Preliminary work is underway in dismantling the Saturn 1B rocket at the north Alabama welcome center on Interstate 65 near the Tennessee state line. NASA has been removing the engines from the rocket this week, according to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. AL.com reports the rocket center has solicited bids to take down the 168-foot rocket that was part of the Apollo moon program. The dismantling of the rocket is expected to be completed by the end of October. The Saturn 1B rocket has been in place at the welcome center since 1979. NASA and the rocket center have said the rocket – after being exposed to outdoor environmental elements for more than four decades – is beyond repair and any efforts to refurbish it would exceed $7 million.
A new Alabama law went into effect this week that bans smoking and vaping inside a vehicle where a child under age 14 is present. The law applies to all smoking products, including vapes, and it does not matter whether the windows are up or down. WFSA TV in Montgomery reports the law is a secondary violation, meaning if you get pulled over for another reason and a police officer has probable cause that you were smoking in the car with a child present, you can be fined up to $100.
Panhandlers who refuse to obey Alabama law enforcement can now face more serious consequences. House Bill 24 went into effect this week. The bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Reed Ingram tells WFSA TV in Montgomery the bill allows police officers to give a panhandler the option to leave or take them somewhere to get help. And if they don’t do either one, then they go to jail. Those who violate the law can be found guilty of a Class C misdemeanor. Further arrests could mean fines or jail time.
COVID-related hospitalizations in Alabama have increased as health experts say an uptick in cases could indicate a slight summer wave. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows Alabama reported 138 new hospital admissions due to confirmed COVID-19 in the week prior to July 15, the latest figures available. Those numbers represent a 45% increase in hospitalizations in the state. The CDC notes the percentage of emergency room visits related to COVID remains “minimal” at 1%. AL.com reports CDC guidance is tied to hospital admissions levels, which it maintains are low for more than 99% of the country. That’s a move away from previous tracking based on positivity rates, something the health agency said became less reliable with the spread of in-home testing.
Alabama has the highest rate of mothers dying from pregnancy-related issues in the country. That’s according to a report released yesterday by the non-profit think tank Milken Institute. Alabama’s overall maternal mortality rate is 64.63 deaths per 100,000 births, nearly double the national rate of 34.09. For Black women in Alabama, that number is up to 100.07, which is much higher than the national average of 68.6. AL.com notes Alabama’s infant mortality rate is also one of the highest in the United States.
Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, who has led the division of infectious diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham for seven years, will succeed Dr. Anthony Fauci this fall leading the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases. AL.com reports that during the COVID pandemic, Marrazzo came out in support of emergency public health measures that closed business and mandated mask wearing. She served on Governor Kay Ivey’s COVID task force. A news item from UAB says they will conduct a national search to identify Dr. Marrazzo’s successor.
Thrive Alabama, which provides healthcare services to underserved people, received a one million dollar donation from the Poarch Band of Creek Indians this week. Thrive is raising money to build a 72,000 square foot facility on Oakwood Avenue near downtown Huntsville that will offer a variety of health care services for all ages. Thrive CEO Mary Elizabeth Marr tells AL.com she hopes construction can begin once about $8-10 million has been raised and she is in talks with local and state government officials in seeking funding.
The World’s Longest Yard Sale, also known as the 127 Yard Sale is going on through Sunday. It covers six states and nearly 700 miles of shopping from Addison, Michigan to Gadsden, Alabama. From Gadsden, the route continues northeast through DeKalb County, past Fort Payne, through Desoto Falls and continuing into Mentone before crossing into Georgia. A full route and more information is at 127yardsale.com.