7. Sessions campaigning on law enforcement endorsements
- During a news conference, former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions was endorsed by law enforcement officials from coastal Alabama. Sessions said, “I do love the law enforcement community and respect it and understand the challenges they operate under and I know the dangers they face on a daily basis.”
- Mobile County District Attorney Ashley Rich discussed their endorsement of Sessions, saying that they’re confident Sessions will support “prosecuting criminals and to make our communities a better place.” However, Sessions has said his campaign is evaluating if they’ll continue campaigning while restrictions for the coronavirus are in place.
6. Bernie Sanders is done but not officially
- U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) 2020 Democratic presidential campaign has come to an end with the campaign saying they’re suspending to evaluate their future this election cycle. They also stopped their Facebook ads and are no longer seeking donations.
- Sanders campaign manager Faiz Shakir said that instead, Sanders “is focused on the government response to the coronavirus outbreak and ensuring that we take care of working people and the most vulnerable.”
5. Alabama beaches are still open
- With the number of coronavirus cases in the state growing, Governor Kay Ivey has said that closing Alabama beaches is “under consideration.”
- With many college students going on spring break vacations, pictures of crowded beaches have been circulating on the internet, but Ivey said that if a move is made, it’ll be announced “at a later date.”
4. Trump has invoked the Defense Production Act
- While at a press conference, President Donald Trump announced that he’s invoking the Defense Production Act to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, saying, “It can do a lot of good things if we need it.”
- The act allows the increase in the manufacturing and distribution of medical supplies, which includes expanding hospital capacity and producing masks, respirators and ventilators. There is now talk of Ford and GM potentially producing some of the needed items.
3. Automotive plants pausing production in Alabama, everywhere else
- Hyundai, Honda and Toyota have decided to pause production at their Alabama plants after an employee at the Montgomery Hyundai plant tested positive for the coronavirus. Mercedes-Benz continues operating, and Honda and Toyota employees will continue getting paid. Hyundai employees will not be getting paid.
- Across the state and the country, jobs are being lost at an alarming rate. With that, Alabama’s unemployment rates will be up a lot. Other states are seeing the same thing.
2. Runoff postponed until July
- Governor Kay Ivey has decided that the best move would be to postpone the Alabama primary runoff until July 14 due to the coronavirus pandemic instead of holding the runoff on March 31.
- Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill had previously requested the runoff be postponed and Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall confirmed that postponing would be legal while Alabama is under a State of Emergency.
1. Jones and Shelby support coronavirus response funding
- The U.S. Senate has passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to make billions of dollars available for relief for those impacted by the coronavirus and respond to the virus. Both U.S. Senators Richard Shelby (R-AL) and Doug Jones (D-AL) voted in favor of the legislation.
- The measure will help provide financial assistance for family and medical leave, will increase food benefits and unemployment and give more ability to help small businesses. The legislative package now goes to President Donald Trump to be approved; Shelby said that while there’s still a lot to do, “this is a step in the right direction.”
