Something called ‘sports betting,’ which doesn’t exist, is hurting
It’s been more than two weeks since American sports shut down in the wake of the coronavirus, which means that a significant – and largely illegal – business in Alabama has gone dormant: sports betting. Birmingham is regularly mentioned nationally as a hotbed of off-the-books gambling, mainly but not solely fed by college and professional football. – AL.com
Automakers, like the rest of us, ponder when to restart
Major automakers are continuing with plans to restart U.S. vehicle production next month despite President Donald Trump on Sunday extending national social-distancing guidelines through April. Ford Motor, Fiat Chrysler, Toyota Motor and Honda Motor are continuing with such plans as executives “monitor” or “assess” the situation, spokespeople for the companies told CNBC on Monday. – CNBC
Defining an ‘essential business’ can be an odd exercise
A payday lender in Jefferson County said he’s seen a recent decrease in the short-term loans taken out by Alabamians, but advocates for more regulation on that industry are worried more people will turn to loans as businesses remain closed. “If the economy goes south, so does our business,” said Max Wood, a payday lender and president of Borrow Smart, a payday lending industry group. Payday and title loan companies continue to operate in Alabama amid the shutdown of “non-essential” businesses. – AL Daily News
Alabama Bankers Association CEO says banks have got this
Banks report experiencing more cash withdrawals in the last few weeks. In fact, demand was so high at one Manhattan bank that it temporarily ran out of $100 bills. Experts say hoarding cash can be risky, both financially and to your health. Scott Latham is President and CEO of the Alabama Bankers Association. He says banks across the state have been preparing for a crisis of this magnitude for years with help from the Alabama Recovery Coalition. – WBHM
New development announced for former Trinity Med Center site
A development group has announced a new multi-use development on the former Trinity/Baptist Montclair Medical Center site. Birmingham Metro LLC says “Arbor Terrace” will span 75 acres and will be the home for a corporate headquarters and multi-use campus with residential, medical and community-oriented retail, as well as café spaces. – AL.com
Alabama Power’s request for more capacity called into question
“Alabama Power’s own analysis shows that clean energy is the more affordable alternative” to the 1,900 MW of new gas units for which the utility seeks state approval, said attorney Christina Tidwell with the Southern Environmental Law Center, in a statement following a regulatory hearing on the request. Opponents challenged Alabama Power’s plans from all angles in expert testimony during the proceedings leading up to the hearing. – PV-Mag
