7 Things: Frustration over Alabama’s vaccination rate, schools begin adding restrictions to classrooms, homeschooling growing in Alabama and more …

7. Incentives for Alabamians to get the vaccine … in prison

• Governor Kay Ivey said that there would be no incentives created for Alabamians to get the vaccine, but one state government agency has decided that it will in fact be offering an incentive for some in the state the take the plunge and get the vaccine. The Alabama Department of Corrections is going to offer a $5 canteen grab bag to prisoners as payment for those willing to take a jab in prison.
• Only about half of the 24,000 inmates in Alabama prisons are currently vaccinated, and the ADOC hopes snacks, candy and personal hygiene products could move the needle and get people to get vaccinated. Department of Corrections spokesperson Kristi Simpson explained in an email to the AP, “Facility wardens (have) also been authorized to provide other incentives to encourage staff and inmates to receive a vaccination at their respective facilities.”

6. Tuberville: Democrat legislation undermines worker freedom

• At a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP) meeting, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke against the “Protecting the Right to Organize Act.”
• Tuberville said, “Federal power grabs like these are unconstitutional and go against our entire system of government. The PRO Act would overrule the right-to-work laws across the country and force tens of millions of employees to join a union.” He added, “Alabama’s right-to-work law has been a huge benefit for our state because we’re in the car business.”

5. Ainsworth says Tarrant city councilman should resign

• Calls for Tarrant City Councilman Tommy Bryant to resign have mounted since he used a racial slur during a recent city council meeting, and now, Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth has joined in. Bryant has claimed that he was referencing statements made by Mayor Newton, but Newton has denied this.
• Ainsworth tweeted, “Councilman Bryant should resign and apologize. This is sad and is racism, let’s call it what it is. God made everyone in his image, period. If anyone wants to run against this guy, I will gladly help you beat him so we can retire this type behavior.” Bryant doesn’t intend to resign, though. Instead, he may consider running for mayor.

4. Albritton: We can’t wait on gaming and prison plans

• State Senator Greg Albritton (R-Atmore) believes the state of Alabama needs to move on prison and gambling issues in Alabama now. He also made it clear that he rejects the premise that a delay is necessary or wise.
• Albritton explained that he doesn’t believe an outlying detail such as the coronavirus or other factors should “change the responsibility of moving forward with the things the state has to get done.” He added, “I don’t think we have the time to sit back and wait on prison matters. I don’t think we have the time to sit back and wait on gaining control of gaming in Alabama.” His colleagues seem to disagree.

3. People are leaving public school over the pandemic

• As the coronavirus pandemic continues, school systems continue to lean towards more restrictions, and more families are switching from public school to homeschooling.
• While some of the families may have intended for the change to be temporary, homeschooling ended up being better for their children. Since September 2020, the amount of children being homeschooled has risen to 11% from 5.4%, while the same statics in black households has risen to 16.1% from 3.3%.

2. COVID-19 protocols could be coming back

• According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, bringing mask mandates back is “under active consideration.” And while he’s not explicitly voiced support of a mandate, he’s said it’s “part of the discussion.” This comes as the Delta variant of the coronavirus makes up about 83% of current cases and seems to be surging across the country. It remains that those who are unvaccinated are at the most risk for serious infection.
• In Alabama, the usual suspects in the media are demanding something be done and schools systems are preparing to implement more restrictions. But the spokesperson for Governor Kay Ivey tried to warn the media that they are calling for things that won’t help, saying, “Tip for media who keep pushing the idea of more government mandates: wearing a mask will not defeat the virus, neither will closing businesses/schools. We have a vaccine that works, so, start acting like it. Government cannot force you to take care of yourself.”

1. Fauci agrees with Governor Ivey’s frustration on low vaccination rates

• Dr. Anthony Fauci was asked about Alabama Governor Kay Ivey’s frustration with the low coronavirus vaccination rate across the state, and said he believes her comments and attitude are completely justified.
• Fauci said that he can “understand the governor’s frustration. So I don’t have any problem with that; she has every right to be frustrated.” He added that he “would really like to see is more and more of the leaders in those areas that are not vaccinated to get out and speak out to encourage people to get vaccinated.”