Teachers win injunction to prevent in-person learning

A teachers’ union in Florida has won an injunction stopping the enforcement of an executive order requiring schools in the state to be open for in-person learning.

In July, Commissioner Richard Corcoran with the Florida Department of Education issued an emergency order that schools must be open at least five days per week for all students. The order was “subject to advice and orders” given by the Department of Health.

The order was for all brick-and-mortar schools to open by Monday, Aug. 31, according to court documents.

The Florida Education Association, which is the state’s largest teachers’ union, filed a lawsuit against Corcoran and Gov. Ron DeSantis in an effort to halt that order.

Tallahassee Circuit Court Judge Charles Dodson granted the union’s injunction request on Monday, ruling that the order from state officials was unconstitutional.

Dodson in his ruling adjusted the emergency order, removing the requirement that the schools be open five days a week and ordering that the day-to-day decision to open or close the schools be left with those most closely associated to the school including the school board and superintendent.

The judge in his ruling also noted how the hearings last week took place over Zoom due to concerns about safety amid the coronavirus pandemic.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that certain sports will be allowed to begin practice and playing on Sept. 21 as the state has reached it's lowest infection rate since the pandemic began.

Sports including tennis, soccer, cross country, field hockey and swimming, all considered lower and moderate-risk sports, can begin competitions. Travel for these sports will be prohibited outside the school's region until Oct. 19, the governor said.

The higher-risk sports -- football, wrestling, rugby, hockey and volleyball -- may begin to practice on Sept. 21 but cannot play against other teams. A date for when competitions can take place was not announced.

"The State has done a lot of research on how we can safely have our students participate in school sports and get the exercise they need, and the guidance we developed will allow lower-risk sports to begin practicing and playing next month," Cuomo said.

Schools will have to limit capacity of indoor facilities to 50% and no more than two spectators per player. Those attending will be required to follow proper social distancing guidelines and wear face coverings.

The city of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, will close its bars starting at 6 p.m. on Monday after the University of Alabama reported a rise in COVID-19 cases.

Mayor Walter Maddox signed an executive order restricting all bars from serving alcohol until Sept. 8 -- anyone who violates the order could be fined or sentenced to a maximum of 180 days in the municipal jail.

In a letter to students on Sunday, university President Stuart Bell called the rise in cases on campus to be "unacceptable" and said this is a "critical moment" for the school.

"Make no mistake, this trend is a real threat to our ability to complete the semester on campus," Bell said, adding that "violations to our health and safety protocols" are "subject to harsh disciplinary action, up to and including suspension" from the university.

University police and the Tuscaloosa Police Department will monitor bars, restaurants and off-campus residences where guidelines are not being followed.

ABC News' Janice McDonald contributed to this report.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the COVID-19 infection rate in the state was 0.66% as of Sunday, the lowest since the start of the pandemic.

"It is a great day," Cuomo said at Monday's press briefing, noting that the state has now had an infection rate under 1% for more than two weeks.

However, the western part of the state, including the Buffalo region, has seen an uptick in cases and the infection rate, he said.