As the possibility of reinforced government mask mandates grows, federal and state lawmakers in Alabama are trying to get out in front of the issue. 

State Rep. Brock Colvin (R-Albertville) filed a bill that would prohibit government-sanctioned mask mandates. The bill awaits lawmakers when they return to Montgomery in February for the next session. 

“I do not believe government should mandate anything that encroaches on individual liberty,” Colvin said, adding that state health officials were wrong to impose such a mandate in 2020. 

RELATED: Britt calls for ‘individual liberty’ in mask mandate pushback

Colvin said the bill would specifically prohibit government entities and the state health officer from requiring face mask mandates to prevent the spread of diseases.

It provides exceptions for licensed medical facilities and state and local detention facilities. 

“This bill will not prohibit private businesses from operating as they see fit,” Colvin said. “Rather, this bill prevents Big Brother from mandating restrictions on private citizens.”

Colvin’s assignments to House Commerce and Small Business, Insurance, and the Education Ways and Means committees have connected him with small business owners and leaders across the state who are worried about taking a hit from a reimposed mandate.

“There has been little scientific evidence that masks accomplished anything in preventing the spread of COVID,” Colvin said.

“We should be encouraging personal responsibility and empowering families as opposed to allowing government to control the way we move forward.”

Grayson Everett is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270

7. Future NBA first-round draft pick Brandon Miller of the Crimson Tide is having to talk to potential NBA teams about his role in the death of Jamea Harris and his response is lacking. Reports state that the interviews “have not gone great.”

6. A bill that would ban foreign nationals and entities from buying certain types of land in Alabama has passed the Alabama State Senate. China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran are nations considered countries of concern by the United States. U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Huntsville) has co-sponsored a similar bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.

5. State Health Officer Scott Harris’ opposes the state’s laws against transitioning minors to a new gender. State Sen. Sam Givhan (R-Huntsville) said he believes the effort to rein in his unchecked power has new momentum.

4. Bama Budweiser wants potential drinkers to know that they want nothing to do with controversial transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney and his deal with Bud Light. In a radio spot, Bama Budweiser President Steve Tatum says, “We do not, and as I said before, did not support this issue involving Dylan Mulvaney.”

3. As Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gets ready to enter the presidential race, the House of Mouse has announced it will not be building a $1 billion complex in his state. The company still seeks to build $17 billion in projects in the state in the next 10 years, but DeSantis opponents (Trump & Newsome) are using it to blame DeSantis for agitating the corporate giant but the funny thing is, it was already doomed.

2. The demand that the state kowtow to big business’s liberal philosophy was on display in Alabama yesterday in the Alabama State Senate where members voted to stop doing business with firms that chase ESG (environmental, social and governance) scoring. The bill passed in a party-line split and Alabama Democrats echoed the cries of “what about free speech,” something foolishly said by those mad at Ron DeSantis for his feud with Disney over their wokeness.

1. After a recently released illegal immigrant raped a teen in Prattville, U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) expressed the anger we all feel, “The Biden Admin failing to secure the border & refusing to enforce our nation’s immigration laws is putting families & communities in every corner of Alabama at risk.” 

LISTEN HERE:

Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10 a.m. to noon.

7. No surprise, Harris can’t answer questions on student loan “relief” funding

• Recently, Vice President Kamala Harris was asked about how the federal student loan forgiveness plan will be funded, which could cost upward of $500 billion, but Harris refused to give a straight answer.
• Harris said, “First of all, a lot of people who are criticizing what we rightly did in following through on a commitment that we made to forgive student loan debt are the same people who voted for a tax cut for the richest Americans.” Harris went on to say a majority of people making less than $75,000 per year will benefit from the plan, but still gave no answer to how it’ll be paid for.

6. Confucius Institute at Alabama A&M is closing

• The Confucius Institutes that have been tied to the Chinese Communist Party have been operating at two universities in Alabama: Troy University and Alabama A&M in Huntsville. The Confucius Institute at Alabama A&M has now closed.
• The National Association of Scholars has said that Confucius Institutes “undermine academic integrity and promote censorship,” but the Confucius Institute at Troy University looks like it is here to stay and was even awarded “Confucius Institute of the Year” in 2017.

5. Woodfin has criticized Birmingham Water Works for high bills

• On Facebook, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin posted a live video where he started the video with a Trumpesque greeting saying, “Good morning to everyone except the water works board, and that’s the Birmingham Water Works Board.”
• Woodfin criticized the board for how they’re operating after he received a call from the citizen who said they were billed $451 for water usage, despite being out of town for 15 days of that billing cycle. The Birmingham Water Works is not under city management, and Woodfin said, “We need this board to get out of the way and allow the general manager and their team of people that are responsible or day-to-day operation to do their job.”

4. Alabama has had more deaths than births for two years

• The Alabama Department of Public Health and State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris has announced that for two years, 2020 and 2021, Alabama had more deaths than births on record. Harris made comments on the situation while appearing on Alabama Public Television’s “Capitol Journal.”
• Harris said that it’s the first time in the state’s history that there have been more deaths than births for two consecutive years. Harris did clarify that it was due to the coronavirus pandemic, and it’s “much more deadly than any other outbreak we have ever experienced in the history of our state. And when you look at total numbers of deaths, it’s more deadly than, of course, than the Spanish Flu pandemic. Obviously, we’re a larger state now than we were then. But the death rates are about the same. It’s just been a really terrible time.”

3. Trump should get an apology for raid on Mar-a-Lago, according to Carl

• U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) has regularly criticized the FBI raid on former President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home, but he recently said that Donald and Melania Trump deserve an apology. Carl said, “For the FBI to go in and just raid a place like this and go through his wife’s personal stuff – I mean, that’s about as offensive as you can get. That’s borderline perversion…There’s got to be some accountability there. To go in and treat him and his family like common criminals is where the real issue here is for me. I mean, I think the president, I think his wife, I think this country deserves an apology.”
• Additionally, depending on what media outlet you are reading, the FBI removed either a “limited” or “only a ‘limited‘” number of documents that related to attorney-client privilege from Mar-a-Lago during their raid of the resort. The Department of Justice admitted this in a court filing, “identified a limited set of materials that potentially contain attorney-client privileged information” and has  “completed its review of those materials.” Surely, no one read those documents.

2. CNN is about to get another former FBI agent to join McCabe

• As investigations into former President Trump continue, it has been reported by the Washington Times that the agent who killed the investigation into Hunter Biden’s laptop has been removed (fired or resigned under pressure) from the agency.
• It is alleged that Timothy Thibault was under congressional investigation for political bias issues related to the Biden laptop raised by an FBI whistleblower and his handling of politically sensitive investigations but the agent was not involved in the raid on Mar-a-Lago, so that investigation is totally apolitical. Thibault was reportedly escorted out of his office by “headquarters-looking types” but he will get to keep his pension and benefits even after being disgraced.

1. Vaccine requirements for contractors ended

• Gov. Kay Ivey has praised a recent decision to end the coronavirus vaccine mandate for contractors in Alabama after a ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11^th Circuit. The judges ruled that only those state involved with the lawsuit would be impacted, and Alabama was one of those involved.
• Ivey said, “Here in Alabama, we continue to fight for common sense, and today’s ruling is another win for not only common sense but for freedom. Many Alabamians, myself included, were strongly opposed to these outrageous mandates, and we fought back and won. I am proud to continue standing up for Alabamians.” But the Ivey administration was hardly anti-mandate, she privately had resisted calls to push for bills to ban vaccine mandates, however, she did sign the legislation (unrelated to this story) when it passed.

According to the latest statistics from the Alabama Department of Public Health, COVID-19 cases rose 11% last week as 15,672 cases were reported – up from 14,121 cases the previous week.

