Good afternoon and Happy Sunday!

Here's your Daily News for April 26.
1. Ivey to make a decision on reopening next week 
  • Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey will work with the state health officer “to firm up a timetable to reopen” state businesses, her office said Friday, as the state’s current stay-home order for the coronavirus outbreak sets to expire on April 30.
  • Facing political pressure to follow the aggressive plans of other Southern states — including Georgia, which began reopening businesses Friday â€” Ivey has stated that the decision to reopen will be driven by data.
  • Ivey spokeswoman Gina Maiola said, “we will probably hear an announcement from them early next week as to how Alabama will gradually phase in business.” The governor’s office said previously that an announcement is expected around Tuesday.
  • “Governor Ivey is mindful and sensitive to the sacrifices the people of Alabama have made during this pandemic, and she is eager for businesses to safely reopen. She has been in continuous discussions with the White House and appreciates the helpful guidance that they have given to states as her and her fellow governors make these tough decisions,” Maiola said.
  • Read more from Kim Chandler HERE.
2. Lawmakers express concern over May 4 return date
  • A state senator is expressing concern about plans to resume the legislative session in early May, saying it would put people at risk from coronavirus.
  • Sen. Vivian Davis Figures of Mobile on Friday released a letter she wrote to Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh.
  • Figures said lawmakers should adjourn the session and return later in the year to approve state budgets for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. Figures said there is no way for members and staff to do social distancing at the statehouse.
  • “Many of our members as well as the staff have small children at home and/or elderly family members for whom they are responsible. Why would you put all those lives at risk for something that can wait,?” Figures wrote.
  • ADN reported this week that House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels wants to see every member in the legislature tested for COVID-19 before the session resumes.
  • Read the full report HERE.
3. VA Home cases increase as leadership push for testing
  • Earlier this week ADN reported on the more than 70 Alabama nursing homes, including veterans homes, that were expected to see an increase in COVID-19 case numbers in coming days.
  • On Friday, the updated case numbers were released which showed an increase in veterans home numbers as leadership pushed for more testing of residents.
  • The first case was confirmed on April 8 at the Bill Nichols State Veterans Home in Alexander City. As of Friday morning, 64 residents and 23 employees there tested positive for the virus and eight residents have died from complications attributed to the virus, according to information from the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs. The Alexander City facility has about 131 residents and 200 staff members.
  • Testing of all residents was completed on April 18.
  • Read the full report from Mary Sell HERE.
4. Trump send $484 billion in aid to employers, hospitals
  • President Donald Trump signed a $484 billion bill Friday to aid employers and hospitals under stress from the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 50,000 Americans and devastated broad swaths of the economy.
  • The bill is the latest effort by the federal government to help keep afloat businesses that have had to close or dramatically alter their operations as states try to slow the spread of the virus. Over the past five weeks, roughly 26 million people have filed for jobless aid, or about 1 in 6 U.S. workers.
  • Trump thanked Congress for “answering my call” to provide the critical assistance and said it was “a tremendous victory.” But easy passage of this aid installment belies a potentially bumpier path ahead for future legislation to address the crisis.
  • Trump said most of the funding in the bill would flow to small business through the Paycheck Protection Program, which provides money to small businesses to keep workers on their payroll.
  •  Read the full report HERE.
5. SEC dominates NFL draft 
  • Maybe the Southeastern Conference should simply hold onto its players and become part of the NFL.
  • The home of national champion LSU and perennial contenders Alabama, Georgia and Auburn, the SEC dominated the first four rounds of the NFL draft before the flow of talent slowed to a trickle. Or the conference finally began running out of top prospects.
  • The top four rounds are where the vast majority of pro starters are found. So beginning with LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, who went first overall to the Bengals, the SEC provided the mother lode. And by the time this virtual/remote/digital draft — make your own choice — was over, 63 players had come from its 14 teams — well, 13, because Ole Miss was ignored.
  •  LSU sent 14, tying the most in a seven-round draft, followed by Alabama with nine. Not quite a record, because the SEC had 64 selectees a year ago. But this grab bag was further proof of its place atop college football.
  • Read more about the draft picks HERE.
Week in Good News
Greater Birmingham Humane Society feeds thousands of pets during pandemic

