Government

Jefferson County and Birmingham Under Emergency Declarations for Coronavirus

The Jefferson County Commission and Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin declared states of emergency for the county and  city Monday in an attempt to stem the spread of the coronavirus. The County Commission approved an emergency declaration and voted to close county facilities, effective at the end of business on Monday, until April 6.  The commission will reevaluate the situation then. Woodfin, in declaring the state of emergency for the city, suggested that events be limited to attendance of 25 people or less. Read more.

Alabama Sees More Closings to Prevent the Spread of the Coronavirus

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending cancelation of any planned gatherings of 50 or more people in the next two months, an extraordinary measure but just the latest of the dominos to fall in the effort to dampen the spread of the novel coronavirus. The federal and state governments already have declared states of emergency, and the Jefferson County Commission voted this morning to declare a state of emergency and close county facilities at the end of business today. As part of the state’s preventative measures, Gov. Kay Ivey said in a memo to department heads on Sunday that, other than departments that provide essential services, they should instruct any workers who can to work from home until April 6. If employees can’t work from home, they are to be placed on paid emergency leave and stay away from their workplace until April 6. UAB and Samford University followed similar patterns, saying only essential personnel should enter the campuses. Workers who can work from home will be doing so, and those who can’t will be on leave for the next two weeks. The number of COVID-19 cases in Alabama rose to 28 on Monday — 17 in Jefferson County; three in Tuscaloosa County; three in Shelby County; and one each in Baldwin, Elmore, Lee, Limestone and Montgomery counties. Nationally more than 3,400 cases of the coronavirus and 68 deaths have been reported. Read more about developments on the coronavirus front.

Woodlawn: Change and Challenges Define a City Neighborhood

On one side of First Avenue North, Bayles Restaurant and Catering serves everything from thick hamburgers to lentil soup for a steady stream of residents, workers and even police officers. Across the street, other people flow into the soup kitchen offered by Grace Episcopal Church. A few blocks down at Woodlawn United Methodist Church, volunteers load boxes with meat, dry goods and vegetables for a regular food distribution to needy families. You don’t have to look far to see both the success of redevelopment and the challenges that remain in Woodlawn. The Health Community Assessment Tool compiled by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ranks Woodlawn among the top tier of Birmingham’s 99 neighborhoods in business retention and economic health. The community ranks near the bottom on public safety and blight. Neighborhood leaders say change is coming and Woodlawn has seen rebirth in recent years – thanks to nonprofits, public-private partnerships, and a community of residents who refuse to let their neighborhood die. “We just had to stand up,” said Donna Hall, a former officer in the Woodlawn Neighborhood Association. Read more.

House Passes Coronavirus Relief Funds; Alabama’s Byrne Is in the Minority Opposing the Spending

Voterama in Congress WASHINGTON — The House overwhelmingly approved a coronavirus relief and economic stimulus coronavirus-related spending bill Saturday that would spend tens of billions of dollars in stimulus and safety-net spending to cushion the economic and social impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne, R-Ala., was among the minority voting against the bill, which passed 363-40. He said in a statement that representatives were given a 110-page bill and asked to vote on it 26 minutes later. “Although I agree with many of the provisions in this legislation, this is no way to govern. We should be sending a message of calm and steady leadership in the face of this crisis, not forcing through bills in the dead of night,” he said in the statement. Read more.

With COVID-19 Cases Confirmed, Schools are Set to Close, Drive-Thru Testing Begins and Churches and Facilities Put Precautions in Place

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey closed public schools and declared a state of emergency Friday as Alabama confirmed its first cases of COVID-19. A Jefferson County resident became the second confirmed case of the new coronavirus in the state, and a Montgomery man was identified with the virus earlier Friday. The Department of Public Health is reporting four presumptive positive tests in addition to the two positive results. Those people are in Elmore, Limestone and Tuscaloosa counties, and one person tested was from out of town, according to the Department of Public Health website. In all, 74 people had been approved for tests when the website was updated Friday. The Jefferson County case involves an international traveler who returned home and was tested by a private physician. The Montgomery case is a Maxwell Air Force Base civilian employee. Across the nation, there were 1,629 cases of the virus and 41 deaths, according to the Center for Disease Control's update as of Friday evening. Read more.

Sports Fans’ Dismay: Most Sporting Events Suspended, Locally and Nationally

If you were planning to take in a Birmingham Bulls hockey game, or a youth volleyball tournament or youth soccer play, you’re bound for disappointment. Sports have been anything but fun and games this week as COVID-19 has knocked much of the sports world off its axis. The diagnosis that one, and then a second, player in the National Basketball Association has contracted the virus began a domino effect that continues to ripple across the country and even to some youth sports in metro Birmingham. Locally, a weekend bicycle race, a volleyball tournament and youth soccer play are among the events that have been called off. Beyond today, Gov. Kay Ivey announced that public schools will close at the end of business Wednesday and remain closed for about two weeks with a proposed reopening on April 8. During that school closure, there will be no school sports events or practices. Read more.

Medical Marijuana Bill Passes Senate

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate after five hours of debate Thursday passed legislation to allow and regulate medical marijuana. Read more.

PSC Hearing Wraps Up. Decision on Alabama Power’s $1.1 Billion Expenditure Not Likely Soon.

Testimony wrapped up Wednesday in a Public Service Commission hearing on Alabama Power Company’s bid to spend $1.1 billion to add new energy sources. The company and opposing groups were asked to submit legal briefs by April 17 to support their views on how administrative law judge John A. Garner should rule in the matter. A decision is not expected until summer, and further delay is likely if the ruling is challenged in circuit court. Read more. More on the topic:

PSC Hearing Starts Monday on Alabama Power Request to Add $1.1 Billion in Energy Capacity

State Puts $5M Toward Coronavirus Prep, Testing

Alabama Daily News The Alabama Legislature and Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday issued $5 million to help the Alabama Department of Public Health prepare for and test more Alabamians for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. As of Thursday evening, State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said there have been no positive cases found in the limited number of Alabamians tested for COVID-19. But he believes the virus is in the state. “I don’t think there is any doubt we have disease circulating to some degree," Harris said. Read more.

Cancel Gatherings of 500 People or More, Jefferson County Health Officer Advises

Jefferson County’s health officer, Dr. Mark Wilson, in a press conference Thursday recommended canceling all public gatherings of 500 people or more in a bid to protect people from the new coronavirus. No one in Alabama has been diagnosed with COVID-19, but there’s a good chance there are undiagnosed cases in the state, Wilson said. Read more.