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Business Council of Alabama

Good morning!

Here’s your Daily News for Monday, November 30.

1. Fauci warns of coming virus surge

The nation’s top infectious disease expert said Sunday that the U.S. may see “surge upon a surge” of the coronavirus in the weeks after Thanksgiving, and he does not expect current recommendations around social distancing to be relaxed before Christmas.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told ABC’s “This Week” that the level of infection in the U.S. would not “all of a sudden turn around.”
“So clearly in the next few weeks, we’re going to have the same sort of thing. And perhaps even two or three weeks down the line … we may see a surge upon a surge,” he said.
Fauci addressed the school issue, saying that spread “among children and from children is not really very big at all, not like one would have suspected. So let’s try to get the kids back, but let’s try to mitigate the things that maintain and just push the kind of community spread that we’re trying to avoid,” he said.
Fauci said the arrival of vaccines offers a “light at the end of the tunnel.” This coming week, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to discuss a rollout of the vaccine, he said.
Full story HERE.

2. Moore enters Congress focused on infrastructure, defense

Alabama elected three new people to its nine-member Congressional delegation this year, amounting to a significant turnover.
Having spoken to Tommy Tuberville, who will soon take office in the Senate, and Jerry Carl, who will do the same in the House, incoming congressman Barry Moore was next on the list. We wanted to give readers a sense of what kind of member Moore wants to be and what he wants to achieve in Congress.
Some of the issues he wants to be most involved in are national defense, infrastructure and veterans affairs. He notes that he will be the only military veteran in the delegation, having served in the Alabama National Guard and Army Reserves.
As for toeing the party line, Moore says he has made it clear to the House Republican leaders that he might not always vote with them, but he won’t embarrass them. That won’t be too hard in the first few years with Democrats in the majority and Republicans mostly voting “No” and seeing if they can score a few motions to reconsider. It could become stickier if the GOP wins the majority.
As for those he might seek to emulate in Congress, Moore mentioned Alabama’s Gary Palmer and Freedom Caucus Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio off the top of his head.
Read the full story from ADN’s Mary Sell 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.

3. Congress returns with virus aid, federal funding unresolved

Speaking of Congress, the House and Senate return this week with major issues unresolved.
COVID-19 relief, a $1.4 trillion catchall spending package, national defense policy and a final burst of judicial nominees dominate a truncated two- or three-week session occurring as the coronavirus pandemic rockets out of control in President Donald Trump’s final weeks in office.
The only absolute must-do business is preventing a government shutdown when a temporary spending bill expires on Dec. 11.
Time is working against lawmakers as well, as is the Capitol’s emerging status as a COVID-19 hotspot. The House has truncated its schedule, and Senate Republicans are joining Democrats in forgoing the in-person lunch meetings that usually anchor their workweeks. It’ll take serious, good-faith conversations among top players to determine what’s possible, but those haven’t transpired yet.
Read more about what’s on Congress’ plate from Andrew Taylor HERE.

4. SCOTUS arguments today on Census case

President Donald Trump’s attempt to exclude people living in the country illegally from the population count used to divvy up congressional seats is headed for a post-Thanksgiving Supreme Court showdown.
The administration’s top lawyers are hoping the justices on a court that includes three Trump appointees will embrace the idea, rejected repeatedly by lower courts. Arguments will take place today by telephone because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The administration argues that both the Constitution and federal law allow the president to exclude “illegal aliens” from the apportionment count.
Even as the justices weigh a bid to remove, for the first time, millions of noncitizens from the population count that determines how many seats each state gets in the House of Representatives as well as the allocation of some federal funding, experts say other issues loom large for the 2020 census as it heads into unchartered territory over deadlines, data quality and politics.
A host of novel questions outside of the court’s eventual decision could determine the final product of the nation’s once-a-decade head count, including whether the incoming Biden administration would do anything to try to reverse decisions made under Trump.
Full story HERE.

