The COVID-19 crisis has led to new constraints for driver’s license operations in Alabama, but folks who were pressing up on this year’s deadline to upgrade to a STAR ID are getting a reprieve. As of March 26, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) closed all driver license offices, although staff members are answering phones and supporting online services, according […]

Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in hard times for some businesses, particularly for small business in an age where big business dominates so much of the landscape. A few members of the Alabama legislature have decried the state government for picking winners and losers in its declaration of what businesses are essential and non-essential. […]

Truckin’ is an American tradition, the subject of Eddie Kendricks and Grateful Dead tunes, a Robert Crump cartoon character strutting confidently across the continent, and today an industry needed more than ever. Truckers transport a high percentage of almost every American product, a much larger amount than by any other means of pickup and delivery. […]

Last month, a memo from Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth to Alabama’s coronavirus task force critical of the state’s response to date had raised eyebrows and led to questions about his relationship with Gov. Kay Ivey. A few days later, during a media availability, Ivey pushed back against Ainsworth’s criticisms by saying it was “not helpful” […]

“Surreal.” That’s how Patrick Curles described his experience preaching to an empty church during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. As strange as it may have sounded four weeks ago, preaching to vacant pews on Sunday morning has become the new reality for Curles, executive minister at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Montgomery, and pastors all across Alabama. […]

The work of doctors, nurses and staff on the front lines of the battle against COVID-19 in Alabama has been applauded, and deservedly so. The long hours, the stress of an unseen enemy and the wearing of uncomfortable and awkward equipment are bad enough. But having to watch patients suffer and even die is the worst of […]

The state of Alabama late this week surpassed 1,000 confirmed cases of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), and the United States exceeded 265,000 cases. The total number of COVID-19 cases globally on Friday officially passed 1 million. It is evident that the virus is continuing to accelerate across our state and local communities. During these uncertain […]

How do peanuts grow? When do Alabama farmers grow different fruits and vegetables? What’s the difference between a cow, a bull and a calf? Alabama farmers will answer all those questions and much more during Virtual Field Trips offered through Facebook Live on the Alabama Farmers Federation Facebook page every Friday at 10 a.m. through May 22. “Parents and […]

Airbus has donated 40,000 face masks to health care workers along the Alabama Gulf Coast. Daryl Taylor, vice president and general manager of the Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility in Mobile, shared the news in a Facebook post Friday. “Airbus is proud to answer the call to help the heroes in our community through the donation […]

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has been felt far and wide, and Alabama’s county governments are no exception. A perhaps overlooked consequence of a freeze on the transfer of inmates from county facilities to state facilities, one of the Alabama Department of Corrections’ efforts to limit inmate exposure to COVID-19, has put a burden […]

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) on Friday announced that it has received a $200,000 grant from Hyundai Hope On Wheels and Hyundai Motor America to help expand drive-through testing for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The grant will support existing testing initiatives at UAB Medicine’s appointment-based downtown COVID-19 testing site, sponsored in partnership […]

Auburn University coaches Gus Malzahn, Bruce Pearl and Butch Thompson have filmed a public service announcement calling for every Alabamian to join the team fighting against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The video featuring the respective head coaches of Auburn football, basketball and baseball calls for “teamwork” in keeping one another safe amid the pandemic and […]

Soon eligible Alabamians will receive payouts from the federal government, part of the effort to stem the tide of economic turmoil caused by the coronavirus pandemic. However, under Alabama law, those monies are considered income and would be taxed as such. State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Daphne) is seeking to prevent that from happening with a […]

What began as a day offering a sliver of promise for small businesses across Alabama ended with disappointment. An unidentified glitch in the U.S. Treasury Department’s electronic transfer software, known as ETRANS, prevented the submission of most of the state’s small business loan applications. The loans are part of the federal government’s effort to provide […]

The Yellowhammer State continues to see an increase in confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases on the heels of Gov. Kay Ivey ordering stay-at-home conditions on Friday. However, the current COVID-19 data for Alabama has, so far, run under the numbers projected by a model often cited by government officials across the country including the Trump Administration.

With the exception of those essential workers like healthcare, first responders and transportation, to whom we owe a great debt of gratitude, the COVID-19 outbreak has most of the world at a standstill. Schedules had to be adjusted when Alabama Governor Kay Ivey issued the directives to minimize the spread of the virus. One of […]

Former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville is taking a different stance on China than his Republican primary runoff competitor, former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. In an appearance on Talk 99.5’s “Matt and Aunie Show” Thursday morning, Tuberville was asked about what he thought was happening with China. He responded, “Well, we can’t worry […]

MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey has issued a “stay-at-home” order for the state of Alabama as coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and deaths continue to rise. The order is effective beginning Saturday, April 4, at 5:00 p.m. and will expire Thursday, April 30, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. CT. Exceptions apply for essential activities and businesses. The order […]

Every American is fixated on the current coronavirus pandemic. It dominates local and national news, daily talk radio and Alabama’s major newspapers three days a week. The Alabama political press is busy using this to accuse Governor Kay Ivey of wanting Alabamians to die because she hasn’t issued a “shelter-in-place” order. To their credit, usually, […]

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Research Center on Friday released its latest survey detailing the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on small businesses across the country. The survey was conducted March 30 and utilized a random sampling of the organization’s 300,000 members. This garnered 1,172 usable responses, all small employers with 1-465 employees. […]

Alabama automakers are stepping in to aid their communities in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, including support of crucial testing services and production of protective face shields for healthcare workers. Toyota’s Huntsville engine factory is producing 7,500 protective face shields for local hospitals. In addition, the plant has donated 160 safety glasses to local […]

A new charitable effort has sprung up in Birmingham that aims to help two of the groups hardest hit by the COVID-19 outbreak: health care workers and local restaurants. The initiative is called CareHealth and the premise is that the group will use donated money to buy food from locally-owned restaurants and then it will […]

During the novel COVID-19 economic and health crisis, one Birmingham based small business has created a way to give back. Mealfit, a catering and meal preparation company, is donating a free meal to someone in need for every meal that is ordered. Each customer who purchases a meal for themselves will be offered an opportunity […]

A program based at the University of Alabama’s Office for Research and Economic Development is proving especially important as Yellowhammer State small businesses attempt to navigate the complex landscape of coronavirus (COVID-19) relief funds, including monies related to the $2.2 trillion federal stimulus package. The Alabama Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network can prevent the need […]