On Friday, State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris discussed the continuing pandemic response during Alabama Public Television’s “Capitol Journal.”

Talking about what precautions to take, Harris said, “Certainly, there’s risks that are determined by who you are yourself, what’s your age, what’s your medical condition, what’s your vaccination status, all those things have to go into those kind of decisions.”

Harris reminded Alabamians the pandemic is not over.

“We do have to get back to some sense of normalcy,” he said. “Clearly everybody understands that we are living with this disease, but it would be a mistake to think that it’s gone away and that it’s not a problem, anymore.”

Harris also took the opportunity to push people getting vaccinated to better protect themselves from the disease.

“I know I sound like a broken record,” he said. “But I just try to use every chance to reiterate, the single most important thing that you can do to protect yourself and to protect people around is to get vaccinated … 22 times more likely to die if your unvaccinated.

“I don’t know how anybody can hear that number and not pull the trigger on getting vaccinated, but that’s the single most important thing that people can do.”

When it comes to the issue of wearing masks, Harris said it’s a personal choice, but might be necessary in some situations.

“I think that we’ve moved away from requiring people to have masks,” he said. “But, clearly masks make sense in a lot of situations for people. I would say for most Alabamians if you’re not interested in wearing a mask you’re free to make those decisions, but let’s not stigmatize those people who do.

“There are people out there where the immune system is that you can’t be vaccinated, they can’t really protect themselves with the vaccine. Those are the kind of people who continue to wear masks. There are people who are just older, or have chronic health problems and maybe they’re vaccinated or maybe not, but they still choose to wear a mask, but I think that they ought to be allowed to do that.”

Harris advised people who feel sick to stay home, especially since COVID-19 is still spreading across the state.

“We’re getting 2,000 or 3,000 cases a day still, every single day of COVID, just that we know of, and there’s some we don’t,” he said. “So, if you have any type of illness at all, if you’re concerned at all, please do a quick COVID test at home … if you have a fever, we all learned in kindergarten that you need to stay home until it goes away, you don’t need to be around other people.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” Weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee

7. Fauci needs to leave his job now

• Dr. Anthony Fauci is expected to retire by the end of President Joe Biden’s current term after working as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease since 1984. Fauci rose in notority during the coronavirus pandemic.

• The White House chief medical adviser has regularly been criticized for his polarizing statements and conflicting opinions. About the coronavirus, Fauci advised, “I think we’re going to be living with this.”

6. COVID-19 cases are way up; State Health Officer says hospitalizations not a concern

• Alabama State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said the new surge in COVID-19 cases was not as big of a concern as previous increases in cases the state and country have seen because “we aren’t seeing the same number of deaths.” The good news is clear, but there is some concerning news. For example, Madison County has seen more cases so far in 2022 than it saw in 2021 altogether.

• Harris laid out the way mortality has dropped and explained, “For the first year and a half of the pandemic, if we got 100 cases today, we knew in two or three weeks one or two of those people were not going to survive. It was just the 1% or 2% mortality rate. It was really consistent for most of the pandemic, but now that we have vaccines, now that we have monoclonal antibodies that are effective, now that we have oral medications that are effective, and because the variant strain itself is a little less deadly on average, we’re seeing that decoupling, if you will, from the case numbers and the numbers of deaths.”

5. Young Decatur city councilman is in the news again

• Decatur City Councilman Hunter Pepper has made headlines again after an Independence Day weekend encounter with Decatur Police officers over fireworks at his home. In Decatur, individuals cannot possess, sell or use fireworks within city limits.

• Pepper denied owning the fireworks at his residence, and while speaking with officers, he denied complying until the sergeant was on the scene. In a Facebook post, Pepper wrote, “During this gathering, within city limits of Decatur, I and many others watched and took part in celebrating my blowing up the sky with [fireworks] and it was a wonderful time!” Pepper acknowledged that he acted improperly and broke the law. Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling commented on the situation, “Mr. Pepper finds himself in situations in which he often has to say, ‘I’m sorry,’ or ‘I won’t do it again.’ Hopefully, he will eventually learn not to get himself in these situations.”

4. Moore joins the argument against federal abortion protection

• After President Joe Biden signed an executive order that attempts to support federalizing abortion laws, U.S. Representative Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) and 56 other Republicans in the House sent a letter demanding that the order be rescinded.

• The letter says the order “is undoubtedly a first step in circumventing Americans’ voice on the issue.” It adds, “We urge you and expect you to rescind your recent Executive Order and refrain from taking any other executive action that threatens Americans’ right to self-determination and the democratic process as it relates to protecting innocent unborn children.” Since the executive order was signed, the U.S. House has passed a federal abortion act.

3. Britt is leading in the U.S. Senate race, obviously

• In an expected update of the U.S. Senate race, Republican candidate Katie Britt has a dominating lead over Democratic candidate Will Boyd in the latest fundraising reports for the second quarter.

• In the second quarter, Britt reported $1.33 million, while Boyd reported $16,824. When it comes to cash-on-hand, Britt has also reported $1.2 million, compared to Boyd’s reported $921.

2. World Games end with dozens arrested for human trafficking

• During the World Games in Birmingham, an investigation took place to expose and capture human traffickers and rescue victims that were being trafficked. Special agent in charge Katrina W. Berger explained, “Major sporting events like this routinely attract transnational criminal organizations and other bad actors involved in illicit criminal activity such as human exploitation crimes, drug trafficking and the sale of counterfeit merchandise.”

• There were six arrests made on human trafficking, dozens of arrests of those seeking to buy sex and multiple arrests of adult men trying to lure a minor. Four minors were rescued from labor trafficking, seven adults were rescued from labor trafficking, two minors were rescued from sex trafficking, 15 adults were rescued from sex trafficking, and 11 minors were identified as victims of exploitation. Many other arrests related to drugs and counterfeit goods also occurred.

1. Biden celebrating drop in gas prices, despite prices still being the highest in years

• While inflation is costing the average American family $718 a month, President Joe Biden and his administration are taking a victory on gas prices falling by “about 50 cents a gallon.” He posted on Twitter that this “saves the average driver about $25 a month.” He continued, “I know those extra dollars and cents mean something. It’s breathing room. And we’re not done working to get prices even lower.” Gas prices are still up over $2.00 from when he took office when the price was $2.39.

• During a White House press briefing, senior economic adviser Jared Bernstein said, “It’s one of the fastest declines in retail gas prices in a decade.” He went on to add that Biden “put his head down and got to work, and got us to work, to do everything we could to achieve that goal.” This praise continues to ignore that the current gas prices are still the highest seen in several years.

Alabama COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are on the rise, according to the Alabama Deptartment of Public Health (ADPH). As of July 14, the test positivity rate reached 29.2%, which is a 4.4% increase from July 1.

Despite the current surge, Alabama’s State Health Officer said the state was not currently seeing the rise of COVID-19 deaths that it saw during previous surges.

Dr. Scott Harris advised on Alabama Public Television’s “Capitol Journal” that the availability of COVID vaccines and treatments was responsible for lowering the number of deaths from the virus in the Yellowhammer State.

“One thing that we’re fortunate to see is that we aren’t seeing the same number of deaths following those hospitalizations,” Harris said. “For the first year and a half of the pandemic, if we got 100 cases today, we knew in two or three weeks one or two of those people were not going to survive. It was just the 1% or 2% mortality rate. It was really consistent for most of the pandemic, but now that we have vaccines, now that we have monoclonal antibodies that are effective, now that we have oral medications that are effective, and because the variant strain itself is a little less deadly on average, we’re seeing that decoupling, if you will, from the case numbers and the numbers of deaths.”

