Novel coronavirus

WATCH: Pelosi praises July jobs report

By Associated Press

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is praising July's encouraging job report, crediting Democrats in the White House and Congress for building back the economy after losses due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Florida OKs school vouchers in districts requiring masks

By Brendan Farrington, Adriana Gomez Licon, Associated Press

Florida’s Board of Education decided Friday to provide private school vouchers to parents who say a public school district’s mask-wearing requirements amount to harassment of their children.

Arkansas judge blocks state from enforcing mask mandate ban

By Andrew DeMillo, Associated Press

An Arkansas judge has temporarily blocked the state from enforcing a law that prevents schools and other governmental agencies from requiring masks.

Schools reopen with masks optional in many U.S. classrooms

By Jeff Amy, Associated Press

MCDONOUGH, Ga. — As Tussahaw Elementary opened this week for a new school year, teary-eyed mothers led in kindergartners dwarfed by backpacks and buses dropped off fifth graders looking forward to ruling their school. The biggest clue to the lingering…

U.S. hiring surges in July, unemployment rate drops to 5.4 percent

By Paul Wiseman, Associated Press

Hiring surged in July as American employers added 943,000 jobs. The unemployment rate dropped to 5.4 percent as the U.S. economy continues to bounce back with surprising vigor from last year’s coronavirus shutdown.

WATCH: Biden speaks on July job gains

By Paul Wiseman, Associated Press

The unemployment rate dropped to 5.4 percent as the U.S. economy continues to bounce back with surprising vigor from last year’s coronavirus shutdown.

In New York City, impending vaccination rules prompt concern

By Bobby Caina Calvan, Associated Press

The latest move by New York City to control the coronavirus pandemic is renewing uncertainty among some business owners.

California to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for health workers

By Adam Beam, Associated Press

The order, issued Thursday by the California Department of Public Health, is different when Governor Gavin Newsom announced health care workers would have the choice of either getting vaccinated or submitting to weekly testing.

Schools sue and mayor defies Arkansas mask mandate ban

By Andrew DeMillo, Associated Press

Arkansas' ban on mask mandates faces a new legal challenge and defiance from the mayor of the state capital as the state's coronavirus cases continue to spiral.