Patrick Kennedy resumes duties after father’s death

EXETER, R.I.—U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy has resumed his official duties, making his first public appearance Tuesday since the funeral of his father, U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.

The Democrat was at the Exeter Job Corps Academy on Tuesday with Sen. Jack Reed and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. The three joined students to watch President Barack Obama’s nationally televised back-to-school speech.

Kennedy participated in a brief news conference with Reed and Solis on the state and national economy, but he did not take any questions about his family or the resumption of his official schedule.

The senator died Aug. 25 after battling brain cancer.