7. States declaring bankruptcy?
- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is looking at how to stop sending out so many federal dollars as everyone struggles with coronavirus shutdowns, and allowing states to declare bankruptcy might be an option.
- McConnell has said that we need to “pause” federal aid because the “whole business of additional assistance for state and local governments need[s] to be thoroughly evaluated,” but he “would certainly be in favor of allowing states to use the bankruptcy route.”
6. Kim Jong-un might be fine
- Despite reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is in poor health, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. John Hyten said that he believes Kim is still in “full control” of the military and nuclear forces.
- Hyten also said that he has “no reason not to assume” Kim Jong-un is in control as the Pentagon is yet to receive intelligence stating otherwise.
5. Biden polling ahead of Trump in Michigan, Florida and Pennsylvania
- According to Fox News, if voters in Michigan had to cast their vote on the next president today, they’d pick former Vice President Joe Biden over President Donald Trump 49-41. That story repeats itself in battleground states Florida and Pennsylvania, too.
- When comparing the job performance of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) and President Donald Trump, Whitmer is approved by 63% and Trump is approved by only 47%.
4. Mississippi is the next to file a lawsuit against China
- Missouri was the first state to declare they’d be taking legal action against China for the way they initially handled the coronavirus that led to the issue in the United States, and now Mississippi is following suit.
- Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch said China needs to be held “accountable for the malicious and dangerous acts that caused death, health injuries and serious economic loss from the COVID-19 crisis.”
3. Alabama is still first in pre-k
- For the 14th year in a row, the National Institute for Early Education Research has put Alabama’s First Class Pre-K as the best state pre-k program in the country.
- Previous studies have shown that there are long term benefits in reading and math for students who participate in the program. Governor Kay Ivey said that this ranking just shows how the pre-k program is “successful in providing a solid foundation for our youngest learners to be successful in school and life.”
2. Businesses forced to close after going against state health order
- Mike’s Barbershop in Mobile opened for business on Tuesday after another shop tried to do the same in Inverness. The owner of the barbershop said that he had to return to work because he’d run out of money, adding that he’s “part of the majority who [are] about to lose their livelihood.” He was issued a cease and desist order and fined $500.
- In Huntsville, a beauty supply store, nail salon and furniture store were all forced to close after violating the same order, but the furniture store attempted to get around the state’s stay-at-home order by selling grocery items when they had never previously done so.
1. Byrne, Ainsworth pushing to reopen Alabama
- U.S. Representative Bradley Byrne (R-Fairhope) has given his recommendation to Governor Kay Ivey about how the state should reopen, and he’s said that we can start with Phase One of reopening by the White House’s guidelines by May 1. He urged Ivey to announce a timeline by Friday, April 24.
- Even with days of increased positive COVID-19 results, amid an overall downturn, Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth tweeted that the state of Alabama is one day away from being able to start opening up. He stated, “Assuming Alabama has less than 339 COVID-19 cases tomorrow, we will qualify to reopen businesses under President Trump’s Opening Up America Again guidelines. It is time to put Alabamians back to work, and we can do it both safely and responsibly.”
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