Presented by the
Alabama Association of REALTORS®
Good morning!
Here’s your Daily News for Wednesday, November 25.
1. Marsh, Reed, Scofield on what’s next
- It was big news yesterday that Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh is relinquishing the top job, and kudos to ADN’s Mary Sell for breaking the story.
- Today, Marsh is on the record talking about why he chose to step aside and what he hopes to accomplish in his final two years as a state senator.
- Also on the record: Sen. Greg Reed, the next Pro Tem, along with Sen. Clay Scofield, the next Majority Leader, about their new roles and what they see shaping up over the next few years in the Legislature.
- We also talked to Sen. Rodger Smitherman, a Democrat from Birmingham who himself once served as Pro Tem, about his thoughts on the new Republican leadership.
- Read all that from Mary HERE.
2. Biden makes first cabinet moves
- President-elect Joe Biden introduced his national security team on Tuesday, his first substantive offering of how he’ll shift from Trump-era “America First” policies by relying on experts from the Democratic establishment to be some of his most important advisers.
- The nominees are all Washington veterans with ties to former President Barack Obama’s administration.
- There are risks to the approach as Republicans plan attacks and progressives fret that Biden is tapping some officials who were too cautious and incremental the last time they held power.
- The team includes Antony Blinken for secretary of state; lawyer Alejandro Mayorkas to be homeland security secretary; veteran diplomat Linda Thomas-Greenfield to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations; and Obama White House alumnus Jake Sullivan as national security adviser.
- Avril Haines, a former deputy director of the CIA, was picked to serve as director of national intelligence, the first woman to hold that post, and former Secretary of State John Kerry will make a curtain call as a special envoy on climate change. Kerry and Sullivan’s position will not require Senate confirmation.
- Some Republicans, particularly Sens. Marco Rubio and Tom Cotton, had their criticisms of the picks.
- Full story from Alexandra Jaffe and Matthew Lee HERE.
A message from the
Alabama Association of REALTORS®
- What buyers are looking for in a home is changing.
- Where we used to want open floor plans, the need for in-home offices or classrooms is making private, closed-off spaces more desirable.
- A REALTOR® can help you find the right home to suit your needs. In fact, 88% of recent buyers purchased their home through a real estate agent.
- Purchasing a home is most likely the largest transaction you will make, and a REALTOR® can help you throughout the process.
3. Texts: US census manager told counters to use fake answers
- The texts from an Alabama census supervisor had an urgent tone. “THIS JUST IN …,” one of them began. It then laid out how census takers should fake data to mark households as having only one resident even if they had no idea how many people actually lived there.
- The goal of the texts from October, obtained by the Associated Press, was to check off as many households as possible on the list of homes census takers were supposed to visit because residents never had filled out census questionnaires. The supervisor wanted the census takers to finalize cases — without interviewing households — as the Trump administration waged a legal battle to end the once-a-decade head count before a previously extended deadline.
- The texted instructions said that if two failed attempts were made to interview members of the households, along with two unsuccessful tries to interview landlords or neighbors about the homes’ residents, then the census takers should mark that a single person lived there.
- “You are to clear the case indicating occupied by 1,” said the text from the census supervisor in Dothan.
- Full story HERE.
4. Keep the mask: Vaccines won’t end the crisis right away
- Despite the expected arrival of COVID-19 vaccines in just a few weeks, it could take several months — probably well into 2021 — before things get back to something close to normal.
- The first, limited shipments of the vaccine would mark just the beginning of what could be a long and messy road toward the end of the pandemic that has upended life and killed more than a quarter-million people in the U.S. In the meantime, Americans are being warned not to let their guard down.
- Once federal officials give a vaccine the go-ahead, doses that are already being stockpiled will be deployed with the goal of “putting needles in people’s arms” within 24 to 48 hours, said Paul Mango, a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services official involved in the Operation Warp Speed effort to develop COVID-19 vaccines.
- This is important: Rather than prevent infection entirely, the first COVID-19 vaccines might only prevent illness. Vaccinated people might still be able to transmit the virus, another reason experts say masks will remain crucial for some time.
- Read the full story HERE.
5. Playoff rankings: Bama, ND, Clemson, Ohio St
- Alabama was No. 1 in the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season Tuesday night, followed by Notre Dame, Clemson and Ohio State.
- Texas A&M was fifth and Florida sixth, giving the Southeastern Conference three of the top six teams. Alabama is No. 1 in the CFP rankings for a record 19th time.
- Unbeaten Cincinnati from the American Athletic Conference at seventh has the best ranking for a non-Power Five team in the seven-year history of the selection committee’s top 25.
- No. 8 Northwestern, Georgia and Miami rounded out the top 10.
- Read more and see the full rankings HERE.
A message from
the Business Council of Alabama
- The Business Council of Alabama has launched Keep Alabama Open, working to unite hardworking Alabamians in the earnest pursuit of protecting jobs and safeguarding self governance.
- Businesses, while following state health orders to keep customers and themselves safe, should be able to continue to earn a living and support their families.
- To join the initiative, visit keepalabamaopen.com and sign on.
