The Alabama Department of Labor has just released its official count for initial unemployment claims filed during the week of December 20–December 26. 5,506 initial claims were filed, with 2,156 of those claims are COVID-19 related. That is the fewest since 1,824 claims were filed for March 14, just before the pandemic hit. The highest weekly claims were 106,739 for…
The wife of U.S. Sen. Doug Jones (D-Alabama) has tested positive for COVID-19, he announced on Twitter. As a result, Jones says he will be in quarantine. He says his wife Louise is “not feeling too good,” but that he has tested negative. Jones says he had hoped his final vote in the U.S. Senate would have been to override…
FILE (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Dawn Wells, who played the wholesome Mary Ann on the 1960s TV sitcom “Gilligan’s Island,” has died. Her publicist says Wells died this morning in Los Angeles of causes related to COVID-19. Besides TV, film and stage acting credits, her other real-life roles included teacher and motivational speaker. Born in Reno, Nevada, Wells represented her state…
The Texas Bowl between Arkansas and TCU has been canceled because of COVID-19, injuries and other issues within the TCU football program. The game had been scheduled for Thursday night in Houston. This makes the fourth SEC team that will not be able to play in a bowl game that had been scheduled. Arkansas joins Missouri, Tennessee and South Carolina,…
Gov. Kay Ivey is extending the Alabama Broadband Connectivity for Students program into 2021 thanks to a provision in the latest COVID-19 relief package passed by Congress last week and signed by President Trump on Sunday. Ivey’s goal is to ensure that families can continue using the service, which provides access to high-speed internet for about 200,000 Alabama students. It…
2020 is a year to remember, although most people would rather forget everything that happened this year. Alabama News Network has released its annual list of the Top 8 local stories of the year. While we normally don’t rank our stories in order — because what’s important to some people may not be as important to everyone — but…
The coronavirus pandemic affected every aspect of life in Alabama during 2020, including politics. The beginning of the pandemic brought an early end to the Alabama Legislature’s 2020 session. It forced Gov. Kay Ivey to make tough decisions on shutting down some businesses in April and ordering masks be worn statewide. In addition, Alabama’s economy suffered, with record-low unemployment giving…
The Music City Bowl between Missouri and Iowa that was scheduled for Wednesday has been canceled because COVID-19 issues left the Tigers unable to play. The game in Nashville, Tennessee, is the second bowl called off since the postseason lineup was set on Dec. 20, joining the Gasparilla Bowl. Missouri is the third Southeastern Conference team that has had to…
House Republicans have shot down a Democratic bid to pass President Donald Trump’s longshot, end-of-session demand for $2,000 direct payments to most Americans. The made-for-TV clash came as the Democratic-controlled chamber convened for a pro forma session Thursday scheduled in anticipation of a smooth Washington landing for the massive, year-end legislative package. COVERAGE FROM CBS NEWS COVERAGE FROM ABC NEWS…
Congress passed a $900 billion pandemic relief package late Monday night to deliver long-sought cash to businesses and individuals. It’s the second relief package this year, and many small businesses are going to get some much needed help. One business owner Samantha Williams talked with said the bill comes at the perfect time. The relief package was unveiled Monday afternoon…
