Outbreak Alabama: Stories from a Pandemic

The Lives Lost

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 09:00:00 -0000

The final episode of Outbreak Alabama focuses on those in Alabama who lost their lives to COVID. AL.com reporter William Thornton talks about writing COVID obituaries in Alabama, how they evolved as the pandemic evolved and how we should remember those who lost their lives in the pandemic.

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Alabama's Shocking Number of Deaths

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Alabama now reporting more than 100 COVID deaths per day. 2020 was the deadliest year in Alabama history, according to Harris. It was the first year on record where more people died than were born in the state. AL.com data reporter Ramsey Archibald talks about the number of deaths in Alabama, why they remain a lagging indicator for COVID data in our state and why all this could be just the beginning, as the state begins to understand how deadly the delta variant really is.

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Does Alabama Need Saving from Itself?

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0000

AL.com columnist Roy S. Johnson on Governor Kay Ivey's leadership during COVID, why the vaccine is such a partisan issue and why Alabamians need to be saved from themselves.

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Jason Isbell is Holding the Line

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Grammy-winning musician Jason Isbell talks about when he decided implementing the COVID restrictions at his shows was the right thing to do, how this stance has affected the relationship with some of his fans, what it's like to finally hit the road and play again and what it will take for Alabama to have a change of heart on getting vaccinated.

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Charles Barkley Wants You Vaccinated

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Charles Barkley on why publicly encouraging vaccination is so important to him, why he thinks Alabama has been so stubborn about getting the shot and why sports figures like him can and should make a difference in the fight against COVID.

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Proof of Vaccination for College Football?

Fri, 20 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

AL.com sports columnist Joseph Goodman on why he wants to see proof of vaccination or negative COVID tests required at football games this fall, why football has to take a backseat to slowing the spread and why SEC schools must play a role in it.

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The Emotional Toll on Healthcare Workers

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Dr. Jenna Boyd Carpenter of Guntersville talks about why Alabama hospital staffs like hers are exhausted, why she's emotionally drained from treating COVID patients at the end of her day and what it will take for people to finally trust the medical experts and get vaccinated.

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Why are Parents So Angry About Masks in Schools?

Fri, 13 Aug 2021 09:00:30 -0000

Alabama Education Lab editor Ruth Serven Smith on why some parents are so angry about schools requiring kids to wear masks, what protocols schools will follow to protect children and how vaccination approval for kids might change the course of the school year.

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Can a Music Festival Be Safe Right Now?

Wed, 11 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Rock the South organizer Shane Quick on the stress that comes with planning a festival this size during COVID, what they will do to keep fans safe and how they'll avoid a super-spreader in Cullman.

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All the Bad Numbers Are Getting Worse

Mon, 09 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Alabama COVID cases and hospitalizations are skyrocketing.The vaccination rate is the lowest in the U.S. The positivity rate is the highest. AL.com data reporter Ramsey Archibald talks about the slight uptick in vaccinations in Alabama, the rising case counts and why only about half of the state's healthcare workers are fully vaccinated.

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What Will It Take for This to Click in Alabama?

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Pulitzer Prize winning columnist and author John Archibald on telling the truth about COVID even when so few are listening, why scolding people into getting vaccinated isn't working, how politics play a role in vaccine hesitancy and what it will take for all this to finally click with people in Alabama.

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'You can’t be anti-vax and be pro-business'

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Sidewalk Film executive director Chloe Cook on why you can't be anti-vax and pro-business in Alabama, how her organization was most impacted by COVID, what concerns she hears from her friends in the arts community and what her message is to people who want normal life but aren't willing to do what's necessary to make it a reality.

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Having a Breakthrough Case of COVID

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

AL.com reporter Lawrence Specker and his wife Melissa recently rested positive for COVID-19. Both fully vaccinated, they are two examples of breakthrough cases in Alabama. He talks about when he learned he was infected, what symptoms he had with his breakthrough case, why he no longer feels bulletproof even though he's vaccinated and how his perspective on the virus has changed since contracting it.

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Dr. Karen Landers on Misinformation and Delta Running Rampant

Wed, 28 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Karen Landers from the Alabama Department of Public Health discusses misinformation as one of the leading causes of people refusing to get vaccinated, why schools should require children to wear masks this fall, why young people are disproportionately refusing the vaccine and what concerns her the most about the contagious Delta variant.