5. Bama remains unanimous No. 1, Top 8 unchanged

Alabama is the unanimous No. 1 again in The Associated Press college football poll as the top eight teams in the rankings held steady for the fourth week in a row.
The Crimson Tide got 62 first-place votes for the second consecutive week and are followed by No. 2 Notre Dame, No. 3 Ohio State and No. 4 Clemson.
Southeastern Conference teams Texas A&M and Florida are fifth and sixth, respectively. Unbeaten Cincinnati is seventh and undefeated BYU is eighth.
The Crimson Tide have now been ranked for 209 consecutive AP polls, matching Florida’s run from 1990-2002 under Steve Spurrier for the third-longest streak in the history of the rankings.
Florida State is second at 211 straight poll appearances from 1989-2001. With two games against losing teams left on Alabama’s schedule, the Tide are likely to catch Bobby Bowden’s Seminoles before the SEC championship game on Dec. 19.
The record for longest streak of poll appearances is still way in the distance for Alabama. Nebraska appeared in 348 straight AP rankings from 1981-2002.
Read more and see the full rankings HERE.

News Briefs

Prisons to begin video visitation service

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The Alabama prison system, which suspended visitation during the COVID-19 pandemic, is starting a video visitation service to try to reconnect prisoners with their family and friends.
The Alabama Department of Corrections said the system is expected to be rolled out to all prisons by early December. The prison system said inmates will be able to use the video kiosks by appointment. Families and friends can securely send photos to inmates for view via the kiosk after approval by facility staff.
The prison system said the program will continue after in-person visitation resumes because some families may find it an easier and more affordable way to visit.
The prison system said it is also beginning an electronic messaging service where friends and family can send emails, cards and photos. Officials said staff will process, print and distribute the messages.

Stop the killings: Billboards show city’s homicide numbers

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A Birmingham pastor is waging a billboard campaign against violence in the city.
AL.com reports that the Rev. Paul Hollman, pastor at Mount Mariah Missionary Baptist Church, started the billboard campaign with the message “Stop the Killings Birmingham.” The digital billboards are updated every time a homicide is confirmed in the city. As of Wednesday, the number stood at 111.
Lamar Advertising donated the billboard space. There are six billboards placed throughout the city.
“We want to make people aware of what’s going on because I think a lot of times it’s swept under the rug and people don’t want you to know what’s really happening,’′ Hollman said. “I hope it makes people aware.”
Hollman told AL.com he came up with the idea following the Sept. 13 shooting death of 71-year-old Javanna Cotton “Midge” Owens, a member of Hollman’s church.
“It was just devastating,’′ Hollman said. “When they killed her, it got a lot of people upset.”
The city’s highest homicide tally in recent history was 141 in 1991, AL.com reported.
Birmingham police earlier this week issued a video public service announcement, also calling for a stop in gun violence.
“It’s a sight and sound that too many in Birmingham have experienced too often,” police said of gunfire in the PSA. “Already this year, 87 criminal homicides involving gunfire have occurred. BPD has taken more than 2,000 guns off the streets this year. Please join us in making a change and stopping the violence. It takes all of us to stop the violence.”

Montgomery to halt arrests of panhandlers in settlement pact

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The government of Alabama’s capital city is settling a federal lawsuit with an agreement to stop arresting or ticketing panhandlers.
Al.com reports that Montgomery settled its portion of a lawsuit Tuesday with civil rights groups including the Southern Poverty Law Center, American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama, and the National Homelessness Law Center.
The February lawsuit was also filed against Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Secretary Hal Taylor and Montgomery County Sheriff Derrick Cunningham.
Montgomery agreed to cease enforcement for three years of two state statutes criminalizing panhandling. That will give courts time to determine whether the laws are constitutional.
The suit was filed on behalf of people who had been arrested or cited for panhandling. They argued that their constitutional right to engage in free speech had been violated.
The lawsuit’s claims against Taylor and Cunningham are ongoing.
“The city of Montgomery is doing the right thing by ending its enforcement of Alabama’s inhumane and unconstitutional laws that criminalize homelessness and poverty,” SPLC staff attorney Ellen Degnan said in the Tuesday statement.
Al.com also reported that the city will give the SPLC $10,000 to benefit people who are homeless. SPLC will donate that money to Montgomery Pride United to provide emergency financial help to homeless people.

