An order by Pennsylvania’s acting health secretary, Alison Beam, that requires masks inside K-12 schools and child care facilities was thrown out earlier today by a state court that said she lacked the authority. Commonwealth Court sided 4-1 with the ranking Republican in the state Senate and others who sued to challenge the masking order that took effect in early September as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Gov. Tom Wolf’s spokesperson said Health Department lawyers were directed to file an appeal to the state Supreme Court today, a move his administration said would effectively put the new decision on hold.