Governor

House on board with Ivey amendment, nothing yet from Senate

Gov. Kay Ivey, on Thursday in a letter and message to the Alabama Senate, proposed an Executive Amendment to SB161, the FY 2020 General Fund supplemental appropriations bill that addresses the federal CARES Act funds. Speaker Mac McCutcheon and Budget Chair Steve Clouse are working with the governor to move the process forward. APR asked … Continued

Bill Britt

May 14, 2020

Gov. Kay Ivey sends bill seizing CARES Act funds back to Legislature without a signature

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday refused to sign a controversial piece of legislation that would have taken spending authority over most of the $1.9 billion in CARES Act funds for Alabama away from the governor and given authority to the Legislature instead. “I have reviewed Senate Bill 161 and believe that all federal CARES … Continued

Chip Brownlee

May 14, 2020

Polls, talk radio push attacks on Ivey, but is she worried?

Since Gov. Kay Ivey made known the existence of the “wish list” of spending items the Legislature proposed for the approximate $1.8 billion in federal relief money, some lawmakers have been up in arms. But the “wish list” wasn’t a hastily drawn-up inventory of hypothetical projects as some have suggested. The Legislative Services Agency formatted … Continued

Bill Britt

May 14, 2020

Opinion

Alabama is “reopening” on Monday, but not because things are better

Things are not better. COVID-19 has not slowed its spread throughout the state of Alabama. It is not easing. Numbers are not down. In fact, more new cases were reported a couple of days last week than ever before. From what I can tell, not a single benchmark set by the Trump White House has … Continued

Josh Moon

May 11, 2020

Ainsworth commends Ivey for reopening more businesses

Friday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) revised the state public health order to allow the reopening of restaurants, gyms, and close-contact service providers with proper social distancing enforced. The Governor also removes the 10-person limit on non-work gatherings, although six-foot distancing remains in place. Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth commended the Governor for allowing those business … Continued

Brandon Moseley

May 11, 2020

Ivey’s response to controversy surrounding “wish list,” CARES Act

Suspicion and controversy surround the recently passed General Fund Budget, which includes around $1.8 billion given to the state to combat the economic ravages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Money appropriated by the U.S. Congress under the CARES Act and signed into law by President Donald Trump was directly sent to the State Treasurer by … Continued

Bill Britt

May 9, 2020

Read Gov. Kay Ivey’s updated May 11 “safer-at-home” order for yourself

On Friday, Gov. Kay Ivey announced that Alabama will ease additional restrictions beginning Monday, allowing restaurants, bars and other businesses to reopen with social-distancing restrictions. You can read the order and breakdowns provided by the Alabama Department of Public Health. The full text {{CODE1}} Summaries of the order {{CODE2}} {{CODE3}}

Chip Brownlee

May 8, 2020

“Why are we retreating when our caseload is increasing?”: UAB infectious diseases expert

One of the world’s top infectious diseases experts, doctor and renowned HIV researcher Michael Saag of UAB, sounded shocked when he picked up the phone to talk with me Friday afternoon. “I don’t know what to say,” Saag said. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday, in a press conference at the State Capitol, announced new … Continued

Chip Brownlee

May 8, 2020

Gov. Kay Ivey extends public health emergency, issues COVID-19 lawsuit protections

Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday extended the formal “public health emergency” for 60 days, beginning May 13. Ivey also issued another proclamation that provides liability protection for businesses and health care providers from being sued over COVID-19 matters if those businesses and health care providers “comply with or reasonably attempt to comply with applicable public … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 8, 2020

Opinion

Remembering my father and the Greatest Generation

It has been 75 years since the end of World War II. Today, May 8, we celebrate V.E. or Victory in Europe Day, the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany. Later this summer, we will also celebrate the 75th anniversary of V.J. or Victory in Japan Day, the formal surrender of Imperial Japan on the deck … Continued

Kay Ivey

May 8, 2020