7 Things: North Alabama gets in on mandatory masks, distance learning will get more funding in Alabama, Sessions calls on Tuberville to release people from NDAs and more …

7. Trump wants Wallace to apologize

• An issue that’s been a bit forgotten in recent news has resurfaced after President Donald Trump called for NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace to apologize after the investigation into the alleged noose found in Wallace’s garage was discovered to not be a hate crime. He said, “That & Flag decision has caused lowest ratings EVER!” Trump was referencing NASCAR’s decision to ban the Confederate flag.
• Instead of apologizing, Wallace posted a statement to “the next generation and little ones following my footsteps.” He stated, “Your words and actions will always be held to a higher standard than others,” adding, “You will always have people test you.” Wallace concluded, “All the haters are doing is elevating your voice and platform to much greater heights!”

6. Keeping schools closed would be for political reasons

• President Donald Trump took to Twitter to voice his opinion about schools reopening in the fall, and said, “SCHOOLS MUST OPEN IN THE FALL!!!” It’s been a concern about whether schools will reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic.
• Trump explained that “Corrupt Joe Biden and the Democrats” want schools to stay closed throughout the fall semester “for political reasons, not for health reasons,” which he reasoned was to “help them in November.” Many people, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, have been advocating for children to return to the classroom.

5. Money going to schools for distance learning

• The Alabama State Department of Education has been awarded $48 million by Governor Kay Ivey, which comes from the funding provided to the state through the CARES Act. The money will be used to support schools in the upcoming academic year.
• Ivey’s office specified that the money will be separated into $10 million to have school buses equipped with WiFi, $26 million to help with learning and achievement gaps, $9 million to tutoring resources and $4 million for textbook and library resources.

4. Tuberville is leading in fundraising

• With the final fundraising reports coming in before the U.S. Senate runoff on July 14, former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville has reported to the FEC that he raised $652,389 from April 1 to June 24, and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions has reported raising $439,734.
• Tuberville only has $448,204 cash-on-hand, while Sessions has $500,331 cash-on-hand. Sessions has spent slightly more, $688,639, than Tuberville, who has spent $663,004. From the period of June 25 to July 3, Tuberville raised $195,300 while Sessions raised $36,800.

3. Sessions calls for Tuberville to release people from their NDAs

• When former Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville’s hedge fund went belly up, his partner was sentenced to jail but he settled with the victims. Now, his opponent former U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions wants those affected by this incident released from non-disclosure agreements they agreed to as part of a court settlement.
• Sessions also hit Tuberville for allowing the whole thing to transpire in his name, saying, “Either [Tuberville] was greedy, incompetent, naive and lacked knowledge; or he actually deliberately participated in an activity that was criminal.”

2. Don’t violate your quarantine — you could be fined

• The Alabama Department of Public Health has verified that if you’re supposed to quarantine due to testing positive for the coronavirus but you violate that quarantine, you could be fined up to $500 per violation.
• In a statement released by the ADPH, the coronavirus is described as “dangerous, and sometimes, deadly virus.” The ADPH said that violating “the home quarantine is a misdemeanor” and can result in fines for the required 14-day quarantine.

1. Cover your face

• The Alabama Department of Public Health has announced that as of Tuesday at 5:00 p.m., face coverings will be required in Madison County, which was requested by the Madison County Board of Health. This order was expected after Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and Madison Mayor Paul Finley came out in support of a requirement last week.
• Face coverings will be required in indoor spaces, public transportation and outdoor public areas with 10 or more people. While they’re not required for church and worship services, they’re strongly encouraged. Exceptions do exist, such as for those younger than two-years-old or while eating and drinking.