Presented by Alabama's Locally-Owned
Health Mart Community Pharmacies
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Good morning.
Here's your Daily News for Thursday, January 7.
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1. Bedlam: Mob breeches security, ransacks Capitol |
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- What kind of day has it been.
- On Wednesday, as Congress was deliberating over the certification of Electoral College results, a mob of Donald Trump supporters descended on the U.S. Capitol, breaching security and ransacking the building.
- The video and images were nothing short of appalling: U.S. citizens tearing through the Capitol, occupying offices, defacing property and attacking police all in an effort to push Congress into somehow keeping Trump in office after losing November's election.
- “Where are they?” a rioter demanded in a crowd of dozens roaming the halls of the Capitol, bearing Trump flags and pounding on doors.
- They — lawmakers, staff members and more — were hiding under tables, hunkered in lockdowns, saying prayers and seeing the fruits of the country’s divisions up close and violent.
- Guns were drawn. A woman was shot and killed by police, and three others died in apparent medical emergencies. A Trump flag hung on the Capitol. The graceful Rotunda reeked of tear gas. Glass shattered.
- On Wednesday, hallowed spaces of American democracy, one after another, yielded to the occupation of Congress.
- They took over the presiding officer’s chair in the Senate, the offices of the House speaker and the Senate dais, where one yelled, “Trump won that election.”
- Thankfully, after more force was brought in, order was restored and the rioters were dispersed.
- The House and Senate reconvened and did their constitutional duty to certify Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election based on states' electoral votes.
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After encouraging his supporters to march on the Capitol, Trump this morning for the first time seemed to acknowledge the fact that his term is ending.
- In statement posted on a spokesman's Twitter account because his own has been suspended, Trump announced "there will be an orderly transition on January 20th...”
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Read more and see the photos HERE.
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2. Safe, shocked and saddened: Alabama delegation reacts |
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- As the events of the day unfolded, we worked to get in touch with Alabama's congressional delegation to confirm they and their staffs were safe and get their reactions to the craziness.
- Thankfully, everyone was safe and accounted for. The reactions were varied. Most expressed shock and sadness at some level. Some weren't ready to react after a day full of trauma.
- This morning, Congressman Mo Brooks is sharing theories claiming the radical group Antifa is to blame for ransacking the Capitol rather than the Trump supporters shown on camera.
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It was also Brooks who, before the bedlam ensued yesterday, spoke to the Trump rally on the National Mall saying “today is the day American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass.”
- In the end, the only Alabama Republican who did not object to the electoral votes of other states was Sen. Richard Shelby.
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Anyway, read it all from Caroline, Mary and me HERE.
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A message from Alabama's Locally-Owned
Health Mart Community Pharmacies
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- Alabama’s community pharmacists are more than just the friendly faces that fill your prescriptions every month; they are an essential link in the healthcare chain.
- In rural areas, community pharmacists are often the first – and sometimes the only – healthcare contact for residents in a community.
- In addition to keeping Alabama communities healthy by filling prescriptions, most of the APCI network of community pharmacies provide vital healthcare services such as immunizations, clinical testing, and medication counseling.
- We appreciate the pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy staff members – your friends and neighbors – in our locally-owned pharmacies who go above and beyond to safely meet the healthcare needs of Alabamians.
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Find your locally-owned community Health Mart pharmacy HERE.
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3. 'Vaccine is coming': State urges patience amid slow rollout
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- Alabama health officials urged patience Wednesday amid a slow rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations, saying the state plans to soon expand who is eligible to get the shots.
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The state is in the first phase of its vaccination plan, which prioritizes health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities, about 377,000 all together. The state has only received 226,000 vaccines so far, however.
- The next group to receive the vaccines are people over 75 and those considered at advance risk. No timeline has been established given that the state doesn't yet have enough vaccines for the first group, but State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said officials expect to expand distribution soon.
- “The vaccine is coming," Harris said. "Even though the number of shots in arms is not as great as we would like, we believe most of the reasons for that have been worked out and are behind us. We are going to start adding additional groups of people very soon and will announce that very soon.”
- Alabama, along with Mississippi, Georgia, Michigan, Kansas and Arizona, ranks at the bottom for the rate of vaccinations so far, according to numbers compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nationwide, the rollout has been slow as states have been left to take care of their own distribution.
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Full story from Kim Chandler HERE.
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4. State Bar contracting w/ Ellen Brooks after former leader resigns |
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- When the legislative Contract Review Committee meets today, they'll review a contract from the Alabama State Bar to temporarily hire former Montgomery District Attorney Ellen Brooks as its executive director.
- Why does the Bar need an interim director? Because its last one, Phillip McCallum resigned last year amid an ethics probe.
- This situation has largely flown under the radar, which is significant given the association's status.
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This is an ADN Insider story that subscribers can read in full HERE.
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5. Jaylen Waddle back practicing, status for title game unclear
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- Alabama star receiver Jaylen Waddle has returned to practice. Now the question is will he be able to play in the title game Monday night against Ohio State?
- Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian says Waddle practiced on Tuesday, but he deferred questions on his status to coach Nick Saban, who did not address the media on Wednesday.