Harris warned though that those who might be immunocompromised should still be careful.

“If you’re somebody who’s medically vulnerable,” he said, “because of your age or because of health problems, and particularly if you’re unvaccinated, I don’t think the situation has changed that much for those folks.”

He said the ADPH was doing what it could to put out the latest relevant information so Alabamians could take certain steps to protect themselves from catching the virus.

“We have the information updated every week on our website,” he advised, “showing what your county’s level is, whether it’s red or orange or yellow or green. So, we encourage people to follow those maps to make decisions about what’s going on around them.”

Harris said healthy vaccinated people did not have as much to worry about when it came to the current spread of the virus.

“For people that are fully vaccinated, I think you can pretty much do what you need to do…for most of us, if you’re otherwise healthy and fully vaccinated, you can live your life pretty much like you want,” Harris added.

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” Weekdays 9-11am on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee

7. Anti-lynching bill signed by Biden

• The Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act, which makes lynching a federal hate crime, was signed into law by President Joe Biden. Anti-lynching legislation has been proposed for over 100 years. Biden declared, “Thank you for never giving up, never ever giving up.”
• Biden went on to say, “No federal law, no federal law, expressly prohibited lynching—none—until today,” adding, “Racial hate isn’t an old problem – it’s a persistent problem. Hate never goes away. It only hides.” But, it should come as no surprise, lynching people has always been illegal. This legislation makes lynching a hate crime.

6. Trump had a 7+-hour gap in his phone calls on January 6

• The Washington Post is reporting that as the January 6 committee continues its investigation, former President Donald Trump had a gap in his call records on January 6, 2021, for seven hours and 37 minutes, which has raised suspicion by many.
• The gap of time in the day started at 11:17 a.m. and ended at 6:54 p.m. During some of this time was when the riot at the U.S. Capitol was taking place. This comes just after a federal judge said that Trump was likely guilty of crimes related to the riot during a decision to turn over documents drawn up by his lawyer to challenge the election.

5. Get ready for the approval of another shot

• While it seemed like booster shots being approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had been stalled, there has now been a fourth shot, or second booster shot, approved for the Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus vaccine.
• The additional shot is only approved for those 50 years and older. A majority of eligible Americans are vaccinated against the virus, but the rate of those getting vaccinated has slowed tremendously. There is a new variant spreading in the United States, but the illness it creates is the equivalent of seasonal allergies.

4. Lawsuit claims Ivey overstepped her authority

• Governor Kay Ivey has been served with another lawsuit concerning her executive health orders during the coronavirus pandemic that shut down businesses. State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris is also included in this lawsuit from business owner Saranne Riccio.
• Riccio is represented by an attorney from the Alabama Center for Law and Liberty, Matt Clark, who has said that Ivey and Harris “exceeded their authority in issuing all these orders.” Clark asserted that Ivey “was relying on the Alabama Emergency Management Act, it gives the governor an unconstitutional amount of pretty much unlimited discretion on how to handle emergencies.”

3. Shelby and Tuberville disapprove of Biden’s budget

• After President Joe Biden announced his $5.8 trillion budget for the 2023 fiscal year and claimed that it would provide more support for national security and defense, U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Tuscaloosa) heavily criticized the proposed budget.
• Shelby stated, “[T]he President has again proposed a fiscal blueprint that overspends on wasteful domestic programs and fails to adequately provide for our nation’s defense…The Biden budget increases non-defense spending by nearly $100 billion while defense spending does not keep pace with the skyrocketing rate of inflation.” U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) said, “Gimmicks and smoke screens are used to hide the true cost of expanding social programs and prioritizing clean energy policies that will continue to strain Americans’ bank accounts and fuel inflation.”

2. Lottery and gambling are dead for this session

• State Senator Greg Albritton (R-Atmore) and State Representative Chip Brown (R-Hollinger’s Isle) have both confirmed their doubts about their gambling or lottery legislation being successful in this legislative session. Like the girls competing against the transgender swimmer in college championships, these bills lost before they were ever filed.
• Albritton said that those already involved with gambling are helping stop the legislation, saying, “I was optimistic because I felt the arguments would win the day. But the money won the day.” Brown said about his legislation, “I think we just don’t have time right now to work on something as complex as that. So I think it’s just something we’re going to have to look at addressing another session.”

1. Alabama’s U.S. Senate candidates have stated where they are on the 2020 election

• Former President Donald Trump has removed his endorsement from U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) for U.S. Senate, and with the endorsement up for grabs, candidate Mike Durant has changed his position on making election integrity a priority, and candidate Katie Britt has remained consistent on wanting the 2020 election investigated for irregularities. All three were asked to answer with one word whether or not the election was stolen. Brooks said “Yes,” while Durant and Britt did not answer.
• The candidates were further pressed about their positions on the 2020 presidential election. Brooks meticulously laid out all of his concerns about 2020. Durant said, “I believe that Joe Biden was not rightfully elected and the American people were robbed of four more years under President Trump because of unconstitutional changes to the process.” And Britt didn’t answer the question directly but called for a nationwide forensic audit.

7. Income is rising in the majority of Alabama

• The U.S. Census Bureau has conducted its American Community Survey, and it shows that household income in Alabama has been increasing for a majority of the state over the last five years. There are still some areas not seeing as much growth.
• In Alabama, the average cost increase was 19% with Wilcox County seeing the most growth in income with 35%, Conecuh County had 30%, and Butler County saw a 27% increase. However, Hale County saw a 14% decrease, Perry County was at 11% decrease, and Washington County had a 9% decline.

6. Orr standing by the Numeracy Act

• State Senator Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) has defended the Numeracy Act, his bill, that was recently criticized by gubernatorial candidate Tim James, who claimed, “[T]his legislation does not remove Common Core math from our schools. It actually allows the state to spend $92 million to hire math coaches who will train kindergarten through fifth-grade teachers on how to teach Common Core.”
• Orr called this critique a “red herring” and explained that lawmakers are doing what they can to make sure teachers and students understand everything they need for standardized tests, which do use some Common Core curriculum. Orr added, “[W]hen we’re talking about math and how people figure out mathematical problems then, I don’t know, I can’t get too worked up about it.”

5. Russia using hypersonic weapons

• It’s been reported that Russia has started using hypersonic missiles against Ukraine. Experts have said that this change in strategy could be related to the unexpected and prolonged resistance from Ukraine.
• The Institute for the Study of War recently said that it’s likely the current fight is going to escalate, and “will likely be very violent and bloody.” U.K.’s Chief of Defense Intelligence Lt. Gen. Jim Hockenhull said that “Russian operations have changed” and added they’re now using “a strategy of attrition.” Hockenhull went on to say this will be “the reckless and indiscriminate use of firepower.”

4. The United States is investigating possible cyberattacks from Russia

• President Joe Biden recently detailed how the United States is looking into the “evolving intelligence” that has been showing potential cyberattacks from the Russian government. Biden has also encouraged private sector businesses to strengthen their cybersecurity. The president tells businesses that it is on them, advising, “We are prepared to help private sector companies with tools and expertise, but it is your decision as to the steps you’ll take and your responsibility to take them.”
• Biden said, “My administration is reiterating those warnings based on evolving intelligence that the Russian Government is exploring options for potential cyberattacks…Congress has partnered with us on these efforts – we appreciate that Members of Congress worked across the aisle to require companies to report cyber incidents to the United States Government.”