Headlines

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Moore enters Congress focused on infrastructure, defense

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Fauci: US may see ‘surge upon surge’ of virus in weeks ahead

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Congress returns with virus aid, federal funding unresolved

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – High court takes up census case as other count issues loom

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – AP Top 25: No. 1 Alabama leads locked-in top 8 for 4th week

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – COVID-19 in custody: Alabama ranks 9th for inmate deaths

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Pennsylvania high court rejects lawsuit challenging election

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – With no action by Washington, states race to offer virus aid

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Weekend Digest – November 29, 2020

AL.COM – Auburn restaurants, students raise funds for liver transplant

AL.COM – COVID tracking app used by less than 3% in Alabama

AL.COM – City of Birmingham to temporarily limit its in-person staffing due to COVID risk

AL.COM – Columnist Kyle Whitmire: The perfect weapon

AL.COM – Georgia Senate runoff dividing state’s Christians

AL.COM – Contributor Ben Raines: Alabama’s Mobile River Basin being destroyed in a silent massacre

AL.COM – Alabama high schoolers making state a little greener

AL.COM – COVID frontline in Alabama: ‘A lot of people’s adrenaline is starting to drop’

Montgomery Advertiser – ‘Wake Up Montgomery’: Podcast aims to end violence, save lives

Montgomery Advertiser – The last known slave ship has spent 160 years under the Mobile River. Can it be preserved?

Montgomery Advertiser – Montgomery sisters elected as judges

WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham – Suspect in custody after church burglary leads to officer involved shooting

WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham – Birmingham woman raising 12 children after her sister unexpectedly died from COVID-19

WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham – Manhunt underway after suspects lead police on a high speed chase and fire at officers

Tuscaloosa News – USS Alabama Battleship Commission honors Tuscaloosa commissioners

Tuscaloosa News – Operation Iron Ruck raises awareness about suicide among veterans

Tuscaloosa News – Home field change: Iron Bowl marks 20 years in Tuscaloosa as Alabama ‘home’ game

Decatur Daily – Virtual learning ‘a breeze’ for some, while other families struggle to make it work

Decatur Daily – Local charities organizing fundraisers, gift drives this Christmas

Decatur Daily – Pandemic curtails early Black Friday shopping

Times Daily – Anonymous donor gives $10,000 to fund

Times Daily – 2 Tuscumbia residents identified as suspects in Fuel City robbery

YellowHammer News – Small satellites, big learning opportunities

Gadsden Times – Work continues on sports complex as authority plans to seek additional funding sources

Gadsden Times – Gadsden’s Blasingame family competes on ‘Survivalists’ reality show

Gadsden Times – Shopping moves online well ahead of Cyber Monday deals

Dothan Eagle – Answer Man: When was Coca-Cola first bottled in Dothan?

Opelika-Auburn News – City to encourage local shopping on Small Business Saturday

Opelika-Auburn News – Watch now: Student veterans march 150 miles to promote suicide awareness

WSFA Montgomery – MCCPL commemorating 65th Anniversary of Montgomery Bus Boycott with student video contest

WSFA Montgomery – Suspect arrested after standoff in Luverne

WSFA Montgomery – Official state Christmas tree to be delivered Monday

WAFF Huntsville – Huntsville homeless shelters expect extra busy winter season during pandemic

WAFF Huntsville – Man accused of armed robbery at Tuscumbia gas station identified

WAFF Huntsville – Huntsville International Airport see increase in travelers for holiday weekend

WKRG Mobile – Wisconsin counties finish recount, confirms Biden’s win over Trump

WKRG Mobile – 11 wounded in ‘mass shooting’ at Grenada biker club in Mississippi

WKRG Mobile – USA working on sewage solutions in Alabama’s Black Belt

WTVY Dothan – Dothan Warming Station to open Tuesday night, volunteers needed

WTVY Dothan – About 4,000 free meals given to residents, medical personnel Sunday

WTVY Dothan – Suspect arrested after standoff in Luverne

WASHINGTON POST – Wisconsin recount confirms Biden’s win over Trump, cementing the president’s failure to change the election results

WASHINGTON POST – Biden hires all-female senior communications team, names Neera Tanden director of OMB

WASHINGTON POST – Criticized by moderates and pressured by their base, liberals fight for a voice in the Democratic Party

NEW YORK TIMES – One Seat, Competing Pressures as Newsom Considers Senate Pick

NEW YORK TIMES – New York City Will Reopen Elementary Schools and Reduce Hybrid Learning

NEW YORK TIMES – The King of Trump TV Thinks You’re Dumb Enough to Buy It

WALL STREET JOURNAL – S&P Global Nears Deal to Buy IHS Markit for About $44 Billion

WALL STREET JOURNAL – GM’s Closed Lordstown Factory Spawns a Wave of Industrial Migrants

WALL STREET JOURNAL – Black Friday Was a Bust for Many Stores, Better for Online

Front Pages (images link to newspaper websites, which you should visit and patronize)

Daily News Digest – November 30, 2020