Health

Jones calls for more federal aid to students, schools and teachers amid COVID-19 crisis

U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama, on Thursday asked Senate leadership to include money for public schools and students in the next round of COVID-19 relief funding. Jones and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, led a group of other senators in drafting a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer that urges … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 15, 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

Jones calls for more testing, urges GOP senators to take up more coronavirus aid

U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama, on Thursday said that he hopes Republican leadership in Alabama will “trash” what’s been called a “wish list” of uses for federal coronavirus aid, and instead put that money toward more testing, contact tracing and to plan for another spike in cases that could come. Speaking during a video press … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 14, 2020

When public schools reopen, nurses could be the key to combating coronavirus

When Alabama’s public schools open their doors to students in the fall, there will be one group of people on the front lines, entrusted with the monumental task of identifying and isolating potentially sick students and tracing their contact with other students. School nurses. The already overworked and underappreciated (and usually under-compensated) nurses that care … Continued

Josh Moon

May 14, 2020

Alabama Arise urges federal guidance on return to unsafe working conditions

As thousands of Alabamians return to work this week, an Alabama nonprofit has joined hundreds of organizations nationwide in a call for federal guidance to protect workers from having to return to jobs that don’t take proper precautions against the spread of COVID-19. “The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on communities of color, … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 14, 2020

State VA commissioner: Universal testing needed for nursing homes, veterans homes

When it came time to discuss the deaths of 23 veterans at an East Alabama veterans home due to coronavirus, Kent Davis became emotional, and he stressed the need for blanket testing of residents and staff at all the state’s veterans homes. Davis, the commissioner of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, said during a … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 13, 2020

“We’re not out of the first wave yet:” Alabama’s chief medical officer

Alabama’s chief medical officer said Wednesday the Department of Public Health needs more resources and staff to be able to handle the current wave of COVID-19 and prepare for what could come next. “I don’t know how long we’re going to be here, as far as in this role, but we’ve been told to expect … Continued

Chip Brownlee

May 13, 2020

Alabama Corrections Dept. investigating death of inmate who died after falling ill

The Alabama Department of Corrections on Tuesday said that a 41-year-old inmate who died Monday after falling ill was not showing symptoms of COVID-19 and so was not tested for the virus. Colony Nicole Wilson, 41, complained of feeling sick while at the Birmingham Women’s Community Based Facility and Community Work Center and was taken … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 12, 2020

Three more prison workers at three facilities test positive for COVID-19

Three more Alabama prison workers have tested positive for coronavirus at three separate facilities, bringing the total of workers who have contracted the virus to 22, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections. One worker at the Ventress Correctional Facility, one at the Easterling Correctional Facility and another employee at the Montgomery Women’s Community Based … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 12, 2020

Alabama long-term care facility COVID-19 deaths jump to 183

The COVID-19 death toll among Alabama long-term care facility residents has jumped to 183, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health, up from 107 fatalities from the virus just a week ago. The 183 reported deaths among long-term care facility residents account for nearly 43 percent of the state’s 429 COVID-19 deaths, as of … Continued

Chip Brownlee

May 12, 2020