3. Wine shop suing Kay Ivey

• A new lawsuit has been started against Governor Kay Ivey, claiming it was because of her coronavirus pandemic restrictions that destroyed a wine shop business. The Huntsville wine shop, Uncorked Wine Shop & Tasting Room, owned by Saranne Riccio, was only open for two years before the pandemic.
• State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris is also named in the lawsuit, which says that the business had to close after losing about $55,000 during the pandemic shutdown. As most of the store’s profit came from wine tastings, these were stopped when Ivey shut the state down. The lawsuit takes issue with the orders that shut down restaurants and nonessential businesses.

2. Brooks on the attack in the U.S. Senate race

• U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) said that he’s ready to get rid of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and he’s challenging other members of the party to pick a side in the fight with McConnell. Brooks said that he will vote “no” if the vote comes to make McConnell majority leader, and alleged, “Mitch McConnell likes fighting Trump more than he likes fighting Democrats. The entire time President Trump was in office, McConnell repeatedly undermined President Trump, refused to build the Wall, refused to investigate 2020 voter fraud and election theft, and refused to stand up to the Russia Hoax.”
• It’s recently been erroneously speculated that U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) is not as focused on voter integrity as he previously stated, but now he’s compared himself to his fellow U.S. Senate candidate Katie Britt and Mike Durant by stating that they didn’t help fight voter fraud in 2020 like he did. Brooks said, “Detail us what you did November 3, Election Day, and January 6 to help us win. Did you contribute to any of the audits going around the United States of America, those efforts, help pay any of the litigation costs that were occurred in court? Did you take a public position, at least say something in our support?” Brooks made similar challenges to Britt and Durant’s support of former President Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020.

1. Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation is uneventful on day 1

• While the American media has declared that looking at Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson’s record would be unnecessary, racist or an attempt to get her killed, day one of her confirmation hearing was rather sleepy. Republicans mostly pointed out that they weren’t going to behave like the media and their Democrats did with now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
• The issues raised were solely about her record, mostly about her rate of being overturned by appeals courts and stances involving sex crimes involving children, but the media is on defense for the administration. There were no angry mobs outside or cornering U.S. Senators in elevators and no screaming reporters wondering how they could vote to confirm Jackson with the issues at hand hanging over her.

7. Demand for free coronavirus tests wasn’t as expected

• President Joe Biden’s administration has been providing free coronavirus tests to households across the country, and while the tests take weeks to arrive, there are almost 250 million tests still unclaimed. 

• The administration bought 500 million initially, and demand for the tests from the government has fallen greatly, with less than 100,000 orders per day, compared to the 45 million orders received in January.

6. Dr. Scott Harris looking toward the end of the pandemic

• Alabama State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris was recently interviewed and reaffirmed that the coronavirus pandemic has not ended, saying “we’re in a pandemic whether or not we change our behavior or not.”

• Harris went on to add, “I think I would say that in just about every way, people are back to normal, at least for the most part.” When asked about the potential return of mandates, Harris replied, “I don’t see any situation right now where that’s likely to happen. America seems to have by-and-large moved on from this, the tolerance of the public for that has worn thin.”

5. Keeping Mobile and Baldwin County tax funds in the area

• State Senator Chris Elliott (R-Daphne) is pushing to ensure that money stays in the coastal region that’s generated from taxes on oil and gas leases, and now his legislation on the matter has been passed by the State House of Representatives and State Senate.

• Elliott said, “It’s about making sure we get our fair share here in Coastal Alabama and using that money to improve our communities and way of life.” He added, “Much like the TVA money is for North Alabama, this should be a source of funding raised in our coastal communities for our coastal communities.”

4. With half the session in the books, Alabama State Senate leadership looks to continue working hard

• The big-ticket item of the first half of the legislative session actually took place during a special session where the Alabama Legislature agreed to spend $772 million in coronavirus relief funds. Including that in their list of accomplishments, leaders in the ALGOP believe they have a good foundation to jump into the second part of the session with.

• With broadband expansion, tax relief, the largest-ever general fund budget and a military package all successfully passed, Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed (R-Jasper) stated, “At the halfway point of the session, there is no doubt that my colleagues have already made a positive impact on their districts and our entire state for years to come.”

3. Trump won the CPAC poll

• In a straw poll taken at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), respondents were asked to select the candidate they prefer to run for president in 2024, and former President Donald Trump had a strong lead in the poll. Trump received 59% of the votes, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was in second with 28%, but all other candidates were below 2%.

• When respondents were asked who they would vote for if Trump doesn’t run in 2024, 61% said DeSantis, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo received 6.3%, Donald Trump, Jr. was at 5.9%, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) was at 3.3%, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) was at 3.3%, and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem was at 3.1%. In a related poll, 62% of Americans believe that the Russian invasion would not be happening if Trump were in office.

2. Biden picks a SCOTUS justice nominee, Shelby and Tuberville react

• President Joe Biden announced that he’s selected U.S. Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as the U.S. Supreme Court nominee to replace U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. U.S. Senators Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) have reacted to the announcement.

• Shelby said that there must be “a fair and thorough review of Judge Jackson’s qualifications.” He added that he’s “supported judges who respect our Constitution and interpret the law without prejudice.” Tuberville remarked that he wants “a justice who respects the Constitution,” and went on to say, “Judge Jackson deserves a full and fair evaluation of her record.”

1. Putin has nuclear forces on high alert amid Ukraine invasion

• With talk of a peace summit afoot, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered that the country’s nuclear weapons be placed on high alert. Putin said of the decision, “Western countries aren’t only taking unfriendly actions against our country in the economic sphere, but top officials from leading NATO members made aggressive statements regarding our country.”

• Putin’s mental state has been questioned as the invasion of Ukraine has continued, with White House press secretary Jen Psaki claiming that Putin being isolated during the coronavirus pandemic could be impacting his decision making. She added, “[T]he rhetoric, the actions, the justification that he’s making for his actions are certainly deeply concerning to us.”

COVID-19 has changed the way all of us conduct our daily lives and affects everyone, regardless of our neighborhoods, our political affiliations, our race or our ethnicity. While many people have recovered from COVID-19, the disease can have serious, life-threatening complications, and its long-term effects are not known. Latest data show the number of Alabamians who have succumbed to COVID-19 is approaching 17,000, and numbers of deaths have exceeded births in the state for each of the past two years.

COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective in reducing severity of disease, hospitalizations and deaths, and available to the public free of charge. Even so, the relatively low percentage of Alabama’s population vaccinated underscores the need for action. All Alabamians should do their part by getting vaccinated and getting boosters when eligible, especially since more infectious COVID-19 variants may someday emerge. Each person who is vaccinated helps assure a healthier community and state. When symptoms occur, testing and isolation protect others who might become exposed to the virus.

The Alabama Department of Public Health has introduced a new multimedia communications campaign, “Alabama Unites Against COVID.” The campaign, which stresses the importance of COVID-19 vaccine as well as testing, speaks to all Alabamians from rural regions to urban areas and aims to direct them to a new website, www.alabamaunites.com.

The website is easy to navigate with buttons for locating vaccination and testing sites, updated guidance, frequently asked questions, vaccine information and what to expect when testing for COVID-19.

The campaign theme highlights messages about how people from all walks of life are joining each other in their communities in the fight against the virus. In addition to advertisements in print publications, four television commercials are airing on stations statewide and on social media. The ads highlight the following: community leaders who love Alabama and Alabamians and are united in the fight against COVID-19, expressing the regrets of a COVID-19 sufferer about not being vaccinated, safeguarding young children from “monsters,” namely COVID-19, and people in a variety of pursuits and occupations protecting themselves by getting vaccinated. The ads feature state residents of different races, ethnicities, and ages and include elected leaders.