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College Football's 'Personal Decision'

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

AL.com's Matt Scalici talks about the SEC's rules and expectations for teams in 2021, how the league is incentivizing vaccinations, what Nick Saban and Bryan Harsin said last week and what role college football coaches play in the COVID conversation.

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Kyle Whitmire on What Kay Ivey Can Do About COVID

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 20:15:19 -0000

AL.com columnist Kyle Whitmire talks about what Governor Kay Ivey and Alabama's leaders can do to eradicate COVID-10 in the state, how they can connect with people and convince them to get vaccinated after falling short so far. But we also try to understand where this disconnect is rooted, and why the people of Alabama won't get the shot to make this virus go away.

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Inside These Unfortunate Numbers

Thu, 22 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Alabama currently ranks dead last the nation in vaccination rate. Only a third of the state population is now fully vaccinated. Vaccinations in Alabama have slowed to a near standstill. The Delta variant is here and running rampant. AL.com data reporter Ramsey Archibald discusses the climbing positivity rate, the stagnant vaccination rate, the Fourth of July spike, what could possibly be encouraging about the data, and what he finds most concerning about the numbers in Alabama.

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Dr. Michael Saag Answers the Big COVID Questions

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Dr. Michael Saag, director of the Division of Infectious Disease at UAB on Alabama's vaccination rate, why people remain reluctant to get vaccinated, what people should know about the Delta variant, why there's nothing political about protecting yourself from a deadly virus and how we are making the same mistakes we did when COVID was peaking by rushing back to normal life.

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Covering COVID: How We've Changed

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 10:00:00 -0000

A year into the pandemic, AL.com journalists reflect on how they and their outlook on COVID-19 have changed.

Guests: Ramsey Archibald, Trisha Powell Crain, J.D. Crowe, Greg Garrison, Joseph Goodman, Leada Gore, Ivana Hrynkiw, Roy Johnson, Dennis Pillion, Carol Robinson, Sarah Whites-Koditschek, Amy Yurkanin.

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Covering COVID: The Stories We'll Remember

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Alabama journalists reflect on the stories they will always remember, whether it was something they wrote or shot, a piece they read, something or someone from our COVID coverage in Alabama the last year that they will never forget.

Alabama journalists reflect on the pandemic after dedicating a calendar year to reporting on COVID-19.

Guests: Trisha Powell Crain, J.D. Crowe, Ivana Hrynkiw, Roy Johnson, Joe Songer.

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Covering COVID: What Gave Us Hope

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 10:15:00 -0000

Alabama journalists reflect on the pandemic after dedicating a calendar year to reporting on COVID-19. While they were faced with telling difficult stories about death and struggle, AL.com reporters also found tremendous humanity and inspiring moments that gave them hope about the direction the pandemic was headed in Alabama.

Guests: Ramsey Archibald, Trisha Powell Crain, J.D. Crowe, Greg Garrison, Joseph Goodman, Leada Gore, Ivana Hrynkiw, Roy Johnson, Dennis Pillion, Carol Robinson, Joe Songer, Sarah Whites-Koditschek, Amy Yurkanin.

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Covering COVID: The Hardest Part

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Alabama journalists reflect on the pandemic after dedicating a calendar year to getting vital information about COVID-19 and the state's response to the public. AL.com reporters talk about the most difficult aspect of covering COVID in Alabama. A pandemic that has so far killed half a million people in the country is inherently dark, and it's challenging work to put it all into context for readers who want as much information as they can get as quickly as they can get it.

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Progress in Tuscaloosa

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 11:00:00 -0000

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox on why the numbers are going down in his city, how he'd assess the vaccination rollout and how the city can better enforce COVID restrictions at bars, restaurants and potential super-spreaders like the national championship celebration on the Strip in January.

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The Vaccine is Here, So Now What?

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 16:53:36 -0000

The vaccines are in Alabama, which is great news, but the logistics for distribution are complicated. AL.com reporter Sarah Whites-Koditschek discusses who in Alabama will get the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccines and what the timetable looks like for everyone else as we approach a year into the pandemic. We also hear from Dr. Blake Lovely, an emergency physician, about already receiving the vaccine, why this will strengthen the healthcare workforce in the fight against COVID and why people should feel comfortable taking the shot despite the spread of misinformation related to the vaccine.

