Author: Mary Sell (Mary Sell)

The first of several expected bills related to the coronavirus has been filed in the Alabama Legislature for its 2021 session. 

Preliminary numbers show some significant drops in enrollment this semester at some of  Alabama’s two- and four-year colleges.

Ivey and the Alabama Department of Corrections are currently negotiating with two private developers to build three large men’s prisons.

Enrollment in Medicaid in Alabama has increased during the coronavirus pandemic, up more than 46,000 recipients since last year and surpassing a previous enrollment high set in 2015.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved Alabama’s Baldwin, Mobile and Escambia counties for individual and public assistance following Hurricane Sally and subsequent flooding.

Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in August was 5.6%, down from 7.9% in July as the state continues a decline from COVID-caused April spike to nearly 14%.

Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Brian Hastings, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Commissioner Chris Blankenship, Congressman Bradley Byrne and local officials will join Ivey for a briefing on the Category 2 hurricane’s wind and flooding damage to the coast and recovery efforts. 

The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries is gathering damage information from farmers impacted by Hurricane Sally’s rainfall, high winds and flooding.

Six Democrats and one Republican have qualified to run for the state Senate seat vacated last month by Democrat David Burkette of Montgomery.

The Alabama Department of Public Health reported 701 news COVID-19 cases Monday - 514 confirmed cases and 187 probable cases. Thirty-two confirmed COVID-19 deaths were reported, bringing that total to 2,253 statewide. There have also been 134 deaths listed as probably caused by the virus.