Regrettably, some Alabamians live in “information bubbles” that promote and sustain vaccine hesitancy. The Alabama Unites website sends the visitor to links which disseminate clear, complete and accurate messages about COVID-19 vaccines and encourage them to get tested when they experience symptoms. Resources provide answers to frequently asked questions on vaccine benefits, effectiveness, safety, possible side effects and availability. Information about what is known and what is unknown is provided.

This campaign demonstrates in an emotionally powerful way how important it is that we stand together. When more people get vaccinated and tested, we are encouraged, because the fight is not over yet. It is still critical that Alabamians protect themselves and others by receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Anyone who has symptoms of the virus should get tested as soon as possible. By doing these things, we can greatly reduce the effects of COVID-19.

Dr. Scott Harris is the State Health Officer for Alabama

7. State-sanctioned racism is illegal and bad

• New York recently announced that they would be allowing non-white citizens to qualify for low-supply coronavirus treatments, claiming, “Non-white race or Hispanic/Latino ethnicity should be considered a risk factor, as longstanding systemic health and social inequalities have contributed to an increased risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19.”
• Now, critics are claiming that the rule is unconstitutional and racist. Former U.S. Assistant Attorney Andy McCarthy has said, “New York’s noxious provision violates both the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments…It is also a violation of the federal civil rights laws, including, very likely, a felony violation of the criminal statute that prohibits state and municipal officials, acting under color of law, from depriving people of the constitutional and legal rights by reason of those person’s race or color.”

6. Biden administration buying more coronavirus treatments

• As the United States deals with an increase of coronavirus cases, President Joe Biden’s administration is planning to increase its purchase of Pfizer’s coronavirus treatment from 10 million doses to 20 million doses. This is for the pill treatment that was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
• The country has been diagnosing a record number of coronavirus cases almost daily, and this treatment can be used for people that don’t have symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization.

5. Jessica Taylor has endorsed Mike Durant

• U.S. Senate candidate and businesswoman Jessica Taylor, who never filed for the U.S. Senate race, has made the decision to exit the race. She also endorsed candidate Mike Durant. Taylor made the announcement at a Republican Women of Huntsville meeting. 
• In her endorsement, Taylor said, “Mike Durant is the political outsider that Alabama needs in Washington, and I am proud to endorse his campaign for United States Senate.” She added, “Mike will use his business experience and outsider perspective to deliver for Alabama and drain the swamp. I look forward to supporting Mike’s campaign and sending him to Washington for one more mission.”

4. Britt comments on January 6 Capitol riot, but she’s not going after Brooks

• Recently, U.S. Senate candidate Katie Britt was asked about the anniversary of the U.S. Capitol riot that happened on January 6, 2021. Britt simply said, “The people who need to be held accountable are the people who broke the law.” 
• Britt didn’t fault U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville), her opponent in Alabama’s U.S. Senate race, for the riot. She stated, “Those things are personal choices by each of those people,” adding, “Those people made a choice to break the law, and if they chose to break the law, then they should be held accountable.”

3. Manchin is still a no on ending the filibuster

• U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) said once again he will not be ending the filibuster so his Democrat colleagues can take over how voting is done in the United States from the states. Manchin seems to be against carving out special rules for votes he likes. He explained, “Anytime there’s a carve-out, you eat the whole turkey because it comes back.”
• While the media and their Democrats pretend that Manchin is the only thing standing between them and their dreams for a re-made America, Manchin is one of 52 senators (a majority) who have rejected ending the filibuster. In reality, Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) already rejected ending the filibuster, for this reason, weeks ago.

2. Mountain Brook is going virtual

• Chicago appears to be the largest school system in the country closing its schools, but some districts in Alabama are doing it as well. Mountain Brook Schools will be returning to school virtually for the week. This comes after many of the staff, about 40 employees, have tested positive for the coronavirus. However, the school district has decided to adopt a five-day quarantine policy.
• Recently, State Superintendent Eric Mackey said that schools would be using a 10-day quarantine rule. Hoover, Homewood and Midfield City are also adopting the shortened quarantine time based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation.

1. You will probably get the coronavirus, according to the State Health Officer

• State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris held a press conference through the Alabama Department of Public Health where he discussed the recent increase of the Omicron variant of coronavirus cases. Harris said, “[T]he Omicron variant that is becoming the predominant variant in this country is incredibly contagious.” 
• Harris focused largely on how contagious the variant is, eventually saying, “[I]t is just spreading like wildfire. It will infect everyone in this state at some point, probably, or most of them.” Harris also reiterated how important it is to be vaccinated. 

7. Democrats’ issues with spending lust continue

• The trillions of dollars of new spending the left-wing Democrat base desires is still running into roadblocks. There appears to be little movement among the more moderate members U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ).
• Surprisingly, an editorial by a socialist in a West Virginia newspaper is not bringing Manchin back into the Democrat fold. U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) used the Charleston Gazette-Mail to target Manchin in his home state but Manchin wasn’t having any of it. He stated, “Millions of jobs are open, supply chains are strained and unavoidable inflation taxes are draining workers’ hard-earned wages as the price of gasoline and groceries continues to climb. Senator Sanders’ answer is to throw more money on an already overheated economy while 52 other Senators have grave concerns about this approach.”

6. Supply chain issues are actually due to Biden doing a good job

• The United States has been dealing with continued issues of supply chain disruptions, and many have blamed President Joe Biden and his vaccine mandate that requires a majority of the country to get the coronavirus vaccine or lose their jobs. However, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg believes the supply chain issues are due to Biden’s plan actually working.
• Buttigieg appeared on CNN with Jake Tapper where he discussed the supply chain problem that’s impacting the country, and said that the issues will continue “because the president has successfully guided this economy out of the teeth of a terrifying recession.” This has continued the narrative that Biden is not responsible for missteps in his administration.

5. People only react poorly to Fauci because they don’t like the truth

• According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, people don’t actually have a legitimate reason to oppose his advice and statements, and instead, people are spreading “conspiracy theories” while he only reinforces “science, data and hard facts.” Fauci has repeatedly been criticized for flip-flopping on issues, making inaccurate or exaggerated statements, and pushing a narrative that appears politically motivated. Despite this, Fauci said that he tries “very hard…to be guided by the truth. And sometimes the truth becomes inconvenient for some people, so they react against me.”
• Fauci spent the weekend doing TV hits where he warned of a fifth coronavirus surge that he is already blaming on the unvaccinated, said that you can still spend time with your family this holiday season if you are vaccinated, and being mocked for his predictions about a college football-related surge.

4. Redistricting maps will likely be released on October 27

• State Senator Jim McClendon (R-Springville) has discussed the upcoming special session for redistricting, and as the co-chairman of the reapportionment committee, he’s said that the redistricting maps will likely be released publicly on October 27.
• He discussed the voting process and how they’ll decide between four different maps. According to McClendon, the maps that will be released “will be in the public record and available to anyone who wants to take a look at it. And what they will see is the maps that will be introduced in the House and Senate, and those are the maps that will start the process.”

3. Brooks going after Shelby and Britt on funding

• U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) has continued to say that the Alabama Farmers Federation (ALFA) and “Big Ag” are in favor of illegal immigration and open borders.
• While attending the Madison County Republican Men’s Club meeting, Brooks said that “Big Ag” benefits the most “from cheap foreign labor.” He went on to say that people should “look and see where these special interest groups go, and you get a pretty good idea where a candidate stands on these particular public policy issues.” Recently, ALFA endorsed U.S. Senate candidate Katie Britt over Brooks, and the allegation that Britt or ALFA are in favor of cheap foreign labor has been disputed by many, including Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth.

