Presented by

The Business Council of Alabama

 

 

Good morning!

Here’s your Daily News for Monday, August 10.

 

1. COVID-19 update

 

• Alabama added 2,908 confirmed cases of COVID-19 Saturday and Sunday, bringing the total since March to 97,735, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health.
• Thirty-three deaths were recorded over the weekend, bringing that total to 1,707.
• And after declining for a few days, reported COVID-19-related hospitalizations increased Sunday to 1,595.
• The state’s seven-day average for new cases had decreased to 1,274 on Sunday, according to the independent website BamaTracker, which studies ADPH data. That’s the lowest average in almost a month.
• Gov. Kay Ivey’s statewide mask use order remains in effect as some schools open to in-person instruction this week. It applies to all staff and students in second grade and higher.
• Of the total COVID-19 cases, about 21% have been in people age 5 to 24. Nearly 40% of cases have been in the 25-49 age group.
• Though they’re only 16% of cases, Alabamians 65 and older have been 78% of COVID-19-related deaths.
• Meanwhile, the entire football team and marching band at Oneonta High School are under quarantine following exposure to the new coronavirus.
• The team stopped summer workouts in late July after two coaches and four players tested positive.
• Band director David Bearden said one of 135 students tested positive in his group, so a quarantine was needed.
• Full story HERE.

 

2. Will College Football happen?

• On Friday, the Southeastern Conference announced each member team’s two additional cross-divisional match-ups, just the kind of thing to get rabid college football fans jeering and jawing over Twitter and talk radio about who has the harder schedule.
• By Sunday, much of that banter had given way to reports that the season was at risk of being postponed or cancelled altogether.
• The Power Five conference commissioners met Sunday to discuss mounting concern about whether a college football season can be played in a pandemic.
• Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said no decisions on the season have been made, but conceded the outlook has not improved.
• “Are we in a better place today than two weeks, ago?” he said. “No, we’re not.”
• Bowlsby cited “growing evidence and the growing pool of data around myocarditis.”
• Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart and it has been found in some COVID-19 patients. There is concern it could be a long-term complication of contracting the virus even in young, healthy people, a group that has usually avoided severe cardiovascular symptoms.
• Meanwhile, hundreds of college football players took to social media to urge leaders to let them play with the hashtag #WeWantToPlay.
• Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, one of the sport’s biggest stars and a Heisman Trophy contender, posted a series of tweets.
• “People are at just as much, if not more risk, if we don’t play,” Lawrence tweeted. “Players will all be sent home to their own communities where social distancing is highly unlikely and medical care and expenses will be placed on the families if they were to contract covid19.”
• Many players also united to demand several new policies to protect their health, education and financial interests.
• Read more from Ralph Russo HERE.

 

 

 

 

A message from

The Business Council of Alabama

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Most day care facilities are open in state

 

 

4. Can Trump’s executive orders work?

• In case you missed it over the weekend, President Donald Trump bypassed Congress issuing executive orders to defer payroll taxes and replace part of a supplemental unemployment benefit that had expired.
• The move came after negotiations broke down between Republicans and Democrats in Congress.
• One quick thing to note is that, because the president is using a disaster aid statute that requires a 25% state match, states would need to put up a fourth of the funding to get the unemployment benefit bump. That could be significant, including in Alabama.
• Of course, Trump’s actions come with constitutionality questions. How much the executive can encroach on the legislative branch’s enumerated powers, especially when the latter has not acted, is almost certain to be battled out in court once again.
• You may remember back in 2012 when President Barack Obama, frustrated by Congress’ inaction on immigration reform, issued an executive memo setting up the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which allowed undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children to avoid deportation and work legally.
• Republicans mostly opposed that executive action back then, calling it unconstitutional. With the shoe now on the other foot, most Democrats are saying the same about Trump’s orders.
• Memories of the DACA fight and the need to appear consistent have kept some in the GOP from offering full-throated support for Trump’s orders, while the criticism from Democrats has been piercing.
• Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin dared the Democrats to sue.
• “If the Democrats want to challenge us in court and hold up unemployment benefits to those hardworking Americans who are out of a job because of COVID, they’re going to have a lot of explaining to do,” Mnuchin said.
• Both the White House and congressional Democrats indicated Sunday they wanted to resume negotiations, but no talks were scheduled.
• Read more and watch the videos HERE.

