7 Things: COVID-19 hits Montgomery hospitals hard, Jones doesn't want investigations into Biden, Ivey to take on prisons herself and more …

7. A mayoral candidate wants to hang drug dealers

In Sylacauga, Alabama, special education teacher Michael Ray James is a candidate for mayor. He recently went on Facebook to voice his frustration with the city’s drug problem, and he has suggested an “extreme” solution.
On his campaign Facebook page, James said that public hangings should be the punishment for convicted drug dealers as it “definitely brings attention to this scourge on Sylacauga, Alabama and the United States of America.” He said that those who have criticized his idea just have “a difference of opinion.”

6. Several workers at Bryant-Denny Stadium test positive for coronavirus

A construction crew that’s been working at Bryant-Denny Stadium has seen an outbreak of the coronavirus, with more than 10 workers testing positive.
Work at the stadium was shut down for a few days so that proper cleaning could be done, but it started back quickly with fewer workers.

5. People are still loving the beach

Gulf Shores has been packed “like the 4th of July” most days, according to the head of city beach rescue Melvin Shepard, but there still hasn’t been any citations given for violating the state health order for people to maintain the six feet apart rule.
This month alone, Gulf Shores Beach Rescue has reported at least 722,385 visitors. Memorial Day weekend is expected to only boost those numbers more.

4. We still don’t know everything about the coronavirus

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced that the coronavirus “does not spread easily” by contaminated surfaces. Previously, the CDC had said it’s “possible” for the virus to spread through surfaces.
The CDC has reminded people that the coronavirus “is a new disease and we are still learning about how it spreads,” adding, “It may be possible for COVID-19 to spread in other ways, but these are not thought to be the main ways the virus spreads.”

3. Ivey will deal with Alabama’s prison problems

Governor Kay Ivey seems prepared to go it alone on prison reform to save the legislature the hassle of passing laws and allocating spending, something they have had no interest in doing on the issue of prison construction over the last decade-plus, by building three 4,000-inmates facilities under a build-lease proposal.
State Senator Cam Ward (R-Alabaster) said Ivey has the legislature “boxed in” while State Representative Christopher England (D-Tuscaloosa) said there is a chance to save money on this plan. He explained, “If the Legislature could ever get its act together and pass our own plan, we would create oversight and likely reduce the price tag by at least a billion dollars.”

2. Investigations are only bad when they’re against Biden

U.S. Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) has come out against the idea that former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden need to be investigated after the U.S. Homeland Security Committee authorized subpoenas to investigate Hunter’s ties to Ukrainian company Burisma.
While on MSNBC, Jones said that this is “the craziest thing I’ve ever heard,” adding the Senate shouldn’t have to “investigate every perceived enemy of the president, especially this president.” He also insisted, “Democrats in the Senate are talking about the things that are necessary.”

1. Some Montgomery hospitals are overrun

For the first time since the coronavirus pandemic struck Alabama, we have seen hospitals at capacity with COVID-19 patients to the point where patients from Montgomery are now being sent to Birmingham for treatment because Montgomery area hospitals are down to one ICU bed.
After saying the issue with Montgomery is not the city but the rural community surrounding it, Mayor Steven Reed said, “We don’t want to be in a situation where we have to lock down the city.” He warned that people need to continue social distancing, wear masks and keep gatherings to a minimum.