COVID-19

Alabama nonprofit hopes federal food aid for children continues through summer

Almost half of Alabamians experienced a loss in income since the COVID-19 crisis began, and more than 13 percent said they hadn’t had enough to eat during the prior week, according to a recent survey, but there is help for families with children struggling with food insecurity. Two federal programs combined can help keep Alabamians … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 24, 2020

Sen. Doug Jones: COVID-19 relief should not be a partisan issue

Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama, said Friday during a live-streamed press conference that the Senate should begin debating the next COVID-19 relief package, and Republicans in Congress should stop playing partisan politics with urgently needed COVID-19 relief. “That bill is not perfect at all. There are a number of things in there that I don’t think … Continued

Chip Brownlee

May 22, 2020

Jefferson County extends closure of night clubs, theaters and other entertainment venues

The Jefferson County Department of Health has extended closures of “high-risk” entertainment venues in the state’s most populous county as those types of businesses can begin opening in the rest of the state. “Even though things have been opening up, it does not mean that things are better in our community in terms of the … Continued

Chip Brownlee

May 22, 2020

Alabama prisons releasing some inmates early amid COVID-19 outbreak

Updated at 12 p.m. to include responses from the Alabama Department of Corrections. The Alabama Department of Corrections has automated the process of releasing early some inmates convicted of nonviolent offenses and who are nearing the end of their sentences, according to a department document obtained by APR. ADOC’s decision to automate the process by … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 22, 2020

Alabama’s unemployment rate jumps to 12.9 percent

Alabama’s unemployment rate has surged almost 10 percentage points over the past two months to nearly 13 percent, the Alabama Department of Labor said Friday, another sign of the economic toll caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington said Alabama’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted April unemployment rate is 12.9 percent, which is up from … Continued

Chip Brownlee

May 22, 2020

Jones has concerns about how USDA is implementing the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program

U.S. Senator Doug Jones, D-Alabama, said Thursday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Coronavirus Foods Assistance Program “falls way short.” Jones also expressed concerns about how USDA was implementing the program. “While it’s true the USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program will help farmers/ranchers, it falls way short and I have serious concerns about how U.S. … Continued

Brandon Moseley

May 22, 2020

Legislators briefed on coronavirus crisis

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and her team on Thursday briefed state legislators on the latest developments on the coronavirus crisis that has gripped the state for the last ten weeks. State Public Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris told legislators that the state has 13,058 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection. 528 Alabamians have died from COVID-19 … Continued

Brandon Moseley and Nicole Jones

May 22, 2020

Ainsworth applauds Ivey for opening more businesses

Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth released a statement applauding Thursday’s revised public health order that allows for the reopening of educational institutions, entertainment venues, youth sports, summer camps and other activities with proper enforcement of sanitation and social distancing “I applaud Gov. Kay Ivey and State Public Health Officer Scott Harris for taking yet another step … Continued

Brandon Moseley

May 22, 2020

Alabama partners with Google, Apple in coronavirus exposure tech

Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday announced that the state is one of four to have signed a deal with Google and Apple to use the companies’ software to build an app that would notify a person if they’ve come into contact with someone with coronavirus. “Hopefully this will become an important tool in the tool … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 21, 2020

Alabama reopens entertainment venues; sporting events can soon resume

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday said more business — including entertainment venues like arcades, theaters and bowling alleys — can reopen starting Friday. At a press conference Thursday, Ivey announced an amended “safer-at-home” order that allows entertainment venues to reopen, athletic activities to resume and educational institutions to reopen in the near future. The … Continued

Chip Brownlee

May 21, 2020