Baillee Majors

Alabama is far more open this summer than last year during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. That means more vacation for some Alabamians. But others might be opting for a “staycation” or enjoying a vacation at home.  

Hurricane season continues with heavy activity expected this year. Part of hurricane preparedness includes strengthening homes against any storms.  

Brian Hastings is the director of the Alabama Emergency Management Agency. He said cleaning out your drains and gutters are critically important.  

Alabama lawmakers ended the legislative session without a vote on one of the most controversial bills before them: a measure to outlaw gender-affirming medical treatments for transgender minors.

The Senate-passed bill died on Monday, the final night of the legislative session after it was placed at the end of a debate agenda that lawmakers did not have time to finish before the session adjourned at midnight.  

The demise of the bill was victory for advocacy groups and transgender youth and their parents who held  a rallies to oppose the bill.

A new federal program is bringing an additional one million COVID-19 vaccine doses to Alabama.

The extra inoculations are made possible by the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program between the federal government and several national drug store chains.

Dr. Scott Harris is Alabama’s health officer. He said the program looks at each state and then recommends a partner for vaccine distribution.  

Alabama continues COVID-19 vaccination efforts with eight new large-scale vaccination sites opening across the state today. They’re taking place in Anniston, Birmingham, Dothan, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Selma and Tuscaloosa.

Dr. Scott Harris is Alabama’s health officer. He said the plan is for the sites to administer 1,000 doses per day every day this week, but he warns the state’s supply won’t get to everyone who is eligible.  

This week, Republican State Senators Jim McClendon, Greg Albritton, Tom Whatley and Randy Price released a letter titled “The COVID Vaccine Distribution Problem in Alabama.”

Many Alabamians might have fitness as a New Year’s resolution for 2021. But a new study by the financial website WalletHub shows it could be hard to stick to working out this year.

Birmingham ranks 92 out of 100 on the list for the Best Cities for an Active Lifestyle. Jill Gonzalez is an analyst with WalletHub and said many people living in the Magic City don’t seem to have the motivation to work out.

U.S. Rep. Barry Moore has deleted his personal Twitter account. The move follows controversial tweets around last Wednesday’s deadly mob assault on the U.S. Capitol.

In one tweet, the newly-elected Republican from Enterprise wrote, “We have more arrests for stealing a podium on Jan. 6th than we do for stealing an election on November 3rd.” He went on to say, “Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Detroit would be places I recommend you start.”

The claim that the presidential election was stolen are false.

State medical groups are sponsoring a video contest to explain why 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 “Mask Up Alabama” video contest.

The videos should be 30-second or less and need to highlight basic information related to mask-wearing and COVID-19.

Several mayors in Alabama’s major cities have announced they’ve tested positive for COVID-19.

The acceleration of coronavirus cases is causing an existential crisis for America’s retailers and spooking their customers just as the critically important holiday shopping season nears. It’s also raising the risk that the economy could slide into a “double-dip” recession this winter as states and cities re-impose restrictions on businesses and consumers stay at home to avoid contracting the disease.

Governor Kay Ivey has begun reviewing plans for two new Alabama prisons. This effort is going on while more than 100 prison employees and dozens of inmates have tested positive for the coronavirus.