Headlines
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Marsh stepping down from pro tem role; new leaders look at COVID-19 recovery in 2021
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Biden moves to fill out cabinet
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Texts: US census manager told counters to use fake answers
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Keep the mask: Vaccines won’t end the crisis right away
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Playoff rankings: Bama, ND, Clemson, Ohio St
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Poll: Alabamians approve of virus response; want legislative action, access
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Health officials advise against large Thanksgiving gatherings, ‘We’re not going to get a do-over on this’
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Formal Biden transition begins as Trump relents
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Dana Beyerle: Remembering Alvin Holmes
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Daily News Digest– November 23, 2020
AL.COM – 2,785 new COVID cases since yesterday; Alabama coronavirus death rate 15 times that of flu
AL.COM – Alabama doctors exhausted as cases rise: ‘Just wear your freaking mask’
AL.COM – Courts in Alabama begin canceling jury trials again due to coronavirus
AL.COM – America’s toilet paper panic returns, but Alabama maker says production rolling strong
AL.COM – Montgomery to stop arresting, ticketing homeless people for panhandling
AL.COM – Bernie Sanders backs Alabama Amazon unionization: ‘Mr. Bezos…must not interfere’
AL.COM – Amazon gives $3,000 signing bonuses; Alabama workers get $10 vouchers
AL.COM – Two-thirds of Alabama voters cast straight-party votes
AL.COM – Arthur, Black Jack and JFK: Alabama teen and a wild, riderless horse honored slain president
AL.COM – Del Marsh stepping down as leader of Alabama Senate
Montgomery Advertiser – Maxwell Air Force Base a preferred location for Grey Wolf helicopter’s Formal Training Unit
Montgomery Advertiser – Jamyla Philyaw, highest ranking probate office merit employee, joins Montgomery mayor’s staff
Montgomery Advertiser – Montgomery man accused of choking a mother unconscious, restraining her son to avoid arrest
WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham – What does the future hold for COVID-19 testing at Legion Field?
WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham – UAB doctors fight fatigue, frustration during COVID-19 pandemic
WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham – Rate of infected healthcare workers doubled since August
Tuscaloosa News – Tuscaloosa sheriff says he will provide COVID-19 numbers as lawsuit requests
Tuscaloosa News – Alabama could lose a congressional seat next year. Here’s why.
Decatur Daily – ‘Sky is falling at Decatur Morgan’: Parkway COVID-19 unit opens as hospital reaches all-time high for inpatients treated for virus
Decatur Daily – State health officials beg people to be cautious at Thanksgiving
Decatur Daily – Alabama certifies election results with record absentee voting
Times Daily – Most Shoals garbage routes will run a day late this week
Times Daily – Fuel prices down for Thanksgiving
Times Daily – TVA nature trail will close Nov. 30
Anniston Star – State acts against some cities over monument removal, but not Anniston
Anniston Star – Ranburne’s new mayor tackles full agenda in council meeting
Anniston Star – Two Kitty Stone students commended for cleaning bike trails
YellowHammer News – Aderholt introduces bill allowing unspent CARES Act funds to be utilized advancing rural broadband access
YellowHammer News – Jefferson County authorities seize hundreds of pounds of drugs worth nearly $4 million
YellowHammer News – Ivey orders flags to half-staff in Montgomery to honor the late Rep. Alvin Holmes
Gadsden Times – Retailers adjust Black Friday, holiday shopping during turbulent year
Gadsden Times – Gadsden fire chief concerned a smaller Black Friday will mean fewer Toys from Santa
Gadsden Times – Attalla woman released after 223 days hospitalized with COVID-19
Dothan Eagle – UPDATED: Enterprise police arrest man in Santa Fe arson case
Dothan Eagle – Dothan mayor grateful for city’s perseverance during COVID-19 pandemic
Dothan Eagle – UK telecom companies face big fines under new security law
Opelika-Auburn News – Nonprofit offering $1,000 reward for info on June homicide
Opelika-Auburn News – Local citizens raise funds for liver transplant
Opelika-Auburn News – Body discovered in Notasulga identified, suspect in custody
WSFA Montgomery – Tallassee residents confront City Council over proposed prison location
WSFA Montgomery – 20 groups protest Ala. secretary of state’s retweets
WSFA Montgomery – Montgomery settles lawsuit over panhandling ordinance
WAFF Huntsville – Food Bank of North Alabama temporary closure impacting many
WAFF Huntsville – 15 confirmed positive COVID residents at Diversicare of Boaz nursing home
WAFF Huntsville – Employers not required to give doctors, nurses COVID-19 sick pay
WKRG Mobile – MPD kicks off Operation Holiday Safe Driving
WKRG Mobile – FDLE arrests man vacationing in Pensacola for lewd and lascivious conduct, solicitation of a minor
WKRG Mobile – Waterfront Rescue Mission to feed those in need on Thanksgiving
WTVY Dothan – UPDATE: Arrest made in Santa Fe Arson Investigation
WTVY Dothan – Alabama Lifespan Respite Resource Network encourages caregivers to adhere to CDC guidelines during the holidays
WTVY Dothan – Local youth learn leadership skills through Do Good December
WASHINGTON POST – After long, bitter delay, Biden transition kicks into gear
WASHINGTON POST – Biden searches for attorney general to restore Justice Dept.’s independence, refocus on civil rights
WASHINGTON POST – Trump’s assault on the election could leave a lasting mark on American democracy
NEW YORK TIMES – Biden’s National Security Team Offers a Sharp Turn. But in Which Direction?
NEW YORK TIMES – Trump Stress-Tested the Election System, and the Cracks Showed
NEW YORK TIMES – As Their D.C. Days Dwindle, Ivanka and Jared Look for a New Beginning
WALL STREET JOURNAL – Biden Transition Moves Quickly After Trump Agrees to Share Resources
WALL STREET JOURNAL – U.S. Economy Gets Boost as Americans Spend More
WALL STREET JOURNAL – Europe Doubles Down on Data Protection to Ward Off Silicon Valley, Chinese Influence
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