  • The pandemic has put a financial strain on everyone, including people's fury friends.
  • “We definitely don’t want you to have to choose between feeding your family and feeding your pet,” Greater Birmingham Humane Society Marketing Director Lindsey Buckner Mays said.
  • The non-profit organization is seeing the effects of the novel coronavirus in a way many people haven’t thought about: When people are out of work, they might not be able to feed their furry friends.
  • The GBHS transformed its Snow Drive adoption facility into a COVID-19 Regional Pet Pantry in early March, providing financially struggling pet owners with food and supplies.
  • Read more about GBHS’ work from AL.com’s Ivana Hrynkiw.
Headlines
INSIDE ALABAMA POLITICS - April 23, 2020

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS  - Spokeswoman: Ivey working to firm up a timetable to reopen

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS  - Senators says it is not safe for lawmakers to return in May

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS - Trump signs $484 billion measure to aid employers, hospitals

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS  - Led by LSU, Alabama, SEC players dominate remote NFL draft

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS  - COVID-19 cases increase at Alexander City VA home

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS - Daily News Digest – April 24, 2020
 
AL.COM  - Hole in Alabama tax revenues has no clear bottom.
 
AL.COM  - Alabama HBCU awarded $500,000 grant to restore its oldest building.
 
AL.COM  - Coronavirus cases still rising in pockets across rural Alabama.
 
AL.COM  - Alabama crosses 200 coronavirus deaths, what we know about these cases.
 
AL.COM  - Gov. Ivey expected to make announcement on phased reopening the state early next week.
 
AL.COM  - 194 new coronavirus cases in Alabama: Lt. Gov. claims ’15 days of downward trajectory’.
 
AL.COM  - As cases rise in Marshall County, officials point to chicken plants and increased testing.
 
AL.COM  - Greater Birmingham Humane Society feeds thousands of pets during pandemic.
 
AL.COM  - Contributor Jim Carnes: Medicaid expansion would fix the hole in the roof of Alabama’s health care system.
 
AL.COM  - Columnist Amanda Walker: What is wrong with you people in the Black Belt?
 
AL.COM  - Contributor James Anderson: Lost sheep in the wilderness: autistic kids seeking service ‘falling between the cracks’.
 
EDUCATION MATTERS  - Larry Lee: â€œBlue State Bailout”
 
YELLOWHAMMER NEWS  - State Rep. Mike Ball: ‘This is what it is like to live under a totalitarian regime’.
 
YELLOWHAMMER NEWS  - State Sen. Albritton: Solution to coronavirus economic woes not gov’t — Fix is ‘getting business off its back and back into the storefronts’.
 
YELLOWHAMMER NEWS  - State Sen. Arthur Orr calls for immediate reopening: ‘We’ve hurt the economy enough’.
 
FLORENCE TIMES DAILY  - Row crop, cattle farmers moving forward amid pandemic.
 
FLORENCE TIMES DAILY  - Court officials adapt to make sure juveniles needs are being met.
 
FLORENCE TIMES DAILY  - In a pinch, company helped state switch to online learning.
 
GADSDEN TIMES  - The Gadsden Times: Local disaster fund an idea worth discussing.
 
MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER  - Alabama Guardsmen team with ADPH to make masks in Montgomery.
 
DOTHAN EAGLE  - Virus briefing: States reopen despite lack of tracking, and more to know this weekend.
 
WASHINGTON POST  - Tensions emerge between Republicans over coronavirus spending and how to rescue the economy.
 
WASHINGTON POST  - As they rushed to maintain U.S. meat supply, big processors saw plants become covid-19 hot spots, worker illnesses spike.
 
WASHINGTON POST  - Trump expands battle with World Health Organization far beyond aid suspension.
 
WASHINGTON POST  - Contributor Brend Dikes: We wait in our nursing home, helpless and scared, knowing the virus is coming for us.
 
WASHINGTON POST  - The White House tried to move a reporter to the back of the press room, but she refused. Then Trump walked out.
 
NEW YORK TIMES  - Where Americans Live Far From the Emergency Room
 
NEW YORK TIMES  - Closed Hospitals Leave Rural Patients ‘Stranded’ as Coronavirus Spreads
 
NEW YORK TIMES  - Trump Suggests Daily Briefings No Longer Worth His Time as White House Considers Replacing Health Secretary
 
NEW YORK TIMES  - Trump’s Suggestion That Disinfectants Could Be Used to Treat Coronavirus Prompts Aggressive Pushback
 
NEW YORK TIMES  â€“ Contributo Gene Sperling: Martin Luther King Jr. Predicted This Moment
 
NBC 15  - Alabama hospitals being forced to reduce hours for employees, furlough others.
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