Missouri Secretary of State Ashcroft defends school comments

(AP) — Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft says comments he made that fathers would risk dying to send their children back to school are being misconstrued. During an interview Monday with a Christian radio station in Branson, the Republican said he didn’t know a father who wouldn’t risk his life to be sure his children are getting a good education. His Democratic challenger in November’s election, Yinka Faleti, called Ashcroft’s statements insensitive and irresponsible. Ashcroft told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he wasn’t suggesting anyone should die, but was saying children need to get back to in-person schooling.