Schools seek municipal broadband; court weighs pandemic case

Full and original article posted on AP News

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — The state’s highest court heard arguments Friday in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of emergency powers used by Gov. Charlie Baker during the pandemic.

The case focuses on a Cold War-era law that grants the governor wide authority in cases of enemy attacks, sabotage, riots, fire, floods, or “natural causes.”

The Supreme Judicial Court met virtually to hear from both sides in the case, brought by business owners hoping to overturn executive orders the Republican governor has issued since the start of the pandemic in Massachusetts.

Baker has argued that he has the legal authority to issue the orders even without the approval of state lawmakers.

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