Amid Statewide Reopening, Jefferson County Keeps Entertainment Venues Closed
Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson speaks about COVID-19 during a press conference in May 2020.
Entertainment venues across Alabama reopened Friday, but not in the state’s most populous county. Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson ordered them to remain closed until June 6. The directive applies to theaters, museums, nightclubs, and similar establishments where people gather in large numbers. Wilson said the decision was made in conjunction with State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris, even as Gov. Kay Ivey allowed entertainment venues to reopen in other parts of the state.
At a press conference, Wilson said he made the decision because “of the increasing numbers of cases, and the increasing number of people in the hospital with COVID-19.” The total hospitalizations in Jefferson County was 130 at the time of the announcement, up from 103 two weeks earlier. The latest data show that two to three people are dying per day in Jefferson County from COVID-19.
“Even though things are opening up, it does not mean things are better in our community,” Wilson emphasized.
Wilson commended the community’s testing efforts and reiterated the importance of wearing face coverings in public. Face coverings are mandatory in Birmingham through May 29th. Wilson said increased testing capacity will allow the county to begin more preventative measures. This includes rolling out new programs in confined communities such as homeless shelters, jails, and treatment centers. Wilson also encouraged “high contact” workers, such as cashiers, wait staff, and retailers, to get tested even if they don’t have symptoms.
Jefferson County is the only county to keep entertainment venues closed, even though infection rate remains lower than many parts of the state.
Nearly 60 cases dismissed due to corruption in Hanceville Police Department
The grand jury determined that 58 felony criminal cases had been tainted by corruption in the Hanceville Police Department, after four officers and the police chief were indicted on a variety of charges related to mishandling or removing evidence from the department's evidence room.
President Trump fires Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden
Hayden, who became the first woman and the first African American to serve as the Librarian of Congress when she was appointed in 2016, was abruptly fired via email late Thursday.
First Afrikaners granted refugee status due to arrive in U.S.
Three months ago, President Trump signed an executive order telling white Afrikaans South Africans they could apply for refugee status in the U.S. The first group has been swiftly processed and is set to arrive on U.S. soil Monday
Court rules Alabama violated Voting Rights Act in drawing congressional lines
A three-judge panel permanently blocked Alabama from using a state-drawn map that they said flouted their directive to draw a plan that was fair to Black voters. The decision was not a surprise because the panel ruled against the state twice previously and put a new map in place for last year’s elections.
Who is the new Pope Leo XIV and what are his views?
Pope Leo XIV was born and raised in Chicago. He is of French, Italian and Spanish descent. He spent years working as a missionary in Peru.
India and Pakistan trade attacks amid risk of war between nuclear states
The escalation began after India accused Pakistan of being behind an attack where gunmen killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in India-administered Kashmir on April 22. Pakistan denies it.