2. Cases have fallen dramatically

• The surge of coronavirus cases from the Delta variant has ended in Alabama as cases have started to fall to the lower levels seen before the variant, with only 3,946 cases in the last week, ending Sunday.
• Cases have followed a similar trend seen with every surge before and fallen after reaching a peak of nearly 3,000 hospitalizations, but with the Delta variant, there were 942 hospitalizations last Sunday and only 690 as of yesterday. This positive trend signals the end of the Delta variant surge in the state, while other states are still dealing with a surge.

1. Dr. Scott Harris won’t be quick to support a vaccine mandate ban

• State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris recently appeared on Alabama Public Television’s “Capitol Journal” where he discussed the push for the Alabama Legislature to pass a ban on vaccine mandates, and he’s hesitant to support something of that nature. His reasoning is rather weak, as is his positioning here.
• Harris appeared to be trying to remain neutral but said, “We don’t want to see anything put in place that makes it more difficult for people to get vaccinated,” and went on to say, “[W]e also don’t want to send a message that we need to protect Alabamians from being vaccinated.” No mainstream Alabamians have advocated either of these viewpoints.

During his weekly appearance on the latest broadcast of Alabama Public Television’s “Capitol Journal,” State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris addressed the possibility Gov. Kay Ivey could include language for the legislature to address a federal vaccine mandate in the call for the upcoming special session for redistricting.

Harris told APTV’s Don Dailey he was not involved in the decision-making process. However, he also cautioned against any actions that might lead Alabamians to believe that they needed to be protected from what he deemed a safe vaccine.

“I’m certainly not involved with the Governor’s decision in what to add to the call,” he said. “I will say that we just want people to be vaccinated. We don’t want to see anything put in place that makes it more difficult for people to get vaccinated. Rather to have a mandate or not is not a decision that is going to fall to us in public health. But I would say we also don’t want to send a message that we need to protect Alabamians from being vaccinated. The vaccines are safe. They’re effective. The vaccines that we have now have more safety data than any vaccines that have ever been given to anyone that have ever been approved by the FDA, ever. These vaccines are safe, and Alabamians don’t need to be protected from them.”

“Now their choice on whether to be vaccinated or not — that’s a different issue altogether and not one I’m trying to weigh in on,” Harris added. “But we need people to take away the message that somehow the vaccines are unsafe, and they don’t need to take them — that’s absolutely not true.”

@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Alabama, the editor of Breitbart TV, a columnist for Mobile’s Lagniappe Weekly, and host of Mobile’s “The Jeff Poor Show” from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on FM Talk 106.5.

Alabama will be dragged into the mandate conversation.

It has no choice.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) won his recall election, and now he is out to do what he wanted to all along — force his citizens to get a COVID-19 vaccine whether they want it or not.

Students will be required to take a vaccine once the federal government approves it for their age group. That’s right. California approved a vaccine before the medical professionals have.

Teachers will also have to be vaccinated, and no testing option will be available.

Are private schools an option? Nope. Private schools, too.

The only reason he hasn’t pushed for a vaccine mandate for all citizens is that he hasn’t figured out a way to do it yet.

Ignore the fact that prison guards don’t have a vaccine mandate in California.

But it doesn’t end in California. Other blue states will, of course, follow suit.

The American media will now press every single Republican governor they can about mandating vaccines for school children in their state.

If they push back, watch out.

West Virginia's @JimJusticeWV says there's "no chance" he'd impose a vaccine mandate for students in his state.

"I truly believe the mandates only divide us and only divide us more," he claims.

WATCH–> pic.twitter.com/PAhfAg8Xig

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) October 3, 2021

This doesn’t stop here. The Alabama political media will start banging away.

State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris will undoubtedly be asked if he will advise the governor to implement such a mandate.

But for giggles, let’s actually follow the science on this with the Alabama Department of Public Health.

There is no reason to force a child to take a vaccine.

I would argue it might be anti-science and borderline child abuse to even give a healthy kid a COVID-19 vaccine.

This is especially true given what we now know. According to the CDC’s Rochelle Walensky, the vaccine doesn’t always keep you from spreading or getting the virus.

“Our vaccines are working exceptionally well,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky tells @wolfblitzer. “They continue to work well for Delta, with regard to severe illness and death – they prevent it. But what they can't do anymore is prevent transmission." pic.twitter.com/s83YyBQqeh

— The Situation Room (@CNNSitRoom) August 5, 2021

The vaccine is about mitigation of the illness. Mandates that result in firings make less sense knowing that

Those in danger should take the vaccine and their boosters to minimize the illness’ impact, and we should try to live life normally.

But this isn’t about science — it is about politics.

The governor and the legislature should put a ban on these vaccine mandates into law, and they need to do it now.

Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9AM weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10AM to noon.

7. More than 200,000 migrant encounters in August

• According to the latest reports from the Department of Homeland Security, there were 208,887 encounters with migrants at the southern border in August, which is just below the more than 212,000 encounters in July. Compared to August 2020, there were 317% more encounters in August 2021. 
• There was an increase of 4% of families encountered since July, but single adult encounters were down slightly. Since President Joe Biden has taken office, the southern border has consistently been in crisis, but little has been done to address the issue. 

6. Students protest at Auburn after multiple sexual assaults reported

• At Auburn University, three students have reported incidents of sexual assault and rape within a week, and students have now protested the school’s handling of the incidents. Students are requesting more information about the accusations, including the fraternity where one of the assaults allegedly took place. 
• One report came from a student walking to Aubie Hall through the Village who said that she was assaulted through forcible touching by someone jogging past her, another student said she was raped and assaulted at a residential facility, and the third student has reported being raped at a fraternity house. In 2019, 12 rapes, 19 domestic violence incidents and 63 stalking incidents were reported on-campus. 

5. Ivey sees victory in unemployment battle

• A recent lawsuit was trying to force Governor Kay Ivey and the state of Alabama to re-adopt the additional federal unemployment benefits that the state opted out of in June, but the lawsuit has been dismissed by Circuit Judge James Anderson.  
• Anderson ruled in favor of Ivey and Labor Secretary Washington Fitzgerald’s authority “to participate in the programs that are the subject of this suit, no legal duty exists that requires them to do so.” This victory comes just as Ivey prepares to challenge the federal government’s recent vaccine mandate. 

4. Tuberville staying focused on Afghanistan

• U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) has deemed the vaccine mandate from President Joe Biden as a distraction from other issues within the administration, including the handling of Afghanistan, but he’s determined to keep the focus on Afghanistan. 
• Tuberville said he wants to remind people of Afghanistan “until the election next year,” and added that while Biden’s reelection chances are shot, “they’re really trying to hold on to the House and Senate. They will lose the House definitely. We’ve just got to get the Senate.”

3. Brooks vs. Britt, round 1

• Alabama’s U.S. Senate candidates recently attended a Republican Women of Coffee County meeting in Enterprise where U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) and candidate Katie Britt, the former head of the BCA, exchanged heated remarks over their previous voting record. This started after the candidates were asked about their support of former Justice Roy Moore and former President Donald Trump. Britt was clear that she’s never voted for a Democrat, and she stated her support of the Republican Party. She advised that she “lived outside the district” during Moore’s election.
• Before Brooks stated his support for Moore and the Republican Party, he remarked to Britt, “That’s going to be an issue in this race.” However, Britt brought up Brooks’ previous hesitancy to support Trump and his statements against Trump but mentioned that she voted for Trump “every single time he was on the ballot.” Brooks countered with the fact that Trump has endorsed him multiple times, adding, “Trump knows who the real fighter is for the MAGA agenda in the state of Alabama, and he has said it is Mo Brooks.”