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Reflecting on COVID-19 with Dr. Michael Saag

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Dr. Michael Saag, physician and professor on infectious diseases at UAB, on why wearing masks saves lives, why he's hopeful but not confident about the vaccine timeline, how treatments have evolved dramatically, why we are failing to contain the disease, how the pandemic was politicized and why, in spite of everything, he remains encouraged about the future.

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Voting in a Pandemic

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Reckon South's John Hammontree, host of "The Reckon Interview" podcast, talks about voting during the pandemic, how Alabama is working to accommodating voters through COVID-19 guidelines, the government's efficiency in handling absentee ballots and the lingering questions he has about the 2020 election.

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Haunted Houses During COVID

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Nightmare at 3008 haunted house owner Nick Bryan about operating a haunted house during a pandemic, debating whether to incorporate the virus in the creative planning and coming up with new ways to stay scary and safe with so many restrictions in place.

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Hospitalizaions Up in College Towns

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 16:02:39 -0000

Why Alabama's two major college towns have seen increases in hospitalizations while the rest of the state continues to see a decline, featuring AL.com reporter Sarah Whites-Koditschek.

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How a Funeral Director Sees COVID

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Funeral director Paul Rollins about his concerns about COVID and children returning to school in Tuscaloosa sooner than planned, if he thinks the board of education is truly taking his and other parents' remarks into consideration and how the pandemic has impacted his funeral home business.

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Some Parents are Done with Virtual Learning

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 14:40:03 -0000

Parents of students in the Tuscaloosa City Schools system talk about why virtual learning isn't working for children at home, how the school board has responded to their concerns, how worried they are about their children catching and spreading COVID-19 and what toll a lack of in-person schooling has taken on families.

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When Your Kid Gives You COVID

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 10:00:00 -0000

After two weeks on campus, an Auburn student came home to have dinner with her family, having unknowingly contracted COVID-19 and then infecting everyone in the home. The student's mother, Elizabeth Cross, talks about her family's experience with COVID-19, the challenges she and her husband continue to face after infection and how college students' actions on and off campus impact their families and communities.

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Alabama Students are Anxious

Tue, 01 Sep 2020 10:00:00 -0000

AL.com investigative reporter Connor Sheets on the anxiety among University of Alabama students have about the administration's response to the pandemic, what steps UA is taking to protect the student body from COVID-19, the national headlines the UA system is making for better or worse and what he thinks it will take for the state's colleges to switch to remote learning.

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Creating a Makeshift Drive-In Film Festival

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 16:45:37 -0000

Sidewalk Film Festival creative director and lead programmer Rachel Morgan on how the festival's new drive-in format works, if they will include drive-in screenings at future festivals, how artists have responded to the change and what the future holds for the festival and the Sidewalk's new art house theater.

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The Situation at Auburn

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 10:00:00 -0000

AL.com reporter Giana Han on Auburn University's response to mounting COVID-19 cases on campus, the students' reaction to new restrictions, how protecting the football season factors into the school's guidelines and what questions remain as the semester continues.

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A Cluster at the University of Alabama

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 10:00:00 -0000

A total of 531 confirmed COVID-19 cases between students, faculty and staff were reported at the University of Alabama since classes resumed. AL.com reporter Michael Casagrande talks about UA's response to the pandemic, what led to the city shutting down its bars, what UA's new data reveals and what it leaves out, what role the 2020 football season plays in the new campus restrictions and what questions still remain as the semester continues.

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Finally, Some Good News

Fri, 21 Aug 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Cases, hospitalizations and deaths are declining in Alabama. AL.com data reporter Ramsey Archibald discusses the latest numbers, if Gov. Kay Ivey's mask ordinance has made a difference, where we need the positivity rate to feel better, if and when schools reopening might trigger new spikes and why we should finally feel encouraged in Alabama.

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How are Our Schools Doing So Far?

Thu, 20 Aug 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Dr. Vic Wilson, the Executive Director of the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools, on how Alabama schools have done after reopening so far, what he's hearing right now from principals and teachers, what a typical day looks like inside Alabama schools now, why the state doesn't require COVID-19 testing for staff or students and the many challenges educators are facing as the semester begins.

