Glenn Stephens

Alabama First Class Pre-K Earns High Mark, Increases Enrollment

Alabama’s First Class Pre-K program was named the country’s highest-quality state pre-kindergarten program for the 14th year in a row, Gov. Kay Ivey announced on Wednesday. “Alabama First Class Pre-K is once again proving to be successful in providing a solid foundation for our youngest learners to be successful in school and life,” Ivey said in a prepared statement. “From our state’s historic investment in pre-K to (Secretary of Early Childhood Education) Jeana Ross’s unmatched leadership, Alabama is setting the standard for excellence in early childhood education around the country. We can all be proud that Alabama continues to lead the nation in high-quality early childhood education.” Read more.

Alabama Congressional Delegation Sends Reopening Suggestions to Ivey

Several members of Alabama's congressional delegation sent recommendations to Gov. Kay Ivey this week on how to gradually reopen the state's economy, including specific concerns in their districts. Each representative’s report consisted of input from various business owners, state lawmakers, medical health officials and community leaders. Ivey requested the input last week. Read more.

Digital Resource Portal Helps Educators, Parents and Students During Pandemic

The statewide closure of schools has prompted educators to find ways to add to their teaching capabilities during the coronavirus pandemic. As part of that effort, two companies worked in partnership last month to create a digital resource portal for Alabama educators, parents and students from pre-kindergarten through high school. Publishers’ Warehouse, in partnership with EBSCO Information Services, created EBSCOed to pull together online and published resources purchased by the state. Read more.

Birmingham Superintendent Lisa Herring Stepping Down to Lead Atlanta Public Schools

Birmingham school Superintendent Lisa Herring is leaving to become superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools. She is expected to remain head of Birmingham City Schools through the end of May, at which point she will return to her home state of Georgia. The Birmingham school system announced Tuesday Herring has been named the “sole finalist” for the post in Atlanta. Read more.

COVID-19 Restrictions Not Slowing Work For Divorce Lawyers

Divorce lawyer Frances Ross Nolan, a partner at the Birmingham firm Nolan Byers, remembers hearing about the coronavirus back in February. It was this sort of vague notion there was this thing out there. Then she received an email from a client whose kids were scheduled to go on a cruise with the other parent. The mom was concerned about the virus. “That was probably the first work-related, bring it into this universe experience that I had,” Nolans says. “That email was March 4th.” By middle of the month, Nolan, like so many others, shut down the office and began working remotely. The COVID-19 pandemic has been an issue for every corner of the legal world. Jury trials in Jefferson County are on hold. The Alabama Supreme Court has suspended most in-person matters as well. It’s a challenge for those in family law because many meetings tend to happen in-person. But they’ve been able to keep practicing with a few adjustments. Read more.

Birmingham Mayor Undecided on When to Reopen City Economy

The city of Birmingham is working closely with Alabama health officials to determine when the city’s economy will reopen. At a press conference Tuesday, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin offered updates on the city’s fight against the coronavirus. Woodfin said it’s important for residents to continue following the stay-at-home order as local and state officials take the next steps to address the economic crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Woodfin was joined by Wesley Willeford, medical director of disease control with the Jefferson County Department of Health. Willeford said the number of new coronavirus cases is decreasing each day. He said that’s due to social distancing efforts and the work of the community, as residents limit interaction with each other. Read more.

Ivey: Shelter in Place Won’t End Before April 30

Gov. Kay Ivey said this morning that she has no plans to reopen the state's economy until testing for the coronavirus has increased. Ivey also said her shelter-in-place order will remain in effect until the end of April.  "At this point I plan to base all decisions on data, not desire. Testing is still a challenge. We can't really reopen the economy until testing needs are met," she said. Read more.

Coronavirus Rates in Alabama Hit Blacks the Hardest — and Experts Are Not Surprised

In Alabama, COVID-19 is taking a significantly greater toll on black residents than on whites and the population in general, with a higher rate of disease incidence and a higher rate of fatalities as a result. And what’s happening here reflects what’s happening all over the country, as acknowledged by a growing chorus of medical experts who are pointing out that COVID-19 is having a pronounced impact on the black community compared to the population in general. For many people this revelation comes as a shock. Not so for Dr. Mona Fouad, director of the UAB Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center, who has developed years of research telling her to expect this pandemic to hit black communities harder. Read more. Read sidebar

CORONAVIRUS The Rumor: Black Americans Are Not Affected as Much by the Coronavirus Pandemic.

The Rumor: Black Americans Are Not Affected as Much by the Coronavirus Pandemic

As evidence mounts that black Americans are feeling a disproportionate weight of the coronavirus pandemic, some are unaware of an ironic rumor that has now been debunked. That rumor held that black people were immune or more resistant to COVID-19. Citylab.com characterized the rumor as an attempt at humor, with the March 14 headline, “Why You Should Stop Joking That Black People are Immune to Coronavirus.” But the rumor persists. According to the newspaper The Baltimore Sun, as recently as April 14, “Baltimore officials are planning a targeted ad campaign to reach the city’s black residents in hopes of combating rumors that black people cannot get the new coronavirus, the city’s health commissioner announced Tuesday.” Read more.

Coronavirus Pushes Telemedicine Efforts, Access in Alabama

Prior to March and the COVID-19 outbreak in Alabama, Dr. Beverly Jordan’s medical practice in Enterprise did not conduct online telemedicine visits with patients. But in a recent week, Professional Medical Associates conducted 30 remote visits with patients who either suspected they had COVID-19 or have pre-existing conditions and were trying to avoid the virus by staying home. “This outbreak has clearly pushed telemedicine in this state,” Jordan said. Read more.