House Armed Services committee chair asks for review of Space Command decision
U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, a Democrat from Tennessee and the chair of the House Armed Services Committee’s strategic forces panel, is joining calls from Colorado lawmakers for President Joe Biden to review the decision to put the permanent headquarters for the U.S. Space Command in Alabama. – Politico
Alabama now has highest COVID-19 rate in country
Data from the Alabama Department of Health show that Alabama has a 35% COVID-19 positivity rate (the percent of tests that come back positive), according to AL.com. The next closest state is at 31%. – AL.com
Alabama Farmers Federation turns 100
The Alabama Farmers Federation is having a birthday on Sunday, celebrating 100 trips around the sun. The Alabama Farmers Federation was founded in 1921, and AFF in turn started Alfa insurance in 1945. The AFF has more than 360,000 members. – Alabama Political Reporter
Nonprofit teams with Huntsville genetics company to cure blinding diseases
The nonprofit Advancing Sight Network and Huntsville’s Kailos Genetics have created the OcularGeneScreen, a new genetic screening panel to be used with eye tissue from eye donors. It will help determine what genes are associated with diseases including macular degeneration and glaucoma. – Cision
New brand, programs for Innovation Depot
Birmingham’s Innovation Depot, a startup incubator, has refreshed its brand and created two new programs – Visions ID and Voltage – going into 2021. In addition, the incubator has added a new mobile app and plans to reorganize its office space. – Bham Now