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Going Back to College

Wed, 19 Aug 2020 10:00:00 -0000

University of Alabama student and photojournalist Hannah Saad on the start of the fall semester amid COVID-19, how the school has kept students updated on information and protocols related to operations and safety and how the campus newspaper The Crimson White is approaching covering this school year.

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Why Do We Suck at This?

Tue, 18 Aug 2020 10:00:00 -0000

AL.com columnist Kyle Whitmire on Alabama's failure to contain COVID-19 and what that says about us, the people tasked with playing vital roles in keeping each other safe and getting rid of this awful virus.

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Closing One Restaurant, Opening Another

Wed, 12 Aug 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Tuscaloosa businessman Bill Lloyd on closing one restaurant because of COVID-19 and opening another not long after, the difficulty for restaurants to make money during a pandemic and what he considers the biggest challenges facing the industry during this crisis.

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Black with COVID

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Reckon South's Desmond Wilson, host of the new Facebook Live show "Black with Covid," on he tested positive for COVID-19, how he could not pin down when he was exposed, the denial and anxiety he felt after his diagnosis and what he wants others to know about the virus' effect on the black community.

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Are Bars Really the Problem?

Thu, 06 Aug 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Gallettes owner Jeff Sirkin on how the bar has coped and operated during the pandemic, how the latest restrictions will affect his business and how they reckon with needing to make money while also playing a part in helping to contain this virus?

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Alabama's Historic Theaters are Struggling

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Birmingham Landmarks' Glenny Brock and Cindy Mullins talk about how the Alabama and Lyric Theatres have been most impacted during the pandemic, why they need donations more than ever right now, why they remain so vital to the city and what the future holds for the venues.

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Is College Football Happening?

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 10:00:00 -0000

AL.com senior sports editor and SEC insider John Talty on the SEC talks framing their 2020 plans, what a conference-only schedule would look like, if and how fans will be allowed to attend games and most importantly, if there will be a college football season at all.

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Masks on, Mourners Honor John Lewis

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 10:00:00 -0000

On a special episode of "Outbreak Alabama," AL.com reporter Sarah Whites-Koditschek shares what she saw and heard at the memorial for late Congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis in Selma, including the precautions taken to avoid the spread of COVID-19 and those who showed up from near and far to pay their respects.

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A Restaurant's Milestone During COVID-19

Fri, 24 Jul 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Buffalo Phil's owner Phillip Weaver on how his restaurant is celebrating its 40th anniversary during a pandemic, what the last few months have been like for the business and where he see's Phil's in Tuscaloosa's restaurant culture.

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Moderating a COVID-19 Facebook Group

Wed, 22 Jul 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Tuscaloosa artist Lorrie Lane discusses managing a popular Facebook group dedicated to keeping the community informed on COVID-19. She discusses how they decide what's appropriate to post, how they manage politics and misinformation, what it takes for someone to get kicked out and how the group has done the community some good during the pandemic.

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The Scramble to Reopen Schools

Tue, 21 Jul 2020 10:00:00 -0000

AL.com education reporter Trish Crain on the scramble to reopen Alabama's schools as cases continue to rise, what school days will look like for students who choose in-person or virtual education and which questions remain unanswered for parents and teachers.

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You Have to Wear a Mask

Thu, 16 Jul 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey issued a statewide mask order. We talk to a Shelby County man who does not want to wear one, and a Tuscaloosa woman at higher risk who says she needs us to in order to protect vulnerable people like her.

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COVID-19's Psychological Toll

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 10:00:00 -0000

AL.com reporter Chris Harress recently tested positive for coronavirus. He talks about his symptoms, the psychological toll COVID-19 had on him, how his perspective on the virus personally and professionally and what surprised him about living with it.

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Setting the Wrong Records

Tue, 14 Jul 2020 10:00:00 -0000

AL.com data reporter Ramsey Archibald on Alabama's uptick in COVID-19 cases and deaths, and if he can find any good news in the latest data.

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What It's Like to Have Coronavirus

Fri, 10 Jul 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Franklin County school bookkeeper and ER registration clerk Karen Scott on what she thought when she was diagnosed, the stress she has even after recovery and what she hopes others might learn from her experience and survival.

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It's Not About You

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Auburn University doctoral candidate Kristen Brogan on the anxiety the pandemic has created in her life, the fears she has about exposure and contracting the virus and why it's important for people to understand that their actions affect people at higher risk.

