Cleanup efforts are underway in Fultondale after a tornado ripped through the town Monday night. At least one person was killed, and 30 people were injured.

Kevin Laws is the chief scientist with National Weather Service in Birmingham. He said the temperature shift contributed to the strength of the storm.  

Voting for the “Mask Up Alabama” video contest is coming to a close this Thursday at noon. 

The competition is asking Alabamians to vote on their favorite videos made by fellow residents sharing why they feel it’s important to wear a mask during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Alabama Department of Public Health, the Alabama Hospital Association, and the Medical Association of the State of Alabama are sponsoring the contest. The three organizations selected 10 videos for the public to vote on out of almost 100 submissions. 

More Birmingham veterans are being vaccinated for COVID-19 thanks to a partnership with the United Way of Central Alabama.

The Birmingham VA Health Care System is being provided with as many as 1,000 shots a day to veterans who are at least 65 years old. Before this week, only around 300 people were getting treated daily. 

The vaccine clinic is moving into a United Way in downtown Birmingham to accommodate for more appointments.

President Joe Biden isn’t the only person in favor of having General Lloyd Austin lead the Defense Department. Mobile’s Republican Congressman Jerry Carl said the Alabama Gulf Coast native is a good choice to run America’s military.

“I'm excited,” Mobile area Congressman Jerry Carl said. “General Austin, he is a Mobile native. He is an Auburn graduate, West Point graduate. He is the top of his class as far as military is concerned. I believe he will work pushing back against the far left's attempt to cut military, which we feel like that's coming.”

Albama health officials say the state's slow rollout of the coronavirus vaccine is due to a lack of supplies. 

Dr. Scott Harris said the number of shipments has hindered the process of getting shots out as quickly as possible.

He said Alabama has approved 883 locations to provide vaccines including pharmacies, hospitals and doctors' offices. Out of those locations, only 364 have received doses of the vaccine.

Cooped up college students are getting some relief for their cabin fever.

Bevill State Community College returns to in-person classes today after closing its doors for the month. The college made the decision to close and reopen based on available COVID numbers and guidelines.

Tana Collins is the Director of Public Relations for Bevill State. She said the community college has to consider many factors in its decision making. 

Seven Alabama counties impacted by Hurricane Zeta in October can now apply for disaster food relief.

The Alabama Department of Human Resources has received federal approval to distribute D-Snap benefits to residents of these counties. D-SNAP is short for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. 

Brandon Hardin with ADHR said D-Snap is different than regular food assistance.  

Mobile is mourning the loss of one of its all-time legends. Baseball great Hank Aaron’s death was announced Friday. “Hammerin’ Hank” will be remembered as one of baseball’s all-time greats. Aaron was the man who broke Babe Ruth’s home run record in 1974. But in reality, he was also a modest man who stayed close to his roots even after leaving town.

Flags throughout Alabama were lowered to half-staff on Friday to honor the passing of Mobile native and baseball legend Hank Aaron after his death was announced.

Gov. Kay Ivey issued the honor and shared sympathy with Aaron's relatives, friends and family. She said she is "incredibly proud" of the Hall of Famer and that his legacy will endure forever.

Alabama's unemployment rate has reached its lowest point since the beginning of the pandemic. 

It fell to 3.9 percent in December after hitting 4.4 percent in November. The rate is up from December 2019 when it was 2.7 percent. 

Cullman County has the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 2.1 percent, while Wilcox County has the highest rate at 10.6 percent.