 

5. News Briefs

 

Fundraising ride set for Alabama officer injured in crash

• TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama police officers plan to use a motorcycle ride to raise money for a colleague injured in a recent crash.
• Tuscaloosa officer Justin Taylor was off duty July 7 when his motorcycle crashed into a car that pulled into his path. Police determined the driver of the other vehicle was blinded by the sun and no charges were brought.
• But Taylor suffered serious injuries and is still recovering a month later, the Tuscaloosa News reported.
• Tuscaloosa Police Chief Brent Blankley said fellow officers have organized a benefit motorcycle ride for Aug. 23. The entry fee of $25 for riders and $5 for passengers will go to Taylor to help with his medical bills.
• “It’s something that we wish we didn’t have to do because of the accident,” Blankley said. “But we want him to know that we’re there for him, that the community is there for him.”

1 killed, 5 injured at shooting at motorcycle club

• BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Police say a shooting at an Alabama motorcycle club left one person dead and injured five others, including an off-duty Birmingham police officer.
• News outlets report the shooting occurred just before midnight Saturday. Birmingham Police Sgt. Rod Mauldin said one gunshot victim died at the hospital. The other victims, including the off-duty officer, had injuries that were not life-threatening.
• Police did not immediately release the name of the person who was killed or say what led to the shooting.
• Mauldin said all six victims were customers of the club at the time of the shooting.
• The Alabama Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation.

Police: Person found shot to death inside car on I-65

• BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Police in Alabama were responding to a traffic accident on Interstate 65 when they found a person shot to death inside a vehicle, authorities said.
• Birmingham police responded to a reported traffic accident around 1 a.m. Monday, news outlets reported.
• Police Sgt. Rod Mauldin said officers found the victim on the northbound side of I-65 unresponsive and suffering from a gunshot. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
• Mauldin said police believe the victim may have been targeted. The victim’s identification wasn’t immediately released.
• Mauldin said anyone with information should contact the police.

Authorities ID woman whose body was found in Alabama woods

• GRANT, Ala. (AP) — Alabama authorities have identified a woman whose body was found last week in a wooded area.
• Marshall County investigators said the body was identified Friday as Sheri Jeanee Adkins, 52, of Huntsville. She was found Wednesday by a property owner in Grant, authorities said.
• Assistant Chief Deputy Steve Guthrie told news outlets the body was partially decomposed and sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Science in Huntsville for an autopsy. Results show she was killed by a gunshot to the back of the head, officials said.
• Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office at 256-582-2034.

 

 

Headlines

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – COVID-19 update: 2,908 cases, 33 deaths reported over weekend

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – As college leaders meet, football players push to play

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Most Alabama child care facilities now open

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Trump end run around Congress raises questions

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Virus resistant: World’s Longest Yard Sale still lines roads

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Postal Service emerges as flash point heading into election

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Suit claiming bats, rats at courthouse goes to Supreme Court

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – State trying to reduce $7M cost of cleaning up litter

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Weekend Digest – August 9, 2020

 

AL.COM – Two Alabama women launch handmade chalk business during pandemic

 

AL.COM – Why are Alabama coastal cities lagging far behind in Census participation?

 

AL.COM – Virus creates the never-ending unknown that is reshaping Alabama nonprofits

 

AL.COM – Alabama’s last-minute Census scramble: Court cases, curtailed count with a congressional seat at stake

 

AL.COM – Are there enough school nurses in Alabama to deal with coronavirus?

 

AL.COM – Columnist Kyle Whitmire: What the Alabama PSC doesn’t want you to see shows all you need to know

 

AL.COM – Contributor Jon Chalmers: Startling observation from my quarantine drive.

