coronavirus

CDC director: Vaccine won’t be available to general public until mid-2021

The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during testimony Wednesday before a U.S. Senate Appropriations subcommittee said a vaccine won’t be widely available to the public until mid-2021. Wearing a mask is the most important public health tool we currently have in the fight against the deadly disease, he said. “I might … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

September 17, 2020

Opinion

That climate change hoax is killing us

I grew up with hurricanes. For my first 11 years, my parents and I lived on the Texas Gulf Coast, near Beaumont. My father was transferred by the company he worked for, Texas Gulf Sulfur, to deep South Louisiana in 1967. We lived in Houma, in Terrebonne Parish, but Dad worked near Larose, in Lafourche … Continued

Joey Kennedy

September 17, 2020

Gov. Kay Ivey awards $10 million in federal COVID-19 aid to market state’s tourism industry

Gov. Kay Ivey on Monday announced the award of $10 million in federal coronavirus aid to support the state’s tourism industry through a marketing campaign. “The tourism industry around the world has been one of the hardest hit during this ongoing health crisis, but in Alabama, we remain committed to remind those around our state … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

September 14, 2020

169 Alabamians have died from COVID-19 in September

COVID-19 remains a major problem in the state of Alabama as at least 169 Alabamians have died in the first 13 days of September alone. The number of deaths so far in September is down substantially from the first 13 days of August when 310 Alabamians died. At least 602 Alabamians died in the month … Continued

Brandon Moseley

September 14, 2020

Jones: Trump, Senate GOP leadership not serious about another round of COVID-19 relief

Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama, on Friday said it’s unclear whether Senate Republican leadership or the White House will work with Democrats to draft another round of meaningful COVID-19 relief for a country in need. Jones, speaking to reporters during a Facebook Live press briefing, said Sen. Mitch McConnell’s paired-down bill, which he and all other … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

September 11, 2020

Governor announces grant to aid domestic violence victims amid COVID-19

Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday announced approval of a $10,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to help domestic violence victims access help during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence is using the funds to provide direct services and support during COVID-19 for victims of family, domestic and dating violence, Ivey’s … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

September 11, 2020

Alabama Arise: Republican COVID-19 relief bill was “wholly inadequate”

The scaled-back COVID-19 relief plan offered by Senate Republicans that failed to pass on Thursday didn’t do nearly enough to address real needs of everyday Americans, said U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama. His sentiments on the failed bill were backed by the nonprofit poverty advocacy group, Alabama Arise, whose executive director, Robyn Hyden, in a … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

September 11, 2020

Governor announces reallocation of $300 million to prevent larger tax increases for state businesses

Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday announced the reallocation of $300 million in federal CARES Act funds to prevent businesses from having to pay exorbitant unemployment insurance tax rates. The $300 million is to be transferred to the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and used to offset “shared costs” which are distributed to tax-paying employers, according … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

September 11, 2020

Gov. Kay Ivey awards $72 million for remote learning tech in state colleges

Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday awarded $72.34 million in federal coronavirus aid to the state’s higher education institutions for remote learning technology. “Since July, the state of Alabama has awarded $432,753,000 to various levels of education to ensure that we have a safe and smart continuation of educational instruction,” Ivey said in a statement. “COVID-19 … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

September 10, 2020

COVID cases back at late June levels but could worsen again

The Alabama Department of Public Health data shows just 633 new cases of COVID-19 reported Tuesday, and 811 cases Wednesday. Rather than being a statistical anomaly, the numbers reflect an ongoing September decline in the number of new cases reported. The seven-day average of new cases per day — a measure that smooths out daily … Continued

Brandon Moseley

September 9, 2020