictions, including Gov. Greg Abbott’s statewide mask mandate and occupancy restrictions. Austin and Travis County health officials say they will continue to enforce the safety protocols, setting the stage for yet another fight over pandemic response between state and local officials.