2. 2020 will likely be the deadliest year on record for Alabama

• Alabama State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said that Alabama had more deaths in 2020 than any other year on record. Harris made the comment during a town hall with AL.com, saying that the death toll will exceed other years “by a lot.”
• Harris has requested that his staff compile numbers back 1900, but he’s expecting 2020 to exceed other years by 6,000-7,000 deaths. Also, for the first time on record, Alabama saw more deaths than births. Birth rates have been declining overall since the 1950s, but the steep increase in deaths in 2020 caused deaths to surpass births. 

1. Biden has confidence in Milley

• It’s been reported that Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley held “secret” phone calls with China, as well as made attempts to undercut then-President Donald Trump’s authority. Many believe what Milley did was out of line and have called for his firing or resignation, and some believe it is treason, but not President Joe Biden.
• Despite these reports, Biden has said that he has “great confidence” in Milley. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that Biden’s “experience with him has been that he is a patriot,” adding that Biden has “confidence” in Milley for his “leadership, his patriotism and his fidelity to our Constitution.”

Physician experts with the Alabama Medical Association during Thursday’s live-streamed COVID-19 update will answer questions surrounding the use of monoclonal antibody treatment.

According to the association, monoclonal antibody treatments have been credited with reducing hospitalizations for COVID-19 patients. Earlier this week, the Medical Association raised concerns that the federal government is taking steps to limit access to the treatments.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) last week alerted state health officials that efforts to expand monoclonal antibody therapy locations have come to a halt. Additionally, HHS told state agencies that it is temporarily placing a limit on the number of orders health care providers can request, estimating that only 70% of orders will be approved.

During Thursday's Facebook Live, we will discuss and answer questions about monoclonal antibody treatments.

We will hear from Dr. Scott Harris, Dr. Aruna Arora, and expert guests, Dr. David Thrasher and Dr. Michael Saag.

We hope to see you there! pic.twitter.com/6SzpY9IZ3a

— Medical Association of the State of Alabama (@almedassoc) September 14, 2021

Currently in Alabama, there are 380 locations that provide monoclonal antibody treatment, including non-hospital locations such as physician offices and urgent care centers.

State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris, Medical Association president Dr. Aruna Arora, and expert guests, Dr. David Thrasher and Dr. Michael Saag will partake in the weekly pandemic update.

The Facebook Live format allows viewers to watch the discussion and submit questions. The conversation is part of a weekly Facebook Live COVID-19 update by physicians with the Medical Association that takes place every Thursday.

Thursday’s live-streamed update can be viewed on the Alabama Medical Association’s Facebook page beginning at 4:00 p.m.

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL

The Alabama Medical Association, during its weekly COVID-19 webcast, will host former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina M. Benjamin to discuss issues relating to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Medical Association president Dr. Aruna Arora and State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris will join the former U.S. surgeon general in discussing ongoing mitigation efforts to combat the spread the Delta variant.

Arora offered a grim assessment of the current state of the virus in Alabama and encouraged citizens to take part and view the Facebook live-stream.

“COVID’s devastation continues,” said Arora. “Our hospitals are full but our medical staff are running on empty. Nearly everyone by now has been touched by COVID in some way, and we encourage Alabamians to be part of this Facebook Live event to get the latest information and hopefully have their questions answered.”

During Benjamin’s tenure as surgeon general, she oversaw the operational command of 6,500 uniformed public health officers. She is the former associate dean for Rural Health at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine. In 2002, Benjamin made history as she became the first black woman to serve as president of the Alabama Medical Association.

The webcast is part of the Medical Association’s weekly COVID-19 update which seeks to inform the public about mitigation efforts relating to the ongoing pandemic. The format allows viewers to submit questions that will be addressed by health care experts.

Thursday’s live-streamed update can be viewed on the Alabama Medical Association’s Facebook page, beginning at 4:00 p.m.

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL

Gov. Kay Ivey (R-AL) on Friday announced the reallocation of $12.3 million from the Coronavirus Relief Fund for the recruitment of out-of-state travel nurses to temporarily serve in Alabama hospitals as the state contends with widespread nursing shortage.

The governor praised the state’s recent uptick in vaccinations but cited the need for increased hospital staff as the COVID-19 Delta variant continues to impact the state.

“I’m pleased to see more folks getting vaccinated, but we are still in the thick of COVID-19 and our hospitals are overwhelmed,” said Ivey. “In consideration of the current surge of the virus and the strain on our dedicated healthcare professionals, I have directed the $12.3 million of CARES Act funding be reallocated to recruit more trained staff to our nursing corps. Until our vaccination rates rise and our COVID-19 hospitalization rates fall, we will need the extra support these nurses provide.”

In consideration of the current surge of #COVID19 & the strain on our dedicated healthcare professionals, I’ve directed $12.3 million of #CARESAct funding be reallocated to recruit more trained staff to our nursing corps. @ALPublicHealth #alpoliticshttps://t.co/Y7QWXfaJkS

— Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) September 3, 2021

State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris, in coordination with the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), designated the nursing shortage Alabama’s most urgent need. ADPH will work with the Alabama Hospital Association to develop a process to recruit these travel nurses.

Harris hailed Ivey’s willingness to address the issue and said the timing is “crucial” in the state’s efforts to mitigate the stress of understaffing.

“ADPH would like to express its gratitude to Governor Ivey and State Finance Director Poole for providing this support to Alabama hospitals, which are seeing unprecedented numbers of patients infected with Covid-19” said Harris. “This funding comes at a crucial time and will make a tremendous difference in increasing the nursing workforce in our state.”

The $12.3 million reallocation is from Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) funds that were previously obligated but not reimbursed among the various approved expenditures.

House Speaker Mac McCutcheon (R-Monrovia) touted the work of health care workers across the state in their fight against the ongoing pandemic.

“The on-going coronavirus pandemic has presented struggles for many across the state, but perhaps no group has faced as many challenges or stood taller than the frontline medical workers in hospitals, clinics, and physicians’ offices across the state,” said McCutcheon.

He added, “Our nurses are forced to set aside concerns and worries about their own health as they tend to the patients who are fighting a highly-contagious virus that has already taken so many from us. It seems altogether fitting that Alabama is devoting a portion of its CARES Act dollars to a group that has demonstrated it cares the most – the nurses who provide aid to the sick and injured in the most remote rural communities and the largest urban centers alike.”

Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed (R-Jasper) also praised Ivey’s reallocation of funding.

“The coronavirus pandemic has created an unprecedented need for quality nurses at hospitals across our state. Alabama’s nurses, working on the front lines to save lives and care for those struggling with this virus, have been nothing short of heroic throughout this pandemic,” said Reed. “I have heard from leaders across our state – especially from those in harder hit areas – that this is a critical, much-needed resource. I am glad that these relief dollars will go towards alleviating some of the stress put on our hospital system and provide hospitalized Alabamians with the care they need.”

The state of Alabama received approximately $1.9 billion of federal CARES Act funding to combat COVID-19.

The funds were designated as follows:

• $300 million to reimburse state agencies for expenses directly related to the coronavirus outbreak.
• $250 million to reimburse counties and cities for coronavirus expenses.
• $250 million to deliver health care and related services to residents.
• $300 to support citizens, businesses, and non-profit and faith-based organizations impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
• $53 million for remote work and public access expenses incurred by state government, including the Legislature.
• $300 million for technology and infrastructure expenses related to remote learning.
• $200 million for reimbursement of costs to the Department of Corrections incurred because of the outbreak.
• $10 million to the reimbursement of costs to ensure access to courts during the pandemic.
• $5 million to reimburse the State General Fund for supplemental appropriations to the Alabama Department of Public Health.

   

  Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL

The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) on Thursday announced that is has launched its “KICK COVID” campaign, which will promote vaccinations and education regarding vaccine efficacy.

