News
COVID-19 Totals Increase By 699 Cases And 29 Deaths In Thursday Report
Recent coronavirus numbers reflect a downward trend in the rate of infections over the past month.
Albert Trousdale’s Son Points COVID-19 Skeptics To A Tombstone
“I said ‘I love you. That was the last time I saw him alive," said Matt Trousdale, whose father died from COVID-19.
Woodfin’s Budget Features Pay Cuts, Furloughs And Funding Reductions
The city of Birmingham faces a $63 million shortfall in business tax revenue because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Year In The Life Of A Dying Alabama Mall
The Jasper Mall takes the spotlight in a documentary playing at the Sidewalk Film Festival later this month.
COVID-19 Tracking App Available To The Public
All Alabama residents can now use the phone app GuideSafe, which anonymously tracks COVID-19 exposure.
Remembering the Alabamians Who Have Fallen To COVID-19. Who Were They?
We know very little about the Alabamians who have lost their lives due to the coronavirus and related illness during the pandemic.
College Entry Testing Shows Less Than 1% Of Students Have COVID-19
Preliminary numbers from a program to test college students returning to campus indicate a low positivity rate. The program has tested about 30,000 students so far.
Through The Intercom, Nursing Home Employee Sings To Residents
At a nursing home in Marion, Alabama, one employee uses her voice to help lift morale among residents and staff during the pandemic.
Birmingham Council OKs Al Fresco Dining as ‘Hail Mary’ for Restaurants
Birmingham officials approved outdoor seating for restaurants in hopes of giving them an economic boost during the pandemic.
This Year’s Sidewalk Film Festival Becomes A Drive-In
The annual event will move from its home in downtown Birmingham to a drive-in theater in Leeds.
Childersburg Principal Busts A Move In Back-To-School Parody
Childersburg High School's principal has gone viral for his parody of MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This." Quentin Lee said the video was simply a fun way to welcome students back amid the pandemic.
As Nursing Homes’ Stocks Of PPE Get Too Low For Comfort, Ivey Grants Them $50 Million In COVID Aid
Federal aid for nursing homes comes as older adults comprise the largest share of COVID deaths in Alabama amid dwindling supplies.
Alabama Is In ‘Survival Mode’ Says University Of Alabama Economist
One economist says the country's deficit isn't as important as surviving the pandemic. He's advocating for renewed extra unemployment checks, injection $1 trillion a month into the country's budget and issuing another round of stimulus checks to working Americans.
Birmingham Gives Tax Breaks For UAB-Area Student Apartment Project, Commission Expected To Follow Suit
The company building a seven-story student housing development near UAB received permission from the city this week to forgo some property and sale taxes for the project. The county is now set to hear a similar request later this week.
Students With Disabilities Face Significant Challenges As Schools Plan To Reopen
For more than 96,000 students with special needs across Alabama, the loss of in-person services could mean a decline in learning, communication or functional skills. It also takes a toll on family members.
Pregnancy During The Pandemic: What You Should Know
The interim chair of UAB’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology debunked a number of COVID pregnancy myths.
Jefferson County Schools To Go Virtual-Only For First Nine Weeks; Start Sept. 1
The Jefferson County Board of Education voted Tuesday to begin the 2020-2021 school year with nine weeks of online education only and no option for traditional classroom learning.
UAB Launches COVID Testing For More Than 200,000 College Students
Alabama health experts and university leaders launched a statewide campus re-entry initiative to test and monitor the spread of COVID-19 on college campuses.
Business Capital, Knowledge Remains Out Of Reach For Many Minority Entrepreneurs
None of the Black-owned businesses in 4th Avenue and Civil Rights commercial districts have gone out of business because of the pandemic.
BCRI Gets Emergency Funding From City Of Birmingham
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute has been closed since March because of the pandemic causing a lack of revenue. Now it's receiving $250,000 in emergency funding from the city of Birmingham.
SEC Announces Delayed Start Of 2020 Football Season
The SEC is delaying the start of its football season and taking extra precautions amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Gov. Ivey Requires Face Masks In Schools, Extends Statewide Ordinance
Face masks will be required in schools and colleges for anyone in second grade and above. The requirement, along with the statewide mask ordinance and Safer at Home order, are now set to expire August 31 at 5 p.m.
Reopening Schools: A Virtual Town Hall
At Tuesday’s Reopening Schools: A Virtual Town Hall, we explored how school communities will survive the year. Masks or no masks? Virtual or in-person learning? What’s safest for school staff and families? And where will our children learn best? We discussed all these issues and more with: Princess Henderson, parent Gena Casey, teacher, Irondale Community […]
Health Officer Recommends Virtual Classes For Middle And High Schools, No Contact Sports For Now
Jefferson County's health officer issued strict guidelines about how schools should operate this fall. It's up to schools whether to adopt those recommendations.
With End Of $600 Unemployment Benefit, Groups Expect Surge In Evictions, Homelessness
As Congress debates another stimulus package, many Alabama residents will now see their weekly unemployment checks drop to less than $300.
Jefferson County Board Of Education Unanimously Approves ‘School Roadmap’
Parents can choose between traditional in-person classes, remote learning with Jefferson County teachers, or virtual learning with outsourced teachers.
Local Districts Will Decide High School Sports Plans
Recommendations around high school sports this fall largely mirror public health guidelines, but the Alabama High School Athletic Association leaves the details to schools.
DOJ Finds Excessive Use of Force In Alabama’s Male Prisons
In one case, a lieutenant slammed a handcuffed prisoner on a concrete floor several times, knocking him unconscious and leaving him unable to breathe. He required hospitalization.
Health Care Disparities: Being The Target Of Racism Can Make You Physically Sick, Research Shows
The American Academy of Pediatrics has found that racial discrimination against Black children and youth can affect their health.
Birmingham City Schools Will Begin The Year Online
BCS joins a growing list of school districts, including Tuscaloosa, Montgomery and Huntsville, that will begin the school year with remote learning only.
Alabama Secretary Of State: There Will Be No Delay In Reporting November Election Results
Demand for absentee ballots is expected to surge because of the pandemic. Secretary of State John Merrill is confident election officials can handle the increase.
Birmingham Council OKs Partial Transit Funding Under Protest From Hoyt
The Birmingham City Council voted Tuesday to fund the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority through the end of 2020.