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The Death Rate

Thu, 02 Jul 2020 10:00:00 -0000

The Alabama Public Health Department's Dr. Karen Landers on Alabama's mortality rate, how the numbers work and whether it's changed at all, who in Alabama is dying and why insisting you'll be fine since the death rate is so low is a dangerous way to live.

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Even Safer at Home

Wed, 01 Jul 2020 10:00:00 -0000

AL.com state government reporter Mike Cason on what Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey's extension of the Safer at Home order means and what power she has to enforce a statewide mask order, and AL.com columnist Kyle Whitmire on why we aren't seeing more action from the state as cases continue to grow in Alabama.

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The Unemployment Crisis

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 10:00:00 -0000

AL.com investigative reporter Connor Sheets on Alabama's unemployment crisis, what happens when the state denies your claim, why we can't solve these problems online or on the phone and what the state is doing to make things easier on Alabamians out of work.

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Trending in the Wrong Direction

Thu, 25 Jun 2020 10:00:00 -0000

AL.com data reporter Ramsey Archibald on what he considers the most important numbers when he crunches the data, why Alabama continues to trend in the wrong direction and what, if anything, is encouraging him about the numbers.

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Do We Even Want Football This Year?

Wed, 24 Jun 2020 10:00:00 -0000

University of Alabama instructor and author Brian Oliu on the implication of no football this fall, how teaching Alabama players has changed his outlook on the game and how skipping the season will impact the culture and mental health in Tuscaloosa.

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Where is God Right Now?

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 10:00:00 -0000

First United Methodist Church pastor Clinton Hubbard, Jr. on the spiritual moment of the pandemic and national unrest, his message to anyone looking for God now and when his church might worship in person again.

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When Will We Go Back to Concerts?

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Big Spring Entertainment concert promoter Jason Oschwald talks about the future of concert venues, what a new normal might look like for his industry and what the culture is missing without live music during the pandemic.

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CNN's Kaitlan Collins on Covering COVID-19 and Trump

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 10:00:00 -0000

CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins on covering coronavirus at the national level, formulating questions to ask President Donald Trump and pivoting from COVID-19 to the George Floyd protests.

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Protesting during a Pandemic

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 10:00:00 -0000

AL.com's Roy Johnson talks about the Alabama protests in the wake of George Floyd's death, the state and nation's collective unrest, how the protests have overtaken COVID-19 in the news cycle, the risk of spreading the virus during protests and why he's optimistic about the future. This episode contains strong language.

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Tuscaloosa's Surge in Cases

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 10:00:00 -0000

AL.com reporters Sarah Whites-Koditscheck and Dennis Pillion talk about the spike in Tuscaloosa, what the city's hospitals will do if they run out of ICU beds and what Mayor Walt Maddox said he'll do if numbers keep increasing.

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Nick Saban's Role in the Fight

Wed, 27 May 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Alabama football coach Nick Saban has publicly urged fans to help fight the spread of COVID-19. AL.com's Matt Scalici talks about Saban's new role as coronavirus safety influencer, how he thinks fans might respond to the coach and if he foresees a college football season actually kicking off this fall.

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What's Next for Schools?

Mon, 25 May 2020 10:00:00 -0000

AL.com education reporter Trish Crain talks about how graduation ceremonies have played out in Alabama, the plan for reopening in the fall and the strict guidelines schools must follow to keep students safe.

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The Spike in Montgomery

Fri, 22 May 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Dr. David Thrasher talks about his concerns with the COVID-19 spike in the Montgomery area, the risk the virus poses to everyone including young people and why it's critical that everyone wear a mask in public right now.

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Outbreaks in the Rural South

Wed, 20 May 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Facing South reporter Olivia Paschal on disparities in Southern rural counties, plus why outbreaks are so common in prisons and meatpacking plants.

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The Struggle in Nursing Homes

Fri, 15 May 2020 10:00:00 -0000

AL.com investigative reporter Amy Yurkanin on what happens when someone in a nursing home is diagnosed with coronavirus and where that leaves family members, why the state hasn't been reporting related data and if testing in nursing homes is now higher priority for the state.

