Yo-Yo Ma, flowing green, Brooklyn Bridge: News from around our 50 states From USA TODAY Network and wire reports
Alabama
Montgomery: The state is expanding eligibility later this month for COVID-19 vaccinations to more front-line workers, residents with certain chronic health conditions, and people 55 and older, officials announced Friday. “We have been concerned that many people at high risk and others engaged in close-contact work have not been eligible to receive the vaccine yet, but with the additional vaccine supply we are better able to meet the needs of Alabama residents,” Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement. The expansion, starting March 22, will add more than 2 million people to the groups who can receive a COVID-19 vaccination in Alabama, roughly doubling the number of people now eligible. But demand continues to exceed supply and will increase the competition to find shots. State Health Officer Scott Harris said eligibility was expanded because of the
Utah launches rental assistance app
From staff reports
Utah renters can apply for pandemic rental assistance through a new online application starting Monday, state officials announced.
“Emergency Rental Assistance is an important program that can help Utah renters impacted by the pandemic to stay in their homes,” Department of Workforce Services Deputy Director Nate McDonald said in a written statement. “While we recognize that a pause in accepting applications may cause concern, it will help to ensure the updated program runs smoothly and will allow local community action program agencies to work through their existing backlog of applications.”
Utah renters have typically applied for assistance through local community action program agencies, but starting on Monday they can simply go online to rentrelief.utah.gov.
New rental assistance program application opens March 15
and last updated 2021-03-02 00:19:36-05
SALT LAKE CITY â Utah residents will not be able to apply for pandemic rental assistance until March 15 while a new application is being worked on, a spokesperson for the Utah Department of Workforce Services said.
In 2020, $26 million in rental assistance was given throughout the state. Now, more than $200 million from the federal government will help Utahns with rental assistance through the rest of 2021.
âEmergency Rental Assistance is an important program that can help Utah renters impacted by the pandemic to stay in their homes,â said Department of Workforce Services Deputy Director Nate McDonald. âWhile we recognize that a pause in accepting applications may cause concern, it will help to ensure the updated program runs smoothly and will allow local community action program agencies to work through their existing backlog of applications.â