The statewide campaign will offer COVID-19 vaccinations and testing in prominent locations at select home games for each football program this fall. Each school will have its own unique promotional campaign aimed at encouraging students and fans alike to become inoculated against the deadly virus.

Student-athletes will play a significant role in the campaign’s messaging and promotion. ADPH has partnered with sports event management firm Bruno Event Team for the initiative. The firm is working with players from all 13 state schools that play Division I college football.

ADPH has partnered with @brunoeventteam to launch the KICK COVID campaign, which will promote vaccinations and education regarding vaccine efficacy by leveraging the state’s passion for college football. News release at https://t.co/jo8nnSX9o6. #covid19vaccine #kickcovid pic.twitter.com/DFF53HDArJ

— Alabama Public Health (@ALPublicHealth) September 2, 2021

According to Opelika-Auburn News, notable players that have signed onto the campaign under college football’s new name, image and likeness (NIL) rules are the Crimson Tide’s Will Anderson, John Metchie III, Will Reichard and Slade Bolden, as well as Auburn’s Bo Nix, Owen Pappoe and Anders Carlson.

State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris praised the partnership and is optimistic that it will lead to an increase in vaccinations.

“With the highly contagious Delta COVID-19 variant circulating, and cases, hospitalizations and deaths increasing, we continue urging all eligible people to be vaccinated as quickly as possible,” said Harris. “These new and popular venues will provide additional opportunities for people to learn more about the virus, the vaccine, and receive testing and vaccine on-site.”

Bruno Event Team CEO Gene Hallman said the campaign will appeal to the state’s love of college football to promote vaccination.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to utilize the power of college football as a platform for promoting the need to get vaccinated,” said Hallman. “The 2020 season was lacking the passion that comes from large crowds cheering for their favorite team. We need to do everything possible to ensure players and fans can safely return to stadiums to experience college football as we know and love it.”

For more information regarding gameday vaccine and testing schedules, visit kickcovid19.com.

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL

7. Rogers: We can’t ignore China

• U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R-Saks) has brought focus back to the threat that China poses to the United States, saying it’s a “long-term threat.” He argued while there are immediate threats to the country, China can’t be ignored.
• Rogers described China as a “hostile adversary” and went on to say that “we have got to free ourselves of any kind of [dependence on them] for anything because they are not our friend.” Rogers added that the House Armed Services Committee is “serious” about the threat that China poses.

6. The officer who killed Ashli Babbitt has identified himself

• After eight months, and complete silence from those who are usually howling about police officers discharging their weapons, the police officer who shot Ashli Babbitt during the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6 has finally been identified. Lt. Michael Byrd shot Babbitt when she was entering a window while unarmed.
• Byrd said, “I know that day I saved countless lives,” and “I know members of Congress, as well as my fellow officers and staff, were in jeopardy and in serious danger. And that’s my job.” Babbitt was unarmed and coming through a window when shot, but prosecutors said it was justified. They said, “The investigation revealed no evidence to establish that, at the time the officer fired a single shot at Ms. Babbitt, the officer did not reasonably believe that it was necessary to do so in self-defense or in defense of the Members of Congress and others evacuating the House Chamber”

5. Federal help coming to Dothan

• In Dothan, Alabama, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will send health care workers to assist a hospital that has seen increasing issues with coronavirus cases in the area. The assistance was announced by State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris.
• The Dothan hospital also sees patients from Florida and Georgia and recently set a record of 119 coronavirus patients at the hospital. Previously, Harris indicated that he would seek federal help for some areas of Alabama.

4. Shelby County Schools will require masks

• The growth of coronavirus cases across Alabama has not slowed down much, and now Shelby County Schools have become the next system to require masks in their schools for all staff and students. 
• The new policy will take effect on August 30. Superintendent Lewis Brooks has said this is a “temporary change” but they “feel strongly it is necessary if we are going to positively impact the rising number of cases in our community.” Brooks added that this is the best way for the school to avoid having to shut down. Not many people think this actually works. It is more theater.

3. U.S. names were given to the Taliban

• It’s been reported that there was a list of names of U.S. citizens given to the Taliban. Included in the list were also the names of Afghan allies. The list had to be given to the Taliban for these people to be able to go to the airport in Kabul and evacuate.
• A defense official said that this was essentially “a kill list” based on the Taliban’s past of killing Afghans who helped the U.S. military. In general, there is a sense of shock among most officials that a list of this nature would’ve been turned over to the Taliban.

2. Attack in Afghanistan, multiple Americans dead, Biden offers few answers

• On Thursday, there were two explosions in Kabul, Afghanistan, and so far, there have been at least 13 U.S. troops and 90 Afghans pronounced dead. It’s expected that those numbers could climb in the coming days.
• President Joe Biden held a press briefing on the situation in Afghanistan where he gave few answers of substance, but he did say that there would be action taken against ISIS-K, who have taken credit for the attacks. Despite this promise, Biden intends to stick to the August 31 to remove all remaining U.S. citizens.

1. Alabama Republicans want action on Afghanistan quickly and Biden to take responsibility

• After the attack in Kabul, representatives from Alabama urged President Joe Biden to act quickly in response to the ISIS-K activity. U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R-Saks) said that those responsible “have hell to pay.”
• U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) commented on the attack and fallen soldiers, saying, “WE mourn their lives and pray for the safety of all those serving in Afghanistan.” U.S. Representative Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) said this was “preventable,” and U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) said, “Biden should take responsibility for this disgrace and resign immediately.” They aren’t the only ones calling for Biden to pay.

The Alabama Medical Association on Thursday will seek to combat common myths surrounding the COVID-19 vaccines and answer questions about becoming inoculated during a Facebook Live webcast.

The conversation is part of a weekly Facebook Live pandemic update sponsored by the Medical Association that takes place every Thursday.

Medical Association President Dr. Aruna Arora hopes the live-streamed discussion will lead to more Alabamians choosing to receive the vaccine.

“There is an epidemic of misinformation surrounding the COVID-19 vaccines that has convinced far too many to remain unvaccinated,” said Aruna. “The answer to misinformation is accurate information. We encourage everyone who has questions or concerns about the vaccines to discuss them with medical doctors, who will provide factual information based on evidence.”

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7. Huntsville now the largest city in Alabama

• Huntsville has officially surpassed Birmingham’s population, totaling 215,006 people in Huntsville, compared to the 200,733 in Birmingham. Montgomery has remained in third place with 200,603 people.
• Mobile is the fourth largest city with a population of 187,041. Since the 2010 Census, Huntsville has seen a 19.4% increase, but the three other cities saw population loss. Birmingham has lost 11,504, Montgomery has lost 5,161 and Mobile has lost 8,070.

6. If you welcome them, they will come across your southern border (more…)

Alabama is currently experiencing an alarming increase in hospitalizations associated with COVID-19, with some hospitals suspending elective surgeries due to the sharp spike in cases. To address this concerning rise, the Alabama Medical Association will host a Facebook Live webcast on Thursday to discuss the dire situation facing the state’s hospitals.

Physicians who will participate in the discussion are State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris, Dr. Don Williamson of the Alabama Hospital Association, Dr. William Admire, chief medical officer for Mobile Infirmary and North Baldwin Infirmary, and Dr. Aruna Arora, president of the Medical Association.

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The Alabama Medical Association on Thursday will host a Facebook Live webcast with State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris and Dr. Mimi Munn, a maternal-fetal physician who is professor and chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at USA Health.

The physicians will address questions about COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy related to pregnancy and infertility. The format allows viewers to watch the discussion and submit questions. Dr. Aruna Arora, the president of the Medical Association, will also take part in the discussion.

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