7. Del Marsh stepping down
- Alabama State Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh (R-Anniston) will be stepping down from his leadership position, which was announced while the Senate Republican Caucus met.
- It was decided that Senate Majority Leader Greg Reed (R-Jasper) will take over as pro tem and State Sen. Clay Scofield (R-Guntersville) will be the next majority leader; it’s likely that these changes will take effect when the 2021 regular session begins.
6. Thanksgiving restrictions being implemented everywhere
- New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) is pretending the state will check coronavirus tests of visitors as cops refuse to enforce his orders, Nevada is placing restrictions on casinos, Pennsylvania is banning alcohol sales, Maryland is upping the enforcement of their social -distancing and capacity restrictions, Colorado has stopped admitting some non-virus patients, and Washington state is ending elective and some cancer procedures. All of these measures are meant to stem the latest spike in coronavirus cases as Americans gather for the holiday.
- A study out of Los Angeles’ hotspots indicates that COVID-19 cases in the county’s restaurants and bars accounted for just 3.1% of the 2,257 confirmed cases found from 204 “outbreak” locations. While this is raising questions about where the spread of this illness is actually taking place and pointing to grocery stores and manufacturing and bigger hotspots, this could be tied to the fact that everyone goes to grocery stores while bars and restaurants are seeing limited crowds.
5. Funds given to food banks
- From the CARES Act funding that Alabama received, $3,606,104 will be given to Alabama food banks to repay expenses they’ve had during the coronavirus pandemic, as announced by Governor Kay Ivey’s office.
- Ivey released a statement on the funds, saying, “Food banks in communities across Alabama have been a lifeline for those in need, and I am proud to be able to put these funds toward the Alabama feeding initiative. I have told Alabamians that I remain committed to getting these CARES Act funds into the hands of those who need it.”
4. CARES Act funding creating jobs
- Governor Kay Ivey has announced that Homtex will receive $10,572,100 in CARES Act funding to manufacture face masks. Ivey praised Homtex for “stepping up during the COVID-19 pandemic to shift their production to create critical PPE supplies.”
- The new plant, which will be located near Selma, will create 320 new jobs for the area. Ivey added that she appreciates the company’s “commitment to the economy and Alabama workers by providing needed jobs in Dallas County.”
3. Marshall: Removing monuments is a slippery slope
- After filing a lawsuit against Madison County for the illegal removal of the Confederate monument outside of the Madison County Courthouse, Attorney General Steve Marshall released a video statement in which he suggested that these kinds of acts are a slippery slope.
- Marshall said that decisions made like this are “done so out of fear.” He added, “It is now a question of when not if these same leaders will cast aside yet another law — being guided only by the political winds of the moment.” Marshall also pointed out laws should be challenged through the legislature.
2. Alabama election results certified
- The State Canvassing Board in Alabama, which consists of Governor Kay Ivey, Attorney General Steve Marshall and Secretary of State John Merrill, has certified the state’s general election results from November 3.
- Merrill said, “Alabamians shattered records for voter registration and voter engagement, proving that even a global pandemic cannot hinder our democratic participation.” Merrill went on to say that they have “certified those historic results and confirmed that Alabama is committed to providing free, fair, and accessible elections.”
1. GSA says the transition process can begin
- U.S. General Services Administration chief Emily Murphy has been accused of withholding transition resources and attempting to stall the transfer of power, but now Murphy has informed former Vice President Joe Biden that the transition can begin.
- In a letter to Biden, Murphy said that she “came to my decision independently, based on the law and available facts.” She also clarified that this wasn’t decided due to pressure from any elected officials, and she “did not receive any direction to delay my determination.”
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