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Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo on Where We Stand

Mon, 11 May 2020 10:00:43 -0000

UAB's Division of Infectious Diseases director Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo on what Gov. Kay Ivey's latest Safer at Home order means for Alabama, where the state now stands on testing and why she can see a light at the end of the tunnel.

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Whitmer Thomas on Staying Creative During Isolation

Fri, 08 May 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Comedian and musician Whitmer Thomas on his relationship with his home state, the most Alabamian and Southern aspects of his work and how he has stayed creative during the coronavirus crisis.

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Alabama's Successes and Failures

Wed, 06 May 2020 10:00:00 -0000

AL.com columnists John Archibald and Kyle Whitmire talk about the Alabama government's response to the pandemic so far, plus the stories currently weighing on their minds related to ways people in the state are impacted. And what's encouraging them about Alabama's fight against coronavirus right now?

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Ready for Retail?

Mon, 04 May 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Gov. Kay Ivey has allowed Alabama retail stores to reopen. AL.com's William Thornton talks about how the state's retail industry feels about taking the next step, plus the good news and bad news for Alabama's economy as we grind our way through coronavirus.

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A Barber's Dilemma

Fri, 01 May 2020 10:00:00 -0000

A Mobile barber recently reopened his shop, defying Gov. Kay Ivey’s health orders and attracting the attention of local law enforcement. AL.com's Chris Harress was there and spoke to Joel Edwards about the hardships he and other business owners are facing during the pandemic.

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Alabama's Plan to Reopen

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Gov. Kay Ivey announced plans to reopen parts of the state in a plan dubbed “Safer at Home.” AL.com's Leada Gore talks about what this means for Alabama, and if the state can see any light at the end of the tunnel right now.

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Surviving Coronavirus

Fri, 24 Apr 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Birmingham resident LaQuita Coleman discusses testing positive for COVID-19. She talks about the symptoms she had, her recovery and her message to people after surviving the virus.

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Alabama Not Reopening Just Yet

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced the state will not reopen until coronavirus conditions improve. AL.com's Challen Stephens talks about Ivey's surprise about-face and where Alabama stands with the pandemic right now.

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Crime in the Age of Coronavirus

Fri, 17 Apr 2020 10:00:00 -0000

AL.com reporter Carol Robinson talks about crime in the age of coronavirus including the latest trends she's noticed, the rise in domestic violence calls, how law enforcement has changed and generally how crime continues even during a pandemic.

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Alabama Churches during Crisis

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 10:00:00 -0000

AL.com reporter Greg Garrison talks about how Alabama worshiped on Easter Sunday, plus the role churches have played in the pandemic so far, both in stopping and spreading the virus.

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The Absence of Sports in Alabama

Mon, 13 Apr 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Alabama athletics commentator Chris Stewart talks about the absence of sports during the coronavirus pandemic, the sudden end to the basketball and baseball seasons, if football season is possible and how his faith has guided him through uncertainty.

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Alabama Education, from a Distance

Fri, 10 Apr 2020 10:00:00 -0000

AL.com reporter Trish Crain talks about how public schools and Alabama are handling distance learning after shutting down their buildings, and what the future holds for the education system. Also, many Alabama schools have stopped serving meals to students to slow the spread of coronavirus, but some have kept serving.

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Walt Maddox: Leading During Coronavirus

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox talks about leadership through another crisis, the financial toll this could have on his city and Alabama's late response to COVID-19.

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Social Distancing, or Not

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 10:00:00 -0000

On a beautiful day fairly early into the crisis, AL.com's Chris Harress went to Orange Beach in Alabama, as hundreds of young spring breakers congregated under the Perdido Pass Bridge, defying the urge to socially distance.

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The Early Impact on Alabama Musicians

Fri, 03 Apr 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Alabama-born musician Lee Bains talks about COVID-19′s immediate economic impact on independent touring musicians like him.

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Alabama Restaurants' Uncertain Future

Thu, 02 Apr 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Alabama restaurateur Charles Morgan, owner of Chuck's Fish and Five Bar, talks about the impact coronavirus has already had on his restaurants and the industry itself, and the uncertain future he and his staffs will face.

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Outbreak Alabama: Stories from a Pandemic Trailer

Mon, 30 Mar 2020 01:55:39 -0000

As the novel coronavirus wreaks havoc in Alabama and across the world, these are the stories of those seeking to survive the disease and its economic strain.

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