With Governor Kay Ivey’s stay-at-home order set to expire in three days, the number of Alabamians who have filed unemployment claims during the COVID-19 shutdown has now eclipsed 344,000. The latest round of unemployment data from the Alabama Department of Labor (ADOL) shows 66,432 of the state’s residents filed a claim during the week ending […]

U.S. Representative Mo Brooks’ (R-Huntsville) longtime chief of staff Mark Pettitt will retire from his position by June 5, according to a release from Brooks’ office on Monday. Pettitt has served as the head of Brooks’ staff since 2011 when the congressman first entered the House. The two men have known each other since they […]

The Business Council of Alabama (BCA) on Monday announced that Medical Place, a BCA member based in Montgomery, has donated $100,000 to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) for coronavirus (COVID-19) related research. This came after Medical Place approached BCA for help facilitating the donation to a group working on long-term coronavirus relief. “My […]

The federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) reopened Monday, allowing small businesses in Alabama to apply for loans to keep themselves afloat during the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The program had been closed after exhausting its initial supply of money, and the reopening was delayed due to congressional infighting. The program now has […]

Governor Kay Ivey is set to make an announcement Tuesday, April 28, regarding how the state will reopen its economy, according to the majority whip of the Alabama House of Representatives. State Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) tweeted that the governor told this to legislators on a Monday morning conference call. Alabama’s current State Health Order […]

Birmingham-based HPM recently announced the hiring of industry veteran Bruce Quisno as the company’s newest senior program development manager, according to a release from the company. Founded in 1997, HPM provides comprehensive guidance to clients on the construction and development process and offers “a one-stop approach to complete program management and owner’s representation.” HPM says […]

While UAB Hospital has cared for the most coronavirus (COVID-19) patients out of all in-patient facilities in the state, monetary losses to the hospital are expected to be huge due to elective procedures and many other clinical activities not occurring as usual. In a video statement, UAB Medicine CEO Will Ferniany explained that UAB Hospital […]

As election politics have taken a back seat as Alabama grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, Mobile County Commissioner Jerry Carl, a candidate for the Republican nomination in Alabama’s First Congressional District election, is using his campaign platform to urge action against China. In a letter released to the public on Monday, Carl called on Alabama […]

7. The travel ban wasn’t effective but going to Chinatown was House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) newest complaint against President Donald Trump during the coronavirus pandemic is about his claims that his travel ban with China helped prevent the spread of the coronavirus when she attempted to pass a law forbidding the ban and referred […]

Alabama is a mere three days away from the expiration of Governor Kay Ivey’s stay-at-home order. In the weeks and months to come, there will undoubtedly be a study of how effective the state’s measures have been using data such as confirmed cases, reported deaths, unemployment, hospitalizations, bankruptcies, business closings and tax receipts. On the […]

Do not let coronavirus fears keep you from medical care, say emergency room physicians at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. “One unfortunate result of the novel coronavirus pandemic is that people are scared to go to an emergency room when they have a medical issue that requires emergency care,” said Erik Hess, M.D., interim chair […]

Shawn Fitzwater was confident his latest mural wouldn’t hang around very long. “If I got in trouble over it,” the owner of Fitz Hand Painted Signs said, “I could easily cover it up.” But a funny thing happened on the painter’s trip to buy whitewash. The feel-good message of his mural – We Are All In This […]

As an active volunteer with the Alabama Power Service Organization, Erica Wells typically would have her hands full right now. “This time of year is normally very busy for us volunteering at events,” Wells said. “I’m used to doing that. I get that from my parents. I’m used to doing something.” That all changed last month […]

Radio talk show host Dale Jackson and Alabama Democratic Executive Committee member Lisa Handback take you through this week’s biggest political stories, including: — How long will Governor Kay Ivey keep Alabama under a stay-at-home order? — Will states follow the White House guidelines for reopening, and will the media ever support it? — Was […]

It will not be one single thing that determines when Alabama will open back up for business, but several different things according to State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris. On this week’s broadcast of Alabama Public Television’s “Capitol Journal,” when asked by host Don Dailey about Alabama’s neighbor Georgia moving forward with reopening, Harris explained […]

We have experienced unprecedented economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing policies. Twenty-two million Americans lost jobs in four weeks. The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis projects potentially 30% unemployment and a 50% decline in GDP by June. This looks like a depression, but is it really? A recession or depression is […]

Like many state governments, the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) has made COVID-19/coronavirus statistical information available on a dashboard website, complete with the statewide totals and county-by-county totals. Last week, the ADPH changed how it classified virus deaths, which, according to reports, was done to conform to the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) National […]

During the COVID-19 outbreak, many companies are wrestling with the challenges of travel bans and social distancing practices, but one Birmingham firm is offering a way to keep business operations going through mobile augmented reality technology. Help Lightning’s high-tech solution allows technicians to remotely guide on-site equipment repairs and perform other mission-critical tasks for customers […]

Spiritual gifts relate to our lives, other people’s lives, the local church, and the body of Christ as a whole. Therefore, identifying and understanding God-given spiritual gifts should be a high priority in every Christian’s life. Let’s consider how you can benefit from knowing your own spiritual gift. Knowing your spiritual gift… 1. Knowing your […]

Alabama is only four days out from the expiration of Governor Kay Ivey’s stay-at-home order. The state has nearly four weeks now to reflect on the impact of its economic lockdown and how this should guide its reopening. Big box versus small business. Commerce has moved right along at many of Alabama’s large retailers. Long […]

As public officials and policymakers wrestle with the right approach for dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, the narrative has shifted to reopening the economy, which is a decision thus far is being left up to the individual 50 states. In Alabama, there is some division as to when the time is right to reopen. However, […]

The World Games 2021 Birmingham has a new name to go with its new date. With the announcement of The Games’ shift to July 7-17, 2022, organizers have decided that the international multisport event will officially become The World Games 2022 Birmingham. “After careful consideration, we are excited to move forward as The World Games 2022,” said Nick […]

When Governor Kay Ivey’s statewide stay-at-home order expires in four days, non-essential businesses are expecting to begin operations under some restrictions. The post-order picture for churches is much less certain. Restrictions on gatherings during the COVID-19 crisis began on March 16, when the Alabama Department of Public Health recommended they be limited to less than […]

Nurses at UAB Hospital’s Center for Nursing Excellence (CNE) are committed to ensuring their colleagues have the latest information and best practices to treat patients amidst the coronavirus pandemic. About 55 nurses work behind the scenes to safeguard UAB nurses in 14 different specialties, day and night. These nurses train and monitor other nurses to make sure they […]