- “We’ll see where it goes from here,” Sarkisian said. “Clearly we’ve got about a week or so until the game.”
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Waddle hasn’t played since breaking his right ankle while returning the opening kickoff against Tennessee on Oct. 4. One of the nation’s most dangerous return men, he had surgery after the game.
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In his absence, DeVonta Smith went on to put up big enough numbers to win the Heisman Trophy on Tuesday. That would put the onus on the Buckeyes to defend that formidable pair.
- “I think you absolutely have to prepare as if he's going to play,” Ohio State defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs said. “He's an extraordinary athlete, extraordinary receiver.”
- Full story HERE.
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A message from the
Alabama Rural Broadband Coalition
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- High-speed broadband is a basic necessity in today's society and brings benefits in education, telemedicine, economic development and agriculture.
- For Alabama to thrive in a 21st century economy, every Alabamian should have access to a reliable internet connection.
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AL.COM - Trump acknowledges defeat after Congress confirms electoral vote
AL.COM - Alabama Trump supporters return from the Capitol; ‘this is only the beginning’.
AL.COM - Mo Brooks describes Capitol protests, police tear gassing
AL.COM - $900 million in federal COVID relief coming to Alabama’s K-12 schools
AL.COM - Biden to name judge Merrick Garland as attorney general
AL.COM - When will Alabama teachers receive COVID vaccine?
Montgomery Advertiser - 'A very dark day': Alabama's congressional delegation condemns riot at U.S. Capitol
Montgomery Advertiser - Slow roll: Alabama's anemic vaccine release spreads confusion as some begin vaccinating elderly
WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham - Alabama Hospital Association President reports some patients being transferred out of state
Tuscaloosa News - 'A very dark day': Alabama's congressional delegation condemns riot at U.S. Capitol
Tuscaloosa News - Citizens hold drive to collect disposable masks for jail inmates
Tuscaloosa News - Application period for Tuscaloosa County School Board of Education seat closes Thursday
Decatur Daily - 10 deaths bring Morgan's COVID death toll to 100; no timeline for widespread vaccinations
Decatur Daily - Lawrence gets some relief funds, applies for more
Decatur Daily - Local participants in study want COVID vaccine if they received placebo
Times Daily - Cabinet shop in Center Star community burns
Times Daily - Tuscumbia's proposed budget includes a 4% raise for city employees
Anniston Star - Red Cross hosts blood drive Thursday at Quintard Mall
Anniston Star - Oxford limiting public access to city facilities due to viral spread
YellowHammer News - See how Alabama’s U.S. House delegation voted on certifying Arizona’s electors
YellowHammer News - Tuberville keeps promise, one of only six senators to object to Arizona’s electors
Gadsden Times - Gadsden Airport Authority meets in executive session
Gadsden Times - Applications being taken for 2021 Alabama State Employee Combined Charitable Campaign
Gadsden Times - 'A very dark day': Alabama's congressional delegation condemns riot at U.S. Capitol
Dothan Eagle - Decent month of Dothan sales tax revenue pushes surplus past $3 million
Dothan Eagle - Fred Hamic, former Geneva County probate judge, dies from COVID-19
Dothan Eagle - Local healthcare workers receive second dose of COVID-19 vaccine as popularity rises
Opelika-Auburn News - EAMC reflects on 139 lives lost since March as it sets another COVID-19 hospitalization record
WSFA Montgomery - Congress certifies Biden win after pro-Trump mob storms US Capitol
WSFA Montgomery - Chaos, violence, mockery as pro-Trump mob occupies Congress
WAFF Huntsville - Tennessee Valley elected officials react to violence at the Capitol
WAFF Huntsville - Former Arsenal Director explains process of resecuring U.S. Capitol
WAFF Huntsville - NBC changes Wednesday night programming due to special coverage
WKRG Mobile - NW Florida elected officials react to U.S. Capitol riots
WKRG Mobile - What is the 25th Amendment? Here’s why people are asking in wake of DC violence
WTVY Dothan - UPDATED: COVID claims life of former Geneva County probate judge Fred Hamic
WTVY Dothan - Bama Tracker displays custom COVID-19 tracking for the state
WTVY Dothan - Ozark-Dale County Library one step closer to having new place to call home
WASHINGTON POST - Congress affirms Biden’s presidential win following riot at U.S. Capitol
WASHINGTON POST - Aides weigh resignations, removal options as Trump rages against perceived betrayals
WASHINGTON POST - GOP West Virginia state delegate live-streams as he storms Congress with pro-Trump mob: ‘We’re going in!’
NEW YORK TIMES - America’s Friends and Foes Express Horror as Capitol Attack ‘Shakes the World’
NEW YORK TIMES - ‘Be There. Will Be Wild!’: Trump All but Circled the Date
NEW YORK TIMES - Biden Denounces Storming of Capitol as a ‘Dark Moment’ in Nation’s History
WALL STREET JOURNAL - A Single Day Shakes Two Presidencies, Two Parties and One Nation to the Core
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Front Pages (images link to newspaper websites, which you should visit and patronize)
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