7 Things: Ivey signs $5 million in spending to battle coronavirus, daily life disrupted statewide, medical marijuana passes Alabama Senate and more …

7. Alabama Forestry Association endorses Sessions

• Former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has received the endorsement for U.S. Senate from the Alabama Forestry Association as the runoff between Sessions and former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville gets closer.
• AFA Executive Vice President Chris Isaacson said Sessions “served the people of Alabama in this seat for 20 years.” He added, “He effectively represented the people of Alabama’s interest and values then and we feel confident that he will do the same again.”

6. Another person with coronavirus was around the president

• Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro is being monitored for the coronavirus due to his communications secretary being diagnosed with the disease just after they visited Mar-A-Lago with President Donald Trump.
• Trump was with Bolsonaro on Saturday to discuss economic issues and Venezuela, and now there are plans to test Bolsonaro and others who traveled with him for coronavirus.

5. Alabama colleges and universities are moving online

• Many schools are planning to move to online courses over the next couple of weeks. Some schools like the University of Alabama in Huntsville and Auburn University will start Monday. Others, like the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, will extend spring break until March 29 and then go to online courses.
• Jacksonville State University is moving to online courses Friday because they have a student currently being tested for coronavirus, but Alabama still has zero confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the state.

4. Medical marijuana has passed the Senate

• The medical marijuana bill by State Senator Tim Melson (R-Florence) has passed the Alabama State Senate 22-11 over the objection of State Senator Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), who argued for multiple failed amendments to limit the maximum daily dosage allowed, limit THC, shorten the list of conditions for use and to make it unlawful for people to drive with THC in their system.
• This moves Alabama closer to becoming the 34th state to legalize some form of medical marijuana, but opponents of the bill, and there are many in the Alabama State House, argue the drug is still illegal federally and that this has not changed.

3. More cancellations and closings coming

• The number of events canceled or altered because of the coronavirus continues to grow. The NCAA’s basketball tournaments have all been canceled, the NHL season has been suspended, MLB has canceled Spring Training and postponed the start of the season and NASCAR will be racing in front of empty seats. All of this will cause a ripple effect for the communities where these events are held and for the people who work them.
• In Alabama, the Rocket City Trash Pandas’ inaugural season is delayed, St. Patrick Day parades are canceled and concerts have been canceled or delayed across the state, but the worst could be yet to come as multiple states have closed schools completely.

2. Still no confirmed coronavirus in Alabama

• Much to the chagrin of some of Alabama’s most horrible people, Alabama is still without a confirmed coronavirus case, and even though there seems to be some who want to echo the “there is no testing” lie they hear on TV, that is just not true.
• State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris stated, “We fully expect in the coming days we will find cases but at this time we don’t have them,” He added, “I suspect there are people who are infected that we have not picked up at this point. Remember, 80 percent of the people who are infected don’t have serious symptoms.”

1. Alabama Senate passes coronavirus funding

• The supplemental bill sponsored by State Representative Steve Clouse (R-Ozark) and State Senator Greg Albritton (R-Atmore) was presented to the Alabama Senate as a substitute bill by State Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh (R-Anniston) to supply funding for the coronavirus.
• The bill passed with a 29-0 vote to provide $5 million to the Alabama Department of Health to combat the coronavirus and the Alabama House approved the bill quickly to send it to Governor Kay Ivey. She signed the measure Thursday afternoon.