Kentucky lawmakers to reconvene to shape response to COVID

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Republican lawmakers get their chance to shape Kentucky’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic as they reconvene for a special session starting Tuesday. Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear called lawmakers into session to consider of a range of virus-related issues. He’s asking the GOP-dominated legislature to extend the state of emergency until mid-January. One contentious issue is over masking policies. The governor is asking lawmakers to give him authority to require masking when coronavirus-related thresholds are met. The session comes as Kentucky has been hit by a record surge of virus-related hospitalizations as the highly contagious delta variant spreads.