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RNC Live Coverage: Monday, August 24

Follow live updates and analysis of Day 1 of the Republican National Convention, where the party is set to formally nominate President Trump as its presidential nominee. Coverage begins at 8 p.m. Central.

College Virtual Learning Rife With Technical Challenges

As the pandemic spreads on college campuses, many schools are increasingly relying on virtual instruction. That's expected to bring a host of technical troubles.

Voters In Several Jefferson County Municipalities Choose Mayors, Council Members On Aug. 25

Voters will head to the polls Tuesday, Aug. 25, to determine the outcome of multiple municipal elections.

Alabama’s Census Leader Hopes For A “Second Wind” To Boost Census Participation

Time is running out on the census and Alabama is below the average among states for people who have filled out their forms.

Fact Check: Biden’s DNC Speech

Joe Biden formally accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination for president on Thursday. NPR reporters are providing live analysis of his remarks.

DNC Live Coverage: Thursday, August 20

Follow live updates and analysis of the Democratic National Convention. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is speaking Thursday night. Coverage begins at 8 p.m. Central.

Accounting Contract Leads To Squabble On The Jefferson County Commission

Tensions were high at the county commission meeting this week after Commission President Jimmie Stephens said he felt he was being disrespected by President Pro Tem Lashunda Scales.

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.

DNC Live Coverage: Wednesday, August 19

Follow live updates and analysis of the Democratic National Convention. Wednesday’s speakers include House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former President Barack Obama. Coverage begins at 8 p.m. Central.

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.

DNC Live Coverage: Tuesday, August 18

Follow live updates and analysis of the Democratic National Convention. Tuesday’s speakers include New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former President Bill Clinton. Coverage begins at 8 p.m. Central

COVID-19 Tracking App Available To The Public

All Alabama residents can now use the phone app GuideSafe, which anonymously tracks COVID-19 exposure.

DNC Live Coverage: Monday, August 17

Follow live updates and analysis of the Democratic National Convention. Monday’s speakers include Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former first lady Michelle Obama. Coverage begins tonight at 8 p.m. Central.

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.