Reports: World economy faces tough journey back from crisis
Two reports out Monday predict that global growth will struggle to bounce back from the lockdowns, travel restrictions and business closures meant to contain the pandemic….IHS Markit said that it expects the world economy to shrink 5.5% this year, triple the damage it sustained in the 2008 financial crisis, and then struggle to regain traction….Likewise, Deutsche Bank Wealth Management warned Monday that a “hoped-for” rebound in the second half of 2020 won’t be strong enough to undo the damage absorbed in the first, at least among the advanced economies of the United States, Europe and Japan. — AP
Many low-wage workers earn more on unemployment than in their former jobs
For millions of employees who have lost their jobs during the coronavirus pandemic, unemployment may end up paying better than employment….While that pattern is visible nationwide, it’s especially common in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Montana. — CBS
Mobile Co. Public Schools get national recognition for streamed lesson plans amid pandemic
Out of all school districts in the state, the Alabama Department of Education chose Mobile County as the system that’s made the biggest impact during the coronavirus pandemic with its cutting-edge blended learning platform….The system is being highlighted by the Council of Chief State Schools Officers and XQ Rethink Together Forum. — WPMI
Medical Properties Trust, Inc. Announces Collection of 96% of May Rent and Loan Payments
Medical Properties Trust, Inc. announced that it has collected 96% of May rent and loan payments, matching the percentage collected in April. “Hospitals around the country and in other parts of the world began this month to again admit patients for elective procedures, we hope signaling that the worst of the hospital crisis is behind us,” said Edward K. Aldag, Jr., MPT’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Through the two worst months of the crisis our tenants paid us 96% of rents and loan payments.” — Yahoo Finance
Can NASA land humans on the Moon by 2024?
Nearly 14 months ago, Vice President Mike Pence spoke at a meeting of the National Space Council in Huntsville, Alabama, and changed the trajectory of NASA’s human spaceflight program….On April 30, NASA announced it had awarded contracts to three companies for its Human Landing System (HLS) program. The awards to Blue Origin, Dynetics, and SpaceX, with a cumulative value of $967 million, will fund initial studies for human lunar lander concepts over the next ten months….Dynetics put together a much larger team for its lander concept. The Alabama company—acquired by Leidos last December—has 25 partners for its lander concept, including Maxar, Sierra Nevada Corporation, and Thales Alenia Space. — The Space Review
Gulf fishing communities receive $88 million in fishery disaster funding
Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the allocation of $88 million in fishery disaster funding to Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi, where a catastrophic regional fishery disaster occurred due to extreme freshwater flooding in 2019 associated with the unprecedented opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway. — Fox10TV
U.S. automakers press Mexican partners to restart, rejoin supply chain
The auto industry returns to work this week. Automakers in the U.S. are opening at partial capacity, which means about half the workforce will be back at work. That comes out to around 130,000 people back on the job. — Marketplace
Virtual Job Fair looking to help fill 700 hospitality, restaurant positions
Southwest Alabama Workforce Development Council is teaming up with Gateway Initiative and many local restaurants and businesses in south Baldwin County to refill positions left vacant due to COVID-19 restrictions. —Fox10TV
Tide’s Greg Byrne is SEC’s highest-paid AD
University of Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne is currently the highest paid athletics administrator in the Southeastern Conference, according to a release today of compensation information from all 130 NCAA Division I institutions by the website AthleticDirectorU.com and Spencer Fane LLP. — News Press Now
