RINGSIDE POLITICS – JULY 21, 2021

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Welcome to another edition of Ringside Politics with Jeff Crouere

Today’s Hot Topics:

1) Los Angeles County will reimpose its mask mandate this weekend in the latest sign that public health officials are struggling with an alarming rise in coronavirus cases tied to the highly contagious Delta variant.

The county, home to 10 million people and the nation’s second-largest city, Los Angeles, is one of several jurisdictions to recommend or mandate wearing masks or other pandemic restrictions in recent days as cases rise to worrisome levels in many parts of the United States.

“We’re requiring masking for everyone while indoors at public settings & businesses, regardless of vaccination status so that we can stop the increased level of transmission we’re seeing,” the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said on Twitter Thursday.

2) Fully vaccinated students do not need to wear masks in classrooms this fall, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.

The guidance, which goes beyond mask-wearing, is aimed at kindergartners through high school seniors, and is meant “to help keep kids in classrooms, as well as participating in any sports or extracurricular activities,” said Erin Sauber-Schatz, who heads the CDC’s Community Interventions and Critical Populations Task Force.

3) The American Academy of Pediatrics on Monday recommended that all children over the age of 2 wear masks when returning to school this year, regardless of vaccination status.

The AAP, which said its important for children to return to in-person learning this year, recommends that school staff also wear masks. The AAP is calling the new guidance a “layered approach.”

“We need to prioritize getting children back into schools alongside their friends and their teachers — and we all play a role in making sure it happens safely,” said Sonja O’Leary, chair of the AAP Council on School Health. “Combining layers of protection that include vaccinations, masking and clean hands hygiene will make in-person learning safe and possible for everyone.”

4) Texas Democrats who fled to Washington, D.C., to stonewall a voting bill moving through the state Legislature will host a virtual conference on voting rights from the nation’s capital, state lawmakers confirmed.

The planned weeklong conference, hosted by Service Employees International Union Texas and Mi Familia Vota, will feature appearances from four secretaries of state throughout the United States and state lawmakers from other states where Republicans are advancing similar election bills, according to an article by NBC News that was retweeted by the Texas House Democratic Caucus.

“Texas Democrats are hard at work speaking with experts from around the country about our fight to protect voting rights. 18 states nationwide have already passed bills to restrict the freedom to vote. We need federal action now!” said state Rep. Jessica Gonzalez.

Today’s Guests:

1) Dr. William Devlin; Co-Pastor, Infinity Bible Church, South Bronx

2) Sharla Aloisio, CEO, Louisiana Assisted Living Assn

3) Doug Schexnayder, Conservative Crawgator

4) Richard Mahoney, Pro-life Activist

5) Michael Joseph, Author of “By the River and Beyond”

6) Mimi Crouere, Author and Commentator; Ringside Politics All-Star