7. The FBI has some explaining to do
- It is becoming clear that former Trump administration national security advisor Michael Flynn was targeted by officials at the Federal Bureau of Investigation after newly-revealed notes concerning the investigation show that agents were trying to entrap him and get him fired from his position.
- In the notes, Bill Priestap, the former head of the FBI’s counterintelligence division, asks, “What’s our goal? Truth/admission or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired?” In another, Priestap appears to understand the risks of the interview, adding, “Protect our institution by not playing games,” and, “If we’re seen playing games, WH will be furious.”
6. America’s economy had a bad quarter; It is going to get worse
- The U.S. economy shrank by 4.8% in the first quarter. This is bad news as we already see 26 million people out of work. Most of the damage is in the health care sector as hospitals have been stopped from performing all non-emergency and non-COVID-19 functions.
- This retraction ended the longest economic expansion on record and has happened at a breakneck pace with no signs of stopping. White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett said, “You’re looking at something like minus 20 percent to minus 30% in the second quarter.”
5. On-campus instruction will likely return by fall
- University of Alabama System chancellor Finis E. St. John IV has said that the school fully intends to bring students back to campus for the fall semester. They’re “expecting it to be on the regular schedule,” but there was no word on college football.
- St. John said that the decisions about if classes decrease in size or if they will switch between online and in-person will be decided by a task force that’s guided by the medical school dean of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
4. Trying to find a coronavirus treatment in Huntsville
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology will be working with the Huntsville Hospital System to try and develop a coronavirus treatment by studying patients in the Huntsville area.
- HudsonAlpha’s scientific director Rick Myers said that a “treatment is the best way to bridge the gap until a vaccine is widely available.” HudsonAlpha will work to see how the immune system responds to the virus so they can develop the best treatment.
3. Local officials want more open
- Governor Kay Ivey has allowed retail stores in the state to open on Friday, but barbershops, salons and restaurants are going to remain closed until at least May 15, most likely. Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson thinks more should be open now, and he’s requested that Ivey reconsider keeping these establishments closed even with about 42% of new cases in the state being in Mobile County.
- Other officials across the state agree with Stimpson, including Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth, who took to Twitter, noting, “Today marks 20 days of declining numbers. Great work Alabama! The 154 new cases we had today is 55% lower than the peak, which occurred on April 9th with 339 cases.”
2. We don’t know enough to pass a state budget
- With the Alabama legislature going back to work on Monday, they only have a few weeks to pass budgets within the regular session. State House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels (D-Huntsville) has said we don’t know enough yet to pass a state budget.
- Daniels said that they “have a duty to pass a budget that puts all Alabamians on a path to a successful recovery, not one hastily thrown together in the heat of the moment.” He added it would be better if the legislature waited until they know more about the economic impact the coronavirus shutdown has had on the state and pass budgets in July.
1. Alabama could lose $1 billion
- Governor Kay Ivey appeared on Fox News to discuss the need for financial help from the federal government due to losses from the coronavirus pandemic shutdown.
- Ivey said that Alabama will likely see $1 billion in lost revenue, while also mentioning that Alabama’s constitution “forbids it from going into bankruptcy,” but thankfully for “right now, we’re doing fine.”
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