 

Montgomery Advertiser – Rally against discrimination and hate held in Montgomery

 

Montgomery Advertiser – Air University Building Space Professionals

 

Montgomery Advertiser – Attorney: Dismukes has not considered resigning in wake of theft charge

 

WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham – Shelby County Sheriff’s office searching for missing 15-year-old last seen in Maylene area

 

WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham – Off-duty Birmingham police officer among 6 people shot at motorcycle club in Ensley; 1 dead

 

WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham – Alabama Rep. Will Dismukes turns himself in on theft warrant

 

Tuscaloosa News – Mount Pilgrim Baptist breaks ground for a new sanctuary

 

Tuscaloosa News – 1 killed, 5 injured at shooting at motorcycle club

 

Tuscaloosa News – Most Alabama child care facilities are open amid pandemic

 

Decatur Daily – $15 million in Lawrence school projects could be completed in 18-24 months

 

Decatur Daily – Elkmont man dead after Limestone motorcycle crash

 

Decatur Daily – 3 school systems in Morgan reopen under ‘moderate’ risk factor

 

Times Daily – Forum addresses students concerns as move-in starts

 

Times Daily – Shoals Labor Council cancels annual Labor Day celebration in Spring Park

 

Times Daily – Florence officer dies in wreck

 

Anniston Star – Mourners pay respects to Eli

 

Anniston Star – Credit rating report smacks Heflin finances

 

Anniston Star – When schools closed, child abuse reporting dropped

 

YellowHammer News – Doug Jones: ‘Tommy Tuberville hasn’t been tested yet — Jeff Sessions didn’t hardly touch him on issues that I think are very important’

 

YellowHammer News – Airbus opens new education training center in Alabama

 

YellowHammer News – Alabama Mercedes plant among first in world to use innovative production system

 

Gadsden Times – Garnett seeks Mayor’s office in Southside

 

Gadsden Times – Lemonade stand raises funds for Whorton Bend FD

 

Gadsden Times – UA economist: Trillion-dollar monthly stimulus needed

 

Dothan Eagle – Houston County Republican Women conducts Peacemaker Project

 

Dothan Eagle – HCRW donates to Wiregrass Food Bank

 

Dothan Eagle – Plasma with COVID antibodies sought to help others

 

Opelika-Auburn News – Internet access: Lake Martin, Lee County neighborhoods among those getting help; survey offered

 

Opelika-Auburn News – Campus police ready ‘to adapt’ with AU students’ return

 

Opelika-Auburn News – Seale woman killed after driving into ditch

 

WSFA Montgomery – COVID-19 death now confirmed in all 67 Alabama counties

 

WSFA Montgomery – Off-duty Birmingham police officer among 6 people shot at motorcycle club in Ensley; 1 dead

 

WSFA Montgomery – 1,122 COVID-19 cases, 13 deaths confirmed Sunday

 

WAFF Huntsville – Huntsville mom relieved by president’s executive action for unemployment

 

WAFF Huntsville – Franklin County Schools share reopening plan ahead of school start date

 

WAFF Huntsville – Off-duty Birmingham police officer among 6 people shot at motorcycle club in Ensley; 1 dead

 

WKRG Mobile – Limited registration opens this morning for Baldwin Virtual School

 

WKRG Mobile – Baldwin County cuts ribbon on trio of new schools, virtual school registration reopens Monday

 

WKRG Mobile – Police search for missing Dothan man who could be in danger

 

WTVY Dothan – COVID-19 death now confirmed in all 67 Alabama counties

 

WTVY Dothan – Off-duty Birmingham police officer among 6 people shot at motorcycle club in Ensley, 1 dead

 

WTVY Dothan – ASU students begin move-in during COVID-19 Pandemic

 

WASHINGTON POST – Trump’s executive orders spark confusion among businesses and state officials as Democrats assail them as ‘unworkable’

 

WASHINGTON POST – Study: Coronavirus cases in children rise sharply in the second half of July, with more than 97,000 infections

 

WASHINGTON POST – ‘You can’t control people’s anger’: Portland protesters set fire to police union headquarters as tensions rise again

 

NEW YORK TIMES – Stephen Hahn, F.D.A Cheif, Is Caught Between Scientists and the President

 

NEW YORK TIMES – Trump’s Orders on Coronavirus Relief Create Confusion

 

NEW YORK TIMES – U.S. Official Praises Taiwan During Highest-Level Visit in Decades

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL – U.S. Agency Sidelines Planned $765 Million Loan to Kodak Amid Probes

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL – New Coronavirus Infections in Some Parts of the U.S. Trend Down

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL – China Imposes Sanctions on 11 Americans Over Hong Kong

 

 

 

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