Planned pay raises for teachers and other state employees are gone. Orr noted that the budgets that are passed with be "level-funding" or close to it and hard choices will have to be made.

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 […]

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) on Thursday evening issued further guidance to federally backed financial lenders across the country related to a provision within the recently enacted coronavirus (COVID-19) stimulus package that will benefit small businesses. The funds are part of the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a $349 billion component of the relief […]

Congressman Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) on Thursday praised recent actions taken by Vice President Mike Pence to stop the shipping of American-owned medical supplies to other countries. “It is the height of irresponsibility for America to ship our medical supplies to foreign countries when Americans desperately need those supplies here,” said Brooks in a statement accompanying […]

Governor Kay Ivey was asked during a Twitter Q&A session about why she is yet to order Alabamians to shelter-in-place

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey on Thursday unveiled a series of updates to the State Health Order regarding the rules across the state during the coronavirus pandemic. The bulk of the order is aimed at temporarily increasing the size and effectiveness of Alabama’s health care workforce and facilities in anticipation of a surge of COVID-19 patients. […]

Questions still surround the disbursement of small business stimulus funds on the eve of their availability. The relief funds are part of the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program, a $349 billion provision in the massive economic stimulus package passed by Congress. Businesses with 500 or fewer employees are eligible to receive the lesser […]

Even in ordinary times, the more than 760,000 unpaid family caregivers in Alabama face a daunting set of daily tasks. Oftentimes with little or no training, they may be responsible for wound care, tube feedings, dressing, managing the finances and medical bills of their loved ones, transportation and more. Of course, these are no ordinary […]

Andy Andrews has written a prayer he calls “A Prayer of Perspective.” The Alabama native shared the prayer in an email to friends and followers saying, “It may seem like things are falling apart, but there is still much for which we can be grateful. I hope this message of truth resonates with you.” Known […]

As the Deep South sees a surge in cases of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, experts from the University of Alabama at Birmingham have created a symptom checker to identify hot spots where the virus is spreading. The new website, HelpBeatCOVID19.org, will provide public health officials insight into underserved areas based on the symptomatic data collected from the region […]

A report published Thursday by the New York Times says that President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign is requesting former Attorney General Jeff Sessions stop tying himself to the president in his quest to win back the seat Sessions once held. The Times was able to acquire the official letter that Trump campaign chief operating officer […]

MONTGOMERY — Yellowhammer News on Wednesday afternoon spoke exclusively with Governor Kay Ivey. In a phone interview lasting over 20 minutes, Ivey discussed Alabama’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, how economic considerations factor in, the possibility of Medicaid expansion, why gun stores are still open and much more. Ivey also was asked about criticism […]

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A group of Auburn engineers has developed a way to quickly and inexpensively convert CPAP machines into ventilators, one of the most important tools hospitals have for helping COVID–19 patients. Continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, machines are commonly used to help people with obstructive sleep apnea breathe more easily during sleep. The Auburn design, called RE-INVENT, is an […]

As far as some businesses go, there have been both winners and losers with the restrictions put into place because of the coronavirus pandemic. That has led to pushback from some small businesses that are not considered “essential.” In contrast, larger retailers that have both essential and non-essential products for sale are allowed to remain […]

Congressman Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) co-wrote a letter this week urging federal agencies to further implement antibody testing, a type of test that can determine if a person has an immunity to COVID-19. “It is now vital that the U.S. does not drop the ball on coronavirus antibody testing since it tells us who can safely […]

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin announced Thursday morning that the International World Games, which had been scheduled to take place in Birmingham in 2021, will now be held in 2022. The World Games is a competition where sports and disciplines not included in the Olympics get a chance to compete on the international stage. The event […]

Alabama and Governor Kay Ivey as one the sole outlier in the region

One of the vulnerabilities exposed by the outbreak of the COVID-19/coronavirus is how dependent the United States is on China for certain manufactured goods, including pharmaceuticals. With the United States facing a health crisis, efforts are afoot to bring aspects of manufacturing back to the United States from China, and part of that includes two […]

The Alabama Port Authority has finished its 400-foot container dock extension at the Port of Mobile. Completion of this project comes as funding secured by Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) is now in place to dredge and widen Mobile Harbor by 2024. Within days wrapping up the project, the terminal simultaneously handled two container ships at […]