7. Schiff is launching another investigation
- The Department of Homeland Security is being requested by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) to provide information on how they conducted intelligence or monitored protests and riots in Portland, Oregon.
- Schiff is claiming that there was “deeply troubling” surveillance, asserting that there was “monitoring of peaceful protesters” and that there have been reports of “potential exploitation of electronic devices.” The DHS has been given until August 10 to provide requested reports.
6. Jones wants work to continue on coronavirus stimulus package
- U.S. Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) has joined other senators in sending a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) requesting to bring the Senate back into session to work through a coronavirus relief package.
- In the letter, senators are calling for more unemployment aid, as the additional $600 per week benefits have expired. The senators ask that they return to session to “pass bipartisan legislation to help working American families.”
5. School laptops lost in the mail
- In Alabama, schools are working to restart classes virtually or in-person amid the coronavirus pandemic, and now there are more than 33,000 laptops that were supposed to go to 18 school systems across the state that are stuck in customs.
- Director of the School Superintendents of Alabama Ryan Hollingsworth said that the hold up is apparently due to a human rights dispute, but the specific dispute is unclear. The Etowah County School System has been told that the 4,000 laptops they were supposed to receive for students may not arrive until almost October.
4. Protocol information for schools released if a student or teacher is symptomatic
- With schools across Alabama still returning to in-class learning, the Alabama Department of Public Health has released guidelines for schools to follow in the event that a student or teacher is showing symptoms of the coronavirus or tests positive for the virus.
- If someone has symptoms, they’ll be sent home as well as anyone in close contact with them, and if a student or teacher does test positive, all those in contact will have to quarantine for two weeks. The state will not be mandating when schools have to close as it will be left up to the local school systems.
3. TVA chair fired over foreign workers
- Tennessee Valley Authority board chairman Skip Thompson has been fired by President Donald Trump after efforts to outsource 20% of TVA’s technology jobs, which is more than 200 jobs.
- Trump said that this should “serve as a warning to any federally appointed board: If you betray American workers, you will hear two words: ‘You’re fired.’” U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) tweeted support of Trump’s decision and also noted: “TVA executive salaries EXORBITANT.”
2. Contact tracing app launching for Alabama schools
- The new GuideSafe app will be funded through $30 million of the CARES Act funding that Alabama received, and will feature three portions – Healthcheck, Exposure Notification and Event Passport. The app development was announced during a press conference with Alabama Department of Public Health’s State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris and officials from the University of Alabama System.
- College students will be required to use the app, and Exposure Notification will be used to notify those who have been in contact with a coronavirus positive person. Event Passport will be an “assessment tool for meetings, conferences, and events of more than 10 people,” according to a UAB statement. While the app will only be available to students at first, they’re hoping to bring it to the general public soon.
1. Coronavirus vaccine expected by the end of the year
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease Dr. Anthony Fauci has said that the coronavirus vaccine will most likely be ready for distribution by the end of 2020 or early 2021, saying this is based off “the animal data, as well as the human data” they’ve been seeing.
- Fauci reiterated that he doesn’t “think it’s dreaming” to expect the vaccine to be ready, and they’ve had more than 25,000 people prepare to participate in the clinical trials. The vaccine will likely be available for high-risk individuals or first responders before the general public.
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